Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget
British Legion
The Royal British Legion


EAST GRINSTEAD WORLD WAR 2 MEMORIALS

World War 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © John Harrison 2006

East Grinstead is a market town in West Sussex, the most easterly town in the county. There are two memorials for World War Two. One is at the parish church of St Swithuns. The other is at the offices of East Grinstead council at East Court and was dedicated in 1950. It is in three sections, the right hand one being for the civilian casualties from the bombing raid of 9th July 1943 (See separate listing). Above the three sections is the dedication. ** Please Note ** World War 1 casualties are listed separately.

To the Glory of God and in ever grateful memory of the men of East Grinstead
who gave their lives in the Great War 1939-45’.

This is very similar wording to the First World War memorial in the High Street. The memorials list the following. The ones that only appear at East Court are marked with a *. The list of names is followed by the researched details for each man.

1939-1945

ALLEN

Charles W

HMS HOOD

24/5/41

AVERY

Frederick E

8 K R I HUSSARS

20/11/41

BALL

David G

4 R SUSSEX

27/10-28/10/42

BAKER

Frederick A

17 BN SX HOME GUARD

5/10/41

*

BAKER

Sydney Warden

RASC

18/10/41

BEETON

Alexander J

1 ROYAL SUSSEX

22/11/41

BRISTOW

Donald

POSS 427 SQN RAF

13/6/44

BROOKER

Stanley F

1/4 HANTS

22/4/43

BUCKLAND

Ted E

*

BURRIS

Arthur R H

1 IRISH GUARDS

23/4/43

CARPENTER

George A L 'Dick'

6 ROYAL SUSSEX

20/5-12/6/40

CARTER

Norman W J

RAFVR

24/9/45

CARTER

William J

CHILLMAN

Peter

75 SQN RAF

28/4/44

COOPER

William J

5 R SUSSEX

2/11/42

*

CROSS

Frederick W S

RAFVR

8/2/44

CURTIS

Harold

RE

31/10/40

CURTIS

Percy

1 R SUSSEX

17/5/44

CURTIS

William

R SIGS

10/7/44

DARNELL

George T

HMS ROYAL OAK

14/10/39

DAVIS

Alan W

YORK & LANCS

22/11/44

DERIC

Percival L

DICKER

Jim

1 R IRISH FUSILIERS

6/10/43

EDYE

David V

142 SQN RAF

30/4/43

ELLIOT

Sydney

6 R SUSSEX

22/5/40

FOSSLEITNER

Louis V

149 SQN RAF

10/11/42

FRENCH

Eric P Y

48 SQN RAF

28/10/39

FUNNELL

Arthur J

COUNTY OF LON YEO

1/9/42

GLADWIN

Roy W

HEASMAN

Frederick J

RA

4/6/40

HEMSLEY

George E

HMS EGRET

27/8/43

HILLS

Nelson J

RA

14/3/45

HOLMAN

Wallace G

1 R SUSSEX

17/4/41

HUTCHINGS

Victor

JEFFERSON

Eric V

HMS SAKER II

4/8/42

LUXFORD

Sydney

RA

29/11/43

MADGWICK

Arthur

5 WILTS

15/2/45

MANVILL

John A

MASON

Frederick D

75 SQN RAF

16/8/43

MITCHELL

Harold

166 SQN RAF

17/11/43

MORRIS

Cecil

R SIGS

25/1/44

PALMER

Albert J

1/5 THE QUEEN'S

8/9/41

PARSLOE

Henry E

500 SQN

1/4/44

POTTER

John A H

18 SQN RAF

25/2/40

RICHARDSON

Donald F

RA

24/3/45

*

ROGERS

Lawrence William

12 Sqn RAFVR

22/10/41

ROBERTS

Jack

ROWE

Edward J

427 SQN RAF

21/2/44

SIMMONS

Cyril J

1/6 E SURREY

12/5/44

SLOMAN

Douglas

1 R SUSSEX

23/5/41

SLOMAN

Ernest

6 KOSB

1/8/44

TERRY

Sidney R

RAPC

11/10/40

TRUSCOTT

Thomas O

467 SQN RAF

18/1/43

UNDERWOOD

Karl M

1 R BERKS

18/3/45

UNDERWOOD

Sydney H

POSS RA

20/11/44

WELLS

William H

9 SQN RAF

25/6/44

WEEKS

Frederick E

7 R SUSSEX

18/5/40

WEST

George E

*

WESTOBY

Trevor J H

157 SQN RAFVR

12/4/45

WHEELER

George H

WHEELER

Ivor G

HMS PRESIDENT III

11/12/41

WHITE

Deric J

RAFVR

25/6/42

*

WILKINS

Ronald C

RA

20/7/40

WILLIAMS

Ernest T

148 REGT RAC

30/8/44

WILLIAMS

Percival L

RE

26/2/42

WOODCOCK

Albert W

622 SQN RAF

20/1/44

WOOLGAR

George W

CGWC Burials at Mount Noddy Cemetery, East Grinstead that are not included on the War Memorial

BUCKLAND

George

RAFVR

9/10/42

CREEDY

Wilfred Columb Augustine

2 KRRC

29/3/40

CROSS

Herbert Francis

RAFVR

8/11/42

GROOMBRIDGE

Arthur Joseph

RASC

27/10/45

HANCOX

Robert Winstone

RASC

2/10/40

Researched details of those above

ALLEN

Charles W

Charles William Allen, Leading Seaman P/J 101955, HMS Hood, Royal Navy. Born about 1905. Son of Charles William and May Allen. Husband of Edith Nora Allen of 44, Queen's Road, East Grinstead. Died 24th May 1941 when HMS Hood was sunk by the German battleship 'Bismarck'. Commemorated on Panel 46, Column 3 of the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. He had served in the Royal Navy for 18 years.

AVERY

Frederick Edwin

Sergeant 555482, 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars. Born about 1917. Son of John and Mabel Avery of East Grinstead. Died 20th November 1941. Commemorated on Column 17 of the Alamein Memorial

BALL

David George

Lance Sergeant 6088912 4th Bn Royal Sussex Regiment Born about 1914. Son of Albert and Nellie Ball. Husband of Eleanor Annie Ball of East Grinstead. Died between 27th and 28th October 1942 during the Second Battle of El Alamein. Buried in Grave XXII H 1 in El Alamein War Cemetery.

BAKER

Frederick Arthur

Sergeant 17th Sussex (East Grinstead) Bn, Home Guard Born about 1896. Son of George and Elizabeth Baker. Husband of Victoria Baker of 85, West Street, East Grinstead and later of Tonbridge, Kent. Died of wounds 5th October 1941. Buried in Section 4, Grave 3 of Mount Noddy Cemetery, East Grinstead. Served in the First World War. He was watching a army demonstration of explosives at Handcross from about 150 - 200 yards away when he was hit in the left shoulder and chest by material from the explosion. His son, Roy, also a Home Guard member, was there and saw it happen. It was declared an accidental death.

BAKER

Sidney Warden

Driver T/145954, Royal Army Service Corps Born about 1918. Son of Thomas James and Margaret Baker of 22, Arthur Road, Horsham. Died 18th October 1941, Buried in Section 4, Grave 4 in East Grinstead (Mount Noddy) Cemetery. Also commemorated on the Horsham War Memorial He had a motor cycle accident in August 1941 at Blackwell Farm, East Grinstead and died from the long term effects.

BEETON

Alexander James

Private 6011028, 1st Bn Royal Sussex Regiment Born about 1916. Son of the late James and of Janet Beeton of 11, College Lane, East Grinstead and, later, of Plumstead London. His father served in the 1st Bn Essex Regiment during the First World War and died of wounds about 1932. Alexander was educated at Great Wakering, Essex and came to East Grinstead in 1938. Killed in action 22nd November 1941. Buried in Grave 6 E 1 in Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery, Libya. He is listed on both war Memorials as 'Beaton'.

BRISTOW

Donald

Donald Alexander Bristow, Sergeant(Flight Engineer) 135973, 427 (RCAF) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Died 13th July 1944. Buried in Grave 2 H 2 in Calais Canadian War Cemetery, Leubringhen. 427 was a Canadian squadron. Formed at Croft, County Durham in November 1942, the squadron was based at Leeming from May 1943 as part of 6 (RCAF) Group. The squadron converted to the Handley Page Halifax the same month, flying the Mark V version until March 1944 when it was re-equipped with the Mark III. Two aircraft were lost on a raid to Arras as part of the post D-Day support. They were LV995 & LW135.

BROOKER

Stanley Frank

Private 6412016, 1/4th Bn Hampshire Regiment Born about 1923. Son of Charles Benjamin and Rose Brooker of East Grinstead. Husband of Evelyn Ruby Brooker of East Grinstead. Died 22nd April 1943. Buried in Massicault War Cemetery, Tunisia.

BUCKLAND

Thomas 'Ted' Edwin

Private 6347389, 9th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). Died on the on the Gothic Line, Italy, 14th September 1944. Aged 25. Son of Thomas "Ted" Edwin (deceased) and Harriett Buckland, and stepson of George Brown, of Forest Row, Sussex. Formerly Wessex Regiment. Previously Private 6347389, 1st Battalion, Royal Wessex and fought in North Africa and was at Cape Bon, his address given in letters in 1943 was Pte T E Buckland, M/C HQ Coy 1st R W K, B.N.A.F. Buried in Montecchio War Cemetery, Italy. Plot II. Row G. Grave 4.

BURRISS

Arthur Reginald Husten

Lance Sergeant 2718002, 1st Bn Irish Guards Born about 1915. Son of Robert and Edith Frances Burriss. Husband of Bettie Burriss of East Grinstead. Died 23rd April 1943. Commemorated on Face 13 of the Medjez-El-Bab Memorial, Tunisia.

CARPENTER

George Alfred Leslie

Private 6401706, 6th Bn Royal Sussex Regiment. Born about 1920. Son of Leonard Carpenter and of daisy Evelyn Carpenter of 21, The Close and later of Brooklands Way, East Grinstead. Listed on both War Memorials as 'Dick Carpenter'. The CGWC note he died between 20th May and 12th June 1940. A report in the local newspaper notes that his platoon commander stated he was missing after an engagement with enemy tanks west of Amiens on 20th May. Originally 'missing', in May 1941 his death was confirmed. He is buried in Plot 9, Row 6, Grave 12 in Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension.

CARTER

Norman William John

Aircraftman 1st Class, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Born about 1921. Son of Charles William and Esther Mary Carter of East Grinstead. Died 24th September 1945. Buried in Section 4, Grave 9 in Mount Noddy Cemetery, East Grinstead.

CARTER

William J

No further information currently available

CHILMAN

Peter Ernest

Flying Officer (Air Gunner) 155993, 75 (N.Z) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Died with his crew 28th April 1944. Buried in Collective Grave 4 C 1-7 in Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany. 75 Squadron flew Avro Lancaster heavy bombers. On 27th April, Peter and his crew flew on a raid to Friedrickshafen in Lancaster ND796. This was a long flight to near the Austrian border in order to bomb factories making tank engines and gearboxes. The night was clear and they flew in moonlight. There were no losses until they reached the target when the nightfighters arrived and 20 Lancaster were lost. The raid was the most damaging on tank production of the war.

COOPER

William John

Private 6407037, 5th (Cinque Ports) Bn Royal Sussex Regiment Born 4th December 1913. Third son of Horace and Ethel Cooper of 110, Queen's Road, East Grinstead. Husband of Valerie Edith Cooper of 26, Knowle Grove, East Grinstead. Killed in action 2nd November 1942 during the Second Battle of El Alamein. Buried in Grave XVIII F 17 in El Alamein War Cemetery.

CROSS

Frederick William Samuel

Sergeant 920444, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Born about 1909. Son of the late Ernest Donald and of Christiana Emily Beatrice Cross of 31, The Green, Halsford Croft, East Grinstead. Husband of Ruth Mary Cross (daughter of Mr & Mrs C R Webber of Balcombe) of East Grinstead. Married in December 1941 Died 8th February 1944. Buried in the churchyard of St Mary's, Balcombe. An Air Gunner, he volunteered for the RAF in 1939. Served on a night fighter squadron until 1941, then inured in a crash. Became an airfield controller until being killed in the UK.

CURTIS

Harold

Sapper 1888425, 2 Bomb DisposalSection, Royal Engineers. Born about 1916. Son of Frederick and Florrie Curtis of 'Trevone', Copthorne Road, Felbridge, Surrey. Died 31st October 1940. Buried in the churchyard of St John the Divine, Felbridge. Died in a motor cycle accident

CURTIS

Percy

Private 6402842, 1st Bn Royal Sussex Regiment Born about 1920. Son of Albert and Bessie Curtis of East Grinstead. Died 17th May 1944. Buried in Grave V B 16 in Sangro River War Cemetery, Italy. Brother of William Curtis (below)

CURTIS

William

Signalman 6400350, 78th Divisional Signals, Royal Corps of Signals. Born about 1921. younger son of Albert and Bessie Curtis of East Grinstead. Died 10th July 1944. Buried in Grave I B 31 in Rome War Cemetery, Italy. Brother of Percy Curtis (above) The family lost the two sons in under eight weeks.

DARNELL

George Thomas

Boy 1st Class P/JX 158214, HMS Royal Oak, Royal Navy Born about 1922. Son of Herbert and Ethel Bessie Darnell Died 14th October 1939. Commemorated on Panel 34, Column 1 of the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. George has the unfortunate distinction of not only been the first casualty of the war, but also the youngest. HMS Royal Oak was a First World War battleship stationed in Scapa Flow at the beginning of the war. The German submarine, U-47, managed to get between the blockships and torpedoed her. 833 members of her crew were lost.

DAVIS

Alan Walter

Company Quartermaster Sergeant 5571562, The Hallamshire Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment. Born about 1919. Died 22nd November 1944. Buried in Grave IV D 11 in Venray War Cemetery, Netherlands. The battalion spent two years in Iceland and then took part in the invasion of North Western Europe, landing in France just after D Day.

DERIC

Percival L

No further information currently available

DICKER

James Nicholas

Fusilier 5681983, 1st Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers Born about 1922. Foster son of Agnes Howick of East Grinstead. Died 6th October 1943. Buried in Grave VIII C 45 in Sangro River war Cemetery, Italy

EDYE

David Vincent

Sergeant (Air Bomber) 1385460, 142 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Born about 1923. Son of Brigadier John Henry Murray DSO, OBE, MC and his wife Dorothy Alexandra of East Grinstead. Brigadier Murray served in the York and Lancaster Regiment and became Director of Labour at the War Office after the Second World War. Died 30th April 1943. Buried in Grave 12 H 25 in El Alia Cemetery, Algeria. 142 Squadron flew Vickers Wellington medium bombers.

ELLIOTT

Sidney Charles

Private 6th Bn Royal Sussex Regiment. Born about 1910. Son of John Henry and Eleanor Annie Elliott Died 22nd May 1940. Buried in Plot 3, Row A, Grave 17 in Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension, Bailleul, France.

FOSSLEITNER

Louis Victor

Sergeant (Observer) 912925, 149 (East India) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Born about 1918. Son of Alois Fossleitner and of Daisy Fossleitner of 16, Frith Park, East Grinstead. Recorded in the East Grinstead Courier as 'Victor Louie Fossleitner'. Died 10th November 1942. Buried in Section 4, Grave 6 in Mount Noddy Cemetery, Est Grinstead. 149 Squadron was based at Lakenheath in Suffolk and flew Short Stirling Mark 1 heavy bombers. On 19th September 1942 in Stirling BF334 flown by Flight Sergeant John Philip took off for a raid on Hamburg. The conditions were terrible, with rain, heavy cloud, icing and unforecast strong winds. Having bombed the target the aircraft set out on the return journey, but the strength of the winds meant they ran out of fuel over the channel and had to ditch off Margate. The aircraft broke up and five crew members escaped. The Pilot and front Gunner, Sergeant Reardon, attempted to swim to shore taking the Mid Upper Gunner, Sgt King with him. They was picked up by a fishing boat 3 1/2 hours later, but King had died. Fossleitner stayed behind on a section of wing that had remained afloat to look after the wireless operator who had broken his back and supported him for 2 1/2 hours until they were found by an air sea rescue launch. Philip, Reardon and Fossleitner were all awarded the British Empire Medal. The details were published in the London Gazette on 29th September 1942. Unfortunately Louis Fossleitner had died seven weeks earlier. On the night of 10th November he was a crew member in Stirling W7582, Code Letters OJ-S which took off from Mildenhall on a training flight under the command of Squadron Leader Hutchings DFC. A fire broke out in the starboard outer engine and the aircraft crashed just east of Kingsway Road, Mildenhall. It was probably trying to make an emergency landing at RAF Mildenhall. All the crew were killed.

FRENCH

Eric Percy

Aircraftman 2nd Class 614356, 48 Squadron, Royal Air Force Born about 1920. Son of Mr & Mrs Percy James French of East Grinstead. Died 28th October 1939. Buried in Section 3, Consecrated Grave 189 in Mount Noddy Cemetery, east Grinstead. The Squadron was based at Thorney Island in Hampshire. It was equipped with Avro Ansons and flew reconnaissance and anti shipping patrols.

FUNNELL

Arthur James

Corporal 7902786, 4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters). Born about 1915. Son of Horace Funnell and of Alice Funnell of Wallisdown, Bournemouth, Dorset. Died 1st September 1942. Buried in Grave XXIX G 7 in El Alamein War Cemetery. Served in 'A' Company

GLADWIN

Roy Walter

Able Seaman P/JX 235813, HMS 'Pozarica; Royal Navy Born about 1922. Son of Mr W H and Mrs Eleanor M Gladwin of 65, London Road, East Grinstead. Served in Home Guard before joining the Navy, Father was a platoon officer in the Home Guard. Killed in action 39th January 1943. Commemorated on Panel 74, Column 3 of the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Pozarica was an Auxiliary Anti Aircraft ship converted from a merchant vessel in 1940. Initial used to escort coastal convoys on the west coast, she formed part of the escort to the Russian convoy PQ17 in July 1942. Following that she went to North Africa for Operation 'Torch', the invasion in November 1942. On29th January 1943, while on escort duty off Algeria she was hit in the stern by a torpedo from a German aircraft. Despite being towed into Bougie harbour efforts to save her were eventually unsuccessful and she sank on 13th February.

HEASMAN

Frederick James

Lieutenant 104311, Royal Artillery. Born about 1892. Son of Henry and Eliza Dinah Heasman of East Grinstead. Lived at Southwick Cottage, Lingfield Road, East Grinstead. Served as the Transport Officer to the 3rd Bn Grenadier Guards in the First World War. Awarded the Military Cross and 'Mentioned in Despatches', ended the war as a Captain. On 2nd September 1939 he was granted a temporary short service commission as a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery. On 4th June 1940, while serving in the 'West Country' he died of Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis. He was buried on 14th June 1940 in Section 1, Grave 33 at Mount Noddy Cemetery, east Grinstead.

HEMSLEY

George Edwin

Able Seaman P/JX 179163, HMS Egret, Royal Navy Born about 1916. Son of George and Emily Elizabeth Hemsley of East Grinstead. Died 27th August 1943.Commemorated on Panel 74, Column 3 of the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. HMS Egret was a modified 'Black Swan' class frigate. She was part of the 1st Support Group in the Bay of Biscay which was attacked by 18 Dornier 217E-5 bombers from KG II/100 carrying HS293 guided bombs. Egret was hit in the stern by one of this bombs causing a fire. This fire soon reached the aft magazine which exploded. The ship then capsized and sank and all 194 members of the crew were killed. It was the first ship to be sunk by a guided missile. Aboard Egret was a group of scientists, aware of the weapon, who attempted unsuccessfully to jam the radio control signals. A further attack damaged the Canadian destroyer HMCS Athabaskan.

HILLS

Nelson John

Gunner 1653876, 21 Light Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery Died 14th March 1943. Commemorated on Panel 3 of the Yokohama Cremation Memorial, Japan. He was a Prisoner of War who died and was cremated in Japan.

HOLMAN

Wallace George

Private 6404025, 1st Bn Royal Sussex Regiment Born about 1917. Son of Gilbert and Ellen Grace Holman of Horsted Keynes. Husband of Margaret Ann (Nee Starr) of Forest View Road, East Grinstead and later of Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. Died of Diptheria in Sudan 17th April 1941. Buried in Grave 2 D 14 in Khartoum War Cemetery, Sudan.

HUTCHINGS

Victor

No further information currently available

JEFFERSON

Eric Vincent

Sub-Lieutenant (A), HMS Saker II, Royal Navy Born about 1922. Son of Lawrence Trail Gray and his wife Adelaide, of 'Hampton Cottage, High Street, East Grinstead. Educated in East Grinstead, he was a member of the Scouts and East Grinstead Rugby Football Club. He worked for East Grinstead Council. Died in the USA on 4th August 1942, probably while undergoing aircrew training. Buried in Section F, Lot 10, Grave in Evergreen Memorial Park, Portsmouth, Virginia, USA.

LUXFORD

Sydney Harold

Gunner 1746273, 241 Battery, 77 Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery Born about 1907. Son of Mr & Mrs E W Luxford of East Grinstead. Husband of Mary Luxford of East Grinstead. Died as a Prisoner of War 29th November 1943. Commemorated on Column 24 of the Singapore Memorial.

MADGWICK

Arthur

Private 14684120, 5th Bn Wiltshire Regiment Born about 1925. Son of George William and Beatrice Madgwick of East Grinstead. Died 15th February 1945. Buried in Grave 57 C 1 in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.

MANVELL

John Alfred

[Spelt MANVILL on memorial] Private 6088918, 2nd Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. Died 8th August 1944. Aged 22. Son of Albert Edward and Florence Louisa Manvell, of East Grinstead, Sussex. Buried in Florence War Cemetery, Italy. Plot V Row G Grave 4.

MASON

Frederick David

Sergeant 1230433, 75 (NZ) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Died 16th August 1943. Commemorated on Panel 158 of the Runnymede Memorial

MITCHELL

Harold

Flying Officer 150116, 166 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Born about 1923 in East Grinstead.. Son of Jack Harold Mitchell and Eunice Ivy Mitchell (Nee Price) of 'Cestria', West Hill, East Grinstead. Went to school at Tonbridge, then joined the Air Training Corps while he was working for his father at the auctioneers, Turner, Rudge & Turner of East Grinstead. Joined the RAF in October 1941 and trained in Canada. Died 17th November 1943 and commemorated on Panel 27 of the South London Crematorium, Streatham Vale, Mitcham, Surrey. He was a pilot of an Avro Lancaster heavy bomber based at Kirmington, Lincolnshire. His aircraft was on a test flight with the squadron engineering officer aboard. The aircraft crashed killing five members of the crew, but the engineering officer survived.

MORRIS

Cecil

Signalman 2354987, 18th Divisional Signals, Royal Corps of Signals Born about 1910. Son of Herbert and May Morris. Husband of Emily Selina Morris of East Grinstead. A Prisoner of War. He died on 25th January 1944 and is buried in Grave 3 E 3 in Chunkai War Cemetery, Thailand. This is about 3 miles west of the main camp on the River Kwai at Kanchanaburi.

PALMER

Albert James

Private 6085463, 1/5th Bn The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey Born about 1917. Son of Reginald Stephen and Mary Palmer of East Grinstead. Died 8th September 1941. Buried in Section 3, Consecrated Grave 299 in Mount Noddy Cemetery, East Grinstead.

PARSLOE

Henry Ernest

Warrant Officer 1271920, 500 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Born about 1922. Son of Stanley Heath and Dorothy Ethel Parsloe of Holtye. Died 1st April 1944. Commemorated on Panel 13, Column 2 of the Malta Memorial. 500 Squadron was based in Algeria flew Lockheed Hudsons on Anti Submarine patrols.

POTTER

John Abraham Humphries

Sergeant (Observer) 562838, 18 Squadron, Royal Air Force Born about 1911. Son of Charles and Amy Potter. Husband of Enid Elsie Potter (Nee Phillips)of 'Criaigcolla', London Road, East Grinstead. Died 25th February 1940. Buried on 7th March 1940 in Section 3, Consecrated Grave 210 in Mount Noddy Cemetery, East Grinstead. 18 Squadron flew Bristol Blenheim Mk IV light bombers. The crew took off from France in L1444 on a reconnaissance flight over Germany and John Potter was responsible for taking the photographs. The aircraft was damaged by enemy action over Germany and crash landed near North Coates in Lincolnshire on its return. The pilot, Flying Officer Monette, was injured, the Gunner, Leading Aircraftman Whitehall was safe, but John Potter was killed.

RICHARDSON

Donald Fraser

Gunner 14208188, 4 Airlanding Anti- Tank Battery, Royal Artillery Born about 1916. Husband of Doris Ivy Richardson of East Grinstead. Died 24th March 1945. Commemorated on Panel 2 of the Groesbeek Memorial

ROBERTS

Jack

No further information currently available

ROGERS

Lawrence William

Sergeant (Observer) 923086, 12 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Born about 1921. Son of Charles Harry and Florrie Rogers of 'St Guthia, Windmill Lane, East Grinstead. Trained in Canada. Died 22nd October 1941. Buried in Section 4 Grave 5 in Mount Noddy Cemetery, East Grinstead. The squadron was based at Binbrook, Lincolnshire and flew Vickers Wellington Mk II medium bombers. The squadron flew a mission to the German port of Bremen in W5393. On it's return the aircraft crashed into a row of married quarters at Binbrook while trying to land.

ROWE

Edward John

Sergeant (Flight Engineer) 1271023, 427 (RCAF) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Born about 1922. Son of Alfred James and Margaret Rowe of East Grinstead. Died 21st February 1944. Buried in Section 1, Grave 453 in Mount Noddy Cemetery, East Grinstead. 427 was a Canadian squadron. Formed at Croft, County Durham in November 1942, the squadron was based at Leeming from May 1943 as part of 6 (RCAF) Group. The squadron converted to the Handley Page Halifax the same month, flying the Mark V version until March 1944 when it was re-equipped with the Mark III.

SIMMONS

Cyril James

Private 14651514, 1/6th Bn East Surrey Regiment Born about 1924. Son of Alfred and Jessie Harriet Simmons of East Grinstead Died 12th May 1944. Buried in Grave I D 1 in Cassino War Cemetery, Italy.

SLOMAN

Douglas George

Private 6403894, 1st Bn Royal Sussex Regiment. Born about 1916. Son of William Henry and Kate Dorothy Sloman of East Grinstead. Died of illness 23rd May 1941. Buried in Grave XII C 10 in El Alamein war Cemetery

SLOMAN

Ernest James

Private 14424553, 6th Bn King's Own Scottish Borderers Born about 1945. Son of Arthur and Winifred Sloman of Hillingdon Heath, Middlesex Died 1st August 1944. Buried in Grave VIII E 1 in Tilly-Sur-Seulles war Cemetery, Normandy

TERRY

Sidney Ronald

Private 7673484, Royal Army Pay Corps. Born about 1913. Younger son of Harry Cecil and Alice Harriet Terry of 45. Lingfield Road, East Grinstead. Killed 11th October 1940. Buried in Section 4, Grave2 in Mount Noddy Cemetery, East Grinstead. He worked for the Treasurer's Department of East Grinstead Council and served in the Scots Guards before being transferred to the RAPC. He was killed by a bomb while at the house of his fiancée, Brenda Covington. He was the only person killed, but all the others in the house were wounded. On the War Memorial he is listed as 'Sydney Terry'.

TRUSCOTT

Thomas Oliver

Flying Officer 125301, 467 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Born about 1907. Son of Phyllis Truscott. Husband of Rita Ethel Truscott of East Grinstead. Died 18th January 1943. Commemorated on Panel 130 of the Runnymede Memorial. 467 Squadron was formed in November 1942. A year later it moved to Bottesford in Lincolnshire and flew Avro Lancaster heavy bombers. The crew took off in Lancaster W4378. Code Letters PO-N on a raid to Berlin. They never returned and nothing is known of the circumstances of their loss.

UNDERWOOD

Karl Mark

Lance Corporal 5346364, 1st Bn The Royal Berkshire Regiment Born about 1914. Son of Mark Francis and Edith Underwood. Husband of Vera Winnifred Underwood of East Grinstead. Died 18th March 1945. Buried in Grave 17 F 2 in Taukkyan War Cemetery, Burma (now Myanmar)

UNDERWOOD

Sydney Howard

Lance Bombardier 1097753, 126 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery Born about 1910. Son of John and Lilian Underwood of Manchester. Husband of Marjorie Underwood of Ardwick, Manchester. Died 20th November 1944. Buried in Venray War Cemetery.

WELLS

William Hubert

Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) 1600789, 9 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Born about 1921. Son of James and Florrie Wells of East Grinstead. Died 25th June 1944. Buried with other members of his crew in Plot 8, Row B, Collective grave 12 - 15 in Longuenesse Souvenir Cemetery, St Omer. The squadron was based at Bardney in Lincolnshire and few Avro Lancaster heavy bombers. The raid was on a flying bomb site and took place on a clear, moonlit night. Most casualties were due to nightfighters and the squadron lost three aircraft.

WEEKS

Frederick Ernest

Private 6402497, 7th Bn Royal Sussex Regiment Born about 1918. Son of James and Mary Ann Weeks. Husband of Joyce Lillian Alice Weeks of Felbridge. Died 18th May 1940 during the Battle of France. Buried in Plot 9, Row B, Grave 3 in Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension.

WEST

George E

No further information currently available

WESTOBY

Trevor John Hunter

Sergeant (Navigator/Wireless Operator) 1806456, 157 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Born about 1922. Son of Donovan Lord Westoby and his wife Gertrude Margaret of 'St Ives', Maypole Road, East Grinstead and later of Burton's Green, Essex. Joined the RAF in 1943 and trained in Canada. Died in a flying accident with his pilot, Flight Sergeant Moore on 12th April 1945. Buried in Grave 15505 in Cambridge City Cemetery. 157 Squadron was based at RAF Swannington and flew De Havilland Mosquito NF 30 night fighters on missions against German night fighters. In MM677, possibly on a training sortie, they crashed on fire near Feltwell in Norfolk.

WHEELER

George H

No further information currently available

WHEELER

Ivor George

Able Seaman P/JX 289252. HMS 'President III', Royal Navy Son of Bernard Gordon and Ethel May Wheeler of 22, Brooklands Way, East Grinstead. Died in an accident 11th December 1941/ Buried in Ward 5, Section A, in Ryhope Road Cemetery, Sunderland. 'HMS' President II' was not a ship, but the base that was responsible the naval gun crews allocated to merchant shipping. The merchant vessel that Ivor Wheeler was aboard as a Gun Layer had been rammed and towed to dry dock. Ivor slipped and fell into the dry dock. He was found with a fractured skull and it was declared an accidental death.

WHITE

Deric James

Sergeant 1257566, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Born about 1922. Son of Albert James White and his wife Florence, of East Grinstead. Died 25th June 1942 and commemorated on Panel 96 of the Runnymede Memorial.

WILKINS

Ronald Charles

Gunner 318664, 38 Light Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery Born about 1922. Son of John H Wilkins and his wife, Edith, of Emscote, Warwick. Buried in Section 164, Consecrated Grave 20 in Warwick Cemetery.

WILLIAMS

Ernest Thomas

Corporal 7884509, 148th (9th Bn The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) ) Royal Armoured Corps Born about 1913. Son of Frederick and Lucy Jane Williams. Husband of Alice May Williams of East Grinstead. Died 30th August 1944. Buried in Section 4, Grave 8 in Mount Noddy Cemetery, East Grinstead.

WILLIAMS

Percival Leonard

Sapper 1874254, 35 Fortress Company, Royal Engineers Born about 1918. Son of William Leonard and Louisa Williams of East Grinstead. Died during the fall of Singapore on 26th February 1942. Commemorated on Column 42 of the Singapore Memorial

WOODCOCK

Albert William

Sergeant 1338062, 622 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Born about 1922. Son of Edward and Ruth Woodcock. Husband of Mrs E J Woodcock of Lavington, Wiltshire. Died 20th January 1944. Commemorated on Panel 241 of the Runnymede Memorial. 622 Squadron had been formed in August 1943 and was based at Mildenhall in Suffolk flying Short Stirling heavy bombers.

WOOLGAR

George W

No further information currently available

CGWC Burials at Mount Noddy Cemetery, East Grinstead that are not included on the War Memorial

BUCKLAND

George

Sergeant (Air Gunner) 1320255, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Born about 1923. Son of Charles Victor and Alice Laura Buckland. Died 9th October 1942 Buried in Section 2, Grave 357.

CREEDY

Wilfred Columb Augustine

Corporal 6845406, 2nd Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps. Born about 1912. Son of Joseph Richard Ambrose and the late Gertrude Creedy. Husband of Dorothy Mabel Creedy (Nee Piddlesden) of 27, Lingfield Avenue, East Grinstead. He joined the army in 1934 and served in Palestine. Died 29th March 1940. Buried in Section 3, Consecrated Grave 215. Wilfred was accidentally shot by his friend, Rifleman L Webb, in his billet in Sturminster, Dorset and was buried on 12th April

CROSS

Herbert Francis

Leading Aircraftman 1861995, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Born about 1894. Son of Herbert Henry and Marion Cross. Husband of Ethel May Cross of East Grinstead. Died 8th November 1942. Buried in Section 3, Grave 367.

GROOMBRIDGE

Arthur Joseph

Staff Sergeant S/173289, Royal Army Service Corps. Born about 1916. Only son of Edward and Alice Groombridge of 9, Durkins Road, East Grinstead. Enlisted in February 1940, served in the Middle East. Died in Redhill Hospital after a road accident on 27th October 1945. Buried in Section 3, Consecrated Grave 589 on 1st November

HANCOX

Robert Winstone

Corporal T/163336, Royal Army Service Corps Died 2nd October 1940. Buried in Section 4, Grave 1.

Last updated 9 February, 2008

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