GENERAL NOTE:- I have done my best to identify the brave men depicted on Dorchesters War Memorials for the 2nd World War from information freely available on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records on Line . This is not an easy task however as only initials have been given on the actual memorials and the records at the CWGC generally only give next of kin who were not always living in or near Dorchester at the time of their death. Also it is debateable whether all initials are correctly recorded on either the memorials or at Commission. It would be better if someone that knew these individuals can confirm that we have the right details and better still if they can provide a picture and/or more information for inclusion to ensure we do them justice. (Michael Russell OPC for Dorchester (my email address is given on the front page) |
Dorchesters main war memorial was officially unveiled on 24th May 1921 in memory of those who gave their lives during the 1st World War
and the names of 239 individuals are listed in the front four panels covering 1914-1918.
Short biographies on these soldiers are available in Brian Bates Book published 2012 called "Dorchester Remembers the Great War"
Transcribed by Michael Russell OPC Dorchester :
Background added from Commonwealth War Graves Commission by Michael Russell OPC for Dorchester
1939 - 19451. BARRETT Jack. - R.N. [ Plumber 4th class; Service No. D/MX 74108; died 15th dec 1941 aged 23; HMS Galatea; Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 54 column 2; Son of Joseph William and Mary Louisa BARRETT of Dorchester] 40. BREWER A.A.J. - Black Watch 41. ELMES L.G. D.L.I 42. MIBBV A.J. 43. SANDFORD - Buffs 44. HOWARD S.E. - Hereford Regt 45. MAGAWLEY E. - Wilts 46 - BECK G.E. - R.A.S.C. 48. BELLINGER W.J. - R.A.F 49. BECK G.R. - 50. BROWN M.A.W. 51. BULL R.B. 52. CRATE S.R. 53. CRUTTENDEN B.C. 54. DUBBEN A.J. 55. FUSSELL M.A. 57. LEWIS R.G. 58. LNDON MOORE J.G. 59. MATTHEWS R.C. 60. MALLETT R.B. 61. PARSONS H.E. 62. ROSE R.C. 63. WALKER A.W.G. |
Transcribed by Pat Ashdown :
Background added from Commonwealth War Graves Commission by Michael Russell OPC for Dorchester
G.(George Henry) |
BECK Sergeant Royal Air force Volunteer Reserve 15 Squadron age 20 died 31 July 1943 Service number 1380833 son of Southey G & Nellie C Beck of Dorchester buried Runnymede Memorial Panel 142(1) |
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R.G. (Reginald Frederick) |
BRATBY : Trooper in Royal Armoured Corps Queen's Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards) aged 34; died 29 March 1943; Service Number 1921685; Son of Frederick William Bratby, and of Ada Bratby, of Rodwell, Weymouth, Dorsetshire. MEDJEZ-EL-BAB MEMORIAL Tunisia |
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A. J. (Arthur Jenkins) |
BURDEN : Warrant Officer Class II (R.Q.M.S.) Dorsetshire Regiment 4th Bn; died 17/08/1942; Service Number 5720606; awarded the M.B.E. Grave 3860 Dorchester Cemetery. |
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J I. (John Idris) |
CHEESE: Serjeant Royal Tank Regiment, R.A.C 50th; aged 31; died 04/09/1942; Service Number 7917480; Son of James and Hannah Cheese; husband of Joan Cheese, of Folkstone. M.R.S.T.,.F.R.H.S. Coll. grave XXVII. D. 17-19.EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY Egypt |
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W.C. (Walter Cecil) |
CROCKER Signalman Royal corps of Signals 88 Field Regt RA Sig Sec aged 29 died 6th Nov 1943 Service number 6028953 son of Charles &B louise Crocker form Upwey buried Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery Ref B6 U 1 |
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A. |
DYKE (could not identify) |
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R.W. (Ronald William) |
ESSEX Serjeant Royal tank regiment RAC 50th aged 30 died 2nd Nov 1942 Service number 7917459 son of George E and Louisa May ESSEX of Dorchester husband of Mary Frances ESSEX of Dorchester BA buried Alamein memorial Column 21 |
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E.J. (Ernest John) |
EVELEIGH Bombardier Royal Artillery 94 (The Dorset & Hampshire Yeomanry) field Regiment aged 27 died 21 Feb 1945 Service number 951686 son of Sydney Harold & Evelyn Eveleigh of westbury Sherborne Dorset buried Reichwald Forset cemetery Ref 47 A 3 |
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S.W. |
GRACE (no Record of an SW at CWGC - 104 people of this surname killed in WW) |
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A.E.W.( Alfred Ernest Wyndham) |
GUY Private in the Gordon Highlanders 1st battalion aged 29 died 20 Feb 1945 Service number 5677819 buried Rheinberg War cemetery Ref 12.B.12. No next of kin recorded. |
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H.J. (Henry John) |
HART Flight Sergeant (Pilot) Royal Air Force 149 Squadron aged 21 died 10th Oct 1942 Service number 655066 son of Samuel & Bessie maud Hart of Dorchester buried Dorchester cemetery Class A Grave 2961 |
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A.T.S. (Terence Anthony Selby) |
HENNIBERRY Serjeant Dorsetshire Regiment aged 36 died 29 Oct 1942 Service number 572328 son of Henry & Lucy Annie Henniberry husband of Ada Victoria Henniberry of Tolpuddle Dorset buried Tolpuddle Church Cemetery N.E. Corner |
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R.D. (Rowland Dalton) |
LAKE Leading aircraftsman Royal Air force Volunteer reserve aged 27 died 23 June 1943 service number 923642 son of Walter Rowland Lake and Kate Elizabeth Lake husband of Peggy Lake of Dorchester buried Ambon War Cemetery Ref 8.B.16 |
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G. |
LEGG (Could not identify) |
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R.C. (Reginald Charles) |
MATTHEWS Sergeant Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 102 squadron died 8th Nov 1941 service number 1167443 son of Charles edwin and Evelyn Violet Irene Matthews of Dorchester buried Runnymede Memorial Panel 48 |
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D.W. (Dennis William) |
MIDDLETON Leading aircraftman (Air Gunner U/T) Royal air force Volunteer Reserve age 18 died 6th Oct 1941 Service number 1336164 son of Horace & Adeline Middleton of Hove buried Hove New Cemetery Block 1 Grace 22 |
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H.E. (Henry Edward) |
PARSONS Sergeant (Nav.) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 78th Squadron age 21 died 3rd Oct 1943 Service number 1319479 son of Reginald Thomas George & Ethel Daisy Parsons of Dorchester buried Hanover War Cemetery Ref Coll grave 5K 12-16 |
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F.F. (Frederick Francis) |
RIDEOUT Gunner Royal Artillery 64 (The Queens Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry) Anti Tank Regiment aged 34 died 28th April 1943 Service number 1097455 son of Frank & Lilian Rideout; husband of Bertha Fanny Rideout of Stour Row Dorset |
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A. (Anthony Charles) |
SALLIS Sergeant Royal Air force Volunteer Reserve 404 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron aged 24 died 13 July 1942 Service number 1180389 son of Charles and Ethel SALLIS of Dorchester Grave 3164 Dorchester Cemetery |
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E.G. (Edward George) |
SHREEVES Flying Officer Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 77 squadron age 32, died 10th March 1943 Service number 125421 Son of Herbert Shreeves and of Annie Elizabeth Shreeves husband of Ivie gwendolyn Shreeves of Poole Dorset BA Hons. London buried Runnymede Memorial Panel 129 |
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W. |
SMITH (could not identify) |
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S.J. (Sidney John) |
TREVETT Lieutenant Dorsetshire Regiment, aged 29, died 4th Nov 1944, Service number 324672, the son of William James TREVETT and Ethel Annie TREVETT of Dorchester. Buried at Forli War Cemetery Ref IV,D,15 |
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W.R. |
WEBBER (could not identify) |
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J.R. |
WEST (could not identify) |
GENERAL NOTE:- We have done our best to identify these brave men from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records on Line . This is not easy however as only initials have been given on the actual memorial and the records at the CWGC generally only give next of kin who were not always living in or near Dorchester at the time of their death. Also it is debateable whether all initials are recorded either on the memorial or at CWGC. It would be better if someone that knew these individuals can confirm that we have the right details and better still if they can provide a picture and/or more information for us to include above. Michael Russell OPC for Dorchester (my email address is given on the front page) GENEALOGICAL NOTE:- (1). Mr G. BECK (County Hall Memorial) :- Another possibility for him is Graham Eugene BECK a Serjeant in the Royal Army Service Corps 42 Res MT Company who died 9th April 1942 Service number T/108045 who was the son of Henry George & Phoebe Alice BECK of Dorchester and was the husband of Christobel Frances Robina BECK of Dorchester buried at Kranji War Cemetery Ref 8.C.15 |