World War 2

12 December 1943, age 29
Petty Officer Cook (S) P/MX 51050, H.M.S. Holcombe, Royal Navy
Son of Harry Gordon and Catherine Lottie Allsopp, of Portishead.
Commemorated at Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Panel 79, column 1
Also commemorated at Portishead (St Peter) Churchyard. Memorial reference: NBGNW295
At 14.45 hours on 12 December 1943, HMS Holcombe was hit by a torpedo from a German submarine and sank north-east of Bougie, Algeria. 83 members of her crew went down with the ship.
(Harry and Charlotte are shown as his parents on his entry for the Commonwealth War graves commission, but is seems most likely that his parents were as shown above. They lived in Nore Road and he is commemorated on their gravestone in the local churchyard.)

27 June 1944, age 19
Private 14330749, 193 Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
Son of John Walter Baker (born Lasky) and Hilda Baker (born Kitchen) of Portishead.
In 1939, he lived with his parents at Tralee, Nichols Road, Portishead.
Buried at Bayeux War Cemetery, France. Reference XVIII.E.13.

8 March 1945, age 23.
Flight Sergeant Pilot 1159989, 220 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Son of Frederick Leonard and Rose Ellen Bence, of Portishead.
Buried in Lajes War Cemetery, Terceira, Azores. Row C, Grave 4
Leslie Bence was co-pilot of a Liberator, GR.VI KG913, which took off from Lagens, Azores at 05:54, detailed to carry out an air-sea rescue mission. The starboard outer propeller struck the runway during take-off. The aircraft swung violently to the right and crashed in flames before the pilot had time to regain control.

4 April 1941, age 47.
L/Cpl. 7685550, Intelligence Corps, Field Security Section 113.
Of "Ladywood", Kingsway, Redcliffe Bay, Portishead.
Buried at Bristol (Canford) Cemetery. Reference: Sec. QQ. Grave 301B
Possibly died in the Military Convoy on the Portway, Bristol. Body removed to Southmead Hospital.

22 October 1943, age 29.
Able Seaman D/SSX 13850, H.M.S. Hurworth, Royal Navy.
Son of Frederick William and Margaret Bonehill of Portishead.
Commemorated at Plymouth Naval Memorial. Reference: Panel 78, Column 3.
HMS Hurworth was a Second World War Type II Hunt-class escort destroyer of the British Royal Navy. She spent most of her career in the Mediterranean. She was lost to a mine in the Aegean Sea on 22 October 1943.

26 August 1941, age 23.
Leading Telegraphist. D/JX 137005, H.M.S. Bridgewater, Royal Navy
Born on 13 Sep 1916, Portishead.
Son of William Walby Broad and Alice Louisa (born Colbourne) Broad of Roath Road;
Husband of Rae Broad (born Smith), of Boksburg, Transvaal, South Africa.
Commemorated at Plymouth Naval Memorial. Reference: Panel 50, Column 2
Also commemorated at Portishead (St Peter) Churchyard. Memorial reference: NBGNW064
Killed at Freetown Harbour, Sierra Leone, West Africa.
[Walter and Edith are shown as Leslie's parents on his entry for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. However it seems most likely that his parents were William and Alice who, at the time of the 1911 census, were living in Roath Road, Portishead.]

23 April 1943, age 27.
Lance Corporal Broom 7912347, 2nd Lothians and Border Horse, Royal Armoured Corps.
His parents, John Ashford Broom and Louie Broom, lived at 2 Rhondda Villas, Slade Road.
Commemorated at Medjez-El-Bab Memorial, Tunisia. Face 4.
Also commemorated at Portishead (St Peter) Churchyard. Memorial reference: NBGNW124
He was serving as wireless operator in a tank in North Africa and was killed by a shell when the advancing tank was hit by heavy anti-tank and artillery fire. (Further information is in Posset Pieces No9)

15 July 1941, age 37.
Corporal 1057223, 950 Port Construction and Repair Company., Royal Engineers
Buried at Portishead Cemetery. Reference: Plot D. Grave 56

20 May 1943.
Chief Petty Officer Supply P/347248, H.M.S. Proserpine, Royal Navy.
Son of E.R.A. John Chadwick, R.N., and Sarah Matilda Chadwick.
Husband of Margaret Fairful Grant Chadwick, of Portishead.
Buried at Portishead (St Peter) Churchyard. NBGNE327
HMS Proserpine was the main shore base for the naval fleet at Scapa Flow.

30 October 1942, age 16.
Deck Boy on M.V. Brittany (Liverpool), Merchant Navy.
Son of Francis Herbert and Alice Mary Cridland, of Portishead.
Commemorated at Tower Hill Memorial, London. Panel 45
MV Brittany was sailing to Liverpool from Buenos Aires with cargo when she was sunk by U-509 off Madeira on 30 October 1942. 43 survivors were picked up, but 14 died.

Died 31 March 1945, age 28
Warrant Officer Class II (C.S.M.) Service Number 5572707 4th Bn. Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
Son of Herbert Henry and Elizabeth Davis; husband of Edna May Davis, of Short Heath, Willenhall, Staffordshire. Married Edna May Short in Mar 1941. Resident of 23 Victoria Square, Portishead.
Buried Taukkyan War Cemetery, Htauk Kyant, Yangon Region, Burma. Reference 20.B.3.
Died on war service in Burma. Administration of his will on 27th July 1945: Birmingham Registry to Edna May Davis widow. Effects £219 2s 6d.

3 September 1940, age 54.
Husband of Florence Gertrude Doleman
Buried in Portishead (St. Peter) Churchyard. Reference NBGNE249
Civilian casualty; bomb during air raid in Albert Road.

30 December 1942, age 38. Home Guard; Fire Guard.
Son of John Samuel and Prudence Dowling of 4 Clevedon Road, Portishead.
Husband of Emma Dowling of 18 Cedars Road, Exeter.
Commemoration or Burial: not known (possibly buried at Portishead Cemetery).
Civilian casualty; died in air raid at 18 Holloway Street, Exeter.

17 August 1943, age 15.
Galley Boy M.V. Empire Stanley (Greenock), Merchant Navy.
Son of William George and Elsie May Dumble, of Portishead.
Commemorated at Tower Hill Memorial, London. Panel 45.
At 15.50 hours on 17 Aug 1943 the unescorted Empire Stanley was torpedoed and sunk by U-197 south-southeast of Cap Sainte Marie, Madagascar. The master, 18 crew members, five gunners and one passenger were lost. Some days later, 25 were rescued.

4 September 1940, age 33.
Civilian of 121 Church Road, Addlestone. Son of Conrad James Eckless of Portishead.
Died at Vickers Armstrong Works, Weybridge.
Probably buried at Weybridge.
On 4th September 1940, the Battle of Britain was in full swing and the Luftwaffe mounted a heavy bombing attack on the Weybridge aircraft factory.

12 February 1944, age 21.
Sick Berth Attendant D/MX 100690, H.M.S. Lanka, Royal Navy.
Commemorated at Plymouth Naval Memorial. Panel 91, Column 1.
Also commemorated at Portishead (St Peter) Churchyard. Memorial reference: NBGNW256.
HMS Lanka was a shore station in Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). He was on board the troopship SS Khedive Ismail which was sunk by a Japanese submarine on 12 February 1944 with great loss of life.

20 January 1943, age 32.
Gunner 1086881, 172 Field Regt., Royal Artillery.
Adopted son of Frederick Charles and Alice Sampson; husband of Gertrude Maud Gibbs, of Portishead.
Commemorated at Brookwood 1939-1945 Memorial, Surrey. panel 3. Column 2.

11 April 1941.
Lived in Channel View Crescent. Civilian casualty.

12 April 1941, age 55.
Daughter of William Thomas and Hannah Tripp Gill of 94 Richmond Street, Barton Hill, Bristol.
She lived at St Denis (now no.26), Channel View Crescent, Portishead. (See entries for Goulden WW1)
She was buried on 15th April 1941 at Arno's Vale Cemetery, Brislington, Bristol.
Civilian casualty; she died when a bomb fell on St Denis.
[It is not clear whether two people were involved or records differ due to error]

25 March 1942, age 20.
Able Seaman D/JX 289719, H.M.S. President III, Royal Navy.
Son of Jack and Frances Tilley Gregory, of Portishead. Native of South Africa.
Commemorated at Plymouth Naval Memorial. Panel 65, Column 1.
(HMS President III was a shore station.)

3 September 1940, age 69.
Husband of Sarah Ann Hedger.
Buried in Portishead (St. Peter) Churchyard. Reference NBGNE253
Civilian casualty; bomb during air raid in Albert Road.

1 June 1941, age 31.
Stoker 2nd Class D/KX 111666, H.M.S. Calcutta, Royal Navy.
Son of Oliver and Emily E. Hicks, of 3 Victoria Square, Portishead.
Commemorated at Plymouth Naval Memorial. Panel 54, Column 1.
Also commemorated at Portishead (St Peter) Churchyard. Memorial reference: NBGNW263
Sturd Hicks had volunteered as a stoker and was serving on HMS Calcutta when it was providing AA protection to ships taking part in the evacuation of Crete. The ship was attacked by two Ju88 aircraft and sank in a few minutes.
(Further information is in Posset Pieces No9)

6 June 1944, age 21.
Telegraphist D/JX 297704, H.M.S. Lizard, Royal Navy.
Son of Henry Edmund and Ethel Maud Holloway of Portishead.
Commemorated at Plymouth Naval Memorial. Reference: Panel 88, Column 3.
HMS Lizard was a Royal Navy shore training base in Hove. Many men from there crewed the D-day landing craft and the date of death makes it likely he was one of these.

No information available.

27 May 1942, age 25.
Lance Corporal 7888994, 8th, Royal Tank Regiment, R.A.C.
Son of Joseph and Lily Johnson; husband of Gertrude Ethel Johnson of Portishead.
Commemorated at Alamein Memorial, Egypt. Reference: Column 22.

8 June 1944, age 25.
Telegraphist D/JX 173043, H.M.S. Minster, Royal Navy
Son of Edgar and Edith Annie Ladd, of Bedminster, Bristol.
Buried in Portishead (St. Peter) Churchyard. NBGNE314.
HMS Minster left Torquay on the evening of 5th June 1944. On the 8th of June she was acting as escort for the Mulberry units heading for Omaha beach. At about mid-day she was in the Seine Bay near the Cardonnet Bank when she was struck by a mine. As most of the crew were below decks at mess, the majority were lost.

21 July 1944, age 28.
Corporal 5679537, 7th Bn., Somerset Light Infantry.
Son of Arthur Richard and Evelyn Violet Macey; husband of Betty Helena Macey, of Portishead.
St. Manvieu War Cemetery, Cheux, France. Reference IV. J. 8.

20 October, 1944 age 31.

Private 5630736, 6th Bn., South Wales Borderers.
Son of Matthew and Eileen McLarnon; husband of Evelyn McLarnon, of Portishead.
Buried at Digboi War Cemetery, India. Reference 4.H.4

8 March 1945, age 28.
Private 5182497, 2nd Bn., Gloucestershire Regiment.
Son of James and Lillie Emily Mills, of Portishead.
Buried at Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany. Reference 11. B. 10.

21 September 1941, age 25.
Able Seaman D/JX 206292, H.M.S. President III, Royal Navy.
Son of James and Eva Hilda Norman, of Portishead.
Buried at Bergen-Op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands. Reference 7. AA. 5.
(HMS President III was a shore station. It is not known why he was in the Netherlands)

31 July 1943, age 29.
Private 4754097, 1/5th Bn., Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment).
Son of W. C. F. Parkin and Eliza Parkin, of Portishead.
Buried in Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand. Reference 4.A.42

19 December 1941, age 31.
Stoker 2nd Class D/KX 128275, H.M.S. Neptune, Royal Navy.
Son of Frederick and Alice Pheobe Payne, of Portishead.
Husband of Phyllis Mary Payne, of Portishead.
Commemorated at Plymouth Naval Memorial. Panel 54, Column 1.
HMS Neptune was sunk by mines off Tripoli killing 736 crew members.

2 July 1945, age 33.
Gunner 1627864, 78 Bty., 35 Lt. A.A. Regt., Royal Artillery.
Son of Henry and Edith Perrett; husband of Ethel A. Perrett, of Redcliffe Bay, Portishead.
Buried at Jakarta War Cemetery, Indonesia. Reference: 4. B. 13.

16 December 1943, age 22.
Flying Officer Pilot 133390, 166 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Son of Alfred J. and Marion Pollett, of Portishead, Somerset. LL.B. (Hons.).
Buried at Hanover War Cemetery, Germany. Reference Coll. grave 8. H. 10-16.
He was the pilot of Lancaster ED411 which was shot down by a night fighter crashing near Diepholz. All of the crew died. They had completed 8 operations before this final one to Berlin.

17 June 1944, age 22.
Flight Sergeant (Navigator) 1467524 RAFVR 99 Sqdn.
Son of David Richard Rees and Edna Ruth Rees (born Phillips) of Portishead
Buried at Imphal War Cemetery, India. Reference 6.H.19
Also commemorate with his father (died 1923) at Maitland Cemetery, South Africa
99 Sqdn operated six Wellington aircraft and were used to ferry bombs to the Imphal Valley. These were to be used by Hurricanes in support of the army. The loss of the aircraft was the only one during these operations. It was shot down by the enemy near Imphal but not before it had destroyed one "Oscar" (a Japanese fighter aircraft)

22 March 1944, age 35.
Flying Officer 514 Sqdn Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
He was navigator in a Lancaster which was part of a huge force of 816 aircraft sent to attack Frankfurt.
Buried Emmen (Nieuw Dordrecht) General Cemetery, Netherlands. Plot 9, Row B, Grave 23.

23 August 1944, age 27.
Private 965476, 1/5th Bn., The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey).
Son of Alfred James Rollings and Lily Louise Rollings, of Portishead.
Buried at Lisieux Communal Cemetery, France. Sec. A ter. Row 2, Grave 6

27 March 1942, age 22.
Able Seaman D/BD/X 1613, H.M.S. Drake., Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Son of William James Russ and Constance Mary Maud Russ, of Portishead.
Buried in Portishead (St. Peter) Churchyard. NBGNE258
HMS Drake is a shore establishment at Devonport.

24 May 1941, age 21.
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class P/MX 60183, H.M.S. Hood, Royal Navy.
Son of Arthur James Short and Kate Ethel Short, of Portishead.
Commemorated at Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Panel 53, Column 2.
On 24th May 1941 HMS Hood was engaged in the Battle of Denmark Strait where she was struck by several German shells. The ship exploded and sank within three minutes with the loss of all but three of her crew.

10 December 1941, age 47.
Leading Stoker D/K 15633, H.M.S. Repulse, Royal Navy.
Son of Samuel and Annie Maria Sprigg; husband of Ada Maude Sprigg, of Portishead.
Commemorated at Plymouth Naval Memorial. Panel 52, Column 2.
HMS Repulse was sunk by Japanese air attack in the South China Sea on 10 December 1941.

20 August 1942, age 21.
Flight Sergeant Observer 1270512, 218 (Gold Coast) Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Son of Edgar and May Stevens, of Portishead.
Buried at Aabenraa Cemetery, Syddanmark, Denmark. Allied Mil. Plot Row 1. 3.

19 January 1942, age 27.
Sergeant 900616, 409 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Son of Ludwig and Rhoda Svendsen of Portishead.
Commemorated at Runnymede Memorial, Surrey. Reference: Panel 292.

24/25 April 1944, age 22.
Sergeant Wireless Operator 1319032, 83 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Son of Arthur and Norah Ada Tebbutt.
Buried at Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany. Reference Coll. grave 7. J. 8-11.
Geoffrey Tebbutt was a RAF Sergeant wireless operator and air gunner, serving on Lancasters. During a night raid on Munich, their aircraft was hit by flak and was seen to crash in flames. All seven crew were killed. Eight other Lancasters were lost that night.
(Further information is in Posset Pieces No9)

22/23 November 1943, age 21.
Sergeant 649194, 51 Sqdn., Royal Air Force.
Son of Albert Henry and Elizabeth Thorn; husband of Mary Thorn of Portishead.
Probably buried near Doberitz.
Commemorated at Runnymede Memorial, Surrey. Reference: Panel 167.
He was an air gunner on a Halifax bomber which returned from a raid over Germany with flak damage on 19 November 1943. The aircraft was repaired and flew again on 22 November, but crashed near to Berlin. Two baled out, but five were killed.

9 June 1941, age 29.
Pilot Officer 60315, 73 Sqdn., Royal Air Force.
Son of George Arnold Tovey and Lilian Mary Tovey, of Dollis Hill, Middlesex.
Commemorated at Alamein Memorial, Egypt. Column 241.
Died during operations in Egypt.

14 October 1941, age 24.
Sergeant Observer 1250021, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Son of James A. Treeby and Kathleen Treeby.
Husband of Betty Doreen Treeby, of Portishead.
buried at Portishead (St Peter) Churchyard. NBGNE296
He was part of the crew of a Bristol Blenheim on exercise in Kent. The aircraft struck a tree and crashed; all on board died.

3 September 1940, age 43.
Private 7th Somerset (Long Ashton) Bn. Home Guard.
Son of Francis and Elizabeth Tripp of 36 Albert Road.
Husband of Violet Mabel Tripp
Lived at 24 Albert Road.
Buried in Portishead (St. Peter) Churchyard. Reference NBGNE191
Civilian casualty; bomb during air raid in Albert Road.

3 September 1940, age 42.
W.V.S.
Daughter of Charles Fortune of Kenn Road, Clevedon.
Wife of Leslie Tripp
Lived at 24 Albert Road.
Buried in Portishead (St. Peter) Churchyard. Reference NBGNE191
Civilian casualty; bomb during air raid in Albert Road.

12 August 1945, age 31.
Leading Seaman DSSX 13849, H.M.S. Prince of Wales., Royal Navy.
Son of Charles and Elizabeth Tucker, of Portishead.
Buried at Jakarta War Cemetery, Indonesia. Reference 3. B. 16.
Also commemorated at Portishead (St Peter) Churchyard. Memorial reference: NBGNW067
Reginald John Tucker is listed as a crew member of HMS Prince of Wales which was sunk by the Japanese on 10 December 1941 together with HMS Repulse in the South China Sea. He was made a prisoner of war by the Japanese, but did not survive the war.

27 April 1941, age 40.
Writer 966942, H.M.S. Patia, Naval Auxiliary Personnel (Merchant Navy).
Son of James William Ray Vowles and Emily Matilda Vowles of Pill, Somerset.
Husband of Helen Josephine Vowles, of Portishead, Somerset.
Commemorated at Liverpool Naval Memorial. Panel 17, Column 2.
Also commemorated at Portishead (St Peter) Churchyard. NBGSD016
HMS Patia was an ordinary merchantman, previously owned by Elders & Fyffes Ltd., converted to launch aircraft (Hurricane fighters) from a rocket driven catapult mounted on the forecastle. It was bombed by German HE 111 bombers and sunk near Coquet Island, Northumberland with a loss of 39 lives.

16 April 1941, age 36.
Civilian of 16 Wandle Side, Croydon. (Otherwise known as SHORTEN)
Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Johansen, of Briarton, Beach Road, Portishead; wife of Percy Watkins.
Died at 16 Wandle Side, Croydon
Probably buried at Croydon.

27 June 1940, age 27
Leading Stoker D/KX 80647, HM Submarine Odin, Royal Navy
Son of William Henry and Isobel Mary Webber of Ashton, Bristol
Commemorated at Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon. Reference Panel 40, Column 3.

19 September 1942, age 21.
Pilot Officer 115996, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Son of Howell Garth Llewelyn Williams and Ellen A. Williams of Vancouver, British Columbia.
Grandson of the Revd. T. Roberts Williams, of Portishead.
Buried at Innisfail Cemetery, Alberta, Canada. Lot 10. Block 3. Grave 1.

25 November 1941, age 45
Commander HMS Barham, Royal Navy.
Son of Tom and Louisa Williams of Woodhill Road and Husband of Lilian Joan Williams of Weston-super-Mare.
Commemorated at Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Reference: Panel 45, Column 3.
Also commemorated at St Peter's churchyard. Memorial reference: NBGNW037 and in Portishead Methodist Church.
The battleship Barham was sunk off the Egyptian coast in November 1941 by a German submarine U-331 with the loss of 862 crewmen, approximately two-thirds of her crew.