Remembrance

THE GREAT WAR – OLD BORDENIAN CASUALTIES

Updated 2 September 2010 – addition of J J Warner

Name: PRIOR, HARRY LEONARD
Initials: H L
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Unit Text: 117th Sqdn.
Secondary Regiment: Royal Fusiliers
Secondary Unit Text: and 30th Reserve Bn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 03/07/1918
Additional information: Son of James Leonard and Sarah Prior, of 112, Park Rd., Sittingbourne.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: S. 171.
Cemetery: SITTINGBOURNE CEMETERY

Commemorated on Milton War Memorial.

Name:

 DUMSDAY, CYRIL ROBERT
Initials: Cyril Robert
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Middlesex Regiment
Unit Text: 8th Bn.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 27/04/1915
Additional information: Son of William Henry and Louise Blanche Dumsday, of Willow Lodge, Heston, Hounslow Middx.; husband of Ethel Jefferson Dumsday.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: VI. E. 5.
Cemetery: OOSTTAVERNE WOOD CEMETERY
Name: HALES
Initials: Sidney Arthur
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Date of Death: 30/10/1918
Service No: 35640
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: A. 68.
Cemetery: LANDRECIES BRITISH CEMETERY

Commemorated on Hartlip War Memorial.

Name:

 STEVENS
Initials: D H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
Unit Text: 4th Bn.
Age: 19
Date of Death: 06/08/1918
Additional information: Son of Edward and Fanny Louisa Stevens, of Uppertoes-Bobbing, Sittingbourne.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. B. 8.
Cemetery: BEACON CEMETERY, SAILLY-LAURETTE

Commemorated on Bobbing War Memorial.

Name:

 HADLOW
Initials: W T
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Sussex Regiment
Unit Text: 9th Bn.
Date of Death: 27/03/1918
Service No: 260161
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: P. VI. M. 3A.
Cemetery: ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN

Commemorated on Milton and Sittingbourne War Memorials.

Name:

 WARD, ARTHUR BOWSHER
Initials: A B
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: East Yorkshire Regiment
Unit Text: 8th Bn. attd. 1st Bn.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 15/08/1918
Additional information: Son of Arthur and Josephine Mary Ward, of “Hovedene,” Highsted, Sittingbourne, Kent. Born at Rodmersham.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: VIII. C. 3.
Cemetery: ANCRE BRITISH CEMETERY, BEAUMONT-HAMEL

Commemorated on Rodmersham and Murston War Memorials.

Name:

 LOCKE, HAROLD
Initials: H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Royal Irish Regiment
Age: 45
Date of Death: 10/10/1918
Additional information: Son of the late Frederick Locke, D.L., J.P., of Dane House, Hardip, Sittingbourne, Kent; husband of S. A. Locke, of Fortae, Killiney, Co. Dublin.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Memorial: HOLLYBROOK MEMORIAL, SOUTHAMPTON

Drowned in the sinking of RMS Leinster. Commemorated on Hartlip War Memorial.

Name:

 PAGE, JAMES HERBERT COOMBE
Initials: J H C
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Essex Regiment
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Date of Death: 08/10/1917
Service No: 23368
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 98 to 99.
Memorial: TYNE COT MEMORIAL

Body never recovered.

Name:

 WELFARE, JOHN WELLS
Initials: J W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/Service: Royal Garrison Artillery
Unit Text: 115th Siege Bty.
Age: 30
Date of Death: 19/10/1917
Service No: 123923
Additional information: Son of John and Harriet Welfare; husband of Inez Stantou Welfare, of 31, The Mall, Faversham, Kent. Inspector of Weights and Measures at Burnley. Born at Leigh, Tonbridge.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: E. 47.
Cemetery:


 BUFFS ROAD CEMETERY
Name: RAPSON, SIDNEY HARRY
Initials: S H
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment)
Unit Text: 19th Bn.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 08/05/1917
Service No: 55274
Additional information: Son of the Rev. William Rapson and Laura Rapson, of “White Thorn,” Fourth Avenue, Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, England.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: III. A. 44.
Cemetery: BARLIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION

Died of wounds, employed by the Canadian Bank of Commerce.

Name:

 TYLER, WILLIAM ALFRED
Initials: W A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Serjeant
Regiment/Service: Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
Unit Text: 37th Bn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 21/11/1916
Service No: 18972
Additional information: Son of Alfred William and Mary Tyler, of Milton Regis, Kent.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. D. 7.
Cemetery: LE FERMONT MILITARY CEMETERY, RIVIERE

Commemorated on Milton War Memorial.

Name:

 WAKEFORD, EDWARD KINGSLEY
Initials: E K
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Leicestershire Regiment
Unit Text: 7th Bn.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 16/07/1916
Additional information: Son of Edward and Elizabeth Threapland Wakeford, of 37, Bennett Park, Blackheath, London. Educated at Clifton College and Trinity College, Cambridge. B.A. and Wrangler. Born at Plymouth, Devon.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: VI. K. 12.
Cemetery:


 FLATIRON COPSE CEMETERY, MAMETZ
Name: WARNER
Initials: J J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: East Yorkshire Regiment
Unit Text: 8th Bn.
Date of Death: 14/07/1917
Service No: 28898
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: VI. D. 19.
Cemetery: GREVILLERS BRITISH CEMETERY

SECOND WORLD WAR – OLD BORDENIAN CASUALTIES

J.A. Adlington

L.G. Alexander

Sergeant (Air Gunner) Leopold Gordon Alexander, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.    Service number 1311746.  Serving with No. 49 Squadron.  Died on 2nd February 1943.  Commemorated at JONKERBOS WAR CEMETERY, NIJMEGEN – NETHERLANDS.

On the night of Tuesday 2nd February 1943 Seven Lancasters from No. 49 squadron climbed out of RAF Fiskerton, Lincolnshire, through the layers of thick cloud.  Over the North Sea they were still in cloud at 21,000 feet with temperatures down to  40 degrees outside.  The aircraft were part of a force of 161 aircraft heading for a cloud covered Cologne where Pathfinder aircraft had dropped their markers.  Damage reports show that the city sustained bombing over a wide area. Bomber Command lost three Lancasters, one Halifax and one pathfinder Stirling aircraft.  No. 49 Squadron lost aircraft of Flight Lt. Bob Jackson and his crew.

The Lancaster serial number ED 440, code (EA-L) with its crew had taken off at 18.51 hours flying their first mission from RAF Fiskerton.  Their aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed between Kessel and Helden in Holland.  Six of the crew are buried in Jonkerbos War Cemetery Nijmegen.  The crew who died being Flight Lt. R.A. Jackson, Flight Sgt. H.M. Magdar – RCAF, Flying Officer E.J.F. Dunand – RCAF, Sgt. A.J. Glover, Pilot Officer A.W. Lane, Sgt. L.G. Alexander, with the only survivor being Sgt. J.R. McMahon who became a prisoner of war.

H.R. Ash

Lance Corporal Herbert R. Ash.  Serving with the Royal Army Service Corps.  Died on 29th August 1943.  Regimental service number T/239345.  Commemorated at MEDJEZ-EL-BAB WAR CEMETERY – TUNISIA.

T. Barry

Lieutenant Terrance Barry.  1st Battalion London Irish Rifles ( Royal Ulster Rifles).  Age 22.   Died on 5th December 1943.  Mentioned in Dispatches.  Son of Patrick and Margaret Barry of Sittingbourne.  Commemorated at CASSINO WAR CEMETERY – ITALY.

D.A. Cole

Flight Sergeant (Navigator) Douglas Arthur Cole – RAFVR.  Serving with No. 77 Squadron.    Died on 15th March 1944, age 20.  Service number 1800713.  Son of Arthur and Alice Cole resident in Sittingbourne.  Five members of the crew from this same plane are buried side by side in the cemetery.  Commemorated at MEZEROLLES COMM. CEMETERY – FRANCE.

Operation was to bomb railway yards at Amiens.  Crew of Halifax serial number LL229 code (KN-Z) being one of two aircraft lost on this raid.  Left their operational base RAF Elvington on 15th March 1944 being airborne at 18.50 hours.  Cause of aircraft loss not established.  Crashed at MEZEROLLES, 8 kms West North West of Doulles in France.  Crew killed being, F/Lt. R.G. Spencer, F/Sgt. D. Cole, F/Sgt. J. A. Taylor, Sgt. P.H. Armstrong, Sgt. L.J. Pugh – RCAF, Sgt. H.O. Hill.  Sgt. H.M. McAllister was interned in Prison camp L 1.

S.W. Dane

Sergeant (Pilot) Stanley William Dane – RAFVR.  Attached to No. 149 Squadron.   Service number 1255075.  Died on 8th November  1941, age 23.  Son of George and Ethel Dane of Sheerness.  Commemorated at REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY – GERMANY.

Bombing operation on the city of Berlin on the night of 7th November 1941.  Wellington  serial number X9878 (code OJ-A) was airborne at 17.26 hours, leaving their operational base at RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk.   Cause of loss and crash site not established.  Those killed being buried at Reichswald were Sgt. S. W. Dane, Sgt. P. I. Leeman, Sgt. A.C. A. Davis, Sgt. H.R. Crowe – RCAF, Sgt. Pengelly and Sgt. F. Jenkinson who was injured and confined to hospital.

E.R. Graham

A.E. Gransden

Private Albert Edward Gransden.  6th Battalion East Surrey Regiment.  Regimental number 14622944.   Died on 12th May 1944, age 24.  Son of Jessie and Alice Gransden of Bobbing, Kent.  Commemorated at the CASSINO WAR CEMETERY – ITALY.

C.H. Gransden

Gunner Charles Henry Gransden.  21st Medium / Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery Regiment. Regimental number 1100180.  Died on 4th March 1942.  Commemorated at SITTINGBOURNE CEMETERY.

L.G. Gransden

Sergeant ( Navigator) Laurence Wilfred Gransden – RAFVR.  Service number 1464570.  Died on 23rd January 1944.  Son of Jessie and Alice Gransden.  Commemorated at SITTINGBOURNE CEMETERY.

R. Hadlow

Flight Sergeant Ronald Hadlow – RAFVR.  Service number 1802151,  Serving with No. 224 Squadron.  Died on 26th February 1945.  Son of Albert and Ellen Hadlow of Bells Yew Green, Kent.  Commemorated at RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL.

N.J. Haggar

Surgeon Lieutenant Norman James Haggar – Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.  Age 25.  Serving on HMS Kashmir.  Ship pennant number F 12.  Died on 9th April 1940.  Son of Henry James and Harriet Haggar, husband of Isabella Haggar of Stepps, Glasgow.  Commemorated on PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL.  His ship sustained serious damage when rammed by HMS Kelvin in the North West Approaches.

R.K.. Hall

Leading Air Craftsman Robert Knowles Hall – RAFVR.  483rd Group control centre.  Age 22.  Service number 1523600.  Died on 22nd July 1944.  Son of Alfred and Emily Hall of Sittingbourne, Kent.  Commemorated at RYES WAR CEMETERY – BAZENVILLE – FRANCE.

W.H. Harland

Lieutenant William Henry Harland attached Royal Army Service Corps.  Regimental number 291237.  Age 40.  Died on 20th January 1946.  Son of Charles and Alice Harland, husband of Edna Harland of Sheerness, Kent.  Commemorated at JOHANNESBURG ( WEST PARK) CEMETERY.

H.B. Hartridge

Able Seaman Harry Bruce Hartridge, Royal Navy.  Age 25. Service number C/JX158844.  Died on 25th July 1947.  Son of Harry and Violet Hartridge, husband of Myrtle Ena Hartridge of Sittingbourne.  Commemorated at SITTINGBOURNE CEMETERY.

L.M. Herbert

Sub. Lieutenant (A) Leslie Martin Herbert, RNVR.  Age 24.  Serving on HMS Hermes.  Son of Henry and Annie Herbert.  Died on 6th May 1941.  Commemorated at LEE-on-SOLENT MEMORIAL to the Missing.

HMS Hermes was laid down in 1918, being completed  in HM Dockyard Devonport in July 1923.  Originally carried 15 aircraft but in 1938 converted to carry 20 aircraft.  In March 1941 was deployed for duty in the Persian Gulf.  In May of that year was supporting military operations with aircraft attacks on shore.

H.A.J. Hill

Leading Air Craftsman Herbert Arthur John Ernest Roy Hill -  RAFVR.  Age 25.  Service number 743644.  Died on 9th April 1941.  Son of Arthur and Gertrude Hill of Sheerness. Commemorated at SS MARY/SEXBURGE CHURCHYARD, MINSTER on SHEPPEY.

R.L. Hodgson

Sergeant (Air Gunner) Roger Leslie Hodgson – RAFVR.  Serving with No. 101 Squadron.  Service number 656856.  Died on 3rd April 1943.  Commemorated at REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY.

Sergeant R.L. Hodgson was a member of the Lancaster serial number ED736, code (SR-W).  This aircraft was delivered to No. 101 Squadron on 16th March 1943.  Airborne from RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor in Yorkshire, on 3rd April 1943 for an operational raid to Essen.  Cause of loss was not established.  Crashing at Wische, East North East of Bocholt-Borken.  All the crew where killed and are buried in Reichwald Forest War Cemetery.  Crew being Flying Officer R.N. Johnson, Sgt. F.J. Hackett,  Sgt. G.W. Jones, Sgt. I.W. Llewellyn, Sgt. R.C. Horton, Sgt. H.A. Ramsey, Sgt. R.L. Hodgson.

S.G. Hookway

Wing Commander Stanley Gordon Hookway, DFC – RAFVR.  Serving with No. 156 Squadron.  Age 26.  Died on 5th March 1943.  Son of Horace and Helen Hookway of Camerton in Somerset.  Commemorated at RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY – GERMANY.

Squadron Leader S.G. Hookway was flying in Lancaster serial number LM304 code (GT-J), on an operational raid on Essen.  Airborne at 19.08 hours on the evening of 5th March 1943 from their base at RAF Warboys, Huntingdonshire.  Crashed near Munchengladbach; with all the crew being killed, then buried at Rheinberg War Cemetery.  Pilot Officer F.W. Hart DFM who was gazetted on 9th February 1943, Squadron Leader S.G. Hookway DFC, Sgt. E.B. Halsop, Flying Officer R.D. Turk, Flying Officer E. Luff, Sgt. D. Heap DFM, Sgt. W.H. Clark.

P. Hopson

Fusilier Percy Hopson, 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh Fusilier.  Service number 4195467.        Died on 18th October 1944.  Age 24.  Commemorated at TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY – BURMA.

J.G. Humphrey

Air Craftsman 1st Class John Grundy Humphrey – RAFVR.  Service number 954138.  Died on 7th November 1940.  Age 22.  Son of Arthur and Emily Humphrey of Gravesend.  Commemorated at BAPCHILD CHURCHYARD.

R. Iggulden

Able Seaman Richard Iggulden, Royal Navy.  Serving on SS. Tarimar.  Age 22.  Service number C/JX215435.  Died on 14th June 1942.  Son of Richard and Esther Iggulden of Borden, Kent.  Commemorated at CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL.

E.R. Ingram

R.H. Jarrett

Gunner Ronald Herbert Jarrett serving with 121st Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.  Age 22.  Died on 1st July 1942.  Service number 99095.  Son of Herbert Ernest and Emily Jarrett of Sittingbourne, Kent.  Commemorated at EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY – EGYPT.

G.A. King

Apprentice George Alfred King serving on SS. Empire Lancer with the Merchant Navy.  Died on 16th August 1944, age 18.  Son of George Henry and Victoria Ethel King of Kemsley, Kent. Commemorated at TOWER HILL MEMORIAL – LONDON, memorial to the Missing of the Merchant Navy.

SS. Empire Lancer was a cargo steamer of 7,037 tons displacement being built in 1942.  She was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-862 in the Mozambique Channel with the loss of her Captain M. Jollivet, 36 crew members and 5 gunners.

H.R. Knowles

J. Lester

P.C. Mercer

Sergeant (Warrant Officer) Paul Chandler Mercer – RAF.  Age 23.  Service number 550835.  Died on 17th March 1943.  Son of Frederick and Ella Marion Mercer of Waddon, Croydon.  Commemorated at CROYDON (MITCHEM ROAD) CEMETERY.

N.A. Monday

Sergeant Noel Albert Monday -  RAF.  Service number 812164.  Age 25.  Died on 1st October 1943.  Son of Ernest and Lillian Monday of Maidstone, husband of Joan Lynn Monday.  Commemorated at ALEXANDRIA (HYDRA) WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY – EGYPT.

J.W. Morris

A. Moxon

Leading Air Craftsman Alfred Chenoworth Moxon – RAFVR.  Age 21.  Service number 926649.  Died on 20th March 1944.  Son of Edward and Rose Moxon of Sheerness.  Commemorated at AMBRON WAR CEMETERY – INDONESIA.

F.D. Oakwell

Flight Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) Frederick David Lloyd Oakwell – RAF.    Age 21.  Service number 551326.  Attached to No. 86 Squadron.  Died on 17th May 1942.  Son of Mrs E. Oakwell, Sheerness.  Commemorated at SOLA CHURCHYARD – NORWAY.

This Squadron was part of Coastal Command flying the Bristol Beaufort aircraft on Anti Shipping missions out of RAF St. Eval in Cornwall.

B. Richards

Pilot Officer Brian Alfred Carter Richards – RAFVR.  Service number 66545 attached to    No. 7 Squadron.  Age 20.  Died on 30th June 1942.  Son of Alfred and Lousia Richards, Sittingbourne.  Commemorated at UITHUIZERMEEDEN – NETHERLANDS.

Pilot Officer B. Richards was flying in Stirling serial number N3706 code (MG-S) to an operational raid on Bremen.  Airborne at 23.50 hours on 29th June 1942 from its operational base at RAF Oakington.  Crashed in the sea off Borkum.  Crew being Sgt. A. Hamlyn killed, Pilot Officer B. Richards killed, Flight Sgt. M.G. Bailey – RCAF – POW, Sgt. R.H. Kelly killed, Sgt. H. Watson – RNZAF killed, Sgt. S.A. Morrison killed, Sgt. L.T. Keatley – POW, Sgt. D.A. Peachey – POW.

J.H. Ruchley

Able Seaman John Henry Ruchley, Royal Navy serving on HMS VIMIERA,ship pennant number L29. The ship was sunk by a mine on 9th January 1942.  Died on 9th January 1942.  Service number C/JX 197599.  Commemorated at CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL.

B.G. Seagoe

Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) Bryden Grange Seagoe – RAFVR.  Attached to No. 44 Squadron.  Service number 918988.  Died on 17th April 1942.  Commemorated at BEAMONT-LE-ROGER COMMUNAL CEMETERY – FRANCE.  The crew of the aircraft are all buried together.

Sergeant Bryden Grange Seagoe was a member of the crew flying aboard the Lancaster Mk 1 serial number L7548, code (KM-T).  Delivered to No. 44 squadron in January 1942.  Flying from RAF Waddington Lincolnshire, taking off at 15.12 hours on 17th April 1942.  The aircraft was shot down by a ME 109 piloted by Uffz Pohl of 11/ JG 2 Richthofen, near Ormes, 14 Km West North West of Everaux.

C. State

Private Colin William State, serving with the 4th Hampshire Regiment.  Age 24.      Service number 5503020.  Died on 28th August 1941.  Son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Edward State of Sittingbourne.  Commemorated in TUNSTALL CHURCHYARD – KENT.

G. Stephens

Sergeant (Observer) Geoffrey Francis Stephens – RAFVR.  Attached to No. 12 Squadron.  Age 21. Service number 1284405.  Died on 29th July 1942.  Son of Frank and Ada Francis Stephens of Sittingbourne, Kent.  Commemorated at ST. MARY’S CHURCHYARD, BINBROOK in LINCOLNSHIRE.  Crew of his crashed aircraft buried in local churchyard.

The Wellington Mk 2 serial number W5424 code (PH-D) became airborne from its operational base, RAF Binbrook in Lincolnshire. Wheels up at 23.37 hours on 29th July 1942 its bombing mission being a raid on the area around Saarbrucken, Germany.  The aircraft crashed almost immediately killing all the crew.  Pilot Officer M.H. James, Sgt. W. Foster, Sgt. G.F. Stephens, Sgt. C.A. Manchur – RCAF, Sgt. J.W.E. Ross.

S. Stokes

L.E.G. Wall

Captain Leslie Edwin Gordon Wall,  Grenadier Guards.  Age 43.  Died 18th June 1944.  Service number 141033.  Son of Reverend Richard and Ethel Wall, ‘The Vicarage’ Bobbing near Sittingbourne.   Husband of Violet Wall who also died in the same incident.  Commemorated at ST. BARTHOLOMEW CHURCHYARD, BOBBING, KENT.

Captain Wall and his wife Violet Maud (Diana) of 120 Mount Street, London, W1 were killed when a V1 flying bomb crashed through the roof of the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, London, during the Sunday morning service.  119 people were killed, another 102 were seriously injured and a further 39 people received minor injuries. These were the largest number of casualties attributable to a single flying bomb during the Second World War.

G.E.R. Westacott

Flight Sergeant (Navigator) Geoffrey Ernest Richard Westacott – RAFVR.  Serving with  No. 50 Squadron.  Age 21.  Service number 1398165.  Died on 9th April 1945.  Son of  Ernest and Jean Westacott of Sheerness.  Commemorated at HAMBURG CEMETERY – GERMANY.

Flight Sergeant Geoffrey Westacott was a member of Lancaster serial number NG342 code (VN-S) part of an operational raid on Hamburg.  This aircraft was delivered to No. 50 Squadron in January 1945.  Airborne at 14.42 hours from RAF Skellingthorpe in Licolnshire on 9th April 1945 with a mission to bomb oil storage tanks.  The aircraft crashed in the target area with all the crew being killed  and buried locally at Hamburg Cemetery.  Flying Officer V.G. Berriman – RAAF, Sgt. E. Ford, Flight Sgt. G.E.R. Westacott,  Flight Sgt. J.P, Newbiggings, Sgt. E.A. Walker

J.A. Wildish

Sergeant James Alfred David Wildish – RAFVR.  Serving with No. 115 Squadron.  Service number 1209081.  Died on 29th October 1942 age 28.  Son of James and Ann Wildish, husband of Connie Wildish of Sittingbourne.  Commemorated at RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL.

Sergeant James Wildish was a crew member of Wellington serial number X3540, code (KO-X) flying from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk. The operational bombing raid was on the city of Essen in Germany.  The squadron lost three Wellington aircraft during this raid.  Taking off at 14.00 hours aircraft X3540 was to crash into the sea close to the Dutch coast.

Flight/ Sgt. Urwin is buried in Vlissingen Northern Cemetery – Holland.  His crew have no known grave.  Sgt. C.W. McHenry, Sgt. H.P. Norcross, Sgt. L.H. Martin – RNZAF, Flying Officer R.L. Meredith – RNZAF, being commemorated at Runnymede Memorial.

N. Wilson

Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) Noel Sydney Wilson – RAFVR.  Serving with  No. 40 Squadron.  Service number 917135.  Died on 12th June 1941.  Age 22.  Son of Sydney and Annie Wilson of Minister on Sheppy.  Commemorated at JONKERBOS WAR CEMETERY – NETHERLANDS.

Sergeant Noel Wilson was a crew member of Wellington serial number R1464, code (BL-L) flying from RAF Alconbury.  The squadron was to lose two aircraft during this bombing raid on Dusseldorf.  Airborne at 23.40 hours on 11th June 1941.  Shot down by a night fighter flown by Lt. Gerthard Loos, 1/NJG1 and crashed at 01.32 hours on 12th June 1941 at Meerle – Belgium, 16 kms North North West of Venlo in Holland.  All the crew being killed and finally buried at Jonkerbos War Cemetery.  Pilot Officer R.F. Payne, Sgt. M.S. Soames, Pilot Officer L.J. Moore, Sgt. N.S. Wilson, Sgt. G.L. Thompson Sgt. E.W. Tyler.

A. Wood

Leading Stoker Albert Sidney Wood – Royal Navy.  Serving on HMS Lightning.  Died on 12th March 1943.  Age 24.  Service number C/KX120845.  Son of Henry and Clara Wood,  husband of Joan Phyllis Wood of Sittingbourne, Kent.  Commemorated at Chatham Naval Memorial to the Missing.

HMS Lightning, ship pennant number G55, was laid down in the November of 1938, being launched in April 1940.  Torpedoed and sunk by a German ‘E’ Boat off Bizerta in the Sicilian Straits on 12th March 1943.  Two Officers and 43 crew members where either killed or missing out of a total crew of 227.