Shirehampton Book of Remembrance
In Remembrance to the Fallen of the Shirehampton & Avonmouth areas of Bristol
Names of the Fallen on Shirehampton War Memorials & War Graves in Shirehampton and Avonmouth Church Memorials
This chapter remembers those listed on Shirehampton and Avonmouth War Memorials & St Marys Churchyard and
William Bell
Born 1894 to William & Rose Bell of
Living at 29 Bradley Avenue, Shirehampton at time of death
Private, 2nd/4th Gloucestershire Regiment
Service number 265742
Age 23
Date of Death 27/08/1917
Listed on the Tyne Cot Memorial
Albert Frederick Bleaken
Son of Frederick William & Rosina Maude Bleaken, 33 Penpole Place, Shirehampton
Private, 2nd/4th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
Service number 5201
Date of death 19/07/1916
Killed at Pheasant Wood (Fromelles)
Listed on the Loos Memorial.
Albert's remains are now believed to have been found in a mass grave on the edge of Pheasant Wood, Fromelles. Confirmation, using DNA testing, is still awaited
Acting Bombardier 5th Siege
Service number 24682
Date of death 22/12/1917
Killed in
Buried at
William Andrew Booth
Husband of Gladys Booth,
Private 1st/5th Battalion Cheshire regiment
Service number 243918
Age 26
Date of death 26/11/1917
Killed 3rd
Buried at
Frederick Boulton
Son of William John Richard & Virtue Henrietta Boulton, of Bristol
Driver 'C' Battery,241st Bde, Royal Field Artillery
Service number 845338
Age 25
Date of death 01/09/1918
Buried Plot 1, row F, Grave 8, Dueville Communal Cemetery Extension
Walter Greenhouse Bowen
Son of Walter Greenhouse & Edith Lilian Bowen of the Post Office, Westbourne, Emsworth, Hants. Born in
Sergeant No3 Training Depot Station RAF
Service number 137132
Age 18
Date of death 18/11/1918
Buried at
Joseph Britton
Private, Worcestershire Regiment
Service number 5181475
Date of death 30/09/1945
Buried in
Albert Henry Brooks
Son of William Henry & Rosina Brooks,
Stoker 1st Class Royal Navy
Age 20
Date of death 16/06/1919
Served on the minesweeper HMS Kinross (Mine Clearance Service), the ship was mined whilst in the
Listed on The
Aldred Joseph Broomsgrove
Born in 1893 to Charles & Kate Broomsgrove of
Private 1st/23rd Battalion
Service number 6808
Date of death 02/10/1916
Killed during the
Listed on The Thiepval Memorial
Francis George Brown
Son of George & Charlotte Brown of Shirehampton
Sergeant (Air Gunner) 77 Squadron RAF (see photos)
Service number 1320388
Age 21
Date of death 20/12/1942
Halifax Mk2 (DT625) crashed shortly after take off whilst on a training flight near the
Buried in
Thomas Brown
Born in 1899 to Edward John & Martha Brown,
Private,1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Service number 7635
Date of death 09/05/1915
Died of wounds, Flanders
Leonard Herbert Bugler
Son of John Hallet & Emily Ellen Bugler of Summerleaze, Avonmouth
Second Lieutenant ?C? Company 2nd/5th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
Age 24
Date of death 02/04/1918
Killed at Avre
Buried in
Leonard James Bunn
Son of George & Frances Bunn; husband of Olive Bunn of Shirehampton
Sapper, 572 Field Company Royal Engineers
Service number 2113518
Age 28
Date of death 21/08/1940
Killed whilst on Bomb Disposal duties
Buried in
Wilfred (Willie) E Burton
Grandson of Enoch & Fanny Matthews of
Gunner, 2nd Siege
Service number 41309
Date of death 31/12/1917
Drowned when the transport HMS Osmanieh was mined in
the entrance of Alexandria harbour, Egypt
Listed on The Chatby Memorial and on family plot, Set 206.
William Joseph Byrne
Guardsman, Welsh Guards
Service number 2727740
Date of death 01/09/1946
Buried in
William Chapman
Husband of Ellen Chapmen of
Sergeant 1st Garrison Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Service number 13501
Age 55
Date of death 19/03/1916
Killed in
Awarded Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
Buried in
Daughter of Herbert & Florence Minnie Clarke of
Leading Wren, Women?s Royal Naval Reserve HMS Heron
Service number 23182
Date of death 25/11/1947, died from illness
Buried
David Chidgey
Son of David & Ann Marsh Chidgey of
Private, 5th Battalion Tank Corps
Service number 91638
Age 27
Killed at The
Buried
Frances Elsie May Clinker
Daughter of Frederick Charles & Catherine Alice Webb of Sea Mills; wife of Sidney Ernst John Clinker of
Leading Aircraftswoman, Women?s Auxiliary Air Force
Service number 2065275
Age 22
Date of death 04/03/1945
MT Driver, killed in the last Luftwaffe air raid (Operation Gisela) made on RAF Topcliffe
by a German Ju88 aircraft of the IV. Gruppe, NJG3, which strafed the Airman's Mess
Buried
John Henry Codrington
Son of John & Louisa Codrington, Avonmere Cottage, Shirehampton
Private, 2nd Battalion
Service number 29258
Date of death 27/10/1917
Killed 3rd
Buried
Born 1901 to Oliver & Ellen Cole of
Private, 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
Service number 291206
Killed in action,
Listed on the Loos Memorial
Frank Basil Collins
Son of George Alfred & Mary Ann Collins, Shirehampton
Second Lieutenant, 1st (
Age 24
Date of death 22/08/1917
Killed 3rd
Buried Vlamertinghe New
Arthur George Cornford
Son of Charles & Alice Cornford. Born in Honor Oak, Surrey, enlisted in Camberwell
Private, 106th Company, Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Service number 030827
Date of death 24/01/1918
Buried in
James Cox Buck
Son of James Cox Buck, Heyward Rd, Pill, lived with his uncle and aunt, 1 Crown Terrace, Shirehampton.
Serjeant, 7th Bn Somerset Light Infantry
Service number 11100
Age 26
Date of death 16/09/1916
Listed on the Thiepval Memorial, pier and face 2a
Frederick George Davis
Son of Frederick & Sarah Davis of Clifton, husband of Ivy Blanche Davis, 121 Cromwell Rd, St Andrews, Avonmouth
Gunner, 'D' Battery, 242 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
Service number 113198
Age 27
Killed in action, Ypres, 14/03/1918
Interred La Clytte Military Cemetery, Belgium, listed on the family plot at Shirehampton Cemetery, Set 872
Leslie James George Davies
Son of G W & F E Davies, husband of Evelyn Mary (formally Davies) of
Second Lieutenant, 4th & 6th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
Age 29
Date of death 05/04/1918
Killed during the 2nd
Buried Ribemont Communal Cemetery Extension
George Thomas Edwards
Born in 1896, son of Thomas & Lizzie Edwards of
Private 7th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
Service number 11083
Age 20
Date of death 08/08/1915
Killed at Gallipoli (Sari Bair (Sulva))
Listed on The Halles Memorial
William George Edwards
Son of Frederick & Ann Edwards of Olveston, Bristol, husband of Ivy (Chambers) of Avonmouth
Private, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infanry
Service number 8500
Age 31
Date of death 26/11/1914
Buried Boulogne Easten Cemetery, France
Douglas Alban St John Evans B.Sc
Son of Evan & Edith Mary Evans, husband of Cecillia Evans of Shirehampton
2nd Lieutenant, 246 Welsh Field Company,Royal Engineers
Service number 77822
Age 23
Killed during the defence of Dunkirk, 31/05/1940
Inteered, Veurne Communal Cemetery Extension, Belgium
Charles Edward Gard
Born at Tavistock,
Greaser, Mercantile Marine
Age 26
Date of death 27/06/1918
Served on the hospital ship
Listed on The Tower Hill Memorial
Wilfred George Gould
Son of Joseph & Sarah Gould, Chapel House, High Street, Shirehampton, living at 12 Pembroke Rd, Shirehampton (1911)
Private 19th Battalion Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
Service number 133379
Age 19
Date of death 10/08/1918
Killed during the
Buried Vieille-Chapelle New Cemetery
Leonard Hack
Born 1886 to Mary A Hack,
Guardsman, 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards
Service number 28826
Date of death 01/12/1917
Killed in action, Flanders
Listed on the Cambrai Memorial
William John Hack
Son of Edgar & Minnie Louisa Hack of
Private 1st/4th Battalion
Service number 42123
Age 19
Date of death 27/05/1918
Killed at The
Listed on the
George William Hall
Son of Henry Augustus Hall, husband of Elsie Kington of
Rifleman, 12th Battalion
Service number 7735
Age 25
Date of death 09/09/1916
Killed at The
Buried
Alfred Roland Hatherell
Son of Alfred Hatherell,
Brother of Frank (see F Hatherell)
Private, 1st Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment
Service number 38167
Date of death 03/05/1915
Killed during a counter attack on Hill 60 at The 2nd Battle of Ypres
Listed
Frank Hatherell
Son of Alfred Hatherell,
Private 2nd RM Battalion RN Division, Royal Marine Light Infantry
Service number PO/1677(S)
Date of death 26/10/1917
Killed 3rd
Listed on The
Robert J Head
Son of George & Emily Head of Shirehampton
Private, 3rd Battalion, Labour Corps, Somerset Light Infantry
Service number 23535
Age 19
Date of death 05/10/1918
Buried Lee Moor Burial Ground
Son of William & Hester Hill of
Captain, 4th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
Age 30
Awards Military Cross & Bar
Date of death 04/11/1918
Killed at Sambre
Buried
James Hill
Born in 1889 in Stoke Bishop. Lived with parents James A & Annie E Hill of 1 Ivy Cottage,
L/Sgt, 2/5th Battalion (Territorial) Gloucestershire Regiment
Enlisted in Merthyr
Service number 25694
Date of death 31/03/1918
Killed in action, Flanders
Younger brother of William T Hill
Listd on the Pozieres Memorial
William Thomas Hill
Son of James A & Annie E Hill of 2 Avonview Cottage,
Lance Corporal, 2nd/8th Battalion
Service number 307763
Age 30
Killed 3rd
Listed on The
Thomas Norman Hunt
Son of Caroline Hunt & the late Thomas Villiers Hunt, 4 Manilla Rd, Clifton
Private/Signaller, D Sqn, 1st Gloucestershire Hussars
Service number 1991
Age 20
Killed at 'Chocolate Hill', Gallipoli, 28/08/1915
Buried at Green Hill Cemetery, Turkey, listed of the family plot, Shirehampton Cemetery, Set 120
Frank Alexander Hogg
Son of Frederick & Sarah Hogg, 37 Bishops Rd, Highgate, London
2nd Lieutenant, 10th & 1st Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment
Age 25
Killed in action,France 17/06/1917
Interred, Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, (Nord) & listed on the family plot, Shirehampton Cemetery, Set 150
Theodore Alan Hogg
Son of Frederick & Sarah Hogg, 37 Bishops Rd, Highgate, London , husband of Marian Ruth Hogg (Ponsford) of the same address
Captain, 2nd Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment
Age 29
Killed during the Arras offensive 21/03/1918
Listed on the Arras Memorial, interred near Bullecourt, France & listed on the family plot, Shirehampton Cemetary, Set 150
Arthur
Son of Charles Benjamin & Sarah Jackson, Victoria Buildings,
Private, Royal Marine Light infantry
Service number PLY/11672
Date of death 18/03/1915, died in the United Kingdom
Served on HMS Cornwall, a Monmouth Class Armoured Cruiser, she was shelled from Turkish forts during the Dardanelles Campaign
Buried
Frank Arthur Jefferies
Son of the late Albert & Elizabeth Jefferies of St Philips,
Corporal, 9th Battalion, Rifle Brigade
Service number 4958
Age 23
Date of death 24/09/1916
It was the third time he had been sent to
Buried
Reginald George Jones
Born to William George & Elizabeth Ann Jones of
Private, 2/4th (City of Bristol) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Service number 201743
Date of death 21/08/1917
Died of wounds, Flanders. Buried Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No3
William Francis Kingsbury
Son of George & Maud Kingsbury of
Trimmer, Royal Naval Reserve
Service number 8284/TS
Age 18
Date of death 19/10/1918
Served on the Minesweeper HMPMS Plumpton. It was mined off
Buried
George Douglas Marks
Son of George &
Private, 53rd Battalion Hampshire Regiment
Service number TR/8/27860
Date of death 06/05/1918
Killed at the
Buried
Henry Matthews
Son of Thomas Henry & Elizabeth Matthews of 22 The Beanacre, Shirehampton
Private 222nd Company Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
Service number 118833
Age 26
Date of death 19/06/1920
Killed 3rd
Buried
Walter Edgar May
Son of Albert Samuel & Elizabeth May of 5 Crown Terrace, Westtown, Shirehampton
Lance Corporal, 1st Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment
Service number 3/8503
Age 20
Date of death 01/07/1916
Killed on the first day of The Battle of The Somme
Buried
Charles A H Miles
Son of James Thomas & Catherine Miles of
Private, 2nd/8th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment
Service number 43272
Age 19
Date of death 26/11/1918
Buried
Below is an extract from the Regimental History:
The 2/8th Battalion ( 61st Division ) moved back to Cambrai by a two-day march on November 14th and 15th (1918).
Together with the other battalions of the 61st Division, the 2/8th Worcestershire remained billetted in that wrecked city for over a week. Then orders came for the Division to move right back for training, and rest. The 182nd Brigade entrained on November 24th and were carried back by way of Denain and Douai to Arms. Thence next day the train journey continued, through St. Pol and Frevent to Auxi-le-Chateau. Just outside that station occurred a disastrous accident. The railway engine left the line, coaches violently collided and one of them was crushed. Five soldiers of the Battalion were killed and six more were seriously injured.
The Battalion perforce detrained and marched to its destination, Cramont, where late in the afternoon the companies found billets.
Henry William Morgan
Son of Arthur Roland & Catherine Edith Morgan of Shirehampton
Marine, 1 H.A.A. Regiment Royal Marines
Service number PLY/X 100600
Age 29
Date of death 25/04/1945
Died having served in
Buried
Joseph Hamlet Morrison
Son of George Gillespie & Mary Jane Morrison; husband of Isabel Lindsey Morrison of Shirehampton
Sapper, Royal Engineers
Service number 1307066
Age 37
Date of death 19/12/1947
Buried
Albert Joseph Noyes
Son of Harry & Elizabeth Noyes, Avonmouth
4th Gloucester Regiment
Age 24
Died 30/08/1918
Listed on the family plot, Shirehampton Cemetery, Set 867 (see photos)
Walter Richard Parfitt (also known as Mapston)
Son of Walter George & Elizabeth Alice Parfitt (formally Mapston ) of
Private, (motor driver),
Service number 36993
Age 37
Date of Death 21/02/1919. Died of pneumonia
Buried
Albert Pearce
Son of Alfred & Elizabeth Pearce of Shirehampton, lived in Bishopston
Lance Corporal, 2nd Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusillers, Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry
Service number 24163
Killed in France 21/03/1918
Listed on Pozieres Memorial & on family plot Shirehampton Cemetery, set 26
Roy Walter Pearce
Son of Alfred Edgar Tom & Elizabeth Pearce of Stoke Bishop,
Writer Probationer, Royal Navy
Service number D/MX 81129
Age 26
Date of death 14/09/1947
Served at the Royal Navy shore base HMS Drake II
Buried
Edwin George Arthur Philips
Foster-son of Albert & Ivy Hyde of Stapleton,
Able Seaman, Royal Navy
Service number P/SSX 26290
Age 21
Date of death 19/01/1941
Served on the Admiralty sloop HMS Enchantress
Buried
Charles
Son of Charles & Zillah Pickering, born in Hendon
Private, 3rd
Service number 1129
Date of death 13/04/1915
Killed in
Buried
Harry Pike
Son of William John & Elizabeth Fanny Pike,the Hope and Anchor public house, Shirehampton
Sergeant, 2nd Battalion
Service number 25534
Age 33
Date of death 18/08/1918
Killed during the Advance into
Listed on The Ploegsteert Memorial
Frederick George Pinner
Born in 1898 to George & Ellen Pinner of
Private, 12th Battalion Kings Own
Service number 204514
Date of death 13/04/1918
Killed at the
Listed on the Ploegsteert Memorial
James Quayle
Son of James & Margaret Quayle (nee Walmsey) of Shirehampton, born in
Captains Steward, Mercantile Marine
Age 21
Date of death 13/08/1915
Served on the SS Royal Edward (
Listed on The Tower Hill Memorial
Thomas William Rae
Son of Robert & Emma Rae of
Gunner ?L?
Service number 29809
Age 26
Date of death 01/09/1914
Killed at the
Buried in the Nery Communal Cemetery (see photos)
Charles Rice
Son of Mr & Mrs Rice of Shirehampton
Driver, ?B?
Service number 1478
Age 26
Date of death 23/10/1917
Killed 3rd
Buried Noeux-Les-Mines Communal Cemetery, Extension
John (Jack) Robinson
Born in 1888 in Westbury on Trym, lived with parents George & Hannah Robinson at
Private, 10th Service Battalion, Devonshire Regiment
Service number 13744
Date of death 10/12/1917
Killed in action, Salonika (Greek/Turkish front)
Listed on the Doiran Memorial & on the family plot, Shirehampton Cemetary, set 804
Charles Nelson Shepard Sansum
Son of Louisa & the late George Augustus Sansum of
Gunner, ?C?
Service number 825900
Age 23
Date of death 20/09/1918
Killed at the
Buried
Hubert Roy Sansum
Son of Louisa & the late George Augustus Sansum of
Private, 2nd/6th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
Service number 290718
Date of death 02/12/1917
Killed 1st
Listed on The Cambrai Memorial, Louveral
Thomas Sealey
Born in 1890 to Tom & Sarah Sealey of Bitton,
Private, 13th Battalion
Service number 34001
Date of death 22/03/1918
Killed at the 2nd
Listed on the
Arthur Edward Shaddick
Son of Samuel & Margaret Shaddick, The Lodge, Little Snyed, Stoke Bishop
Private, 10th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Service number 26235
Age 21
Killed in France,01/09/1916
Buried at Caterpiller Valley Cemetery, Longueval & listed on the family plot Shirehampton Cemetery, Set 277
Sidney George Smith
Sapper, Royal Engineers
Service number 1883267
Date of death 28/09/1946
Buried
Wilfred Vincent Smith
Wilfred Smith lived on
Lieutenant, 3rd/8th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
Age 30
Date of death 07/08/1917
Killed at
Buried
Sidney Smith
Born in Crewkerne, Somerset
Private, 7th Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry)
Service number 10087
Date of death 28/03/1916
Killed in action, Flanders
Listed on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
Thomas Tanner
Son of Henry & Annie Tanner
Leading Stoker, Royal Navy
Service number K/7540
Age 27
Date of death 06/05/1921, died from illness
Served on the R Class destroyer HMS Sylph (see photos)
Buried
James Edward Henry
Born in 1896 to James & Margaret Taylor of
Private, 1st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry
Service number 11817
Date of death 09/08/1916
Killed at The
Buried
Alfred Edwin Theobald
Son of William & Hester Theobald
Able Seaman Royal Navy
Service number P/JX 27539
Age 25
Date of death 25/10/1945, died from illness
Served on the destroyer HMS Marne (see photos)
Buried
Eileen Mary Thompson
Aircraftswoman 2nd Class, Women?s Auxiliary Air Force
Service number 472374
Age 23
Date of death 02/08/1945
Buried
Samuel Alfred Treverton
Nephew of Mrs E Walkey, 20 Priory Road, Shirehampton
Stoker 1st Class Royal Navy
Service number K/4189
Date of death 24/10/1915, died from illness
Served at the Royal Navy shore establishment HMS Vivid
Buried
Henry David Webb
Son of William E & Louisa Webb, 12 Pembroke Road, Shirehampton (1911), (5 Park Row, Shirehampton, 1901 Census). Occupation, Newspaper Errand Boy.
Private, !st/4th (City of Bristol) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Service number 5177
Age 21
Date of Death 22/08/1916 (Killed in the Somme offensive)
Listed on the Theipval Memorial Pier & Face 5A & 5B and on the family grave, Shirehampton Cemetery
Frederick George Webber
Son of Sarah Ann & the late George Webber of
Stoker 1st Class Royal Navy
Service number SS/113895
Age 24
Date of death 31/05/1916
Served on HMS Defence, a Monitor Class Cruiser. It blew up during the Battle of Jutland after being heavily shelled by the German battleship Friedrich Der Grosse. All hands were lost. (see photos)
Listed
Extracts from Naval Operations:
.???? Both the Defence and Warrior had already hit the doomed
Alfred Wilkins
Husband of Minnie Wilkins, 29 Bradley Cresent, Shirehampton, lived in Belfast
Acting Leading Seaman (Stoker 1st Class), Royal Navy, Nelson Battalion, RN Division
Service Number 297237
Age 34
Missing assumed killed in action, 03/05/1915, Gallipoli
Widow awarded 1914 Star
Listed on the Helles Memorial, Turkey
William Arthur George Williams
Son of Mary Ellen & the late William Lewis Williams of
Private, 2nd Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
Service number 203270
Age 29
Date of death 01/09/1918
Killed in
Buried
Leonard Frederick White
Son of Charles White of
Private, 1st/1st Middlesex Hussars
Service number H/48021
Age 19
Date of death 01/09/1919
Died in
Buried
Walter Whitehead
Son of Agnes Whitehead of ?Ingledene?,
Private 2nd/4th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
Service number 37366
Age 20
Date of death 14/12/1917
Killed at the 1st
Buried
The Following Names are Listed on the Memorial
Window in St Mary's Church, Shirehampton
The following are personnel killed during 1939-1945 and are commemorated
on the stained glass window in St Mary?s Church, Shirehampton
Raymond William Andrews
Son of Albert William & Louisa Andrews of Shirehampton
Sapper, 238 Field Company, Royal Engineers
Service number 2074233
Age 22
Date of death 29/04/1943
Killed whilst serving in Palestine
Buried, Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery (see photos)
Ronald Hugh Barclay
Son of Robert Hugh & Elvire Barclay of Bristol
Acting Sub Lieutenant (E), Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Age 21
Date of death 06/05/1941
Served on HMS Camito, an Ocean Boarding Vessel. At 0240 Hrs on 6 May
1941she was hit amidships by a single torpedo, fired by U-97, west-southwest of
Cape Clear whilst escorting the tanker Sangro to the UK. The first 3 torpedoes,
fired at 0202 hrs, missed HMS Camito, she was hit by the fourth, but despite
this the ship continued at slow speed. The ship sank the next day, survivors
being picked up by HMS Orchis and landed at Greenock. (see photos)
Listed on the Liverpool Naval Memorial
Ernest George Ronald Beacham
Son of Ernest John & Nellie Beacham
Sgt, Air Bomber, RAF
106 sqn (see photos)
Age 20
Date of death 13/14 May 1943
Lancaster R5611, shot down over Holland and crashing near Oldenzaal
Buried at Weelselo Roman Catholic cemetery, Rossum, also commemorated on
a side window in St Mary's church, Shirehampton. Listed on the Bomber Command
Memorial, Green Park, London
Donald Maurice Bowd
Son of Stephen Maurice & Gladys Bowd: husband of Eleanor, of Sea
Mills.
Sergeant, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service number 903991
Age 22
Date of death 01/09/1942
Served with 461 Squadron, flying Short Sunderland aircraft, T9113, out
of RAF Mountbatten (Plymouth). The aircraft took off at 1513 to carry out Anti
Submarine patrols over The Bay of Biscay. At 2015 a report was receive that
they were being attacked by two JU88 aircraft, last contact made at 2045 (SOS),
1/9/1942 (see photos)
Listed on The Runnymede Memorial
William J Boyce
Son of Joseph & Flora Boyce
Lance Sergeant, Reconnaissance Corps, Royal Armoured Corps
Service number 5187730
Date of death 19/11/1944
Killed in action, Italy
Buried at Cesena War Cemetery, Italy (see photos)
Ronald J H Brinton
Son of Reginald & Minnie Rosina Brinton of Shirehampton
Acting Leading Seaman, Royal Navy
Service number D/JX 168233
Age 24
Date of death 30/10/1942
Lost at sea whilst en route to join his new ship, when the MV President
Doumer was torpedoed by U-604 off Madeira, part of convoy SL 125. Previously at
RN Depot HMS President III (see photos)
Listed on the Plymouth Naval Memorial
Francis George Brown
Son of Albert & Charlotte Brown of Shirehampton
Sergeant (Air Gunner)
Service number 1320388
Age 21
Date of death 20/12/1942
Served with 77 Squadron flying Halifax bombers out of Elvington (Yorks).
Halifax Mk II, DT625 (KN-C), crashed shortly after take off whilst on a training
flight. The aircraft came down near the village of Wheldrake, Yorkshire, all 6
crew were killed. (see photos)
Buried in Shirehampton Cemetery (see photos) Listed on the Bomber
Command Memorial, Green Park, London
Leslie Charles Chard
Son of William & Marian Lillian Chard
Gunner, Royal Horse Artillery
Service number 959737
Date of death 14/11/1942
Served with 11 (Honourable Artillery Company) Regiment as part of the 8th
Army (Desert Rats). Taken prisoner by Italian forces in The Western Desert, he
was taken to the Italian POW Transit Camp 154, Leslie was listed as ?Missing,
Presumed Drowned? after the Italian ship, SS Scillin, that he was being
transported on, was torpedoed by a British submarine, HMS Sahib, of the 814
Commonwealth prisoners-of-war that were on board there were only 27 rescued by
HMS Sahib. (see photos)
Listed on The Alamein Memorial.
Frederick Walter Cheeseman
Son of Frederick & Martha Cheeseman of Bristol
Gunner, Royal Horse Artillery
Service number 959738
Date of death 14/11/1942
Served with 11 (Honourable Artillery Company) Regiment as part of the 8th
Army (Desert Rats). Taken prisoner in The Western Desert, he was listed as
?Missing, Presumed Drowned? after the Italian ship, SS Scillin, that he was
being transported on, was torpedoed by the British submarine HMS Sahib. (see
photos)
Listed on The Alamein Memorial.
SS SCILLIN (November 14, 1942)
Italian cargo/passenger ship en route from Tripoli to Sicily with 814
Commonwealth prisoners-of-war on board, a naval gun crew and 30 Italian guards,
was torpedoed by the British submarine HMS Sahib (Lt. John Bromage) 10 miles
north of Cape Milazzo in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Sahib rescued 27 POW's
from the water (26 British and one South African) plus the Scillin's captain
and 45 Italian crew members. Only then, when the commander heard the survivors
speaking English, did he realize that he had sunk a ship carrying British
prisoners-of-war and some Italian soldiers and had drowned 783 men. At a
subsequent inquiry into this 'friendly fire' tragedy, Lt. Bromage was cleared
of any wrongdoing as the ship was unmarked and at the time he firmly believed
that the ship was carrying Italian troops. The Ministry of Defence kept this
incident a closely guarded secret for fifty-four years, maintaining that they
had died while prisoners-of-war in Italian camps or simply 'lost at sea'. It
was not until 1996, after repeated requests for information from the families
of the drowned men that the truth came out. The Sahib was attacked by bombs
from escort German Ju-88s and depth charges from the Italian corvette Gabbiano
in the counter attack immediately after the sinking. Badly damaged, the Sahib
was later abandoned and scuttled.
John Edward (C) Chubb
Son of Walter George & Mary Chubb. Born in Liverpool, lived in
Shirehampton
Steward/Storekeeper in Carter?s department, Merchant Navy
Died suddenly on board ship whilst in port, 29/09/1941
Age 50
Interred at Camp Hill Cemetery, Nova Scotia, Canada
Hubert Collins
Son of George Alfred & Mary Ann Collins of The Green, Shirehampton
Civilian in The Home Guard
Age 50
Date of death 11/04/1941
Served as a Firewatcher in The Home Guard. Died whilst on duty at 4
Bellevue Crescent, Clifton on the night of 11/12 April 1941. The City of
Bristol was attacked by 150 bombers on what became known as ?The Good Friday?
raids. The city centre suffered badly as did Knowle, Hotwells & Filton. 180
people were killed, 381 injured, 6,500 Anti Aircraft shells were expended in
defence of the city.
Buried in Shirehampton Cemetery (see photos)
Cyril Clement Cook
Son of William Henry & Jane Cook, Shirehampton
Stoker 1st Class, Royal Navy
Service number D/KX 117624
Age 23
Date of death 24/10/1943
Served on HMS Eclipse, an E Class Destroyer. On October 24 1943 she
collided with a floating mine whilst patrolling the Aegean Sea. The ship was
badly damaged and sank off Kalimnos Island (Dodecanese) (see photos)
Listed on The Plymouth Naval Memorial
Alexander Williamson Crichton
Son of Peter & Margaret Crichton of Shirehampton
Acting Leading Airman, Fleet Air Arm, Royal Navy
Service number FAA/FX. 79430
Age 22
Date of death 08/06/1940
Served on the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious. In the early hours of 8th
June 1940 5 Swordfish aircraft led the Gladiators of 263 Squadron and the
Hurricanes of 46 Squadron to the carrier HMS Glorious, these were the last RAF
aircraft to leave Norway before enemy occupation of the country was complete,
all were landed without incident. At 0300 Glorious with the destroyer escort of
HMS Ardent & Acasta were detached and ordered to sail for Scapa Flow,
whilst HMS Ark Royal remained behind to escort the slower main convoy. Two days
earlier a force of German warships had put to sea, they spotted the carrier
Glorious at 15:45 along with her destroyer escort. The powerful battle cruisers
Scharnhorst & Gneisenau opened fire at 16:30 at a range of 20,000 yds,
gaining direct hits on the bridge of the carrier with the third &
subsequent salvoes. Though hopelessly outranged the carrier replied with her
own armament. By 17:20 the carrier was dead on the water & sinking fast,
the two destroyers did their brave and suicidal best to protect their charge,
but both were sunk during the next 45 minutes ? but not before HMS Acasta launched
a torpedo strike hitting Scharnhorst abreast of the After turret &
inflicting serious damage. (see photos)
Listed on The Lee-On-Solent Memorial
Ronald Cecil Davies
Son of John Thomas & Elizabeth Anne Davies of Shirehampton
Sergeant (Air Gunner) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service number 1600566
Age 22
Date of death 03/08/1943
Served with 35 Squadron flying Halifax bombers from RAF Graveley.
Halifax Mk II (HR863) took off from RAF Graveley on a mission to bomb Hamburg.
Due to severe icing the aircraft crashed en route whilst over the continent, 5
crew were killed, 1 was taken prisoner & remained as a POW. (see photos)
Buried Becklingen War Cemetery. Listed on the Bomber Command Memorial,
Green Park, London
William Edward George Domaille
Son of William & Ada Annie Domaille of Shirehampton
Pilot Officer (Air Bomber) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service number 110638
Age 27
Date of death 10/09/1942
William Domaille was born in Bristol on 11th June 1915, he received his
commission on 17th October 1941 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency).
His death was registered in the Bulmer district of Yorkshire in which East Moor
and Linton on Ouse airfields fell.
He served with 158 Squadron flying Halifax Mk II bombers from RAF East
Moor (Yorks). He was the sole casualty, the aircraft, W1253, having been hit by
anti-aircraft fire in the nose north of Neuss (Germany), the operation being to
bomb the Italian port of Genoa, (for aircraft details see photos)
The rest of the crew were able to return to Yorkshire and land though
the location of the landing is not yet confirmed. East Moor would be expected
however the bomb aimer's death was recorded as being at Linton on Ouse which
does lend weight to this being where the aircraft was put down. The damaged
aircraft was soon repaired and resumed flying.
Buried Chedder (St. Andrew) Churchyard. Listed on the Bomber Command
Memorial, Green Park, London & listed on the Lissett Memorial, Nth
Yorkshire, left panel, line 16
Stanley J Earley
Son of Alfred George & Mary Ellen Earley, husband of Annie Gertrude
Earley of Shirehampton
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class, HM Submarine Upstart (see
photos)
Date of Death 28/12/1943, age 44
Buried Malta (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery
Llewellyn Eynon
Son of James & Florence Eynon; husband of Henrietta Ethel Eynon of
Shirehampton
Carpenter, Merchant Navy
Age 37
Date of death 20/05/1941
Served on the MV Darlington Court (London). Whilst in convoy from New
York to Liverpool the ship was sunk by a German U-boat, U-556, 25 men were killed.
Six other vessels in the same convoy were lost on the same day. (see photos)
Listed on The Tower Hill Memorial & by a plaque on the SW corner,
inside St Mary's church, Shirehampton
Survivors Report from the MV Darlington Court
We were bound from Halifax to U.K.
with a cargo of 8500 tons of grain. We were armed with a 4" gun, 3
Hotchkiss, a Holman projector and a Kite. The ship was degaussed but the
apparatus was not working. The crew, including 2 Military Gunners and 2 Naval
Gunners, numbered 37, of whom 25 are missing. The confidential books went down
with the ship.
We left Halifax on the 10th May in
Convoy HX 126 bound for U.K. and proceeded without incident until the early
hours of the 20th when two ships in the convoy, No.'s 91 and 93, were torpedoed
. We altered course to 90° until about 06:00 when we changed course again, and
at 09:00 we went back to our original course.
About 12:58 the same day, in position
57 18N 41 07W, as our Escort hoisted a signal reporting a submarine on our
starboard side, we were struck by a torpedo on the port side in the engine
room, followed 2 seconds later by another torpedo in the deep tank forward of
the engine room. The sea was calm, wind slight, weather was fine and visibility
hazy. We were making 8 1/2 knots on Course 035°. The first explosion, which was
heavier and sharper than the second, stopped the main engine immediately, and
the second torpedo, which struck the deep tank, split the ship in two. The ship
capsized immediately, and in about 45 seconds she was out of sight.
I had only just come out of the
engine room when the torpedo struck us and, finding it impossible to enter it
again, I came on to the boat deck, trying to get my lifebelt over my head, when
I was washed over the side. When I came to the surface I looked for wreckage
but could not see anything except the blazing tanker, British Security, directly astern
of us, which was torpedoed immediately after us. The flames were about 60 ft.
high, and a huge column of smoke appeared to come out of the water and burst
into flame. I swam about for 3 hours and about 16:00 I managed to reach our
starboard lifeboat at the same time as the captain. The port lifeboats were
thrown out of their davits by the explosion, and the starboard lifeboat, which
the captain cut adrift, overturned on reaching the water but righted herself
when the ship turned over. Within a quarter of an hour of reaching the boat we
picked up 5 of our crew who were on wreckage and tried to reach some more of
them, but on account of the fire from the blazing tanker spreading we could not
get to them. After that we made for the open sea to get away from the fire, and
at 22:20 we found another raft with 5 more survivors, whom we picked up.
At 07:00 on the 21st we were picked
up by the Hontestroom. We cruised around for 3 days, picking up
survivors from Cockaponsest on the 21st and on the 24th we found a lifeboat
belonging to the Peterson. We were landed at Reykjavik on Monday, the 26th.
The chief engineer considered that
had it not been for the captain no one from his ship would have been saved. At
the time of the explosion the rest of the crew were struggling with their
lifebelts, but the captain cut the lifeboat adrift himself and was not wearing
a lifebelt when in the small boat.
The chief engineer also said that
although they were very grateful for the assistance rendered by the Hontestroom in picking them up,
there was little comfort aboard her. There were 70 survivors, including the men
from the Cockaponset, and they were all accommodated in the after hold
'tween deck. There were 68 beds, and owing to little ventilation the atmosphere
was far from fresh. The food was insufficient; they had two small tins of
bully-beef amongst 16 and dry bread, and for two days not even bread, only
biscuits. No hot meal was given to them. There was also little water for
cleansing purposes. He also said that the crew, who were Dutch, did not appear
to have any use for them. They had plenty of cigarettes on board but would not
sell them. The doctor gave them as many as he could, but there were 70
survivors and they were on the ship for five days. (In fact, Hontestroom was withdrawn from
rescue service after this, because of deficient accommodation and facilities,
and was later employed in the freight trade.
With regard to British Security, the
Commanding Officer of the escorting Aurania says the following in his report:
"There were several tremendous
explosions, sheets of flame and black smoke, which went up at least 500 feet.
She was about 2 cables on my port beam when struck. The men on the wreckage
from the Darlington Court floated into this burning hell, their cries were
ghastly and now I wish I had put my machine gun on them".
Albert Thomas Fowles
Son of Thomas & Alice Fowles of Avonmouth
Gunner, Royal Artillery
Service number 1786896
Age 24
Date of death 10/04/1945
Served with 7 Coast Regiment at Singapore, he was captured by the
Japanese 15/02/1942, following the Fall of Singapore. He died a POW in 1945.
Buried Kranji War Cemetery (Singapore)
Jack Furber
Son of Reginald & Elizabeth Furber of Bristol
Fireman & Trimmer, Merchant Navy
Age 19
Date of death 11/09/1941
Served on the freighter SS Stonepool (West Hartlepool). Whilst part of
convoy SC 42 the SS Stonepool was torpedoed by U-207, commanded by Oberleutnant
Fritz Meyer. The U Boat was depth charged and sunk off The Straits of Denmark,
SE of Aangmassalik (Greenland) by the Royal Navy destroyers HMS Leamington
& Veteran. (see photos)
Listed on The Tower Hill Memorial
John Edward Hadley
Son of Alfred Frank & Bessie Hannah Hadley of Shirehampton
Trooper, Royal Armoured Corps
Service number 7905960
Age 26
Date of death 04/09/1944
Served with 4th Queen?s Own Hussars, killed during heavy
shelling during a night attack on Coriano (Italy)
Buried Gradara War Cemetery
Arthur Reginald Hadley
Son of Arthur William & Julia Hadley of Shirehampton
Corporal, Royal Army Service Corps
Service number 135784
Age 23
Date of death 24/02/1941
Killed during an attack on Italian forces at Sidi Selen, Nr Tobruk
Buried Tobruk War Cemetery
Reginald David Hallett
Son of Herbert & Mabel Alice Hallett of Shirehampton
Ordinary Seaman, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Service number D/BD/X 1560
Age 18
Date of death 07/05/1940, gun accident
Served on the Ceres Class Light Anti Aircraft Cruiser HMS Curlew. She
was sunk by aircraft off Skaanland during the Norwegian campaign, 26/05/1940.
Listed on The Plymouth Naval Memorial
Robert Horton
Son of Samuel & Mary Elizabeth Horton
Stoker 1st Class, Royal Navy, HM Submarine Triad (see photos)
Service number D/KX 84927
Age 24
Date of death 20/10/1940
Listed on the Plymouth Naval Memorial
Albert Reginald Lewis
Son of Albert & Beatrice Lewis; husband of Joyce Evelyn Lewis of
Somerset
Trooper, Royal Armoured Corps
Service number 5188914
Age 29
Date of death 08/03/1945
Served with 141st (7th Battalion). The Buffs (East
Kent) Regiment. Killed during build up operations to Operation Plunder, the
crossing of The Rhine by British forces at Rees, Wesel & The Lips Canal. At
the time 141st Regiment were operating Churchill Crocodile (flame
thrower) tanks.
Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery
Robert Lisle
Husband of Helen Lisle of Shirehampton
Master, Merchant Navy
Age 39 Date of death 25/02/1940
Served as Master of the freighter SS Castlemoor (London). The cause this
ships loss is unknown (see photos)
Listed on The Tower Hill Memorial
Wesley Lukins
Son of Charles Albert & Lilian Lukins of Shirehampton
Fireman & Trimmer, Merchant Navy
Age 20
Date of death 11/09/1941
Served on the freighter SS Stonepool (West Hartlepool). Whilst part of
convoy SC 42 the SS Stonepool was torpedoed by U-207, commanded by Oberleutnant
Fritz Meyer. The U Boat was depth charged and sunk off The Straits of Denmark,
SE of Aangmassalik (Greenland) by the Royal Navy destroyers HMS Leamington
& Veteran. (see photos)
Listed on The Tower Hill Memorial
Peter Godfrey Marsh
Son of Sydney & Dorothy E Marsh of Bristol
Sergeant Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service number 759111
Age 19
Date of death 23/05/1941
Served with 37 Squadron, Middle East Command, flying Vickers Wellington,
T2895 (J), in The Middle East. (see photos)
Listed on The Alamein Memorial, death recorded as being lost at sea
George Milsom
Son of John Cornelius & Gertrude F Milsom, Shirehampton
Stoker 1st Class, Royal Navy
Service number P/K 61790
Age 19
Date of death 17/12/1940
Served on the destroyer HMS Acheron that struck a German mine off The
Isle of Wight. She sunk immediately killing 151 men there were 15 survivors.
(see photos)
Listed on The Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Jack Lovell Newman
Son of Harry Eli & Ellen Newman, husband of Brenda Newman, Wilmslow,
Cheshire
Lieutenant (A), Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve 714 Sqn FAA (see photos)
Age 30
Date of daeth 26/08/1944
Killed when his Blackburn Barracuda aircraft crashed in to the sea off
the Scottish coast, based at HMS Owl (RNAS)
Buried Rosskeen Parish Churchyard Extensions, Grave 308
Dennis Frederick Albert Oliver
Son of Frederick Arthur & Beatrice Alice Oliver of Shirehampton
Private, Army Catering Corps
Service number 5189039
Age 22
Date of death 07/01/1943
Dennis was on board the cargo ship, SS Benalbanach (Liverpool), which
sailed from The Clyde, carrying a cargo of explosives, ammunition, petrol &
services stores, as well as 375 soldiers & 74 crew, on 24/12/1942, (the
soldiers were on board due to lack of space on the transport ship that they
were originally intended to sail on). The ship was heading for The Middle East
where Dennis, then with The 1st Army, hoped to join up with his
younger brother who was with The 8th Army. The ship was torpedoed by
aircraft off Tripoli on 07/01/1943 and sank in less than 2 minutes; there were
only 40 survivors. (see photos)
Listed on The Brookwood Memorial
SS BENALBANACH (January 7, 1943)
The Ben Line 7,152-ton passenger/cargo ship launched in June 1940 and
sunk northwest of Algiers when the convoy she was part of was attacked by a
single enemy aircraft. She was carrying 389 men of Motor Transport unit and a
crew of 74 from the Clyde to Bona, North Africa. This was her second trip to
the Allied landing area conveying troops and equipment. Two torpedoes launched
from the aircraft hit the Benalbanach. The ship caught fire, blew up and sank
almost immediately taking the lives of 57 crewmembers and 353 service
personnel. Her commander, Captain D. Macgregor, died in the water just as he
was about to be rescued.
William John Patterson
Son of Walter & Sarah Patterson; husband of Dorothy Anne Patterson
of Redland
Fireman & Trimmer, Merchant Navy
Age 24
Date of death 21/12/1942
Served on the Steam Merchant SS Montreal City. At 03.56 hrs on 21 Dec
1942 the ship, a straggler from convoy ONS-152, was torpedoed by U-591 NE of
Cape Race and sunk by a coup de grace at 04.09 hrs. The Master, 31 crew and 7
gunners were lost. (see photos)
Listed on The Tower Hill Memorial
Frederick William Redwood
Son of Edwin Rudolph & Elizabeth Redwood of Shirehampton
Petty Officer Motor Mechanic, Royal Navy
Service number D/MX 70116
Age 24
Date of death 01/11/1944
Served with HMLCG (M) 102 crewing Landing Craft Gun (Medium) MkIII. His
Landing craft was sunk in Operation Infatuate, the Walcheren landings, Holland,
1/11/1944. (see photos)
Listed on The Plymouth Naval Memorial
John Allen Robson
Son of Henry George & Emily Louisa Robson of Shirehampton
Fusilier, 1st Battalion. Royal Welch Fusiliers
Service number 5189230
Age 25
Date of death 25/02/1945
Fought at Taungtha & Letse in Burma, buried at Taukkyan War Cemetery
Alfred Samuel Sainsbury
Son of Henry & Emma Sainsbury, born in West Ham, London
Pumpman, Merchant Navy
MV Empire Steel (see photos)
Age 48
Date of death 24/03/1942
Listed on the Tower Hill Memorial
Mervyn Charles Spence
Son of William Alfred & Alice Annie Spence of Shirehampton
Stoker 1st Class, Royal Navy
Service number D/KX 111623
Age 26
Date of death 10/12/1941
Served on the Battle Cruiser HMS Prince of Wales. Completed in May 1941
the Prince of Wales had seen action against the German Battleship Bismarck and
a brief spell off Malta. Sent to the Far East with the Battle Cruiser HMS
Repulse to counter the swiftly developing Japanese threat, she arrived in the
region 2nd December 1941. On 8th December 1941the
Japanese landed in northern Malaya. Prince of Wales, Repulse & four
destroyers were sent to attack the invasion force. After finding no targets the
British ships returning to Singapore when, late in the morning of 10th
December 1941 they were attacked by a strong force of Japanese high-level
bombers and torpedo planes. With no friendly air cover to protect them, both
heavy ships were hit several times. Repulse sank at about 12.30. Prince of
Wales capsized and followed her to the bottom less than an hour later. The
first capital ships to be lost while operating on the high seas, their loss
further shocked the naval world already stunned by the events at Pearl Harbor
only a few days before. (see photos)
Listed on The Plymouth Naval Memorial.
John Lister Storer
Son of Eric & Winifred Storer of Shirehampton
Flight Lieutenant (Pilot), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service number 122749
Age 22
Date of death 27/09/1944
Served with 605 (County of Warwick) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force
flying de Havilland Mosquito FB VI, NT119, (Fighter Bomber version) out of RAF
Manston in Kent. Lost, along with 1567411, F/Sgt N J Lees (Nav/W.Op), during an
Intruder mission near Varrelbusch, covering a raid on Kaisershausen (Germany).
(see photos)
Buried at Sage War Cemetery
William Leslie White
Son of Charles William & Ethel White, husband of Jean White of
Machynlleth, Montgomeryshire
Flying Officer (Pilot) RAFVR
Service number 177840
Age 26
Date of death 27/07/1944
Served with 12 Squadron, killed when lancaster ND699 crashed on an
operation to Stuttgart . ND699 took off from RAF Wickenby at 2143, 28/07/1944
& crashed 400m west of the small town of Rennington, 6Km from Leonburg.
(see photos)
Buried at Durnbach War Cemetery. Listed on the Bomber Command Memorial,
Green Park, London
Alfred Nippress Whitlock
Son of William Thomas & Sarah Beatrice Whitlock of Shirehampton
Trooper, Royal Armoured Corps
Service number 14299660
Age 20
Date of death 28/06/1944 (Operation Epsom)
Served with 4th/7th Dragoon Guards. Using their
Sherman DD tanks the regiment fought their way off the Normandy beachhead and
into Northern France. At the time of his death they were fighting around Cheux,
Tourmauville Bridge and in the defence of Raurey against elements of 12th SS
Panzer Division (Hitlerjugend).
Buried at St. Manvieu Cemetery, Cheux (see photos)
Operation Epsom, also known as the First Battle of the Odon,
was a Second World War British offensive
that took place between 26 and 30 June 1944, during the Battle of Normandy.
The offensive was intended to outflank and seize the German-occupied city of Caen,
a major Allied objective in the early stages of the invasion of northwest Europe.
Son of George & Lily Wills of Shirehampton
Trooper, Royal Armoured Corps
Service number 7892173
Age 22
Date of death 28/05/1942
Served with the 44th Royal Tank Regiment under the command of
the 50th (Northumbrian) Division in the Middle East. Using Mk III
Valentine tanks the 44th advanced on German Positions at Sqhifet Es
Sidra on 28 May 1942, following a tank v tank battle the battalion was forced
to retreat, under continuous heavy fire, to Bir Tamar.
Buried at Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma (see photos)
George William Wooller
Son of Frederick George & Dorothy Wooller; husband of Dorothy Ellen
Wooller of Shirehampton
Electrical Artificer 4th Class, Royal Navy
Service number D/MX 57792
Age 22
Date of death 05/04/1942
Served on the Cruiser HMS Dorsetshire, Japanese dive bombers sunk the
ship off the coast of Ceylon, 5th April 1942 (Easter Sunday) (see photos)
Listed on The Plymouth Naval Memorial
Peter Beresford Wright DFC
Son of Walter Percival & Winifred Sabina Wright
Flight Lieutenant, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service number 119180
Age 22
Date of death 05/04/1943
Served with 616 (South Yorkshire) Squadron, based at RAF Ibsley
(Hampshire), flying Spitfire Mk VI. On 5th April 1943 the squadron took off
from RAF Ibsley, to fly a ?Ramrod? mission, (fighter cover for long range
bombers). The Spitfires were providing cover for 12 Lockheed Ventura bombers,
which were attacking a tanker in Brest harbour, they were attacked by FW190
fighters, Flt Lt P B Wright DFC, flying Spitfire Mk VI, BS465, was shot down
after more than one German fighter attacked him. 3 bombers were also lost. The
ship was undamaged but harbour installations were hit heavily. (see photos)
Listed on The Runnymede Memorial.
St Andrews Church, Avonmouth
Within St Andrews Church, Avonmouth there a three Memorial Plaques
Imperial Smelting Corporation Ltd
William Raymond Andrews
Son of William & Louisa Andrews, Shirehampton
Sapper, Royal Engineers, 238 Field Company
Age 22
Service number 2074233
Date of Death 29/04/1943
Buried Medjez El Bab War Cemetery, Tunisia (see photos)
Ernest George Ronald Beacham
Son of Ernest John & Nellie Beacham, Shirehampton
Sgt (Air Bomber), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 106 Squadron (see
photos)
Age 20
Service numbe 1338277
Date of Death 13/05/1943
Buried Weerselo (Rossum) Roman Catholic Cemetery, Netherlands Listed on
the Bomber Command Memorial, Green Park, London
George Francis Brown
Son of George Albert & Charlotte Edith Brown, Shirehampton
Sgt (Air Gunner), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 77 Squadron (see
photos)
Age 21
Service number 1320388
Date of Death 20/12/1942, killed when the Halifax MkII, DT625, crashed
in Yorkshire during a test flight. Cause of crash, Tail Instability.
Buried Shirehampton Cemetery (see photos) Listed on the Bomber Command
Memorial, Green Park, London
Leonard James Bunn
Son of George & Frances Bunn, husband of Olive Bunn, Shirehampton
Sapper, Royal Engineers, 572 Field Company
Age 28
Service number 2113518
Date of Death 21/08/1940
Buried Shirehapton Cemetery (see photos)
Leslie Charles Chard
Son of William & Marion Chard
Gunner, Royal Horse Artillery, 11 (Honourable Artillery Company)
Regiment
Service number 959737
Date of Death 14/11/1942, taken prisoner by the Italians, he is missing,
presumed drowned when the Italian transport, SS Scillin, which was transporting
POWs was torpedoed and sunk by the Bristish submarine HMS Sahib
Listed on The Alamein Memorial
William Everest Hamilton Coker
Able Seaman, Royal Navy, HMS Rawalpindi (see photos)
Service number D/J 105354
Date of Death 23/11/1939
Listed on The Plymouth Naval Memorial
Robert Meirion Davies
Son of David & Anne Davies, Weston Super Mare, Somerset
Sgt, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 640 Squadron (see photos)
Age 24
Service number 2206026
Date of Death 06/10/1944
Listed on The Runnymede Memorial. Listed on the Bomber Command Memorial,
Green Park, London
Ivor Gordon Davies
Son of John & Elizabeth Davies
Third Radio Officer, Merchant Navy, SS Montreal City (Bristol) (see
photos)
Age 17
Date of Death 21/12/1942
Listed on the Tower Hill Memorial
Stanley J Earley
Son of Alfred George & Mary Ellen Earley, husband of Anne Gertrude
Earley, Shirehampton
Engine Room Articifer 4th Class, Royal Navy, HMS Upstart (see photos)
Age 44
Service number D/MX 74987
Date of Death 28/12/1943, killed in a road accident
Buried Malta (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery
Terry Edwards
Son of Henry O & Jenny Edwards, Kingswood, Bristol
Sgt (Air Bomber), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 90 Squadron (see
photos)
Age 28
Service number 1322675
Date of Death 20/10/1943
Buried Kingswood (Holy Trinity) Churchyard, Bristol. Listed on the
Bomber Command Memorial, Green Park, London
John Edward Hadley
Son of Mr & Mrs F Hadley, Shirehampton
Trooper, Royal Armoured Corps, 4th Queens Own Hussars
Age 26
Service nmber 7905960
Date of Death 04/09/1944, killed during heavy shelling during a night
attack on Coriano (Italy)
Buried Gradara War Cemetery, Italy
William Thomas Haines
Son of William C & Kate Haines, Lydney, Gloucestershire
Able Seaman, Royal Navy, HMS Charybdis (see photos)
Age 21
Service number D/JX 305731
Date of Death 23/10/1943
Listed on The Plymouth Naval Memorial
Stanley Francis Hill
Son of Samuel & Maud Hill, Shirehampton
Trooper, Reconnaissance Corps R.A.C 44th Regiment
Age 22
Service number 5193512
Date of Death 08/09/1944
Buried Coriano Ridge War Cemetery, Italy (see photos)
Sapper, Royal Engineers, 585 Corps, Field Park Company
Age 25
Service number 2003622
Date of Death 07/01/1943, lost at sea, SS Benalbenach (see photos)
Listed on the Brookwood Memorial
Reginald Henry Jefferies
Son of John & Susan Jefferies, Neath, Glamorgan
Private, 1st Bn, Devonshire Regiment
Age 29
Service number 14656193
Date of Death 07/05/1944
Buried Imphal War Cemetery, Burma
William S Martin
Son of Bertie Benjamin & Florence Ada Martin, Bristol
Aircraftsman 1st Class (W.Op) Royal Air Force, 18 Squadron (see photos)
Age 21
Service number 540304
Date of Death 27/12/1939
Buried Le Quesnel Communal Cemetery Extension, France
George Howard Nicholls
Son of George Frederick & Winifred Anne Nicholls, husband of Hilda
Josephine Nicholls, Shirehampton
Shipwright 4th Class, Royal Navy, HM L.C.S (M) 902 (see photos)
Age 28
Service number D/MX 509732
Date of Death 05/04/1945
Buried Bergen-Op-Zoom War Cemetery, Netherlands
Frederick George Phillips
Son of Thomas Frederick & Mona Phillips, Stoke Bishop, Bristol
Cadet, Merchant Navy, SS Bristol City (Bristol) (see photos)
Age 17
Date of Death 05/05/1943
Listed on The Tower Hill Memorial
William Henry Rayment
Son of Henry & Frances Rayment, husband of Edith Adelaide Rayment,
Bristol
Petty Officer, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Excellent
Age 34
Service number D/BD/X 784
Date of Death 29/07/1943
Listed Plymouth Naval Memorial
Kenneth Frederick Rice
Son of Frederick & Kate Mary Rice, Severn Beach, Gloucestershire
Sgt (Air Gunner), Royal Air Force Volunteer reserve, 619 Squadron (see
photos)
Age 21
Service number 1836758
Date of Death 22/06/1944
Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Henry Stoward Wall
Son of Henry Thomas & Annie Rose Wall of Easton, Bristol
Sgt (Observer), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 53 Squadron (see
photos)
Age 20
Service number 751254
Date of Death 04/01/1941
Listed Bristol (Greenbank) Cemetery
Alfred Nippress Whitlock
Son of William Thomas & Sarah Beatrice Whitlock, Shirehampton
Trooper, Royal Armoured Corps, 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
Age 20
Service number 14299660
Date of Death 28/06/1944
Buried St Manvieu War Cemetery, Cheux, France (see photos)
Albert Dursley
Home Guard, Firewatcher; of 334 Stapleton Road. Son of Mary Ann Dursley,
and of the late Alfred G. Dursley. Died at 334 Stapleton Road.
Civilian
Age 36
Date of Death 16/03/1941
Buried Bristol County Borough Cemetery
Edgar Montgomery
Foster son of Stephen George & Doris May Child, 67 Ashton Drive
Civilian
Age 26
Date of Death 11/04/1941
Buried Bristol County Borough Cemetery
Alice Rowles
Daughter of Mr S Rowles, 34 Meadow Street, Llanhilleth, Monmouthshire,
died 45 Priory Road, Shirehampton
Civilian Age 22
Date of Death 11/04/1941
Buried Bristol County Borough Cemetery
Frederick Frank Toombs
Homeguard, son of Frederick Charles Toombs of 27 Foxcote Road, Ashton
Gate, husband of Irene May Toombs, 2 Hendre Road, Bristol
Civilian
Age 28
Date of Death 12/04/1941
Buried Bristol County Borough Cemetery
British Oil and Cake Mills (Bristol)
Ronald William Brown
Son of William John & Ada Brown
Private, 10th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Age 24
Service number 5191260
Date of Death 20/01/1945
Buried Taukkyan War Cemetery, Burma
Charles Herman Coombes
Gunner, Royal Artillery, 5th Survey Regiment
Age 21
Service number 909597
Date of Death 27/02/1943
Buried Massicault War Cemetery, Tunisia
William T Davis
Son of Mr & Mrs L W Davis, Barton Hill, Bristol
Trooper, Royal Tank Regiment
Age 25
Service number 420959
Date of Death 11/03/1944
Buried Bristol (Avon View) Cemetery
Albert Edward Ford
Son of Mr & Mrs Wilfred Ford, husband of Hilda May Ford
Private, 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Age 26
Service number 5181467
Date of Death, between, 28/05/1940 & 30/05/1940, Dunkirk area
Buried Cassel Communal Cemetery Extension, France
Charles William Hiscox
Son of Charles & Mabel Hiscox, Stoke Gifford, Gloucestershire
Engine Room Articifer 4th Class, Royal Navy, HMS Repulse (see photos)
Age 21
Service number D/MX 69785
Date of Death 10/12/1941
Listed on The Plymouth Naval Memorial
William Henry Johnson
Son of William & Alice Johnson, husband of Dorothy May Johnson,
Avonmouth
Able Seaman, Royal Navy, HMS President III, lost at sea on board the MV
Waimarama (see photos)
Age 21
Servcie number D/JX 290968
Date of Death 13/08/1942
Listed on the Plymouth Naval Memorial
Daniel Lambert
Son of Charles & Florence Ada Lambert, Bedminster, Bristol
Stoker, Royal Naval Patrol Service, H M Trawler, Cap D'Antifer (see
photos)
Age 29
Service number LT/KX 131794
Date of Death 13/02/1944
Listed on The Lowestoft Naval Memorial
Alfred George Linton
Son of Thomas James & Lilian Linton, Bristol
Able Seaman, Royal Navy, HMS President III, lost at sea on board British
Steam Tanker Edwy R Brown (see photos)
Age 23
Service number D/JX 189741
Date of Death 18/02/1941, missing presumed killed
Listed on The Plymouth Naval Memorial
James Reginald Neale
Son of Jonathan Hooper & Ellen Cree Neale, husband of Alice Neale,
Cam, Gloucestershire
Private, 2nd Batalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Age 26
Service number 5180152
Date of death 29/05/1940
Buried Cassel Communal Cemetery Extension, France
Mervyn Charles Spence
Son of William Alfred & Annie Spence, Shirehampton
Stoker 1st Class. Royal Navy, HMS Prince of Wales (see photos)
Age 26
Service number D/KX 111623
Date of Death 10/12/1941
Listed on The Plymouth Naval Memorial
George Francis Stephens
Son of Mr & Mrs A W Stephens, husband of Nancie Phyllis Stephens of
Bristol
Serjeant, Royal Artillery, 88 Field Regiment
Age 30
Service number 882179
Date of Death 23/12/1941
Listed on The Singapore Memorial, Singapore
William John Summerell
Son of William & Anne Summerell, Bristol
Ordinary Seaman, Royal Navy, HM Trawler Star of Deveron (see photos)
Age 25
Service number D/JX 208104
Date of Death 30/09/1941
Buried Bristol (Arnos Vale) Cemetery
Alfred Edwin Theobald
Able Seaman, Royal Navy, HMS Marne (see photos)
Service number P/JX 27539
Date of Death 25/10/1945, died from illness
Buried Shirehampton Cemetery
Gordon Howell Williams
Son of Howell Garth Llewelyn & Ellen A Williams of Vancouver,
Canada, grandson of The Rev T Roberts of Portishead, Bristol
Pilot Officer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (see photos)
Age 21
Service number 115996
Date of Death 19/09/1942
Buried Innisfall Cemetery, Alberta, Canada
Thomas Henry Williams
Son of Tom & Charlotte Williams, Bedminster, Bristol
Driver, Royal Army Service Corps
age 20
Service number T/122763
Date of Death 21/01/1940
Buried Bristol (Arnos Vale) Cemetery
St Andrews War Memorial
Frank Percy Bennett
Son of Arthur & Emma Bennett, 5 Napier Rd, Avonmouth
Corporal, 12th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Service number 11040
Date of death 08/02/1917
Having been previously wounded Frank was 'patched up' and sent back to
the front, he was killed when enemy artillery shelled his company's position on
the Cuinchy (right) Front at dusk
Buried Gorre British and Indian Cemetery
George Wilfred Berry
Son of William Edmund & Annie Berry, Cardiff, lived in Avonmouth
Serjeant, ?A? Battery, 93rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
Age 21
Service number 28750
Date of Death 11/09/1917
Buried Artillery Wood Cemetery
William J Berry
Son of William Edmund & Annie Berry, Cardiff, lived in Avonmouth
Corporal,, ?A? Battery, 93rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
Age 26
Service number 28779
Date of Death 06/10/1916
Buried Carnoy Military Cemetery
George Edwin Brown
Private, 2/6 Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Age 24
Service number 4272
Date of Death
21/05/1916
Buried Abbeville Communal Cemetery
Leonard Herbert Bugler
Son of John Hallet & Emily Ellen Bugler, Summerleaze, Avonmouth
2nd Lieutenant, ?C? Company, 2/5 Battalion, Gloucestershire
Regiment
Age 24
Date of Death 02/04/1918
Buried Shirehampton Cemetery
William Edward Bullock
Son of Robert & Maria Bullock, 28 Richmond Terrace, Avonmouth
Private, 7th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry
Age 27
Service number 11773
Date of Death 06/03/1916
Listed on The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
Thomas John Clark
Son of Frederick & Louisa Clark, Westbury-on-Trym, husband of Edith
Beatrice Clerk Brecon
Lance Corporal, 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers
Age 28
Service number 8114
Date of Death 26/09/1914
Listed on La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial
Herbert Aguilla Clegg
Son of Aguilla & Martha Ann Cleeg, husband of Gwendoline Beatrice
Jane Clegg, 26 Meadow St, Avonmouth
Able Seaman, Mercantile Marine, SS Glenfruin (see photos)
Age 21
Date of death 26/01/1918
Listed on the Tower Hill Memorial
Herbert William Thomas Dungey
Son of Thomas George & Ada Dungey, Avonmouth
Private, ?B? Company, 1.4 Brigade, Kings Shropshire Light Infantry
Age 19
Service number 28622
Date of Death 13/08/1918
Buried Sandpits British Cemetery, Fouquereuil
Died of wounds, Flanders, following the German 1918 advance. 13/08/1918
(Died in France)
William Philip Edwards
Son of William & Elizabeth Edwards, Exeter
Private, 2/4 Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry
Age 18
Service number 30548
Date of death 30/07/1918
Buried Raperie British Cemetery, Villemontoire
Henry R Foden
Son of Robert & Ada Foden, born in London
Air Mechanic 1st Class, 213 Squadron, Royal Air Force (see
photos)
Service number 204924
Date of Death 19/07/1918
Buried Dunkirk Town Cemetery
James John Gale
Able Seaman, Royal Navy, HMS Bulwark (see photos)
Service number 166068
Date of Death 18/01/1915, died of injuries sustained following an
explosion on board ship
Buried Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery
James Alfred Gibbs
Son of William Joseph Gibbs, Bristol
Private, 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards
Age 29
Service number 14214
Date of Death 10/03/1915
Listed on Le Touret Memorial
Ernest Leonard Gould
Son of William & Susan Ann Gould, 67 Richmond Terrace, Avonmouth
Private, 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment
Age 19
Service number 70442
Date of Death 22/04.1918
Buried Blangy-Tronville Communal Cemetery
William John Gould
Son of William & Susan Ann Gould, 67 Richmond Terrace, Avonmouth
Private, 35th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps
Age 31
Service number 82824
Date of Death 24/07/1918
Buried Godewaersvelde British Cemetery, France
Stanley John Hammond
Husband of Miriam Rebecca Hammond, Somerset Villa, Pill, Somerset
Lieutenant, Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Rhododendron (see photos)
Age 29
Date of Death 05/05/1918
Listed on the Chatham Naval Memorial
Herbert Samuel Hawker
Son of William & Ellen Hawker, Bristol
Private, 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
Age 32
Service number 36744
Date of Death 07/10/1917
Buried Dozinghem Military Cemetery
Frederick James Hood
Son of Joseph & Sarah Ann Hood, 26 King St, Avonmouth
Private, 2nd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
Age 24
Service number 57100
Date of Death 06/10/1918
Buried Basra War Cemetery, (Persia) Iraq
George William Jennings
Son of George Ebenezer & Ellen Jennings, husband of Lillian
Elizabeth Iver Jennings, 21 Farr St, Avonmouth
Storekeeper, Mercantile Marine, SS Feltria, (London) (see photos)
Age 28
Date of Death 05/05/1917
Listed on the Tower Hill Memorial
Albert Harold Lester
Son of Mr & Mrs H C Lester, Bristol
Driver, 110 Company, 22nd Division Train
Age 18
Service number T1/15
Date of Death 08/06/1916
Buried Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery
Herbert James Lumbard
Son of Henry Lumbard, Antwerp, husband of Alice Leonard Lumbard, Bristol
Corporal, 12th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Age 27
Service number 14343
Date of Death 29/07/1916
Listed on the Thiepval Memorial
Ernest Frederick Maggs
Son of John & Louisa Maggs, 34 Davies St, Avonmouth
Private, 2/6 Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Age 18
Service number 26887
Date of Death 13/04/1918
Listed on the Ploegsteert Memorial
Walter Edgar May
Son of Albert S & Elizabeth May, 5 Crown Terrace, Westtown,
Shirehampton
Lance Corporal, 1st Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment
Age 20
Service number 3/8503
Date of Death 01/07/1916 (Battle of The Somme
Buried Lonsdale Cemetery, Authuille
Eli E Mears
Son of A J and Lydia Mears, 43 King St, Avonmouth
Private, ?A? Company, 2/5 Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Age 27
Service number 26504
Date of death 26/03/1918
Buried Grand-Seraucourt British Military Cemetery & on family grave,
St Mary's churchyard, Shirehampton,
Thomas Henry Mears
Son of A J and Lydia Mears, 43 King St, Avonmouth
Serjeant, 2/4 Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Age 31
Service number 200498
Date of Death 07/04/1917
Buried Chapelle British Military Cemetery & on family grave, St
Mary's churchyard, Shirehampton
Albert Joseph Noyes
Son of Harry & Elizabeth Noyes, Avonmouth
4th Gloucester Regiment
Age 24
Died 30/08/1918
Listed on the family plot, Shirehampton Cemetery,
Set 867 (see photos)
Gwynne Henry Oliver
Son of Gwynne & Julia Oliver, Bristol
Private, 1st/4th Battalion, Gloucestershire
Regiment
Age 22
Service number 2478
Date of Death 09/05/1915
Buried Lancashire Cottage Cemetery
Cecil Page (born Cecil Davidson)
Step son of Thomas & Caroline Page
Gunner, Royal Garrison Artillery
Invalided from the Army suffering from pneumonia
Henry W Page
Son of Thomas & Caroline Page
Leading Seaman, Royal Navy, HMS Llewellyn (see photos)
Service number 227528
Date of Death 23/10/1916, died of illness
Buried Shotley (St Mary) Churchyard
Edward Milford Parsons
lSon of Mr & Mrs J Parsons, Avonmouth, husband of Catherine C
Parsons, Severn House, The Docks, Avonmouth
Serjeant, 1/6 Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Age 26
Service number 2766
Date of Death 15/04/1915
Buried Houplines Communal Cemetery Extension
Henry Cecil Payne
Private, 2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
Service number 203715
Date of Death 30/11/1917
Buried Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery
Alfred Pearce
Private, 2/7 Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Service number 32879
Date of Death 23/03/1918, killed in action
Listed on the Pozieres Memorial
James Piper
Son of Frank William & Elizabeth Piper, Bristol
Private, 1st/4th Battalion, Gloucestershire
Regiment
Age 19
Service number 201637
Date of Death 22/08/1916
Buried Serre Road Cemetery No2
Alfred Poston
Private, 8th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Service number 11346
Date of Death 03/07/1916
Buried Ovillers Military Cemetery
Frederick Sanger
Private, Royal Marine Light Infantry, HMS Black Prince (see photos)
Service number PO/16563
Date of Death 31/05/1916
Listed on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial
William Thomas Sanger
Son of Mr C T Sanger, 5 Farr St, Avonmouth
Private, Royal Marine Light Infantry, Plymouth Division
Age 22
Service number PLY/16234
Date of Death 30/10/1918
Buried Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery
Alfred Ernest Saunders
Private, 2/4 battalion, The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, formally
Army Service Corps
Service number 28527
Date of Death 26/10/1917
Listed on the Tyne Cot Memorial
Albert George Sims
Private, 9th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
Service number 6355
Date of death 07/07/1916
Listed on the Thiepval Memorial
Harry Sims
Son of Charles & Polly Sims, husband of Lily Maud Sims of
?Glencairn?, Penpole View, Avonmouth
Able Seaman, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Macedonia (see photos)
Age 23
Service number Bristol/Z/1330
Date of Death 02/12/1917
Buried Gamboa British Cemetery
Gilbert Tom Tanner
Son of John & Mary Tanner, husband of Beatrice Emily Tanner, 32 Cook
St, Avonmouth
Private, 1/5 Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment
Age 31
Service number 36442
Date of Death 03/12/1917
Buried Ramleh War Cemetery
Extract from the 5th Battalion War Diary:
3 Dec 1917 Front Line Coy shelled in morning. Casualties 2 O'Ranks Killed 7
O'Ranks Wounded. Consolidation proceeded with. [Comment; Private 46087 Rudolph
Hauer of Austria ? yes, Austria, near Germany! ? died from his wounds, Lance
Sergeant 200401 John Boon of Kempston and Private 36442 Gilbert Tanner of
Shirehampton killed]
Edward Thomas
Son of John & Caroline Amelia Mary Thomas, 20 Portview Rd, Avonmouth
Sailor, Mercantile Marine, SS Feltria (London) (see photos)
Age 21
Date of Death 05/05/1917
Listed on the Tower Hill Memorial
Reginald Williams
Son of William Frederick Williams, husband of Elizabeth Anne Williams,
12 Bradley Crescent Shirehampton
Greaser, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto) (see photos)
Date of Death 13/08/1915
Listed on the Tower Hill Memorial
William Arthur George Williams
Son of Mary Ellen Williams, 6 Glass St, Westtown, Shirehampton
Private, 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Age 29
Service number 203270
Date of Death 01/09/1918
Buried Karasouli Military Cemetery
Shirehampton Cemetery Details
The following names are either interred in the
cemetery or are listed on family plots:
Walter Greenhouse Bowen
Sergeant, No3 Training Depot Station, Royal Air
Force
Service number 137132
Age 18
Date of death 18/11/1918
Grave/Memorial, P. 1064 (see photos)
Joseph Britton
Private, Worcestershire Regiment
Service number 5181475
Date of death 30/09/1945
Grave/Memorial. Plot Yellow. Grave 397 (see
photos)
Francis George Brown
Sargeant (Air Gunner), 77 Squadron, Royal Air
Force Volunteer Reserve
Service number 1320388
Age 21
Date of death 20/12/1942
Grave/Memorial. Plot B. Grave 1691 (see photos)
Leonard Herbert Bugler
2nd Lieutenant, 'C' Company, 2/5
Gloucestershire Regiment
Age 24
Date of death 02/04/1918, died of wounds in London
Grave/Memorial. P. 895 (see photos)
Leonard Hallett Buller
(This is as the name is listed in Shirehampton
Cemetery details, evidence shows this is an error and should read as Leonard
Herbert Bugler)
Listed on Set 823, Shirehampton Cemetery (see
photos)
Leonard James Bunn
Sapper, 572 Field Company, Royal Engineers
Service number 2113518
Age 28
Date of death 21/08/1940
Grave/Memorial. Plot B. Grave 1695 (see photos)
Peter Brian Burley
Son of Joseph Arthur and Jeanette Burley, of 132
Cumberland Road. Injured 14 March 1942, at Ashton Avenue; died at Bristol Royal
Infirmary
Messenger, N.F.S. (National Fire Service)
Age 14
Date of death 28/03/1942
Listed on the National Fire Service/Auxillary Fire
Service Memorial and on the family headstone, Shirehampton Cemetery (see
photos)
Wilfred (Willie) Evans Burton
Grandson of Enoch & Fanny Matthews of 5
Pembroke Rd, Shirehampton (see photos)
Gunner, 2nd Siege Battery Royal
Garrison Artillery
Service number 41309
Date of death 31/12/1917
Drowned when the transport Osmanish was mined in
The Mediterranean
Listed on The Chatby Memorial and on family plot,
Set 206. Shirehampton Cemetery
William Joseph Byrne
Guardsman, Welsh Guards
Service number 2737740
Date of death 01/09/1946
Grave/Memorial. R.C. Plot. Grave 995 (see photos)
Florence Minnie Clarke
Leading Wren, Women?s Royal Naval Service, HMS
Heron
Service number 23182
Date of death 25/11/1947, died of illness
Grave/Memorial. Plot B. Grave 325 (see photos)
Frances Elsie May Clinker
Leading Aircraftswoman, Women?s Auxiliary Air
Force
Service number 2065275
Date of death 04/03/1945
Grave/Memorial. Plot A. Grave 290 (see photos)
Arthur George Cornford
Private, 106th Company, Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Service number 030827
Date of death 24/01/1918
Grave/Memorial. Grave 1060 (see photos)
Frederick George Davis
Gunner, D Bty, 242 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
Service number 133198
Age 27
Killed in action, Ypres, 14/5/1918
Son of Frederick & Sarah Davis, Clifton,
Bristol,
Husband of Ivy Blanche Davis, 121 Cromwell Rd,
St Andrews, Bristol. Chorister Bristol Cathedral
&
Clifton Madrigal Society
Buried La Clytte, Military Cemetery
& listed on family plot 872, Shirehampton
Cemetery (see photos)
Douglas Alban St
John Evans B.Sc
Son of Evan &
Edith Mary Evans, husband of Cecillia
Evans of Shirehampton
2nd Lieutenant, 246 Welsh Field Company,Royal
Engineers
Service number 77822
Age 23
Killed during the defence of Dunkirk, 31/05/1940
Inteered, Veurne Communal Cemetery Extension,
Belgium
Llewelyn Evans
Son of William H. and Helen Evans of Glan-yrafon
Pentreffynon Skewen Neath Glam.
Pioneer, 38th Division Signal Company, Royal
Engineers
Service number 62948
Age 20
Killed in action 26/03/1918
Interred Merville Communal Cemetery Extension
& listed on the family plot, Shirehampton Cemetery, Set 471 (see photos)
William George Godwin
Petty Officer Stoker RN, HMS Berwick
Service number P/KX 79331
Age 37
Date of death 25/11/1946
Son of Albert & Mabel Godwin of Bristol
Husband of Mabel Godwin of Ashton Gate, Bristol
Buried Bristol (Arnos Vale) Cemetery
& listed on family plot 872, Shirehampton
Cemetery (see photos)
William Henry Harrington
Fireman, Mercantile Marine, SS Ribston (London)
Age 30
Son of William & the late Clara Harrington, 7
Irene Terrace,
Pill. (Born in Shirehampton).
Listed on the Tower Hill Memorial &
listed on family plot 790, Shirehampton Cemetery
Robert Horton
Stoker 1st Class, Royal Navy, HMS Triad
Service number D/KX84927
Age 24
Date of death 20/10/1940
Son of Samuel Arthur & Mary Elizabeth Horton.
Lost at sea following the destruction of HM
Submarine Triad by the Italian submarine Enrico Toti, whilst patrolling the
Libya cost, en route to Alexandria. Initially The Admiralty thought that Italian
aircraft had sunk The Triad, but it later found that it had been sunk on
15/10/1940 by Italian submarine.
Listed on The Plymouth Memorial and on Set 461,
Shirehampton Cemetery (see photos)
Thomas Norman Hunt
Private, D Squadron, Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
Service number 1991
Date of death 28/8/1915
Son of Ellen Caroline & the late Thomas Hunt,
4 Manilla Rd,
Clifton, husband of Henrietta Hunt
Buried Green Hill Cemetery, listed on family plot
120
Shirehampton Cemetery (see photos)
Arthur Jackson
Son of Sarah Jackson, 28 Victotia Buildings, St
Georges Road, Bristol
Private , Royal Marine Light Infantry, HMS
Cornwell
Service number PLY/11672
Age 30
Date of death 18/03/1915 - Died in the UK
Grave/Memorial. Grave 1000 (see photos)
Robert William Jackson
Son of Benjamin & Sarah Jackson, Essex
Private, 9th Battalion, Duke of Wellingotn's (West
Riding Regiment)
Service number 25730
Killed in action 26/08/1918
Listed on Vis-en-Artois Memorial & family
plot, Shirehampton Cemetery, Set 521 (see photos)
Cyril Benjamin Kenworthy (Ken)
Squadron Leader, 21 Squadron, Royal Air Force,
Born 1909
Died 1974, age 65
Shirehampton Cemetery Set 738
John Henry Langdon MC
Son of George Binks & Mary Ann Langdon, London
Lieutenant , 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire
Regiment & 195 Sqn RAF
Awards Military Cross
Age 26
Killed in a flying accident (Avro 504a), Egypt,
05/06/1918
Interred Ismaila War Cemetery & listed on
family plot, Shirehampton Cemetery, Set 805 (see photos)
Albert Edward Large
Son of John Large, Swindon
Private, Royal Marine Light Infantry, Cyclops II,
(Shore Battery, Scapa Flow)
Age 29
Died of illness 09/11/1918
Husband of Henrietta
Listed on family plot 403, Shirehampton Cemetery
Donald Cameron Lennie OBE
Husband of Winifred Lennie (nee Bullock) of
Avonmouth
Captain, Merchant Navy, MV Santa Clara Valley
Awarded the OBE following his actions to save his
ship, crew and cargo, 23 April 1941
Bay of Nauplia, Crete
Age 56
Date of Death 16/08/1945. Died at sea, buried
Gibraltar
Listed on Family Plot 912 Shirehampton Cemetery
(see photos)
Donald Cameron Lennie
Son of Donald Cameron Lennie MN & Winfred
Lennie
Cadet, Merchant Navy
Age 17
Date of Death 31/12/1943 (Fatally injured
following an accident, Buried at sea)
Reports seem to indicate that due to the intense
heat Cadet Lennie, along with another cadet, were sleeping on deck while the
ship was being loaded in an Indian port, either Bombay or Calcutta. Loading had
concluded for the day as blackout conditions prevailed. During the night both
cadets either fell or rolled into the open cargo hold, the covers being left
open to speed up loading the next day. Cadet Lennie was killed in the fall, the
other individual was severly injured, but survived..
Listed on Family Plot 912 Shirehampton Cemetery
(see photos)
Joseph Isaac Limbrick
Son of William & Lillie Limbrick, 19 Bean
Acre, Shirehampton
Trimmer, Royal Naval Reserve
Service number 4670TS
Age 23
Date of Death 10/03/1916, died from illness
Died from illness whilst on board Depot Ship, HMS
Dreel Castle
Buried in Longfleet (St Mary) Churchyard
Listed on Family Set 686, Shirehampton Cemetery
(see photos)
Gilbert Ewart Ellis Long
Son of Gilbert Charles & Marjorie Long of
Shirehampton
Pilot Officer, 5 OTU (Operational Training Unit),
Royal Air Force
Age 22
Killed in air crash (Training) 01/06/1945
Buried British Columbia, Canada, listed on family
plot, Shirehampton Cemetery (see photos)
George Douglas Marks
Private, 53 Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
Service number TR/8/27860
Date of death 06/05/1918
Grave/Memorial. P. 542. (see photos)
Henry Matthews
Private, 222 Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
Service number 118833
Age 26
Date of death 19/06/1920
Grave/Memorial. R. 1216 (see photos)
Henry William Morgan
Marine, 1 H.A.A. Regiment, Royal Marines
Service number PLY/X100600
Age 29
Date of death 25/04/1945
Grave/Memorial. Plot B. Grave 407. (see photos)
Joseph Hamlet Morrison
Son of George Gillespie & Mary Jnae Morrison ,
husband of Isabel Lindsey Morrison of Shirehampton
Sapper, Royal Engineers
Service number 13071006
Age 37
Date of death 19/12/1947
Grave/Memorial. Plot B. Grave 404. (see photos)
Robert Francis Newton
Son of Marcellios Henry & Emily Katherine
Newton
2nd Lieutenant, 52 Squadron, Royal Air Force (see
photos)
Killed in action, France, 03/04/1918 Flying RE8
aircraft, A3868
Listed on the Arras Flying Services Memorial &
family plot Shirehampton Cemetery, Set 798 (see photos)
Walter Richard Parfitt (also known as
Mapston)
Son of Walter George & Elizabeth Alice Parfitt
(formally Mapston ) of 103 Bradley Crescent, Shirehampton. Husband of Mrs A B
Mapston, 23 Stonyhurst Street, St Albans, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Private (motor driver), Auckland Regiment N.Z.E.F.
Service number 36993
Age 37
Date of death 21/02/1919. Died of pneumonia
Grave/Memorial. P. 1239. (see photos)
Alfred Pearce
Husband of Lily Pearce, Avonmouth
Private, 2/7 Battalion, Royal Warwickshire
Regiment
Service number 37879
Date of death 23/03/1918, Killed in action,
France,
Listed, Set 935, Shirehampton Cemetery
Roy Walter Pearce
Writer Probationer, Royal Navy, HMS Drake II
Service number D/MX81129
Age 26
Date of death 14/09/1947
Grave/Memorial. Plot B. Grave 1718. (see photos)
Edwin George Arthur Phillips
Able Seaman, Royal Navy, HMS Enchantress
Service number P/SSX26290
Age 21
Date of death 19/01/1941
Grave/Memorial. Grave 1466 (see photos)
Charles Pickering
Private, 3rd County of London Yeomanry
(The Sharpshooters)
Service number 1129
Date of death 13/04/1915
Grave/Memorial. Yellow 1000 (see photos)
John (Jack) Robinson
Private, 10th Battalion Devonshire
Regiment
Service number 13744
Killed in action 10/2/1917 (Solonica)
Listed on Doiran Memorial (Greece)
& listed on family plot 804, Shirehampton
Cemetery (see photos)
Edward Bruce Salmon
Son of Worthy & Alice Salmon
Lance Corporal, 8th Battalion, Gloucestershire
Regiment
Age 24
Service number 37334
Killed in action 28/03/1918
Listed on Arras Memorial & family plot Set
497, Shirehampton Cemetery (see photos)
Arthur Edward Shaddick
Son of Samuel & Margaret Shaddick, The Lodge,
Little Snyed, Stoke Bishop
Private, 10th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Service number 26235
Age 21
Killed in France,01/09/1916
Buried at Caterpiller Valley Cemetery, Longueval
& listed on the family plot Shirenampton Cemetery, Set 277 (see photos)
Sydney George Smith
Sapper, Royal Engineers
Service number 1883267
Date of death 28/09/1946
Grave/Memorial. Plot B. Grave 77 (see photos)
William F J Sutton
Husband of Violet Sutton, Southville, Bristol
Driver, 'C' Battery, 155 Brigade, Royal Field
Artillery
Service number 826192
Killed in action (Ypres) 15/09/1917
Buried Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, listed
on Family plot Shirehampton Cemetery (see photos)
Alfred Edwin Theobald
Able Seaman, Royal Navy, HMS Marne
Service number P/JX27539
Date of death 25/10/1945
Grave/Memorial. Plot B. Grave 267 (see photos)
Eileen Mary Thompson
Aircraftswoman 2nd Class, Women?s
Auxiliary Air Force
Service number 472374
Age 23
Date of death 02/08/1945
Grave/Memorial. Plot B. Grave 332 (see photos)
Terence William Walsh
Private, 6th Battalion Black Watch
(Royal Highlanders)
Service number 14203416
Age 21
Date of death 21/10/1944
Son of Patrick & Elizabeth Walsh of
Shirehampton.
Killed at Coriano Ridge, Rimini, Italy during the
heaviest fighting since Casino.
Buried Coriano Ridge War Cemetery
Listed on Grave/Memorial. Set 280. Shirehampton
Cemetery (see photos)
Henry David Webb
Son of William E & Louisa Webb, 12 Pembroke
Road, Shirehampton (1911), (5 Park Row, Shirehampton, 1901 Census). Occupation,
Newspaper Errand Boy.
Private, !st/4th (City of Bristol) Battalion,
Gloucestershire Regiment
Service number 5177
Age 21
Date of Death 22/08/1916 (Killed in the Somme
offensive)
Listed on the Theipval Memorial Pier & Face 5A
& 5B and on the family grave, Shirehampton Cemetery (see photos)
Walter Whitehead
Private, 2/4 Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Service number 37366
Age 20
Date of death 14/12/1917
Grave/Memorial. P. 151. (see photos)
Listing Those in St Mary's Churchyard
St Mary?s Churchyard
Within St Mary?s churchyard can be found two family graves, the headstones
of which commemorate relatives lost in The First World War whilst serving
overseas.
On the Collins family cross can be found the name of 2nd
Lieutenant Frank Basil Collins of The 1st South Midland Brigade,
Royal Field Artillery who was killed in action 22/08/1917. The son of George
& Mary Collins, he was 24 years old and is buried at Vlamertinghe New
Military Cemetery in Belgium. The South Midland Artillery, as part of the 48th
Division, had, between 16-18 August 1917, covered the attack at Langemarck,
north east of Ypres. One record notes that: ?An overwhelming concentration of
artillery such as had never before been approached, not even excepting The
Somme?. The gunners were also in support of British tanks on 19-22 August
whilst they cleared out strong points.
Mr & Mrs A J and L Mears (of 43 King St, Avonmouth) would lose two sons,
the details of which appear at the base of another cross in the churchyard,
accompanied by loving words. On one side the name of 31 year old Thomas Henry
Mears, killed in action 7/04/1917, is followed by:
And Now He Is Sleeping His Last Long
Sleep And His Grave I May Never See.
But Some Gentle Hand In The Distant
Land May Scatter Some Flowers For Me.
Sergeant Mears (200498) of the 2/4th Gloucestershire Regiment is
buried in Chappelle British Cemetery at Holnon, France. He was killed shortly
after his battalion took over trenches west of Fresnoy on 6/04/1917. The
Gloucesters that same evening attacked the village and consolidated its gains
throughout the night. The Battalion War Diary for 7th April 1917
records snow and a very cold, but ?quiet? day. Casualties: one killed, one
missing (see photos)
Tom?s younger brother, Private Eli Ernest Mears (265704), was 27, his family
recalls:
When Last We Saw His Smiling Face
He Looked So Strong And Brave.
Little We Thought How Soon He?d Be
Laid
In A Hero?s Grave.
Buried at Grande-Seraucourt British Cemetery, south-west of St. Quentin, on
the east side of the River Somme, he had served with ?A? Company 2/5th
Gloucestershire Regiment and died of wounds received on 26/03/1918. From The
2/5th Gloucestershire Regiment histories we read how the period from
21st March 1918 ? ?was the most critical the Glosters ever went
through.? It is noted that the night of 22nd March which- ?will
abide for ever in the minds of those who were privileged to live through it.?
The 2/5th at the time in question had played an important role in
holding up three German divisions. This contributed to the successful crossing
of the Somme (river) by the 5th Army (see photos)
HMT (SS) Royal Edward 13 August
1915
A brass plaque with 35 names on it was erected at the Mission to Seamen
Chapel, 124 Portview Road, Avonmouth by the members of the Royal Edward
Athletic & Social Club, which reads:
'IN MEMORY OF OUR FALLEN COMRADES
(of the Catering Dept)
WHO WERE DROWNED 13 AUGUST 1915
IN HIS MAJESTY'S TRANSPORT s.s.
''ROYAL EDWARD''
THEY DIED FOR KING & COUNTRY
In 1982 the Missions to seamen became part of the Avonmouth
International Seafarers Centre, and moved to Gloucester Road, Avonmouth, The
Royal Edward Memorial Plaque was moved again and can now be seen at the Port of
Bristol Seafarers Centre at Portbury. I have in addition included other members
of the Catering dept who were lost on board the SS Royal Edward at the time of
her sinking.
Troops boarded the ROYAL EDWARD on 28th July 1915 at Avonmouth. At the
time this port was used by liners which were too large to get any further up
the River Avon to Bristol. Soldiers of a number of Regiments were due to sail
in her to join troops at Gallipoli,Turkey.
The ROYAL EDWARD (Cdr.P.M.Watton R.N.R.) was reported off the Lizard on
29th July. On the same day her sister ship the ROYAL GEORGE sailed with troops
from Devenport for Gallipoli. Records show that the ROYAL GEORGE called at
malta on 5th August and arrived at Alexandria,Egypt on the 9th. The ROYAL EDWARD
would have followed a day behind. The ROYAL GEORGE sailed from Mudras harbour,
Lemnos on 11th arriving safely on 13th. The ROYAL EDWARD sailed from Alexandria
on 12th August for Mudras. Apart from her crew of 220 she had on board 31
officers and 1335 men.
On the same day the recently arrived German submarine UB14 sailed from Bodrum
for the known steamer route between Alexandria and the Dardanelles. She was
under the command of Lt.Commander Heino von Heimburg with a crew of 14. This
small submarine of 127 tons was just over 90 feet long and less than ten feet
wide. The UB14 had been completed at Bremen Dockyard earlier that year. She had
then been transported in sections overland by train to Pola in Austria where
she had been reassembled in June to operate against British and Allied shipping
in the Mediterranean. On 6 July she torpedoed and sank the Italian Armoured
Cruiser Amalfi while operating under the Austrian flag off Venice. The UB14
sailed for the Dardanelles on 16th July. This was at a time when the range of
submarines was very limited, unlike today. To reach Bodrum she had to be towed
a considerable part of the distance by an Austrian destroyer. Even so her
engine broke down off Crete and her compass became defective. Despite these
problems she arrived safely at Bodrum on 24th July. On arrival she recharged
the batteries of the UC14 which had arraived four days earlier with engine
problems. A maintenance team then had to travel from Constatinople to carry out
necessary repairs to both submarines. At the time this journey was not easy
being made partly by train and partly by camel.
After leaving Bodrum the UB14's first sighting was a fully lit hospital ship
seen that evening which was not attacked. On 13th August 1915 she first sighted
the P & O Liner Soudan in service as a hospital ship
She then sighted the ROYAL EDWARD sailing unescorted for Madras. The UB14 fired
one torpedo from under a mile away which hit her stern. The ROYAL EDWARD sank
quickly. The after deck was awash in three minutes and the ship had sunk with
her bows in the air in six minutes.
Official reports at that time stated 132 men were lost, including her captain
and that has been repeated in many publications up to the 1980's In fact the
loss of life was far greater. The Dictionary of Disasters at Sea 1824-62
published by Lloyds Registerof Shipping states that"of the 1,586 on board
less than 500 were rescued". Just before the attack the troops had carried
out boat drill so when the torpedo struck many were below decks stowing their gear.
Those saved were picked up by the Soudan, two French destroyers and some
trawlers which were near enough to the scene to help with the rescue
operations.
The UB14 did not harass the rescue ships. Her compass had become defective
again so she returned immediately to Bodrum for repairs, where she arrived on
the morning of the 15th August.
Details of Those Listed on the Memorial Plaque
& Other members of the Catering Dept
Frederick Albert Victor Avery
Son of John & Amerlia Avery, 11 Aubrey Road, Bristol
Assistant Cook, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 27
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Ernest Arthur Matthew Bannister
Son of Ernest & the late Ellen Bannister (nee McClean, 26 May Road,
Elm Grove, Brighton. Born in Brighton, west Sussex
Assistant Engineer's Steward, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward
(Toronto)
Age 16
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Francesco William Barral
Son of the late Francesco & Charlotte Barral, Barking Road, East
Ham. Born in London
First Bed Steward, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 44
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Benjamin John Brooks
Son of James & Mary Brooks, 288 Gloucester Road, Horfield, Bristol.
Born in Bristol
Assistant Storekeeper, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 22
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Albert Arthur Burchett
Son of the late Charles & Rebecca Burchett, husband of Margaret
Burchett (nee Rowe), 10 Rudthorpe Road, Bristol. Born at Fisherton, Salisbury
Baker & Confectioner, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 51
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Tom Warland Cooper
Son of the late Elisha & Matilda Cooper, husband of Alice May
Cooper, 2 Palmerston Road, Redland, Bristol. Born in Southampton
Chief Steward, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 36
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Harry William Downing
Husband of Edith Emily Downing (nee Blakelay), of 5 Ralph Road, Ashley
Down, Bristol. Born in Essex
Pantryman, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 38
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Tom Duckham
Son of the late Thomas & Mary Duckham, (nee Martell), Witheybed
House, Quakers Friars, Bristol. Born at Worcester
Scullion, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 33
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Leonard Duffner
Son of Robert & Alice Duffner, 6 Franly Terrace, Snow Hill, Bath.
Born in Bristol
Assistant Steward,Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 19
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Alfred James Echevarri
Son of the late Juan Barlow Wood & Frances Echevarri, husband of
Sarah Echevarri (nee Turpin), 102 Coventry Road, Ilford, essex. Born at Stone,
Staffordshire
Saloon Steward, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
John Edwards
Son of John Edwards, 22 Sydney Street, Liverpool
Steward, Mercantile Marine, Henry R James (Bristol)
Age 36
Date of death 16/07/1917
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre. John
survived the sinking of the SS Royal Edward (Toronto), only to lose his life
later in the war.
Clarence Fogwell
Son the late Roger Fogwell & Caroline Walker (formerly Fogwell nee
Dove), 101 Barlow St., Rodney Rd., Walworth, London. Born in London.
Troop Cook, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 22
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
A Golding
Assistant Steward, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Walter Henry Hobbs
Son of Henry & Emily Hobbs, Chapel Road, Warmley, Gloucestershire.
Bon in Alveston
Scullion, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 23
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Eric Thomas Jones
Son of the late Francis Henry & Alice Jane Palastanga (formally
Jones (nee Carswell)), 53 Vassall Road, Brixtol, London. Born in London
Engineer's Steward, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 20
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Ivor Bertie Jones
Son of the late Levi and Maria Jones; husband of Mabel Gillian Jones,
595 Stapelton Rd, Eastville, Bristol. Born at Bedminster, Bristol.
Assistant Baker, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 35
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial
George Henry Llewellyn
Son of the late Albert Hookway Llewellyn & Amelia Johanna Clark
(formally Llewellyn), 15 Grove Road, Fishponds, Bristol. Born in Fishponds
Assistant Steward, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 25
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Albert James Loring
Son of Albert & Lydia Ann Loring, 29 Jasper Street, Clussels
Beamish, Bristol. Born in Bedminster
Assistant Butcher, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 20
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Thomas McLeod
Son of the late Alexander and Margaret McLeod (late Swords, formerly
McGuire); husband of Margaret Jane McLeod (nee Hambley), 21 Cross St.,
Holyhead, Anglesea. Born in Everton, Liverpool
Canteen and Trooper Deck Steward, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward
(Toronto)
Age 44
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
George Monks
Son of the late George & Mary Monks. Born in Bristol
Scullion, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 20
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Sidney Henry Newport
Son of William Henry & the late Sarah Newport, Born in Bristol
Assistant Steward, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 32
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Reginald Parsons
Son of the late John & Annie Parsons, 24 Gorleston Street,
Kensington, West London. Born in London
Assistant Steward, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 24
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Sidney Higgins Peters
Son of Sidney Joseph Higgens & Mary Elizabeth Peters, 18 Blenheim
Street, Stapleton Road, Bristol. Born in Bristol
Assistant Butcher, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 22
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
James Quayle
Son of James & Margaret Quayle (Nee Walsley), of Garden Suburbs,
Shirehampton. Born in Liverpool
Captain's Steward, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 21
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Mobray Royton (may have also used the surname
Wilson)
Assistant Steward, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
William Paterson Saunders
Son of John & the late Margaret Saunders, husband of Mary Louisa
Saunders (nee George), 23 Dacre Hill, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, Cheshire. Born in
Liverpool
Canteen & Trooper Deck Steward, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward
(Toronto)
Age 43
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Henry John Shergold
Son of Edward Shergold; husband of Catherine Ethel May Hatherley
Shergold (formerly Sivcock, nee Hurdle), 16 Ellicott Rd., Horfield, Bristol.
Born at Fisherton, Salisbury.
2nd Saloon Chef, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 41
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial
Thomas Moore Shillinglaw
Son of the late Charles Francis & Jane Shillinglaw, husband of
Jemima Shillinglaw (nee Wilson), Albert Villa, Nore Road, Portishead, Somerset.
Born at Birkenhead
Assistant Steward, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 47
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Frederick William Simmons
Son of George & Florence Emily Simmons, 320 St Phillip Street, St
Henri, Montreal. Born in Bedminster
Assistant Steward, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 19
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Alexander William Skimming
Son of Alexander William & Margaret Skimming, hudband of Julia May
Skimming (nee Jones, 16 Brunswick Street, City road, Bristol. Born at
Helenburgh
Saloon Steward (2nd), Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 40
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Francis Sewell Stebbing
Son of the late Francis & Edith Stebbing. Born in Ipswich
Pantryman 2nd Class, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 29
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Percival Harold Stedeford
Son of William & the late Clara Annie Stedeford, 141 Bloomfield
Road, Brislington, Bristol.
Scullion, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 28
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Alexander Symon
Son of James Paterson & Janet Symon, husband of Emilie Symon (nee
Parker), 24 Ellicott Road, Horfield, Bristol. Born in London
2nd Steward, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 40
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
James Thomas
Husband of Elizabeth Thomas (nee Borrows), 4 County Cottages, County
Street, Totterdown, Bristol. Born in Liverpool
Ships Cook, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 53
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
James Nevil Usher (served using the surname
Edwardes)
Son of the late Charles Frederick and Dulcibella Usher; husband of
Marion Usher, 50 St. Julian's Farm Rd., West Norwood, London. Born in London.
Assistant Steward 1st Class, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward
(Toronto)
Age 49
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial
William Jonathan Williams
Son of William and the late Mary Williams; husband of Annie Mary
Williams (nee Ryan), 27, Cowper St., Bootle, Lancs. Born at Monmouth.
Chef, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 50
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial
George Albert Wines
Son of Emma Hemmings (formally Wines), 39 Clifton Road, Canning Town ,
London. Born at Leytonstone, London
Officer's Steward 1st Class, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward
(Toronto)
Age 16
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Arthur James Winter
Son of Mary Annie and the late George Winter; husband of Mary Ann Winter
(formerly Floyd, nee Young), 48 Greenway Bush Lane, Ashton Gate, Bristol. Born
at Kennington, London.
Second Storekeeper, Mercantile Marine, SS Royal Edward (Toronto)
Age 46
Date of death 13/08/1915
Tower Hill Memorial & Avonmouth International Seafarers Centre
Military Cross Awards
Stanley Frederick Hill
Extracts from The London Gazette:
4th Battalion Glouc R, attached 1/5th Battalion
T.F.. Killed 4th November 1918
Military Cross MC (London Gazette 26th May 1917)
?For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during a raid on enemy
trenches. He led his men with great dash during the fighting in the enemy front
line, himself killing one of the enemy and capturing two prisoners. Later, he
organised and led a bombing attack. He was wounded.?
Bar to MC (London Gazette 3rd October 1919)
?For conspicuous gallantry in leading his company in attacks on
Beaurevoir and Maretz 9th/10th October 1918. The success
of the operation at the first place was largely due to the efficient mopping up
in the cellars, which he personally led in the most gallant manner. Throughout
the operations he constantly showed courage and ability of a very high order?
John Henry Langdon (London Gazette 11th December 1916)
Extracts from The London Gazette:
Temp 2nd Lt John Henry Langdon, 2nd Battalion Glouc R and Mach Gun C.
'For conspicuous bravery and ability during an attack. Though wounded in
the arm he stayed with his guns, bringing one of them up unsupported by
infantry, thereby breaking up a counter-attack. He remained with his guns until
again wounded'
Lt J H Langdon was killed in Egypt, in a flying accident with 195
(Training) Squadron, RAF, 5 June 1918
Fernley Douglas Webber (London Gazette 9th March 1943)
2nd Lt, Royal Regiment of Artillery, Indian Army, Burma, service number
201670
Awarded the Military Cross for actions in Burma, 1942
Son of Herbert & Minnie Webber, born in Shirehampton, 12 March 1918,
he survived the war to become a diplomat. British High Commissioner of Brunei
between 1965-67, he died in Sudbury, Suffolk, May 1991
Other awards:
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM)
Territorial Decoration (TD)
Lieutenant Richard Godfrey Lomer (London Gazette 1st March 1945)
Born in 1922 to Godfrey & Mavis Lomer, he is showing as being in the
Shirehampton area at the time of his award. He died in Mendip in 1997
Lieutenant, Coldstream Guards ? Awarded the Military Cross 27th
February 1945 & was mentioned in recognition of gallantries and
distinguished service in North West Europe 20th March 1945.
Promoted to Captain 31st March 1950, he retired from the army
23rd August 1955 and lived to the London area. (London gazette 1978)
Extract from Regimental Diary
32nd Guards Brigade, Guards Armoured Division, 8 Corps
207663 Lieutenant Richard Godfrey LOMER, 5th Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS
On 3rd August, 1944, this Officer was acting as Second-in-Command to his
C company, North of LE BUSQ.
Throughout the day he displayed the highest qualities of leadership and
endurance, carrying forward Piat bombs to a forward platoon under heavy mortar
fire which a little later it became necessary to extricate.
This Officer then volunteered to go up again to organize the withdrawal, which
he did with great coolness and efficiency. The last section to be got out
suffered heavy casualties from German mortar fire.
Lieutenant LOMER, who was bringing up the rear, was painfully wounded by the
same agency while going to the aid of the wounded men. Despite this, and though
barely able to walk, he carried two men a distance of some forty yards each to
comparative safety. He then returned to the remaining wounded men and refused
to leave them until all had been evacuated or died.
While waiting with the last man he crawled to a ditch with a Sten gun with a
view to dealing with an anticipated German counter-attack.
Throughout the whole operation this officer set a magnificent example of
cheerfulness and efficiency, and I strongly recommend him for the award of the
Military Cross.
Signed Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding 5th Battalion Coldstream Guards
Field
7 August 44.
Flight
Lieutenant Peter Beresford Wright DFC
Service History
Joined Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and
trained as a pilot, selected to fly fighters in both 610 (County of Chester)
& 616 (South Yorkshire) squadrons, flying Spitfires.
Stationed with 610 Sqn at:
RAF Leaconfield (Yorkshire)
RAF Hutton Clayton (Yorkshire)
RAF Westhampnett (Devon)
RAF Perrenporth (Cornwall)
RAF Bolt Head (Devon)
Stationed with 616 Sqn at:
RAF Ibsley (Hampshire)
Promoted to (Temporary) Flight Sergeant 16th
March 1942, commissioned by 22nd January 1943 (Flying Officer).
Extract from The London Gazette:
Air
Ministry, 22nd January 1943.
ROYAL AIR FORCE
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve
the following awards in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations
against the enemy:-
Distinguished
Flying Cross
Flying Officer Peter Beresford Wright (119180),
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 610 Squadron
Flying Officer Wright has always displayed great
courage and skill, while his keenness and unflagging devotion to duty have set
an admirable example
The Last Flight Of
Avro Lancaster R5611
A stained glass window above the northern end of the aisle in St Mary?s
Church, Shirehampton remembers Sgt Ernest George Ronald Beacham RAFVR and the
rest of the crew of Avro Lancaster R5611, 106 Squadron, RAF. His parents Ernest
John & Nellie Beacham, following their sons? death in 1943, presented it to
the church.
Sgt Ronald Beacham was born in Bedminster 10.9.1922, he joined the Royal
Air Force Volunteer Reserve & after training he was posted to 106 Squadron
(5 Group), RAF Bomber Command at RAF Syerston in Nottinghamshire becoming a
member of a Lancaster crew.
On the night of the 13th/14th May 1943 Sgt Beacham
was part of the crew for Lancaster B1, R5611, code letters ZN-D, which was
detailed as part of a raiding force of 156 Lancaster & 12 Halifax in a
further attempt to bomb the Skoda armaments factory in Pilsen (Czechoslovakia).
9 aircraft would be lost on the raid including that of Sgt Beacham, the target
would prove difficult to find and mark accurately, nearly all the bombs falling
in open country north of the Skoda works.
The crew of ZN-D were familiar with the target, the Pilot, Sgt F J
Howell, having flown the same aircraft to Pilsen the previous month. The crew
were as follows:
1384397 Sgt F J Howell (Pilot RAF, age 22)
1338277 Sgt E G R Beacham (Air Bomber RAF, age 20)
R/88029 Flt Sgt D S Mitchell (Air Gunner RCAF, age 21)
1244614 Sgt D Grey (Flight Engineer RAF, age 22)
1294785 Sgt R W Littlefair (Wireless Op RAF, age 21)
R/115769 Flt Sgt W H Hill (Navigator RCAF, age 22)
1320264 Sgt L A Dunmore (Air Gunner RAF, age 19)
The aircraft (see photos) took off from RAF Syerston on 13th
May 1943 at 2130 and joined the bomber stream crossing the coastline of enemy
occupied Holland at approximately 2300hrs. At 2342 a Luftwaffe Bf 110G night
fighter (see photos), flown by Hauptmann Herbert Lutje (see photos) of 8 Staffel
NJG 1 based at Twente (Germany), intercepted ZN-D, the clash resulted in ZN-D
being shot down, one of 6 such victories (3 Lancaster, 3 Halifax) that
Hauptmann Lutje would gain on this night, the 3 Lancaster all being shot down
within 14 minutes.
ZN-D crashed 5km north of the Dutch town of Oldenzaal, all on board the
Lancaster were killed, investigations suggest that one member of the crew
attempted to bail out before impact, but the aircraft was too low and he was
killed in the attempt; their bodies were buried in the Weerselo Roman Catholic
cemetery, Rossum, where they remain today.
Extract from Station Records RAF Syerston 13 May 1943
13.5.43
WEATHER: Cloudy. Strong S/Westerly winds moderating later. Visibility good.
OPERATIONS: Target - PILSEN. Effort - 14 Lancasters from 61 Squadron and 15
Lancasters from 106 Squadron detailed. 12 aircraft from 61 Squadron and 11 from
106 Squadron attacked the primary target. Two aircraft from 61 Squadron and 3
from 106 Squadron returned early. 1 Lancaster from 106 Squadron is missing
WEATHER OVER TARGET: Clear, slight haze at start of attack followed by
smoke haze later. Most crews report seeing PFF Navigational aids on the way to
the target, at which a fair concentration of Red TI's was seen. Heavy smoke,
posibly a smoke screen was reported by some crews, but early arrivals found
good visibility and some claim to have seen factory buildings in the light of
the TI's. Many burst were observed
GENERAL: A Station Dance was held in the N.A.A.F.I.
Crew details, Lancaster R5611, 106
Squadron, RAF
Francis James Howell
Son of Francis A & Caroline Howell, Tufnell Park, London
Sergeant (Pilot), 106 Squadron RAFVR
Service number 1384397
Age 22
Killed in action 13/05/1943
Buried Weerselo (Rossum) Roman Catholic Cemetery. Listed on the Bomber
Command Memorial, Green Park, London
Ernest George Ronald Beacham
Son of Ernest John & Nellie Beacham, Shirehampton, Bristol
Sergeant (Air Bomber) 106 Squadron, RAFVR
Service number 1338277
Age 20
Killed in action 13/05/1943
Buried Weerselo (Rossum) Roman Catholic Cemetery Listed on the Bomber
Command Memorial, Green Park, London.
William (Bill) Hiram Hill
Son of Frederick W & Beatrice Hill of Sascatoon, Saskatchewan,
Canada
Flight Sergeant (Navigator) 106 Squadron, RCAF
Service number R/115769
Age 22
Killed in action 13/05/1943
Buried Weerselo (Rossum) Roman Catholic Cemetery. Listed on the Bomber
Command Memorial, Green Park, London
Robert William Littlefair
Son of Marshall & Mary E Littlefairof Middlesbourgh, Yorkshire
Sergeant (Wireless Op) 106 Squadron, RAFVR
Service number 1294785
Age 21
Killed in action 13/05/1943
Buried Weerselo (Rossum) Roman Catholic Cemetery Listed on the Bomber
Command Memorial, Green Park, London.
Douglas Seldon Mitchell
Son of Sterling & Bessie Mitchell of Waverley, Halifax Co, Nova
Scotia, Canada
Warrent Officer Class II (Air Gunner) 106 Squadron, RCAF
Service number R/88029
Age 21
Killed in action 13/05/1943
Buried Weerselo (Rossum) Roman Catholic Cemetery
Listed on the Bomber Command Memorial, Green Park, London
Leslie Allen Dunmore
Son of John Harry & Leah May Dunmore of Sydenham, London
Sergeant (Air Gunner) 106 Squadron, RAFVR
Service number 1320264
Age 19
Killed in action 13/05/1943
Buried Weerselo (Rossum) Roman Catholic Cemetery. Listed on the Bomber
Command Memorial, Green Park, London
Duncan Grey
Son of William & Violet Grey, Blackheath, London
Sergeant (Flight Engineer) 106 Squadron, RAFVR
Service number 1244614
Age 22
Killed in action 13/05/1943
Buried Weerselo (Rossum) Roman Catholic Cemetery. Listed on the Bomber
Command Memorial, Green Park, London
Pilot of Bf110G Night Fighter 8 Staffel
NJG 1
Hauptmann Herbert Lutje
Born in Rottorf on 30/01/1918 Herbert Lutje would survive the war and
achieve an impressive 54 kills, (51 by night, 3 by day), rising to the rank of
Oberstleutant. He carried out 267 missions, 198 of them by night, and was
awarded The Iron Cross (1st Class) on 15/2/1943 having achieved 15
kills by the end of 1942, his Knights Cross (Ritter Kruez) followed on 1/6/43
after achieving over 20 kills, which included the 6 bombers on the Pilsen raid,
he was a Hauptmann flying as Staffelkapitan 8/NJG 1.
In 1944, following his promotion to Major, he became the Kommodore of
NJG6 flying in the Eastern European theatre of operations (Rumania). His most
notable day kill was a pair of P38 Lightening which were dispatched within 2
minutes of each other, one by the front guns of the Bf110G, the other by his
Air Gunner Ofw Boguml, despite heavy damage caused to his aircraft Major Lutje
landed it successfully.
His last known victory was on the night of 16/17th March 1945
when he successfully destroyed a 4-engine bomber during a raid on Nuremberg.
Oberstleutant Lutje died in Cologne on 18/1/1967.
As a post script to this story, in 1974 Dutch Airforce (RNLAF) aircraft
recovery specialist recovered part of the fuselage & engine parts of Avro
Lancaster R5611, ZN-D, from the crash site at Oldenzaal, but the whereabouts of
these items is not documented, other than the Dutch reference 1974-08 LMT-16.
The window in St Mary?s Church Shirehampton not only remembers the brave
son of a local family but also serves to remember Sgt Beacham?s fellow crew
members who died so tragically that night in 1943.
Glossary
RAF - Royal Air Force
RAFVR - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
RCAF - Royal Canadian Air Force
Luftwaffe ? German Air Force
Hauptmann ? Luftwaffe rank equivalent to Flight Lieutenant (RAF)
Major - Luftwaffe rank equivalent to Squadron Leader (RAF)
Oberstleutant - Luftwaffe rank equivalent to Wing Commander (RAF)
Ofw ? Oberfeldwebel
Oberfeldwebel - Luftwaffe rank equivalent to Flight Sergeant (RAF)
NJG ? Luftwaffe Night Fighter arm (Nachtjadg)
Staffel ? Luftwaffe equivalent to squadron
Staffelkapitan ? Flight Leader
RNLAF ? Royal Netherlands?s Air Force