World War 2
Thanks to Tony Alcott
The information regarding the men remembered on the Heath Hayes Memorial who died in World War 2 has been collated over from various sources including images I have which are not included at this time but are available on request. Should anyone have any further information regarding any of the men mentioned I would be glad to hear from them to update the information and I can be contacted by email at [email protected]
Private 5116132 George Bakewell
1st Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment
George Bakewell was born about 1916 in what was then Five Ways Staffordshire which is noe Heath Hayes and was the son of William and Lily Bakewell. (nee Bladon). In the 1911 census his parents are recorded as living at 87 Stafford Street,Heath Hayes. The 1911 census also records two sisters Ethel May age 4 and Lily Elizabeth aged 3.
He was married in 1941 in Norton Canes to Dorthy L. Bakewell (nee Bisbey)
His death is recorded as in the Western Europe Campaign on the 5th August 1944, aged 28
He is buried at St. Charles De Percy War Cemetary Grave reference III.A.1. St Charles de Percy War Cemetery is the southernmost of the Normandy cemeteries. The majority of those buried here died in late July and early August 1944 in the major thrust made from Caumontl’Evente towards Vire, to drive a wedge between the German 7th Army and Panzer Group West.
Private 3968249 Joseph Charles Beddow
1/5th Bn. Welch Regiment
Joseph Beddow was the son of Jabez and Gertrude Beddow (nee Owen) of Brownhills, Staffordshire.
His death is recorded as in the Western Europe Campaign on the 8th May 1945, aged 25
He is buried in the Brussels Town Cemetery, Belgium Grave reference X.21.44
Private 4393517 Norman Geoffrey Beniston
4th Battalion The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
Norman Beniston was the son of a bricklayer ArthurStephen Beniston and Barbera Usher Beniston (nee Bennetts). He was born in Durham in 1920.
At the time of Normans death from the record of his will as living at 247 Wimblebury Road, Heath Hayes.
He died on the 23rd / 24th October 1943 is recorded at the Phaleron War Cemetery Athens, Athens Memorial Face 5 aged 23 years.
Private 5116524 Herbert Horatio Boston
13th Battalion The Kings Regiment Liverpool
Herbert Boston was the son of Sydney and Emma Boston (nee Talbot) and married Dorothy Boston (nee Cox) in 1940.
He died on the 7th August 1943 while serving in Burma and is remembered on the Rangoon Memorial, Yangon Region, Burma, Panel Reference Face 5
Stoker 1st ClassP/KX 79595 Ernest George Chaplain
Royal Navy HM Submarine Odin
Ernest Chaplain was born on the 4th February 1910 the son of William Ernest Chaplain and Beatrice Chaplain. He had a sister Florence and a brother William. He married Rosanna Bott in 1932.
Ernest served on HMS Odin and when war stated was in Singapore with the eighth flotilla. When Italy declared war on the 10th June 1940 Odin was patrolling off the Italian Naval Base at Taranto. Odin was depth charged and later rammed on the surface by the Italian destroyer Strale and destroyer Baleno and sank in the Gulf of Trantoin June 1940. Odin was lost with all hands.
His death is recorded as the 27th June 1940 and he is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memoria Panel 42 Column 1
Private 1420217 Hedley Gordon Dean
7th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert’s)
Hedley was the son of Mr and Mrs J Dean of Heath Hayes
His death is recorded as in the Western Europe Campaign on the 9th August 1944, aged 21 and is buried at St Manvieu Cemetary, Cheux, France
Gunner 1658384 James Henry Dyke
Royal Artillery 323 Bty 30 (Surrey) Search light Regiment
James was born about 1920 and was the son of William and Kate Dyke.
He died on the 25th September 1943 aged 23 and is buried at the Massicault War Cemetery Tunisia grave reference VI. G. 16.
Lance Sergeant 5255118 Herbert Fisher
9th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment
Herbert was married to Matilda Meacham
He died on the 10th January 1945 and is buried at St. James Churchyard Norton Canes
Gunner 2214318 Harry George
Royal Artillery 15th Battery 6 H.A.A. Regiment
Harry George was the son of Richard and Cissie Anne George and married to Gwendoline Maude George.
He died in June 1940 serving in the France and Belgium campaigns.
Major EC3940 Richard Henry Gumbley
Royal Indian Army Service Corps
From the Army list Richard Henry Gumbley was born on the 13th August 1901.There is a record recorded in India Select Marriages that he married Elsie Marie Prime on the 30th January 1926 in Colada, Bombay, India though the surname is spelt Gambley which is believed to be an error. There is on the 1911 census a record for Elsie Marie Prime living at 150 Cannock Road, Heath Hayes the daughter of Joseph and Ellen Prime.
On the incoming passenger list from Bombay to Liverpool for the 28th November 1933 there is a record for a Elsie Gumbley listed on the ship California arriving at Liverpool with the address given as 242A Hednesford Road, Heath Hayes with the occupation of Housewife at the age of 33. Then on the 8th March 1934 on the ship Tuscania returning to Bombay with her address listed at this time as 282A Hednesford Road, Heath Hayes, as a tourist.
On the 27th April 1937, also on the ship California from Bombay to Liverpool Richard and Elsie Gumbley are listed as arriving from Bombay to reside in Heath Hayes. Richard’s occupation at this time is given as Police Officer aged 37.
On the 16th October 1940he received an emergency commission to 2nd Lieutenant in to the Indian Army. On the 15th April 1942 he is listed as Captain.
In the London Gazette on the 27th July 1945 Capt RH Gumbley EC 3940 reliqueshes his commission on the grounds of ill health and granted the honorary rank of Major.
There is an additional passenger list for Richard and Elsie Gumbley arriving on the ship Scythia arriving in Liverpool from Bombay on the 16th April 1947with Richard listed as retired and living at 282 Hednesford Road Heath Hayes.
On the 28th April 1947 there is a Richard and Elsie Gumbley listed on the ship Aquitania travelling to Halifax Canada from Southampton. There address on the record is given as 282A Hednesford Road Heath Hayes Staffs. Richard’s occupation is listed on the ships record as Army.
Richard died on the 14th October 1948 and is buried at St John’s Churchyard Heath Hayes.
From the wills lists there is a record of the death on the 9th November 1973 of Elsie Marie Gumbley of 270 Cannock Road Heath Hayes
Able Seaman C/JX 169095 Charles William Hatton
Royal Navy H.M. Submarine Simoom
Charles Hatton was the son of Henry and Jennie Hatton and married Connie Bella Hall in 1942
He died on the 19th November 1943 and is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial panel 69.1
The Simoom went on patrol on the 2nd November 1943 from Port Said to the Aegean on the 5th it was diverted to Dardanelles ten days later she was ordered to return to Port but never arrived. It is unsure how the Simoom came to be lost.
Ordinary Seaman Albert Hill
Merchant Navy M.V. Hopetam
The son of William and Mary Hill of Heath Hayes. His brother George William also fell (see below).
He died on the 29th May 1943 age 18 years and is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial Panel 57 The Tower Hill Memorial commemorates men and women of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets who died in both World Wars and who have no known grave. It stands on the south side of the garden of Trinity Square, London, close to The Tower of London.
The M.V. Hopetam was on route from Calcuttaand Colombo for Durban, Table bay and the UK carrying 9000tons of general Cargo when they were torpedoed by U-198 part of the 12thFlotilla
Private 491917 George William Hill
1/6th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment
As mentioned above the brother of Albert Hill who was also lost.
He died on the 16th July 1944 in the Western Europe Campaign and is buried at Fortenay-le-Pesnel War Cemetery, Tessel grave reference V.C.12.
Sergeant 305011 Gordon Morgan
Air Gunner Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
The son of Benjamin H. Morgan and Lily Morgan who died on the 27th August 1944 aged 21 years and is buried at St Johns Churchyard extension Heath Hayes Section D grave 5.
Private 238406 William Richard Hooper
Royal Army Service Corps
The son of W. Hooper and Minnie Hooperof Heath Hayes and stepson of Mr J.G. Jones of Heath Hayes.
He died on the 4th March 1942 aged 24 years while serving in the Middle East
He is buried at the Tel El Kebir War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt, grave reference 3.E.10
Petty Officer P/JX 132394 Edward George Hunt
Royal Navy HMS Royal Oak
The son of Edward William and Leah Hunt and husband of Doris Maud Hunt.
He died on the 14th October 1939 aged 26 years and is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial Panel 33 column 1.
On the 14th October 1939 the Royal Oak was anchored in Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands in Scotland when she was torpedoed by a German submarine U-47. The Royal Oak is a designated war grave.
Warrant Officer Class II D/35884 Sidney Ingram
Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
From the India select marriages there is a record for Sidney Ingram marrying a Maud Phyllis Dunlop in Bombay on the 18th March 1929 showing his father as Joseph Ingram.
He died on the 6th December 1942 and is buried in St Johns Churchyard extension in Heath Hayes.
Corporal 4917013 David Henry Jones
1st Battalion Gordon Highlander
David Jones originally enlisted in the South Staffordshire Regiment but was in the Gordon Highlanders at the time of his death on the 19th September 1945. He was the son of Clara Jones of Heath Hayes and is buried at St Peters Church,Hednesford Grave reference Sec E. Row 21 Grave 5.
Private JE Jones
Driver JPJones
Sergeant 1235122 Walter Moore
7 Squadron Royal Airforce Volunteer Reserve
The son of Thomas and Jessie Moore and Husband of Edna May Moore. He died on the 11th April 1943 aged 24 years and is buried at Heverle War Cemetery, Belgium Grave Reference 8.G.2.
Private A. Palmer
Leading Aircraftsman 1011196 William Preece
Royal Ar Force Volunteer Reserve
He died on the 1st May 1942.He his buried in St Johns Churchyard Heath Hayes Grave Reference Sec D. grave 1.
L Corporal 2347904 Thomas Roden
This is believed to be Signalman Thomas Roden from the Royal Corp of Signals. From information it is believed that the rank of Lance Corporal was attained when attached to the Indian Signal Corps. Recorded as from Heath Hayes and died on the 9th June 1943 whilst a Prisoner of War at the Niecke camp in Thailand, believed from Cholera which took about 300 soldiers. There ashes are scattered in the Kanchanaburi Cemetary in Thailand
Able Seaman P/JX 196554 Stanley Norman Shakespeare
Royal Navy H.M.S. President III
The son of Edgar and Beatrice Anne Shakepeare and husband of Ethel May Shakespeare of Heath Hayes.
He died on the 5th July 1942 and is buried in St Johns Churchyard Heath Hayes Grave Reference Sec 1. grave 1.
Private G. Slater
Bombadier 1495759 Frederick Douglas Raymond Smith
Royal Artillery 456 BTY 69th S.L. Regt. The Royal Fusiliers. City of London Search light regiment
The son of Frederick Henry Smith and Ethel Anne Smith of Heath Hayes. He died on the 11th October 1940 as result of what is recorded as an accident age 22 years.
Stevenson
Corporal 5113989 Arthur George Taylor
6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
The son of Arthur and Emma Taylor of Heath Hayes.
He died on the 19th June 1944 and is buried at Tilly-Sur-Seulles War Cemetery Grave reference VI. B.7.
Private 13079321 Robert James Wyles
209 Company Pioneer Corps
The son of Thomas and Ada Wyles and husband of Hilda May Wyles
He died on the 1st January 1943 age 30 and is buried in Bone War Cemetery, Annaba.