Maxwell Charles Elsden (1921-1943)

Second World War Roll of Honour

Maxwell Charles Elsden was born in Suffolk in 1921, the son of Charles Ernest Elsden and Jessie (née Self) of Vinery Road, Cambridge. He was educated at the Central Council School in Cambridge before joining the staff at Downing College, initially working as a clerk in the Kitchen Office before moving to the Bursary. After the outbreak of the war, he served as an air raid warden in the College.

He excelled at cricket, tennis, swimming and football, making his debut for Cambridge Town Football Club reserves in August 1938. He made his first team debut against Southgate in the AFA Senior Cup in January 1939 and went on to score 19 goals in 46 appearances for the club in the 1940-41 season. He played his final match for the club during a home defeat against RAF Waterbeach in April 1942 before he enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He was married at Cambridge in April 1943 to Kathleen Norah Hall.

Maxwell Charles Elsden, Aircraftman 1st Class, died of pneumonia in Canterbury Hospital, Kent on 31 July 1943, aged 21. He is buried at Cambridge City Cemetery.

The Downing College student magazine, The Griffin, wrote of him: -

"He was a young man of exceptional ability and character, who showed the greatest promise of a highly successful career in the office of the College. He was endowed with a most attractive personality; the unfailing cheerfulness, enthusiasm, and infectious good humour which he brought to all his activities, earned for him the respect and indeed the deep affection of all who knew him… he leaves among his colleagues of the College the lasting memory of a very fine Englishman and sportsman."     

Sources

The Griffin magazine, Michaelmas 1943 (Downing College Archive)

‘Remembering Cambridge Town’s fallen heroes’ by Neil Harvey, 12 November 2023 

Saffron Waldon Weekly News, Friday 6th August 1943 (via the British Newspaper Archive)