The WW2 Roll of Honour:
Surnames A - B

Flight Sergeant 1063543 Bernard Eric Adams

 

458 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Died on 5th August 1943, Age 24.

Commemorated Malta Memorial, panel 7, column 1.

 

Flight Sergeant, B.E. Adams, officially reported missing, now believed to be killed, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Adams, of 1, Milton Street, Knightthorpe. He was 24, years of age, and was educated at Loughborough Grammar School. Prior to the war he was on the staff at the Loughborough Library.  Prior to joining the R.A. F. he was the librarian at Audenshaw, Manchester.

Photo courtesy of Asia War Graves.com

Private 14703637  Wilfred Derek Adkin

4th Bn., Wiltshire Regiment

Died on 18th February 1945,  Aged 19.

Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery 5. A. 14.                                                                                   

News has been received that Private, Wilfred Derek Adkin, who was only 19 years of age, son of Mrs., Hart, 130, Station Street, Loughborough, and the late Mr., Adkin, has been killed in action in Western Europe. Prior to the war he worked at Messrs, Towles, Ltd, and had been in the Army for 12 months.  He went to France in June.

 

B. Allwood
 

Pilot Officer 46708  Peter Vincent Barthel

35 Sqdn., Royal Air Force

Died on 9th March 1942, Aged 22

Commemorated Runnymede Memorial

Lance Corporal 4857068  Henry James Beasley

1/5th Bn., Leicestershire Regiment

Died on 23rd March 1942, Aged 23

Buried Krakow Rakowicki Cemetery, 4. C 3.
L/Cpl. Beasley worked at Messrs, William Cottons, Ltd., Loughborough, and served for nine years in the Leicestershire Territorials. He was captured in Norway. He has written to his parents he is well. He has received parcels from Loughborough, including cigarettes from the Mayor's Fund. 

DEATH OF PRISONER OF WAR. 

SEQUEL TO ACCIDENT 

LETTER FROM CHAPLIN. 

Mr. and Mrs. F, Beasley, 15, Manor Drive, Shelthorpe, have received the sad news that their son, L/Cpl. Harry Beasley, who had been a prisoner of war for two years, has died following an accident. Prior to the war he worked at Messrs, William Cottons, Ltd., Loughborough, and served for nine years in the Leicestershire Territorials. He was 23 years of age and was captured in Norway. Mr. and Mrs., Beasley have another son in the Army, Gunner Thomas Beasley. The letter received by Mrs., Beasley was from Captain, Reverend, John Berry, a chaplain at Stalag VIIIB. 

The letter reads: " I am the catholic priest working in this camp. I am very sorry to have to send you some sad news of your son, Harry.  He was out on a working party and had an accident. He was taken to a hospital run by some nuns, who took every care possible, but in spite of all their efforts, he died after about an hour, March 23rd. You will be comforted to hear that the Nuns got a priest in time and he received Absolution, Extreme Unction and the Pope's Blessing for the Dying. I myself conducted the burial at a military funeral and full Requiem Mass for your boy. The Reverend Mother of the Convent told me all the details. I shall say another Requiem Mass for Harry and also a Mass for you and your family that God may comfort you in your sadness. If possible I shall try to visit you when I get home to England and I shall remember you and yours in my Mass each day and ask God to give you strength to bear your grief. I shall ask the men too for their prayers at Mass. May God ever love and comfort you and yours."

 
Henry's Funeral Krakow Cemetery
 
 

 

Private 4857112 Herbert Beck

6th Bn., Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment)

Died on  21st June 1944, Aged 29.

Buried Bayeux War Cemetery, XXIX. H. 2.

G. Beech
 

Pilot Officer 40664  John Keith Bennett

49 Sqdn., Royal Air Force

Died on 25 May 1940, Aged 20

Buried Adegem Canadian Cemetery, n. III.AB.8.
In a casualty list dated February 7th 1941, the Air Ministry announced the name of Pilot Officer J. Keith Bennett, "St Albans", Quorn. He is presumed killed in action after having been missing during operations over the Ruhr district since the end of May.1940. Pilot Officer Bennett joined the R.A.F. at the age of 18, and was commissioned and posted to a bomber squadron in 1938. He took part in the attack on Kiel on the opening day of the war and afterwards made numerous visits to Germany and Norway. He was educated at the Loughborough Grammar School and had many friends in Loughborough.

John Keith Bennett, was born 1919 in Loughborough, the son of John Bennett and Beatrice Belton (who were married in Loughborough in 1915). John had a twin sister, Dorothy B. Bennett, who died in Loughborough in 1938.

Captain 111867 Vernon Craigie Bentley


Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Died on 24th May 1943, Aged 25

Buried Heliopolis War Cemetery Egypt, 3. D. 33.

Mr. C. D. Bentley, chief accountant at Loughborough College and Mrs. Bentley, of Frederick Street, Loughborough, have received news that there son, Captain D. V. C. Bentley, of the R.E.M.E. has died in the Middle East. Captain Bentley, who was 25, years of age, was six months ago appointed staff Captain to the Deputy Assistant Director Mechanical Engineers, Middle East. He was commissioned in December 1939, and served in France and for over two years in the Middle East. Captain Bentley was educated at Loughborough Grammar School, and Loughborough College, where he gained his diploma. He was a graduate member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers.

Private 4856230  Alfred Mons Billings

1st Bn., Leicestershire Regiment

Died on 7th September 1944, Aged 29.

Buried Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Coll. grave 3. D. 2-20.
 

Photo courtesy of Asia War Graves.com

M. Billings
 

Fourth Engineer Officer   Harold Kenneth Bintcliffe

M.V. Empire Steel (Liverpool), Merchant Navy

Died on 24th March 1942, Aged 27.

Commemorated  Tower Hill Memorial Panel 45.                               

Fourth Engineer H. K. Bintcliffe.

Son of Mr. and Mrs., H. Bintcliffe of Nanpantan-road. Loughborough, and husband of Mrs. Gladys Bintcliffe. 13, Forest Road, Loughborough has been posted as missing at sea.

 

Lance Serjeant Ronald Birkin
6th Bn., Grenadier Guards

Died on 29th January 1944, Aged 23.

Buried Minturno War Cemetery Italy, I, H, 22.

Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Birkin, 24, Great Central Road, Loughborough, received official notification from the War Office that their son, L/Sergt, Ronald Birkin, of the Grenadier Guards, died in January from wounds received on active service. Ron who was 23 years of age, was educated at Limehurst School and was later employed by Messrs, Marsdens and Co, Ltd, Market Place, for a period of five years.Prior to joining the Army he was a grocers assistant at the Ceylon Tea Co, Ltd, High Street. His father served with the 5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, 1914-1918, and his Brothers are serving, Horace being in the R.A.F. and Fred in the Royal Artillery. Ron was engaged to Miss Muriel Melbourne, Wide Street, Hathern.

 

 AN APPRECIATION. 

In a appreciation of L/Sergt. Ron Birkin, Mr. J H Carter writes:

I have known Ron since he was a schoolboy, so in my grief I feel I must write this. Ron enjoyed reading the Echo and I know many of your readers will be sorry to hear of his death. He was loved by everybody who knew him. His personality was great, his kindness and thoughtfulness for mankind was such that one does not find very often in one so young. He feared no man, but only God. Ron Birkin has died just as he has lived. I hoped that he would be spared, because of his goodness, but I suppose God knows best. The good always die young.

 

F. W. Black
 

Sapper 1906498 Leslie Blyth

 

A Field Coy., Royal Engineers

Died on 12th June 1943. Aged 24.

Buried Hathern Cemetery B. Grave 4016.                                                                                        

 

Leslie Blyth died in a most unfortunate accident.  Leslie was in barracks in the Maidstone area he was getting ready for a kit inspection.  One of his fellow soldiers was cleaning his rifle and unfortunately a bullet was still in the chamber, when the rifle was fired Leslie caught the full force of it and died. 

Born 1919 in Gedney, Lincolnshire, the son of William Blyth and Edith Blyth (née Lunn). Died in Maidstone area, 1943, aged 24. The Blyth family later lived in Leicestershire, and Leslie's father, William, died in Loughborough in 1962.

 

Private S/10685163 George Edward Blythe

46 Base Supply Depot, Royal Army Service Corps

Died on 11th May 1943, Aged 19.

Buried Bone War Cemetery, Annaba, Algeria, IV. C. 12.

Serjeant T/108246 Ernest Dowell Gee Bosomworth 

 

Royal Army Service Corps

Died on 27th July 1943, Aged 24.

Buried Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, B3. B. 1.

 

LOCAL SCOUTMASTER PRISONER OF WAR. 

Many people in Loughborough, and in particular members of the Scout Movement, will be glad to hear that after being posted as missing for 14 months, Sergeant Ernest D. G. Bosomworth, son of Mr., and Mrs. W. Bosomworth, 1, Alfred Street, Loughborough, is know known to be a prisoner of war in a Japanese Malaya camp.  His parents received the news on Monday.

Sergeant Bosomworth was known as " Skipper" not only to the All Saints Parish Church Scout Troop, of which he was Scoutmaster, but to many other members of the movement.  He has now been in the Army for three and a half years, and saw seven months service in France, later going to Malaya, where he was captured within only a few weeks of landing.

Going from Rendell-st, School to the Grammar School, he became a clerk with the firm of Messrs. Woolley. Beardsleys and Bosworth. His father served in the last war with the Royal Flying Corps.  

Official intimation has been received from the War Office by Mr. and Mrs., W. Bosomworth, 1. Alfred Street, Loughborough, that their only son, Sergt. Ernest, D. G. Bosomworth, has died whilst a prisoner of war in the hands of the Japanese.

The information was received by his parents on Wednesday, and it was stated that he died on July 27th, 1943. Ernest was taken prisoner at Singapore in February 1942, and the first intimation that he was a prisoner was received in April 1943.

Ernest, who was educated at the Loughborough Grammar School, was well known in Loughborough, and was employed at Messrs, Woolley , Beardsleys and Bosworth, solicitors, Rectory- place, before volunteering for the Forces in September 1939.

He was Group Scoutmaster of the Loughborough and District Parish Church Group of Boy Scouts and was a member of the Young People's Fellowship attached to the Parish Church, and was also a member of the Church Dramatic Society. He was nearly 25 years of age when he died.

 

Photo courtesy of Asia War Graves.com

Private 4857407 Alfred Thomas Bradbury

Royal Army Medical Corps

Died on 14th February 1942, Aged 28.

Commemorated Singapore Memorial, Column 105.


Photo courtesy of Asia War Graves.com

Driver T/63357 Eric Bradshaw

 

Royal Army Service Corps, 49 Gen. Transport Coy.

Died on 20th May 1940, Aged 42.

Commemorated Dunkirk Memorial.                                                                                      

 

Diver Eric Bradshaw, of the R.A.S.C. 31, Knightthorpe Road, Loughborough, has been officially reported missing.  Driver Bradshaw, who is married, went to France at the outbreak of war.  His parents live at Woodbine Cottage, Carrington Street, and he worked for the hosiery firm of Bradshaw and Sons as a lorry driver.  His parents heard from him last in May. 

Presumed Killed in Action. 

PTE. E. BRADSHAW.

News has been received that Pte. Eric Bradshaw. R.A.SC. aged 42, of 31, Knightthorpe Road, Loughborough, who was reported missing in France since May. 1940, is now presumed killed in action.  Pte. Bradshaw, is the son of Mr. and Mrs., Bradshaw, of Carrington Street, Loughborough, and prior to joining the Army was with Messrs, Bradshaw, coal merchant.  He leaves a wife and two children.

 

Volunteer  Horace Brant

Home Guard

Died on 7th September 1941, Aged 42

Buried Loughborough Cemetery, 371.C. Grave 2.

Leading Telegraphist C/SSX 26202 John Edward Bregazzi

H.M.S. Avenger, Royal Navy

Died on 15th November 1942. Aged 21.

Commemorated Chatham Naval Memorial, 65, 1.         

Mr. and Mrs. A E Bregazzi, of 24, Homefield Avenue, Loughborough, have received official intimation that their son, Leading Telographist, John Edward Bregazzi, has been lost on H.M.S.  Avenger when she was recently sunk. He was 21 years of age and joined the Navy just before the war broke out.  Prior to that he was in the drawing office of Messrs, H, Morris Limited.  He was educated at the Loughborough college school. Mr. and Mrs. Bregazzi have two more sons.  One is corporal in the R.A.F and the other is at Loughborough Grammar School and is in the A.T.C.

 

 

Chatham Naval Memorial

 

 

Air Mec. 1st Class FAA/FX. 90784 John Kenneth Brompton

 

H.M.S. Glorious, Royal Navy

Died on 8th June 1940, Aged 20.

Commem, Lee-On-Solent Memorial,  Bay 1, Panel .   5                                                                                                                                                                 

 

News has been received from the Admiralty by Mr. and Mrs., A, Brompton, 8, Ratcliffe Road, Loughborough, that they must now presume the death of their son, John Kenneth, as having taken place on June 9th, 1940.  He was Air Mechanic Electrician First Class of the Fleet Air Arm, serving on H.M.S. "Glorious", when she was sunk off Norway. He was educated at the Loughborough Grammar School and was at one time a patrol leader of the Loughborough Parish Church Scouts.  Twin brothers are serving in the Army, one in Ireland and one abroad.  He was 21 years of age and went straight from school to the Navy.  He was a very popular young man and much sympathy will be with the parents.

 

Sergeant 1198300 Ernest Albert Brookes

 

7 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Died on 6th December 1942, Aged 20.

Buried Heverlee War Cemetery Coll. grave 2. D. 1-6.

 

Flight Sergeant 1436641 Walter Brooks

 

644 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Died on 23rd February 1945, Age 25.

Buried Loughborough Cemetery, Comp. 188. Grave 38.                                                                                            

 

Flight Sergeant Navigator Walter Brooks, son of Mr., Walter Brooks, 42, Moore Lane, Loughborough, has lost his life in February as the result of a flying accident. At one time he was a member of 132 Squadron, A.T.C, and joined the R.A.F. three years ago. He was educated at Loughborough Junior College and prior to joining the R.A.F, worked at Messrs, Herbert Morris, Ltd. He had twelve months training in South Africa whilst with the R.A.F. The funeral took place yesterday. The coffin, enshrouded in a Union Jack, rested over night in St, Mary's Church.

 

Private 14353990 John Douglas Bruin

 

Royal Army Ordnance Corps

Died on 9th October 1945, Age 21.

Buried Loughborough Cemetery, Comp. 398. Grave 13.

 

Following the sad loss of his father on September 26th, the death occurred of Mr. J, Bruin Junior, on Thursday of last week at his home, 19, Burleigh Road, Loughborough, at the age of 21. Before joining H.M. Forces at the age of 18, Mr. Bruin was employed by the Brush Electrical Engineering Co. He was discharged from the Army two years ago owing to ill health and had been an invalid since. The funeral took place at Emmanuel Church on Friday and was conducted by the Reverend, H, Marley. The mourners included Mrs. Bruin (mother), The Misses Joan and June Bruin (sisters), relatives of Mr. J, Bruin, Mr. West and Mrs. King (friends), and Mr. Ward and Mr. Young, representing the Brush Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd. The many beautiful floral tributes included flowers from the family, relatives and friends, colleagues and friends from the Brush Elec. Eng. Co. Ltd, Sandare Gowns and Burleigh Road residents.

 

Driver 1148935 Ronald Bryan

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Died on 29th April 1945, Aged 22.

Buried Becklingen War Cemetery, Germany, 17. F. 1.

Robert Arthur Buckly
 

L/Cpl Robert Arthur Buckley, son of the late Mr. R.A. Buckley and of Mrs. Buckley (nee Thurman), of 7, Radmoor Cottages, Loughborough, was killed in action on the Burma Front in India.  He leaves a widow and three children, who live in Lincoln. L/Cpl. Buckley was 26 years of age and had been in the Army since January 1940.  Before joining the Forces he was for four years a conductor with the Lincolnshire Red Car Co. Ltd, and was previously at Lipton's, the grocers at Lincoln. He was a native of Loughborough and was a grandson of the late Mr., and Mrs. Thurman, of 70, Havelock Street, Loughborough.

 

Captain Patrick Gifford Burder

 

1st Bn, Leicestershire Regiment

Died 11 - 13 December 1941, Aged 26.

Buried Taiping War Cemetery, Malaysia 2.G.7

 

News has been received by Mr. and Mrs., H, Gifford Burder, "Redholme," Ashby Road, Lougborough, that their only son, Captain, Patrick Gifford Burder, has been posted as missing in Malaya since December, 13th. Aged 26 years, Captain Burder was appointed adjutant of his Battalion in 1941, and was last home on leave from India in 1936. He was educated at Haileybury College and later at Loughborough College.  He was an all round sportsman, and at Loughborough played rugby football for the College and also for Loughborough Town.  He was a member of the College fencing team.  

 

Patrick Gifford Burder was born in 1915 in Portsmouth, the son of Captain Herbert Gifford Burder and Lilian F. Burder (née Henslowe) and was educated at Haileybury College. Patrick's father was born in Loughborough in 1886 and died in Loughborough in 1943, at St. Peter's Church Hall. Patrick Gifford Burder's grandparents lived at Field House, Loughborough.

He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on 18 May 1936 and promoted to Lieutenant on 18 May 1939. He subsequently became a Captain in the Leicestershire Regiment, Ist Battalion.

 

 

Photo courtesy of Asia War Graves.com

Sergeant 628545 Michael Bury

Royal Air Force

Died on 11th December 1944, Aged 23.

Buried Moascar War Cemetery, 2. D. 7.