The Wimpole and Arrington War Memorial is situated in a gravelled area within a closed junction off Ermine Street (the A1198). The corner used to be the significant road junction situated midway between the villages of Wimpole and Arrington.
The Grade II listed memorial to the fallen is a rough Cornish granite wheel cross with a sword carved in relief on the front face. At the base of the shaft is a polished area with a list of the names of the three World War II fallen. The cross stands on a rough granite stone plinth and base; the plinth has a polished front face, upon which is a dedication and a list of the eighteen World War I fallen.
The memorial is sited within a paved area surrounded by a raised sandstone kerb and posts. A vase with an inscription on its front face stands in front of the memorial.
In 2008/9 English Heritage and the Wolfson Foundation provided £890 towards work to clean the memorial, replace a missing lead letter, re-paint the letters, to clean the kerbs, posts and concrete slabs and to replace the broken slab.
The memorial was Grade II listed in March 2019. The citation includes "as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the 20th century". The Historic England Grade II listing is here.
The memorial is maintained jointly by Arrington and Wimpole Parish Councils, financially supported by the War Memorials Trust (WMT Ref: WM2347) and listed on the War Memorials Archive.
Enthusiastic WW1 Recruiting.
On Monday, 28 September 1914, a recruitment meeting was held at the Assembly Rooms for the parishes of Wimpole and Arrington.
During the meeting. fourteen men from the two parishes gave their word-of-honour to enlist.
At least three of those who pledged that evening died during the War and are commemorated on the Wimpole and Arrington War Memorial. Read the full report of the meeting published in the Cambridge Independent Press on the 2nd October 1914.
The 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment (The "Cambridgeshire Pals")
Six of those commemorated on the Wimpole and Arrington War Memorial enlisted in the 11th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment, sometimes known as the 'Cambridgeshire Pals'. There is a video "Sons of Cambridgeshire" on YouTube about the Battalion which was uploaded by Cambridgeshire County Council in 2017. The 13 minute video includes photographs and battalion history, focussing on the losses suffered on the 1st July 1916.
The memorial website about the 11th Battalion can be found here.
Those Who Served (WW1):
Information on other Wimpole and Arrington parishioners who served in WW1 but came home safely is rather hard to come by. There appears to be no formal record (unlike the memorial panel in Orwell Church which records 8 WW1 'deaths' and 63 names of 'those who served'). The following lists the names and references I have noted working with family history files and newspaper listings. I very much doubt the list is complete.
Private Charter, 11th Suffolk Regiment. Known Prisoner-of-War.
23306 Private Thomas Hewitt(Wimpole), 12th Suffolk Regiment. Known Prisoner-of-War, returned 20 December 1918. [Assumed] Thomas Hewitt, son of Isaac Hewitt and Ashwell (Butler), born Wimpole 8 August 1896, baptised Wimpole 18 October 1896. In the 1911 Census he was listed as living at Brick End and working as a Bricklayer/Labourer on the Wimpole Estate. Died Ashwell, Hertfordshire in 1975.
Private William John Matthews(Wimpole), 11th Suffolk Regiment. Known Prisoner-of-War. (Elder brother to Private David Matthews commemorated on the War Memorial). Born Orwell 1 July 1889, son of William and Ann. No baptismal record. Recorded in the 1911 Census as a Farm Labourer, family living at Valley Farm, Wimpole.
Private (Arthur) John Skinner(Wimpole), Suffolk Regiment, the 'Fourth Skinner Brother'. See his web page for life and photographs. (John was the younger brother to Privates Charles Edward Skinner, Frank Skinner and Harry Skinner, all commemorated on the War Memorial). Father of Michael Skinner.
Private Frank Wilkins(Wimpole - younger brother to Private Harry Wilkins commemorated on the War Memorial). Enlisted in the 13th (Reserve) Battalion (Cambridgeshire), Suffolk Regiment w/e 17 September 1915. Son of Rule and Emma Allen Wilkins of 'The Stables', Wimpole. Baptised 1897 in Arrington. Recorded in the 1911 Census working as a painter on the Wimpole estate.
Private George William Wilkins, (Wimpole - younger brother to Private Harry Wilkins commemorated on the War Memorial). Enlisted in the 13th (Reserve) Battalion (Cambridgeshire), Suffolk Regiment in 1915. Son of Rule and Emma Allen Wilkins of 'The Stables', Wimpole. Baptised 1895 in Arrington. Recorded in the 1911 Census as a bricklayer working on the Wimpole estate. After the First World War he returned to working on the Wimpole Estate for Lord Clifton, then worked at Thornberry Hill Farm for Mr Dyball. Married to Margaret. George was presented with the Royal Agricultural Long Service Medal (50 years) by the then Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. George died in 1983 aged 88 years and is buried in Wimpole Churchyard.
Private Fred E Wisbey, (Arrington - Son of Private Frederick George Wisbey commemorated on the War Memorial), 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment. Known Prisoner-of-War.Turnpike Cottage, Arrington Road.
Poppy Wreaths
Each year by arrangement with the local branch of the British Legion, Wimpole and Arrington Parish Councils each lay a poppy wreath at the Wimpole and Arrington War Memorial to give grateful thanks on behalf of their parishioners to those who gave their lives in the two World Wars.
From 2019, Wimpole Parish Council also arranged for additional wreaths to be laid on two grave markers in Wimpole Churchyard: (a) on the official CWGC war grave of Private Edward Cartwright, Canadian Infantry, and (b) the family grave that commemorates the lives of the three Skinner brothers from Wimpole (Edward Skinner, Frank Skinner and Harry Skinner)
Not only was the Wimpole and Arrington War Memorial featured as the header photograph but it was also given "top billing" in the text, using additional information taken from this website. The listing was also picked up by the 'Royston Crow' website.
(06 November 2019)
(above)
Arrington Bridge c1921.
Showing the Wimpole and Arrington War Memorial shortly after dedication.
Also Wimpole Lodge (right) and a section of the old Cambridge Road [now a cul-de-sac]
looking east towards Cambridge. Image courtesy of Brenda and Michael Skinner (2003)
(Above)
Procession to the Memorial Rededication Service, c1948.
Walking down Ermine Way [now the A1198] from Arrington.
Note the old Esso garage in the background (also in image below). Image courtesy of Ken Tokley (2003).
This photograph has been image mapped.
Hover your cursor over a face to show the name (if known).
The Red Cross cadets are [left to right], Mary Mayo(?), [unknown], Margaret Wilkins, Margaret Donegal, Emily Gill, [unknown], Jean Miller, Barbara Howard, Ann Dance, and Christine Arnold. Their two officers immediately following are [left] Miss Whitmore [Arrington's school teacher] and [right] Mrs Parmenter The men wearing the sashes are from the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (known as the Buffs). Some suggested names: Fred Bird, Joe Cox,
Fred Dash, Arthur Neaves and 'Bunny' Polsen.
(Above)
The re-dedication service following the Second World War, c1948.
Ermine Way [now the A1198] is in the background. Image courtesy of Keith Bullen (2002).
(Above)
Laying the Wreaths.
The re-dedication service following the Second World War, c1948.
The new paved surround and raised kerb appear to have been finished just hours earlier. Image courtesy of Keith Bullen (2002).
This photograph has been image mapped.
Hover your cursor over a face to show the name (if known).
Known names: Janet Skinner, Maurice Skinner, Michael Skinner, Rose-Mary Bullen (McGee), Jean Hallett, Marie Bullen, John Bullen, Shelia Mayhew (Dunn), Mr and Mrs Ablett (from Arrington), Mrs Horsfield, Mrs Bird, Mrs Wilkins (from Arrington), Charlie Cutts, Kezia Bullen (Keith Bullen's mother), David Bullen (Keith Bullen's Dad), Mr Wissen (from Orwell), Veronica Pearce, The Rev Henry Arden Kennett Baynes (Rector at Wimpole). [Names courtesy of Janet Skinner]
The servicemen and women are listed under the Parishes of Arrington or Wimpole
as shown on the Cambridgeshire County War Memorial in Ely Cathedral.
War Memorial research by Steve Odell.
The War Memorial Project would welcome any additional information, research,
photographs or memories of those named on the Wimpole and Arrington War Memorial.
The Roll of Honour (21 Names)
