War Introduction
Home
Boys
known to have been 'called up' during WW2
In Memoriam Overview
The war
experiences of the boys who died.
Towns and Villages where the boys who died appear to have
come from
Army
Careers of those who died
Navy
Careers of those who died
RAF Careers
of those who died
This information is mostly
garnered from the web. It is impossible, for a non relative, to
access the actual records before 2020.
Letters sent by parents and 'boys' during the war years:
All of the boys who wrote, survived:
Army Letters
Navy Letters
RAF Letters
Force Not Known
Other Letters
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Although the yearly entry
rate at Wellingborough Grammar School varied, it averaged
about
60 per year between its opening in 1930 and 1938. As a result
the maximum number of boys that could have entered the armed forces
was about 600. In fact just
210
boys are known to have been 'called up' during the second world war.
The likelihood is that the number should be nearer 400 (Just
under two thirds (60%) of the boys who entered the school in its
first two years are known to have been 'called up'.)
The explanation for the
short fall is clearly linked to the fact that the
school's sixth form was small with many boys leaving aged just
fifteen or sixteen. The continued fall in 1937 and 1938 may be
additionally linked to some boys completing their Higher
Education during the final war years.
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Not surprisingly for, a
midlands county, only 15% of the boys (31) joined the navy. What is
surprising is that almost as many lads entered the RAF (81) as entered
the army (93}.
With the great majority of the boys
being enlistments, it is not surprising that similar numbers of Wellingborough
Grammar School boys in the forces were privates, non commissioned officers and
lower officer ranks.
| |
|
Pte |
NCO |
Lieuts |
Higher |
| |
Army |
13 |
12 |
11 |
3 |
| |
Navy |
4 |
|
7 |
|
| |
RAF |
4 |
11 |
8 |
1 |
| |
Total |
21 |
23 |
26 |
4 |
All the information retained by the Wrenn school
on what happened to WGS boys in the forces and in colleges during the war years
is given below. The evidence from the magazine and the letters is that WGS tried hard to
obtain information, keep in touch and provide support.
The sources of information are:
1. The school
magazines. Three lists are given during the war years, these are
supplemented by references to boys leaving to join the forces and by the school
providing lists of old boys who visited the school giving their rank.
2. The school In
Memoriam book includes a photograph and a short account of each boys experience.
3. Letters written
to the school by the boys or their parents. In virtually all the letters,
the date of response is given.
4,. Information available
on the web.
It is evident that the school had a
collection and sent £2 to each POW, via their parents, hoping that it
would at least provide moral support. The web pages can be accessed
in several ways.
-
Lower down on this page all
the boys who died are listed and from those lists, information on their forces
career and letters from their parents (if any) can be selected.
-
The Photograph section, at
the top, provides the photos of the boys in the memorial book and those known
to have been died in the forces since WW2. The letters about these lads
can be accessed by selecting their name under each photograph and, their war
experiences by selecting their name at the top of the page or the
highlighted
comment below each photo. Many of
the parental letters are painful to read.
-
The letters sent by the boys (or
their parents) can be accessed alphabetically, at the top, by selecting either
the "Letters from survivors" or the "Letters about those who died" and then
selecting the individual by name..
-
The Forces selection, given in
tables below the tabes of those who died, provide a summary of information taken from the letters,
indicating the region where the boy fought, the date of the letter and
information on rank.
-
The Decoration and Awards section provides all
the award information John Cook has collected from the war records.
It appears that if a boy wanted to be decorated,
he should have joined the RAF!
If you can add to this information -
an obvious gap is that there must have been many other boys who joined the
forces please email
grahamtall@wgsmemories.org.uk
________________________________________________
Summary information discovered of the war 'experiences' of the boys who
died.
The 'boys' are listed
according to the service they were in and the date on which they died.
This has been done to make it easier to compare the experiences of the
different 'lads'. Each row of the table begins with the name of
the 'boy' concerned, his rank, service, regiment/squadron/ship and his
date of death and number. It then continues with an indication of
where they served and, in white letters on black, where they died.
Finally, in some cases from the Commonwealth War Grave Commission
information available on the web, but mostly from the letters sent to
the school by their parents information on where their home was whilst
they were at school. In a few instances such information is not
available - if you can provide it, please forward it to me at
grahamtall@wgsmemories.org.uk
Army
Careers of those who died
Naval
Careers of those who died
RAF
Careers of those who died
Army Careers of those who died
Eight of the lads who died were in the
army. Three of these were in armoured regiments, three
in the infantry whilst the remaining two were in the
RAMC and REME.
Where the 'boys' died inevitably follows the course of the war.
With the exception of Francis Causebrook, who died as a POW of the
Japanese, the death of the others are markers on where the British
fought. Two died in the deserts of North Africa, three died in the
battles in Italy and the last two died, after D Day, in Europe.
From just these 8 boys it is evident that WGS boys were in every
phase of the war; William Berrill who died in Italy was, for example,
someone who retreated from Dunkirk. William was part of the
American/British invasion of North Africa (the 1st army), several other
lads were part of the 8th army which initially retreated from Rommel's
forces and subsequently attacked at El Alamein. Two lads landed in
Europe, after D Day, both died on the route to Berlin.
The
boxes highlighted under
enlistment were regular members of the armed forces.
Underlined name in first column
selects army record.
Selecting name in the last
column goes to parents letter(s)
Naval Careers of those who died
The careers of the 5 lads who
joined the navy and died was as varied as that of those who joined the army.
One was a career officer (Frederick Furr) who lost his life in HM
Submarine Unbeaten in 1942. One, the youngest boy to lose his
life, was in the merchant navy. The three others served in the
Russian convoys, supported the troops landing after D Day and one fought
in the Korean war as a Fleet Air Arm pilot. They served in small
MTBs, submarines, destroyers and an aircraft carrier.
The
boxes highlighted under
enlistment were regular members of the armed forces.
Underlined name in first column
selects naval record.
Selecting name in the last
column goes to parents letter(s)
|
Name |
Rank |
Service |
Ship |
Enlistment |
dod |
No |
Afr |
Italy |
Fr/Ger |
Pacif |
Uk/World |
Home |
|
Frederick
Furr |
Telegraphist |
Royal Navy |
H.M. Submarine Unbeaten |
1934 |
11/11/1942 |
C/JX 142498 |
|
Malta
Bay
of Biscay |
|
|
|
Bozeat
Furr |
|
Anthony Robert Gillitt |
Cadet |
Merchant Navy |
S.S. Serooskerk |
|
06/12/1942 |
|
|
|
|
|
Atlantic |
Finedon
Gillett |
|
Edwin
Hudson |
Sub-Lieutenant |
RNVR |
HMS Somali
H.M.M.T.B. 30. |
04/1941 |
18/12/1942 |
|
|
|
|
|
Russian Convoys
E.Channel |
Wellingborough
Hudson |
|
Robert
Troath |
Sub-Lieutenant |
RNVR |
Destroyer Ledbury;
HMS Cottillon; H.M. Trawler Ganilly; |
1942 |
05/07/1944 |
|
|
|
|
|
Utah
Beach
After D Day |
Wellingborough
Troath
|
|
John Harry Sharp |
Lieutenant |
Navy
Fleet Air Arm |
Fleet Air Arm
812 Squadron |
1942 |
06/1952 |
|
|
|
|
|
Korea |
Wellingborough |
|
Raymond Kimber |
CPO |
Royal Navy |
Submarine
HMS Alliance.
|
1954
|
29/09/1971 |
|
|
|
|
|
Portland, Dorset
Accident |
Higham Ferrers |
RAF Careers of those who died
The patterns noted for the
lads who joined the army and navy is repeated by the 12 who died but joined the
RAF. Three were regulars. None flew spitfires or hurricanes, but
one flew a mosquito, the majority were flying in the full range of
bombers used by bomber command. At least two flew in operational
training units (OTU), one of whom, Air Gunner Peter Felce, was used by
Bomber Command to make up the 1000 bomber raids. Sadly three of
the eight died as a result of training mishaps. Two died
supporting the troops in Italy, four in the large Bombing raids in
Europe and two died in the run up and after-math of D Day.
The
boxes highlighted under
enlistment were regular members of the armed forces.
Underlined name in first column
selects air force record.
Selecting name in the last
column goes to parents letter(s)
|
Name |
Rank |
Service |
Squadron |
Enlistment |
dod |
No |
Afr |
Italy |
Fr/Ger |
Pacif |
Uk/World |
Home |
|
Arthur Ernest Abbott |
Aircraftman 2nd Class |
RAFVR |
|
13/05/1941 |
28/05/1941 |
1098792 |
|
|
|
|
Lancaster
Hospital |
Wellingborough |
|
Richard
Saxby Mutimer |
Sergeant (Obs.) |
RAF |
69 Sqdn. |
1937 |
10/08/1941 |
581062 |
|
Malta |
|
|
|
Wellingborough |
|
Norman
Leonard
Hornsey |
Sergeant |
RAF |
31 OTU |
01/1937 |
23/10/1941 |
570784 |
|
|
|
|
Norway
Canada
Accident |
Wellingborough
Hornsey |
|
Harold Philip Gardiner |
Sergeant (Flt. Eng.) |
RAF |
218 Sqdn |
07/1934 |
07/08/1942 |
567298 |
|
|
Duisburg |
|
|
Wellingborough
Gardiner |
|
Peter
Gifford
Felce |
Fl. Lieut. (Air Gunr.) |
RAFVR |
27 OTU |
06/1939 |
16/09/1942 |
69443 |
|
|
Rheinberg |
|
|
Higham Ferrers
Felce |
|
Harold
Cheaseman |
Sergeant (Nav/Bomb) |
RAFVR |
102 Sqdn |
1941 |
14/02/1943 |
1425127 |
|
|
Holland |
|
|
Rushden |
|
Robert Howard |
Sergeant |
RAFVR |
142 Sqdn. |
23/02/1942 |
05/08/1943 |
1578246 |
Africa |
Malta
Italy |
|
|
|
Finedon
Howard |
|
Raymond
Reginald
Norman |
Sergeant (Pilot) |
RAFVR |
20(P)AFU |
|
11/03/1944 |
1579547 |
|
|
|
|
England
Training Accident |
Wellingborough |
|
Raymond George Osborne |
Flight Sergeant (Nav.) |
RAFVR |
49 Sqdn. |
1941 |
27/04/1944 |
1208875 |
|
|
Durnbach |
|
|
Wellingborough |
|
Jack Dunkley |
Sergeant |
RAFVR |
160 Sqdn |
1941 |
06/05/1944 |
1580251 |
|
|
|
India Ceylon
Singapore
Accident |
Bahamas, Canada USA. |
Little Harrowden
Dunkley |
|
Ronald Douglas Hales |
Sergeant (Air unr.) |
RAFVR |
15 Sqdn |
1942 |
08/06/1944 |
1895806 |
|
|
Viroflay |
|
|
Higham Ferrers |
|
Gordon Roy Coe |
W. Officer (Pilot) |
RAFVR |
107 Sqdn |
06/1941 |
27/01/1945 |
1219483 |
|
|
Cambrai |
|
Canada |
Wellingborough |
|
Leslie Walters |
Flying Officer |
RAF |
249 Sqdn |
|
24/08/1954 |
|
|
|
|
Jordan
Accident |
|
Finedon |
Letters sent by 'boys' and their parents during the war years: None
of the boys who died wrote, the letters are from their parents.
Army Letters
Navy Letters
RAF Letters
Force Not Known
Other Letters
Army Letters
Note there may be several letters for a particular individual
19+6=25
Cpl = Corporal; L Cpl =
Lance Corporal; CSM = Company Sergeant Major; NCO = Non Comissioned Officer
Selecting Surname, selects letters
|
WGS |
Name |
Surname |
DofLetter |
Rank |
Region |
Summary |
|
|
RC |
Bailey |
05-Apr-45 |
Sergeant |
Holland |
BNA Force |
|
|
Hubert |
Bean |
16-Mar-43 |
CSM |
Middle East |
|
|
1933 |
WJ |
Berrill |
|
Private |
France/N Africa |
Dead |
|
|
Pete (FC) |
Causebrook |
22-Nov-44 |
L Cpl |
Malaya |
Dead/POW |
|
|
Peter (RP) |
Crawley |
16-Sep-43 |
Trooper |
|
|
|
|
RW |
Dallas |
11-Mar-45 |
|
Holland HQ |
local accents |
|
|
Gordon |
Elderton |
22-Sep |
|
|
Dead |
|
|
Peter |
Gibson Robinson
|
13-Dec-42 |
|
|
Kings African Rifles |
|
|
George |
Johnson |
03-Feb-42 |
|
|
|
|
|
BW |
Glover |
|
L Cpl |
Yorkshire |
|
|
|
|
Maddams |
20-May-43 |
Lt. Gunner |
India |
beauty and filth |
|
|
Peter James |
Neal |
|
|
Germany |
POW |
|
|
RP |
Olney |
11-Jul-40 |
Gunner |
|
|
|
|
John |
Pearson |
18-Jun-45 |
|
India |
Detailed Account, wounded by Japs machine gun. Cousin
Horace |
|
|
Brian |
Peck |
27-Apr-45 |
Private |
Belgium |
Dead |
|
|
Colin Frederick |
Penness |
13-Sep-44 |
Craftsman |
Italy |
Dead |
|
|
Bob (Bernard Robert) |
Phillips |
06-Jul-43 |
|
Syria |
|
|
|
William S. |
Poole |
29-Jan-44 |
Lance Corporal |
Shropshire |
|
|
|
DEJ |
Pope |
29-Dec-42 |
NCO app Officer |
Persia Iraq |
Travelogue |
|
|
JR |
Reid |
15-Sep-44 |
Private |
Ulster |
|
|
|
Gerald Hedley |
Reid |
22-Jun-43 |
|
|
|
|
|
Jack |
Remington |
24-Aug-44 |
|
N Africa |
|
|
|
RF |
Seaton |
02-Apr-45 |
Rifleman |
|
Career detailed |
|
|
Norman P |
Sharpe |
|
Lieutenant |
Normandy |
Dead |
|
|
GPS |
Shipman |
21-May-44 |
Cadet |
India |
Bombed at sea |
|
|
Richard |
Tomkins |
02-Jun-43 |
Sergeant |
India and ME |
|
|
|
Albert |
Warner |
24-Dec-44 |
Private |
Germany |
POW |
Navy Letters
Note there may be several letters for a particular individual
Selecting Surname, selects letters
|
WGS |
Name |
Surname |
DofLetter |
Rank |
Region |
Summary |
|
c1936 |
|
Barfield |
19-Jul-43 |
|
|
|
|
|
Geoffrey W |
Bradshaw |
13-Nov-43 |
Wireless Mechanic |
Skegness |
|
|
|
Roy |
Cross |
04-Jan-44 |
Wireless Mechanic |
Chelsea |
|
|
|
|
Edwards |
06-Jan-44 |
Sub Lieut |
India Bombay |
tourist |
|
|
DF |
Esson |
18-Aug-42 |
Captain |
MED |
Commando |
|
|
J |
Fielder |
01-Aug-44 |
Sub Lieut |
Greece |
Landing Craft |
|
|
Fred |
Furr |
12-Dec |
|
|
Dead |
|
left 1934 |
Anthony Robert |
Gillett |
16-Mar-43 |
Senior Cadet |
|
Ships torpedoed / Dead |
|
|
L |
Green |
|
|
|
Evacuee |
|
|
|
Holmes |
30-Sep-43 |
Commissioned |
|
Music interest |
|
|
Edwin |
Hudson |
14-Jan-43 |
Sub Lieut |
N Sea |
struck a mine / Dead |
|
|
Derrick G |
Munns |
03-Dec-44 |
Sub Lieut |
Cardiff |
|
|
|
Robert |
Troath |
|
|
|
Dead |
|
|
R |
Yerrell |
31-Jan-45 |
|
|
|
RAF Letters
Note there may be several letters for a particular individual
Selecting Surname, selects letters
|
WGS |
Name |
Surname |
DofLetter |
Rank |
Region |
Summary |
|
opening |
Cyril |
Bailey |
20-Jun-43 |
Flying Officer |
North Africa |
Bale-out BEF France |
|
|
C |
Bond |
23-Jan-43 |
AC2 |
S.Africa |
Refers to Servants |
|
|
GA |
Crompton |
27-Nov-42 |
|
South Africa |
Tourism delays of post |
|
|
Jack |
Dunkley |
19-May-45 |
Sgt Air Gunner |
Ceylon |
Dead |
|
|
R |
Elkington |
06-Aug-44 |
Cpl |
MEF |
|
|
|
Peter |
Felce |
08-Dec-43 |
O/Tel |
|
Dead |
|
|
Harold Phillip |
Gardiner |
21-Jul |
Sgt Flight Engineer |
|
Dead |
|
|
Dennis |
Goodman |
24-Mar-45 |
L Cpl |
|
Air Crash 4 killed 3 Injured |
|
|
KJ |
Harris |
18-Jun-43 |
LAC |
RAF Rhodesia |
|
|
31-36 |
Norman
Leonard |
Hornsey |
06-Jan-42 |
Sgt |
|
Sunderland Flying Boats
Career detailed. / Dead |
|
|
Robert |
Howard |
18-Oct-43 |
Sgt Navigator |
NAfrica |
Dead |
|
|
WJ |
Lambert |
20-Jun-43 |
Cpl |
India |
|
|
|
RA |
Ingram |
06-Jul-43 |
|
N Africa |
|
|
31-36 |
|
Loomes |
13-Jul-43 |
Sgt |
Belgium |
|
|
|
Fred |
Langley |
05-Dec-41 |
A/Sgt |
Rhodesia Bulawayo |
|
|
|
AD |
Loak |
29-Dec-44 |
AC/J |
|
|
|
|
F Harry |
Partridge
|
19-Jun-43 |
Lance Sgt |
North Africa |
POW |
|
|
Victor |
Pitcher |
|
Flight Sgt |
Lincoln |
|
|
|
Peter |
Siddons |
02-Mar-43 |
Cpl |
Middle East |
|
Force Not Known (Probably
RAF)
Note there may be several letters for a particular individual
Selecting Surname, selects letters
|
WGS |
Name |
Surname |
DofLetter |
Rank |
Region |
Summary |
|
|
Jack |
Upton |
|
FO |
|
POW £2 |
Other Letters
Selecting Surname, selects letters
|
WGS |
Name |
Surname |
DofLetter |
Rank |
Region |
Summary |
|
|
WA |
Warner |
23-Jun-45 |
Apprenticeship |
|
Yorkshire |
|
|
Ray |
Dainty |
08-Mar-43 |
Education |
|
Borough Rd College |
|
|
|
Merrit |
16-Jul-45 |
Education |
|
Christ College Cambridge First |
|
|
|
Stuart |
16-Jul-45 |
Education |
|
Christs College Cambridge First |
Towns and
Villages where the boys who died came from
|
Town/Village |
Name |
|
Bozeat |
Frederick Furr |
|
Finedon |
Anthony R Gillitt (Battle Sussex), Robert Howard,
Leslie Walters |
|
Higham Ferrers |
Harold Cheaseman, Peter Gifford Felce, Ronald Douglas
Hales,
Raymond Kimber |
|
Irthlingborough |
Norman P Sharpe, |
|
Little Harrowden |
Jack Dunkley, |
|
Rushden |
Peter (F.C.) Causebrook, John A P Loake, Brian
T Peck (Gt Yarmouth), Colin R Penness |
|
Wellingborough |
Arthur E Abbott, William J Berrill, Gordon R
Coe, Gordon G Elderton, Harold P Gardiner,
Norman L Hornsey (Bristol), Edwin Hudson, Richard Saxby
Mutimer, Raymond R Norman, Raymond G Osborne, Douglas A Prigmore,
John H Sharp, Robert Troath,
|