BANNER

Arthur

Private, 2nd/8th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. Service No 240716. Died aged 29 on 3rd December 1917. Son of Herbert Banner, 33 The Drive, Checketts Lane, Claines, Worcester, and the late Jane Banner. Cambrai Memorial, Louverval Panel 6. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

BARNARD

Hubert Earle

Private, 7th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry. Service No 37914. Died aged 21 on 29th June 1918. Son of Frederick M. and K. Maud Barnard, of Bevere Green Farm, Claines, Worcester. Berlin South-Western Cemetery III. C. 5. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church and Worcester Royal Grammar School memorial.

BRADLEY

William I. T.

No further information currently available. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church and Claines School memorial.

BROWN

Harry William

Private 50223, 16th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment formerly 31277, Worcestershire Regiment.. Killed in action 23 August 1918. Born Salwarpe, enlisted Worcester, resident Claines. Entitled to the British War and Victory Medals. In 1911 he was married to Arabella Syble Ena Brown (aged 30); he was aged 33, a Grocer, born Salwarpe, resident Fernhill Heath, North Claines. In 1901 he was living with his mother, Sarah, a widow, in Hanbury Road, Droitwich St Peter, Droitwich where he was a Grocer's Assistant, aged 23, born Salwarpe. His Lloyds Bank Book suggests he became the owner of a Fernhill Heath Grocers around May 1908 and the last entry re-purchases was 12 October 1912, the final entry was on 30 June 1914. He had married Arabella Gibbs on 24th Dec 1910 at Great Comberton. He had married Arabella Gibbs on 24 December 1910 at Great Comberton and the 1911 Census refers to their living at Fernhill Heath which was presumably in the shop premises. Buried in Adanac Military cemetery, Miraumont, Somme, France. Plot IV. Row E. Grave 36. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

BULLEN

Francis

No further information currently available. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

BULLOCK

Walter

Gunner, 61st Division Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery. Service No 846286. Died of wounds aged 23 on 21st July 1917.Born Claines, enlisted Worcester. Son of George and Ellen Bullock, Bilford Lane, Claines, Worcester. Bard Cottage Cemetery III. E. 5. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

BURROW

Arthur George

Private, "W" Company 4th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. Service No 39727. Died of wounds aged 23 on 5th November 1916. Born Martin Hussintree, enlisted Worcester, resident Claines. Son of Arthur and Mary Elizabeth Burrow, of Park Farm Cottages, Hallow, nr. Worcester. Formerly 2840, Worcestershire Yeomanry. Bois Guillaume Communal Cemetery II. B. 9. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

CARTLAND

George Trevor

Captain, Adjutant 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade. Died aged 23 on 1st July 1916. Son of George and Lilian Cartland, of Bevere Cottage, near Worcester. Serre Road Cemetery No.2 III. E. 14. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

CONN

Charles Henry

Private, 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. Service No 20063. Died of wounds aged 26 on 8th May 1916. Born Claines, enlisted Worcester. Son of Charles and Ann Conn, of Fernhill Heath, Worcester, husband of Edith Susannah Conn, 6 St Stephen St, Barbourne, Worcester. Native of Fernhill Heath. Etaples Military Cemetery V. C. 11A. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church and Claines School memorial.

CURTLER

Frederick Gwatkin Oldham

Photograph Copyright © Geoff Sansome 2005 www.clainesfriends.org.uk

Lieutenant, 5th Battalion attached 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. Died aged 22 on 21st October 1914. Son of Frederick Lewis Curtler and Nannie McClelland Curtler, of Bevere House, Worcester. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Addenda Panel 57. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church and on Worcester St Stephen memorial.

At dawn on 21st October 1914 the 2nd Worcestershire moved forward from the Pilckem ridge to the cross-roads of St Julien. After a long delay the advance continued but enemy firing caused many casualties and checked the advance. Fighting lasted all day with both sides endeavouring to gain ground. Lieutenant Curtler, a very brave young officer, was shot dead while directing the fire of his platoon during the battle around Langemarck. He was mentioned in despatches in the Gazette on 17th February 1915.

Source: The Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War by Captain H. FitzM. Stacke of the Regiment, 1928.

DIVERS

Percy John Gore

Lance Corporal, Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars (Worcester Yeomanry). Service No 325522. Died on 1st October 1916. Jerusalem Memorial Panel 3 & 5. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church and Worcester Cathedral Worcestershire Hussars memorial.

DOWDESWELL

Thomas

Sergeant, 11th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. Service No 9367. Died aged 40 on 25th April 1917. Son of Thomas and Harriet Dowdeswell, of Tibberton, Worcester; husband of Alice Mary Dowdeswell, Perdiswell Cottages, Droitwich Rd., Worcester. Doiran Memorial. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

GARLAND

Walter Richard

Corporal, Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars (Worcester Yeomanry). Service No 325422. Died aged 20 on 23rd April 1916. Son of Mr T. and Mrs K. Garland, of Hawbridge, Claines, Worcester. Jerusalem Memorial Panel 3 and 5. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church, Claines School memorial and Worcester Cathedral Worcestershire Hussars memorial.

HAINES

Cecil

No further information currently available. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

HAINES

Gerald

No further information currently available. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

HARDING

Gilbert John

Corporal, 1st/8th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. Service No 242407. Died 9th October 1917. Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 75 to 77. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

HOUGHTON

Harold

Rifleman, 1st/7th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own). Service No 54418. Killed in action aged 20 on 11th November 1917. Enlisted Worcester, resident Claines. Son of William and Harriet Houghton, 61 Checketts Lane, Worcester. Formerly 1389, Army Service Corps (Territorial). Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 75 to 77. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church and Worcester Guildhall memorial.

JONES

Harvey W

Private, 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Service No 17675. Died aged 23 on 16th September 1916. Son of Mrs Charlotte Jones, 63 Checketts Lane, Worcester. Claines (St John the Baptist) Churchyard Grave No 542. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church and Claines School memorial.

KNOTT

Robert Wallace

Private, 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars. Service No H/2699. Died aged 27 on 13th June 1915. Son of Edward and Elizabeth Knott. Born at Worcester. Perth Cemetery (China Wall) IV. K. 20. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church and Claines School memorial.

LOYNES

Harry Newton

Private, Army Service Corps. Service No M2/174561. Died aged 27 on 19th November 1916. Son of Mary and the late James Loynes; husband of Jane Maria Loynes, of 'Glencairn,' 17, Albany Terrace, Worcester. Born at Abberley. Wichenford (St. Lawrence) Churchyard North-East of Church. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

MUNN

Samuel

Private, 177th Company Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Service No 82823. Killed in action aged 29 on 3rd December 1917. Born and resident Claines, enlisted Worcester. Son of George and Alice Munn, 5 Whinfield Rd, Claines, Worcester; husband of Rose Letitia Munn, of School House, Mappleboro' Green, Redditch, Worcestershire. Formerly 5546, Worcestershire Regiment. Anneux British Cemetery IV. C. 38. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church and Claines School memorial.

MUNN

James

Sergeant, 2nd/8th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. Service No 240742. Died on 3rd December 1917. Cambrai Memorial, Louverval Panel 6. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church and Claines School memorial.

RANDLE

Ernest

Lance Corporal, 1st/8th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. Service No 242428. Died aged 22 on 27th August 1917. Son of J.E. and Emily Randle, 21 Henwick Rd, Worcester. Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 75 to 77. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church and Worcester St Matthew memorial.

SKILLERN

Samuel

Private, 'B' Company 10th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. Service No 17893. Died aged 20 on 3rd March 1916. Youngest son of William and Maria Skillern, of Worcestershire. Rue-Du-Bacquerot No.1 Military Cemetery, Laventie I. F. 15. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

STONE

George

Lance Corporal, 1st/8th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. Service No 242333. Killed in action in Italy aged 27 on 18th June 1918. Enlisted Worcester, resident Claines. Son of Emily and George Stone, of Claines, Worcester; husband of Florence May Stone, Droitwich Road, Claines, Worcester. Boscon British Cemetery Plot 3. Row A. Grave 4. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church and Claines School memorial.

WALLACE

Geoffrey Robert

Captain, 7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. Died aged 21 on 27th August 1917. Awarded MC and Bar. Son of L.A. and M.K. Wallace, 35 Lennox Gardens, Sloane Square, London. Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 75 to 77. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church and Worcester Cathedral cloister windows. Further information is provided on the window - Geoffrey Wallace was the 2nd son of Lewis Alexander and Mabel Kate Wallace of Hawford House, Claines. He was killed in action.

In the cold and darkness of the early hours of December 4th 1916, a small raiding party left the trenches beneath the Butte de Warlencourt on the Somme battlefield. At 4 a.m. after a sudden fierce bombardment by the British artillery, the raiders attacked, Lieutenant G.R. Wallace leading his party through a gap in the wire into the enemy’s trench. A sharp fight up and down the trench ensued for several minutes until the raiders had exhausted their bombs. Then Lieutenant Wallace gave the order to retire and under heavy fire the party regained their trenches with no greater loss than 5 men wounded. Lieutenant Wallace received the M.C. for this action. In April 1917 as Captain Wallace, he was awarded a bar to his M.C. for leading forward a small party and capturing Malassise Farm at Epehy.

In August 1917, heavy rain turned the ground into a quagmire. Knee deep, and sometimes waist deep, in the mud, the soldiers attempted to advance through the shell holes whilst enemy snipers and machine gunners opened fire from every side. Captain Wallace led ‘A’ Company forward most gallantly, having passed Vancouver Farm and nearing a concrete fort beyond it when two German snipers rose from a shell hole nearby. They shot Captain Wallace and he died within 2 hours. He was mentioned in despatches in the Gazette on 18th December 1917.

Source: The Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War by Captain H. FitzM. Stacke of the Regiment, 1928.

WATKINS

John

Gunner, 3rd/2nd South Midland Brigade Royal Field Artillery. Service No 3241. Died in United Kingdom aged 22 on 18th June 1916. Born Caines, enlisted Worcester. Son of Agnes Watkins, of Corn Meadow, Claines, and the late Thomas Watkins. Claines (St. John The Baptist) Churchyard Grave 611. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church and Claines School memorial.

WATKINS

James

No further information currently available. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church and Claines School memorial.

1939-1945

BARNES

Howard Alfred Cecil

Private, Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Service No 7601849. Died aged 23 on 29th May 1940. Son of Howard Richard and Annie Barnes, of Bevere, Worcestershire; husband of Hilda Barnes. Dover (St. James's) Cemetery Row J. Grave 9. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

BULLOCK

Philip Harold

Sergeant (Flight Engineer) 218 Squadron Royal Air Force. Service No 570264. Died aged 21 on 26th April 1942. Son of Harold Alfred and Ethel May Bullock, of Worcester. Rheinberg War Cemetery Coll. grave 18. D. 11-15. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church as Harold P. Bullock. A letter from Philip’s mother can be found within war records held at Worcester County Record Office requesting that his name be added to the county roll of honour.

DONOVAN

William E.

Probably William Edward Donovan, Aircraftman 1st Class, 115 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Service No 1195390. Died on 17th September 1941. Charlbury Cemetery Section N. Grave 38. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

DRINKWATER

Robert James

Sergeant (Flight Engineer), 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Service No 1497401. Died aged 21 on 27th September 1943. Son of James and Alice Drinkwater, of Claines, Worcestershire. Hanover War Cemetery 1. E. 11. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

GWILLAM

Douglas Victor

Sergeant (Air Gunner), 102 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Service No 1217158. Died aged 25 on 2nd February 1943. Son of Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Gwillam, of Droitwich, Worcestershire. Eindhoven (Woensel) General Cemetery Plot JJB. Grave 8. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

GEORGE

John Henry

Sergeant, 101 Squadron Royal Air Force. Service No 626245. Died aged 21 on 20th August 1940. Son of Arthur James George, and of Annie George, of Claines, Worcestershire. Runnymede Memorial Panel 14. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church and Worcester Royal Grammar School memorial.

John Henry was the son of Arthur & Annie George of Cornmeadow Lane, Claines, Worcester. He joined the RAF in 1938 as a Wireless Operator. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Ministry of Defence give his date of death as 20th August 1940, the MoD adding further that his aircraft ditched off Lowestoft at 00.20 when he drowned and his body was not recovered. Andrew Brookes in his book ‘Bomber Squadron at War’ provides a detailed description of what may be the same incident but is dated as 9th September. On that date Pilot Officer Bicknell and Sergeant Gingell, along with their unnamed air gunner, set out to bomb Antwerp Airfield. Whilst over the North Sea one engine started to give trouble, and finally stopped, necessitating a change of target to Haamstad Aerodrome which was successfully bombed. On the return journey, the other engine started to give trouble, eventually forcing the plane to ditch near a trawler just short of the English coast at Lowestoft. The Pilot and observer struggled to release the air gunner who had been knocked unconscious, but failed to do so before the Blenheim sank. The two men were picked up by trawler 30 minutes later, and were eventually awarded the DFC and the DFM respectively for their efforts. Sergeant George is not mentioned by name but it is probably unlikely that two aircraft ditched into the sea near Lowestoft in such a short space of time.

Source: In Dedication to a Future World By Mark Rogers, 1999.

HEXTALL

George Arthur

Lieutenant, Royal Warwickshire Regiment attached 2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment. Service No 258230. Died aged 30 on 22nd January 1945. Son of George Edward and Edith A. Hextall; husband of Phyllis Ethel Hextall, of Worcester. Taukkyan War Cemetery Coll. grave 26. D. 9-11. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

MATTHEWS

Gordon

Private, 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment, A.A.C. Service No 14327811. Died aged 20 on 17th September 1944. Son of Frank and Hilda Isabella Matthews, of Worcester. Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery 19. B. 18. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church. A letter from Gordon’s parents can be found within war records held at Worcester County Record Office stating that he was killed at Arnhem and requesting that his name be added to the county roll of honour.

MACDONALD

Robert George

Sergeant (Observer), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Service No 1380294. Died aged 33 on 10th October 1942. Son of George and Sarah Macdonald; husband of Kathleen Macdonald, of Bevere, Worcestershire. Filey (St. Oswald) Churchyard Old ground Row B. Grave 3. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

MACDONALD

Graham Warren

Captain, 8th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, attached South Wales Borderers, formerly of Monmouthshire Regiment. Service No 58979. Died aged 28 on 29th May 1940. Son of Major James Kerr Macdonald and Emily Ann Macdonald, of Worcester. A.I.B. Dunkirk Memorial Column 57. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

PITT

George Joseph

Private, 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment. Service No 14723220. Died aged 22 on 10th February 1945. Son of Daniel and Alice Pitt, of Fernhill Heath, Worcestershire. Jonkerbos War Cemetery 10. C. 6. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

PITT

James Henry

Stoker 2nd Class, Royal navy H.M.S. Exmouth. Service No P/KX 95670. Died aged 19 on 21st January 1940. Son of Daniel and Alice Pitt. Portsmouth Naval Memorial Panel 42 Column 3. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

PURSER

David Merlin

Major, 3 Field Squadron Royal Engineers. Service No 69731. Died aged 26 on 7th April 1943. Son of Edmund George and Edith Merle Purser, of Salwarpe, Droitwich, Worcestershire. B.Sc. Enfidaville War Cemetery VI. F. 25. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

PURSER

Hugh Edmund Vaughan

Captain, Royal Engineers. Service No 219705. Died aged 24 on 26th July 1944. Son of Edmund George and Edith Merle Purser, of Old Colwyn, Denbighshire. Imphal War Cemetery 7. K. 7. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

PYE

Thomas W.

Sergeant, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. Service No 2613961. Died aged 35 on 21st July 1944. Son of Thomas Henry Wilton Pye and Margaret Pye; husband of Joyce Pye, of Claines, Worcestershire. Banneville-La-Campagne War Cemetery V. F. 15. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church and Worcester Grammar School memorial.

Thomas Pye was the only son of Thomas & Margaret Pye. He was a member of Worcester Rowing and Rugby Clubs. In 1939 he married Miss Joyce Martin and they had two children. He had enlisted in the Grenadier Guards, who have a strong tradition of recruiting in the Worcester area, in 1934 and served with them for 4 years, including a spell in Egypt. After leaving in 1938 as a Lance Corporal, he was recalled as a reservist in 1939.

In Normandy on 18th July 1944, some 6 weeks after D-Day, Operation ‘Goodwood’ had opened with a tremendous aerial bombardment followed by the advance of huge numbers of tanks through the shattered German positions. This was the attempt by the allies to finally take Caen but German resistance proved much greater than expected. Cagny, just East of Caen, was the scene of some of the fiercest fighting, and by the 19th the Grenadier Guards took up positions around the village in order to release troops to further the advance. They were subjected to mortar bombardments and German fighter attacks before withdrawing on the 22nd July, by which time Thomas Pye had been killed. He was one of only 15 men killed, and tragically his service record shows that he had only arrived in France on the 19th. He died within two days of being in action for the first time.

Source: In Dedication to a Future World by Mark Rogers, 1999.

RHODES

Frank

Leading Sick Berth Attendant, Royal Navy H.M.S. Bramble. Service No D/MX 67445. Died aged 21 on 31st December 1942. Son of Walter and Winifred Edith Rhodes, of Fernhill Heath, Worcestershire. Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 71, Column 2. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church. A letter from Frank’s mother can be found within war records held at Worcester County Record Office requesting that his name be added to the county roll of honour.

SEVERNOAKS

Frederick

Shipwright 4th Class, Royal Navy H.M.S. Hecla. Service No P/MX 71190. Died aged 38 on 12th November 1942. Son of James Frederick and Ann Emily Sevenoaks; husband of Margaret Victoria Sevenoaks, of Claines, Worcestershire. Portsmouth Naval Memorial Panel 69, Column 2. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.

SLOCOMBE

Douglas Frederick

Sergeant, 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment. Service No 6142909. Died aged 21 on 12th February 1945. Son of George Frederick and Dorothy Mary Slocombe, of Worcester. New Ground. S.E. of church. Claines (St. John The Baptist) Churchyard Grave 169. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church. A letter from Douglas’ parents can be found within war records held at Worcester County Record Office requesting that his name be added to the county roll of honour.

THOMAS

Eric Fielder

Pilot Officer, 12 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Service No 117131. Died aged 23 on 14th September 1942. Son of Frederick Robert Herbert and Ethel Thomas, of Bevere, Worcestershire. Runnymede Memorial Panel 72. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church and Worcester Royal Grammar School memorial. A letter from Eric’s parents can be found within war records held at Worcester County Record Office requesting that his name be added to the county roll of honour.

In March 1938 Eric obtained a Meeke Scholarship in Modern History at Hertford College, Oxford. He was the navigator aboard a Wellington bomber that left Binbrook on a raid to Bremen on the night of 13th/14th September 1942. The aircraft was lost without trace and the names of the five crew appear on the Runnymede Memorial. Every speech day and award for history is still presented at the Royal Grammar School in his memory.

Source: In Dedication to a Future World by Mark Rogers, 1999.

WILLIAMS

A.E.

No further information currently available. Also appears on the Roll of Honour inside the church.