As part of the Peterborough in the Great War project, children from year 6 classes at Hampton Vale and Hampton Hargate primary schools took part in special workshops at Hampton Library exploring the lives and stories of the soldiers who wrote in the WUTAC guest books. The children met World War One re-enactor Alex and… Read More
The youngest Briton to receive the King’s shilling was Stanley George Lawrence, the son of Stanley and Amy Lawrence of 32 Cromwell Road, Peterborough. Sadly, Stanley’s uncle was killed on the Western Front on September 1915. Stanley was filled with revenge and believed that his place should also be at the front fighting the Germans…. Read More
In January 2016 quite by chance I saw on the BBC News that research was being undertaken to find relatives of people who passed through ‘a long closed Cambridgeshire railway station’ and who had signed books in a Temperance Cafe. On clicking through to the second page the words ‘Peterborough East’ appeared. I knew more… Read More
Peterborough during World War I – by Stuart Orme Peterborough in 1914 was a bustling mid-sized city, dominated by both its ancient Cathedral and by the railway, which was the biggest employer. It had been a small medieval market town until the coming of the railways in 1845, but had then expanded rapidly, its population… Read More
Jimmy the donkey– the city’s First World War animal hero & mascot Jimmy was loved by the soldiers of the trenches simply for making them smile. He was born amidst the war’s bloodiest battle in June 1916 after his mother who carried supplies from the rear to the frontline was fatally wounded by German shellfire…. Read More
Frederick Frank was born in October 1856, in Wurttemburg, Germany. He came to England in 1871, at the young age of 14. Why he came is unclear although political unrest in Europe and that his mother had died may have been contributory factors. He may have spent the first 10 years in England in Hull,… Read More
Noel Keeble – First World War Flying Ace (RNAS & RAF) June & Vernon Bull – Local historians & authors Noel was born on 6 April 1891 in Thorpe Road and achieved six aerial victories in the First World War. He first flew with 1 Wing Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) from Dunkirk until the… Read More
Sergeant Samuel Yerrell – First World War soldier and war correspondent June & Vernon Bull – local historians and authors *image reproduced with kind permission from David Gray Samuel was the fourth son of Emily Yerrell and was born in Peterborough in 1895. The family first lived at 26 South Street, Stanground, and then moved… Read More
Thomas Hunter is one of very few people who are remembered annually in the city by a commemorative service. This is despite the fact that he was neither born nor resident in Peterborough, but due to the tragic circumstances which led to his death here in July 1916. He is remembered as the ‘Lonely ANZAC’,… Read More
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