
KINGSTON, ST. MARY WAR MEMORIAL
World
War 1 & 2 - Detailed information
Compiled
and Copyright © David Greig 2006
Extra information Ray
Stokes
The
memorial stands in the churchyard of St Mary's Church, Kingston. It
is in the form of an octagonal Latin cross on a square plinth and three
stepped octagonal base; the memorial is made of granite and the panels
of lead. There are 43 names of men who died in the First World War (35
names) and the Second World War (7 names) inscribed on the war memorial.
This is intended to provide some basic facts about those men and, where
possible, details of their families and their links to our parish. Five
are buried in the churchyard and two are commemorated by the lantern
to the left of the main gate of the churchyard.
The
details in this document have been taken from a number of sources including
–
Soldiers Died in
the Great War (1914-1918)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls
British Army WW1 Service Records
Census returns 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911
Somerset Light Infantry 1914-1918 (Everard Wyrall)
Somerset County Gazette Archives
Roll of Honour (www.roll-of-honour.com/somerset)
Additional family
information provided by Alan Hughes of the Kingston St Mary Local History
Group.
Every effort
has been made to check the accuracy of the details given here. However,
if you spot any errors or omissions or can add to the information, please
contact Ray Stokes tel: 451420 or email raymstokes@tiscali.co.uk.
IN
GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE MEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914
- 18
ARNOLD
|
Geoffrey
Francis |
Captain,
5th Battalion (Territorial), Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry).
Killed in action during attack on Turkish-held Dujaila Redoubt,
near Kut, 8 March 1916 in Mesopotamia. Aged 24. Son of Francis Stephen
and Mary Elizabeth Arnold, of Crossways, Kingston, Taunton, Somerset.
Former member of Kingston Scout troop. His family bought Kingston
brewery in the 1880s. His grandfather and then his uncle lived at
Marsh House from 1904 until 1947. No known grave. Commemorated on
BASRA MEMORIAL, Iraq. Panel 12.
Inscribed
on stone gate post to Churchyard
1914
-1919
TO
THE HONOURED MEMORY OF
GEORGE
FRANCIS ARNOLD
CAPT. PA (SLI)
FREDERICK
SLOLEY
PRIVATE RMLI
CALLED
TO HIGHER SERVICE
This
lamp is erected by their brother Scouts of the Kingston Troop
BP
Boy Scouts |
BERRY
|
Percival
A |
Stoker
2nd Class SS/119509 (Dev), HMS Vivid (Royal Naval Barracks at Devonport),
Royal Navy. Died 26 February 1919. Aged 18. Youngest of three sons
of Henry and Elizabeth Annie Berry (nee Seaward) of Fulford, Kingston.
Buried in St. MARY CHURCHYARD, KINGSTON, Somerset. |
BILLING
|
Charles
|
Private
3/6671, 1st/5th Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry).
Died in Egypt 1 November 1917; may have been a victim of the flu
pandemic (Spanish flu) that claimed millions of lives between June
1918 and December 1920. Aged 19. Born Bradford, Somerset, enlisted
Taunton. Middle of five sons of Elias William and Ann Billing (nee
Salter) of the Old Tanyard, Kingston. His father was a farm carter/groom
and Charles also worked on a farm starting as a "milk boy".
In 1915 his father Elias, despite being 51 years old, volunteered
for army service and served in the Somerset Mule Remount Squadron
of the Army Service Corps, a unit that obtained and trained mules
for the Army, but Elias was discharged in March 1916 as unfit because
of a long-standing medical problem (hernia). Buried in ALEXANDRIA
(HADRA) WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY, Egypt. Plot/Row/Section D. Grave
203. |
BLACKMORE
|
William |
[Listed
as Wilfred on memorial] Private 923, "C" Squadron, 1st
Battalion, West Somerset Yeomanry (Hussars). Killed in action at
Gallipoli 17th October 1915; his death came just eight days after
the battalion landed at Suvla Bay. Aged 39. Enlisted Taunton, resident
Lewes. Son of George and Marie Blackmore, of Lewes; husband of Annie
Lucy Blackmore, of 6, Lancaster St., Lewes, Sussex. He and his wife
Annie Lucy Blackmore were both born in Lewes, Sussex. In 1911 they
lived at Blagdon Hill, Taunton, and later, possibly, in the Kingston
area. He worked as coachman and groom. Buried in HILL 10 CEETERY,
Turkey. Plot I. Row G. Grave 20. |
CHIDGEY
|
Arthur
|
Lance
Corporal 20406, 6th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.
Killed in action 13 June 1915. Aged 29. Born Kingston, Taunton,
Somerset, enlisted Taunton. Son of John and Elizabeth Chidgey, of
Conies Cottages, Kingston, Taunton. Formerly 10048, Prince Albert's
(Somerset Light Infantry). Son of widow Elizabeth Chidgey and the
late John Chidgey of Church Gate, Kingston. Arthur was ‘an
estate labourer’. The Chidgeys, an old established Kingston
family, lived in one of the cottages that was demolished to enlarge
the churchyard. Buried in LE TOUQUET RAILWAY CROSSING CEMETERY,
Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium. Special memorial at Row G.
There
are now 74 First World War casualties buried or commemorated in
this cemetery. 24 of the graves are unidentified but special memorials
commemorate three casualties known to be buried among them. |
CLEMOW
|
Sidney
|
Private
64452, Otago Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Died of
wounds 2 September 1918. Aged 42. Son of former hotelier, postmaster
and wine merchant Charles E. Clemow and his wife Annie, who retired
to Kingston Cottage (now Davestones) around 1905. Sidney emigrated
to New Zealand where he became a farmer. He and his wife Daisy Mary
Clemow lived at Deep Creek, Auckland. He enlisted and sailed for
Europe in 1917. Buried in BANCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY, Pas de Calais,
France. Plot II. Row F. Grave 9. |
DICKS
|
Victor
|
Private
3/6037, 1st Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry).
Died of wounds 12 July 1916. Born Curland, Taunton, enlisted Taunton.
Farm labourer Victor Dicks was the second son of Albert and Matilda
Dicks of Curland, near Trull. His father, a labourer, died in 1897,
aged 35. Matilda then married George Keitch. They lived at the Old
Rectory, Curland. Victor Dicks was most probably wounded during
the early stages of the Battle of the Somme when 26 officers and
438 others ranks of his battalion were killed, wounded or missing.
Buried in STE. MARIE CEMETERY, LE HAVRE, Seine-Maritime, France.
Division III. Row A. Grave 3. |
DYKES
|
Daniel
[MacPherson] |
Private
DM2/181324, 688th Mechannical Transport Company, Royal Army Service
Corps. Died in the Balkans 6 November 1918. Born in Glasgow in 1887.
Son of Jane Dykes. He was chauffeur to the Gault family and moved
down from Scotland with them when they rented Tetton House. He married
the family’s nanny Margaret Waddell in Kingston Church. They
had one son James (Jimmy) Dykes who is buried in Kingston churchyard.
Enlisted Taunton, resident Kingston. Buried in SKOPJE BRITISH CEMETERY,
Macedonia. Plot/Row/Section F. Grave 12. |
FERRIS
|
Edward
|
Private
12331, 6th Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry).
Killed in action 18 August 1916. Born and resident Taunton, enlisted
Pontypridd, Glamorgan. Son of William and Eliza Ferris of Stall
Barton, Kingston. Edward moved to Pontypridd, Glamorgan, and worked
as ‘timber man assistant below ground’ in a colliery.
He was married to Elizabeth Annie Crabbe and they had four daughters,
who were all under the age of ten when he died. He enlisted in Pontypridd
and arrived in France on 21 May 1915. Buried in DELVILLE WOOD CEMETERY,
LONGUEVAL, Somme, France. Plot XI. Row M. Grave 1.
|
FURZER |
Reginald |
Private
1st Class, 361st Infantry Regiment, 91st Infantry Division, U.S.
Army. Entered the service from Washington. Died 3 October 1918.
Younger of two Furzer brothers killed in the war (see below). Reginald
emigrated to USA in 1913 and was a pipe fitter in Seattle. Became
US citizen in May 1918 and enlisted in Washington State. Buried
in MESUE-ARGONNE AMERICAN CEMETERY, Romagne, France. Plot D. Row
34. Grave 6. |
FURZER |
William
John |
Private
A/38011, 8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment). Killed
in action 3 June 1916. Aged 36. Born 9 February 1882 at Kingston.
Son of Simeon and Rebecca Furzer, of "The Conies," Kingston,
Taunton. Occupation Labourer. Previously served 7 years in the Field
Artillery. Enlisted and passed fit 18th December 1914 at Port Arthur,
Canada. Height 5 feet 5 inches, girth 37 inches, complexion fair,
eyes blue, hair fair; relgion Church of England. No known grave.
Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen,
Belgium. Panel 24 - 26 - 28 - 30. National Archives of Canada Accession
Reference: RG
150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 3343 - 20 |
GAMBLIN
|
Ernest
|
Private
22582, 1st Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry.
Killed in action 8 August 1916. Born Cheddon, Somerset, enlisted
Coleford, Somerse, resident Taunton. Farm labourer Ernest Gamblin
was the second of four sons of farm worker George Gamblin and his
wife Mary Ann Gamblin (nee White) of Mill Cross, Kingston. Buried
in ESSEX FARm CEMETERY, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot III.
Row C. Grave 10. |
GAULT
|
[Robert]
Anderson |
Lieutenant,
4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards (Special Reserve). Killed in action
16 September 1916. Son of Mr Leslie Hamilton Gault and his wife
Marion (nee Anderson). of Tetton House, Kingston. Of Irish descent,
the family lived in Montreal, Canada, where they were wealthy merchants
and noted philanthropists. Mr and Mrs Leslie Gault rented Tetton
House in 1914. Their son, born in Canada, had just finished at Harrow
School when the war broke out. He joined the Grenadier Guards in
January 1916 and was promoted Lieutenant six days before his death
on the Somme. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL,
Somme, France. Pier and Face 8 D.
|
GILLETT
|
William
George |
Private
27178, 7th Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry).
Died 3 November 1918. Born and resident Hayden, Somerset, enlisted
Taunton. Formerly 1964, West Somerset Yeomanry. Died just a week
before the end of the war. Home address given as Hayden, Somerset.
It is possible he died from wounds or in captivity as his battalion
was not in action after October 5. Buried in COLOGNE SOUTHERN CEMETERY,
Koln(Cologne), Nordrhein-Westfal, Germany. Plot V. Row B. Grave
3. |
HAKE
|
William
|
Sergeant
581, 6th Battalion, Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians).
Died at sea 12 August 1915. Aged 35. Born Cheddon, enlisted Taunton.
Eldest son of labourer Alfred Hake, and his wife Sarah (nee Hines)
of Nailsbourne; husband of Fannie Elizabeth Billett (formerly Hake),
of Mill Cross, Kingston, Taunton. Served in the South African War.
No known grave. Commemorated on HELLES MEMORIAL, Turkey. Panel 184
and 185. |
HAYES |
Charles
(aka Charlie) |
Sergeant
240174, 1st/5th Battalion, Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry).
Died of wounds in Egypt 24 December 1917. Aged 25. Born Lydeard
St Lawrence, Somerset, enlisted Taunton. Son of William and Betsy
Hayes, of 50, Portland St., Taunton, Somerset. Like his father Charlie
was a mason working on a local estate. During November and early
December 1917 his battalion was involved in a series of battles
as they advanced towards Jerusalem. Buried in ALEXANDRIA (HADRA)
WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY, Egypt. Plot/Row/Section D. Grave 276. |
HURFORD
|
Gilbert
Henry |
[CWGC
states 22nd Battalion] Private TF/202429, 1st/7th Battalion, Duke
of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment). Died of wounds in 3rd Southern
Hospital, Oxford, 29 December 1918. Born Ashpriors, enlisted Taunton,
resident Kingston. Second of four sons of farmer George Hurford
and his wife Elizabeth of Parsonage Farm, Kingston. Before the war
Gilbert worked on his father’s farm. Joined Army 9 May 1916.
Posted to France 1 December 1916. Wounded in September/October 1918
and transferred back to 3rd Southern Hospital, Oxford, on 2 October
1918. Buried in ST MARY CHURCHYARD, KINGSTON, Somerset.
|
KIDNER
|
Frederick
Elworthy |
Rifleman
2546, No. 1 Company, 16th (County of London) Battalion (Queen's
Westminster Rifles), London Regiment. Died of wounds 20th February
1915. Aged 26. Enlisted Westminster, resident Taunton. Son of John
and Emily Kidner, of Dodhill House, Taunton. They bought the house
and farm in 1894. Frederick’s eldest brother lived there until
1954. His sister was well known in the parish for running the scouts
and guides. Educated at Sherborne School and Worcester College,
Oxford. Buried in CITE BONJEAN MILITARY CEMETERY, ARMENTIERES, Nord,
France. Plot IX. Row B. Grave 77. |
LOWMAN
|
Eli
William |
Private
PO/19278, Royal Marine Light Infantry. Killed in action 5 September
1918. Aged 21. Second of three sons of Mark and Rhoda Lowman (nee
Pring) of Nailsbourne, Kingston. Went to France in July 1917 but
was invalided to the UK (sick) the following April. He went back
to France, to join the 1st battalion, on 10 April 1918. Buried in
QUEANT ROAD CEMETERY, BUISSY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot VI. Row
H. Grave 15. |
LYE
|
William
H |
Private
R/387848, 75th Remount Squadron, Royal Army Service Corps. Died
24 May 1919. Aged 43. Husband of Elsie Clara Lye, of Grange Cottage,
Kingston, and the father of two sons. He had worked as a coachman
before the war. A Remount Squadron consisted of approximately 200
soldiers, who obtained and trained horses for the Army. They were
generally older, experienced soldiers. His death six months after
the Armistice suggests he may have been another victim of the Spanish
Flu pandemic. Buried in ST MARY CHURCHYARD, KINGSTON, Somerset.
|
MILES
|
John
W |
[Listed
as W J MILES on CWGC] Lance Corporal 1387, 1st/1st Battalion, West
Somerset Yeomanry. Died of wounds in Egypt 14 January 1916. Aged
29. Son of farmer and cattle dealer William and Elizabeth Miles
(nee Blackmore) of Hill Farm, Kingston. He worked on the farm. Buried
in ALEXANDRIA (CHATBY) MILITARY AND WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY, Egypt.
Plot/Row/Section C. Grave 71. |
PALFREY
|
Frank
Ernest |
Private
M2/177723, 406th Mechanical Transport Company, Royal Army Service
Corps attached 73rd Siege Brigade Ammunition Column, Royal Garrison
Artillery. Died of wounds 21 July 1917. Aged 28. Son of police pensioner
Edward Charles Palfrey, who was born in Kingston, and his wife Maud.
Frank was born in Streatham, London. Presumably his father was serving
in the Metropolitan police. Frank married in 1909 and two years
later, living at Comeytrowe, Trull, was described as a cab proprietor.
At the time of his death his wife Lilly Rose Palfrey (nee May) was
living in Bowey’s Lane, Kingston. They had two sons, Clifford
and Edward, who was born only months before his father’s death.
Buried in LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen,
Belgium. Plot XVI. Row C. Grave 16A. |
RING
|
William
|
Private
7967, 1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Killed in
action 19 May 1915. William, a gardener, was the husband of Rose
Ring (nee Sealey) of Kingston. They married in 1912. Buried in FIRST
D.C.L.I. CEMETERY, THE BLUFF, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot/Row/Section
B. Grave 7. |
ROWCLIFFE
|
Bertie
|
Private
28240. 11th Battalion, Berkshire Regiment. Killed in action during
the Battle of the Somme 30 July 1916. Son of farm labourer William
and Mary Rowcliffe of Gadds Bottom, Cheddon. No known grave. Commemorated
on THIEPVAl MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 11 D. |
SAMWAYS
|
William
[Alfred] |
Airman
1st Class (Observer) 14262, 49th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Died
29th November 1917. Aged 20. Eldest son of Alfred Edward Samways,
a shepherd on Lord Portman’s estate, and his wife Flora (nee
Watts) of 14 Volis, Kingston. William Samways was born in Bishops
Lydeard on 3 Nov 1897, educated at Dowlish Wake Elementary School
and became an apprentice Electrical Engineer. He joined the Somerset
Royal Horse Artillery (T.F.); was called up on mobilization 5 Aug
1914; transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 9 Nov 1917 and was
killed in aerial combat during the fighting near Cambrai. His Commanding
Officer wrote expressing his regret at losing so promising a Gunner
Observer and so good a soldier who was genuinely popular and whose
loss was regretted by officers and men alike. A letter written and
signed by six of his comrades stated that they would miss him as
a brother, for he always had a smile and a joke for everyone. Buried
in CAMBRAI EAST MILITARY CEMETERY, Nord, France. Plot VII. Row A.
Grave 47.
|
SAUNDERS
|
Walter
|
Private
16853, 7th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. Died of wounds 19
May 1916 in Belgium. Aged 33. Husband of Annie Saunders of Nailsbourne
He was born at Nether Stowey, his wife at Creech. It is likely the
couple, with their two young children, only moved to Nailsbourne
in 1910. Both gave their occupation as “cowman on farm”
in the 1911 census. After a month’s rest in Calais, 7 SLI
went back into the front line astride the Ypres-Zonnebeke road on
19 May and immediately came under heavy shell fire that continued
through the night. Buried in POTIJZE BURIAL GROUND CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen,
Belgium. Row A. Grave 12. |
SEALEY
|
Walter
Edwin [John] |
Private
46688, 11th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment. Died of wounds in
King George’s Hospital, London, 15 November 1917. Aged 36.
Born Kingston, enlisted Newport, Isle of Wight, resident Niton,
Isle of Wight. Son of Albert and Mary Sealey, of Fulford, Kingston,
Taunton, Somerset; husband of the late Alice Best (formerly Sealey).
Formerly Sapper 159569, Royal Engineers. The Sealey family had lived
in Kingston since the early 18th century. Walter, a carpenter and
joiner, was the son of Albert and Mary Sealey, of Yarford. In 1911
Walter and his wife Alice Sealey (formerly Best) were also living
in Yarford. Alice died in the summer of 1916, at the age of 30.
Her death was registered in the Isle of Wight. Walter died in King
George’s Hospital, London, from wounds received in France
on October 27th. Buried in ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCHYARD, NITON,
Isle of Wight. |
SHORT
|
Henry
|
Guardsman
21304, 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Died of wounds 30 June 1916
in Belgium. Aged 22. Born in Calne, Wiltshire, enlisted in Taunton.
In 1911 he was a gardener in Wiltshire. No known connection with
Kingston but he enlisted in Taunton. Buried in FERME-OLIVIER CEMETERY,
West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot 1. Row D. Grave 11. |
SLOLEY
|
Frederick
|
Private
PLY/17415, Royal Naval Division, Royal Marine Light Infantry. Died
of wounds in King George Hospital. London, 26 November 1916. Aged
18. Third son of William and Mary Sloley of Harrises Cottages, Hillcommon,
previously of Vine Cottage, Kingston, Former member of Kingston
Scout troop. Enlisted 5 October 1914 aged 17. In August 1916 suffered
appendicitis. Rejoined is unit in September 1916. Was badly wounded
on 13 November 1916 and invalided to UK on 20 Novembaer 1916. Died
in King George Hospital, London, six days later as the result of
gun shot wounds to the back, abdomen and spine. Buried in ST MARY
CHURCHYARD, KINGSTON, Somerset.
Inscribed
on stone gate post to Churchyard
1914
-1919
TO
THE HONOURED MEMORY OF
GEORGE FRANCIS ARNOLD
CAPT. PA (SLI)
FREDERICK SLOLEY
PRIVATE RMLI
CALLED TO HIGHER SERVICE
This lamp is erected by their brother Scouts of the Kingston Troop
BP Boy Scouts |
SULLEY,
MM |
William
[Edward James] |
[Listed
as SULLY on CWGC] Lance Corporal PLY/17696, 2nd Royal Marine Battalion,
Royal Navl Division, Royal Marine Light Infantry. Killed in action
26 October 1917. Eldest son of Samuel and Ann Sully of Kingston
(Nailsbourne). Born 9 April 1897. Enlisted on 16 November 1914 and
was part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force that landed at
Cape Helles, Gallipoli, on 21 October 1915. His unit later deployed
to the Western Front. Listed as wounded, missing presumed dead during
the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). During this battle he
was awarded the Military Medal (M.M.) for gallantry in the presence
of the enemy (London Gazette 4 February 1918). No known grave. Commemorated
on TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel
1 and 162A. |
TEMPLEMAN
|
John
C |
Private
8146, 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. Killed in action 26
August 1914 in France. Born in Crewkerne. Was killed just three
weeks after the declaration of war (on Aug 4 1914). The Somersets
landed in France on August 23. Three days later they suffered heavy
losses as they tried to halt the German advance at Le Cateau, with
19 men killed, 150 wounded and 100 missing. No known grave. Commemorated
on LA FERTE-SOUS-JOUARRE MEMORIAL, Seine-et-Marne, France. |
TOTTERDELL
|
George
|
[Listed
as Guardsman on memorial] Private 8014, 1st Battalion, Coldstream
Guards. Killed in action 14 September 1914. Aged 24. Born and resident
Kingston, enlisted Taunton. Son of Mary Jane Totterdell, of Tetton
Gate, Kingston, Taunton, and the late Robert Gadd Totterdell. No
known grave. Commemorated on LA FERTE-SOUS-JOUARRE MEMORIAL, Seine-et-Marne,
France. |
TUCKER
|
Frederick
George |
Private
17568, "F" Company, 2nd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment.
Killed in action in Mesopotamia 25 March 1917. Aged 19. Born Kingston,
enlisted PooleSon of farm worker James and Annie Tucker of Tainfield
Cottage, Nailsbourne. Previously the family had lived in Soap House
(on the Kingston to Taunton road). Frederick worked as farm labourer
and as a gardener at Tetton House. No known grave. Commemorated
on BASRA MEMORIAL, Iraq. Panel 22 and 63.
|
WALFORD
|
Frank
|
Gunner
95552, 248th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died of wounds
4 October 1917 in Belgium. Aged 37. Husband of Clara Walford (nee
Crouch) of Nailsbourne. Son of the late Charles and Hannah Walford
of Spaxton. Frank married in 1908 and was a carter on a farm. His
death occurred during the Third Battle of Ypres. Buried in LIJSSENTHOEK
MILITARY CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot XX. Row H. Grave
1A. |
WOODLEY
|
Frank
|
Lance
Corporal 5604, 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's
Own). Killed in action 9 May 1915. Born Ottersford, Chard, Somerset,
enlisted Hounslow, Middlesex, resident Kingston. Possibly the son
of Henry and Lucy Woodley. Lived in Kingston. No known grave. Commemorated
on PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium. Panel
10. |
AND
IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1939 -1945 |
BILLETT
|
James
Lovelace |
Lance
Corporal 7946680, 5th Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured
Corps. Missing believed killed in action 23 January 1945. Aged 22.
Son of John Billett, and of Fanny Elizabeth Billett, of Kingston,
Somerset. Buried in MOOK WAR CEMETERY, Limburg, Netherlands. Plot
II. Row D. Grave 13. |
FURZER
|
Marcus
William |
[Listed
as William M and as a Gunner on memorial] Able Seaman D/JX 528900.
H.M.S. President III, Royal Navy. Missing believed killed in action
16 August 1944. Son of Sidney and Edith V. Furzer (nee Berry) of
Parks Cottages, Parsonage Lane, Kingston, Somerset. Nephew of the
Furzer brothers who died in the First World War. Known as Billy.
HMS President III was a shore base beside the Thames that trained
Royal Navy gunners to serve aboard defensively equipped Merchant
ships. He was most likely serving aboard a merchant ship when killed.
No known grave. Commemorated on PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Devon.
Panel 86, Column 2. |
GAIRDNER
|
Robert
Dalrymple |
Lieutenant
Colonel 53474, Royal Artillery. Died 14th March 1944. Aged 39. Batchelor
of Arts (BA - Cantab). Son of Charles Dalrymple Gairdner and of
Beatrice Mary Gairdner (nee Ballock); husband of Anne Savile Gairdner,
of Kingston St. Mary. Buried in ST MARY CHURCHYARD, KINGSTON, Somerset,
south-west of the church tower and also commemorated by a window
in the north aisle of the church. .
|
ISAAC
|
Max
Frederic |
Lieutenant,
H.M.S. Cossack, Royal Navy. Died when his ship was torpedoed by
U-563 23rd October 1941. Aged 31. The family came from Birkenhead
in Cheshire where Max, the eldest child was born, the son of Gilbert
J. and Florence A. Isaac. Husband of Stella Elizabeth Isaac (nee
Corner), of Kingston. No known grave. Commemorated on PORTSMOUTH
NAVAL MEMORIAL, Hampshire. Panel 45, Column 1.
Note:
HMS Cossack was a Tribal Class Destroyer built by Vickers Armstrong
(Newcastle-on-Tyne, U.K.) and Vickers Armstrong (Barrow-in-Furness,
U.K.) She was laid down 9th March 1936, launched 8th June 1937 and
commissioned 8th June 1938. In October 1941, HMS Cossack (Capt.
E.L. Berthon, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN) left Gibraltar escorting a slow,
UK bound convoy. On the night of the 23rd, she was at the rear of
the convoy when a torpedo from U-563 hit forward of the bridge killing
Captain Berthon and 158 of his officers and men. A further 29 were
injured. Ammunition had exploded; No.1 boiler room was flooding
and the survivors abandoned ship using Carley floats. The other
escorts picked them up but Cossack did not sink and her fire went
out. Part of Cossack's fo'c'sle had been blown away thus making
the remainder of the hull more buoyant. Believing that there was
a chance that their ship might be saved, the 'Cossacks' reboarded
the destroyer. No 1 Boiler Room bulkhead was shored and the other
boilers were flashed up. They managed to get the engines running
astern but Cossack could not make much speed and it was a long way
back to Gibraltar. The crew continued with their struggle to save
the Tribal. A tug was in transit from Gibraltar but the weather
worsened and the 'Cossacks' were taken off for the night. The once
proud destroyer slipped beneath the surface the next day.
|
McRAE
|
Foster
Moverley (Peter) |
Surgeon
Lieutenant, H.M.S. Mahratta, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Died
when his ship was torpedoed by U-990 25 February 1944. Aged 28.
Son of Sydney Spencer Redgrave McRae and Sophie Moverley McRae.
M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. Dr Peter McRae was a Somerset county cricketer
and played 25 matches for the county between 1936 and 1939. No known
grave. Commemorated on PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Devon. Panel 93,
Column 1.
Note:
HMS Mahratta was an M-Class Destoyer. At 20.55 hours on 25th February
1944, the HMS Mahratta (G 23) (Lt. Cdr E.A.F. Drought) was hit by
a Gnat from U-990 about 280 miles from the North Cape, while escorting
the stern sector of convoy JW-57. The destroyer exploded and sank
within minutes. Despite of the fact, that the HMS Impulsive (D 11)
and HMS Wanderer (D 74) were quickly on the scene to pick up survivors,
only 16 survivors could be recovered from the freezing waters. The
commander, ten officers and 209 ratings lost their lives. |
NATION
|
Albert
Thomas |
Leading
Stoker D/KX 91438, H.M.S. Trinidad, Royal Navy. Died 14 May 1942.
Aged 23. Son of George and Anne Nation; husband of Betty Maud Nation,
of Plymouth. No known grave. Commemorated on PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL,
Devon. Panel 69, Column 3.
Note:
HMS Trinidad (Capt. L.S. Saunders, DSO, RN) was hit by one of her
own torpedoes on 29th March 1942, while in battle with the German
destroyers Z 24, Z 25 and Z 26, sinking the latter. She received
temporary repairs in Murmansk, Russia and sailed for home on 13th
May 1942. She was scuttled in the Arctic Ocean north of North Cape
after being hit by German Ju-88 bombers on 15 May 1942. |
VILLIS
|
Francis
Richard |
Sergeant
5670432, 7th Battalion, Parachute Regiment, Army Air Corps. Died
7th June 1944. Aged 31. Son of Francis Henry and Edith Maud Villis;
husband of Kathleen Jessie Villis, of Kingston, Somerset. Buried
in HERMANVILLE WAR CEMETERY, Calvados, France. Plot 1. Row B. Grave
3. |
WELCH
|
John
|
Gunner
4268877, 1st/1st Maritime Regiment, Royal Artillery. Died 30 July
1942. Aged 26. Son of Benjamin A. and Jane Welch; husband of Beatrice
Mary Welch (nee Nation), of Kingston, Somerset. No known grave.
Commemorated on PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Hampshire. Panel 72,
Column 1. |
Last updated
16 March, 2022
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