| Matlock & Matlock Bath : The War Memorials |
| Commemorating Matlock's and Matlock Bath's War Casualties |
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| Names on Matlock's War Memorial : Second World War Casualties |
Background information about those who died is provided.
There are photos of war graves at Arras, Etaples, Thiepval, Wimille
and Wimereux elsewhere
on this site
Search by name (below) *New Navigation* | Also see Abbreviations used
|
One of the memorial panels showing the names of the WW2 Casualties
Names on the Memorial, WW2 Casualties
Casualties Missing from the Memorial:
W. J. BOWLER
V.G.W. ENGSTROM
E. STAFFORD
|
 Abbreviations |
| ToW - Theatre of War |
M Bath - Matlock Bath
|
Mar - Married
s/o - son of
Unm - Unmarried |
|
|
| More about those named
on the Memorial |
ALLSOPP, Thomas
Born 10 Dec 1922
Died 23 Aug 1945, aged 23
Gunner 70 Bty. 22 Lt. A.A. Regt. Royal Artillery
Service No: 14266356
ToW: United Kingdom
s/o Thomas and Mary Ann Allsop (née Reynolds), of Matlock
Cliff. his family had previously lived at 2 The Shortlands, Church Street.
Cemetery: Matlock (St. Giles) Churchyard
Grave Reference: Plot 4. Row 4. Grave 3. |
ALSOP, Christopher Terence P E[1]
Born 1918
Died 12 Aug 1942, aged 24
Service: Royal Navy
Able Seaman, H.M.S. Nigeria
Service No: C/SSX 18142
s/o Anthony and Winifred Christine (née Bennett) Alsop,
of Matlock. Lived near Stancliffe Quarry Yard. 6 siblings[KT]
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial
Grave/Memorial Reference: 52, 3
He was missing, presumed killed, when the ship was torpedoed on the day he died
See HMS
Nigeria (will open in a new window)
He is listed on Darley Dale's Memorial as C Terance PE |
ALLWOOD, John Thomas
Born: 1925
Died 22 Feb 1945, aged 19
Rifleman 9th Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Service No: 14578300
ToW: Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45
s/o Ernest and Mary Allwood (née Nicholls), of Thrybergh
Cottage, Smedley Street West, Matlock
Grave/Memorial Reference: 44. B. 12.
Cemetery: Reichswald Forest War Cemetery
From Date of Death assume died in the advance through Reichswald
Forest in February 1945 |
BALLINGTON, Herbert[2]
Born: 1918 Riber
Died: 28 Aug 1941, aged 23 - drowned in a bathing accident
Private 1/6th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment, Infantry
Service No: 4915999
s/o Herbert Ballington (d.1938) and Sarah Jane (née
Fox) Ballington, of M Bath. Lived at Orchard House, Holme Road,
M Bath but in 1939 his widowed mother and some of his siblings
were living at Meadow View, Riber.
The North Northumberland Coroner recorded that he had "lost
his life by drowning while bathing in Embleton Bay".
The person he was with, Frederick Millington, saw him disappear
well out from the shore. He described Herbert as being happy,
laughing and joking on the way down to the beach. and last
saw him with the water up to his chest. In the early evening
two other soldiers found the body floating in the water and,
unsuccessfully, tried artificial respiration ("The
Berwick Advertiser", 4 September 1941).
Buried: Tansley (Holy Trinity) Churchyard. Buried 2 Sep 1941
ToW: United Kingdom
He was also commemorated on the
wooden memorial boards at Holy Trinity, Matlock Bath |
BARNES, Cyril
Born Derbyshire 18 Dec 1923
Died 1 Nov 1944, aged 20
Service: Royal Navy
Stoker 1st Class, H.M.S. Whitaker
Service No: D/KX 138299
s/o Cyril and Violet Barnes, of Brookside, Lumsdale Road, Tansley, Matlock.
Memorial: Plymouth Naval Memorial
Memorial Reference: Panel 89, Column 3.
H.M.S. Whitaker was torpedoed by U-483 on 1 November 1944, off the north coast of Ireland |
BONSALL, Frederick Kenneth
Born 3 Jul 1925
Died 6 Dec 1944, aged 19
Gunner 59 (6th Bn. The Hampshire Regt.). Anti-Tank Regt. Royal Artillery
Service No: 14681589
ToW: Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45
s/o Joseph and Emily (née Smith) Bonsall, of Wellington Street, Matlock
Cemetery: Reichswald Forest War Cemetery
Grave/Memorial Reference: 47. A. 4.
This Cemetery was created after the Second World War when burials
were brought in from all over western Germany and is the largest
Commonwealth cemetery in the country.
In mid December 1944 he was in the Holland, after 12 months service, and had previously worked at Firth Derihon
in Darley Dale. Two of his brothers were also serving in the Army. |
BOWLER, Walter Stanley (called Stanley)
Born Matlock 1921
KiA 8 Jun 1944, aged 22
Lance Corporal Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and No.
3 Commando
Service No: 10548172
ToW: Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45
s/o Walter Henry and Mary Bowler of 4 Vine Terrace, Matlock. His
father died in June 1936 and was buried at St. Giles'.
He was brother to William (Bill) Boden and Peggy. His brother went
on to teach at both Ernest Baileys and John Turner School, Darley.
See: Ernest
Bailey's Grammar School, July 1947 (pupil) | Ernest
Bailey's Grammar School, Vth Form Visit, 1949 (trainee teacher).
Also Stanley's father in the
1901 census.
Walter Stanley Bowler took part in the D Day (Normandy) Landings
of 6 June 1944. He was posted as missing on 8 June 1944 and subsequently
(1945) he was declared as Presumed Killed in Action.
Memorial: Bayeux Memorial.
Memorial Reference: Panel 18, Column 3.
The Bayeux Memorial is situated in the south-western outskirts
of the town of Bayeux in Normandy. 1,800 men of the Commonwealth
land forces who died in the early stages of the campaign, with
no known grave, are commemorated here. |
BRIDDON, Stephen Howard (known as Howard)
Born Derbyshire
Enlisted 16 Oct 1939
Died 8 Sep 1941, aged 22
Lance Corporal, Royal Engineers
Service No: 1880260
ToW: Middle East
s/o James and Florence (née Gregory) Briddon, of Tansley
Cemetery: Tel-el-Kebir War Memorial Cemetery
Grave/Memorial Reference: 3. K. 11.
Tel-el-Kebir lies 110 kilometres north-north-east of Cairo and
75 kilometres south of Port Said.
During the Second World War, Tel el Kebir was a hospital centre
and a great ordnance depot was also established there, with many
workshops for the repair of armoured cars and other weapons of
war. |
BROWN, Stephen
Born 4 Feb 1922
Died 08 Apr 1943, aged 21
Trooper 17th/21st Lancers, Royal Armoured Corps
Service No: 7948287
ToW: North Africa
s/o William Francis and Mary Ellen (née Marsden) Brown,
of 12 Mornington Rise, Matlock; husband of Madge Brown, of Matlock.
Cemetery: Massicault War Cemetery
Grave/Memorial Reference: III. F. 6
He was emplyed as Bakers Apprentice (Improver) before the war. |
CROUCH, Walter
Born 30 Sep 1922
Died 21 Oct 1943, aged 21
Sergeant (Air Gnr.) 161 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service No: 1433486
s/o William James Crouch and Edith (née Alsop) Crouch, of 1 Carlton Terrace, New Street, Matlock.
Cemetery: Valenciennes (St. Roch) Communal Cemetery
Grave Reference: Plot 4. Row A. Grave 10
Valenciennes (St Roch) Communal Cemetery is situated on the north-east
side of Valenciennes, about 1.5 kilometres from the centre.
The cemetery also contains 34 burials from the Second World War,
all but one of them airmen.
He was a lorry's mate before he joined up. |
GAUNT, Samuel
Born 8 Jan 1912
Died 16 Oct 1944, aged 35
Leading Aircraftman, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service No: 1073071
s/o John and Lucinda (née Bowmer) Gaunt; husband of Lydia
Violet Gaunt, of Matlock. He was a lorry driver and flour miller
before joining up.
Cemetery: Suez War Memorial Cemetery
Grave/Memorial Reference: 4. A. 10. |
GOULD, HARRY
Born 30 Jul 1924 Derbyshire
Died 29 Jun 1944, aged 19
Private 1st Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment
Service No: 14714367
ToW: United Kingdom
s/o Laurie and Violet (née Bliss?) Gould, of Home Cottage. Jackson Road, Matlock.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot 1. Row 13. Grave 9.
Cemetery: Matlock (St. Giles) Churchyard
In 1939 he had been an Errand Boy to a Boot Dealer. |
GREGORY, Cyril Clifford
Born 1923
Died 8 Feb 1944, aged 20
Private 2nd Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Service No: 4986576
ToW: Italy
s/o Samuel and Mary (née Clay) Gregory, of Matlock
Cemetery: Beach Head War Cemetery, Anzio
Grave/Memorial Reference: XVI. E. 6.
Anzio is a coastal town 70 kilometres south of Rome |
GRIMSHAW, Herbert Parkinson
Born 1912 (Barton I District)
Died 7 Nov 1944, aged 32
Corporal B.S.R.U. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service No: 1075492
s/o James and Florence (née Turner) Grimshaw; husband of
Marjorie (née Knowles) Grimshaw, of Matlock. Mar Marjorie
1935 at All Saints
Memorial: Runnymede Memorial
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 241.
The Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede commemorates by name over
20,000 airmen who were lost in the Second World War during operations
from bases in the United Kingdom and North and Western Europe,
and who have no known graves. |
HAM, Michael Gervase
Born 1917 Derby
Died 29 Nov 1940, aged 23
Sergeant (Pilot) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service No: 970093
s/o the Very Revd. Herbert Ham, M.A., F.R.C.O., and Hilda Annie (née Haslam)
Ham, of Wood End, Cromford, Matlock. B.A. (Oxon.): Worcester College. His obituary
notice in "The Times" states that he was "killed whilst flying".
Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave 288.
Cemetery: Dethick Lea and Holloway Cemetery (Funeral Tues 3 Dec 1940) |
HARRISON, Kenneth George
Born 1923
Died 23 Oct 1943, aged 21
Service: Royal Navy
Ordinary Seaman, H.M.S. Charybdis
Service No: D/JX 417392
s/o George Edward and Amy Ida Mary (née Howes) Harrison, of Matlock
Memorial: Plymouth Naval Memorial
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 80, Column 2.
There is more about H.M.S. Charybdis elsewhere on this website.
See Smithies,
Harold Frederick - Use "Back" to return here |
HOOD, Alfred Eric
Born 1916
Died 25 Nov 1941, aged 25
Driver 142 Field Park Troops Coy. Engineers
Service No: 2012139
ToW: Middle East
s/o Mark and Mary Elizabeth (née Hodgkinson) Hood, of Matlock
Cemetery: Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery
Grave/Memorial Reference: 15. G. 8.
Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery is on the main coast road from Mersa
Matruh through to Libya |
JONES, Frank Arnold
Born Matlock 1918
Died 26 Sep 1942
Service: Royal Navy
Petty Officer, H.M.S. Veteran
Service No: C/SSX 18528
The eldest of three sons of David William and Elsie Evelyn Jones
(née Hill). His parents had married at Spondon in 1918.
Awards: The Distinguished Service Medal (Supplement to the
London Gazette, 27 January, 1942)
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial
Memorial Reference: 51, 3
HMS Veteran was lost with all hands on 26 Sep 1942; she was
torpedoed and sunk by U-404.
See: HMS
Veteran (D 72), Destroyer of the Admiralty Modified W class |
KENNEDY, Francis Joseph
Born 1922 (Shardlow District?)
Died 29 May 1940, aged 18, in Southampton Hospital.
Service: Royal Navy
Ordinary Seaman, H.M.S. Kestrel
Service No: P/JX 157970
s/o Police Inspector Thomas Joseph and Catherine (née Morris)
Kennedy, of Roseville, Edge Road, Matlock. Although his father
was retired by 1939 he was on the 1st Police Reserve and liable
to be recalled, which he was. Francis was educated at Ernest Bailey's
and was successful in the School Certificate examinations in 1937.
The previous year Francis and a friend had attempted to save a
partially sighted woman who had fallen into the river at Matlock
Bath He joined the Fleet Air Arm
on leaving school. He was involved in fatal a motor cycle accident
at Chandler' Ford and was one of two old boys whose premature deaths
in the early stages of the war were "by
accident whilst on active service" (The Bailean, 1941,
Series II, No. 1, March 1941).
Cemetery: Matlock (St. Giles) Churchyard
Grave Reference: Plot 3. Row 2. Grave 8 |
KING, Frank Schofield
Born 1913
Died 8 Jul 1940
Sergeant, Royal Air Force
Service No: 514418
The younger son of Joseph and Sarah Emma (née Catlow)
King. His mother pre-deceased him by only a few months and Frank
was buried in the adjacent grave at St. Giles'. His father was
a Wholesale Tobacco and Yeast Dealer, with a warehouse on Lime
Grove Walk. Frank was educated at Ernest Bailey's
and was one of two old boys whose premature deaths in the early
stages of the war were "by accident whilst on active service" (The
Bailean, 1941, Series II, No. 1, March 1941).
His father, Joseph King, was living at "Knollside", Malpas
Road, Matlock when his son was killed in a road accident in Wiltshire.
Frank had joined the R.A.F. when he was eighteen. He was buried
on 13 July 1940, with a service at All Saints' Church first. ("Derby
Daily Telegraph", 11 July 1940). Joseph King is listed
in Kelly's
1916 Directory.
Cemetery: Matlock (St. Giles) Churchyard
Grave Reference: Plot 5. Row 5. Grave 3. |
KIRWAN, Thomas
Born: Eire
Died 9 Apr 1945, aged 44
Serjeant 70th Bn. The King's Regiment (Liverpool), Infantry
Joined The Manchester Regt
Service No: 7109656
ToW: United Kingdom
s/o Patrick and Bridget Kirwan husband of Mary Patricia (née
Kennedy) Kirwan, of Matlock. Mar at St. Joseph's Catholic Church,
1936
Cemetery: Matlock (St. Giles) Churchyard
Grave Reference: Plot 1. Row 14. Grave 14. |
LOVEROCK, Edward John (Eddie)
Born 1922
Died 18 Feb 1943, aged 21
Sergeant (Air Gnr.) 61 Sqdn. Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service No: 950159
s/o Frederick and Mabel Victoria Jubilee (née Bagshaw) Loverock,
of Matlock. He had three brothers and one sister, one of who sang
principal roles in the Operatic
Society productions.
Cemetery: Matlock (St. Giles) Churchyard
Grave Reference: Plot 1. Row 12. Grave 15.
Edward was a boy treble of some renown in the county and won
prizes for singing. He was a member of the choir at All Saints'
church and photographs of the choir at that time are known to exist.
Can you help?
He worked for the Post Office before joining up, as did his father
and (we believe) his brother, and was in Matlock's A.T.C.
Edward died on a training flight when the Lancaster bomber W4270
he was on crashed at Staunton in the Vale, Nottinghamshire, killing
all the crew[5]. The
crash site has been excavated by the Farndon
Archaeological Research & Investigations group. |
|
 |
London Gazette references:
- Issue10 May 1938
Temporary Postman-Messengers
Edward John Loverock
|
LOWE, Walter Hugh
Born 1917
Died 9 Jul 1941, aged 25
Pilot Officer 110 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service No: 61222
s/o Charles Walter and Alice Maud (née Davy) Lowe, of Matlock
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 1, Column 1.
Memorial: Malta Memorial
"The Malta Memorial is situated in the area of Floriana and
is easily identified by the Golden Eagle which surmounts the column.
It stands outside the main entrance to Valletta." (CWGC)
"The Malta Memorial commemorates almost 2,300 airmen who lost
their lives during the Second World War whilst serving with the
Commonwealth Air Forces flying from bases in Austria, Italy, Sicily,
islands of the Adriatic and Mediterranean, Malta, Tunisia, Algeria,
Morocco, West Africa, Yugoslavia and Gibraltar, and who have no
known grave." (CWGC)
London Gazette references:
- The undermentioned are granted commissions for the duration of hostilities: -
As Pilot Officers on probation.
Sergeants.
15th Jan. 1941.
935618 Walter Hugh LOWE (61222)
|
MOORE, George Bernard
Died 4 Apr 1941, aged 27
Sapper, Royal Engineers
Service No: 2139169
ToW: United Kingdom
s/o John and Alice Moore; husband of Olive (née Whitworth)
Moore, of Matlock. Mar 1940 at Tansley
Cemetery: Tansley Holy Trinity Churchyard |
MOWATT, Thomas Russell
Born Matlock 10 Sep 1922
Died 5 Sep 1946, aged 24
Captain, Seaforth Highlanders
Service No: 278608
s/o Thomas Mowatt, and of Margaret Elizabeth Grigor (née Hay) Mowatt, of Tacoma, Washington, U.S.A.
Employed as C. D. S. Junior Clerk before the war and lived at 6 Lynholmes with his widowed mother.
Cemetery: Rawalpindi War Cemetery
Grave/Memorial Reference: 2. A. 10 |
OWENS, Frederick J
Born 14 Sep 1921
Died 14 Jul 1943, aged 21
Corporal 5th Bn. The Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany's), Infantry
Service No: 4865554
ToW: Sicily
s/o James F. and Clara (née Elliott) Owens; husband of E. M. L. Owens, of Parkhead although had previously lived on Henry Avenue.
Before the war he had been an apprentice To Printing Trade
Cemetery: Syracuse War Cemetery, Sicily
Grave/Memorial Reference: VIII. A. 6 |
PENNINGTON, Walter[3]
Born 15 Jul 1919
Died 23 Oct 1943, aged 24
Service: Royal Navy
Stoker 1st Class, H.M.S. Charybdis
Service No: D/SKX972
s/o Edwin Pennington, and of Mabel (née Gratton) Pennington, of Crosspool, Sheffield. Before the war he was
living with his mother at Broom Hill Farm.
Cemetery: Dinard English Cemetery
Grave Reference: Row E. Grave 14.
There is more about H.M.S. Charybdis elsewhere on this website.
See Smithies,
Harold Frederick - Use "Back" to return here |
POUNDALL, Herbert[3]
Born 1911
Died 14 Nov 1941, aged 30
Fusilier 2nd Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Infantry
Service No: 6983089
ToW: United Kingdom
s/o William and Martha (née Millward) Poundall; husband
of Hylda Hodgkinson (née Hood) Poundall, of Matlock. They
mar 1937 at St. Giles
Cemetery: Matlock (St. Giles) Churchyard
Grave Reference: Plot 4. Row 9. Grave 8 |
SCOTTHORNE, Thomas Arthur
Born 1915
Died 2 Jun 1941, aged 25
Gunner, 102 (The Northumberland Hussars) Anti-Tank Regt., Royal Artillery
Service No: 1527580
ToW: Middle East
s/o Kendill and Pollie (née Lowe) Scotthorne, of Matlock
Cemetery: Suda Bay War Cemetery
Grave/Memorial Reference: 7. E. 6.
Suda Bay is on the northern coast of Crete |
SHELDON, Harry[1]
Born Birchover 1910
Died 22 May 1945, aged 35
Gunner, 78 Bty., 35 Lt. A.A. Regt., Royal Artillery
Service No: 1777933
ToW: Far East (other than places specified)
s/o John William and Mary Hannah Sheldon; husband of Annie Sheldon,
of Matlock (née Holland), mar Oct 1941.
Became PoW when Singapore surrendered to the Japanese in 1942 and
held in Sarawak, Borneo. Presumed shot by guards, shortly before
liberation[KT]
Cemetery: Labuan War Cemetery
Grave/Memorial Reference: L. A. 7.
Labuan (part of Sabah, Malaysia) is a small island in Brunei Bay,
off the coast of north-west Borneo.
- WO records show that he was born at Stanton but he was domiciled at Matlock when he enlisted (Royal Artillery Other Ranks: Casualty Cards). |
SLATER, Albert Lawrence
Died 9 Aug 1944, aged 30
Lance Corporal 5th Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps
Service No: 7910140
ToW: Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45
Cemetery: Bayeux War Cemetery
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. J. 6.
The town of Bayeux, in Normandy, lies 24 kilometres north-west
of Caen. The Allied offensive in north-western Europe began with
the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944 |
SLATER, Clifford
Born 6 May 1915
Died 8 Dec 1943, aged 28
Driver 11th Indian Div. Sigs., Royal Corps of Signals
Service No: 2342359
ToW: Malaya
s/o John Thomas Slater and Sarah (née Smith) Slater, of Matlock
Cemetery: Sai Wan War Cemetery
Grave/Memorial Reference: VII. E. 20.
Sai Wan War Cemetery is in the north-east of the island of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong fell to the Japanese on Christmas Day 1941 following
a brief but intense period of fighting. Most of those buried in
this cemetery were killed at this time, or died later as internees
or prisoners of war during the Japanese occupation. The remains
of those who died as prisoners in Formosa (now Taiwan) were brought
to Hong Kong for burial at Sai Wan in 1946.
- According to his war records Clifford was captured in Singapore on 15 Feb 1942
(TNA WO 345/47. War Office: Japanese Index Cards of Allied Prisoners of War and
Internees, Second World War, 1942-1945)
- His death certificate indicates he had been ill for almost 6 weeks when he passed
away at Formosa POW camps (TNA WO 361/1536). |
SLATER, Godfrey Terrington
Born 1923
Died 15 Oct 1942, aged 18
Midshipman (A), Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, H.M.S. Heron
s/o A. Louis Slater and Doris (née Terrington) Slater, of Matlock.
Cemetery: Matlock (St. Giles) Churchyard
Grave Reference: Plot 1. Row 12. Grave 13.
Educated at Ernest Bailey's Secondary School. He had been Great
Britain's youngest glider pilot before the war and had been a gliding
enthusiast since boyhood (his father had built the "Golden
Wren" sail plane, with two others). He had gained his Fleet
Air Arm wings in Canada only three months before his death ("Derby
Daily Telegraph", 19 Oct 1942). |
STAFFORD, Wilfred
Born Snitterton 20 Dec 1907
Died 9 Sep 1944, aged 36
Private 1st Bn. Welch Regiment, Infantry
Service No: 4867007
ToW: Italy
s/o John Henry and Millicent (née Skidmore) Stafford, of
Matlock, who pre-deceased him. His brother Ernest also fell (see
Not on Memorial below). A painter and Decorator before the war,
he lived
at 8 Wilmot Street with three of his siblings.
Cemetery: Beach Head War Cemetery, Anzio
Grave/Memorial Reference: XIX. G. 11.
Anzio is a coastal town 70 kilometres south of Rome |
VALLANCE, Francis Beardsley
Born 6 Jan 1914
Died 20 Feb 1944
Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.) 514 Sqdn. Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service No: 1576668
s/o Albert and Florence (née Beardsley) Vallance - his father
died before the war. Francis was a Mineral Water Manufacturys Factory
Foreman and a Derbyshire special constable (No.236). He had married
Evelyn Fern at All Saints' in 1938. The family lived on Wilmot
Street.
Cemetery: Rheinberg War Cemetery
Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave 9. A. 14-16 |
VALLANCE, ROLAND
Born 1923
Died 30 Apr 1942, aged 19
Service: Royal Navy
Able Seaman H.M.S. Edinburgh
Service No: D/JX 163667
s/o John A. F. and Bertha (née Garner) Vallance, of Whitewood
Way, Matlock
Memorial: Plymouth Naval Memorial
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 66, Column 3.
"HMS Edinburgh served as escort during World War 2 for the
North Atlantic Convoys. On escort duty during the Russian Convoys
she was torpedoed by Uboat U456 while escorting Convoy QP11 on
May 2 1942, she was carrying 45 million in gold bullion."
See HMS Edinburgh website |
WALL, Cecil
Born 1909
Died 8 Mar 1943, aged 33
Captain 2/5th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), Infantry
Service No: 93167
ToW: North Africa
s/o Bertram and Jane Wall, of Matlock; husband of Shelley Clara
(née Vigors) Wall, of Matlock, mar 1936 at All Saints. A.C.I.S.,
A.C.W.A.
Grave/Memorial Reference: 3. C. 1.
Cemetery: Tabarka Ras Rajel War Cemetery
Tabarka is a coastal town on the Tunisian/Algerian border
London Gazette references:
- Issue 21 July 1939
5th Bn. Foresters-The undermentioned to be 2nd Lts. 22nd July 1939:-
Spr. Cecil WALL, from R.E.
|
WALTHALL, Cyril
Born 1912
Died 4 Feb 1944, aged 31
Aircraftman 2nd Class Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service No: 2202724
s/o Harry and Ada (née Britland) Walthall, of Matlock Bath; husband of Phyllis
Walthall, of Matlock.
Cemetery: Matlock (St. Giles) Churchyard
Grave Reference: Plot 3. Row 3. Grave 18 |
WHERRETT, Ralph
Norman Roy (known as Roy)
Born 18 Jan 1916 at Matlock.
Died 6 Jan 1943, aged 26
Flying Officer (Pilot) 500 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Service No: 122997
elder s/o Ralph and Margery (née Ollerenshaw) Wherrett,
of Matlock. Several siblings.
".. It is understood that he went to
Malta a few weeks ago, and on Saturday his parents received a
telegram from the Air Ministry stating that he had been killed
on operations, presumably in North Africa. On the same morning
they received a letter from him. Pilot Officer Wherrett, who
would have reached his 27th birthday on Monday next was one of
the first men in the Matlock district to join the R.A.F. Volunteer
Reserve Scheme, and was mobilised at the beginning of the war.
He was attached to Costal Command as a sergt. pilot, and did
much flying on patrol work over the Atlantic. On his promotion
to warrant officer he was engaged on instructional work for some
time. He was promoted to the rank of pilot last year. He had
a hair raising experience before the war, when his plane caught
fire in mid-air, but he succeeded in bringing it to the ground
safely. Pilot Officer Wherrett was educated at the Ernest Bailey
Secondary School, and afterwards became associated with his father
in the baking and confectionery business. He was one of the founder
players of the Matlock and District Table Tennis League, and
a league individual champion from its inception onwards, he was
first choice for the inter-town games with Buxton, Chesterfield
and Derby. He was also a member of the Matlock Cricket Club,
and a worshipper at Matlock Parish Church. His younger brother,
Tom, is in the R.A.F., and his sister, Joyce, is in the W.A.A.F."
(Killed on Operations. Derbyshire Times, 15 Jan 1943).
Shortly after the war ended he was described as having been "a
gallant young pilot" by another member of the R.A.F.
Volunteer Reserve Scheme, Joe Curran. The pair had travelled
to Derby together in 1939 (Derby Telegraph, 27 May 1946).
Cemetery: Dely Ibrahim War Cemetery, Algeria
Grave/Memorial Reference: 3. E. 13.
"Allied troops made a series of landings on the Algerian coast in early
November 1942. From there, they swept east into Tunisia." (CWGC) |
|
Photograph by W. N. Statham, Matlock |
Also commemorated St. Giles (with his parents) - see
the memorial and MI transcript.
 Tribute
to Roy: St Giles Parish Magazine, Feb 1943
London Gazette references:
- Issue 23 June 1942
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
General Duties Branch.
To be Plt. Offs. on prob. (emergency): -
Wt. Offs.
1st May 1942.
742504 Ralph Norman Roy WHERRETT (122997)
- Issue 8 January 1943
1st Nov 1942
Plt Offs. (prob ) to be Flg Offs on prob (war subs ) -
R N R WHERRETT (122997)
See his father's entry in the 1901
census transcript. His uncle is listed amongst the
WW1 casualties. |
WIBBERLEY, George Thomas
Born 1912
Died 24 Mar 1945, aged 32
Driver
Regiment/Service: Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Service No: 10592038
ToW: United Kingdom
s/o John William and Sophia Elizabeth (née Knowles) Wibberley,
of Matlock; husband of Doris Wibberley of Matlock.
Cemetery: Tansley Holy Trinity Churchyard |
WICKS, Robert John Swain (Bob)
Died 21 Jul 1941, aged 25
Sergeant 86 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service No: 751165
s/o Alfred R. and Gertrude Nellie Wicks; husband of Ellen (née
Cooper) Wicks, of Matlock. Bob married Ellen Cooper in 1938 at
the Independent Chapel in MB.
Memorial: Runnymede Memorial
Memorial Reference: Panel 54.
The Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede commemorates by name over
20,000 airmen who were lost in the Second World War during operations
from bases in the United Kingdom and North and Western Europe,
and who have no known graves.
See pre war photos |
WILDGOOSE, Frank Brian Harris
Born 1921
Sergeant 51 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Died 15 Aug 1941, aged 20
Service No: 1169109
s/o Francis and Theodora M. (née Harris) Wildgoose, of Matlock
Memorial: Runnymede Memorial
Memorial Reference: Panel 54.
The Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede commemorates by name over
20,000 airmen who were lost in the Second World War during operations
from bases in the United Kingdom and North and Western Europe,
and who have no known graves. |
WILSON, Kenneth William
Born 1922
Died 23 Sep 1943, aged 21
Private 6th Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment, Infantry
Service No: 4984400
ToW: Italy
s/o William and Gertrude S (née Cable) Wilson, of Matlock
Cemetery: Salerno War Cemetery
Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. D. 41.
"On 3 September 1943 the Allies invaded the Italian mainland,
the invasion coinciding with an armistice made with the Italians
who then re-entered the war on the Allied side. Allied objectives
were to draw German troops from the Russian front and more particularly
from France, where an offensive was planned for the following year.
Commonwealth and American forces landed near Salerno on 8-9 September
1943 and there was fierce fighting for some days in the bridgehead
that they established." (CWGC) |
WOOD, Edward Kendall
Born 1921 Elton
Service: Royal Navy
Able Seaman, H.M.S. President III*
Died 9 Jul 1944, aged 23
Service No: D/JX 640297
s/o Edward and Margaret Wood, of Farley, Matlock. Mother formerly
Clay, née Knowles.
See GL Clay, Margaret's
first husband, who was killed in WW1. Also
see brother Joseph immediately below.
Memorial: Plymouth Naval Memorial
Memorial Reference: Panel 87, Column 3.
*The Wood brothers worked first at Smedley's as gardeners and then
later for themselves as timber fellers. They were always very close
and joined up together; Joe put in a request that they should remain
together in the Navy. Whilst H.M.S. President was in the Indian
Ocean they were seconded to protect merchant ships. They were acting
as Gunners on SS. Shahzada when it was torpedoed. The lifeboats
were launched in heavy seas, but some did not survive the night.
Joe and Ted's parents received telegrams, delivered by the same
boy and within fifteen minutes of each other, saying their sons
were missing[AA]. |
WOOD, Joseph
Born Elton
Died 9 Jul 1944, aged 20
Service: Royal Navy
Able Seaman, H.M.S. President III*
Service No: D/JX 640312
s/o Edward and Margaret Wood, of Farley, Matlock. Mother formerly
Clay, née Knowles. See GL
Clay, Margaret's
first husband , who was killed in WW1. Also see brother Edward
immediately above
Memorial: Plymouth Naval Memorial
Memorial Reference: Panel 87, Column 3.
*The Wood brothers worked first at Smedley's as gardeners and then
later for themselves as timber fellers. They were always very close
and joined up together; Joe put in a request that they should remain
together in the Navy. Whilst H.M.S. President was in the Indian
Ocean they were seconded to protect merchant ships. They were acting
as Gunners on SS. Shahzada when it was torpedoed. The lifeboats
were launched in heavy seas, but some did not survive the night.
Joe and Ted's parents received telegrams, delivered by the same
boy and within fifteen minutes of each other, saying their sons
were missing[AA]. |
WOOLLEY, Albert Ernest
Born 1926
Died 1 Jan 1945, aged 18
Private 1st Bn. Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment)
Service No: 14777346
ToW: Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45
s/o Albert and Maud (née Hodgkins) Woolley, of Matlock
Cemetery: Hotton War Cemetery
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. D. 9.
Hotton is located south of Liege on the N86. The village of Hotton
was the western limit of the great German counter offensive in
the Ardennes in January 1945 |
YOUNG, Harold
Born 1914
Died 29 May 1941, aged 27
Private 2nd Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment, Infantry
Service No: 4972518
ToW: Middle East
s/o Mr. Charles Henry and Mrs. Annie Elizabeth (née Allen) Young, of Matlock.
Residence: Sheffield
Memorial: Athens Memorial
Memorial Reference: Face 7.
The Athens Memorial stands within Phaleron War Cemetery and commemorates
nearly 3,000 members of the land forces of the Commonwealth who
lost their lives during the campaigns in Greece and Crete in 1941 |
|
| More about those whose names are not
on the Memorial |
BOWLER, Wilfred James[1]
Born Starkholmes 1922, later lived Hooley's Estate
Died 15 Jan 1945, aged 22
Service: Royal Navy
Able Seaman, H.M.S. Thane
Service No: P/JX161662
Husband of Daphne Joyce Bowler, of Romford, Essex.
Cemetery: Matlock (St. Giles) Churchyard.
Grave Reference: Plot 4. Row 4. Grave 10.
H.M.S. Thane was approaching the Clyde Light Ship when it was
torpedoed by the U Boat U-1172 on 15th January[4].
For years the U Boat was believed to have been U-482, but that
had been lost some months before.
His name was initially omitted from the Darley Dale memorial,
but was added in 2002 thanks to the efforts of three people,
including his sister. There is a small plaque with his name on
it. See
Darley
Dale War Memorial |
ENGSTROM, Vaughan Gothrick Welsby
Born Rangitumau, Wairarapa, New Zealand August 9th 1913[6]
Died 16 Feb 1943, aged 29
Flight Lieutenant (Flying Instr.), Royal Air Force
Service No: 41687
s/o Carl Gothrick Engstrom and Ellen Mabel Engstrom; husband of Hilda Engstrom (née Bennett), of Matlock.
They mar at the Congregational Church, Matlock Bank, Matlock
October 17th 1941. Vaughan, a very popular instructor, killed
in a flying accident outside Desford. The student pilot, Sgt
Williamson (Canadian), was also killed. Twin daughters born
only 1 month before his death. Family lived in the back portion
of Huntbridge House as Hilda cared for Professor J. Fletcher
Ray (an author best known for the book "The hand that
drove the nails"). Hilda stayed until the Professor's
death sometime between 1943-1946. According to Hilda, the Professor
treated Vaughan like a son and was devastated when he was killed[6].
Cemetery: Ibstock Cemetery
Grave Reference: Row W.3. Grave 1
London Gazette references:
- Issue 27 October 1939
The undermentioned Acting Pilot Officers on probation are
graded as Pilot Officers on probation. 23rd Sept. 1939:
-
Vaughan Gothrik Welsby ENGSTROM (41687).
- Issue 19 January 1940
28th Dec. 1939.
The undermentioned Pilot Officers on probation are confirmed in their appointments on the dates stated: -
Vaughan Gothrik Welsby ENGSTROM (41687)
- Issue 14 October 1941
Fig. Offs. to be Fit. Lts. (war subs.): -
23rd Sept. 1941.
V. G. W. ENGSTROM (41687)
|
STAFFORD, Ernest
Born 27 Feb 1913
Died 14 Mar 1944, aged 31
Private 14th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), Infantry
Service No: 4981966
ToW: Italy
s/o John Henry and Millicent (née Skidmore) Stafford, of
Matlock, who pre-deceased him; husband of Emily Harriet (née
Slack) Stafford, of Matlock. They mar at Wensley (South Darley)
St Mary in 1940. In 1935 his name was published in "The
London Gazette" announcing he was a Matlock postman. His
brother Wilfred also fell (see above). Before the war he lived
at 8 Wilmot Street with three of his siblings, including Wilfred.
Cemetery: Beach Head War Cemetery, Anzio
Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. A. 3
Anzio is a coastal town 70 kilometres south of Rome |
|
[1] Also commemorated on Darley
Dale War Memorial
[2] Also commemorated on the Matlock
Bath War Memorial
[3] Also commemorated on Bonsall's War Memorial
[4] A
History of HMS Thane - the ship was approaching the Clyde Light
Ship when it was torpedoed, so was not anchored in the
Firth of Clyde as had been previously believed.
[5] With many thanks to Di Abelwhite of
Farndon Archaeological Research & Investigations for providing
the webmistress with his obituary notice
[6] Additional information provided by
Vaughan Engstrom's grandson, Peter, in New Zealand. With grateful
thanks
[AA] Information from research by the webmistress
and correspondence with Keith Taylor about material for his book.
Also see:
[KT]
Taylor, Keith (2002), "Darley Dale Remembered Through 50
Years of War and Peace", ISBN 1 898941 79 3, Country Books,
Little Longstone, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1NN
Some of the names above are also commemorated on other memorials.
 Matlock St Giles - MIs in the church
where there is a Book of Memory to the men who died in WW2
|
With very grateful thanks to my husband for taking photographs of the names on the memorial for me to list here.
If you know any more about the above men, I would very much like
to hear from you. Please email and in the
subject line write Matlock War Memorial. Thank you.
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