Shaldon 1939 War Memorial

SHALDON - THE 1939 - 1945 WAR MEMORIAL

1939 list of names on the memorial

S.BRIMILCOMBE	D/230527 Petty Officer Sidney Brimilcombe of the Royal Navy, HMS Campeador V. Son of John and Mary Jane Brimilcombe of Ringmore. Born in Shaldon 2 October 1886. Died 22 June 1940 aged 52 when his ship was lost.
R.FEILDON	402650 Pilot Officer Randle Feilden of the Royal Australian Air Force. Son of Everard and Maude Feilden. Born in Australia in 1913. Died 22 September 1941 aged 28.
G.R.HICKS	4626271 Trooper George Edwin Hicks of the 5th Battalion, the Royal Tank Regiment. Son of George and Ellen Hicks, formerly of Shaldon. Born in Dover in the December Quarter of 1916. Died 20 September 1944 aged 32.
J.I.HOUSTON	53748 Major James Ivor Houston of the Essex regiment, attached to the 3rd Battalion (paras) . Son of Mr and Mrs James Houston; husband of Lorna Houston of Weyhill, Hants. Born in County Londonderry in 1912. Died at Arnhem 20 September 1944 aged 32.
J.LONG	D/KX 117591 Stoker 1st Class John Long of the Royal Navy, HMS Hecla. Son of Margaret Long; husband of Emily Long of Shaldon. Born in 1902. Died 12 November 1942 aged 40 when his ship was lost.
T.PAYNE	5617558 Private "Tom" Payne of the 2nd Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Payne; husband of Ivy Payne of Dawlish. Born in Shaldon in the March Quarter of 1911. Died 3 April 1942 aged 30.
E.A.SLATER	Wing Commander Edward Albert Slater OBE. Son of Rupert and Minnie Slater; husband of Minnie Evelyn Slater of Teignmouth. By 1911 he was living at "Riverside" Shaldon. Born in 1900 in St Asaph, Debeighshire,Wales. he retired due to ill health March 6th 1944. Died 22 August 1946 aged 46.
R.P.STOYLE	D/JX Able Seaman Reginald Percy Stoyle of HM Cable Ship Alert. Son of Percy and Elsie Stoyle of Shaldon. Born in Croydon in the June Quarter of 1921. Died 24 February 1945 aged 24.
W.M.THEOBALD	116418 Flight Lieut. Wilfred Murray Theobald DFC of the RAF VR, 78 Squadron. Born in Shaldon in the June Quarter of 1911. Died 12 June 1943 aged 32. The crew of his final and somewhat mysterious mission were: F/O Edward Patrick Deville : Pilot F/Sgt. Thomas James Bainbridge : Flight Engineer F/Lt. Wilfred Murray Theobald DFC : Navigator F/Sgt. John Lindsay Wilson : Air Bomber F/Sgt. John Malcolm Davies : Wireless Operator F/Sgt. Hugh Humphreys DFM : Gunner F/Sgt. John Harrington RCAF : Gunner The details of his DFC have so far never been released nor has the medal been traced. David Theobald who writes below was the nephew of Wilfred Theobald: My uncle was F/Lt Wilfred Murray Theobald DFC, the Navigator on board of the Stirling Mk1 R9286. He was a VR with the Pathfinders Group. Before WW2 he farmed in Koemga in South Africa. Born in Shaldon, Devonshire he was the youngest of a family of 5, his eldest brother John Campbell Theobald, and his 3 sisters, Claire, Mary and Betty. His father was a tea, rubber and sisal farmer in Borneo and Sumatra before WW2. I have found some more information on my dear uncle but that is rather contradictory. His Service number was: 116417 but also is listed under 116418? He was awarded the DFC 430 709 (stated only in the London Gazette of 09-07-1948 with no reference to the bravery he committed), The 1939-1945 Star, The Air Crew Europe Star, The Defence Medal and The War Medal. Unfortunately the DFC medal and ribbon are missing and I would so like to have that completed again in his honour. It was mentioned he crashed whilst on his 29th sortie with 78 Sqdn in a Handley Page Halifax Then it was also stated that he crashed on the 12-06-1943, and on the 11-12-1943. On the Runnymeade Memorial it states that he was killed on the 04-04-1943. I would very much like to find a photo of him with the other Crew members. I trust this may throw some more light on the missing. Best regards, David John Egbert Theobald.