Arthur Cyril Bennett
Born: 1898, St Austell
03/12/1917
Private
South Wales Borderers
died in the Battle of Cambrai at Louverval on the Western Front
St Austell boy's sacrifice
Reminiscence of “Monty” Coon
Reginald Montague Coon, aged 19, youngest son of Mr and Mrs FA Coon, Ledrah House, St Austell, joined up a few months after the outbreak of the war, when he was 17 years of age. He joined the Royal Devon Yeomanry, from which last October drafts were sent to different units. When on parade the names of those who were being drafted abroad for service in France, included that of Sid Smith, of St Stephen's, Monty's bosom pal. No sooner was young Smith's name called then Monty stepped forth and volunteered, and although his Colonel was dubious about his age he persisted in joining. After 48 hours leave, just giving him time to rush home and say good-bye to his parents and friends, he sailed from Southampton and on arrival in France with others, was attached to the Devons, who have experienced a great deal of fighting during the war.
Monty spent on and off a great deal of time in the trenches, and had one or two narrow escapes. It was when the last big push took place that he experienced the most severe fighting, for during the end of March and the first three weeks of April he was in the thick of it all the time; and was fortunate enough to come through without blemish.
The following extract from one of his recent letters will give some idea of his experience and feelings, “You asked me about Sid Smith. Yes he was wounded, poor old Sid. When we made the attack on the Germans, Sid and I went over the top side by side like men facing hell and just as we got to the German trenches Sid got hit in one or two places; no doubt he is in “Blighty” by this time, and good luck to him. Thank God he brought me through the attack all right. Yes we took the village all right. The Huns ran like rabbits when they saw us getting close to them.”
In another letter three days later, he says, “We have had another big scrap. Thank the Lord I came through without a scratch.”
After receiving such re-assuring letters it will be imagined how great the shock to his parents and friends was when they received the fatal telegram announcing his death in hospital in Rouen. It would appear that the constant strain and exposure told on the boy's system, as after being in hospital on seven days he died of convulsions. His lost is generally mourned in St Austell where he was well-known and well-liked. Probably, it would not be any exaggeration to say he was one of the best known and well-liked boys in the town. Especially bright and cherry in his disposition, and full of dash and courage, he had a happy word for everybody, and was a welcome visitor amongst his many friends. He was particularly fond of horses and dogs and sporting pursuits generally had a great charm for him. Much sympathy is expressed with those he has left behind, but they have the satisfaction of knowing that although he has been taken away at a young age he made the great sacrifice for a noble cause, loyally doing his duty for King and country, and fighting for freedom and liberty of this world.
Cecil William Hore
26/08/1917
Age 23 Second Lieutenant
Royal Field Artillery "A" Bty. 47th Bde.
Son of William and Hannah Stick Hore, of Hillcrest, St. Austell, Cornwall.
26/08/1917
Age 23 Second Lieutenant
Royal Field Artillery "A" Bty. 47th Bde.
Son of William and Hannah Stick Hore, of Hillcrest, St. Austell, Cornwall.
William James Lawry
Born 1899
08/05/1917
Private
Devonshire Regiment
Son of Dairyman James and Mary Jane Lawry White Hart Dairy, Hotel Road, Dairy, St Austell.
Born St Mewan.
School Magazine, Summer 1917 extract:
Born 1899
08/05/1917
Private
Devonshire Regiment
Son of Dairyman James and Mary Jane Lawry White Hart Dairy, Hotel Road, Dairy, St Austell.
Born St Mewan.
School Magazine, Summer 1917 extract:
In Memoriam WJL (appeared in the Summer school magazine, signed by Z)
To some it is vouchsafed to pass away
In glorious strife, midst deeds of fame and might,
Their sufferings hidden by a blaze of light,
And on their path shed clearly honour's ray.
It was not thus with him whose loss we mourn,
Who, two years since in boyhood's strength and joy,
In thought and deed, both pure and alloy,
Mov'd in midst with simple truth inborn,
Though cannons roar and smoke and battle-din,
Were absent far, in form and force as keen,
Death made his presence felt, nor yet could prayers save.
Yet none less truly did he glory win;
In honour's scroll his name is clearly seen, -
For Country, King, and Right, his life he gave -
William Merrifield
28/09/1915
Aged: 25
Private Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
died while on the operations in Mesopotamia
He came from Porthpean and before enlisting had become a teacher at Mount Charles Council School and at St Blazey. He was known to be a popular individual and was famed as a crack shot
28/09/1915
Aged: 25
Private Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
died while on the operations in Mesopotamia
He came from Porthpean and before enlisting had become a teacher at Mount Charles Council School and at St Blazey. He was known to be a popular individual and was famed as a crack shot
William Nancarrow
08/05/1916
Age 23
Private
Royal Fusiliers
Son of Tom and Mary Nancarrow, of Kernick Mills, St. Stephen's, Gram Pound Road, Cornwall.
Killed on the Western Front
William Thomas Morton
22/08/1917
Age 21
Lance Serjeant Seaforth Highlanders
Son of Annie Morton, of Poltair, St. Austell, Cornwall, and the late Thomas Richard Morton. He was born in Brazil.
Killed at the Third Battle of Ypres, Passchendaele
After attending St Austell County School William studied at Camborne School of Mining.
It wasn’t until 1933 that the then Principle of CSM, H. Standish Ball transformed the School’s Diploma into the Associateship of Camborne School of Mine (ACSM) a qualification which was soon to become respected in mining circles throughout the world. It was agreed that the ACSM should be granted retrospectively to all who had passed a Diploma at CSM since its formation in 1909. Among the pre-1909 students, it was felt that the standards had changed and ACSM would only be conferred to students of ‘outstanding merit’. Hence some of the students have the letters ‘ACSM’ after their name, such as William Thomas Morton (CSM 1913-16) from Poltair, St. Austell who for three years was a recipient of the ‘Husband Memorial Scholarship’ and gained a 1st Class Diploma.
He is also remembered on a memorial there.
Sydney Pearce
(PEARCE, EDWARD SYDNEY CHARLES)
Aged 2 a the time of the 1901 census
Born in the Transvaal (about 1899).
Address of his widowed mother, Ann: Westbourne Villa, St Austell
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Flying Corps
Unit :57th Sqdn.
Date of Death:31/03/1918
John Carhart Reed
31/07/1916
Age 19
Lance Corporal
Hampshire Regiment
Son of a jeweller, Alfred and Olive Reed, of 11, Church St., St. Austell.
died in Mesopotamia
22/08/1917
Age 21
Lance Serjeant Seaforth Highlanders
Son of Annie Morton, of Poltair, St. Austell, Cornwall, and the late Thomas Richard Morton. He was born in Brazil.
Killed at the Third Battle of Ypres, Passchendaele
After attending St Austell County School William studied at Camborne School of Mining.
It wasn’t until 1933 that the then Principle of CSM, H. Standish Ball transformed the School’s Diploma into the Associateship of Camborne School of Mine (ACSM) a qualification which was soon to become respected in mining circles throughout the world. It was agreed that the ACSM should be granted retrospectively to all who had passed a Diploma at CSM since its formation in 1909. Among the pre-1909 students, it was felt that the standards had changed and ACSM would only be conferred to students of ‘outstanding merit’. Hence some of the students have the letters ‘ACSM’ after their name, such as William Thomas Morton (CSM 1913-16) from Poltair, St. Austell who for three years was a recipient of the ‘Husband Memorial Scholarship’ and gained a 1st Class Diploma.
He is also remembered on a memorial there.
Sydney Pearce
(PEARCE, EDWARD SYDNEY CHARLES)
Aged 2 a the time of the 1901 census
Born in the Transvaal (about 1899).
Address of his widowed mother, Ann: Westbourne Villa, St Austell
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Flying Corps
Unit :57th Sqdn.
Date of Death:31/03/1918
John Carhart Reed
31/07/1916
Age 19
Lance Corporal
Hampshire Regiment
Son of a jeweller, Alfred and Olive Reed, of 11, Church St., St. Austell.
died in Mesopotamia
Sydney Herbert Rundle
04/08/1916
Age 20
Private
Royal Fusiliers
Son of Kate Rundle, of The Retreat, St. Blazey, Cornwall, and the late Thomas Rundle (Draper & Grocer)
Killed in the Battle of the Somme
Images below taken at Thiepval
Age 20
Private
Royal Fusiliers
Son of Kate Rundle, of The Retreat, St. Blazey, Cornwall, and the late Thomas Rundle (Draper & Grocer)
Killed in the Battle of the Somme
Images below taken at Thiepval
Pier and Face 8 C 9 A and 16 A.
Arthur John Ash
06/12/1944
Age 20
Flying Officer
Son of Arthur George and Edith Ash, of Holmbush, St. Austell, Cornwall.
Navigator in Mosquito
Age 20
Flying Officer
Son of Arthur George and Edith Ash, of Holmbush, St. Austell, Cornwall.
Navigator in Mosquito
Joseph Peter Bassett
10/01/1944
Age 23
Pilot Officer (Pilot) 245 Sqdn
Son of Joseph John and Katie Camille Bassett, of St. Austell,
Flying Thunderbolts over France
Age 23
Pilot Officer (Pilot) 245 Sqdn
Son of Joseph John and Katie Camille Bassett, of St. Austell,
Flying Thunderbolts over France
Peter John Bradfield
01/11/1944
Age 18
Coder H.M.S. Whitaker
Son of Leonard B. and Amy Bradfield, of St. Austell
U-483 fired two torpedoes at convoy off Matlin Head, North Atlantic
Age 18
Coder H.M.S. Whitaker
Son of Leonard B. and Amy Bradfield, of St. Austell
U-483 fired two torpedoes at convoy off Matlin Head, North Atlantic
Leonard Redvers Bray
10/04/1943
Age 21
Sergeant (Air Bomber)
Son of Clifford and Evelyn Maud Bray, of Tregrehan.
Age 21
Sergeant (Air Bomber)
Son of Clifford and Evelyn Maud Bray, of Tregrehan.
Archibald William Burt
21/07/1944
Age 26
Pte Durham Light Infantry
Husband of Dorothy M. Burt, of St. Austell.
By aerial bombardment while POW in Germany
Age 26
Pte Durham Light Infantry
Husband of Dorothy M. Burt, of St. Austell.
By aerial bombardment while POW in Germany
Richard George Woodley Crossman
08/06/1940
Age 21
Leading Supply Assistant
H.M.S. Glorious
Son of Thomas and Kate Crossman, of St. Austell
In action when intercepted in the Norwegian Sea by the German battlecruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst
Bright, willing boy and very helpful in the woodwork shop. After leaving school he joined the firm Richards & Mitchell, wholesale fruit merchants, and was greatly esteemed by them.
Age 21
Leading Supply Assistant
H.M.S. Glorious
Son of Thomas and Kate Crossman, of St. Austell
In action when intercepted in the Norwegian Sea by the German battlecruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst
Bright, willing boy and very helpful in the woodwork shop. After leaving school he joined the firm Richards & Mitchell, wholesale fruit merchants, and was greatly esteemed by them.
Clifford Austen Crowle
09/01/1941
Age 26
Aircraftman 2nd Class
Son of Edgar and Elsie Crowle, of Bugle, Cornwall
He was born in Bugle and attended Bugle school and then St Austell Grammar. At school he was a keen sportsman mainly on the cricket field.
After leaving school Austin followed his grandfather (Arthur) and father (Edgar) into the family butchers business in Bugle. In late 1940 he was called up to serve in the Royal Air Force, his base being Wilmslow Camp, Cheshire. He unfortunately never made active service as after “ square bashing” and route marching in appalling weather he was taken ill.
A few years before he had been involved in a car crash in which he suffered a punctured lung, and the outcome of this appears to have caused pneumonia and his subsequent death.
In the January of 1941 the country was in the grip of severe winter weather and his parents had the most horrendous journey with a local man named Everett Morcom who ran a garage and taxi service in Bugle and drove them to the camp.
His brother, Arthur, remembers that on that particular day 10th January 1941 they all had a long walk in the snow from Poltair school around St. Austell and then were sent home, and the school was closed for a few days. (Mary Crowle, sister-in-law Sept 07)
Age 26
Aircraftman 2nd Class
Son of Edgar and Elsie Crowle, of Bugle, Cornwall
He was born in Bugle and attended Bugle school and then St Austell Grammar. At school he was a keen sportsman mainly on the cricket field.
After leaving school Austin followed his grandfather (Arthur) and father (Edgar) into the family butchers business in Bugle. In late 1940 he was called up to serve in the Royal Air Force, his base being Wilmslow Camp, Cheshire. He unfortunately never made active service as after “ square bashing” and route marching in appalling weather he was taken ill.
A few years before he had been involved in a car crash in which he suffered a punctured lung, and the outcome of this appears to have caused pneumonia and his subsequent death.
In the January of 1941 the country was in the grip of severe winter weather and his parents had the most horrendous journey with a local man named Everett Morcom who ran a garage and taxi service in Bugle and drove them to the camp.
His brother, Arthur, remembers that on that particular day 10th January 1941 they all had a long walk in the snow from Poltair school around St. Austell and then were sent home, and the school was closed for a few days. (Mary Crowle, sister-in-law Sept 07)
William Kenneth Dunn
16/02/1944
Age 28
Corporal
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Son of William James Dunn and Elizabeth Anna Dunn, of St. Austell
Killed in action at Anzio, in Italy, Feb 16th 1944
Age 28
Corporal
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Son of William James Dunn and Elizabeth Anna Dunn, of St. Austell
Killed in action at Anzio, in Italy, Feb 16th 1944
John Christopher Gribble
14/05/1944
Age 22
2nd Lieutenant Cheshire Reg
Son of Leslie E. C. Gribble and Phyllis Gribble, of St. Austell.
Accidentally killed in motor cycle accident whilst on active service
Age 22
2nd Lieutenant Cheshire Reg
Son of Leslie E. C. Gribble and Phyllis Gribble, of St. Austell.
Accidentally killed in motor cycle accident whilst on active service
Osborne John Hilton Hawke
08/12/1942
Age 22
Corporal Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Son of John and Nellie Hawke, of St. Stephen, Cornwall. Action in Iraq
Age 22
Corporal Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Son of John and Nellie Hawke, of St. Stephen, Cornwall. Action in Iraq
John Henry Hibbert
30/03/1942
Flight Sergeant Observer
Son of Albert John and Betty Mary Louise Hibbert, of St. Austell
Eric Claude Hooper
13/08/1945
Age 30
Staff Sergeant
Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Accidentally killed in Germany
Age 30
Staff Sergeant
Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Accidentally killed in Germany
Percy Keast
25/07/1941
Age 24
Sergeant (Obs.)
Son of Percy and Florence Hilda Keast, of Cornwall.
He had a very successful school career and after passing the Civil Service Examination he entered the Ministry of Labour and National Service in 1934.
He was on the staff of the Employment Exchange, Falmouth, was promoted and transferred to Aldershot and then to Bristol.
He had been training with the RAF in Canada and expected to be home shortly, but the plane in which he was flying back to this country crashed in Scotland at the Mull of Kintyre. He was buried at Strabane, Co. Tyrone.
He was a pleasant and quiet boy, very conscientious in all he had to do and left many friends.
Age 24
Sergeant (Obs.)
Son of Percy and Florence Hilda Keast, of Cornwall.
He had a very successful school career and after passing the Civil Service Examination he entered the Ministry of Labour and National Service in 1934.
He was on the staff of the Employment Exchange, Falmouth, was promoted and transferred to Aldershot and then to Bristol.
He had been training with the RAF in Canada and expected to be home shortly, but the plane in which he was flying back to this country crashed in Scotland at the Mull of Kintyre. He was buried at Strabane, Co. Tyrone.
He was a pleasant and quiet boy, very conscientious in all he had to do and left many friends.
Gordon Edward Kendall
16/01/1942
Age 24
Lance Corporal Royal Manchester Reg
Son of Henry and Anna Kendall of St. Austell
Age 24
Lance Corporal Royal Manchester Reg
Son of Henry and Anna Kendall of St. Austell
Reginald John Kernick
03/04/1943
Age 20
Sergeant (Nav./Bomber) 78 Sqdn
Son of Frederick John and Amy J. Kernick, of St. Austell.
Took a major part in Scouting and was a King’s Scout and had red & white cords and Bushman’s Thong (the highest award in the Scouting world).
Age 20
Sergeant (Nav./Bomber) 78 Sqdn
Son of Frederick John and Amy J. Kernick, of St. Austell.
Took a major part in Scouting and was a King’s Scout and had red & white cords and Bushman’s Thong (the highest award in the Scouting world).
Leonard Lobb
01/08/1942
Age 29
Sergeant (Obs.)
Son of Albert and Annie Lobb, of St. Austell, Cornwall.
Schoolmaster.
Stanley Perry Lodge
20/07/1940
Age 22
Pilot Officer
Only Son of Harry Livingston Lodge, our Senior Master, and Emily Maud Lodge.
Well-known & frequent contributor to the school magazine, when at school and at college.
After a very successful school career he obtained his BA (Hons) degree in Mechanical sciences Tripos at St John’s College, Cambridge, and then took up an appointment at the B.T.H. Works, Rugby, where he served his apprenticeship.
He obtained a commission in the RAF and had been doing some very important salvage work.
Age 22
Pilot Officer
Only Son of Harry Livingston Lodge, our Senior Master, and Emily Maud Lodge.
Well-known & frequent contributor to the school magazine, when at school and at college.
After a very successful school career he obtained his BA (Hons) degree in Mechanical sciences Tripos at St John’s College, Cambridge, and then took up an appointment at the B.T.H. Works, Rugby, where he served his apprenticeship.
He obtained a commission in the RAF and had been doing some very important salvage work.
James Gilhulme Moore DFM
10/03/1944
Age 22
Flight Lieutenant (Air Gnr) 207 Sqdn.
Son of Geoffrey Franklyn Moore and Kathleen Bithiah Moore, of 3 Tregarne Terrace, St. Austell. At King's College London he studied Journalism (1938-39) before enlisting in the RAF.
His Lancaster was airborne 19:42 on 10 Mar 1944, taking off from Spilsby on an operation to bomb the Michelin tyre factory at Clermont-Ferrand. The plane was hit by flak and crashed in the target area at Cournon-d'Auvergne. All eight of the crew are buried in the Clermont-Ferrand (Des Carmes-Dechaux) Communal Cemetery. F/L Moore had previously served with No. 50 Sqdn, his DFM award being gazetted 13 July, 1943.
He is also commemorated at King’ s College Chapel.
Age 22
Flight Lieutenant (Air Gnr) 207 Sqdn.
Son of Geoffrey Franklyn Moore and Kathleen Bithiah Moore, of 3 Tregarne Terrace, St. Austell. At King's College London he studied Journalism (1938-39) before enlisting in the RAF.
His Lancaster was airborne 19:42 on 10 Mar 1944, taking off from Spilsby on an operation to bomb the Michelin tyre factory at Clermont-Ferrand. The plane was hit by flak and crashed in the target area at Cournon-d'Auvergne. All eight of the crew are buried in the Clermont-Ferrand (Des Carmes-Dechaux) Communal Cemetery. F/L Moore had previously served with No. 50 Sqdn, his DFM award being gazetted 13 July, 1943.
He is also commemorated at King’ s College Chapel.
William May Moyse
03/10/1940
Age 28
Able Seaman
Cable Ship S.S. Lady of the Isles (Penzance)
Son of William May Moyse and Louis E. Moyse; husband of Elin Mary Moyse, of St. Austell,
William May, who was serving as a gunner in the Merchant Service, died at sea as a result of enemy action.
Age 28
Able Seaman
Cable Ship S.S. Lady of the Isles (Penzance)
Son of William May Moyse and Louis E. Moyse; husband of Elin Mary Moyse, of St. Austell,
William May, who was serving as a gunner in the Merchant Service, died at sea as a result of enemy action.
Ross Odgers
23/05/1944
Age 21
Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.) 57 Sqdn
Son of Albert and Elizabeth Odgers, of Bodmin
on active service
Age 21
Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.) 57 Sqdn
Son of Albert and Elizabeth Odgers, of Bodmin
on active service
Eric Phillimore Bassett Organ
16/06/1942
Age 31
Seaman
H.M.S. Hasty
Son of Francis Henry and Emily Organ; husband of Gwenyth May Mabel Organ, of St. Austell
Torpedoed by the German motor torpedo boat S-55 about 90 nautical miles north-west of Derna, Libya
Sydney Pascoe
20/11/1942
Age 30
Leading Steward H.M.S. Bramham
Son of William John and Alma Pascoe; husband of Gwendoline Pascoe, of Bethel.
In November 1942, HMS Bramham joined Eastern Task Force "for support of landing at Oran".
Ship's log:
8th - Part of escort for assault convoys.
12th - Deployed for escort of coastal convoys in support of military operations.
20th - Under air attack during escort of convoy between Phillippeville and Bone. Hit aft abreast 4in mounting and sustained damage when bomb exploded in sea after passing through structure. An after compartment was flooded.
Sydney was one of the five crew members who died of his wounds following the bombing.
He is also remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Age 30
Leading Steward H.M.S. Bramham
Son of William John and Alma Pascoe; husband of Gwendoline Pascoe, of Bethel.
In November 1942, HMS Bramham joined Eastern Task Force "for support of landing at Oran".
Ship's log:
8th - Part of escort for assault convoys.
12th - Deployed for escort of coastal convoys in support of military operations.
20th - Under air attack during escort of convoy between Phillippeville and Bone. Hit aft abreast 4in mounting and sustained damage when bomb exploded in sea after passing through structure. An after compartment was flooded.
Sydney was one of the five crew members who died of his wounds following the bombing.
He is also remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Jack Passmore
16/01/1945
Age 24
Petty Officer Telegraphist,
H.M. Submarine Porpoise
Son of Stanley and Ada Elsie Passmore, of Mevagissey, Cornwall; husband of Laureen Passmore, of Mevagissey.
In action by Japanese aircraft in the Malacca Strait
Evan Gilbert Pugh
23/11/1943
Age 24
Lieutenant Royal Artillery
Son of Evan Gilbert Pugh and Mary Elizabeth Pugh, of St. Austell
Died at General Hospital Central Mediterranean in Italy
Douglas George Reynolds
17/07/1944
Age 25
Lieutenant in DCLI
Son of George Stanley and Ethel Millicent Reynolds; husband of Dorothy Amelia Reynolds, of Penzance, Cornwall.
In action in Italy
Age 25
Lieutenant in DCLI
Son of George Stanley and Ethel Millicent Reynolds; husband of Dorothy Amelia Reynolds, of Penzance, Cornwall.
In action in Italy
William Henry Sturtridge
29/11/1944
Lieutenant H.M. Motor Minesweeper 101
Son of Thomas John and Jane Sturtridge; husband of Elizabeth Mary Sturtridge, of Penwithick.
On active service in Mediterranean
Lieutenant H.M. Motor Minesweeper 101
Son of Thomas John and Jane Sturtridge; husband of Elizabeth Mary Sturtridge, of Penwithick.
On active service in Mediterranean
Roy Trahair
18/10/1943
Age 21
Sergeant (Air Gnr.)
Son of Richard Treeve Trahair and Emily Linna Trahair, of St. Austell
Charles Edwin Truscott
10/12/1941
Age 19
Stoker 2nd Class, HMS Prince of Wales
Son of Charles Edwin and Lilian Mary Truscott, of St. Austell
John Wiseman
17/04/1941
Age 28
Able Seaman H.M.S. Maja
Son of Alexander and Marian Wiseman, of St. Austell, Cornwall
Accidentally drowned just after the ship on which he was a gunner, had returned from an adventurous voyage across the Atlantic.
He had joined Phillips & Co. accountants in St Austell and was agent for Prudential Assurance when he enlisted in the Navy.
He was very popular boy both at school and in business.
He was never happier than when “messing about” with boats or climbing the greasy pole at Charlestown Regatta.
Age 28
Able Seaman H.M.S. Maja
Son of Alexander and Marian Wiseman, of St. Austell, Cornwall
Accidentally drowned just after the ship on which he was a gunner, had returned from an adventurous voyage across the Atlantic.
He had joined Phillips & Co. accountants in St Austell and was agent for Prudential Assurance when he enlisted in the Navy.
He was very popular boy both at school and in business.
He was never happier than when “messing about” with boats or climbing the greasy pole at Charlestown Regatta.