Remembering those who died 1939-1945

As well as the war memorial cross set up in 1922 outside the west end of the church, St Mary's has a Roll of Honour for both World Wars displayed inside the church. It was inscribed in 1954 and is located in the north aisle, a memorial to those from the Parish of Twickenham who died in the conflicts.

St Mary’s has a separate Roll of Honour, also on display, for those who died in the second World War, in whose memory the gates at the entrance to the churchyard were restored in 1955 along with the wrought-iron lamp above them.

Scroll down to read the history of St Mary's WW1 and WW2 memorials and more about the individuals recorded on the !939-45 Roll of Honour.

If anyone has further information about any of those named, it would be very much appreciated, in particular if more light could be shed on the names for which there is so far no information or whose connection to Twickenham is unclear.

Diana Wells, St Mary’s Archivist

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Remembering those who died 1939-1945

St Mary's Roll of Honour for both World Wars was inscribed in 1954 and is displayed in the north aisle, a memorial to those who died from the Parish of Twickenham. It echoes the original inscription on the war memorial cross set up in 1922 outside the west end of the church. These 120 names and others later added were researched by Jeremy and Sue Hamilton-Miller and were published in 2017 in The Fallen of St Mary’s Parish Twickenham 1914-1918, Borough of Twickenham Local History Society, Paper 98, available in church and in Twickenham Museum.

St Mary’s has a separate Roll of Honour, which is also on display, for those who died in the second World War in whose memory the gates at the entrance to the churchyard were restored along with the wrought-iron lamp above them in 1955.

Our Verger, Mandy Hunter, remembers the occasion of the dedication of the gates as a significant family event as her uncle, Philip Hunter, was shot down over St Nazaire on 2 April 1943. A letter is in the archives written by Mandy’s aunt Edith Hunter living at Grange Villa, 3 Grange Avenue.

I am most grateful to Prof. Jeremy and Sue Hamilton-Miller who have researched the names on the 1939-1945 framed list. The documents in the St Mary’s archives include a card index for all the names as well as letters written by bereaved family members to Donald Simpson, the church archivist at that time, who had sent out a request for details to the congregation along with a plea for donations to the fund to restore the gates and lamp.  

Jeremy and Sue Hamilton-Miller were successful in identifying many of those listed but were puzzled by the names that either could not be identified at all or were not apparently connected to Twickenham. They felt that there might have been some spelling errors in the list and the absence of a second Christian name had also made the search more difficult. 

One especially poignant name is that of Hugh McLeod Sheane who was the only son of Rev. William Pakenham Cole Sheane, Vicar of St Mary’s from 1923-1949. Hugh was aged 28 and had just qualified as a solicitor when he joined up. 

James Ronald BARBER

Corporal RASC 5617972, died 19 March 1946 aged 30.

Buried in East Sheen Cemetery.

Inscription: REST ETERNAL GRANT HIM AFTER WEARY FIGHT / SHED ON HIM THE RADIANCE OF THY HEAVENLY LIGHT 

Son of Ernest Richard and Annie Eliza Barber. Husband of Violet Phyllis Barber of Castlenau.

Ronald Albert James BROWN 

13424937 Gunner Royal Artillery, 16 Field Reg, died 8 May 1944 aged 19.

Buried in Imphal War Cemetery, India.

Inscription: HE GAVE THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL, THE GIFT OF HIS UNFINISHED LIFE

Son of Albert and Edith Brown, of 1a Church Lane, Twickenham.

Frank Barry CHAMBERS

Captain EC/664, 23 Amjer Regiment, died 21 March 1943 aged 21.

Buried in Kirkee War Cemetery, India. 

Inscription: ALL OUR THOUGHTS GO ONWARD WITH YOU. "RATHER DEATHE THAN FALSE OF FAYTHE"

Son of Arthur Stanley and Violet Mary of Ham. Husband of Colleen, 31 Orford Gardens.

Henry Harris CHISSELL

Stoker 2^nd class, Royal Navy, P/KX 100892, HMS Berwick, died 27 November 1940 aged 28. Commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial. 

Berwick was a heavy cruiser.  He was killed during an engagement with the German ship Admiral Hipper off the Canary Islands.

Son of Frank and Blanche Chissell, 22 Oak Lane.

Frederick William EARNSBY

Lt. RNVR HMS Capel, died 26 December 1944.

Commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial [recorded as EARNSLEY in Probate records].

His ship, a frigate, was patrolling off Cherbourg when it was torpedoed by a U-boat.

Husband of Joan, Manor Road North, New Malden.

Stanley Scott GWATKIN-WILLIAMS

Ordinary Seaman, Royal Navy C/JX 406267, HMS Grey Goose, died 10 July 1944 aged 18. Commemorated on Chatham Naval Memorial.  

Grey Goose was a steam gunboat, part of a flotilla under the command of Peter Scott, the famous ornithologist.

Son of Rupert Stanley and Florence Margaret Gwatkin-Williams of 43 Lebanon Park.

Thomas Muir HILLCOAT

Stoker 1^st Class, Royal Navy KX98362, Submarine Undaunted, died 13 May 1941 aged 20. Commemorated on Plymouth Naval Memorial.

Undaunted is presumed to have been lost to mines, in the Malta/Tripoli region. 

Son of James and Charlotte Hillcoat, 38 Powdermill Lane.

Henry Philip HUNTER

Sgt RAFVR, 1332920, 57 Sqn, died 2 April 1943 aged 21.

Buried in Nantes (Pont-du-Sens) Communal Cemetery, France.  His Lancaster bomber crashed over the target site, St Nazaire.

Inscription: WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM

Son of Henry Felix and Edith Jane Hunter, of Grange Avenue. Uncle of Mandy Hunter.

Philip Douglas Charles HUTCHINSON

Sgt. Royal Artillery 804709, died 17 June 1940 aged 27.

Killed on board HMTS Lancastria, buried in Escoublac-la-Baule War Cemetery, France.

The sinking of troopship Lancastria was the biggest single Allied maritime loss of life of the war. She was bombed off St Nazaire and sank rapidly. There were up to 6000 aboard, and only about 2500 survived.

Inscription: HE GAVE HIS COUNTRY THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL, HIS OWN UNFINISHED LIFE

Son of Douglas Cayley and Marguerita Elizabeth Hutchinson of Cross Deep Gardens.

William Angus KING 

Lt. Royal Engineers 265436, died 19 September 1944 aged 26.

Buried in Ancona War Cemetery, Italy.

Inscription: IN MEMORY OF ANGUS. I WALK ALONE BUT YOU ARE BY MY SIDE. CLARE

Son of William Frederick and Ann King. Husband of Clare Helen King of Kew Gardens.

Victor Haig MOUNTSTEPHENS

Sgt. RAFVR 924847, died 6 January 1942 aged 22.  Buried in Twickenham Cemetery.

He was wireless operator and rear gunner; his plane crashed shortly after take-off. 

Inscription: WHAT MORE CAN A MAN GIVE, THAN HIS LIFE FOR THOSE HE LOVED? "UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN"

Son of Louis Bond and Violet Mercy Mountstephens of 3 Kneller Gardens, Whitton.

Henry Setten NESMYTH 

L/Corporal 6016386, 2/5 Essex Regiment, died 1 July 1942 aged 25. 

Commemorated on the Alamein Memorial, Egypt.

Son of Henry and Alice Nesmith, 10 Devoncroft Gardens. Husband of Joan. He was baptised at St Mary’s in 1918.

Leslie Hugh NESMYTH 

Trooper 319620, 12 Royal Lancers, died 17 June 1944 aged 22.

Buried in the Assisi War Cemetery, Italy.

Inscription: MOURN THIS YOUTH NESMYTH. A MALE LINE ENDED; NO PROGENY CAN GRACE THIS NAME.

Son of Henry Date and May Louise Nesmyth, 10a First Cross Road. 

Victor Henry PARRY 

Pilot Officer RAFVR 115326, died 2 October 1942 aged 22. Buried in the Rheinberg War Cemetery.

Inscription: GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THAT HE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS. 

He was wireless operator and air gunner in Halifax bomber W1275 on an operation to Krefeld. It is assumed he was shot down over the target.

Son of Charles Henry and Nita Geraldine Parry of 22 Ormond Drive, Hampton.

There is more information about this officer in documents in St Mary’s Church archives.

Arthur Vernon PEARSON 

Flight Lt. RAFVR 130854, died 29 January 1945 aged 24.

Commemorated on the Malta Memorial. He went missing during a photo reconnaissance in a Spitfire over the Bay of Naples.

Son of Thomas Frederick and Hilda Eveline Pearson, 2 Coleshill Rd, amongst other locations. Husband of Gladys May Pearson of Willington, Derbyshire.

Charles William Stanley PEARSON 

Private 67143030, 2/6 East Surrey Regiment, died 26 Nov. 1940 aged 22 in POW Camp. 

Buried in Malbork Commonwealth War Cemetery, Poland.

Inscription: LIFE'S WORK WELL DONE, LIFE'S RACE WELL RUN, LIFE'S CROWN WELL WON, AND NOW COMES REST

Son of Charles Henry and Violet Annie Pearson of Grove Avenue.

Edward George RAWLEY 

Flt. Sergeant RAFVR 1235510, died 17 December 1944 aged 23.

Buried in St Sever Cemetery extension, Rouen, France.

Inscription: TO LIVE IN THE HEARTS WE LEAVE BEHIND IS NOT TO DIE

Son of Lawrence George and Eva Mary Ann Rawley of Strawberry Hill. Husband of Audrey.

Charles SALISBURY 

Flt. Sergeant RAFVR 934481, died 2 September 1943 aged 23.

Commemorated on the Malta Memorial.

He was in a Hudson aircraft on an air/sea rescue search, that crashed into the sea off Cape Rosa.

Son of Victor Edward Leopold and Eleanor Salisbury of 23 River View Gardens.

Hugh Macleod SHEANE

Lieutenant 2 Royal Ulster Rifles 176459, died 27 November 1944 aged 28.

Buried in Mierlo War Cemetery, Netherlands. 

Son of Prebendary Cole Sheane, Vicar of St. Mary’s 1923-1949.  Wife Eileen Valerie.

Ronald Joseph STODDART

3^rd Officer Merchant Navy MV Indus, died 20 July 1942 aged 27.

Commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

Indus was sunk by gunfire from the German raider Thor.

Son of William Henry and Maude Matilda Stoddart of Twickenham.

Ronald Amos Charles Martin STRINGER

Sergeant RAFVR 1467653, died 18 August 1943 aged 29.

Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. 

Husband of L. J. Stringer, Heathfield North.

John Burton WILLIAMS

Lt. 1 Ox & Bucks Light Infantry 285425, died 2 March 1945 aged 21.

Buried in Mook War Cemetery, Netherlands 

Son of John Douglas and Florence May Williams of 50 London Road.

The following listed servicemen were recorded as killed in the War but no connection with Twickenham has been found:

Derrick John BANBURY  14462175 Trooper, 9 Queens Own Lancers, died 6 April 1947 aged 19. Buried in Ramleh War Cemetery, Palestine. 

Memorial: REST IN PEACE, BELOVED SON AND BROTHER, REMEMBERED BY ALL.

Son of John Francis and Violet Muriel Banbury of Eastleigh, Hampshire, and living in Barnes in 1939.

Harry BURNS  Sub-Lt. RNVR (Fleet Air Arm), MiD HMS Vindex. Died 19 March 1944 aged 22. Commemorated on Lee-on-Solent Memorial.

He was Observer in a Swordfish that crashed in the sea off Newfoundland. Adopted son of Hugh and Margaret Burns, Wallasey, Cheshire.

The only other WW2 death of this name was also from Wallasey: Private 13028162, Catering Corps att Pioneers, died 13 Nov 1944, buried in Florence War Cemetery.

Charles FLOUNDERS  The only soldier found of this name was a Sapper, Royal Engineers 1924503.  He enlisted in 1939, aged 30, occupation Stevedore.  He is reported as being wounded on 17 June 1943. There is no record of him being killed in the war, and no connection to Twickenham. He died in 1984, in Cleveland, Yorkshire. 

Robert JOHNSON  Possibly either Robert William JOHNSON, Sgt. RAFVR 1331196, died 1 Oct 1942 aged 20. Buried in Kiel Cemetery, Germany. Son of William and Milly Johnson of Westcott, Surrey (near Dorking).

or Robert Walter JOHNSON, Leading Aircraftman RAFVR 1280302, died 1 Sep 1944 aged 24.  Commemorated on the Singapore Memorial. Son of Robert and Mary Ann Johnson of Peckham.  Husband of Mary Ann.

Bernard John PATCH  

Sergeant RAFVR 1812236, died 11 March 1945 aged 21. Buried in Cambridge City Cemetery. He was an air gunner in an aeroplane that collided with a Hurricane over Lincolnshire.  Son of Ernest and Ethel Elizabeth Patch.  

Geoffrey Charles ROBINSON  Able Seaman, Royal Fleet Auxiliary MV British Dominion, died 10 January 1943 aged 24. Commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.  Sunk by U-522 off Canary Islands. Son of Douglas and Kate Elizabeth Robinson, living in Brighton in 1921.

Service information in RFA in St Mary’s Church archives.

Geoffrey THOMSON 

The only person of this name who was killed in the war is Geoffrey George THOMSON, Leading Seaman RN C/JX 147245, HMS Juno, died 21 May 1941 aged 20. Commemorated on the Chatham Memorial.  His ship, a destroyer, was sunk by bombs off SE Crete.  Son of Frederick Young and Harriet Valerie Thomson of Muswell Hill. 

His brother, Robert Ft. Lt. 47221, died 6 May 1944 aged 27 and is buried in Calcutta Cemetery, India; his personal inscription reads: ALSO IN MEMORY OF HIS BROTHER GEOFFREY KILLED IN H.M.S. "JUNO" 21ST MAY 1941 AGE 20.

Kenneth Roy TOWNROE  The only person of this surname killed in the war is John Henry TOWNROE, Signalman RN C/JX 310266, HMS Excellent II 27, died June 1943 aged 21. Commemorated in the Suez War Memorial Cemetery.

Died of typhoid fever in 13^th General Hospital, Suez, Egypt.

Eric WEBBER  Private 5343156, 2/6 Queens (West Surrey), died 17 September 1943 aged 23. Buried in Salerno War Cemetery, Italy.  Son of A. F. and Elsie Anne Webber, of Newbury, Berkshire. IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAR SON ERIC ALWAYS IN OUR THOUGHTS. "GOD'S GREATEST GIFT, REMEMBRANCE".

Civilians killed by bombs: 

George William HARDY  Civilian killed in an air raid, 26 October 1940 aged 52 at Telegraph Hotel, Shepherds Bush Green.  Husband of Agnes Rosa Hardy, of 34 Tunis Road, Hammersmith.

Francis Thomas SHERBORNE  Civilian killed near St. Bartholomew's Hospital, 29 December 1940 aged 44. His address was 72 Heathfield South, Twickenham.

NB - other civilians were killed in the parish by enemy action, but for unknown reasons their names were not recorded when the Roll of Honour was compiled. As example, see our separate blog The VI that fell on Gotham Villas on Twickenham Riverside.

No relevant records were found for a St Mary’s Church connection for these individuals:

Jack Simon CARPENTER  P/LD/X/4911 Ord. Signalman, RNVR HMS Rawalpindi, died 23 November 1939 aged 26. Commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial. His ship, an armed merchant cruiser, was sunk by two German battleships while patrolling between Iceland and the Faroes. Son of Harry and Florence Carpenter of 35 Laburnum Grove, Staines Road. He attended Orleans School, and was a keen footballer

This name is not on the plaque in St Mary’s, although according to the West Middlesex War Memorials website, it is.

William EVANS not traced. Possibly Flight Sergeant RAFVR 902284, died 27 April 1944 aged 26. Buried in Laneuville-à-Bayard Churchyard. He was air bomber on a Lancaster that crashed on a raid on Schweinfurt. Inscription: HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR THOSE HE LOVED. HE SHALL NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN.  Son of William and Doris Evans, husband of Jocelyn Marion of Ealing.

Frederick HOWARD not traced.

Leslie KING not traced.

Robert LANCASTER not traced: possible link to Walter William LANCASTER Sergeant Royal Army Ordnance Corps 7637096, died 29 April 1942, buried in Twickenham Cemetery. Son of Walter and Harriet Lancaster, husband of Kathleen of Whitton.

John RILEY not traced.

Roland WALKER not traced.