WW2 - Dec 1957 Roll of Honour
Inscribed on the memorial the words:
"World war II To 31 Dec 1957"
Blower William Able Seaman P/J 30874
H.M.S. Dunedin Royal Navy
William was born 11th January 1898 in Wolverhampton son of William and Ellen Blower, he was baptised at St. George's Church Wolverhampton 27th January 1898. In 1911 William and his parents were living at 13 Park Street Wolverhampton along with William's older brother Thomas and younger siblings Harry and May.
William joined the Royal Navy 5th May 1914, as a boy sailor, at the time of enlisting he was an iron worker. He served through the First World War and continued serving until his death in 1941. He served on many ships joining H.M.S. Dunedin 7th August 1939.
William married Lily Belle Home July 1922 at Dudley. Their daughter Lilian was born 15th July 1928. In 1939 the family home was 232 Bushbury Lane, Wolverhampton.
H.M.S. Dunedin was a Danae-class light cruiser, on 15th June 1941, Dunedin captured the German tanker Lothringen and gathered some highly classified Enigma cipher machines that she carried.
Dunedin was sailing in the Central Atlantic Ocean, just east of the St. Paul's Rocks, northeast of Recife, Brazil, when on 24th November 1941, at 15:26 hours, two torpedoes from the German submarine U-124 sank her. Only four officers and 63 men survived out of Dunedin's crew of 486 officers and men, sadly William was lost.
Killed in action 24th November 1941 aged 44.
Panel 47, Column 2. Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Brooker Frederick Charles Bombardier 4912351
6 H.A.A. Regt. Royal Artillery.
Frederick was born 9th June 1911 in Wolverhampton son of Frederick John and Bertha Brooker, of Bilston youngest of ten children. In 1921 Frederick was living at 33 Vale Street, Parkfield, Bilston with his parents and sisters Louie and Lily. His mother died in 1930 and his father in 1932.
Frederick married Maud Harper April 1935 in Bilston; they lived at 33 Vale St. Bilston along with their daughter Eileen born 31 March 1938 .
Died at home 29th July 1946 aged 35.
Sec. E.B. Old Portion. Grave 2093. 1. Bilston Cemetery.
Jones Charles Private 5257777
1st Bn. Worcestershire Regiment.
Husband of Gladys Jones, of Dudley, Worcestershire.
The Battalion War diary records 'Bn in area La Variniere. Bn received orders for mopping up road to Plessis Grimoult and La Quesnee.
"C" Coy attacked enemy along road but met with heavy resistance and were withdrawn’.
They went into the attack with little or no information as to the actual enemy positions. Spandau machine guns concealed in enfilade positions, and enemy artillery observers took their toll, and after a slogging match lasting several hours 'C' Company had suffered between fifteen and twenty casualties, sadly Charles was one of those casualties.
Killed in action 9th August 1944 aged 34.
VIII. F. 8. St. Manvieu War Cemetery, Cheux, France.
Large Gilbert Private 14794892
2nd Bn. The Glasgow Highlanders (City of Glasgow) Highland Light Infantry.
Gilbert was born 26th July 1920 in Wolverhampton son of Gilbert and Ethel Large. In 1921 they were living at 7 Victoria Street, Ettingshall, Bilston. By 1939 they were living at 11 Ettingshall Road, Bilston and Gilbert was employed as a metal casement fitter.
Gibert married Hilda Timmins September 1944 in Bilston.
Killed in action 30th April 1945 aged 22.
4A. O. 5. Hamburg Cemetery, Germany.
Lippitt Ernest Christopher Gunner 14341597
83 Field Regt Royal Artillery.
Ernest was born 9th August 1912 in Bilston son of Ernest and Annie Lippitt. In 1921 they were living at 25 Hall Park Street, Bilston along with Ernest's older siblings Martha, James, Mary, and Ethel.
Ernest married Kathleen Nora Appleby in July 1939 in Wolverhampton, they moved into 22 Winchester Road Fordhouses, Wolverhampton, Ernest was employed as a carpenter, plant maintenance.
Killed in action 13th October 1944 aged 32.
1. G. 10. Uden War Cemetery, Netherlands.
Markham Eric Thomas 657257 Leading Aircraftman
34 Service Training School Royal Air Force.
Born 8th December 1918 in Wolverhampton son of Alfred John and Annie Elizabeth Markham, of Stowheath, Wolverhampton. In 1939 Eric was living with his widowed mother (his father dying in 1933) at 'Parkside', Hawthorn Road, Bilston along with Eric's younger sister Joyce, Eric was employed as an industrial chemist.
Eric transferred into the Royal Air Force from the British Army sometime after January 1939.
Eric was killed 22nd January 1942 aged 23 when an aircraft Harvard AJ761 of 34 Service Training School, Alberta, Canada swung on take-off and crashed into the stationary Harvard AJ828 in which Eric was sitting as a pilot under training, Pilot Officer John Green the pilot instructor was also killed; the crew of AJ761 were uninjured.
Lot 10. Block 139D. Sec. C. Medicine Hat (Hillside) Cemetery, Alberta, Canada.
Ramsbottom James Corporal 4916781
1/6th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
James was born July 1919 in Coseley son of William Edward and Edith Ramsbottom. In 1921 they were living at 33 Broad Lanes, Bilston, Coseley along with James's older siblings Edith, Nancy and Joseph.
He married Nellie Maud Etchells 3 October 1937 at St. Leonards Church Bilston and they had a son Ronald. By 1939 they were living with Nellie's parents at 15 Lawley Road, Bilston.
James was killed in action 16 July 1944 aged 25.
The 1/6th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment crossed the Channel in late June as part of the 59th Division and by the 1st July had moved to the front-line facing Caen. The city was fiercely defended and earlier attempts to outflank it had been frustrated by continued German counter attacks. General Montgomery had, therefore, decided on a frontal attack preceded by heavy aerial bombardment. On the 8th July, a strong attack was launched on a broad front and by the 9th most of the city had fallen. The Division moved quickly south to the bocage country; their task was to take the village of Noyers.
On 15th July, the troops assembled in their assault positions the 1/6th on the right of the assault. At 5.30am on the 16th the attack commenced in thick morning mist by about 6.45 am the Battalion had captured the village of Brettevillette 1½ miles north of Noyers and two hours later Queudeville. Both were defended strongly and only taken at the cost of many casualties sadly James was one of them.
V. C. 17. Fontenay-le-Pesnel War Cemetery, Tessel, France.
Robinson Harry Driver 2002466
292 Field Company, Royal Engineers.
Harry was born 16th September 1917 in Bilston son of Arthur H. and Martha J. Robinson. In 1921 they were living at 55 Parkfield Road along with Harry's older siblings William, Dora, and Edna. By 1939 Harry remained living with his parents at 55 Parkfield Road along with his younger brother Arthur; Harry was employed as a milk salesman.
Harry died of wounds in Cyrenaica the eastern region of Libya 16th February 1941 aged 23.
8. E. 11. Benghazi War Cemetery, Libya.
Shelley William Arthur Able Seaman P/JX 333333
H.M.S. SS New Brunswick.
William was born 28th June 1942 in Ettingshall son of Isaiah and Sarah Shelley. William had three older siblings Isaiah, Leslie and Albert and a younger sibling Robert. In 1939 William was living with his parents and brothers Albert and Robert at 3 Pump Street, Bilston. William was employed as a press stamp operator.
At 03:25 on 21 May 1942, 140 miles east-southeast of Santa Maria, Azores SS New Brunswick was torpedoed and sunk by U-159. The master, fifty-three crew members and five gunners were rescued (twelve by HMS Totland and ten by HMS Wellington). Two crew members and one gunner William were lost.
Killed in action 21st May 1942 aged 19.
Panel 64, Column 3. Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Shirley Ernest Private 14730686
129 Coy. Pioneer Corps.
Ernest was born 2nd July 1917 in Bilston son of Elizabeth and Arthur Shirley. In 1921 they were living at 51 John Street Bilston along with Ernest's younger brothers Frank and Stanley. Ernest's father died in March 1926 aged 44.
By 1939 Ernest remained living with his widowed mother and brothers at 51 John Street, Bilston; Ernest was employed as a sheet metal galvanizer.
Killed in action 8th June 1944 aged 27.
Panel 11, Column 1. Bayeux Memorial, Normandy, France.
Taylor John Douglas Fusilier 6463291
2nd Bn. Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt.)
John was born March 1910 in Bilston son of Albert and Florence Taylor. In 1911 they were living at No 11 Vale St, Parkfield Rd, Ettingshall along with John's older brother Joseph.
The night of the 1921 census records John and Joseph living at 17 John Street, Ettingshall with their maternal grandmother Elizabeth Powell, uncle John Powell and aunts Mary Jane and Susannah Powell.
Killed in action 24th April 1943 aged 33.
IV. M. 19. Massicault War Cemetery, Tunisia.
Tennant William Ernest Private 3967979
4th Bn. Welch Regiment.
William was born 16th February 1918 in Bilston son of Henry and Minnie Tennant. In 1921 they were living at 36 George Street, Ettingshall, Bilston along with William's younger sister Minnie.
By 1939 the family remained living at the same address and were now joined by siblings Elizabeth, Gilbert, and Gladys. William worked as a pattern cutter at a local boot factory.
Killed in action 26th October 1944 aged 26.
17. B. 8. Bergen-op-zoom War Cemetery, Netherlands.
Ward Wilfred Ernest Leslie Private 14190522
1st Bn. Seaforth Highlanders.
Wilfred was born 9th November 1928 son of Wilfred and Mary Ward. In 1939 they were living at 79 Hall Park Street, Bilston along with Wilfred's older sister Marjorie and younger sister Dorothy.
Wilfred died 20th August 1948 aged 19 of illness or accident in Johore Baru, Malaysia.
Buried 21st August 1948 1B9. Kranji Military Cemetery, Singapore.
