TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN MEMORY OF
13547 Lance Corporal Bertie John 'Happy' Newstead, 10th. Platoon, 'C' Company, 8th. Battalion, Norfolk Regiment.
Born on 10th August 1895 at Matlask, Norfolk, the son of William Robert and Anna Elizabeth Newstead, nee Lambert of No.4 The Common, Hanworth.
Bertie was always known to his family and friends as 'Happy' because of his cheerful nature.
In 1914 Bertie was employed as a gardener.
Bertie was killed in action, aged 21, during an attack South-West of Montauban on Saturday 1st. July 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on Pier and Face 1 C and 1 D of the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, Picardie, France.
Bertie's death was reported in the local newspaper,
'We regret to announce that Lce-Corpl. B. J. Newstead, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Newstead, head gardener to Col. Barclay, was killed in action on 1st. July. He joined a Norfolk Regiment at the outbreak of war, and the following letter from the captain of his Company shows he was an excellent soldier.
B.E.F., France,
11th. July 1916
Dear Sir,
I am sorry to have to inform you that your son, Lance Corporal Newstead, was killed in action on July 1st. I cannot speak too highly of the splendid work he did, both prior to and in the attack. The men were devoted to him, and by his cheerfulness in the face of danger, and steadfast devotion to duty; he has set a very fine example. His place will not easily be filled. All in the Company who knew him mourn his loss, and offer you their deepest sympathy,
Believe me, yours sincerely,
C. SHELTON, Capt., C Coy.
315185 Rifleman Richard Arthur Howard, 2nd/5th. Battalion, London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade), formally 6489, 11th. (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Finsbury Rifles).
Born in 1885 at Redhill, Surrey, the son of Richard and Bessie Howard of The Common, Hanworth
Resident of Westminster, London
Enlisted at Marylebone, London.
Richard was killed in action, aged 32, on Thursday 16th. August 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on Panel 54 of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
FOR THEIR COUNTRY
IN THE GREAT WAR
"Greater love hath no man than this, that
a man laydown his life for his friends"
This tablet is erected by their parents.
1939 - 1945
*Not on the memorial*
1793304 Gunner Bernard James Green, 43 Battery, 61 Light Anti-aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery.
The son of George Richard and Mabel Annie Green of Hanworth.
Bernard died, aged 22, on Tuesday 10th. August 1943. He was buried in Grave: 2.E.10. at Benghazi Civil Cemetery Military Extension and was reburied on 8th. September 1944 in Grave: 3. D. 5. at Benghazi War Cemetery, Benghazi, Libya with the personal inscription
'EVERYWHERE
DUTY ACCOMPLISHED
LEADS TO GLORY'
111329 Pilot Officer James Arthur Barclay, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 18 (Burma) Squadron, RAF.
Born on 7th. January 1922, the youngest son of Lt. Col. Joseph Francis and Constance Barclay, nee Flowers, of Old Hall, Aylsham, Norfolk.
On Monday 8th. September 1941, with James as the pilot, Bristol Blenheim IV, serial number Z7613, coded B, took off from RAF Luqa on Malta for an operation to Sicily. In unknown circumstances Z7613 collided with Blenheim Z9713 of 107 Squadron. Both aircraft crashed into the sea off the harbour of Catania, Sicily, killing all six crew members.
James died, aged 19. He has no known grave and is commemorated on Panel 31 of the Runnymede Memorial, Englefield Green, Runnymede, Surrey.
James is commemorated with a memorial in St. Bartholomew's, Hanworth.
*Buried in St. Bartholomew's churchyard*
576578 Sergeant Kenneth Stuart Chalmers, Flight Engineer, Royal Air Force, 207 Squadron RAF.
Born in 1923, the son of Andrew James and Rose Ursula Chalmers, nee Lomath, of Hanworth.
Kenneth joined the RAF in August 1939 as an aero engine apprentice in the 40th. Entry at No.1 School of Technical Training at RAF Halton. After training he worked at his trade at RAF Matlaske and RAF Ludham, both in Norfolk until volunteering as a flight engineer.
Promoted to Sergeant he was eventually posted to 207 (City of Leicester) Squadron at RAF Langar in Nottinghamshire.
At 11:45 hrs on Saturday 17th. October 1942 Kenneth took off in Lancaster Mk. 1, serial number L7583, coded EM-A ,for 'Operation Robinson', a raid on the Schneider factory at Le Creusot, France.
On the outward leg the pilot, Sgt. R.S. Wilson, had to turn back when an engine failed. Soon afterwards, 20 miles west of Brest, the Lancaster was attacked by three German Arado Ar 196 floatplanes. L7583's gunner managed to shoot down two of the attackers, although Luftwaffe records state that there were no losses on that date.
The Lancaster returned safely to a British airfield, probably at RAF Winkleigh, Devon, but Kenneth died from gunshot wounds, while all the other crewmen were uninjured.
Kenneth died, aged 19. He is buried in St. Bartholomew's churchyard with the personal inscription
'HE SHALL GROW NOT OLD,
AS WE THAT ARE LEFT GROW OLD,
AGE SHALL NOT WEARY HIM,
NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN'
742767 Sergeant Victor David Gee, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 219 (Mysore) Squadron RAF
The son of Richard and Christina Marshall Gee of Hanworth.
Husband of Ida Joan Gee of Lenton Nottingham.
Victor joined the RAFVR in December 1938 as an Airman u/t Pilot. He was called up on the 1st. September 1939, completed his flying training, and arrived at 5 OTU at Aston Down, Gloucestershire, on 22nd. June 1940. After converting to Blenheim's he joined 219 Squadron at Catterick, North Yorkshire, and served with them throughout the Battle of Britain.
On 13th. February 1941, Victor was on a night exercise from RAF Tangmere, West Sussex, when his aircraft, Beaufighter Mk. IF, serial number R2120 began to vibrate violently, and he and his radar operator baled out safely. The aircraft crashed at Partridge Green, Sussex.
Victor was killed on Friday 21st. March when his aircraft, Beaufighter Mk. IF, serial number R2070, dived into the ground at Manor Farm, Eastergate, Sussex after stalling on on the approach to RAF Tangmere. The observer Sgt Charles William Dodge was injured.
Victor is buried in St. Bartholomew's churchyard with the personal inscription,
'AT THE GOING DOWN
OF THE SUN
AND IN THE MORNING
WE WILL REMEMBER HIM'
