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Wonersh

Picture
Wonersh Memorial Hall
Picture
The Memorial is two Plaques in St John the Baptist Church

IN THANKFUL MEMORY OF THE MEN OF
WONERSH WHO DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY
1914-1918

 George Brown
William Butt
William Callingham
William Charman
Francis Coleman
Wilfred Covey
Leonard Edwards
Thomas Hammond
Frank Hardwicke
Frank Hayward
Henry Hayward
Edward Hawkins
Frank Head
Frederick Hickman
Basil Hodgson
Cyril Hodgson
Edwin James
James Longhurst
James Mant
Edward Milton
George Moore
Henry Ockenden
James Shrub
James Weedon
Picture
1939 + 1945

 George Henry Allen
William Bishop
Thomas Edward Bramble
Nigel Harold Cain
Peter Nesbitt Medd
Richard George Medd
Charles Pullen
Donald Tagg

 R I P
Picture
In addition there are two plaques

One from the Boer War

 TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF
MAJOR “JACK” HANWELL, 39TH BATTERY R.F.A.,
WHO AFTER BEING MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES FOR
CONSPICUOUS BRAVERY DURING THE RELIEF OF LADYSMITH, WAS KILLED IN ACTION NEAR ENTERSBURG, ORANGE RIVER COLONY, SOUTH AFRICA
OCTOBER 30TH 1900, AGED THIRTY EIGHT

THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED BY HIS WIFE.

 The top of the plaque shows the Badge and Motto of the Royal Field Artillery
Picture
And the second plaque is

IN MEMORY OF
FRANK SPARKES
of Wonersh. Who died in France while on duty
for his country on Christmas day 1920 Aged 60

The Fallen in WW1

George BROWN
Rifleman, 4th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own), 80 Brigade, 27th Division. Army no. 2323
He died on 10 April 1916 in Bristol Royal Infirmary of wounds that he had received in France. He was 26.
He was the son of Fanny Redman, formerly Brown, 13 Lawns Mead, Wonersh and the late George Brown.
He is buried in Soldiers Corner in Arnos Vale Cemetery, Bristol and remembered on the War Memorial there on panel 4 669, the Screen Wall.

William Frederick BUTT
Trooper, Household Battalion, Household Brigade, 10th Brigade, 4th Division. Army no. 2655
He was killed in action on 12 October 1917 during the first Battle of Passchendaele. He was 27.
He was the son of Mark and Ellen Butt of Wonersh and the husband of Naomi Butt, 21 Lawnsmead, Wonersh.
He is remembered on panel 3 of the Tyne Cot Memorial

William Charles CALLINGHAM
Private, 38th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment), 12 Infantry Brigade 4th Division. Army no. 135678
He died of wounds received in the trenches 4 November 1916
He is buried in grave I Q 40, Albert Communal Cemetery Extension.
Additional information
Canadian records reveal that he was born on 4 June 1883,
unmarried, his next of kin was his sister who lived in London and that he had enlisted (volunteered).

William CHARMAN
Private, 2nd Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 22 Brigade, 7th Division Army no. G/3557
He was killed in action on 16 May 1915 during the Battle of Festubert.  He was 24.
He was the son of William and Ellen E Charman, 22 Lawnsmead, Wonersh.
He is remembered on panel 4 and 5 of Le Touret Memorial

Francis Albert COLEMAN
Private, 7th Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 55 Brigade, 18th Division Army no. G/1362
He was killed in action during the Battle of Albert on 1 July 1916. He was 24
He was the son of Albert George and Lucy Coleman, Birtley Road, Bramley. He was born in Wonersh.
He is buried in grave III O 2 Dantzig Alley British Cemetery,
Mametz

Wilfred Luke COVEY
Private, 11th Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Army no. G/7208
He died of his wounds on 7 August 1916. He  was 22.
He was the son of Luke and Jane Covey, 10 Lawns Mead, Wonersh.
He is buried in St. John the Baptist Church Cemetery, Wonersh

Leonard George EDWARDS
Private, 7th Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 55 Brigade, 18th Division. Army no. G/1354
He was killed in action on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. He was 21
He was the son of Henry and the late Ann Edwards, 16 Mitchell Cottages, Blackheath. 
He is remembered on pier and face 5D and 6D of the Thiepval Memorial

Thomas Alfred HAMMOND
Private, 2nd/10th Battalion, The London Regiment, 175 Brigade, 58th Division. Army no. 48754. He was formerly Rifleman, The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own)
He was killed in action on 9 August 1918 during the Battle of Epéhy. He was 19
He was the son of William and Sarah A Hammond, Diamond Cottage, Wonersh.
He is buried in grave VIII A 17 Heath Cemetery, Harbonnières

Thomas Frank HARDWICKE
Rifleman, 1st/28th (County of London) Battalion (Artists' Rifles), The London Regiment, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. Army no. B/201426.  He was previously a Private in the Army Service Corps. Army no. M/2/046969
He was killed in action on 30 October 1917 in the Second Battle
of Passchendaele (26 October-10 November 1917), a phase of the Third Battles of Ypres. He was 23.
He was the son of Annie Potter, formerly Hardwick, 2 Hamlash Cottages, Frensham.
He is remembered on panel 145 to 147 of the Tyne Cot Memorial
Additional information
His Medal Card spells his name as Hardwick as does his civil birth registration.
His Mother had re-married in 1909 in Farnham.

Frederick Frank HAYWARD
Private, D Company, 2nd Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 22 Brigade, 7th Division. Army no. L/9152
He was killed in action on 7 November 1914 in the aftermath of the first Battle of Ypres. He was 24
He was the son of Mercy Leigh (formerly Hayward), 5 Mitchells Cottages, Blackheath and the late Sydney F Hayward. He was the elder brother of Henry, the next entry
He is remembered on panel 11-13 and 14 of the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres

Henry James HAYWARD
Private, D Company, 6th Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 37 Brigade, 12th (Eastern) Division.  Army no. 2301
He died from his wounds during the battle of Albert on 24 August 1917.  He was 23.
He was the son of Mercy Leigh (formerly Hayward), 5 Mitchells
Cottages, Blackheath and the late Sydney F Hayward.
He is buried in grave I K 27, Monchy British Cemetery, Monchy le Preux near Arras.
Additional information
His Medal Card states that he was an Acting Sergeant. It is
recorded that he had been a Queens Messenger although this was probably a role within the regiment

Edward Joseph HAWKINS
Sapper, 173rd Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers. Army no. 86361. He was formerly with The Queen's (Royal West Surrey
Regiment). Army no. 2685
He was killed in action on 30 July 1916. He was 36
He was the son of Joseph E and Elizabeth Hawkins of Wonersh.
He is buried in grave I O 2 Noeux les Mines Communal Cemetery
Additional information
He was born in the Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment’s quarters in Colchester, Essex and he had served in the South African Campaign, now known as the Anglo-Boer War.

Frank William HEAD
Lance Corporal, 6th Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire Regiment), 53 Brigade, 18th Division. Army no. 25236.
He was formerly with the Army Cyclists Corps. Army no. 1073
He was killed in action on 19 July 1916 at the battle of Delville Wood. He was 23
He was the son of Eliza Head who lived at Yieldhurst, Shamley Green in 1911
He is remembered on pier and face 11 D of the Thiepval Memorial

Frederick William HICKMAN
Private, 2nd Battalion,The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 22 Brigade, 7th Division. Army no. G/3825
He was killed in action at the Battle of Festubert on 16 May 1915. He was 28
He was the son of George R Hickman, Valentine's Farm, Barnet
He is remembered on panel 4 and 5 of Le Touret Memorial
Additional information
He had been living in Wonersh when he joined up.

Charles Basil Mortimer HODGSON Croix de Guerre with Palm (France)
Captain, attached to 2nd/24th (County of London) Battalion (The Queen’s) London Regiment, 181 Brigade, 60th Division. He was formerly Captain, 3rd Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).
He died from his wounds on 1 April 1918. He was 37
He was the son of Charles D and Emily Hodgson, The Hallams, Shamley Green and the husband of Mary A Hodgson, North Canonry, Salisbury.
He is buried in grave O 143, Cairo War Memorial Cemetery
Additional information
Probate granted 20 June 1918 to his widow.  His address is stated as London SW1

Cyril Arthur Godwin HODGSON
Captain, 16th Battalion (Royal 1st Devon & North Devon Yeomanry) Battalion T F, The Devonshire Regiment, 229 Brigade, 74th Division. He was previously 2nd Lieutenant, Royal North Devon Hussars. 
He died on 20 March 1918. He was 33.  The cause of his death is not known but it was probably as a result of an illness
He was the son of Charles D and Emily Hodgson, The Hallams, Shamley Green
He is buried in grave O 135, Cairo War Memorial Cemetery
Additional information
Royal North Devon Hussars was a cavalry regiment based in Alexandria, Egypt but they “dismounted” in 1917.
Captain Cyril Arthur Godwin Hodgson, Deceased. Pursuant to Statute 22 & 23 Vic., cap 35: 
NOTICE is hereby given, that all persons having any claims against the estate of Cyril Arthur Godwin Hodgson, of The Hallams, Shamley Green, a Captain in the Royal North Devon Hussars, deceased (who died on 20 of March, 1918, and whose will, with two codicils, was proved in the Principal Probate Registry, on 5 of
July, 1918, by Archibald Sanford Hodgson and Harry Moubray Merriman. The executors named therein), are required to send particulars of their claims to the undersigned, on or before the 31st day of August, 1918, after which date the executors will distribute the estate of the deceased, having regard only to the
claims of which-they shall then have had notice.—Dated 11 July 1918. 
Baileys, Shaw & Gillett, 5 Benners Street, London W1 Solicitors to the Executors.
Probate was granted on 5 July 1919 to Archibald Sanford Hodgson, land agent and Harry Moubray, stock broker.  

Edwin Arthur JAMES
Private, 7th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), 55 Brigade, 18th Division. Army no. G/25836
He was killed in action on 23 October 1918 during the Battle of the Selle during the final advance in Picardy. He was 28.
He was the son of Philip A and Fanny S James, The Lodge, Wonersh Park and the husband of Winifred James.
He is buried in grave A 5 Forest Communal Cemetery

James LONGHURST MM
Private, 25th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry).
Army no. 18070. He was formerly with The Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire Regiment). Army no. 10887
He died on 1 November 1918 probably from illness. He was 24
He was the son of Frank and Kate Longhurst, The Common,
Wonersh
He is buried in grave S II JJ 28 St. Sever Cemetery Extension,
Rouen

James Charles MANT
Leading Stoker, HMS Invincible, Royal Navy. Royal Navy
no. K/1168
He was killed in action on 31 May 1916.  He was 29
He was the son of Frederick and Charlotte Mant, White Cottage, Blackheath.
He is remembered on 16 Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Additional information
HMS Invincible was the first Royal Navy battle-cruiser. She fought in the Battles of Heligoland Bight and the Falkland Islands when, with her sister ship HMS Inflexible, sank the German armoured cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau almost without loss.
30 May 1916, the entire Grand Fleet, under Admiral Beatty was
ordered to sea to look for the German Fleet. HMS Invincible was the flagship of the 3rd Battle-Cruiser Squadron under Admiral Hood and the three battle-cruisers sailed ahead of the main fleet.
31 May at 05:53 HMS Invincible found the Wiesbaden and opened fire with the other battle-cruisers joining battle two minutes later.
06:00 The German ships turned south to find shelter in the mist after fruitlessly firing torpedoes. As they turned HMS Invincible hit
Wiesbaden and knocked out her engines while HMS Inflexible hit Pillau once. This German 2nd Scouting Group was escorted by the light cruiser Regensburg and 31 destroyers of 2nd and 9th Flotillas and the 12th Half-Flotilla all of whom attacked the 3rd Battle-cruiser Squadron in succession. They were driven off by Hood's remaining light cruiser HMS Canterbury and the five destroyers of his escort. In a confused action the Germans only launched 12 torpedoes and disabled the destroyer HMS Shark with gunfire. Having turned due west, the Battle-cruisers were broadside to the oncoming torpedoes, but all three of them turned to present their narrowest profile to the torpedoes. All the torpedoes missed but, as HMS Invincible turned, her helm jammed and she had to come to a stop to fix the problem but this was quickly done and the squadron reformed. 
06:21, The German battle-cruisers were 9,000 yards (8.2 km)
away and the Battle-cruisers almost immediately opened fire on their flagship Lützow as well as Derfflinger. HMS Indomitable hit Derfflinger three times and Seydlitz once, while the Lützow quickly took 10 hits from HMS Lion, HMS Inflexible and HMS Invincible, including two hits below the waterline forward.
06:30 HMS Invincible abruptly appeared as a clear target for Lützow and Derfflinger. The two German ships fired three salvoes each at HMS Invincible and she sank in 90 seconds. At least one 305 mm (12 inch) shell from the third salvo struck her midships 'Q' turret. The shell penetrated the front of 'Q' turret, blew off the roof and detonated the midships magazines, which blew the ship in
half. Of her complement, 1026 officers and men were killed, including Rear-Admiral Hood. There were 6 six survivors.

Albert Edward MILTON
Gunner, 142nd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.  Army no. 62270
He died from his wounds on 11 April 1917. He was 19
He was the son of William and Caroline Milton of Hascombe.
He is buried in grave VI D 5 Bethune Town Cemetery

George MOORE
Probably George William MOORE
Private, 1st Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment, 91 Brigade, 7th Division. Army no. 40743. He was formerly with The Essex Regiment. Army no. 23525
He died on 3 October 1917 of his wounds which he is likely to have received in the fighting at Polygon Wood. He was 19
He was the son of James and Alice Moore of Holmwood.
He is buried in grave XXV A 16 Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery
Additional information
No other Moore, Moor or More has been identified with links to
the area

Henry OCKENDEN
Private, 6th Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 37 Brigade, 12th Division. Army no. G/1087
He was killed in action on 3 July 1916. He was 37.
He was the son of Allan and Eliza Ockenden
He is buried in grave VI G 7 Ovillers Military Cemetery 
Additional information
He had been a Chauffeur living at the Stable House, Little Tangley and his parents had been employed by the same family

James SHRUBB
Private, 2nd Battalion, The Welsh Regiment, 3 Brigade, 1st
Division.  Army no. 9330
He was killed in action on 25 September 1914 during the battle of the Aisne. He was 24.
He was the son of Henry and Caroline Shrubb, 6 Baynards Cottages, Baynards
He is remembered on La Ferté Sous Jouarre Memorial

James WEEDON
Sergeant, 2nd Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment, 6
Brigade, 2nd Division. Army no. 8181
He was killed in action during the battle of Arleux on 28 April 1917. He was 25
He is remembered on bay 6 of the Arras Memorial


The Fallen of WW1 who are not on the Memorial Plaque

Frederick ABBOTT
Private, 1st Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 100 Brigade, 33rd Division, Army no. G/15026
He died on 1 July 1917 in the Somme. At this time there was no major battle so his death probably resulted from one of the daily incidents in trench warfare. He was 25.
He was the son of Annie Abbott and the late Mr Abbott who lived next door to the Bricklayers Arms in Shamley Green
He is buried in grave VI E 17 Grevillers British Cemetery, 2 miles from Bapaume
Additional information
He appears on the Shamley Green War Memorial

Arthur Robert BAKER
Lance Corporal, 5th (Service) Battalion Pioneers, The
Northamptonshire Regiment, 12th (Eastern) Division. Army no. 25350
He was killed in action on 30 November 1917 in the German counter-attack during the Battle of Cambrai. He was 316
He was the son of George and Emma Baker
He is remembered on panel 8 of the Cambrai Memorial
Additional information 
In 1901 the family lived in New Road, Chilworth
His name also appears on the War Memorials in Shalford and Chilworth

William Thomas James BENNETT
Private, 1st/5th Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 12 Indian Brigade, 15th Indian Division. Army no.
241776
He died, probably from illness on 30 December 1917. He was 31.
He was son of Harriet Sparkes and the step-son of Amos Sparkes, Wanbrooks, Alfold. 
He is buried in grave II J 2 North Gate War Cemetery Baghdad
Additional information
He also appears on the Alfold War Memorial

Malcolmson Gardiner DONAHOO  MC
Captain 8th Battalion, The King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry), 70 Brigade, 8th Division. 
He died from his wounds at no. 10 Casualty Clearing Station on 31 January 1917. He was 43
He was the son of Thomas M and Anna E M Donahoo and the husband of Annie Donahoo, The Cottage, Wonersh
He is buried in grave X A 2 Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery

Arthur John GILLEN
Private, 7th Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 55 Brigade, 18th Division. Army no. G/4056
He was killed in action during the Battle of Albert on 1 July 1916. He was 18
He was the son of Henry and Ellen Gillen and born in Wonersh
He is buried in grave VIII V 10 Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, Mametz

Frederick LEMON
Private, 19th (Service) Battalion (2nd Public Works Pioneers), Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment), 43 Brigade, 14th Division. Army no. G/63286. He was formerly with the Suffolk Yeomanry. Army no. 3151
He was killed in action on 1 September 1918. He was 19
He was the son of John and Charlotte Lemon, Chilworth Road, Guildford
He is remembered on panel 8-9 of the Vis en Artois Memorial

Alfred John MAXTED
Private, 2nd Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 22 Brigade, 7th Division. Army no. L/9797
He died of his wounds on 23 November 1914. He was 21
He was the son of Alfred and Rebecca
He is buried in grave D 103 Newport Cemetery, Lincoln
Additional information
During the First World War, the 4th Northern General Hospital was
at the Grammar School in Lincoln. The hospital had 1,400 beds and during the course of the war, there were 45,000 admissions.
His name is on the Shalford and Chilworth War Memorials

Alfred NEWMAN
Private, 2nd Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 22 Brigade, 7th Division. Army no. L/9989
He was killed in action on 29 October 1914 during the Battle of Gheluvelt. He was 21 and born in Wonersh
He was the son of Jacob and Ellen Newman, Birtley Road, Bramley. 
He is remembered on panel 11 - 13 and 14 of the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres

Herbert John E OLDS
Private, 7th Battalion, The Lincolnshire Regiment, 51 Brigade, 17th Division. Army no. 42144. He was formerly with the Royal Flying
Corps no. 38855
He was killed in action on 20 September 1918 in the fighting
on the Hindenburg Line. He was 39
He was the son of Samuel and Emma Olds of Shamley Green and the husband of Lilian H Olds, 22 Wolseley Road, Crouch End,
London.
He is buried in grave IV A 17, Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery

Edward SHRUBB
Private, 9th Battalion, The Norfolk Regiment, 71 Brigade, 6th Division Army no.  32894
He was killed in action on 21 March 1918 during the Battle of St Quentin. He was 19 and born in Wonersh.
He was the son of Edward and Anna M Shrubb
He is remembered on bay 3 of the Arras Memorial

George Harry STEPHENS
Private, 2nd Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 22 Brigade, 7th Division. Army no.  L/9135
He was killed in action on 7 November 1914. He was 24 and born in Wonersh
He was the son of Laura J Botting (formerly Stephens), Mount Villa, Mount Road, Cranleigh and the late Harry Stephens.
He is remembered on panel 11-13 and 14 of the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres

James VINCENT
Sergeant, 7th Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey
Regiment), 55 Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division. Army no. S/753
He was killed in action in the Battle for Albert on 1 July 1916. He was 42 and born in Wonersh
He was the son of Thomas and Everlina Vincent.
He is buried in grave III H 7, Beacon Cemetery, Sailly Laurette

 
The Fallen in WW2

George Henry ALLEN
He remains a mystery for the moment.  We know that he was a Bellringer in Wonersh and he is recorded as ringing in 1941 and that there is a burial in Guildford Cemetery for ALLEN Harry Aircraftman 2nd Class RAFVR 1274127 who died on 27 November 1941.
Time and more work will tell

William George BISHOP
Private, 9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Army no. 13048197
He died on 11 July 1944. He was 31
He was the son of David H and Agnes Bishop of Wonersh.
He is buried in grave XXI E 16 Bayeux War Cemetery
Additional information
He was a lifelong member of the Scout Association and his headstone is inscribed:  “Beloved by all where'ere he went, a scout in life in service sent”
The Allied offensive began with the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944 and The 9th DLI were at the forefront. At 08.00 hours on the morning of D-Day the battalions’ Landing Craft started their journey across the Channel landing on the beaches at 10.20
hours.
During the landing shells fell close to the Landing Craft and men who were still feeling seasick made a remarkable recovery and sprinted up the beach. 
The 9th DLI moved off but were mistaken for a German column and attacked by a Typhoon which machine gunned them and dropped two bombs before realising its mistake. Delayed by this and other incidents the battalion did not reach the area of Sommervieu until 18.30 hours and spent another hour clearing it of the enemy before the main body of the regiment could move on through Cauge Ferme where they dug in for the night. B Company was engaged by a strong enemy patrol and a fire fight ensued with several Germans killed but the battalion also lost at least one man killed and another wounded.
The 9th DLI were back on French soil but the cost had begun with five men killed unlike their other battalions but within days the DLI had five battalions the 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th fighting side by side.
Bayeux, where he is buried, was the first important French town to be liberated

Thomas Edward BRAMBLE
Chief Petty Officer, HMS President III, Royal Navy. RN no. P/J 11938
He died from illness on 23 November 1941. He was 47
He was the son of James and Sarah J Bramble and the husband of
Millicent A Bramble of Wonersh
He is buried to the left of the main path in the cemetery of St John the Baptist Church
Additional information
HMS President III was a shore-base in Bristol, Windsor and London. It was established on 28 August 1939 to train those allocated for service on the Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships. It was later transferred to locations across Windsor and London.

Nigel Harold CAIN
Flying Officer (Pilot), 129 Squadron, Royal Air Force . RAFVR no. 120418
He died on 22 December 1943. He was 21
He was the son of Harold N and Hilda R Cain and the husband of Joy L Cain, Shamley Green.
He is buried in grave H 69, Canadian War Cemetery, Hautot sur
Mer, Dieppe
Additional information
129 Squadron was a fighter squadron equipped with Spitfires that had moved to the Orkneys to provide local air defence between September 1942 and February 1943.  It then returned to the
south coast to resume an escort or anti-shipping strike role.  In June 1943 the squadron had become one of the founding members of 2nd Tactical Air Force, the British contribution to the massive Allied air fleets created to support the D-Day landings.
His name is also included on the Shamley Green Memorial

Peter Nesbitt MEDD MBE MiD
Lieutenant-Commander (A), HMS Peewit, Royal Navy
He died on active service on 19 August 1944. He was 31
He was the son of Allan N and Jane A Medd of Wonersh
He is buried in grave Compt D North Border, 23 Arbroath Western Cemetery
Additional information
BW855 Sea Hurricane IA, In Situ wreck
On 19 August 1944 Lt Commander Medd of 731 Fleet Air Arm Squadron was tasked to ferry Sea Hurricane BW855 from RAF Sealand in Cheshire to HMS Peewit (RNAS East Haven, Angus, Scotland). The aircraft struck high moorland on the Hepple Whitefield Estate breaking up over a large area. In 2000 remains were found on high moorland above Hepple Whitefield farm. 
The long walk home: This is the title of a book written by Peter Medd who had been captured, held prisoner by the Italians and then escaped. It was completed by his companion Frank Simms and published in 1951.
His Naval career had started when he had joined the Royal Navy as a Midshipman in 1930 and had served on HMS Rodney a battleship. He was promoted First Lieutenant, HMS Doon, a fishery protection gunboat, before training as a pilot and serving with 822 Squadron based on the aircraft carrier HMS Furious then with 813
Squadron based on HMS Eagle. In July 1940 he was serving as a pilot with HMS Warspite when he was shot down in his reconnaissance aircraft off Tobruk. He was held as a PoW from July 1940 until 1943 when he escaped.
On his arrival in England he was appointed Commanding Officer, 769 Squadron FAA based at HMS Peewit (RN Air Station, East Haven, Angus), at the time of his death he was with 731 Squadron FAA based in the same airfield
He was MID on 11 September 1940 for his “courage in recent engagements”. He was posthumously appointed MBE in May 1944

Richard George MEDD
Second Lieutenant, 509th Field Company, Royal Engineers. Army no. 176537
He died on 25 June 1941 in England. He was 23 and had only been Gazetted to the unit 3 months earlier
He was the son of Allan N Medd and Jane A V Medd of Wonersh
He is buried in sec W7H grave 366, Darlington West Cemetery

Charles (Charlie) Frederick Edward PULLEN
Able Seaman, HMS Barham, Royal Navy. RN no. P/SSX 32151
He died on 25 November 1941. He was 21
He is remembered on panel 49, column 1 Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Additional information
HMS Barham had a lively war. In 1939 she collided with HMS
Duchess (which sank) and a few weeks later HMS Barham was torpedoed by U30
In June 1940 after extensive repairs she went to Capetown, bombarded Dakar and, in September, Barham swerved to avoid 3 torpedoes, which then struck HMS Royal Sovereign. She then survived an attempted torpedoing by Italian Frogmen at
Gibraltar, sailed to Malta and attacked Taranto with HMS Illustrious sailed for Alexandria.
1941 started with bombarding Bardia, in March she helped sink
the cruiser Zara at the Battle of Matapan and during the next couple of months she bombarded Tripoli and Scarpanto airfield and had a bomb explode on board.
May saw her, with the Queen Elizabeth and HMS Formidable protecting Suda Bay, Crete and its evacuation. Then she sailed through the Suez Canal to Durban for repairs and returned in August and bombarded Tripoli.
On 25 November 1941, HMS Barham was hit by 3 torpedoes and sunk. 841 men lost their lives

Donald Walter TAGG
Gunner 135th Field Regiment (The Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Royal Artillery. Army no. 6094981
He died on 30 July 1943. He was 26
He was the son of George and Ada Tagg
He is buried in grave 8 G 43 Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
Additional information
He had been captured in Singapore by the Japanese when the Army surrendered. He died whilst he was been forced to build the Thailand-Burma Railway but to shed some light on this sad story we can look at the story of his CO. Lieutenant Colonel Philip Toosey, was appointed to command the 135th Hertfordshire Yeomanry regiment in 1941 and in October the unit was posted to the Far East. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for heroism during the defence of Singapore and, whilst he was ordered to join the evacuation of Singapore on 12 February 1942, he refused so that he could remain with his men during their captivity.
He was the senior Allied officer in the Japanese prisoner-of-war camp at Tha Maa Kham (known as Tamarkan) in Thailand. The men at this camp built the Bridge on the River Kwai but unlike the fictional Colonel Nicholson who featured in the book by Pierre Boulle and later in the film when Alec Guinness played the senior British officer, Philip Toosey did not collaborate

 
The plaque dedicated to Frank SPARKES
The plaque states that he died in France while on duty for his country aged 60. His death announcement in the Times states that he died of double pneumonia. 
The Probate records show: Sparkes Frank of Stentsfield, Wonersh died 25 December 1920 at Levallois Perret, Paris. Probate London
24 February to Catherine Georgina Sparkes spinster 
but there is no indication that he was involved in military activity or held a military title so he is included solely to record what is known.
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