WORMEGAY WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Detailed Information
Compiled and Copyright © Martin Edwards 2006

The Wormegay War Memorial stands on the green at the centre of the village. The memorial is in the form of a cross on a tall white, stone, octagonal pillar standing on a plinth which contains the inscriptions. An additional plaque sits at the base for World War 2. There are 7 names for World War 1 and 1 for World War 2. The names are listed with surname, forename and Regiment.

Extract from Lynn Advertiser, published Wednesday, 16 June 1920, page 8:

WORMEGAY.

WAR MEMORIAL DEDICATED. — The war memorial, which consists of a monument of Portland stone, fourteen feet high, surmounted by an ornamental cross, and which has been erected on Cross Hill Green, was dedicated at a united service of all denominations on Thursday, 3rd inst. Previous to the ceremony, the Boy Scouts from Lynn, under Scoutmaster Stanton, lined up at the Mission Room gate, afterwards marching to their places, beside the monument.The service commenced with the National Anthem, after which the Rev. F. J. Davison, P.M. circuit minister, read the sentences, Psalm xxiii, and Rev. xx., 1-5. The hymn, “On the resurrection morning.” era; then sung by the Mission Room choir, accompanied on the organ by Mrs. F. W. Fysh, and followed by prayers by the Vicar (Rev. S. T. Leupolt), and an address by Rev. F. J. Davison. The Rural Dean, Rev. C. W. Prangley, then addressed the assembly, afterwards calling on Col. T J. Seppings to unveil the memorial. The Rural Dean then dedicated the memorial, reading out separately the names of the local men who had given their lives for their country. Then followed the hymn. “The supreme sacrifice“ by John S. Arkwright, and the Nune Dimittis, after which the Blessing was pronounced by the Vicar. The service was brought to a close by Bugler Collison, of Terrington, sounding “The Last Post.” The war memorial bears the following inscription: “This monument is erected in grateful memory of the men of this parish who fell in the Great War, 1914-18. Pte. Edward Roughen, Norfolk Regt.; Pte. Robert S. Balls. Norfolk Regt.; Sap. Leonard Howling. R.E.; Rfm. Herbert Drew, London Regt.; Pte. George Billings, Northumberland Fusiliers; Pte. Edward Williamson, Essex Regt.; Pte. George Barrett. Royal Fusiliers. 'Their name liveth for evermore.'“ Floral tributes were placed at the base of the memorial by ex-Servicemen of Wormegay, members of the Sewing Class, Mr and Mrs. Oxley Palmer and family, Colonel T. J. and Miss Seppings, and many relatives of the fallen.

Photograph Copyright © Brenda Leedwell 2006

THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED
IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF
THE MEN OF THIS PARISH
WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR
1914-1918

BARRETT	George	Private 78816, 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) formerly 38640, East Surrey Regiment. Died of wounds 7 August 1918. Born Wormegay, enlisted Norwich, resident King's Lynn. Buried in BEACON CEMETERY, SAILLY-LAURETTE, Somme, France. Plot III. Row D. Grave 16.
BILLINGS	George	Private 204716, 8th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. Died of wounds 1 October 1917. [SDGW states born Richmond, Yorkshire] Enlisted Newcastle-on-Tyne. Born July to September Quarter 1892 in the Freebridge Lynn Registration District, Norfolk, son of George and Martha Billings. Buried in BARD COTTAGE CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot IV. Row I. Grave 22.
WILLIAMSON	Edward	Private 35516, 10th Battalion, Essex Regiment formerly 32243, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 12 April 1918. Aged 35. Born Shouldham, enlisted King's Lynn, resident Wormegay. Son of Thomas and Fanny Williamson, of Shouldham Thorpe, Downham, Norfolk; husband of Christina Williamson, of Wormegay, King's Lynn, Norfolk. No known grave. Commemorated on POZIERES MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Panel 51 and 52.
ALSO 1939 – 1945
CLEMENTS	George Alfred	Private 5774949, 4th Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment. Killed in the fighting for Singapore/Malaya 12 February 1942 during the Japanese invasion of Singapore. Aged 27. Born and resident Norfolk. Son of Herbert and Mabel S. Clements, of Wormegay, Norfolk. No known grave. Commemorated on SINGAPORE MEMORIAL, Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore. Column 49.

Last updated 27 October, 2026