Wolverhampton War Memorials

Cooper Richard Fred Harry Trooper 7953805
3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) Royal Armoured Corps.
Richard was born 6 December 1922 in Wolverhampton son of Richard and Rose Cooper. In 1939 they were living at 8 Penn Road, Wolverhampton along with Richards younger sister Mary.
The war diary records - 'on the night of 4/5 October 1943, the regiment was ordered by 78th Division to send one squadron to 11th Brigade and one to 36th Brigade in the Termoli area [on the Adriatic coast of Italy]. At first light, the situation on the 11th Brigade front was judged most critical, so C Squadron crossed the Biferno River first and went into action immediately.
After six tanks crossed, the ford became unusable, and the blown bridge under continuous enemy shelling, could not be repaired by the Royal Engineers until 1420 hrs. C Squadron remained in action throughout.
Meanwhile, 36th Brigade on the left flank was being heavily attacked on the high ground at Difesa Grande, with enemy tanks and infantry threatening to drive the British infantry off and cut the road into Termoli and isolate 11th Brigade.
Once the bridge was repaired, B Squadron crossed by 1430 hrs and was ordered to counter-attack up the high ground. Regimental HQ and the reserve squadron followed, turning the action into a full regimental operation. The regiment then suffered losses when concealed Mark IV Specials knocked out two B Squadron tanks and one RHQ tank and an outflanking move on the right was held by further enemy fire.
They advanced about a mile, overran enemy infantry positions, took 20 prisoners, and captured several machine guns.
As light failed, the infantry consolidated the limited ground gained.' Seven men were killed and twelve were wounded Richard was in one of the two B Squadron tanks knocked out by the German forces.
Richard was killed in action 5 October 1943 aged 20.
Remembered on Panel 2 Cassino Memorial, Italy.

Dalloway Dennis Private 4915690
7th Bn. Worcestershire Regiment.
Dennis was born in June 1919 in Wolverhampton, the son of Annie Dalloway. By 1921, he and his mother were living at 7 Ash Street, Wolverhampton, the home of his maternal grandmother, Mary Dalloway, and his aunt, Nellie Dalloway.
The 7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment was a Territorial Regiment and Dennis' service number 4915690 shows he was almost certainly a prewar Territorial soldier and not in the 1939 Register because he was already mobilised.
The 7th Battalion sailed from Southampton on 14th January 1940, on the troop ship SS Amsterdam.
The 7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment was part of 144th Infantry Brigade, 48th (South Midland) Division, fighting in Belgium and northern France during the German offensive of May 1940.
Between 20–25 May, the battalion was engaged in a series of withdrawals under heavy pressure from German armour and infantry.
The battalion’s actions in this period included, holding defensive positions near the Escaut (Scheldt) River, falling back through Tournai, Péruwelz, and St Amand. Fighting rearguard actions as the BEF contracted towards the Dunkirk corridor.
During this chaotic, high-casualty phase of the campaign, many wounded men were evacuated westwards toward casualty clearing stations and hospitals on the Channel coast. Dennis was wounded during the fighting withdrawal between 22 and 24 May 1940 and was moved west with other BEF wounded. He died of his wounds in a hospital near Dieppe on 25 May 1940.
Dennis died of wounds 25 May 1940 age 21.
C. 72. Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery, Hautot-sur-mer, France.

Davies Arthur Leslie Trooper 7942996
The Inns of Court Regt. Royal Armoured Corps.
Arthur was born 16th September 1914 in Wolverhampton son of Arthur George and Emma Davies. In 1921 they were living at 79 Green Lane, Bilston with Arthur's older sisters Florence, Doris and Ada and younger sister Clara.
Arthur married Arthur Shore September 1939 in Wolverhampton and lived at 38 Chetwynd Road Penn Fields, Wolverhampton. Arthur was employed as a hand shoe clicker, cutting the leather hides laid out on the bench with a sharp clicker’s knife to produce the uppers, linings, tongues and facings of the shoe. The knife striking the metal plate beneath the leather with the distinctive “click” that gave the craft its name.
Arthur's enlistment into the Army likely occurred during the early wartime volunteer phase of 1939-41.
By 1945 Arthur was serving with the regiment as the reconnaissance element of the 11th Armoured Division, the “Black Bull”, during its final drive across North-West Germany. These last days of the war were still dangerous, with scattered German units fighting desperate rearguard actions and ambushes against the leading reconnaissance troops.
On 18 April 1945, the Inns of Court Regiment advanced at first light with squadrons spread across the front. C Squadron’s patrols pushed through Bienenbüttel and Bevensen, reaching Altenmedingen and then Romstedt, where the leading scout car driven by Arthur was struck by a Panzerfaust and he was killed. Other patrols made contact with 15 (Scottish) Division Recce and SAS elements, while A Squadron entered Lüneburg after forcing a crossing and drove off enemy infantry preparing its defence. Throughout the day the regiment cleared villages and roadblocks as it pressed north and east toward the Elbe.
Arthur was killed in action 18 April 1945 aged 30.
Buried 17. E. 7. Becklingen War Cemetery, Germany.

Evans Evan Ordinary Seaman C/JX 656347
H.M.S. Cabot Royal Navy - Shore Establishment.
Evan was born 1 August 1922 in Wolverhampton son of Charlie and Edith Maud Evans. In 1939 they were living at 70 Coalway Road, Penn along with Evan' younger sister Sally.
Evan died 12 April 1944 aged 21 at Harrogate Military Hospital, Yorkshire, due to a bathing accident where he fractured the base of his skull.
Evan is buried at Penn Fields (St. Philip) Churchyard Sec. C. Grave 52.

Hall, Gilbert Harry Major 149395
5th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment
Gilbert was born in June 1921 in West Bromwich. Before the war he was living at 8 Uplands Avenue, Bradmore, Wolverhampton. He appears to have been employed by Midland Bank prior to enlistment, as his name is commemorated on the Midland Bank Staff War Memorial in London. He was appointed Lieutenant on 21 September 1940.
The 5th South Staffords, part of 59th (Staffordshire) Division, fought in Normandy but were disbanded in August 1944 due to manpower shortages. Officers and men were redistributed across other battalions in 21st Army Group. It is unclear which Regiment Gilbert was attached to, the CWGC still lists him as 5th Battalion; but Gilbert died in an area where the 5th Battalion was no longer operating.
Gilbert was killed in action 30 November 1944 aged 23. During this period the Nijmegen salient was held under relentless strain, with constant patrolling, German infiltration attempts, artillery and mortar harassment, sniper fire, and a succession of small scale clashes; officers were frequently killed while leading patrols, conducting forward observation, countering night infiltrations, or under sudden bursts of shell or mortar fire.
Gilbert is buried in XII. H. 7. Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands.

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Hanka Václav Flight Lieutenant 83237
311 (Czechoslovak) Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Václav Hanka was born on 7 November 1919 in Sokolnice, South Moravia, then part of Czechoslovakia. Educated at Brno Reálka; joined the Czechoslovak Air Force in 1937 as an observer-cadet. The Germans occupation began in March 1939, in December of that same year Václav made an unsuccessful attempt to leave the Protectorate in the direction of Hungary. A second attempt followed on 7 January 1940, when he was detained together with Major of the General Staff D. Marek and, after three months in prison, returned to the Slovak border.
A further attempt to cross succeeded, and through Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey, the Middle East and Egypt he reached France, where he arrived on 6 May 1940. After its defeat he departed for England, where he was assigned to No. 311 (Czechoslovak) Bomber Squadron as an observer–navigator. After training he began operational flying on 3 March 1941.
In March 1942 Václav married twenty year old Betty Worboys in Wolverhampton, and the couple made their home at 65 Coalway Road. Their daughter, Rosemarie, was born in March 1943, a child Václav tragically never saw. The family’s sorrow deepened when Rosemarie died at the age of six.
Václav flew with 311 Squadron during its early period under Bomber Command, taking part in night bombing operations against German targets. He completed 20 operational sorties (106 flying hours) before the squadron transferred to Coastal Command in April 1942. There he continued front line service on long range anti-submarine patrols over the Bay of Biscay and the Western Approaches, flying a further 176 operational hours.
During the summer of 1942, Václav took part in several successful attacks on German U-boats, including the damaging and later confirmed sinking of U-165, under the command of Fregattenkapitän Eberhard Hoffmann, one of the squadron’s most notable achievements.
On 18 October 1942 Václav was travelling as a passenger aboard Vickers Wellington T2564 (KX-T), flying from RAF Talbenny, Pembrokeshire to RAF Northolt, South Ruislip, Headquarters Coastal Command.
The aircraft carried its normal crew of five plus ten additional Czechoslovak airmen.
During its approach to Northolt, the Wellington stalled at low altitude and crashed near South Ruislip Underground Station, killing all 15 airmen, a Belgium RAF officer who was Transport Officer at Talbenny and 6 civilians on the ground.
This was 311 Squadron’s greatest single loss of life during the war. Václav was 22 years old. At the request of Betty he was buried on 24 October 1942 at St Philip’s Churchyard, Penn Fields, Wolverhampton
He is also remembered on memorials in Sokolnice, Czech Republic.
In 1991 he was posthumously promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the Czech forces.

Hepworth Robert Pilot Office 162598
18 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Robert was born 31 December 1919 in Wolverhampton the only child of James and Mary Bowes Hepworth. In 1921 they were living at 8 Villiers Street, Wolverhampton. James was employed as a letterpress printer at R. J. Miller Printer & Stationer, Walsall. By 1939 they were living at 51 Wynn Road, Penn; Robert was employed as a general clerk.
Robert was commissioned as a Pilot Officer 4 October 1943.
In January 1944, 18 Squadron was flying Douglas Boston bombers conducting night intruder and night reconnaissance missions in support of the British X Corps and the French Expeditionary Corps advancing toward the Gustav Line.
Robert was killed in action on 18 January 1944, aged 24, while serving as a crew member aboard a Boston III Z2234, light bomber. The aircraft crashed two miles from the airfield and exploded shortly after taking off from RAF Pomigliano d’Arco, Italy during a night reconnaissance mission over the Pontecorvo–Ausonia–San Giorgio sector of Lazio. All four members of the crew were killed, and they now rest together in the same cemetery S. 7. Naples War Cemetery, Italy.

Hickman Tom Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) 1236171
149 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Tom was born 3 March 1921 in Penn, Wolverhampton son of William and Ethel A. Hickman. In 1921 they were living at 'Rosegarth' Woodfield Avenue, Penn along with Tom's paternal grandmother Lucy Hickman aged 78 and his three older brothers Raymond, Donald and Paul. Tom's father was employed as the managing clerk at an iron works.
By 1939 Tom had moved to 11 Oxbarn Avenue, Penn with his parents and brothers Raymond, Donald and Philip who had been born in 1924. Tom was employed as a clerk at a gas company.
Tom enlisted at RAF Cardington Bedfordshire sometime after April 1940.
The Stirling I bomber (N60810) in which Tom was flying took off from RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk at 20:58 hours 28 August 1942. The aircraft was shot down by a Messerschmitt Bf-110 night-fighter flown by Lt Ludwig Meister of NJG-4 at 00.43, the third of three aircraft he destroyed during that night’s operations. It crashed at Airlenbach in the Odenwald, approximately 21 miles northeast of Mannheim, while returning from the raid on Nuremberg. Tom was killed along with five other members of the crew, all of whom now rest together in the same cemetery.
Sergeant Hughes and Sergeant Steel both survived the crash and became prisoners of war.
Tom was killed in action 29 August 1942.
Coll. grave 2. D. 20-22. Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany.

Hill Derek Arthur Lieutenant 289837
7th Bn. Royal Norfolk Regiment.
Derek was born 2 May 1924 in Glanford Brigg, Lincolnshire the son of Lionel John and Jessie Hill, in 1939 they were living at 21 Hanbury Crescent, Wolverhampton Derek was still at school.
Derek was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 21 August 1943.
The retreating Germans demolished most of the bridge at Le Pont de Brie over the River Orne, Normandy to slow the British advance, and on the night of 6/7 August the 7th Royal Norfolks, together with the 6th South Staffords and 7th North Staffords, waded the river to secure a bridgehead on the western bank so engineers could repair the damaged structure. By 08.00 on 7 August the Bailey supported bridge was usable, allowing British forces to establish themselves west of the river and withstand repeated German counter attacks. On 8 August 1944 the 7th Battalion continued to fight at Pont de Brie, holding the hard-won bridgehead against determined German efforts to break through. The Norfolks suffered severe losses, with ‘A’ Company lost and isolated during the crossing, virtually wiped out, and overall casualties reaching 42 killed, 111 wounded and 73 missing. Sadly, Derek was one of those casualties.
Derek was killed in action 8 August 1944 aged 20.
XXII. F. 23. Bayeux War Cemetery, Normandy, France.

Holmes Charles Albert Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) 1168170
106 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Charles was born 17 May 1922 in Wolverhampton son of Frank Sidney and Lucy Hannah Holmes. In 1939 they were living at 7 Wellington Avenue, Penn Fields, Wolverhampton, Charles was employed as an assistant storekeeper.
Charles enlisted into the RAF at RAF Cardington, Bedfordshire sometime after April 1940.
The Lancaster I R5637 in which Charles was flying took off from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire at 00:20 hours on 16 August 1942. The aircraft was shot down over the target during a raid on Dusseldorf and crashed at Oberkassel, a district of Düsseldorf situated on the west bank of the river Rhine. All seven crew members were lost.
Charles was killed in action 16 August 1942 aged 20.
9. H. 5. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
Also remembered in the Book of Remembrance at the Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre, Lincolnshire.

Hopkins Hubert John Ainsleigh Gunner 14215132
178 Field Regt. Royal Artillery
John was born in Sparkhill, Birmingham 30 October 1922 son of Cyril Hubert and Elsie Louise Hopkins, he was baptised at St. John's Church, Sparkhill 17 December 1922. In 1939 they had moved to 30 St. Philips Avenue, Penn Fields along with Hubert's older sister Joyce. Hubert was still a school pupil; his father was employed as a bank clerk for London Joint City Mid Bank Ltd.
Hubert served with 178 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, part of 36th Infantry Division in the Burma campaign. In early 1945 the division was advancing south through the jungles and railway country of northern Burma, clearing Japanese positions between Katha, Mawlu, and Pinbaw. The fighting was close, difficult, and often sudden, with artillery units frequently operating forward to support infantry attacks and defensive stands.
On 1 February 1945, during this hard fighting along the railway corridor, Hubert was killed in action aged 22.
27. C. 7. Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar (Burma).

Hulse George Dean Leading Aircraftman 936159
26 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
George was born in September 1916 in Wolverhampton son of William Alfred and Annie Hulse. In 1921 they were living at 139 Oxford Street, Bilston along with George's older siblings Robert, Edith, Ethel, Herbert, Annie and Millicent and younger sister Monica. Their father William was employed as a fitter millwright. By 1939 the family were living at 'Darfur' Goldthorn Hill, Wolverhampton.
George enlisted into the RAF at RAF Cardington, Bedfordshire between September 1939 and August 1940.
George was killed in action 15 August 1940 aged 24 during a German air raid on RAF West Malling Airfield, Kent. Thirty-eight enemy aircraft carried out a high-level bombing attack, buildings were damaged and the aerodrome cratered. The men’s quarters were damaged; alongside George another airman George Bage from South Shields was killed.
Grave 7. Wolverhampton Borough Cemetery.

Matthewman George Cecil Sapper 1924053
3 Docks Group, Royal Engineers.
George was born 17 September 1915 in Wolverhampton son of John Henry and Ada Jemima Matthewman. In 1939 they were living at 134 Windsor Avenue, Wolverhampton, George was employed as a Railway clerk the same job as his father.
The Newcastle Evening Chronicle reported, 'Sapper George C. Matthewman was found shot in a house in which he was staying in Central drive Blackpool today [24 June 1940]. It was stated he was in good spirits during the weekend and his parents visited him a day or so ago.'
George died 24 June 1940 in Lancanshire aged 24.
Sec. S. Grave 17. Penn Fields (St. Philip) Churchyard, Wolverhampton.

Harper Kenneth Private 14149557
Worcestershire Regiment.
Kenneth was born in June 1928 son of Frank and Mary Elizebeth Harper. In 1939 they were living at 'Oakdene' Maple Road, Bradmore, Wolverhampton along with Kenneth's older siblings Gertrude, Frank, Dorothy and Stanley and younger siblings William and Sylvia. Kenneth was still at school.
Kenneth's service number 14149557 falls within a block allocated during the Second World War period. This suggests he enlisted late in the war or during the immediate post-war years rather than serving throughout the conflict.
His death occurred more than two years after the end of the war in Europe. Soldiers continued to serve with the British Army of Occupation and in various post-war duties in France and Germany. His death indicates it was probably due to an accident, illness, or training incident.
Kenneth died 3 December 1947 aged 19.
Plot 10. Row 2. Grave 7 Villeneuve-st. Georges New Communal Cemetery, France.

Meddings Sidney Private 4927510
1st Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment.
Sidney was born 24 May 1921 in Wolverhampton son of William Henry and Olive Meddings. In 1921 they were living at 90 Pearson Street, Wolverhampton along with Sidney's older brother George and his 16-year-old maternal aunt Alice Howell. William was employed as a house painter and decorator.
By 1939 they were living at Merrivale Villas, Chequer Street, Wolverhampton, along with Sidney's younger siblings Olive, Stanley, Maise, Maurice and Dorothy. Sidney had joined his father and was employed as a house painter and decorator.
The 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, which in June 1944 was part of the 111th Indian Infantry Brigade of the Chindit force operating behind Japanese lines in Burma. The battalion had been flown into Burma during Operation Thursday in March 1944 and spent the following months engaged in fierce fighting, long-range penetration operations, and the defence of strongholds around the Mogaung and Myitkyina areas.
By June 1944, the 1st South Staffords were involved in the latter stages of the Chindit campaign. The battalion had suffered heavy casualties from combat, disease, exhaustion, and the harsh conditions of jungle warfare. During June they were operating in northern Burma in support of the Allied advance towards Mogaung and Myitkyina, conducting patrols, holding defensive positions, and maintaining pressure on Japanese forces.
Sidney was killed in action 23 June 1944 aged 23.
13. G. 15. Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar (Burma).

Millington Robert Marshall Private 14342091
General Service Corps
attd. Army Physical Training Corps.
Robert Millington was born on 1 March 1914 in Kidderminster, the son of Walter H. Millington and Annie Millington. By 1921, the family was living at 32 Arthur Street, Blakenhall, Wolverhampton, where Robert lived with his parents, his elder siblings, Cyril and Ena, and his younger brother, John. Tragically, John died in March of the following year.
By 1939, Robert was living with his parents at 69 St Philip's Avenue, Penn Fields, Wolverhampton. Like his father, he was employed as a plumber and pipe fitter.
In September 1940, Robert married Marjorie Florence Millington in Wolverhampton.
Robert died 12 December 1942 aged 28 in Pinderfields Emergency Hospital, Wakefield, Yorkshire.
Sec. M.B. Grave 110. Penn Fields (St. Philip) Churchyard.

Morris Horace John Flying Officer 47081
295 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Horace was born in 1914 the son of Thomas and Mary Morris, at the time of his death Horace was living at 16a Coalway Road, Penn Fields, Wolverhampton.
Horace was promoted from Sergeant to Pilot Officer on 26 September 1941 and was posted to the RAF Equipment Branch on 17 October 1941. The Equipment Branch was responsible for the procurement, storage, accounting and distribution of the equipment and supplies required to maintain RAF stations and operational squadrons. He was promoted to Flying Officer on 1 October 1942. At his own request, he relinquished this rank on 25 June 1943 and transferred to the General Duties Branch, reverting to the rank of Pilot Officer. He subsequently regained the rank of Flying Officer on 25 December 1943.
Horace was killed 28 April 1944 aged 30 while piloting Albemarle V1613 when it was hit by Albemarle V1770 of the same unit during a night container-dropping and map-reading exercise, near Welford, Berkshire. All five members of the crew were killed.
The Albemarle was primarily employed as a transport aircraft and glider tug. Horace' Squadron was based at RAF Harwell, Oxfordshire.
Horace is buried Sec. K. Grave 233-234. Penn Fields (St. Philip) Churchyard.

Noon William Maurice Sapper 2193556
276 Field Coy. Royal Engineers.
William was born in September 1918 in Wolverhampton son of William Henry and Ellen Sophia Noon. In 1921 they were living at Beverley, Church Road Bradmore, Wolverhampton along with William's older sisters Ena and Maisie. William's father was employed as a cabinetmaker.
By 1939 William's parents were living at 141 Church Road, Wolverhampton.
276 Field Company Royal Engineers, serving under 51st (Highland) Division, was involved in the operations following the division's advance into North Brabant, The Netherlands during Operation PHEASANT.
During the first week of November the division was pushing north-westwards towards the Mark and Dintel waterways and the Moerdijk approaches. Engineer units were heavily engaged in bridge construction, route maintenance, mine clearance and support to infantry crossings.
William was killed in action 5 November 1944 aged 26 years old.
17. A. 12. Bergen-op-zoom War Cemetery Netherlands.