Tributes to Box Servicemen and Women
This is an article where you can record details of your family who took part in the war or sadly lost their life. We welcome contributions, corrections and especially photographs of the people who put their lives at risk to defend our society, via the Contact tab or direct to boxpeopleandplaces@yahoo.co.uk. People marked in CAPITAL ITALICS are Box residents who lost their lives; those in Lower Case are people with a connection to the village who died; and Others returned. Box lost eighteen servicemen in the Second World War and the number of men and women who served in the forces was about three hundred.[1] The dedication to those who died was made by the Archdeacon of Swindon, Venerable LC Cornwall, in July 1949 who placed a tablet designed by Oswald Brakspear in the church and three tablets on the War Memorial. The archdeacon gave a sad indictment of the war, which reflected the country's weariness of the consequences: Every one of those names means something to somebody: the cutting off of hope, the cutting off of plans, of sorrow and tears... We are bound to ask, What was the good of it all? Some of the saddest epitaphs to the dead comes in the form of the In Memoriam columns with repeated references to reported missing, killed at sea, the Supreme Sacrifice, presumed killed on Operational Flight, died on active service. The sense of unknowingness and bewilderment are overpowering. |
Those Who Lost their Lives in World War 2
ALFRED TOM BRIDGES
THOMAS EDWARD COOK WALTER MacDONALD CURRANT JOHN EDWARD ERRINGTON HARRY ALBERT THOMAS GREENLAND HUGH MOGER ARTHUR CAMPBELL MORTON ALBERT EDWARD PARSONS B JOHN PICKERING |
RONALD WALTER PLUMB
GLYN DAVIDSON REES FREDERICK JOHN SCOTT WALTER J SCOTT CLAUDE ANTHONY WADE, MC HERBERT CHARLES WALKER WILLIAM EBENEEZER WHALE HECTOR FRANK WILKINS THOMAS WILLIAM CHARLES WOOTTEN |
Box's Servicemen and Women
John Robert Baldwin, 1918 - 1952
John was the son of the director of Murray and Baldwin Ltd in the Market Place, Box (reported at the time as at Tennis Gardens, Box ). As a Flying Officer in 609 Squadron commanding one of the new Hawker Typhoon planes, John was feted as a hero for destroying two Messerschmitt enemy planes on a daylight attack on London in 1943 and damaging a third.[2] His bravery was rewarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.[3] John was repeatedly in the news because people wanted a local hero to support. In January 1944 he was reported to have led an air battle when he Chased Nazis (training biplanes) around Eiffel Tower and later he was said to have bagged 13 German aircraft.[4] By the end of hostilities he was Group Captain John Robert Baldwin, DSO, DFC and Bar, aged 28 years.[5] |
He is still reported on Wikipedia as The top-scoring Typhoon ace was Group Captain JR Baldwin (609 Squadron and Commanding Officer 198 Squadron, 146 (Typhoon) Wing and 123 (Typhoon) Wing), who claimed 15 aircraft shot down from 1942 to 1944. Some 246 Axis aircraft were claimed by Typhoon pilots during the war.
RV Bray
Sapper RV Bray from Box Hill found himself in Scotland on duty and started playing for Albion Rovers, then in the Scottish Army Cup and finally signed terms with Dumbarton.[6]
ALFRED TOM BRIDGES
Second-Lieutenant Tom Bridges, age 38, of the Royal Engineers lost his life on 18 February 1941. His death was sadly recorded as At Home Accidentally Killed. He lived at The Button, Kingsdown aged 38, leaving a wife, Lillie Wilma Bridges. He was the son of Alfred James Bridges and Elizabeth Bridges.[7] He was buried at Brundall (St Lawrence) churchyard, Norfolk.
RV Bray
Sapper RV Bray from Box Hill found himself in Scotland on duty and started playing for Albion Rovers, then in the Scottish Army Cup and finally signed terms with Dumbarton.[6]
ALFRED TOM BRIDGES
Second-Lieutenant Tom Bridges, age 38, of the Royal Engineers lost his life on 18 February 1941. His death was sadly recorded as At Home Accidentally Killed. He lived at The Button, Kingsdown aged 38, leaving a wife, Lillie Wilma Bridges. He was the son of Alfred James Bridges and Elizabeth Bridges.[7] He was buried at Brundall (St Lawrence) churchyard, Norfolk.
Ernest Butler
After weeks of anxiety following the fall of Singapore to the Japanese in February 1942, news arrived at his parent's home 3, The Court, Box Hill, that 22 year-old Able Seaman Ernest Butler had made his way to Columbo and was well.[8] Ernest was a footballer who before the war had kept goal for Portsmouth and Bath City until he joined the navy in 1939. |
THOMAS EDWARD COOK
Son of William and Maud Elizabeth Cook (nee Wheeler), husband of Ellen May Cook, of The Lycetts, Box, Wiltshire. In 1939 Thomas worked as a Stone Machinist Heavy Worker, probably operating lifting machinery. He died on 21 February 1942 age 29, serving as a gunner with the Royal Artillery. He was buried at sea and is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Son of William and Maud Elizabeth Cook (nee Wheeler), husband of Ellen May Cook, of The Lycetts, Box, Wiltshire. In 1939 Thomas worked as a Stone Machinist Heavy Worker, probably operating lifting machinery. He died on 21 February 1942 age 29, serving as a gunner with the Royal Artillery. He was buried at sea and is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
WALTER MacDONALD CURRANT
The first reported loss was Private WM Currant, the young son of Mr and Mrs G Currant of Ashley. He was reported as missing in action in July 1940 during the Dunkirk evacuation and there had been no news of him for nine weeks: Pte Currant was called up under Militia Act and had been serving in the Army for a year. He was 22 years of age and just before last Christmas was married to Miss M Tugwell of Bath.[9] By November that year it was determined that he had died on 10 May 1940 in northern France a few miles south of Dunkirk. He is remembered at the Rexpoede Communal Cemetery, one of twenty-two soldiers recorded there. It was the day Chamberlain resigned and Churchill became Prime Minister as Germany launched its Western Front attack on Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands, two weeks before the Dunkirk evacuation. |
JOHN EDWARD ERRINGTON Able Seaman John Errington was the son of John Joseph and Hilda Errington of Box Hill. He served in the Royal Navy and lost his life on HMS Barham on 25 November 1941. The battleship had seen constant action in the Meditteranean throughout the early years of the war, launching constant attacks off the Libyan coast and in preparation for opening a second front. |
The ship took a direct hit from three submarine torpedoes and sank within 4 minutes after one shot detonated its armaments magazine. A film of the ship sinking was taken and it became one of the most dramatic images of the Second World War, hardening British opinion. Only 450 survived out of a crew of 1,312 personnel.
Graham Eyles
Graham was a Bevin boy, conscripted to serve in the coal mines between 1944 and 1948. In the early years of the war he served in Box Home Guard whilst working at Westinghouse, Chippenham, as an electrician. He was deemed important for the maintenance of equipment down the vital mines in Wales to support British manufacturing of munitions and military equipment and was allocated to Tonyrefail, south of Rhondda.[10] During his time in Wales he learned to bell-ring and it became one of his passions for the rest of his life. His father died when he was aged 20 during the war and he wasn't told about his mother's death until after the war when he returned to Box and was greeted with expressions of condolensce. He retained an affection for his time in South Wales throughout his life, attending the inauguration service for Welsh Miners in 2013. Right: Brochure courtesy Ruby Eyles |
C Ford
Was a prisoner of war in 1944.
Richard Fudge
Richard served in Algiers during the war and was ordered to deliver something in Tunisia.[11] He avoided enemy locations and saw a fort where he hoped to shelter for the night. It was the French Foreign Legion who wouldn't let him in for security reasons. So he had to sleep rough.
Robert Northey Kerr Granville
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Northey Kerr Granville, the 37 year-old son of Reginald Granville, served in the Royal Engineers and was killed near Syracuse, Sicily, in 1943. He was not included on the Box War Memorial list but was recorded on the Wiltshire Memorial list for Box Cemetery on 17 July 1943.
Was a prisoner of war in 1944.
Richard Fudge
Richard served in Algiers during the war and was ordered to deliver something in Tunisia.[11] He avoided enemy locations and saw a fort where he hoped to shelter for the night. It was the French Foreign Legion who wouldn't let him in for security reasons. So he had to sleep rough.
Robert Northey Kerr Granville
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Northey Kerr Granville, the 37 year-old son of Reginald Granville, served in the Royal Engineers and was killed near Syracuse, Sicily, in 1943. He was not included on the Box War Memorial list but was recorded on the Wiltshire Memorial list for Box Cemetery on 17 July 1943.
HARRY ALBERT THOMAS GREENLAND Colour Sergeant Harry Greenland of the Somerset Light Infantry was born in Glamorgan, Wales, but living in Bath at the time of his death on 10 November 1944, aged 32. He lost his life fighting through Italy at Forli. His parents were Albert and Elizabeth Greenland and he was married to Doris May Greenland. Right: Forli War Cemetery (unknown copyright) |
Alfred John Harrington
See separate article about the wartime service in Harrington Family.
Clement Harris
Ordinary seaman Harris lived at Mill House, Mill Lane with his parents until his marriage in 1942 to Lottie May Pippard.[12]
They had a very brief honeymoon in Swindon in the wartime austerity years with Lottie travelling in her wedding dress.
Canon F Llewellyn Hughes CBE, MC, CF
The son of Box resident at Springrove, Church Lane, Mrs Llewellyn Hughes, was appointed Chaplain General to the Forces after serving with the Eighth Army.
Major Anthony Douglas Northey Hunter, MC, DSM
Major Anthony Douglas Northey Hunter of the Royal Scots Fusiliers was the son of Lieut-Colonel Douglas HK Hunter and
Lilian Beatrice (nee Northey). He died of wounds received in action and was buried in the Jonkerbos War Cemetery, aged 32.
As Captain Hunter he was part of a Middle East Special Operations and Rescue Group for the Royal Scots Fusiliers attached to a long-range desert group regiment. He was awarded the Military Cross for various services on 22 July 1943.[13] It was listed under the heading Scots Soldiers' Gallantry, for gallant and distinguished services in the field.[14]
In 1944 he was Mentioned in Dispatches and was awarded the Medal for Distinguished Battle Service by the Russian government as a Captain (acting Major).[15] He married Mildred Hazel Allison in Ayr in July 1944, only a few months before he was killed.[16] He was not included on the Box War Memorial list but was recorded on the Wiltshire Memorial list for Box Cemetery on 20 February 1945.
Hugh Luttrell
Lieutenant Luttrell of the Grenadier Guards was killed in action in Italy in February 1944,aged 22.[17] The family had previously lived at Ben Mead and his father, Claude M Fowness-Luttrell, a manager of the Westminster Bank who had been treasurer and vice president of the Bath & West Show, trustee of the Royal Mineral Water Hospital, Wiltshire JP and local magistrate.
Kenneth Ian Mackenzie
Flying Officer Mackenzie was a Corsham man who had married Joan Elizabeth Skrine, only daughter of Mr and Mrs AD Skrine of Heleigh House.[18] He was killed on active service in March 1941, six months after their wedding.
Dr Mary Middlemass
Dr Mary Middlemass lost her life on 27 April 1942 in the Bath Blitz. For 20 years in Bath her service to the community had been outstanding including her work at the ByBrook House Waifs and Strays Home, Middlehill, Box.[19] Her death came in another act of public service.
She had returned to her home in Bath for some sleep after treating the injured at the First Aid Post at Snow Hill, Bath, where she had spent many hours on the night of the Bath Blitz. When a second wave of bombing started that night she dressed to go out again but her house took a direct hit and she was killed with her two sisters and her two maids.
The newspaper printed a tribute to her death: a personal loss to the many thousands of her patients, especially to the women.[20] It was recognised by everyone that the healing of the sick was a passion with her.
HUGH MOGER
Captain Hugh Moger was the only son of William and Mary Kathleen Fortescue Moger of Coles Farm, owners of the solicitors firm in Bath.[21] Hugh had joined the 15th Punjabs and was aide-de-camp to the commanding officer of the Advanced Tactical HQ Allied Land Forces in India. He was wounded in the fight for Burma in 1944 and lost his life to those injuries a year later on 9 May 1945, being buried at the Ranchi War Cemetery. He was only 21 years-old and it had been intended that he would take articles to join the family firm after the war.
See separate article about the wartime service in Harrington Family.
Clement Harris
Ordinary seaman Harris lived at Mill House, Mill Lane with his parents until his marriage in 1942 to Lottie May Pippard.[12]
They had a very brief honeymoon in Swindon in the wartime austerity years with Lottie travelling in her wedding dress.
Canon F Llewellyn Hughes CBE, MC, CF
The son of Box resident at Springrove, Church Lane, Mrs Llewellyn Hughes, was appointed Chaplain General to the Forces after serving with the Eighth Army.
Major Anthony Douglas Northey Hunter, MC, DSM
Major Anthony Douglas Northey Hunter of the Royal Scots Fusiliers was the son of Lieut-Colonel Douglas HK Hunter and
Lilian Beatrice (nee Northey). He died of wounds received in action and was buried in the Jonkerbos War Cemetery, aged 32.
As Captain Hunter he was part of a Middle East Special Operations and Rescue Group for the Royal Scots Fusiliers attached to a long-range desert group regiment. He was awarded the Military Cross for various services on 22 July 1943.[13] It was listed under the heading Scots Soldiers' Gallantry, for gallant and distinguished services in the field.[14]
In 1944 he was Mentioned in Dispatches and was awarded the Medal for Distinguished Battle Service by the Russian government as a Captain (acting Major).[15] He married Mildred Hazel Allison in Ayr in July 1944, only a few months before he was killed.[16] He was not included on the Box War Memorial list but was recorded on the Wiltshire Memorial list for Box Cemetery on 20 February 1945.
Hugh Luttrell
Lieutenant Luttrell of the Grenadier Guards was killed in action in Italy in February 1944,aged 22.[17] The family had previously lived at Ben Mead and his father, Claude M Fowness-Luttrell, a manager of the Westminster Bank who had been treasurer and vice president of the Bath & West Show, trustee of the Royal Mineral Water Hospital, Wiltshire JP and local magistrate.
Kenneth Ian Mackenzie
Flying Officer Mackenzie was a Corsham man who had married Joan Elizabeth Skrine, only daughter of Mr and Mrs AD Skrine of Heleigh House.[18] He was killed on active service in March 1941, six months after their wedding.
Dr Mary Middlemass
Dr Mary Middlemass lost her life on 27 April 1942 in the Bath Blitz. For 20 years in Bath her service to the community had been outstanding including her work at the ByBrook House Waifs and Strays Home, Middlehill, Box.[19] Her death came in another act of public service.
She had returned to her home in Bath for some sleep after treating the injured at the First Aid Post at Snow Hill, Bath, where she had spent many hours on the night of the Bath Blitz. When a second wave of bombing started that night she dressed to go out again but her house took a direct hit and she was killed with her two sisters and her two maids.
The newspaper printed a tribute to her death: a personal loss to the many thousands of her patients, especially to the women.[20] It was recognised by everyone that the healing of the sick was a passion with her.
HUGH MOGER
Captain Hugh Moger was the only son of William and Mary Kathleen Fortescue Moger of Coles Farm, owners of the solicitors firm in Bath.[21] Hugh had joined the 15th Punjabs and was aide-de-camp to the commanding officer of the Advanced Tactical HQ Allied Land Forces in India. He was wounded in the fight for Burma in 1944 and lost his life to those injuries a year later on 9 May 1945, being buried at the Ranchi War Cemetery. He was only 21 years-old and it had been intended that he would take articles to join the family firm after the war.
ARTHUR CAMPBELL MORTON
Arthur Morton was 26 when he was killed in 1945, having married Eileen E Grover in 1941, who was living at Hawthorn, Box. Arthur's parents were Arthur, Senior, and Margaret Morton. Arthur was a private working at a Royal Army Ordnance Ammunitions Depot in the Netherlands when it was struck, killing many people. He was buried at the Mierlo War Cemetery in a joint grave. Left: Mierlo War Cemetery (unknown copyright) |
Roy Norris
Roy Norris was a Bath man who was killed in August 1940 with four others when a bomb fell on their works at Kolster Brandes Ltd, an electrical component factory in Croydon.[22] Roy's connection to Box was through his wife Althea Eyles (the daughter of Francis Jack Eyles, who lived on the Devizes Road, Box) to whom he had been married for ten years. |
Captain John Anson Northey Captain John Northey of the Cameronians was the son of Arthur Cecil Nothey and Madeleine Harriet Owen. Captain John Anson Northey was killed on 30 March 1942 in Burma, aged 24, and is commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial and also on the Wiltshire Memorial list for Box. Photo left courtesy Diana Northey |
Frederick Robertson Parham Captain Parham was in command of HMS Belfast in the action which ended with the sinking of the German battleship Scharnhorst on 26 December 1943.[23] It was a major British victory and the loss of the 26,000 ton ship severely hampered the Nazi war effort. He was one of the youngest captains in the navy on his promotion in 1940. He was a Bath boy and he, his wife and son lived at Sion Hill, Bath. His connection with Box was a curious one; as a boy he went to Weston Lodge School, Bath, until it moved to Ashley Manor, Box, before the Great War, where he was educated. |
ALBERT EDWARD PARSONS
No information known.
Colonel Penfold
Lieut-Col RJL Penfold was the son-in-law of Brigadier Felton Falkner of Wormcliffe House, Ashley.[24] Col Penfold of the Royal Artillery had been captured with the fall of Hong Kong in December 1941 and held as a prisoner-of-war for several years, leaving his wife to look after their two sons and young daughter in Bath. News of his release was received in September 1945.
W Perry and A Perry
Were both held as prisoners of war in 1944.
B JOHN PICKERING
No information known.
Albert Pillinger
Many people felt the pressure to volunteer, even though they were in middle age and had a family to support. One such was Albert Edward Pillinger who had worked as a footman in the Pump Room, Bath and for ten years before in the household of Charles Morley of Shockerwick. He left his job and joined up in the Heavy Artillery (Anti-Aircraft Section) in August 1941.[25]
Francis Pillinger
Francis was a Bevin boy.[26]
RONALD WALTER PLUMB
Gunner Ronal Plumb served in the Royal Artillery. He was born in 1918, died in 1945. He was killed in a motor accident on 17 July and was brought to Box for burial in Box Cemetery on 21 July. A contingent from his Company attended the funeral. He left a young wife and two small children. He was aged 27 years.[37]
GLYN DAVIDSON REES
Glyn Rees was a pharmacist, the only son of T Rees, pharmacist of High Street, Corsham.[27]
RG Rogers
Was a prisoner of war in 1944.
No information known.
Colonel Penfold
Lieut-Col RJL Penfold was the son-in-law of Brigadier Felton Falkner of Wormcliffe House, Ashley.[24] Col Penfold of the Royal Artillery had been captured with the fall of Hong Kong in December 1941 and held as a prisoner-of-war for several years, leaving his wife to look after their two sons and young daughter in Bath. News of his release was received in September 1945.
W Perry and A Perry
Were both held as prisoners of war in 1944.
B JOHN PICKERING
No information known.
Albert Pillinger
Many people felt the pressure to volunteer, even though they were in middle age and had a family to support. One such was Albert Edward Pillinger who had worked as a footman in the Pump Room, Bath and for ten years before in the household of Charles Morley of Shockerwick. He left his job and joined up in the Heavy Artillery (Anti-Aircraft Section) in August 1941.[25]
Francis Pillinger
Francis was a Bevin boy.[26]
RONALD WALTER PLUMB
Gunner Ronal Plumb served in the Royal Artillery. He was born in 1918, died in 1945. He was killed in a motor accident on 17 July and was brought to Box for burial in Box Cemetery on 21 July. A contingent from his Company attended the funeral. He left a young wife and two small children. He was aged 27 years.[37]
GLYN DAVIDSON REES
Glyn Rees was a pharmacist, the only son of T Rees, pharmacist of High Street, Corsham.[27]
RG Rogers
Was a prisoner of war in 1944.
Kenneth Charles Scoble
Ken Scoble joined up aged 19 on the outbreak of war. On training in Newtown, Wales, he met Violet Rees and they married at the end of the war in 1945. (Photos courtesy Brian Scoble).
Ken Scoble joined up aged 19 on the outbreak of war. On training in Newtown, Wales, he met Violet Rees and they married at the end of the war in 1945. (Photos courtesy Brian Scoble).
Donald George Scott
As a young man Donald Scott was involved in an accident with a lorry when he was motor-cycling and sustained a serious injury to his right leg.[28] He recovered and joined the Fleet Air Arm in June 1942.
FREDERICK JOHN SCOTT
He was born in 1919, the son of John Scott of 7 Bath Road. In 1939 Frederick was working as an Assembler of electric coils and motors . He was held as a prisoner of war in 1944 and never returned.
WALTER J SCOTT
Walter Scott died on active service in Malta. No other information known.
Albert Shewring
Albert was a Bevin boy. He lived in The Keep, next to Box Post Office.[29]
As a young man Donald Scott was involved in an accident with a lorry when he was motor-cycling and sustained a serious injury to his right leg.[28] He recovered and joined the Fleet Air Arm in June 1942.
FREDERICK JOHN SCOTT
He was born in 1919, the son of John Scott of 7 Bath Road. In 1939 Frederick was working as an Assembler of electric coils and motors . He was held as a prisoner of war in 1944 and never returned.
WALTER J SCOTT
Walter Scott died on active service in Malta. No other information known.
Albert Shewring
Albert was a Bevin boy. He lived in The Keep, next to Box Post Office.[29]
Arthur Sinclair
Arty Sinclair of Church Lane announced his survival to his mother, Mrs AJ Sinclair, via a German radio broadcast in February 1944: I am Arty Sinclair of Church Lane, Box. I am a prisoner-of-war in Germany and I am quite well and fit; a letter is following.[30] This was the first news of him since November 1943 and was subsequently verified as accurate by the Red Cross. |
Taylor Family: Terence, Vernon, Keith & Sadie
Air Gunner Terence, son of the late Box hairdresser, Walter Taylor, gained an RAF commission, aged 22 years, whilst serving in North Africa.[31] He had volunteered in 1940 and left his apprenticeship with a printer in Bath.
His brother Vernon WC Taylor was serving as a Flight-Lieutenant and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1945.
He volunteered to join the RAF in 1937, leaving his work with a tobacconist in Bath and was one of the first people to serve in France on the outbreak of war.[32] Another brother, Keith was in the (military) Civil Service; and his sister Sadie worked in the aircraft factory in the area.
Frederick Treble
Stoker Frederick Treble lived in Bathford and was employed in Box before the war. He was part of the crew that sank the battleship Scharnhorst in December 1943, a remarkable coincidence because his father had been at the sinking of another German ship called Scharnhorst in the Falkland Islands in 1914.[33]
CLAUDE ANTHONY WADE, MC
Lieutenant-Colonel Claude Anthony Wade, MC died in 1945 of wounds sustained in the Burma Campaign.[34] He was the only son of Major and Mrs Claude Wade of Ashley. Lieut-Col Wade was a professional soldier in the King's Own Scottish Borderers who had served in Malta, Palestine and Abyssinia before being put in charge of a Nigerian Battalion.
HERBERT CHARLES WALKER
Gunner Walker of 3 Albion Terrace, Box Hill, was killed in action in the Libya on 30 January 1941.[35] He was the second son of Mr and Mrs Frederick J Walker, who published this tribute to him on the anniversary of his death: We think of him in silence,
We oft repeat his name; What would we give to clasp his hand, And hear his voice again.[36]
WILLIAM EBENEEZER WHALE
William was a marine with HMS Cairo. He died on 12 August 1942 and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. HMS Cairo was engaged in escorting vessels through the Sicillian Straits when it was hit by Italian submarine torpedoes, disabled and had to abandoned. Some survivors were rescued from the sea but William lost his life. The hulk was finally sunk by British fire, anxious to ensure that it could not be used by the enemy. William may be related to Thomas Whale who lost his life fighting in World War 1.
Russell Wickings
Russell lived in The Ley and served as a Bevin boy during the war.
Air Gunner Terence, son of the late Box hairdresser, Walter Taylor, gained an RAF commission, aged 22 years, whilst serving in North Africa.[31] He had volunteered in 1940 and left his apprenticeship with a printer in Bath.
His brother Vernon WC Taylor was serving as a Flight-Lieutenant and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1945.
He volunteered to join the RAF in 1937, leaving his work with a tobacconist in Bath and was one of the first people to serve in France on the outbreak of war.[32] Another brother, Keith was in the (military) Civil Service; and his sister Sadie worked in the aircraft factory in the area.
Frederick Treble
Stoker Frederick Treble lived in Bathford and was employed in Box before the war. He was part of the crew that sank the battleship Scharnhorst in December 1943, a remarkable coincidence because his father had been at the sinking of another German ship called Scharnhorst in the Falkland Islands in 1914.[33]
CLAUDE ANTHONY WADE, MC
Lieutenant-Colonel Claude Anthony Wade, MC died in 1945 of wounds sustained in the Burma Campaign.[34] He was the only son of Major and Mrs Claude Wade of Ashley. Lieut-Col Wade was a professional soldier in the King's Own Scottish Borderers who had served in Malta, Palestine and Abyssinia before being put in charge of a Nigerian Battalion.
HERBERT CHARLES WALKER
Gunner Walker of 3 Albion Terrace, Box Hill, was killed in action in the Libya on 30 January 1941.[35] He was the second son of Mr and Mrs Frederick J Walker, who published this tribute to him on the anniversary of his death: We think of him in silence,
We oft repeat his name; What would we give to clasp his hand, And hear his voice again.[36]
WILLIAM EBENEEZER WHALE
William was a marine with HMS Cairo. He died on 12 August 1942 and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. HMS Cairo was engaged in escorting vessels through the Sicillian Straits when it was hit by Italian submarine torpedoes, disabled and had to abandoned. Some survivors were rescued from the sea but William lost his life. The hulk was finally sunk by British fire, anxious to ensure that it could not be used by the enemy. William may be related to Thomas Whale who lost his life fighting in World War 1.
Russell Wickings
Russell lived in The Ley and served as a Bevin boy during the war.
HECTOR FRANK WILKINS Hector was the son of Ernest and Daisy Wilkins and husband of Gwendoline Peggy Wilkins, of Colerne. He was a Leading Aircraftsman in the Royal Airforce Volunteer Reserve who died on 16 August 1941. He was buried in Colerne at the St John the Baptist graveyard along with the other occupant of the plane, Harold Lewis Learning, age 22. Left: Colerne Cemetery (unknown copyright) |
THOMAS WILLIAM CHARLES WOOTTEN
Thomas was 27 years old when he lost his life in the El Alamein Campaign in Egypt on 27 July 1942. Reported missing after the battle, in 1943 it was accepted that he had been killed. He was the son of Frederick Charles and Lucy May Wootten of Box. Private Thomas was buried in the El Alamein War Cemetery. Right: El Alamein War Cemetery (unknown copyright) |
References
[1] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 16 July 1949
[2] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 23 January 1943
[3] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 27 February 1943
[4] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 8 January 1944 and 15 January 1944
[5] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 20 October 1945
[6] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 3 May 1941
[7] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 17 January 1942
[8] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 21 March 1942
[9] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 20 July 1940
[10] Courtesy Ruby Eyles
[11] Courtesy Patty Baldwin
[12] The Wiltshire Times, 13 June 1942
[13] http://www.hut-six.co.uk/WW2data/WO373-46-U.html
[14] The Scotsman, 23 July 1943
[15] The Scotsman, 12 April 1944
[16] http://ghgraham.org/mildredallison.html
[17] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 19 February 1944
[18] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 15 March 1941
[19] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 2 May 1942
[20] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 24 April 1943
[21] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 19 May 1945
[22] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 24 August 1940
[23] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 1 January 1944
[24] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 29 September 1945
[25] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 16 August 1941
[26] Courtesy Ruby Eyles
[27] The Wiltshire Times, 4 August 1934
[28] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 23 January 1943
[29] Courtesy Ruby Eyles
[30] The Wiltshire Times, 5 February 1944
[31] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 12 June 1943
[32] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 30 May 1942
[33] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 8 January 1944
[34] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 17 March 1945
[35] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 3 February 1945
[36] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 31 January 1942
[37] Parish Magazine, August 1945
[1] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 16 July 1949
[2] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 23 January 1943
[3] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 27 February 1943
[4] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 8 January 1944 and 15 January 1944
[5] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 20 October 1945
[6] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 3 May 1941
[7] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 17 January 1942
[8] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 21 March 1942
[9] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 20 July 1940
[10] Courtesy Ruby Eyles
[11] Courtesy Patty Baldwin
[12] The Wiltshire Times, 13 June 1942
[13] http://www.hut-six.co.uk/WW2data/WO373-46-U.html
[14] The Scotsman, 23 July 1943
[15] The Scotsman, 12 April 1944
[16] http://ghgraham.org/mildredallison.html
[17] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 19 February 1944
[18] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 15 March 1941
[19] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 2 May 1942
[20] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 24 April 1943
[21] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 19 May 1945
[22] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 24 August 1940
[23] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 1 January 1944
[24] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 29 September 1945
[25] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 16 August 1941
[26] Courtesy Ruby Eyles
[27] The Wiltshire Times, 4 August 1934
[28] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 23 January 1943
[29] Courtesy Ruby Eyles
[30] The Wiltshire Times, 5 February 1944
[31] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 12 June 1943
[32] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 30 May 1942
[33] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 8 January 1944
[34] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 17 March 1945
[35] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 3 February 1945
[36] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 31 January 1942
[37] Parish Magazine, August 1945