HolsworthyWarMem1939to1945

HOLSWORTHY - THE WAR MEMORIAL 1939 - 1945

The names of Holsworthy men who died in the Second World War are inscribed on one side of a granite plinth which forms the base of the First World War Memorial. It stands just within the boundary of the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul.

W. C. CORNISH	Private Wilfred Clarence Cornish of the 5th Battalion, the Devon and Cornwall Light Infantry. Believed to be the son of Thomas Cornish. Born in Holsworthy in the September Quarter of 1914. Died 11 July 1944 aged 30.
L. R. COWLING	Flight Lieutenant Lionel Richard Cowling of 215 Squadron, the RAF Volunteer Reserve. Son of Richard and Maude Cowling and husband of Evelyn Frances Cowling of St. Marychurch. Born in Holsworthy in 1916. Died 26 November 1943 aged 27. For more information about 205 Squadron go to www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/h215.html
W. K. DANIEL	Trooper William Kenneth Daniel of the 4th Battalion, the Royal Tank Regiment, RAC. Son of Gilbert and Clara Daniel and husband of Lesley Joan (née Gilbert.). Born in Holsworthy in the September Quarter of 1914. Died 15 June 1941 aged 26.
L. DENNER	Second Lieutenant Lewis Denner of the Burma Reserve of officers. Believed to be the son of Netta Denner whose connection with Holsworthy has not been traced. Died sometime between 2 June and 30 June 1942 aged 42. Buried in Calcutta.
L. J. ENDICOTT	Pilot Officer Leonard John Endicott of 502 Squadron, the RAF Volunteer Reserve. Son of William and Annie Endicott (née Weeks) and husband of Eileen Endicott of Mawgan Porth. Born in the Tiverton area in the June Quarter of 1912. Died 30 July 1942 aged 30. For more information about 502 Squadron go to www.worldwar2exraf.co.uk/index.html
F. M. FRENCH	Petty Officer Francis Malachi French of the Royal Navy, HMS Hermes. Son of Frederick and Eliza French (née Tucker). Born in Holsworthy in the March Quarter of 1900. Died 9 April 1942 aged 42. There is a brief but graphic account of the sinking of Hermes at http://www.ocean-discovery.org/forum/showthread.php?t=33
O. L. GWYNNE	Pilot Officer Owen Llewelyn Gwynne, pilot, of the RAF. Son of Clement and Katherine Gwynne and brother of Peter Gwynne (see below). (Katherine ( or sometimes Kathleen ) Gwynne lived at Elm Tree House, Holsworthy for a time). Born in 1920. Died 22 September 1941 aged 21.
P. A. W. GWYNNE	Flight Lieutenant Peter Anthony Wansborough Gwynne of 203 Squadron, the RAF Volunteer Reserve. Son of Clement and Katherine Gwynne and brother of Owen Gwynne (see above). Born in Holsworthy in the December Quarter of 1921. Died 5 October 1943 aged 22. For more information about 203 Squadron go to www.rafweb.org/Sqn201-205.htm
F. S. HAM	Trooper Frederick Samuel Ham of the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Tank Regiment, RAC. Son of Albert and Olive Ham of Holsworthy. Born in Holsworthy in the March Quarter of 1917. Died 23 May 1940 near Calais aged 23.
S. HAM	This relates to Stanley Ham. There is currently no confirmed information about this man.
F. H. J. HAWKING	Lance Bombardier Frederick Henry James Hawking of the 4th Field Regiment, the Royal Artillery. Son of Nicholas and Jane Hawking (née Hammill) and husband of Gwendolen Elizabeth Hawking ( his father had a china and glassware business on Victoria Hill). Born in Holsworthy in the June Quarter of 1917. Died 27 November 1942 aged 25.
H. C. JEWELL	Flying Officer Hedley Charles Jewell (pilot) of the RAF Volunteer Reserve,45 Squadron,. Son of William and Meta Jewell and husband of Margaret Jewell of Salcombe. Born in Holsworthy in the March Quarter of 1914. Died 27 January 1944 aged 30.
C. H. KINVER	Flying Officer Claude Henry Kinver of the RAF Volunteer Reserve. Son of William and Agatha Kinver and husband of Stella Kinver of Porthmear (he is believed to be connected with the grocery firm of Kinver & Kinver). Born in Holsworthy in the March Quarter of 1906. Died 23 April 1944 aged 38.
H. OWEN	Lance Corporal Harry Owen of the 1st Battalion, the Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry. Son of Edward and Mary Ann Owen and husband of Alice Mary Owen of Holsworthy. Born in 1908. Died 13 August 1944 aged 36.
F. LOCK	Private Francis Lock of the 9th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of George and Mary Lock of Holsworthy. Born in 1924. Died 9 April 1940 Aged 16. Buried in the churchyard at Holsworthy.
D. W. B. MAY	Lance Bombardier Donald wilfred Bassith May of 3G4 Battery 116 HAA Regiment, the Royal Artillery. Son of William and Gladys May of Holsworthy and husband of Olive May. Born in Holsworthy in the December Quarter of 1919. Died 11 January 1942 aged 22.
J. B. MERRIMAN	John B. Merriman, 4th Engineer Officer, BOAC. Born in Holsworthy in 1921. Died at Gander, Newfoundland 9 February 1943 aged 22. During World War 2, the RAF had a number of Liberator aircraft, some of which were operated by BOAC. They were used on the North Atlantic ferry run to fly out RAF personnel who would then fly home planes supplied by the US and Canadian governments under lease-lend arrangements. BOAC crews wore their company uniforms during these flights. John Merriman was working on board Liberator II AL591 on February 9th 1943 when it ran out of fuel some 10 miles NE of Gander and crash landed, killing 19 of the 21 people on board. He is buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Gander.
W. J. W. PERKIN	Sergeant William James Perkin of the 6th Battalion, the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment. Son of Richard and Beatrice Perkin (Richard Perkin had a butchery business in the town) and husband of Winifred Ethel Perkin of Holsworthy. Born in Holsworthy in the December Quarter of 1917. Died 25 June 1944 aged 26.
K. J. PETHERICK	Petty Officer Stoker Kenneth John Petherick of the Royal Navy, HMS Aldenham. Son of Percival and Florence Petherick of Holsworthy. Born in 1922. Died 14 December 1944 aged 22. To find out more about the sinking of HMS Aldenham, go to www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/68/a5250368.shtml
A. SMITH	This entry relates to Arthur Smith. There is currently no confirmed information about this man.
R. SILLIFANT	Corporal Richard Sillifant of the RAF Volunteer Reserve. Son of Harry and Annie Sillifant (née Cobbledick) of Chilsworthy and husband of Ivy Rosina Sillifant of Blackheath, London. Born in Holsworthy in the September Quarter of 1914. Died 25 August 1944 aged 30.
G. T. SLADE	Corporal George Thomas Slade of the 2nd Battalion, the Wiltshire Regiment. Son of Francis and Gladys Slade (née Horwell) and husband of Winifred Sylvia Slade of Launceston. Born in Holsworthy in 1916. Died 9 May 1944 aged 28.
R. J. SMALE	This entry relates to Flight Sergeant Ronald Peter Small (formerly Smale) who was killed in action bewtgeen 8 and 9 August 1943.
W. TRICK	Petty Officer William Trick, Royal Navy, HMS Witch. Son of the late William Trick and his wife Grace and husband of Esme Joyce Trick of Holsworthy ( It is believed his father had a boot and shoe business in the town.). Born in Holsworthy in the September Quarter of 1904. Died 8 March 1942 aged 37. William Trick was in charge of one of his ship's whalers on 8 March 1942 as it attempted to rescue the 10-man crew of the Independence Hall, a small Pacific coastal vessel which had split in two. During the attempt, Trick's whaler capsized and he was badly injured. He died later that day of his wounds.
R. TIDBALL	Corporal Gerard George Roy Tidball ("Roy") of the Royal Army Service Corps. Son of Stephen and Mabel Tidball (his father had a butchery business in Holsworthy). Born in Wells, Somerset in the December Quarter of 1910. Died 2 July 1943 aged 31.
P. C. WYATT	Flight Sergeant (Navigator) Paul Cochrane Wyatt of the RAF Volunteer Reserve, 149 Squadron. Born in the March Quarter of 1922. Died 5 June 1945 aged 23. For more information about 149 Squadron, go to www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/h149.html
G. R. WEBB	This entry relates to Gordon R. Webb. There is currently no confirmed information about this man.