Remembrance 2024

The Name's on the memorial 

 1939 to 1945 

ASHDOWN, EDGAR ERNEST  Able Seaman  D/SR8339 Royal Navy H.M.S. "Berry" Died: 8th September 1943 Age: 25.   BRAINTREE (LONDON ROAD) CEMETERY. Son of David Ashdown, and of Ellen Hannah Ashdown, of Braintree. Drowned.  Naval-History  His brother Henry Albert Ashdown (below) also died in service.

HMS "BERRY" The frigate operated on convoy duties in the Atlantic and Bay of Biscay during 1943.

HMS "BERRY Ship details.

"A day of memory

 Sad to recall

 Without goodbye

 You left us all"

ASHDOWN, HENRY ALBERT Gunner 1577883 Royal Artillery 207 Coastal Bty. Died: 9th October 1945 Age: 30.  BRAINTREE (LONDON ROAD) CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of David Ashdown, and of Ellen Hannah Ashdown, of Braintree; husband of Ivy May Ashdown, of Braintree. His brother Edgar Ernest Ashdown (above) also died in service

"Some may forget you

 Now that you have gone

 But we shall remember

 No matter how long"

****

BARKER, ALFRED ERNEST Corporal. T/180513. Royal Army Service Corps 253 Airborne Div. Comp. Coy. Died: 18th September 1944. Age: 31. ROOSENDAAL-EN-NISPEN GENERAL CEMETERY.  Son of Daniel George and Barbara Susan Barker; husband of Phyllis Irene Barker (wed 1942), of Braintree, Essex.

"God's greatest gift,

 Remembrance"

****

BARROW, JOHN HENRY. Able Seaman. C/JX 376204 Royal Navy 'H.M.L.C.T. 339.' Died: 15th August 1944 Age: 19. MAZARGUES WAR CEMETERY, MARSEILLES.  Son of Richard William and Jane Ann Barrow, of Braintree, Essex. 

"In ever loving memory

Mum, Dad & Family"                                                                                                                                                                                             

Landing Craft Tank Mark 3.Operation Dragoon The invasion of southern France.

Buried Draguignan American Cemetery, re-interred Mazargues 1947.

****

BASHAM, JACK ALBERT GEORGE. Private. 5783264. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry 2nd (Airborne) Bn. Died:24th March 1945. Age:23 REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY. Son of Emily Basham, of Braintree, Essex.                                                                                                                                      

Operation Varsity Paradata 

The 2nd Ox and Bucks were once again involved in a gliderborne air assault landing, known as Operation Varsity: the largest airborne operation in the history of warfare and the airborne support for Operation Plunder: the Rhine Crossing in late March 1945. The Germans were defending their last great natural barrier in the West and Operation Varsity which began on 24 March 1945 was the last major battle on the Western Front during the Second World War. The 2nd Ox and Bucks landed on the north-east perimeter of 6th Airborne Divisions's landing zone, the furthest east of any British Army unit, to capture bridges from the Germans. The battalion, like many others during the assault, suffered heavily as the Germans met the landing gliders with ferocious fire in the air and on the ground; the 2nd Ox and Bucks lost 400 killed or injured out of a total battalion strength of 800 men. Wiki

****

BATEMAN, FREDERICK JOSEPH. Warrant Officer Class III. T.S.M.1066602. Royal Artillery 5 Field Regt.  Died: 1st July 1941. Age: 33. Born Braintree 1909. 1911 family lived 21 Manor Street. Father Frederick a Blacksmith, brothers Edgar & Ernie, sister Elsie.  ALAMEIN MEMORIAL. Son of Frederick William and Grace Hayward Bateman, of Braintree, Essex.  Fought in the Syrian and Lebanon area. 

Beere, A. No information

BEERE, STANLEY HAROLD Gunner 963577. Royal Artillery 16 Defence Regt. Died: 13th February 1942 Age: 22. Born Cosford 1919. SINGAPORE MEMORIAL        

Singapore surrendered 15th February 1942.

Within Kranji War Cemetery stands the SINGAPORE MEMORIAL, bearing the names of over 24,000 casualties of the Commonwealth land and air forces who have no known grave. Many of these have no known date of death and are accorded within our records the date or period from when they were known to be missing or captured. The land forces commemorated by the memorial died during the campaigns in Malaya and Indonesia or in subsequent captivity, many of them during the construction of the Burma-Thailand railway, or at sea while being transported into imprisonment elsewhere. The memorial also commemorates airmen who died during operations over the whole of southern and eastern Asia and the surrounding seas and oceans. CWGC

****

BENDING, GEORGE.  Private 5827417.  Suffolk Regiment 4th Bn. Died: 16th September 1943 Age: 28.

THANBYUZAYAT WAR CEMETERY,  The 4th & 5th Battalions Suffolks were Territorial battalions. Sent to Singapore January 1942 the endured just over two weeks of action before surrendering to the Japanese forces. Then followed over three years harsh treatment as Prisoners of War. During this time George Bending died.                                                                                                 

Brandon at War POW conditions here.

****

BEVAN, THOMAS EDWARD. Colour Serjeant 2033192 King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)  attd. King's African Rifles. Died:24th September 1944. Age: 29. RANGOON MEMORIAL. Husband of Gladys Bevan, of Braintree, Essex.                                                                                                      

11th (East Africa) Division Kings African Rifles

****

BROWN, FREDERICK. Sapper 2146444.  Royal Engineers 1 Gen. Base Depot  Died:14th April 1943.  Age: 33. Born 1910 Newcastle. EL ALIA CEMETERY Algeria.  Son of Simpson and Cristina Brown; husband of Emily Margaret Brown, of Bocking, Essex. Father a metal foundry worker 1911.                                                                  

el Alia Cemetery Allied troops made a series of landings on the Algerian coast in early November 1942. From there, they swept east into Tunisia, where the North African campaign came to an end in May 1943 with the surrender of the Axis forces.

The cemetery was originally an Allied war cemetery, but was taken over as a civilian cemetery by the municipal authorities when most of the non-Commonwealth war graves were moved to other burial places.  El Alia Cemetery now contains 368 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War. Eight war graves of other nationalities remain in the Commonwealth plot and there are also 15 non-war graves, mostly of merchant seamen whose deaths were not due to war service.

****

BURMBY, PETER ALFRED Corporal  5835362  Suffolk Regiment 1st Bn. Died: 12th October 1944 Age: 21

OVERLOON WAR CEMETERY  Son of Alfred and Esther Burmby, of Braintree, Essex.                                          

1st Suffolks attacked Overloon from the west supported by Churchill Tanks. Heavy German resistance with several thousand casualties on both sides.

CANT, JOHN SYDNEY. Ordinary Telegraphist. C/JX262224. Royal Navy H.M. Trawler “Lord Hailsham”   Died: 27th February 1943.  Age: 33.  BRAINTREE (LONDON ROAD) CEMETERY. Son of Charles and Emily Elizabeth Cant, of Braintree; husband of Irene Ivy Cant,of Plaistow.

HMTrawler "Lord Hailsham"

February 27 - Trawler LORD HAILSHAM (891t, 1934), sunk by E-boats, probably torpedoed, English Channel Naval-History

German S.65, S.68, S.81 and S.85 of the 5th Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla attacked convoy WP.300 in Lyme Bay. Steamer MODAVIA (4858grt), LCT.381, and trawlers HARSTAD and LORD HAILSHAM (Ty/Lt P H G Clark RNVR) were sunk. LORD HAILSHAM lost nine ratings killed and nine missing. Naval-History

CARTER, DENIS FRANK. Flight Sergeant. Pilot 658594. Royal Air Force.  Died: 7th November 1943. Age: 24 

BRAINTREE (LONDON ROAD) CEMETERY.  Son of Arthur and Lois Hannah Carter, of Guilden Morden, Cambridgeshire.

"So he passed over

 And all the trumpets

 sounded for him

 on the other side"

5 AFU

F/Sgt Denis Frank Carter (658594), RAF, aged 24. Buried at Braintree and Bocking (Braintree) Cemetery. Shropshire Air Accidents It appears Denis was training as a pilot when he encountered an accident.

Dennis was a bomber pilot who carried out 29 sorties over Germany and Italy and was killed in an accident while on fighter conversion training at RAF Ternhill, Shropshire. His parents moved from Braintree after the war. (Mike Bardell) 

****

CATHCART, RAYMOND BERTIE. Corporal.1546996. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve B.S.R.U. Died: 7th November 1944. Age: 37. RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL.  Son of Bertie and Caroline Cathcart, of Braintree, Essex; husband of Florence Cathcart, of Braintree.  Father a shopkeeper at 54 Manor Street.

BSRU (Base Signals & Repair Unit. Often called Radar Unit). 

LST-420 (Large Landing Craft) Attempted to land at Ostend on 7th November 1944 but were unable to do so.  Moving back into the Channel they hit a mine and a large number of RAF men (many from 1. BSRU) were aboard.  The LST broke in two and over 200 were lost, many bodies never being recovered.  While his name does not appear on any documentation the date indicates it is likely Raymond was among this number lost.  

RAF Commands

****

Clark. A.W.  No information

****

CLARK, ROBERT GORDON.  Captain 166052. Royal Armoured Corps 23rd Hussars. 11th Armoured Division.  Died: 28th June  1944. Age: 29. ST. MANVIEU WAR CEMETERY, CHEUX.  Son of Kenneth Gordon Clark and Martha Hetty Clark, of Braintree, Essex; husband of Diana Clark.

"I see heaven's glories shine

 And faith shines equal

 Arming me from fear"

Buried Tourmanville, re-interred St Manvieu November 1945.

'A' Sqdn from 23rd engaged German 88mm Guns South of Cheux, joined by 'B' & 'C' sqdns. These crossed River Odon near Tourmanville and harboured there overninght. 05:30 advanced and by 15:30 were relieved owing to shortage of ammunition. Withdrew to orchard south side of Tourmanville where Capt R.G.Clark & Lt. P.G. Helyar killed.  2 ORs killed, 5 OR's wounded, 6 OR's missing. Lt. D.F. King suffering from exhaustion.  WW2 Talk

COOPER, ALBERT EDWARD.  Flying Officer.  Air Gnr. 77963. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 35 Sqdn. Died: 10th March 1941. Age: 34.  COGGESHALL BURIAL GROUND.  Son of Ernest and Hephzibah Cooper, of Coggeshall; husband of D. M. Cooper.

On 2nd March 1941 35 Squadron was equipped with the new Halifax bomber and eight days later, on 10th March, Halifax L9489 (F-Freddie) set off on its first bombing raid on the French port of Le Havre. The raid was successful, but on the way home the new Halifax bomber was mistaken for an enemy aircraft by a British night fighter and was shot down over Surrey. Coggeshall Museum

****

Culhane J.  No information

 ****

CUMING, EDWARD JAMES.  Sergeant 1270898.  Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 458 Sqdn. Died: 16th September 1943.  Age: 23.  MALTA MEMORIAL. Son of Charles Walter and Beatrice Cuming, of Braintree, Essex.  Missing from the War Memorial for unknown reason.

458 SQUADRON RAAF WORLD WAR 2 FATALITIES

Date of Death: 16 September 1943.  Source: AWM 64 1/280 Commonwealth War Graves records. Aircraft Type: Wellington

Serial number: ......     Radio call sign: FU – K.    Unit: 458 Sqn RAAF

Summary:

Wellington FU – K took off from RAF Protville at 1821 hours on the night of 16/17th September 1943 to patrol an area from Civitavecchia to Savona Gorjona islands thence Bastia and down the coasts of Corsica and Sardinia. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it did not return to base.

Crew:

RAF FO Driver, P R Captain (Pilot).  RAF Sgt E L Wilson (2nd Pilot). RAF FO Holt, G (Navigator)

RAF Sgt E J Cuming, (Wireless Operator). RAF Sgt G R Potter, (SE/Operator). Sgt D A E Salt, (Rear Gunner)

The names of FO Driver, FO Holt and Sgt’s Cuming and Potter are commemorated on the Malta Memorial as having no known grave. The Memorial is situated in the area of Floriana, and stands outside the main entrance to Valletta, Malta.

Flt Sgt Wilson is buried in the Florence War Cemetery, Italy. Commonwealth War Graves records his date of death as 16/10/1943.

It could not be established from available records how Sgt Salt lost his life. 458 Squadron fatalities

****

DALE, ALBERT ARTHUR.  Rifleman.  6844834 King's Royal Rifle Corps 2nd Bn. Died: 4th January 1943  Age: 28. ALAMEIN MEMORIAL.  Husband of Ivy. M. Dale, (wed 1940) of Braintree, Essex.

The 2nd KRRC swept across North Africa as part of Montgomery's pursuit of General Rommel's Africa Corps.  Just after taking Sirte in Tunisia several encounters with the enemy led to casualties, one of these was Albert Dale.

DAVEY, DERRICK JOSEPH.  Sergeant.  W.Op./Air Gnr.  553939 Royal Air Force 106 Sqdn.  Died: 21st December 1940. Age:18.  BRAINTREE (LONDON ROAD) CEMETERY.  Son of Joseph and Ellen Eliza Davey, of Braintree.

"In loving memory

 Of our Derrick.

"Until we meet again"

Hampden Mk.I X3154                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

The crew of the aircraft were on a night cross country navigation exercise from RAF Finningley near Doncaster and the plane crashed on Rushup Edge near Chapel-en-le-Frith.  Both during WW2 when the blackout covered the land and in the years following aircraft crashed during exercises in the Peak District.

Michael Hubbard                              Pilot Officer     Pilot       Killed

Kenneth Walsingham Boyd Perkins    Sergeant        Navigator     Killed

David William Smith                         Sergeant        Wireless Operator/ Air gunner     Killed

Derrick Joseph Davey                       Sergeant       Air gunner     Killed  Peak District Air Crashes

The aircraft was on a training sortie and was off track in very poor weather on an exercise when it hit high ground. Aviation Safety

****

DAVISON, PETER DOUGLAS. Lieutenant 331870 Essex Regiment attd. 1st Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment.  Died: 18th April 1946.  Age: 26. KRANJIWAR CEMETERY.  Son of John Douglas Davison and Elizabeth Davison, of 130 Cressing Road, Braintree, Essex.  Father John a heating engineer.  Peter died at Jahore, Malaya possibly from disease and buried at Wing Loon Cemetery on the 19th, re-interred at Kranji September 9th.

"We thank God

 For every remembrance of you"

 ****

DYE, LESLIE WALTER. Driver T/115690. Royal Army Service Corps.  Died: 10th October 1944. Age: 25.  FLORENCE WAR CEMETERY. Son of Charles Hammond Dye and Ellen Louisa Dye; husband of Edith May Dye, of Braintree, Essex.

"In Gods keeping

 In memory

 of my dead husband"

****

EAGLING, WALTER ERNEST. Able Seaman. C/SS 11103. Royal Navy H.M.S. "Martin" Died: 10th November 1942.  Age: 41. Born Hackney 1901. CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL. Son of Ernest and Charlotte Eagling; husband of Dorothy Annie Eagling, of Leytonstone, Essex. Father a Comb maker 1901 by 1911 working in a Xylonite factory. Married address given as Leyton, what connection to Braintree?

HMS "Martin" was the allocated to the escort group for Force "H" in Operation “Torch”, the landings in North Africa. She sailed from Scapa Flow on 30 October as part of the escort for Force "H", and after fueling at Gibraltar on 5 November re-joined Force "H"- the covering force to the landings at Algiers and Oran, on 8 November. The task of Force "H" was to guard against action by the Italian fleet, during the landings. Martin was torpedoed by U-431 under command of Wilhelm Dommes on the morning of 10 November as a result of which she blew up and sank in position 37°53′N 003°57′E. The only survivors were four officers and 59 ratings picked up by the destroyer Quentin.  HMS"Martin"

Edwards, Frederick Sydney. Lance Corporal. 6020509. Essex Regiment 2nd Bn. 'D' Company HQ Section. Died: 4th May 1944 BRAINTREE (LONDON ROAD) CEMETERY Son of Walter Samuel Miles Edwards and Ellen Matilda Edwards. Brother of Kenneth Jack Edwards (below).

"In silence

 We remember him"

"Operation Fabius." A training exercise with 'D-Day' in mind on the south coast of England.  The weather was rough, the Landing Craft used the wrong type and the swell of the sea resulted in the deaths of several men including Frederick Stanley Edwards. While lessons for 'D-Day' were learned the loss in such a fashion was hard on the relatives.  

****

EDWARDS, KENNETH JACK. Driver T/10703099. Royal Army Service Corps. Died: 22nd April 1943 THIBAR SEMINARY WAR CEMETERY.  Son of Walter Samuel Miles Edwards and Ellen Matilda Edwards, of Braintree, Essex. Brother of Frederick Sydney Edwards (above).

It is thought Kenneth died during an attack on Longstop Hill.  Battle of 'Longstop Hill'

"Gone is the one

 We loved so dear

 But in our hearts

 He is always near"

Wiki

FINCH, FREDERICK DONALD. Marine CH/X 109298 Royal Marines H.M.L.C.G. (L) 9. (Landing Craft Gun)  Date of Death: Saturday 24th June 1944. Age: 19.  CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL. Son of George F. and Lilian Finch, of Braintree, Essex.

No information as to how Frederick Finch died, however several other Royal Marines in this craft are known to have died the same day giving the impression the craft suffered damage from enemy action or storm.

****

FITCH, KENNETH STANLEY VICTOR Corporal 557178. Royal Tank Regiment, R.A.C. 4th Died between 6th February 1945 and 7th February 1945, age 26. BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY. Married Gertrude May Hood 1941, Richmond, Yorkshire.  

Royal Armoured Corps 4th Royal Tank Regiment fought in the Middle East Theatre during the war.  Somehow Kenneth has been taken prisoner and landed in a Prisoner of War camp in Germany where he died, possibly from disease.                     

Grave    

Fitch Kenneth SV 557178 Cpl 4RTR. Middle East. 01 February 1945 Royal Tank Reg

FRYATT, JOHN ALFRED. Petty Officer Telegraphist C/JX 139959 Royal Navy H.M.S. "Thanet" Died: 27th January 1942. Age:25  CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL  Son of Edward and Annie Fryatt. Lived 38 Sunnyside, Braintree.

HMS "Thanet," and the destroyer HMAS "Vampire," were ordered to sea to intercept large Japanese convoy. They steamed from Singapore at 4.30pm on 26 January, carrying only three torpedoes each. Early in the morning of 27 January they ran into the covering force of Japanese warships, consisting of three destroyers, and later being joined by the Japanese cruiser Sendai. Thanet was hit in the engine room and disabled, and began to sink. Vampire attempted to lay down a smoke screen but was driven off under heavy fire, and managed to escape. Thanet sank with heavy loss of life shortly afterwards. HMS "Thanet" S.R.Turner Crew Member's story

FULLER, ROBERT HARRY. Sergeant. W.Op./Air Gnr.  934063 Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Died: 16th September 1942. Age: 21 REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY.  Born Braintree 1920.Son of Harry and Florence Anna Fuller, of Braintree, Essex. No. 25 Operational Training Unit RAF (25 OTU)

"Good-by,dear son,

 Though far apart

 Our hearts are with you.

 Dad and family"

Wellington III BJ969 B  took off from Finningley in the United Kingdom 20:26

Crew: Sgt A.F.Rees RAAF. pow. Sgt E.A.Hall, Sgt H.W. Crock, Sgt R.F.Fuller, Sgt J.F. Oakley. (Thanks Peter Clare WW2 Talk)

Essen Raid, 16/17 September 1942

369 aircraft, including aircraft from the training groups. 39 aircraft - 21 Wellingtons, 9 Lancasters, 5 Stirlings, 3 Halifaxes, 1 Whitley - lost, 10.6 per cent of the force.  Although much of the bombing was scattered, this was probably the most successful attack on this difficult target. There were 33 large and 80 'medium' fires. 8 industrial and 6 transport premises were hit. The Krupps works were hit by 15 high-explosive bombs and by a crashing bomber loaded with incendiaries. There was much housing damage. In Essen and its immediate surroundings, 47 people were killed and 92 injured. Many other towns were hit, in particular Bochum with 50 fires and 4 people dead, Wuppertal with 13 dead, Heme with a large fire in a lorry garage and Cochem, a small town on the Moselle 90 miles south of Essen, which received 1 bomb load destroying 4 houses and killing 15 people. Back to Normandy

WreckSite

GALL, CARL EDWARD  Stoker 1st Class.  C/KX 114291 Royal Navy H.M. Submarine "Talisman"  Died: 18th September 1942. Age: 21.  CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL Born Braintree 1921. Son of Leonard Cecil and Fanny Elizabeth Gall.

14 Sep 1942

HMS Talisman (Lt.Cdr. M. Willmott, DSO, RN) reports sighting a U-boat in position 37°48'N, 06°00'E. Enemy course 250°, speed 14 knots. This was the last signal received from HMS Talisman. She failed to arrive at Malta on the 18th and was probably mined in the Sicilian Channel. The submarine sighted by Talisman was most likely the Italian Alabastro. On the basis of this signal a Gibraltar-based Sunderland of 202 squadron was sent and caught the Italian submarine on the surface and sank her, there were no survivors.  U-Boat.Net

Hopefully this and other vessels identity will soon be confirmed. During 2015 a sonar search off Tabarka, Tunisia, has revealed the presence of HMS Talisman, another seven British submarines and one Italian. A professional Survey will be conducted in September this year by the italian Navy. Jean-Pierre Misson

****

GOODAY, NORMAN GEORGE  Private. 6019078 Suffolk Regiment 4th Bn.  Died: 13th September 1943. Age: 23 CHUNGKAI WAR CEMETERY. Born Braintree 1919.  Son of Samuel and Elizabeth Mary Gooday, of 8, Maple Avenue, Braintree, Essex.  Father Samuel a church caretaker.

"God's greatest gift, remembrance.

 Years shall not dim, nor memory fade"

The 4th & 5th Battalions Suffolks were Territorial battalions.  Sent to Singapore January 1942 the endured just over two weeks of action before surrendering to the Japanese forces.  Then followed over three years harsh treatment as Prisoners of War.

GOODEY, THOMAS ALBERT. Private.  Home Guard 11th Essex Bn. Died: 30th August 1942  BRAINTREE (London Road) CEMETERY.  Son of Mary A. R. Goodey, of Braintree.  Born Braintree 1917, parents James and Mary lived 35 South Street in 1911, father working at Crittalls.

During a training exercise in a field at High Garrett led by Lt Herbert Hilton Goodey mishandled a grenade which exploded and killed both Thomas Goodey and Herbert Hilton.  Hilton also buried in London Road Cemetery.

****

GRANTHAM, ARTHUR ROBERT.  Private. 7620991 Royal Army Ordnance Corps  attd. 7th Bn. The Parachute Regiment, A.A.C. Died:10th June 1944. Age: 31.  RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY. Born 1912 Bishops Stortford. Son of Alfred Grantham, and of Bertha M. Grantham, of Braintree, Essex.

"Resting

 Where no shadows fall"

Ranville was the first village liberated by the 6th Airborne Division during the night of 5/6th June.  The 7th relieved the glider borne troops of the first attack and fought defensive battles to support the allied bridgehead.

****

GRAY, MAXWELL ALBERT. Gunner. 14440504 Royal Artillery 3 Maritime Regt. Died: 24th June 1944.  Age:18.  CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL. Son of William Thomas and Laura Gray, of Braintree, Essex.

Maritime gunners aboard ships were armed to defend the vessels.  It is likely Maxwell was trained in the use of  'Bofors' anti-aircraft guns.  No details of his death are known.

GRAY, Maxwell A, Gunner, RA, 14440504, 3 Maritime Regt, RA, 24 June 1944, MPK Naval-History

H.M.L.C.G. (L) 9. (Landing Craft Gun) was one of two craft (other unidentified as yet) that sank that day, possibly after hitting a mine.  Many Royal Marines were aboard and it may be Maxwell was gunner on one of these.

****

Green C.A.  No information  

***

 HART, JACK. Gunner. 1626517 Royal Artillery 4 H.A.A. Reg. Died:12 February 1942 Age: 30  PEMBROKE MILITARY CEMETERY. Son of William and Florence Edith Hart, of Braintree, Essex; husband of Hilda Annie Hart, of 'Vendor,' Queensborough Lane, Braintree.

"His duty nobly done"

4.H.A.A. Strength 30th June 1939, 23 officers and 352 other ranks. To Malta with seven  9.2 inch guns.  By February shortage of gunners reported.

 ****

HASLER, ROBERT GEORGE. Serjeant. T/2614231 Royal Army Service Corps Died: 6th April 1942.  Age: 25.  FREETOWN (KING TOM) CEMETERY. Born Halstead 1917.  Son of Geoffrey and Elizabeth Hasler; husband of Iris Constance Hasler, (Wed 1940) of Braintree. Essex.  Four men died in two days, most likely cause illness.

"In loving memory

 of my dear husband.

 he died so we may live"

During the Second World War the four territories in West Africa - including Sierra Leone - became bases for recruiting and training men for the armed forces and their ports and harbours were of great value to convoys bound for the Middle East, India, South Africa and South America. By the end of 1942, coastal defence artillery had been installed and manned in all the principal West African ports. Freetown became a naval base.  CWGC

 ****

HEARD, ERIC WALTER.  Driver. T/82479  Royal Army Service Corps 1 Corps Supply Column.  Died: Between 28th May 1940 and 02/06/1940.  Age: 20.  DUNKIRK MEMORIAL Son of Walter and Agnes Heard, of Braintree, Essex.

HEARD, STANLEY.  Lance Corporal. 2046382  Royal Engineers  Died: 5th July 1940.  Age: 20 BRAINTREE (LONDON ROAD) CEMETERY. Son of Charles and Mary Kate Heard, of Braintree.

"One of the dearest

 One of the best

 God in his mercy

 Took him to rest"

74th (Essex Fortress) AA Bn RE: a new searchlight unit formed in April 1939 by conversion of the Essex Fortress Company, RE, based at Tottenham and incorporating 310 AA Company from 28th (Essex) AA Bn and 335 AA Company from 33rd (St Pancras) AA Bn.

Based Kent to defend the Thames Estuary.

 ****

HEDGES, GEORGE ALBERT. Stoker 2nd Class. C/KX 172016  Royal Navy H.M.S. L.C.T. 1029   Died: 16th January 1944.     Age: 18  CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL Son of William Edward and May Ethel Hedges, of Braintree, Essex.

Mined & sunk of Skegness U-Boat.Net    LCT 1029 Wreck Site  Nine men lost, three survivors.

****

Heywood, Kenneth W. No information

A Kenneth W. Heywood married a Muriel Cage 1941 in Braintree.

Herbert Hilton  Lieutenant  Home Guard.  Died: 30th August 1942.  Age:57.  BRAINTREE (LONDON ROAD) CEMETERY. Son of Thomas and Harriet Hilton; husband of May Hilton, The Cottage, John Ray Avenue, Braintree.

"In God's keeping"

Accidentally killed while leading grenade instruction at High Garrett. Private Thomas Albert Goodey mishandled a grenade killing both men.  Goodey also buried in London Road Cemetery.

HMS "Vortigern" (World Naval Ships)

HOOK, KENNETH ROLAND. Ordinary Seaman. P/JX 298672  Royal Navy H.M.S. "Vortigern"  Died: 13th February 1942.  Age: 19.  PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL. Son of Frank and Ethel Hook, of Braintree, Essex.

HOOK, Kenneth R, Ordinary Seaman, P/JX 29872, Vortigern, 12 February 1942, lost overboard, MPK  Naval-History

****

HUME, REX HARRY.  Driver.  T/14310744 Royal Army Service Corps Died: 28th November 1944. Age: 20 EINDHOVEN (WOENSEL) GENERAL CEMETERY Son of Frederick James Hume and Emily Amelia Hume, of Braintree, Essex.

"Until we meet again

 Our lost treasure

 In God's keeping"

HUTCHINS, EDWARD WILLIAM (BILL).  Warrant Officer. 902779 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.  Died: 26th Sptember 1946  Age: 34 BRAINTREE (LONDON ROAD) CEMETERY. Son of Albert Edward and Ellen Hutchins; husband of Joan Mary Spencer Hutchins. of 8, College Road, Braintree.

"In loving memory

 Of my dear husband Bill.

 Loved by those

 Who knew thee best"

Died at RAF Hospital Ely.

 ****

INMAN, EDWIN BENTALL. Sergeant. 748460  Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 82 Sqdn.  Died: 27th May 1941. Age: 22 Born Halstead 1919. MALTA MEMORIAL Lived 'Hilbre,' London Rd, Braintree.  Son of Arthur Kenneth and Ivy Mary Inman, of Kirby Cross, Essex.

Whilst attacking an enemy convoy, his aircraft was shot down into the sea, all the crewmen lost their lives. Malta Family History

Inman, Edwin Bentall. Sergeant 748460. RAFVR 82 Sqd Age 22. 1941-05-27. Malta.  Malta Memorial, Panel 1, Column 2.

Two Blenheims of 82 Squadron were shot down today while engaging in an offensive operation in the southern Mediterranean. The Blenheims were among six sent to attack a large convoy escorted by destroyers as it headed for Tripoli in Libya.  Early this afternoon they reached the six merchant vessels with their escort of eight destroyers and launched their attack.The bombers flew in low over the ships to release their bombs in the midst of very heavy anti-aircraft fire. Two of the merchant ships were hit but two of the Blenheims were also destroyed as they dived down towards the vessels.  It has been suggested that the resulting explosions destroyed two of the Blenheims.  The pilots of the two bombers have been named as Flt/Lt G M Fairbairn and Sgt E B Inman.  Their crews were Sgt R J Austin, Sgt K P Collins (1), P/O P J Higgins and Sgt S W Kemp.  Malta War Diary

JAGGARD, NORMAN WILLIAM LEONARD. Private. 2060294 The Parachute Regiment, A.A.C. 4th Bn. formerly Royal Engineers.  Died: 28th January 1945  Age: 23  BRAINTREE (LONDON ROAD) CEMETERY. Son of Charles Henry and Lily Louisa Jaggard, of 14, Clare Road, Braintree.

Enlisted Royal Engineers, 4th Para saw action in Tunisia, Algeria, and Italy.  Possibly wounded in northern Italy and hospitalised at home where he died 28th January 1945.   

JENNINGS, KATHLEEN OLIVE. Private.  W/79118 Auxiliary Territorial Service  attd. 477 Bty., 142 (M) H.A.A. Regt., Royal Artillery.

Died: 2nd March 1942. Age: 19.  BOCKING CEMETERY. Born Braintree 1923. Daughter of Edward and Agnes Ethel Jennings, of Bocking.  One sister and three brothers who along with both parents survived the war.

"In loving memory

  of Kathleen"

Knocked down late at night while walking with three others on near side of road.  Glancing hit by slow following car, hit head on concrete slab at side of road.  Died in hospital.

JOYCE, HENRY ERNEST. Flying Officer Pilot. 151443 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.  Died:19th November 1943. BOCKING CEMETERY. (Family plot) Born Tower Hamlets 1921.  Husband of M. Joyce of Stanley, Co. Durham.  Parents, Alice Maud Joyce (nee Innocent) and Francis Alfred Joyce are interred with him.

Wed shortly before death.

There is a commemoration on his grave to his cousin, Sergeant Oliver Henry Thomas Innocent, Service No. 1255764 who also served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve(100 Sqdn.) and who died on active service aged 23 on 4th September 1943. He was the son of Thomas William and Alice Innocent, of Romford, Essex, and having no known grave is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial at Panel 154.

****

King,K. No information

 ****

KIRTON, JOHN STANLEY.  Pilot Officer. Pilot. 174112  Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 166 Sqdn. Died: 13th June 1944.  Age: 22 APELDOORN (UGCHELEN-HEIDEHOF) GENERAL CEMETERY.  Son of George Stanley Kirton and Mary Ellen Kirton; husband of Joan Kirton, of Braintree, Essex.

"I'll walk beside you

 In the land of dreams

 Love's last gift

 Remembrance"

166 Squadron Memorial 

****

Kirton, J S. Pilot Officer. 1944-06-12. 166 Sqd. Lancaster III. ND399 AS-R. Kirmington. 2223. Gelsenkirchen. Crashed near Apeldoorn {Gelderland} Killed. Apeldoorn {Ugchelen-Heidehof} General Cemetery. AircrewRemembered

Lancaster Mk III ND399 "AS-R" of 166 Sqn RAF. Target: Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Shot down at 02:30 hours on 13 June 1944 by German night-fighter (crew unknown). Aircraft came down at Ugchelen-Willemsbos, directly West of Apeldoorn town, also Gem. Apeldoorn, Landstreek Veluwe, Province of Gelderland. All 7 crew KIA:

Plt. Off. J. S. Kirton - Pilot - buried Ugchelen-Heidehof (Pilot)

Sgt. J. P. Coogan (from Ireland) - Flight Engineer - buried Ugchelen-Heidehof

Fg. Off. J .L. Lochhead - Navigator - buried Ugchelen-Heidehof

Fg. Off. P. L. Andrewes - Air Bomber - buried Ugchelen-Heidehof

Sgt. A. J. Brazier - Wireless Op. - buried Ugchelen-Heidehof

Sgt. C. McClean - Mid Upper Gunner - buried Ugchelen-Heidehof

Sgt. F. I. Spencer - Rear Gunner - buried Ugchelen-Heidehof    Aviation-Safety

****

LEGGETT, FREDERICK EDWARD.  Private.  1613418  Army Catering Corps  attd. 17th/21st Lancers Royal Armoured Corps Died: 7th January 1943. Age: 28  BROOKWOOD MEMORIAL.  Son of William and Fanny Leggett; husband of Rose Iris Leggett, of Braintree, Essex.

Lost at sea, possibly during transfer to Tunisia where the Lancers were based.

****

LESTER J. No Information

****

MACLEAN, RODERICK NORMAN.  Lieutenant. 147256.   Royal Army Service Corps. Died 10th November 1942.  Age: 43. Born Upper Tooting 1899, family living Balham 1911. Parents James & Florence.  BRAINTREE CEMETERY.  Additional Information:  Son of James and Florence Grace Hilder MacLean; husband of Doris MacLean, of Braintree.

"Until the Daybreak"

****

MARTIN, CECIL ERNEST. Private  6025547  Essex Regiment 1st Bn. 23rd Infantry Brigade, 6th Division. Died: 15th April 1944. Age: 24  KOHIMAWAR CEMETERY

Fierce fighting around Kohima during 1944, severe casualties for 1st Essex however from here on the Japanese were in retreat.

****

McDERMOTT, THOMAS HAROLD Sergeant. 358213 Royal Air Force Died: 27th July 1945 Age: 40. SINGAPORE MEMORIAL Born Mill Hill 1905, Son of Henry Thomas McDermott and Florence Bertha McDermott; husband of Lily May McDermott, (Wed 1931) of Braintree, Essex.

Singapore Roll of Honour   Death recorded by Japanese as 'Malaria.' 

****

MESSENGER, FRANK VERO. Sergeant. Flt. Engr. 962998 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 434 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn. Died: 24th August 1943  ESBJERG (FOURFELT) CEMETERY

434 Squadron belonged to the Royal Canadian Air Force using mixed RAF/RCAF crews.

Frank Messenger parachuted from the damaged aircraft but landed in deep water near Danish Islands and drowned.  The Bombers story with photographs of the crew is told in "Airwar over Denmark."    

Messenger. F V. Sergeant. 1943-08-23. 434 Sqd. Halifax V. DK261 IP-V. Tholthorpe.    2026. Berlin. Crashed W of Mano island. Killed. Aircrew Remembered

Halifax crashed  S/L R.A. McLernon - Sgt R.S. Welters (POW) - Sgt J. Plenderleith (POW) - Sgt M.W. Stevenson (Killed) - F/Sgt R.C. Brooks (POW)- F/Sgt C.W.Snyder (Killed)- Sgt F.V. Messenger (Killed) 434 Sqdn

Walter Moase@Bob Moase

MOASE, WALTER. Aircraftman 2nd Class. 635632 Royal Air Force Died:22nd April 1941. Age: 19  NELSPOORT SANATORIUM CEMETERY. Born Braintree 1921, son of Walter Moase, and Rose Ellen Moase (nee White), of Braintree, Essex, England.

Walter was a member of the TA and volunteered for the RAF.  His father, and one sister, had died previously.  South Africa was used as a safe training ground for the RAF and Walter was sent there in 1940.  On a trip to Kynsna the lorry in which they travelled was involved in an accident and three men were killed.  It is possible that this resulted in Walter being hospitalised and possibly there he was discovered to be suffering TB from which he died.  His brother was later invalided out of the forces for the same reason.              

Walter Moase Grave@Bob Moase

Information and photos from Bob Moase.

**********

NUNN, ARTHUR JAMES.  Gunner. 1831405  Royal Artillery 270 Bty., 77 Lt. A.A.Regt.  Died:7th December 1942.  Age: 36. Born Ashtead, Surrey 1906.  DELHI WAR CEMETERY  Son of Josiah F. Nunn and Lily Dale Nunn, of Braintree, Essex. Brother Josiah Grimston died 1931. Sister Phyllis born 1921.

Delhi War Cemetery was created in 1951 when graves from many cemetery's were merged into one controllable group. As such at this moment it is not yet possible to know whereabouts or why he died.  Many men succumbed to disease as well as wounds at this time.

Wiki

OVERALL, ARTHUR PERCY  D.F.M. Sergeant. Pilot. 903084 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 106 Sqdr.                    Died: 12th September 1941.  Age:  24.  BLACK NOTLEY (SS. PETER AND PAUL) CHURCHYARD. Son of Percy Walter Overall. and of Edith Overall, of Black Notley.  Churchwarden at St Peter & St Paul.

Awarded the DFM.

Born Black Notley December 3rd 1916. Father died in Great War. Known as 'Mick.'  'The Cottage on the Hill'  Black Notley.  Died at Saltby Sproxton, Leics.  Also onBlack Notley Memorial. 

 ****

PERRY, DOUGLAS WILLIAM Sergeant. Navigator. 1332428 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died: 13th April 1943. Age: 20.  Born Braintree 1923.  KINGSTOWN CEMETERY. Son of William Basil and Kate Perry, of Braintree, Essex.

"In Loving memory

 Of our dear son

 Who is always

 In our thoughts"

During WW2 the RAF collected many aircraft from the USA and brought them into the middle East via the West Indies.  Perry was navigator on a A-30 Baltimore twin engined aircraft with a crew of three which developed a fault in one engine. Attempting to land the Australian pilot considered the one available flat land cultivated and dangerous and while turning round landed amongst young coconut trees. Two men were killed in the crash but Douglas William Perry was seriously burned but able to speak of their difficulty.  He died the next day. 12 O'cock High

PLUMB, CLIFFORD  Private. 6030753. Essex Regiment attd. 8th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby) Regiment.  Died: 25th November 1943. Born Risbridge, Suffolk 1901, Wed Ellen Susannah Tiffen,1937, Braintree. Lived 318 Upper Church St, Bocking.  BRAINTREE & BOCKING (Bocking) CEMETERY

Death registered in Surrey. The 8th Batt were part of the 49th West Riding Division, during 12943 they were a training division based in Kent possibly training officers.

****

PRUDHOE, ERNEST. Lance Serjeant. 812411 Royal Artillery 21 Anti Tank Regt. Died: 3rd August 1944.  Age: 34.  ST. CHARLES DE PERCY WARCEMETERY. (Born Durham?) son of George and Mary Eleanor Prudhoe; husband of Gladys Eleanor Prudhoe, (wed Lexden 1937) of Braintree, Essex.

"Remembered.

 Not just today but every day"

Buried near Beaulieu, reburied June 1946 at St Charles. This during the drive to separate the German 7th Army and Panzer Group West.

****

PUTTICK, KENNETH. Gunner. 14398517 Royal Artillery and No. 6 Commando Died: 7th June 1944.  Age: 19.  RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY.  Son of Arthur Henry and Annie May Puttick, of Braintree, Essex.

"So he passed over

 And all the trumpets

 Sounded for him

 On the other side"

Died of wounds, buried at Amfreville, reburied Ranville June 1945.  

Ranville was the first village liberated during 1944.

@Find a Grave

REID, WILLIAM. Gunner.  2872020.  Royal Artillery 3 Bty., 6 H.A.A. Regt. Died: 11th December 1943. Age: 35 KANCHANABURI WAR CEMETERY.  Son of James and Jane Reid; husband of Bridget Reid, of Braintree, Essex.

"At the going down of the sun 

 And in the morning

 We will remember them"

Became Prisoner of War when Singapore surrendered to Japanese on 15th February 1942.

Buried Tasao No 2 Cemetery, re-interred Kanchanaburi  1st March 1946.

****

REYNOLDS, WILLIAM GEORGE.  Lance Corporal.  6008988.  Northamptonshire Regiment 5th Bn.  Died:8th April 1943.  Age: 35  MEDJEZ-EL-BABWAR CEMETERY. Husband of Jessie Reynolds, of Witham, Essex.

"He died that we might live"

 "At rest"

Close to Tunis.  The Allies then fought at Oued Zarga on the 7th to 15th April 1943.

****

RUDKIN, JOHN ALFRED. Sergeant. Observer. 959587 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 107 Sqdn. Died: 23rd June 1941. Age: 21. BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY Son of Frank John and Louie Rudkin, of Braintree, Essex.

Not on Braintree & Bocking War Memorial

"With his heavenly Father.

 Loved by all who knew him

 For whom he gave his all"

Rudkin J. A. Sergeant 23.06.41, 107 Sqd. Blenheim IV V6195 OM. Great Massingham. 1858. Circus 20. Shot down off Dunkerque, Killed.  Boulogne Easter Cemetery. Aircrew Remembered

****

RUSSELL, VICTOR HERBERT.  Lance Corporal. 6022857. The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) 1/5th Bn. 131st Brigade.  Died: 25th July 1944. Age: 24  RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY. Son of Frederick Thomas Russell and Annie Russell; husband of Doris Eileen Russell, of Witham, Essex.

"The day we never knew must wait

 A lone life through

 Until I come to you - Doris"

Brigade attached to 7th Armoured Division fighting in Normandy.                                                                                                            

Buried withing days of death, re-interred 5th September 1945 at Ranville.

****

SEAGO, CECIL FREDERICK. Sapper. 14384034. Royal Engineers Grave Reference: 12. F. 17.   Died: 20th July 1943. Age: 32. Born Norwich 1910.  EL ALIA CEMETERY.  Husband of Florence Evelyn Seago, of Braintree, Essex. 1911 family lived St Paul's district.

"Memory is a treasure

 No one can steal

 Death is a heartache

 No-one can heal" 

North African campaign ended May 1943, did Cecil die of disease or wounds?

 AA936

SIMS, DENNIS JONATHAN. Flight Sergeant. (Spitfire) 1448749 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 234 Sqdn.   Died: 6th June 1944  Age: 22. Born Braintree 1921. RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL. Son of Jonathan William and Maud Sims, of 62, New Street, Braintree, Essex.

King's Scout. Scouts Roll of Honour

Sims.D J. Flight Sergeant 1448749. Pilot. 234 Sqd. 1944-06-06. Spitfire V.  AA936. Patrol. Crashed off Isle of Wight. Killed.  Runnymede Memorial. Aircrew Remembered

Note date discrepency.

The aircraft was lost on 1 August 1944 as the engine cut forced the pilot to ditch off St.Catherines Point, Isle of Wight. Spitfire Site

****

SMITH, ALEXANDER DOUGLAS. Warrant Officer. Pilot. 1316127 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 487 (R.N.Z.A.F.) Sqdn Died: 2nd November 1944.  Age: 26  BRUSSELS TOWN CEMETERY. Son of Charles and Sarah Emily Smith, of Bocking, Essex.

"Greater love

Hath no man than this

That a man lay down

His life for his friends"

Mosquito FB Mk V1s  NS834

Mosquito NS834 - Force landed B.58 Melsbroek/Brussels overshot runway. 2.11.1944

Crew:

W/O (1316127) Alexander Douglas SMITH (pilot) RAFVR - killed

F/Sgt (1455351) George Edward OWEN (nav.) RAFVR - killed   Aviation Safety

2-11-1944 - NS834 - t/o B.87 (Rosi%E8res-en-Santerre) 22.30h - hit house while crash landing B.58 (Melsbroek) 01.20h. (info files Mr. Hans de Haan). RAF Commands Archive

WW2 Talk

SMITH, BRIAN FRANK. Sergeant. 759210. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 120 Sqdn. Died: 28th May 1942.  Age: 22.  RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL. Husband of Eileen Mabel Smith, of 57, Coggeshall Road, Braintree, Essex.

RAF Coastal Command 120 Squadron operated from RAF Nutts Corner Northern Ireland flying Consolidated B-24 Liberators. 

Smith. Brian Frank. B F. 759210. Sergeant. RAFVR. 1942-05-28. 120 Sqd. Age 22. Husband of Eileen Mabel Smith, of Braintree, Essex.  Panel 93. AircrewRemembered

28 May 1942. Liberator I AM924 D/120. The aircraft took off from Stornoway at about 0700 hrs. and made two reconnaissances of the Loften Islands and while returning from the second flight the Liberator met three Me109s and although one of these was destroyed, the Liberator was badly damaged with two engines out of action. One gunner had been killed and two other crew members injured. The aircraft slowly lost height until one of the remaining over heated engines failed, the Liberator crashed into the sea at about 1800 hrs and broke up.

F/O. R. Walton. Captain. Evaded to Sweden.

P/O. T J. Corkran. RAAF. Second Pilot. Evaded to Sweden.

F/S. T J. Culnane. Navigator. Died from cold and exhaustion after two days in a dinghy.

Sgt. E J. Booker. Flight Engineer. Evaded to Sweden.

F/S. E A. Allgood. 1st Wireless Operator / Air Gunner. Killed in action during the attack by the Me109.

Sgt. J D. Pickering. 2nd Wireless Operator / Air gunner. Evaded to Sweden.

Sgt. B. Smith. 3rd Wireless Operator / Air gunner. Wounded in the attack by the fighter; may have been killed in the crash; body found in the water. WW2 Talk Peter Clare.

****

SMITH, FRANK GEORGE. Private. 6014213. Essex Regiment 1/4th Bn. 161st Brigade. attch 5th Indian Infantry Brigade. Died: 16th July 1944. Age: 22. Born Braintree 1921.  AREZZO WAR CEMETERY. Son of Eliza Ann Smith (nee Hazlewood), of Braintree, Essex.

"Not only today

 But every day

 In silence we remember.

 Rest in peace, my son"

Frank George Smith fell in the advance to Arezzo July 1944.  Buried 16th July 1944 reburied Arezzo War Cemetery 29th June 1945.

 ****

SMITH, GEORGE WILLIAM. Private. 6011808 Dorsetshire Regiment 4th Bn. 130th Infantry Brigade. 43rd Wessex Division. Died: 7th July 1944. Age: 35. Born Fordham, Essex 1909. Father a gardener.  BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY. Son of George James Smith and Ellen Smith; husband of Evelyn Flora Smith (nee Chaplin), of Braintree, Essex.  Wed Braintree 1933.

"He died that we might live"

" R.I.P."

Landed Normandy June 23rd. Buried 7th July 1944 Tourmauville near Caen, reburied Banneville 21st January 1946.

 ****

SMITH, LESLIE ALBERT.  Leading Telegraphist.  C/JX139721 Royal Navy H.M.S. "Felixstowe."  Died: 9th November 1940.  Age: 23  BRENTWOOD (LONDON ROAD) CEMETERY.  Son of Albert William and Alice Mary Smith, of Brentwood, husband of Mona Nellie Smith of 108 Clare Road, Braintree.

"He will always live

 In the hearts of those

 Who loved him"

Died at Essex County Hospital Colchester. 

****

SMITH, SIDNEY THOMAS. Petty Officer Stoker. C/KX 80449 Royal Navy H.M. Submarine P.33.  Died: 20th August 1941. Age: 37. CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL. Son of Percy Sidney and Annie Louisa Smith, of 12, John Ray Street, Braintree, Essex.

6 Aug 1941

HMS P 33 (Lt. R.D. Whiteway-Wilkinson, DSC, RN) departed Malta for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to position 33°20'N, 13°00'E, part of a patrol line with HMS P 32 (Lt. David Anthony Baily Abdy, RN) and HMS Unique (Lt. A.F. Collett, RN) patrol off Tripoli. On 15 August, Unique tried to make contact with P 33 by SST but without success, she was probably mined some time before on one the sections of the ‘T’ minefield. U-Boat net 

HMS Submarine P.33  P.33 WreckSite  Naval History

****

STOCK, DEREK CECIL.  Sergeant. Flt. Engr. 1626766 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 460 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn.   Died: 3rd August 1944.  Age: 20. ST. MACLOU-DE-FOLLEVILLE CHURCHYARD. Son of Frederick and Elsie Stock, of Braintree, Essex.

"In proud, loving memory

 Of our dear son.

 Gone from our home

 But always in our hearts"

Stock. Derek Cecil. Sergeant. 1626766. Flight Engineer. RAFVR. 1944-03-08. 460 Sqd. Lancaster III. PB125. AR-L. RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshre. Time 1138. Trossy. Killed. St. Maclou-de-Folleville Churchyard. Grave 3

460 Squadron took off from RAF Binbrook at 11:38 hours on a daylight raid, flying Lancaster III bombers heading for the Flying Bomb sites at Trossy-St-Maximin.  This was the fourth of six consecutive raids. Over a thousand bombers attacked three Flying Bomb sites.  The aircraft was hit by flak and the port wing blown off causing the aircraft to go into a spin, no parachutes were seen leaving the plane. AircrewRemembered

****

WADE, RONALD HAROLD.  Gunner. 5833669 Royal Artillery 72 Field Regt. Died: Between 30th May 1942 and 4th June 1942.  Age: 31.  KNIGHTSBRIDGE WAR CEMETERY, ACROMA.  Son of Alfred Charles and Eliza Frances Wade; husband of Elizabeth Ann Wade, of Braintree, Essex.

"His life a precious memory

 His absence a silent grief"

Reported missing between 30th May and 4th June 1942, reburied 14th June 1944. Identified by identity disc.

****

WARNE, CECIL JOHN.  Gunner. 932651. Royal Artillery 94 (The Dorset and Hampshire Yeomanry) Field Regt Date of Death: 4th October 1944.  Born Halstead 1923 Age: 21. ARNHEM OOSTERBEEK WAR CEMETERY Son of Samuel and Lily Warne; husband of Kathleen Olive Warne, of Braintree, Essex.  Wed 1944 St Albans,

Died on 4th of October 1944 and buried in corner of orchard. Reburied 12th October 1944. After the Battle of Arnhem, the 'Bridge to Far,' fighting continued around the area for some time. 

4 October 1944: Story from OP Captain C.N.B.Hancock: Elst Church tower was a lively spot for F.O.O's from all batteries. It was the only possible place for an O.P. in our area and consequently got a lot of attention from the Hun. It was quite commonplace to receive a many as fifteen or twenty hits in a day. Fortunately it had very thick walls and could "take it". Captain Cohen was evacuated from the tower after a shell burst about six feet from the slit through which he was looking. Bmd Hillier, his OP Ack, continued to man the O.P. very ably for the rest of the day. Gunner Warne, a signaller was killed the same day while mending a cable at the foot of the tower. RAUnitsNetherlands

****

WELLS, RONALD SYDNEY.  Bombardier. 824277  Royal Artillery 2 Medium Regt. Died: 29th May 1940.  Age: 28.  Born Fordingbridge, Hampshire 1912.  DUNKIRK MEMORIAL. Son of Percy James Wells and Emily Wells; husband of Dorothy Sarah Wells, of Panfield, Essex.

Wed Braintree 1937. 

Maurice Wiffen @

WIFFEN, MAURICE.  Sergeant. Pilot. 580312 Royal Air Force 149 Sqdn. Date of Death: 2nd March 1940.  Age: 29. Born Ipswich 1910.  BRAINTREE(LONDON ROAD) CEMETERY Son of Lewis W. Wiffen and Ethel C. Wiffen, of Braintree.

Married Pamela E. Griggs, Newmarket 1939.

Employed as a draughtsman at Crittalls until 1938 when he joined the RAF.

Bomber left Mildenhall airfield 00:34 hrs on a 'Nickel' leaflet raid.  Soon after take off port engine failed and the bomber was seen with its landing lights on. Aircraft crashed 00:45 hrs at Burnt Fen 9 miles NW of Mildenhall. 

Crew: Flying Officer (Pilot) Leo R. Field, RAF 37346, 149 Sqdn., age 22, 02/03/1940, Brighton (Lewes Road) Borough Cemetery, UK

Sergeant (Pilot) Maurice Wiffen, RAF 580312, 149 Sqdn., age 29, 02/03/1940, Braintree and Bocking (Braintree) Cemetery, UK

Aircraftman 2nd Class (W. Op./Air Gnr.) Laurence B. Hughson, RAF 621199, 149 Sqdn., age 22, 02/03/1940, Lerwick New Cemetery, UK

Sergeant (Obs.) James C. Murdoch, RAF 580799, 149 Sqdn., age unknown, 02/03/1940, Troon Cemetery, Ayrshire, UK

Leading Aircraftman Ernest H. Prior, RAF 546726, 149 Sqdn., age 22, 02/03/1940, Waterbeach Cemetery, UK

Aircraftman 2nd Class (Air Gnr.) Thomas E. Smith, RAF 626998, 149 Sqdn., age 18, 02/03/1940, Dunbar Cemetery.UK  Traces of WW2

Wiffen. M. Sergeant. 1940-03-01. 149 Sqd. WellingtonIa. N2984 OJ- Mildenhall. 0034. Nickel. Crashed Burnt Fen 9 miles NW of Base. Killed. AircrewRemembered

****

WILLIAMS, JOHN COLEMAN. Second Lieutenant. 217312. Royal Corps of Signals.  Died 27th April 1942. Aged 19. Son of John George Coleman Williams, and Dorothy Mary Williams (nee Dowding), of Twickenham, Middlesex.

Died Halstead possibly accident or disease.

****

Wood, Alfred.  

War service unknown.  Brother of John below, ran butchers shop at 112 High Street.

WOOD, JOHN. Captain. 259114 Royal Army Service Corps Died:17th August 1944. Age: 28.  Born Chelmsford 1915. BRAINTREE (LONDON ROAD) CEMETERY. Son of Alfred Herbert and Emma Wood, of Braintree; husband of Eleanor R. A. Wood, 47, London Road, Braintree. Wed Deben 1943.

Brother of Alfred above.

"But Lo! There breaks

 A yet more glorious day"

Captain John Wood@Geoff Wood.

Parents then brother Alfred, ran butchers shop 112 High Street Braintree.

Died Islington 1944.

****

YOUNG, JACK VINCENT.  Leading Aircraftman. 1084551 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 227 Sqdn. Died: 23rd August 1943. Age: 34. Born Braintree 1908. ALEXANDRIA (HADRA) WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY. Son of Thomas Elson Young and Alice Young, of Braintree, Essex; husband of Lizzie Annie Young, of Braintree.

During 1911 the family lived at 124 South Street, Braintree, Jacks father a painter for a constructional engineering works. Married Lizzie Chatters 1936, Braintree.

"As long as life

 And memory last

 We shall always

 Remember you"

227 Squadron flew Bristol Beaufighters at this time.

 ****

YOUNG, WILLIAM THOMAS.  Private. 5946300 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment 2nd Bn. Died: 8th June 1940.  Age: 29. Born Eire  1911.  ADEGEM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY. Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Edward Young; husband of Doris Alexander May Young, of High Garrett, Essex.

"He died for his country

 In a foreign land

 But the memory of him

 Is in England"

Wed Braintree 1939

Withdrawal to Dunkirk.

Buried Klemskerke Churchyard, Belgium, reburied Adegem Canadian War Cemetery May 1973.