WW2 Roll of Honour
TO THE FALLEN 1939-1945
Baker Fred Lance Corporal 4923073
South Staffordshire Regiment and No. 3 Commando
Born 10 February 1917 in Wolverhampton son of John Jesse and Pamela Baker mother died 14 January 1940 aged 64. In 1939 they were living at 171 Dudley Road Wolverhampton and Fred was employed as Clerk in General Haulage.
On 10 July 1943, the island of Sicily was invaded by British, Commonwealth and USA forces.
No 3 Commando were given orders to capture the Malati Bridge over the river Leonardo intact to allow the 50th Division to continue its advance.
3 Commando were put ashore north of Augusta in the Bay of Agnone from the infantry assault ship HMS Prince Albert and following the railway line, headed west towards Lentini. It had been thought that the only resistance would be from scattered Italian defenders, but straight away the commandos ran into the 3rd Battalion of the Hermann Goering Regiment. This meant that all the way to the bridge there was intensive fighting, but their objective was reached by 0300 on the 14th July.
The Italians guarding the bridge were quickly overcome and it came under British control. The demolition charges were removed, and the commandos now had the task of holding the bridge until the arrival of the 50th Division which was fighting its way up Highway 114.
A German Mk VI Tiger tank appeared than 200 yards away and began firing its heavy machine gun towards the commandos who were around and under the bridge with no cover. Several men were wounded and killed. More tanks could be heard coming down the road and with the 50th Division still not in sight, after a short discussion it was decided that the remaining commandos would withdraw into the hills to the east and reform. Once there they came under heavy fire again and they were ordered to set off in small parties to make for a prearranged rendezvous on the coast. The total casualties from the action were 153 killed, wounded, and missing sadly Fred being one of them.
Killed in action 14 July 1943 aged 26.
I. A. 23. Catania War Cemetery, Sicily, Italy.
Bayliss Sidney Petty Officer D/JX 133751
H.M. Submarine Regent Royal Navy.
Sidney was born 19th October 1913 in Wolverhampton son of Ernest and Alice Bayliss. In 1921 they were living at 25, Franchise Street, Wolverhampton along with Sidney's older siblings Ernest, Florence, and Hellene and younger sisters Alice Maud and Nellie. Sidney’s father was a foreman enameller at J. J. Gibbons Ltd.
Sidney married Eva Ziegler, of Souderton, Pennsylvania, in America 1942. It is recorded that Eva arrived in Southampton 12th May 1947 aboard Cunard White Star's ship Aquitania on the way to 103 Hughes Avenue, Wolverhampton.
Sidney was killed in action 1st May 1943 aged 29. On 11 April 1943, H.M. Regent sailed to patrol the southern Adriatic. She was lost with all hands at some point in April. The loss was discovered when the submarine failed to return to its base in Beirut, Lebanon, to re-fuel and take on supplies by 1 May 1943. It is believed that on 18 April H.M. Regent struck a mine north of Barletta, after attacking an Italian convoy.
Panel 78, Column 2. Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Biddulph Percy Petty Officer Telegraphist D/JX 135822
H.M. Submarine Orpheus Royal Navy.
Percy was born 1st July 1915 in Wolverhampton the son of Alfred and Elizabeth Biddulph. In 1921 they were living at 41 Arthur Street, Wolverhampton along with Percy's older brother David and younger sister Dora.
By 1939 Percy's parents were living at 247 Warstones Road, Wolverhampton along with Dora and youngest son Kenneth.
Percy was killed in action June 1940; HMS Orpheus went missing sometime after 21:15 hours on 19th June 1940 when she sent her last signal. She was then en-route to Benghazi, Libya.
HMS Orpheus was declared overdue on 27th June 1940 after not arriving at Alexandria on 26th June as planned. The most likely cause of HMS Orpheus' loss is that she was mined off Benghazi.
Panel 39, Column 3. Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Bradford Arthur Private 4624526
16th Bn. Durham Light Infantry.
Arthur was born 7th July 1917 in Wolverhampton the son of John and Sarah Bradford. In 1921 they were living at 354, Dudley Road, Wolverhampton along with Arthur's older brothers Frederick and George and younger brother Thomas. Arthur's father was employed as a boot and shoemaker.
By 1939 Arthur was living with his father, brother Thomas and younger sister Irene at 34 Fancourt Avenue, Wolverhampton and employed as a master boot and shoe repairer.
Arthur married Alice Edna Wood September 1940 in Wolverhampton.
Killed in action 11th September 1943 aged 26 during the Salerno landings in Italy.
II. B. 47. Salerno War Cemetery, Italy.
Cook Charles William Able Seaman D/JX 156001
H.M.S. Matabele Royal Navy.
Charles was born 8th October 1922 in Wolverhampton son of Charles William and Amy Cook. Charles attended Paget Road school, Birmingham. He joined the Navy when he was fifteen, before enlisting he was employed at Arthur Scrivener Ltd of Tyburn Road, Erdington. At that time, he and his family were living at 33 Varley Road Erdington. By February 1942 the family were living at the back of 400 Dudley Road Wolverhampton due to the German air raids on Birmingham.
Charles was killed in action 17th January 1942 aged 19 when HMS Matabele escorting convoy PQ-8, was hit by one torpedo from U-454 in the stern, this caused her magazines to blow up and the ship to sink within two minutes off Kola Inlet, Russia. The survivors were unable to release the Carley floats because they were frozen in their lashings and had to jump overboard. Some of them were killed when the depth charges of the sinking destroyer detonated, but most died of hypothermia in the icy water before they could be rescued. Only two men of the ship's company of 238 survived.
Panel 64, Column 3 Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.
Coogan Gerrard Private 14692038
2nd Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
Born December 1925 in Drogheda, Louth, Ireland son of Thomas and Rose Coogan, of Wolverhampton. In 1939 Gerrard's parents and two sisters Ann Mary and Sheila were living at 33 Deansfield Road, Wolverhampton.
Killed in action 8th July 1944 aged 18.
II. F. 3. Ranville War Cemetery, Calvados, France.
Cope William Powell Captain 195682
Royal Armoured Corps Staffordshire Yeomanry.
William was born 18th June 1901 in Holywell, Flintshire, Wales son of Joseph and Ada Cope; he was baptised 17th July 1901 in Mold, Flintshire, Wales. In 1911 William was living with his parents, older siblings Mary Edith, Harry, Annie and Joseph and younger siblings Arthur and Elsie at Norton Lloyd Street, Llandudno, Wales. In 1908 William began attending St George's National School (Mixed) Llandudno. Then moved up to Mostyn Secondary school, Llandudno in 1912.
William enlisted into the Royal Tank Corps 15th February 1919 aged 18 serving with the 5th Innskilling Dragoon Guards.
William married Phyllis Hill July 1932 in Farnham, Surrey, they had two children.
On 21st August 1940 William was commissioned from Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant in the 5th Innskilling Dragoon Guards to the rank of Lieutenant in the Staffordshire Yeomanry, whose headquarters were in Wolverhampton.
At the time of his death the family home was 111 Bright Street, Wolverhampton.
Died of wounds 3rd November 1942 aged 41.
XI. J. 21. El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt.
Cort William Ambrose Lance Corporal T/91432
Royal Army Service Corps attd. 73 Coy. Aux. Mil Pioneer Corps.
Born 5th October 1903 in Cannock son of Alfred John and Florence Elizabeth Cort. In 1911 they were living at 21 South Street, Gorsebrook, Bushbury along with William's older siblings Alfred, Elizabeth and Louisa and younger siblings Lilian, John, and Henry.
In 1912 William began attending Red Cross Street School for Boys.
William worked for London and Northern Western Railway, Bushbury as train cleaner from 10th January 1918 to 12th November 1919.
By 1921 William was living with his parents at South Street, Bushbury, along with Louisa, her husband Harold and William's siblings John, Henry, and Dorothy. William was employed as a labourer.
William married Leah Smith March 1926 in Wolverhampton they had two children William Edmund John born June 1929 and Leah D. born December 1931.
William was lost in RMS Lancastria. RMS Lancastria was a British ocean liner requisitioned by the UK Government during the Second World War.
The ship was ordered to the port of St. Nazaire to evacuate British nationals and troops from France, this was two weeks after the evacuation of Dunkirk.
The ship was loaded well in excess of its capacity of 1,300 passengers. About 4,000 men, women and children lost their lives when the Lancastria sank 20 minutes after it was bombed by German Junkers Ju 88's while leaving the port, fewer than 2,500 people survived.
William died 17th June 1940 aged 36.
Column 135 Dunkirk Memorial, Nord, France.
A. EVANS PTE
Finney Ronald Sapper 2017869
862 Mechanical Equipment Workshop and Park Coy. Royal Engineers.
Born 11th March 1920 in Wolverhampton son of Robert and Mary Hannah Finney. In 1939 they were living at 56 Cross Street South, Wolverhampton along with Ronald's older brother Edgar and younger brother Sidney; Ronald was employed as a motorcycle engineer. Ronald married Margaret Hodson March 1941 in Wolverhampton.
Died of illness or accident 21st January, 1944 aged 23.
V. F. 9. Bone War Cemetery, Algeria.
Garbett Alfred Leslie Sergeant T/142371
18 Div. Petrol Coy. Royal Army Service Corps
Alfred was born 15th January 1918 in Wolverhampton son of George Clement and Lucy May Garbett. In 1921 they were living at 9, Knox Road, Blakenhall along with Alfred's older siblings Ruby and George, maternal grandmother Lucy Johnson and maternal uncle Walter Johnson. By 1939 Alfred was living at 21 Ranelagh Road, Wolverhampton along with his parents and uncle Walter; Alfred was employed as a grocer's shop assistant.
Alfred was captured by the Japanese at Singapore 15th February 1942.
He died of malaria and colitis 3rd August 1943 aged 25 whilst a prisoner of war in No 2 Camp, Sonkurai.
Songkurai camp accommodated a work force of 1600 British prisoners which was part of the 7000 strong ‘F’ Force.
‘F’ Force had the job of constructing a stretch of about 38 miles of the Thailand-Burma Railway, at Songkurai they had to complete a 10 mile stretch which included the famous wooden bridge across the River Kwai.
Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Myanmar (Burma).
Harper William Reginald Thomas Private 4916951
1st Bn. Suffolk Regiment.
Born January 1918 in Shifnal son of William and Jessie Harper. In 1921 they were living at 5, Kingswood Road, Albrighton, Shropshire along with William's older sister Jessie and maternal aunt and uncle Florence and Thomas Mountford. By 1939 the family were living at 116 Upper Villiers Street, Wolverhampton.
William married Winifred Harper (her maiden surname) July 1943 in Wolverhampton
Killed in action 2nd January 1945 aged 27. The war diary of the 1st Bn. Suffolk Regiment reports 'enemy guns and nebelwerfers fired a heavy concentration on Blitterswijk. Casualties were few but the village was badly damaged, and the company jeep and carrier were destroyed. The shelling Of Blitterswijk and Wanssum continued throughout the day, but there was no other enemy activity. William sadly was one of those 'few casualties'
V. E. 3. Venray War Cemetery, Limburg, Netherlands.
Hinkinson Thomas Lance Corporal 2736771
1st Bn. Welsh Guards.
Thomas was born 5th September 1913 in Wolverhampton son of Thomas and Louise Hinkinson. In 1921 they were living at 28, Cross Street, Wolverhampton, by 1939 they were living at 27 Franchise Street, Wolverhampton and Thomas was employed as a bread salesman. Thomas married Ada Marion Andrews October 1941 in Wolverhampton.
Killed in action 5th September 1944 aged 31.
The war diary for the 1st Bn. Welsh Guards states 'a report then came through of seven enemy tanks who had ran out of petrol, being eager to surrender in the village of Wavre, Belgium.....
It then became apparent that they had no intention of surrendering, and a No. 4 Company group, under command of Major G.G. Fowke, set about the task of clearing Wavre.
This proved far from easy and resulted in some confused street fighting, in which 3 Guardsmen were killed and two officers were injured.' Sadly, Thomas was one of those Guardsman who was killed.
Grave 361. Auderghem (Oudergem) Communal Cemetery, Oudergem, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium.
Hough Raymond Driver 184560
1 Motor Ambulance, Royal Army Service Corps.
Raymond was born 21st January 1916 in Plymouth son of William and Alice Hough. In 1921 they were living at 53 Dale Street, Wolverhampton along with Raymond's older siblings Irene and William and younger sister Maryjane.
In January 1939 Raymond married Doris Mary Barratt in Wolverhampton, they lived with his parents at 119 Upper Villiers Street, Wolverhampton along with his older siblings Stanley, Joan, William, William's wife Louisa, Graham, and younger sister Barbara. Raymond was employed as a bus conductor.
Died of illness or accident 1st April 1942 aged 27
1. E. 20. Heliopolis War Cemetery, Egypt.
Hubball Arthur Frederick Flight Sergeant 964247
304 Ferry Training Unit, Coastal Command, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Born 7th January 1917 in Wolverhampton son of Frederick and Sylvia Alice Hubball. In 1939 they were living at 46 Hawthorne Road, Blakenhall along with Arthur's younger sister Myra, Arthur was employed as a furniture salesman. Arthur enlisted into the RAF at Cardington, Bedfordshire between September 1939, and August 1940.
Killed while flying a Beaufighter LZ264 2nd October 1943 age 26, lost without trace 100 miles west of the coast of Northern Ireland during a navigational exercise.
Panel 137. Runnymede Memorial.
E.JONES PTE
Lawley Christopher James Trooper 321239
15th/19th King’s Royal Hussars, R.A.C.
Son of James and Ellen Lawley.
Died 10th September, 1944 aged 23.
VII. E. 8. Leopoldsburg War Cemetery, Leopoldsburg, Limburg, Belgium.
Lyons John Thomas Trooper 5055080
3rd Royal Tank Regiment, R.A.C.
John was born 12th April 1912 in Wolverhampton son of Thomas and Florence Lyons. In 1921 they were living at 22 Pond Lane, Wolverhampton along with John's older sister Mary and younger siblings William, Annie, and Alice. John married Florence Matthews April 1936 in Wolverhampton in 1939 they were living along with their three-year-old daughter Florence at 12 Wordsworth Road, Wolverhampton. John was employed as a hosiery manufacturer.
Killed in action 18th July 1944 aged 32 during Operation Goodwood an offensive which was part of the battle to capture the town of Caen in Normandy.
IV. B. 5. Banneville-la-campagne War Cemetery, France.
Meredith Wilfred Gunner 984950
2 Field Regt. Royal Artillery.
Wilfred was born 28th February 1914 in Wolverhampton son of Adelbert and Mary Anne Meredith. In 1921 they were living at 66, Franchise Street, Wolverhampton along with Wilfred's older siblings John, Olga and Winifred and younger siblings Cyril and Stella. Wilfred's father Adelbert died in September 1936 aged 63.
By 1939 Wilfred was living at 64 Franchise Street, Wolverhampton along with his mother and siblings Irene Winifred, Cyril, Stella, and new younger siblings Clifford and Sydney. Wilfred was employed as a grinding wheel dresser at a dry battery manufacturer.
Killed in action 9th August 1944 aged 30.
V. E. 20 Arezzo War Cemetery, Italy.
Morris Gordon Flying Officer (Navigator)154529
207 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Gordon was born 19th November 1919 in Wolverhampton son of John and Ethel Morris. In 1921 they were living at 60 Curzon Street, Wolverhampton along with Gordon's older siblings Hector and Barbara.
By 1939 (and at the time of Gordon's death) the family were living at 52 Rosemary Crescent West Goldthorn Park, Sedgley. Gordon was employed as a draughtsman in engineering.
Gordon was commissioned as a Pilot Officer 26th November 1943 and then promoted to the rank of Flying Officer 26th May 1944.
Killed in action 5th March 1945 age 25. Gordon flying in a Lancaster bomber NG230 took off at 17:16 hours 5th March 1945 from RAF Spilsby, Lincolnshire to attack the synthetic-oil plant at Bohlen, the aircraft was lost without trace.
Panel 267. Runnymede Memorial.
Morse Robert Frederick Ordinary Signalman C/JX 233982
H.M. Submarine H31 Royal Navy.
Robert was born 15th April 1921 in Wolverhampton son of Edward and Gertrude Morse. In 1921 they were living at 65 Ranelagh Road, Wolverhampton along with Robert's older brothers Noel and Alan. By 1939 the family remained living at the same address, Robert was employed as a van driver.
HMS H31 was a British H class submarine, she took part in the operation to keep the German battleship Scharnhorst in Brest, France in December 1941. During the operation, H31 was sunk by unknown causes, but is believe she was mined in the Bay of Biscay after leaving port on 19th December. The submarine failed to show up at the rendezvous position for onward passage under escort towards Falmouth on 24th December 1941.
Robert was killed in action 24th December 1941 aged 20.
45, 3. Chatham Naval Memorial.
A.E. NEWITT PTE
J.A. NICHOLLS C.O.
A.S. NIXON PTE
J.H. NIXON PTE
G.R. PARKES LAC
R. PHILIPS L.CPL
N.A. READE PTE
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Rowbery Ivor Private 4928327
Signal Platoon, HQ Company 2nd (Airborne) Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment.
Ivor was born 20th July 1922 in Wolverhampton son of Arthur Thomas Rowbery and Lilian May Rowbery, in 1939 they were living at 68 Curzon Street, Wolverhampton along with Ivor's younger siblings Doreen, Brian, Patricia, Derek and Brenda; Ivor was employed as a clerk.
In 1941 Ivor was called up to join the Army and enlisted into the South Staffordshire Regiment, he volunteered for airborne forces and joined the 2nd (Airborne) Battalion. He took part in the invasion of Sicily, returning to England in October 1943.
Killed in Action 22nd September 1944 aged 22 near to the Old Church in Oosterbeek, Arnhem when he was hit by a mortar grenade.
16. A. 20.Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Netherlands.
Ivor's mother placed a note in the Wolverhampton Express and Star (October 1944) -
"Ivor (South Staffs Airborne), eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Rowbery, 68 Curzon Street, reported missing at Arnhem, now reported killed September. Will always be so proudly and lovingly remembered by mom, dad, sisters and brothers. To the world just another soldier; to me, all the world. Mom. Also treasured memories of our little Gordon, who left us without goodbye ten years ago today." Gordon died in a swimming accident in 1935 aged 7.
In 1946 the makers of Basildon Bond writing paper held a competition for the best letter written by a member of the Armed Forces during the Second World War, Ivor's letter home won.
His last letter to his mother
https://ninedaysinseptember.wordpress.com/2015/10/25/death-is-nothing-final-or-lasting/
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Sharratt Leonard Keith Trooper 322864
Staffordshire Yeo. RAC.
Son of Ernest Edwin and Mabel Annie Sharratt.
Died 26th March, 1943 aged 20.
Face 5. Medjex-El-Bab Memorial, Tunisia.
E. SIMPSON L.CPL
S. SMITH SGT
J.D. STEER CPL
L.E. WELSH SSM
White Stephen George Sergeant (Pilot) 1318824
106 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Son of George Edward and Amy Lilian White, of Wolverhampton.
Killed in Action 26th June 1943 age 20.
Flying Lancaster serial number W4256, which was shot down by a night fighter one mile east of Hippolytushoef nine miles southeast of Den Helder during a raid on Gelsenkirchen.
Plot C. Row 12. Grave 373.
Wieringen (Hippolytushoef) General Cemetery.
Williams Percy Raynsford Gunner 1555518
529 Bty, 87 Searchlight Regt. Royal Artillery.
Son of Edgar Percy and Alfreda Marguerita Williams; husband of Alice May Williams.
Died 9th August, 1941 aged 30.
Grave 15. Wolverhampton Borough Cemetery.
Willis Cyril Edward Gunner 1557855
125 Field Regt. Royal Artillery.
Son of William and Anne Willis.
Died 12th September, 1944 aged 28.
Column 34. Singapore Memoria, Singapore.
