The following is a brief review of the eight men commemorated on the North Kelsey Memorial to the fallen of the Great War of 1914 - 1918,with mention of three who were killed during the Second World War 1939 - 1945. Personal details are drawn from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and 'Soldiers Died in The Great War 1914-1919 ' Vol 15. NORTH KELSEY The War Memorial is situated in the modern cemetery to the north west of the village, off the Brigg Road. It consists of a Celtic Cross the southern side of which bears the inscription TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN OF KELSEY WHO DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918 On the plinth are inscribed the following names and units of the eight men Sergt S M BOWNESS MM 5th Lincs Cpl H CLARK 1st Lincs Pte W H BELL 7th Lincs Pte H E FAWCETT 6th Lincs Pte W ROBINSON 6th Lincs J R CARNABY Northld Fus J W DANNATT 7th Norfolks E WATMOUGH 2nd Berks On the northern side of the plinth are inscribed the names of three men from the village who died during the Second World War 1939 - 1945. C/E S FRESHWATER M.N N HARDY R.A C BARRICK RAF The Great War Sidney BOWNESS, the son of James and Julia Bowness of West End Farm, North Kelsey, enlisted into the 5th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment and had been promoted to Sergeant when he was killed in action in France on the 10th June 1917.He was then aged 23 years and had earlier been awarded the Military Medal for brave conduct. He is buried in Loos British Cemetery in the Pas de Calais in northern France. Harold CLARK was born at North Kelsey Moor but enlisted into the 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment as Private 15373. At the time he was killed in action on the 11th April 1917 in France, his home was recorded as Amber Hill, near Boston. William Henry BELL, also a native of North Kelsey had enlisted into the 7th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment at Grimsby and at the time he was killed in action on the 15th February 1916 in France he was serving as Private 12654.Then aged 28 he was the son of George and Betsy Bell of Elmfield Villa, North Kelsey. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres. Herbert E FAWCETT was killed at the Third Battle of Ypres on the 8th June 1917 whilst serving as Private 15440 in the 6th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. He too has no known grave and is also commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial. Walter ROBINSON, who enlisted into the 6th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment at Scunthorpe, had been born in North Kelsey the son of John and Mary Robinson of South Street. At the time he died of his wounds on the 24th August 1915 at Gallipoli he was 18 years of age. He is buried in the Hill 10 Cemetery, Suvla in Turkey. John Robert CARNABY was the son of Alfred Carnaby of North Kelsey. He was killed in action on the 26th October 1917 whilst serving as Private 202222 in the 1st/4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. J W DANNAT is recorded as having served with the 7th Battalion Norfolk Regiment but has not been further identified. E WATMOUGH served as Private 36942 in the 2nd Battalion, Berkshire Regiment. At the time of his death at the age of 41 on the 11th June 1918 he was the husband of Mary Watmough of North Kelsey. He is commemorated on the Soissons Memorial, Aisne, France. The Second World War Chief Engineer Officer S FRESHWATER of the Merchant Navy was killed aged 36 on the 26th September 1940 on board the SS Petrel. He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial to the fallen of the Merchant Navy, in London. Gunner 14304876 N HARDY, the son of Edith Mary HARDY of North Kelsey, was killed aged 21 on the 18th October 1943 whilst serving with the 1st Airlanding Light Regiment, Royal Artillery. He is buried in the Bari War Cemetery, Italy. Cyril BARRICK, Aircraftsman 1st Class 936124 of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve died on the 28th May 1940 and is buried in the North Kelsey Cemetery. He was the son of George William and Frances Barrick, of the village. |
