The Fallen World War II

The Fallen World War II

Gerald Askew – A Thoresby Colliery surface worker and only son of Tom (cycle repairer and bricklayer) and Nellie of Edwinstowe.  On Sundays and holidays, he sold sweets and drinks on a Forest Corner stall. Gerald enlisted in the 7th Bn., Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He died aged 28 on the 18.07.1944 and is remembered on the Banneville-La-Campagne War Memorial. 4200547

Jack Foy – was the only child of John (Colliery Manager’s gardener) and Ethel. He was husband to Teresa.  Jack worked in the Pit Offices before enlisting as RAF aircrew, (12 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He died in France aged 21 on the 4.07.1943. He is remembered on the Runnymede War Memorial.

Details at the Bomber Command Memorial Centre. 

The International Bomber Command Centre on the outskirts of Lincoln, opened to the public in January 2018.  The Memorial Spire is 102 feet (31.09m) high – the wing span of the Avro Lancaster Bomber, and the Memorial Walls hold the names of nearly 58,000 men and women in Bomber Command who perished during WW11.  Jack E Foy’s name is included. Lincoln Cathedral was the landmark for crews flying from Lincolnshire, and would be a welcome sight for airmen returning to their airfield after a mission.

Monument outside Bomber Command Centre

  • The Memorial Spire.

John Charles Greenfield – The only son of Charles (farmer) and Pauline,Hilda Greenfield of Villa Real Farm. During potato-picking week in October, John rode a horse pulling a plough and cart along rows of potatoes. As potatoes were unearthed, children picked them up and threw them into the cart.  John was an RAF volunteer and aircrew pilot officer with the 10 Sqdn., Royal Air Force.  He died aged 21 on the 12.09.1941 and is remembered on the Runnymede War Memorial. 68772

Eric Watson Hoe – Eric was the son of Frederick (surveyor at Thoresby Estate Office) and Grace of Edwinstowe. He lived on Church Street. He previously worked at Welbeck Colliery. Eric was a Leading Aircraftman and a Royal Air Force Volunteer Reservist. He was killed-in-action on the 2.02.1946 in a motor accident while serving with the Queen’s Royal Regiment. He is buried in the war cemetery, Marseilles, Mazargues, France. 1498970

Jack Jones – The only son of Henry (Thoresby Colliery Under-manager) and Jennie of Edwinstowe. Jack suffered with rheumatic fever in his youth. He passed fit to join the Royal Scots Army  (Cadet Officer) in India but suffered a recurrence of this disease and died aged 19 on 16.09.1943. Eric, Jack and I (Dennis Wood) spent many hours walking along the River Maun and in Sherwood Forest, stopping to swim in the river or throw a cricket ball. Eric played in Edwinstowe Cricket Club’s Second XI and always carried a cricket ball. He is remembered on the Kirkee War Memorial. 3067267

Jeffries Lacey – Jeff worked for Farmer Greenfield who missed his youthful vigour and strength after he enlisted. Jeff’s family lived in a cottage, now dismantled, along a track opposite Sherwood Grange Nursing Home. He was the son of Samuel and Florence Lacey and husband to H. E. Lacey. He was a Corporal in the 1st Parachute Regiment, A.A.C1st Bn and took part in the North African campaign, during the Op Torch. He was killed in action, aged 27 on the 8.03.1943.  He is remembered on the Tabarka Ras Rajel, Tunisia War Memorial.  2621825

Ernest Reddish – Ernest was the son of Ernest and Ethel, and husband to Ivy of Worksop. In the early 1940s he was chosen to welcome Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone who was visiting a canteen set up for both American and British soldiers who were stationed in Edwinstowe.

https://edwinstowehistory.org.uk/local-history/war-years/second-world-war/when-royalty-stopped-off-at-edwinstowe/

He was a qualified teacher, worked at a Worksop school before training as an RAF Navigator with the 613 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. His aeroplane, a Mosquito NS851/G: took off on the 27.05.1944 at 23:00 hrs for a Night Intruder mission to St.Dizier airfield France.

It crashed at 00:50 hrs. 28/05/1944. Ernest was reported dead aged 34 on 28.05.1944.

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=164588

He is remembered on the Choloy War Memorial.

Charlie Henry Reedman – The only son of Arthur, railway signalman and May. He was husband of Nora of Worksop. He had worked as an apprentice shoemaker for Jack Lacey, the High Street Cobbler. He was an able seaman on Royal Navy H.M.S. Laforey. Margaret Carter had written to Charlie who was her cousin, was shocked to receive this reply from his ship’s captain R.M.J Hutton, I’m sorry to have to tell you that Charlie was killed on the 13th October 1943 aged 23.” He is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. P/JX 187527

“We were peppered by an enemy bombing raid and Charlie was hit in the head and died instantaneously.  There followed a heart-warming tribute. For a long time Charlie’s duty
was on the bridge next to me. He was one of the most level-headed and cheerful members of my team. Sadly only a few weeks after he was killed, the Laforey, a destroyer, was torpedoed in the Tyrrhenium Sea and all but a few members of the crew were killed.”

                                                                                  D.W. Acorn newspaper

Ralph Richardson – Ralph was the son of Ralph (St. Mary’s Churchwarden) and Effie. In the early 1930’s, when his family lived at 2, First Avenue, he took part in many children’s newspaper competitions achieving merits and was a stamp collection winner.  Before he enlisted into the RAF, was a chorister and crucifer – leading the choir from the belfry to choir stalls at the beginning of Sunday services and to the War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday. He joined the 104 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He died 24.02.1942. His memorial is at Alamien. 1184740

Ralph had been reported missing in March 1942;  “REPORTED MISSING Sergt. Pilot R. Richardson, Sergt. —Intimation has been received by Mr. and Mrs. R. Richardson, of 2, First Avenue, Edwinstowe. that their only son. Sergt. Pilot Ralph Handel Richardson, 23. reported missing. Sergt. Richardson is a native Clowne. He received his early education at Edwinstowe Council School, under Coun. W. H. Perry, and later went to The Brunts School, Mansfield, and Leeds College. He joined the R.A.F. in September, 1940, and took his wings in the following July. He has been on service overseas for some six months. ”                                                                                                   Derbyshire Times

Frank Sargent – Frank worked for Henry Waby, printer of New Ollerton.  He was the son of George and Mary Sargeant and husband to Margaret. Frank joined the 5th Bn., Sherwood Foresters. He died at the age of 31 on the 12.11.1944 and is remembered on the Cassino War Memorial.

Harold Sperrink -Harold was the son of Charles Edward and Phyllis Nellie of Edwinstowe. Harold was a stable-lad; he moved to Berkshire, served his apprenticeship and qualified as a jockey. He was the English Stable Boys’ Flyweight Boxing Champion. Harold served with Queen’s Royal Regiment and was killed aged 22 on the 3.09.1944. He is buried in the Gradara War Cemetery, Italy. 5351071

Charlie William Howitt Winter – Charlie was an only child of Charles and Edith. Charlie was apprenticed to Newton’s Family Butchers in the High Street. He was a familiar and likeable figure making deliveries on his purpose-built bicycle. He joined the 1/5th Bn., Leicestershire Regiment as a private. He died aged 26 on the 10.04.1945. He is remembered at the Becklingen War Cemetery Germany. 4860239

Oswald Wheatcroft Woodhead – Oswald was son of Thomas and Edith. Ossie was a travelling salesman with Brough’s, a northern grocery firm with a store in the High Street. He was a Flight Sergeant with the 21st Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He crashed and died aged 22 on the 10.12.1942.  His grave is in St Mary’s churchyard. His Epitaph states, “His life was an emblem of unselfish devotion.” Fragments of the aircraft can be seen at the Norfolk and Suffolk air museum, Flixton. 1165031

Charles Wright – Charles was the son of Edward and Elizabeth of Mansfield. Corporal Charles Wright, served with the 7th Bn.,Worcestershire Regiment, was killed in action aged 30 on 26th May 1940. His death is commemorated in the Dunkirk Memorial, Northern France.

Acknowledgment: Wiki, aircrewremembered and Aviation Safety Net