Died in London - 21st February 1944

The following civilians all died on the 21st February 1944 as a result of enemy action on London. It would appear that some of these 24 civilians died in the line of duty. For instance, Harry Cresswell was serving with the Heavy Rescue Service; Jesse Evans was a volunteer fire-watcher; Winifred Medleycott was working for the British Red Cross Society, James McKenzie working as a fire guard, and Herbert Pill a staff sergeant with the Home Guard.

James Michael Clark aged 5
Harry Cresswell aged 41
Alfred Patrick Donoghue aged 20
Jacqueline Donoghue aged 7
Brian Evans aged 4
Jesse William Evans aged 60
George William Gooch aged 38
Audrey Mary Elaine Hine aged 65
Edward Stimpson Long aged 74
Winifred Mary Medleycott aged 54
Edith Mary Morton aged 66
Roy Leonard Mcguire aged 28
James Reid Mckenzie aged 42
Winifred Rose Nash aged 60
Martha Newton aged 43
John Osborne aged 59
Doris Louisa Penning aged 32
Herbert Ernest Pill aged 44
Sophie Pauline Plane aged 76
Fred Porter aged 50
Henry Oliver Randall aged 53
Audrey Stannard aged 11
Isobel Margaret Marion Thomas aged 39
Mary Turner aged 47

The deaths occurred across London but with six of these recorded in Hammersmith and Fulham. I am assuming that all deaths were as a result of bombing raids.  

1045805 BQMS William Stephen Holcombe, Royal Artillery

On this day in 1893 my grandfather Walter Leonard Nixon was born. That's him, pictured above in about 1907. Fast forward 51 years and on this day, 1st February 1944, 217 British and Imperial men and women lost their lives in the service of their King and King Emperor.

1045805 Battery Quartermaster Sergeant William Stephen Holcombe of the 9th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, was one of those 217 men to die on this day in 1944. He was a regular soldier; an Old Contemptible who had enlisted in 1913, served throughout the First World War and who subsequently extended his service. His medal index card (below, courtesy of Ancestry) notes the same regimental number that appears on his headstone in Ilkley Cemetery.

 

Findmypast has William Holcombe in its Royal Artillery attestation registers which, in turn, sheds more light on the man and his service.

• William was born at South Norwood, Croydon and was a seaman before he enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery
• He originally attested on the 7th January 1913 and was given the number 71580
• He extended his colour service at various points ( his number 1045805 dates to February 1919) and re-enlisted on 3rd July 1939
• He married Violet Maud Smith at Woolwich on Christmas Day 1917 and the couple had two children: Francis William Smith (born 28th September 1921) and Reta Violet Smith (born 23rd March 1926).
• He was discharged from the army on 10th December 1943 under paragraph 392 (xvi) of King's regulations 1940. This paragraph deals with discharges as a result of "ceasing to fulfil army physical requirements" and could imply that he was discharged as a result of wounds

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that William was the husband of Violet Maud Holcombe of Stratford, Essex which, coming full circle, brings me back again to my grandfather Walter who was born in Stratford in 1893.

 

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

6088544 Pte Herbert Jeffries, 2nd Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)

According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 177 men and women serving with United Kingdom forces died on the 2nd January 1945; seventy years ago today. Herbert Jeffries died at home this day and was buried in Abney Park Cemetery in Stoke Newington. He was 24 years old, the son of Henrietta Jeffries of Hackney.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

 

Abney Park cemetery image borrowed from the Jane Shoots World blog.

531390 Leading Aircraft man David Graham Hodge, 99 Sqdn RAF

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that there were 96 fatalities on this day, 14th December 1939. My own mother was a day old at what, in London, must have been a very worrying time for my grandparents.

Thirty-four of the 96 casualties were amongst members of the Royal Air Force or Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and Leading Aircraftman David Graham Hodge was one of these men. He was 22 years old, the son of Elizabeth Hodge and the foster-son of Margaret Grant of Greenock, Renfrewshire when he was killed whilst serving with 99 Squadron, RAF. David Hodge has no known grave and is commemorated with over twenty thousand others on the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede in Surrey. Image above courtesy of: http://london.indymedia.org.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

1101197 Flt Sgt Laurence Helm, 39 Sqdn, RAF VR

Remembering today 1101197 Flight Sergeant Laurence Helm of No 39 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who lost his life on this day, 30th November, 1942. He has no known grave and is commemorated on panel 3, column 2 of the Malta Memorial (pictured above, courtesy Wikipedia).

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Derek and Henry Cecelin, civilians

According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, 137 service personnel and civilian air raid casualties died on the 2nd November 1940. Amongst the latter, was 15-year-old Derek Anthony Cecelin who died at King's College Hospital. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records that his home address was 31 Angell Road, Brixton and that he was the son of Henry Bohuslan Cecelin who also died at the hospital on the same day. He was 51 years old.

I have not found Henry on the 1911 census but his marriage in 1923 to Lily Blakeney is recorded as is Derek's birth in 1925. Derek was a twin, his brother Kenneth Bohuslan Cecelin's birth also recorded in the third quarter of 1925 in the district of Thanet, Kent. Kenneth Cecelin died in 1985.

The bomb site website notes that a total of 21 high explosive bombs were dropped in Brixton Hill between October 1940 and June 1941. Map, below courtesy of www.bombsight.org; blitz image from Wikipedia.

Remembering Derek and Henry Cecelin.

14585570 Tropper Arthur Rouse, Reconnaissance Corps, Royal Armoured Corps

Twenty-eight year old Arthur Rouse of the Royal Armoured Corps, 49th (West Riding) Regiment, died seventy years ago today on the 26th October 1944. He was the son of Arthur J and Ellen Rouse, of Smethwick, Staffordshire, and the husband of Frances Beatrice Rouse (nee Davis), of Smethwick. He is buried in Bergen-Op-Zoom war cemetery in the Netherlands.

Arthur and Francis had been married for less than three years when Arthur was killed.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

 

 

Image of Bergen-Op-Zoom courtesy of Wikipedia.

1806050 Gnr Leonard Bailey, Royal Artillery

1806050 Gunner Leonard Bailey of the Royal Artillery died on this day, 12th October, in 1940. He was 20 years old, the son of John and Florence Bailey, of Earls Barton. At the time of his death he was serving with 432 Battery, 65th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment. He is buried in Earls Barton churchyard.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

 

Photo of Earls Barton church courtesy of Higham and Rushden U3A.

3318426 Pte William Brawley, 5th Seaforth Highlanders

3318426 Private William Brawley of the 5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders was one of 705 men and women to die on this day, seventy years ago. He died in France on the 21st August 1944 and is buried in the St Desir War Cemetery in Northern France. I've borrowed the image above from Michael Weening's blog. About the cemetery, The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes:

"The Allied offensive in north-western Europe began with the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944.

"St Desir War Cemetery is the most easterly of the Normandy cemeteries. For the most part, those buried here died in the final stages of the campaign, in pursuit of the German forces towards the Seine.

"The cemetery contains 598 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War. 78 of these graves were brought in from Chartres (St Cheron) Communal Cemetery after the war, together with the four First World War burials now at St Desir."

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

2695025 Dmr Roland F Dunn, 2nd Bn, Scots Guards

2695025 Drummer Roland Frederick Dunn of the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards died on the 22nd April 1941. He was the son of Frederick Hunter Dunn and Ada Lucy Dunn (nee Feild) of Walworth, London and is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial in Egypt.  Roland's birth was registered in Wandsworth, south London, in the June quarter of 1920 and he was therefore just short of his 21st birthday when he died.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
Find My Past - BMDs
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

7374015 Pte Kenneth Laycock, RAMC

 
Today marks the seventieth death anniversary of 7374015 Private Kenneth Laycock of the Royal Army Medical Corps.  He was born in Bradford and was living there when he enlisted.  The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that he was serving with the 197th Field Ambulance at the time of his death and that he is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial.  The Army Roll of Honour notes that he died whilst serving in Malaya.
 
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.



Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Image of the Singapore Memorial from the 152 (Hyderabad) F Squadron website

1119547 Gnr Frank Lee, RA

1119547 Gunner Frank Lee of the 10th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, died on the 29th September 1942, aged 36. He was the son of Thomas Edward and Florence Lee of Morley, Yorkshire, and the husband of Marion Lee, of Morley. He is buried in the Madras War Cemetery in what is now called Chennai, India.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Image courtesy of Madras Heritage

2588477 Cpl Arthur Eagles, RCS

2588477 Corporal Arthur Henry Eagles of the Royal Corps of Signals died on the 21st September 1941 - seventy years ago this day. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission gives his nationality as British although according to the Army Roll of Honour he was born in Australia and living in West London when he enlisted. He is buried in Hatfield Park War Cemetery in Hertfordshire.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

5769867 Pte Basil E Leggett, 5th Bn, Royal Norfolk Regiment

5769867 Private Basil Edward Leggett of the 5th Batalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment died on the 28th August 1945. He was 32 years old and the son of Mr and Mrs H. W. Leggett of East Dereham, Norfolk. He is buried in Sai wan war Cemetery in Hong Kong, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission noting, "...the remains of those who died as prisoners in Formosa (now Taiwan) were brought to Hong Kong for burial at Sai Wan in 1946. There are now 1,505 Commonwealth casualties of the Second World War buried or commemorated at Sai Wan War Cemetery. 444 of the burials are unidentified."

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Wikipedia for the Sai Wan war Cemetery photo.

10687261 Dvr Thomas E Whiskin, ASC

10687261 Driver Thomas Edward Whiskin of the Army Service Corps died on the 9th April 1944. He was 20 years old and the son of Ernest William and Eva Jane Whiskin, of Sittingbourne Kent. He is buried in Bari War Cemetery in Italy.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

14250548 Gnr Roy H Brindley, RA

14250548 Gunner Roy Hollick Brindley of the 136th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, died on the 9th March 1944. He was 22 years old, the son of James George and Edith Mldred Brindley of Newbury, Berkshire. He is buried in Taukkyan War Cemetery in Myanmar (formerly Burma).

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

As strange as it may seem, I find I have less and less time these days to devote to blogs and so, it is with some regret, that I am temporarily suspending the entries on this particular remembrance blog. I will retain what I have already posted and hopefully, when I reach a positon where I am able to devote sufficient atention to the men who gave their all for us during WW2, I'll return to this topic.

11276386 Gnr John W Love, RA

11276386 Gunner John W Love of the 6th Maritime Regiment, Royal Artillery died at sea on the 21st December 1942. He was born in Kent and was living there when he enlsited. His body was committed to the sea and he is therefore commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

6019500 Pte Natale Avitabile, Essex Regt

6019500 Private Natale Avitabile of the Essex Regiment (battalion unknown), died in England on the 20th December 1941. He was 24 years old, the son of Juan and Mary Avitabile, and the husband of Rita May Avitabile of Dagenham. He is buried in Barking's Rippleside Cemetery.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

2663479 Gdsmn Harold Grundy, Coldstream Guards

2663479 Guardsman Harold Grundy of the Coldstream Guards (no battalion is given on either the CWGC site or the UK Army Roll of Honour) died in England on the 19th December 1940. He was born in Nottingham and living in Leicester when he enlisted, the 22 year old stepson of William G Bunker of Leicester. He is buried in Leicester's Gilroes Cemetery.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

4749594 Pte Thomas Peers,2/6th Bn, West Riding Regt

4749594 Private Thomas Peers of the 2/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, died on the 18th December 1940. Thomas was 22 years old, the son of William and Ellen Peers of Dalton. He is buried in Dalton's Holy Trinity New Churchyard in Yorkshire.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

5679680 Pte Alfred Mears, 2nd Bn, Dorset Regt

5679680 Private Alfred Mears of the 2nd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment died on the 17th December 1943. He was 29 years old and the husband of Rosina Lilian Mears of Kennington, London. He is buried in the Imphal War Cemetery in India.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

14410954 Spr Charles M N Dewar, RE

14410954 Sapper Charles M N Dewar of the 164th Railway Operating Company, Royal Engineers, dies on the 16th December 1944. He was 29 years old, the son of Charles Murray Niven Dewar and Helen Margaret Dewar, of Perth. He is buried in Schoonselhof Cemetery in Belgium.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

254775 Pte Betty Flushon, ATS

254775 Private Betty Flushon of the Auxiliary Territorial Service died on the 15th December 1945. She was born in South-East London but living in Essex when she enlisted.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

4858147 Pte Edwin Bollington, 1st Bn, Leics Regt

4858147 Private Edwin Bollington of the 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment died on the 14th December 1941. He was 22 years old, the stepson of Frederick Wilkinson of Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire. He is commemorated on Column 65 of the Singapore Memorial.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

7870813 Signalman Cecil H Cuming, RCS

7870813 Signalman Cecil Herbert Cuming of the Royal Corps of Signals died on the 13th December 1943. He was 43 years old, the son of Lewis Herbert and Mary Cuming and the husband of Janetta Cuming, of Paignton, Devon. He is buried in the churchyard of St Thomas, Killinghall in Yorkshire.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

6296150 Pte Leslie W Stoneham, 5th Bn, The Buffs

6296150 Private Leslie Wilfred Stoneham of the 5th Battalion, The Buffs, died on the 12th December 1942. He was 31 years old, the husband of Nellie Stoneham of Gravesend, Kent. He is buried in the Medjez-el-Bab War Cemetery in Tunisia.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

3445376 L/Cpl James Ratcliffe, 2nd Bn, Lancashire Fusiliers

3445376 Lamce-Corporal James Ratcliffe of the 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers died on the 11th December 1942. He was from Bury and he is buried in the Beja War Cemetery in Tunisia.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

1940796 Spr Andrew Swan, RE

1940796 Sapper Andrew Swan of the Royal Engineers died on the 10th December 1941. He was 29 years old and is buried in the Heliopolis War Cemetery in Greece.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

43793 Volunteer Ivy Gladys Briggs, ATS

43793 Volunteer Ivy Gladys Briggs of the Auxiliary Territorial Service died on the 9th December 1942. She was 19 years old, the daughter of Frederick James Briggs and Mabel Alice Briggs of Laxfield in Suffolk. She is buried in Laxfield Cemetery.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

772441 L/Sgt Edward C Trice, RA

772441 Lance-Sergeant Edward Charles Trice of 12th Battery, 6th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery died on the 8th December 1942. He was 33 years old, the son of William Charles and Mary Ann Trice, and the husband of Hilda Rose Trice of Brighton, Sussex. He is buried in the Yokohama War Cemetery in Japan.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission