Moira MacQuaide’s history of Burpham

2025 marks 123 years since the end of the Boer Wars, 107 years since the end of World War 1, and 80 years since the end of World War 2

It is rare to find information specifically about Burpham men in conflicts before the Boer Wars, but we do know that there were some in the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, serving in South Africa, including George Howard.

Many men and women from Burpham and Jacobs Well were involved in the World Wars – 29 men who lost their lives during those two wars are remembered on the War Memorial at St Luke’s Church. In 1920 the Memorial Cross was unveiled and dedicated to the memory of 17 men killed in the Great War, and two years later the 18th name was added. The men were Frederick Adams, William Collis, Tom Durrant, Harry Durrant, Charles Grey, Percy Gunner, Edward Gunner, John Gunner, Samson Gunner, James Knight, Robert Knight, Norman Phillips, Jack Russell, Thomas Searle, George Stilwell, Henry Williams, Walter Wisdom and Robert Worsfold.

Many men and women from Burpham and Jacobs Well were involved in the World Wars – 29 men who lost their lives during those two wars are remembered on the War Memorial at St Luke’s Church.

During the 1st World War, there was a Home Guard, known as the Volunteer Force and nicknamed The Gorgeous Wrecks (due to the words Georgeus Rex on their badges). They were mainly ex-servicemen, who had probably served in the 19th century wars.

World War 2 broke out in September 1939 and Burpham saw an influx of evacuated children, mostly from the London area, who went to live with local residents and attended Burpham Primary School.

The 4th Guildford Battalion of the Surrey Home Guard was established in 1940, and ‘B’ Company consisted of men from around Burpham, Stoke, Abbotswood and Merrow. The headquarters for Platoon No. 5 was the Green Man pub, and they met in the Paddock Rooms.

The War Memorial names the 11 men who lost their lives during World War 2. They were: Aubrey Collins, James Cross, Norman Drake, Jack Dunn, Clive Hammond, Harry Hirst, Derek Lord, Kenneth Percival, Frederick Ranger, Samuel Reid and Peter Vickery.

In 1954, the Duke of Sutherland, who was Lord of Burpham Manor at the time, gave a piece of land to the residents of Burpham, as a War Memorial gift. The Grand Opening of Sutherland Memorial Park took place in June 1956, with Prince Philip arriving in his helicopter.

In August 2014 a Commemorative Service was held, when the families of the men killed in the Great War were invited to join Burpham residents in remembering those who gave their lives.

In March 2017, a new landmark appeared in Sutherland Memorial Park, of nine standing leaf shapes, referring to the men of Burpham to whom the Sutherland Memorial Park is dedicated. However, the Imperial War Museum’s inventory of War Memorials had the wrong information and it should have referred to the 11 men who were killed in World War 2.

Each year, on Remembrance Sunday, a service is held at St Luke’s Church, to remember all of those who lost their lives in wars.

If you are willing to share your memories and/or photos to tell us more about Burpham then please contact Moira MacQuaide, either by e-mail (moira.macquaide@gmail.com) or by phone or text (07963 756543). My book, Burpham – A Gateway to Guildford is still available from me for £10 (free delivery locally) or on Amazon, but the History of Burpham Primary School 1908-2014 is now out of print (available to borrow at Guildford Library).