Forgotten War Graves Remembered 8

Today in 1944 Sergeant Donald Parr Hewitson of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve died. He was just 18 years old. His headstone states he was a Meteorological Observer. Apart from that I have been unable to discover anything further on this airman. He is interred with his parents.

Surname: HEWITSON

First Names: Donald Parr

Rank: Sergeant

Service Number: 1867399

Corps: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Age: 18

Date of Death: 23/1/44

No other information available

Forgotten War Graves Remembered 7

On this day in 1918 Private William Henry Heeks of the Royal Scots Fusiliers died. Other than the details on his headstone I have been unable to discover anything further on this soldier. He is slightly unusual in that he was 46 when he passed away. If anyone has any information on Private (Fusilier?) Heeks please get in touch.

Surname: HEEKS

First Names; William Henry

Rank: Private/Fusilier

Service Number: 7903

Corps: Royal Scots Fusiliers

Age: 46

Date of Death: 17/1/18

No other information available

Forgotten War Graves Remembered 6

Surname: OLDNALL

First Names; W.E.

Rank: Sapper

Service Number: 346699

Corps: Royal Engineers

Age: Not known

Date of Death: 17/11/18

No other information available

First Name: DOUGLAS

Surname: THURSFIELD

Rank: Sergeant Pilot

Service Number: 121320

Corps: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Age: 20

Date of Death: 03/11/1942

Campaign Medals:1939-45 War Medal, 1939-45 Star

Family Information: SON OF ALBERT JOSEPH & ETHEL THURSFIELD, 

OF SUTTON COLDFIELD

It was nice to see that someone else had left flowers and a poppy-cross on Sapper Oldnall's grave. There was also a poppy-cross on Cpl Ward's grave. I assume they got a poppy-cross because they are close to the church front since none of the others had one.

Forgotten War Graves Remembered 5

On this day in 1943 Private Samuel G Woodcock of The Pioneer Corps died. CWGC has no record of Sam so I've contacted them to try and get him properly registered. The Pioneers or Chunkies were considered a bit second rate as troops and yet they fought bravely during The Battle of France and then throughout the remainder of WW2. Pioneers gained many UK gallantry awards as well as medals from Allied nations. 2,800 of them died during WW2, Sam Woodcock being one of them.

Sam is interred with his beloved wife Phyllis. It is clear they were a devoted couple. Phyllis passed away less than ten years after Sam and now they are together. As before, the church has finally cut the bloody grass, I tidied up their grave and left a small floral tribute. White flowers for Sam and pink roses for Phyllis.

14341948 Private 

Samuel G Woodcock

Pioneer Corps

Died 22nd July 1943

Aged 29

Labor vincit omnia.

All the best.

Forgotten War Graves Remembered 4

A beautifully sunny day here in Birmingham. Clear blue skies and high temperatures: is summer here at last? Today is also the 70th anniversary of the death of FG Hawkes a Royal Navy motor mechanic. As usual I tidied up the grave, the church's grass cutting programme leaves something to be desired, and left a simple floral tribute.

His headstone inscription is in the first stages of wearing away so I'm glad I was able to record his details. There is also an inscription at the base of the headstone from his parents.

C/MX125272

Motor Mechanic

FG HAWKES

21 years old

Royal Navy

HMS Pembroke

According to wiki HMS Pembroke, as far Hawkes is concerned, could have been any one of four shore establishments:

HMS Pembroke II: an accounting base at Chatham between 1940 - 1957

HMS Pembroke III: an accounting base in London between 1942 -1952

HMS Pembroke IV: an accounting base at The Nore between 1939 - 1961

HMS Pembroke V: a secret base at Bletchley Park between 1941 - 1945

As always any input, comments or help will be gladly received and acknowledged.

All the best.

Forgotten War Graves Remembered 3

On this day in 1947 Cpl Robert F Mills King's Shropshire Light Infantry died. Note the date:1947. Two years after WW2 but proof, if ever there was any needed, that British service men and women do not just die in world wars 1 and 2. I remember reading somewhere (Keegan's 'The Face of Battle?) that between 1900 and 1976, the book's publication year, that only in 1967 did no British service person die on operations. I would suggest from 1976 to 2013 that year remains unique.

I have no other information about Corporal Mills other than that stated below. What I can tell you is he died in service and was therefore entitled to a CWGC headstone. As before I've tidied up the grave site and left a simple floral tribute and card.

14707944

Corporal RF Mills

King's Shropshire Light Infantry

Died: 4th July 1947

Age: 24

Forgotten War Graves Remembered 2

June 2013 is dry, warm and sunny which is about time; certainly better than the deluge we suffered at this time last year. Not that that matters too much to these four chaps. All four of them wiped out in their early twenties in wars that were not of their making. As before I feel strongly that their deaths should never be forgotten.

First Name: RUSSELL

Surname: CLARK

Rank: Flight Sergeant (Air Bomber)

Service Number: 1163470

Corps: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Age: 21

Date of Death: 01/06/1944

Campaign Medals: 1939-45 War Medal, 1939-45 Star

Family Information: SON OF HARRY AND HILDA CLARK, OF ERDINGTON, BIRMINGHAM

First Name ERNEST

Surname: PARROTT

Rank: Sapper

Service Number:1877877

Regiment: Royal Engineers

Date of Death: 03/06/1940

Campaign Medals: 1939-45 War Medal, 1939-45 Star

First Name RPW

Surname: BINIT

Rank: Private

Service Number: 511?

Regiment: Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Date of Death: 04/06/1940

Campaign Medals: 1939-45 War Medal, 1939-45 Star

First Name: HARRY

Surname: WOODWARD

Rank: Lance Corporal

Service Number 14/723

Regiment: Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Additional Regiment Info: 14th Battalion

Age: 23

Date of Death: 06/06/1917

Campaign Medals: Victory Medal, British War Medal

Family Information: SON OF SAM AND ELIZA WOODWARD, 

266 HIGHBRIDGE RD., WYLDE GREEN, BIRMINGHAM.

Battalion Information:

14th (Service) Battalion (1st Birmingham) (New Army)

September 1914: Battalion formed at Birmingham by the Lord Mayor and a local committee.

26 June 1915: they became attached to 95th Brigade, 32nd Division.

21 November 1915: landed at Boulogne.

28 December 1915: Battalion were transferred to 13th Brigade, 5th Division.

November 1917: moved onto Italy with the Division.

April 1918: they returned to France.

5 October 1918: then became Pioneer Battalion to same Division.

All the best.

Forgotten War Graves Remembered 1

Last year I discovered that my local church, St. Michael's in Boldmere, receives money from The Commonwealth War Graves Commission for the upkeep of the 18 War Graves in its cemetery. The bye-laws of the church yard state that the upkeep of graves is the responsibility of family. Now, given that there are five WW1 graves, and one of them is a Scot, what are the chances of any family knowing about them? So, I suggest, that this bye-law is a cop-out by the church. My guess is that the money they receive from CWGC goes into the general maintenance pot. There weren't even poppies placed on the war graves last Remembrance Sunday. I have e-mailed the church secretary twice asking the question. I have yet to receive a reply. I have also informed CWGC of my concerns.

In May 2012 I spent an afternoon plotting and recording each of the war graves. The idea being that on the given date of death I would place a floral tribute on the particular grave with a card inscribed with NOT FORGOTTEN. There are 18 graves in total. 5 Army lads from WW1; 5 RAF, 2 RN & 6 Army from WW2

Today's forgotten hero was 10984 Corporal FB Ward, King's Royal Rifle Corps, died of wounds 25th April 1915. I have been unable to find out anything about Cpl Ward but I do know that there was a large hospital in Sutton Coldfield Park. The park is approximately 1 mile from the church.

Not Forgotten