The following is brief review of the war memorial to the dead of the Great War in the Parish Church of St Thomas in the village of North Willingham. Personal data is drawn from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and from
‘ Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 ‘ Vol 15.
Church of Saint Thomas, NORTH WILLINGHAM
On the eastern end of the northern interior wall is displayed a white marble plaque bearing the following in black block capitals
TO THE HONOUR AND GLORY OF GOD
AND IN MEMORY OF ALL THOSE WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES
IN THE GREAT WAR
1914 – 1919
AND ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM THIS PARISH
DAVID JOHNSON SAILOR WHO RESTS BENEATH THE SEA
MAJOR ROBERT WRIGHT WHO RESTS IN PALESTINE
LIEUT CHARLES WRIGHT WHO RESTS IN PALESTINE
GEORGE ASHLEY WHO RESTS IN FRANCE
CECIL BURBRIDGE WHO RESTS IN FRANCE
TOM WAITE WHO RESTS IN DARDENELLES
DAVID JOHNSON
David JOHNSON was killed on the 22nd September 1914 whilst serving as Private CH/5683 in the Royal Marine Light Infantry on board HMS Cressy. He was the son of Mr. G Johnson of North Willingham and is buried in the churchyard at Husby in Denmark.
Major ROBERT WRIGHT
Major Robert WRIGHT of the 1/1 Lincolnshire Yeomanry was the son of Charles and Isabel Margerite Wright of Willingham House. He was killed in Palestine on the 29th November 1917 at the age of 33 and is buried in the Ramleh Cemetery, now in the state of Israel.
Lieutenant CHARLES WRIGHT
Lieutenant Charles WRIGHT, also of the 1/1 Lincolnshire Yeomanry and the younger brother of the above, was killed alongside him and is also buried in Ramleh Cemetery. He was 28 years of age.
GEORGE ASHLEY
George ASHLEY, the son of James and Sarah Ann Ashley of Broughton, served as Private 19188 7th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment and was killed in action on the 10th July 1916 aged 23 years. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
CECIL JOHN BURBRIDGE
Cecil John BURBRIDGE served as Private 260581 in the 338 Road Construction Company, Royal Engineers. He was the son of John and Ida Burbridge of Stoke Edith, Herefordshire but had been born in North Willingham. He was killed in action aged 18 years on the 1st May 1917 and is buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery.
TOM WAITE
Tom WAITE, the son of William Waite of Nettleton served with the 6th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment and was killed at Dardenelles on the 7th August 1915 aged 19.He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Turkey.
