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Below are the names of the servicemen who lost their lives during the Second World War. Many are commemorated on the Somercotes War Memorial, but those marked *** are not listed, although they gave their lives.

Died: 28 December 1943

Private, 13012102, Pioneer Corps

Buried at Minturno War Cemetery, Italy

Joseph was born on 6 July 1900, possibly in Derby. In 1919 he married Elsie Barker. The couple are listed on the 1939 census register, and were living at 9, Chapel Street, Leabrooks. At the time, Joseph was employed at the Swanwick collieries, working underground at the coal face.

PHOTO: Minturno War Cemetery, Italy (courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

A small obituary was printed in the Ripley & Heanor News on 28 January 1944: “PTE JOSEPH BROWN. Much sympathy will be extended to Mr. John Brown, of South Place, Ripley, on the sad news received from the War Office that his son, Pte. Joseph Brown, has been killed on active service in Italy, whilst serving in the Pioneer Corps. Prior to joining up, deceased worked as a miner at Swanwick Collieries. A wife and daughter are bereaved.”

His wife, Elsie, had the following verse engraved on the headstone: “NOT GONE FROM MEMORY, NOT GONE FROM LOVE, BUT GONE TO OUR FATHER’S HOME ABOVE. WIFE”  

Joseph’s name is also listed on the Ripley War Memorial.

Died: 27 September 1945, aged 27 years

Rifleman, 328477, 2nd battalion, The Camerons (Scottish Rifles)

Buried at Leabrooks Cemetery

Richard is the son of Arthur and Sarah Ann Burgoyne. His wife, Dorothy lived at Somercotes.

If you have any information or photographs on this soldier please contact us.

Died 15 April 1941

Corporal, 4963333, 24th Chemical Warfare Company, Royal Engineers

Buried at the United Methodist Churchyard, Birchwood, Somercotes

The 24th Chemical Warfare Company was established in 1940; its role was to handle poison gas weapons that may have been used by the enemy.

Arthur’s name is not listed on the Somercotes War Memorial.

 If you have any information or photographs on this soldier please contact us.

Died: 23 May 1940, aged 31 years

Gunner, 4975842, 4th Battery, 2nd A.A. Regiment, Royal Artillery

Commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial

Frederick was the son of William and Anne Cooper of Swanwick, and the husband of E. Cooper who lived at Pye Bridge. Frederick was probably one of the soldiers tasked with defending the town and beaches of Dunkirk. He died just a few days before the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force which began on 27 May.

A small obituary was published in the Ripley & Heanor News dated 14 June 1940 which read: “GUNNER COOPER – We regret to record that information received last Thursday by Mrs Cooper, of Church Street, Swanwick, that her husband, Gunner Fred Cooper had been killed in Belgium has been confirmed. Gunner Cooper is the fifth of seven sons of Mr William and the late Mrs Cooper of Church Street. He leaves a widow and young son, aged nine years. Five sisters are also bereaved. A member of the local Militia, he served 12 months in this Force and in May 1939, joined the Royal Atillery. Previously employed at Morewood’s Collieries, he was a man of fine physique and had a good record in his battery.”

The newspaper article implies that Frederick’s wife is living with her relatives, but the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records her address as “Pye Bridge”. His name is also commemorated on the Somercotes War Memorial.

If you have any further information or photographs on Fredderick, please contact us.

Died 24.11.1941, aged 20 years

Stoker, 1st Class, P/KX97841, HMS Dunedin, Royal Navy

Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Leslie was the son of William and Emily Cope of Leabrooks, Derbyshire.

Leslie was serving on HMS Dunedin when it was sunk by U-Boat U-124 on 24 November 1941. U-124 fired three torpedoes at HMS Dunedin from a distance of about 4,000 yards, and two of these struck the vessel, sinking her in approximately 17 minutes. Leslie was listed as “missing, presumed killed”. His death was reported in the Ripley & Heanor News on 13 February 1942, a transcript of which follows: “LEABROOKS FAMILY’S LOSS – STOKER LESLIE COPE – The above are sons of Mr & Mrs J W Cope of Charles Street, Leabrooks [this reference relates to three photographs published in the newspaper which sadly are very poor quality in the scan and cannot be reproduced]. Unfortunately, bad news has been received about Leslie who was a stoker in the Navy, where he had been for three years. He was 21 years of age. His ship, a light cruiser, was torpedoed in November in the Atlantic, and although 72 men were rescued he was amongst the missing, and nothing has been heard of him since. Stoker Reg. Cope, who is 22, has been in the Navy four years. Both he and his brother Leslie worked at Britain Colliery. Pte. Charlie Cope, who is 25, joined up a couple of months ago and is with the Sherwoods. He worked at Birchwood Clay Works”.

Leslie’s body was never recovered for burial, and his name is commemorated on the Naval memorial at Portsmouth.

Died: 27 June 1944, aged 20 years

Sergeant (Flight Engineer), 1583248, 97 Squadron, Royal Air Force (VR)

Buried at Leabrooks Cemetery

Frank was born in 1924 and was the son of Frank Percy and Martha Ellis [nee Saint] of Somercotes. He worked at the Riddings Ironworks as an engineer prior to his enlistment in the RAF Volunteer Reserve.

After training Frank became a Flight Engineer and served with 97 Squadron, flying an Avro Lancaster Mark III, serial number ND981, based at RAF Coningsby. By the end of May 1944 Frank had completed 18 missions with the crew. In the afternoon of 23 June 1944 six Lancaster Bombers of 97 Squadron were detailed for formation flying practice. Flying in two ‘V’ formations and whilst attempting a gentle turn Lancaster ME625, flying behind the lead aircraft, became trapped in its slipstream and slipped over Lancaster ND981. Lancaster ME625 then dropped suddenly, removing the entire tail of the second Lancaster and damaging the front of its own. Both aircraft lost control and spiralled toward the ground. ND981 broke in two at 1000ft. One of its crew, Sergeant Joseph Coman managed to bale out and landed safely, but the rest of the crew, including Frank, and along with the crew of ME625 did not survive.

The crash was witnessed by people from the nearby village of Crowland in Lincolnshire who were attending a village fete at the time.

A short article regarding Frank’s death was published in the Nottingham Journal on 30 June 1944. It read: “SOMERCOTES RAF MAN KILLED IN ACCIDENT – Sergt. Frank Ernest Coxhead (20), Flight Engineer, son of Mr and Mrs Frank Coxhead of 55, Coupland Place, Somercotes was killed in an accident in England. The internment took place at Leabrooks Cemetery on Wednesday. Before joining the RAF Sergt. Coxhead was an engineer at the Stanton Company’s Riddings Ironworks. He attended the ATC at Belper.”

A memorial to the bomber crews killed in the accident was dedicated in 2015 at Cloot Hill Farm, near Crowland which states: “In the surrounding fields lie the remains of Lancasters ME625 and ND981 of 97 Squadron RAF Bomber Command which came to rest with their crews, the result of a tragic accident, 23rd June 1944”.

More information can be found on the website www.aircrewremebered.com

Died 27.12.1942, aged 22 years

Sergeant, 7013652, 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment AAC

Buried at Medjez-el-Bab War Memorial, Tunisia

William was the son of John and Sarah Craig, and the husband of Constance May Craig of Somercotes.

Died: 28 May 1944, aged 31 years

Private, 4982151, 2nd Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment

Buried at the Kohima War Cemetery, India

Lawrence was the son of John W (known as Jack) and Margaret Croson and was born on 27 June 1912. At the time of the 1939 census he was living at Seely Terrace with his parents, and his occupation is recorded as a knitter at a hosiery factory (which was George Edwards & Co.). At the time of his death, Lawrence was married to Ruby (nee Beresford) and the couple lived at Ripley, Derbyshire.

Lawrence served in the Royal Norfolk Regiment and was killed in action whilst serving in the Far East theatre of war. The Royal Norfolk Regiment was present at the Battle of Kohima which was fought in three stages between 4 April and 22 June 1944. It ended with a decisive Allied victory which halted the Japanese advance into India. Over 4,000 Allied soldiers lost their lives during the battle, including Lawrence, who was killed on 28 May. A report on his death was published in the Ripley & Heanor News on 7 July 1944, which read: “THE TOLL OF THE WAR – PTE. L. CROSON – Much sympathy will be felt for the young wife of Pte. L Croson, who resides at Havelock Street, Ripley and who has received the official notification that her husband, who was serving with the Norfolk Regt., was killed in action on the Burma Front on 28th May. Prior to being called up four years ago Pte. Croson was employed by Messrs. Edwards of Somercotes.”

He is buried at the Kohima War Cemetery, India.

If you have any further information or photographs on this soldier please contact us.

To be updated.

If you have any information or photographs on this soldier please contact us.

Died 24.05.1941, aged 24 years

Stoker, 2nd Class, P/KX104064, HMS Hood, Royal Navy

Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial

John was the son of Thomas and Julia Duffield of Pye Bridge and was born on 4 April 1917. At the time of the 1939 Register John lived with his parents and siblings at Pye Bridge House, Pye Bridge. He was employed as an operator on an electric drayline excavator at the clay quarry. His father, Thomas, was the Clay Quarry Manager, working for James Oakes & Company.

HMS Hood was the last of the great Battlecruisers to be built for the Royal Navy, and was the flagship of the fleet. She took part in the Battle of Denmark Strait when, on 24th May 1941 she was sunk by the German Battleship Bismarck, with huge loss of life. It is, perhaps, one of the most famous naval engagements during World War 2.

Died 18 April 1944, aged 30 years

Guardsman, 2619350, Grenadier Guards

Buried at Leabrooks Cemetery

Lewis was born on 28 October 1913. On the 1939 census, taken for the National Identity Card, he lieved at 56, Sleetmoor Lane, Somercotes.

Lewis was the son of Lewis George Ellis, Private of the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) who was killed in action in France on 4 November 1918, just days before the Armistice. Lewis, only a few years old when his father died, was named after him. Both soldiers are commemorated on the Somercotes War Memorial.

Lewis's mother was Alice Maud Ellis. He was married to Elsie, and they lived in Somercotes.

If you have any further information or photographs for Lewis, please contact us.

Died: 6 February 1946, aged 33 years

Private, 5336568, The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment)

Buried at Leabrooks Cemetery

Wilfred was the son of Frederick W and Agnes Hargreaves of Somercotes.

If you have any further information or photographs on Wilfred please contact us.

Died: 30 March 1944, aged 25 years

Able Seaman, P/JX224212, HMS Laforey, Royal Navy

Not recovered for burial. Commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial

John was the son of John and Ellen Jarrett of Leabrooks.

On the night on 29 March 1944, HMS Laforey with other destroyers, was sent to hunt for U-Boat U-223 off the north of Palermo, Italy. The following day, after an extensive depth-charge attack by the destroyers, U-223 surfaced, but was able to fire three torpedoes. HMS Laforey was hit and very quickly sank with the loss of 182 men. U-223 was destroyed by other vessels shortly afterwards.

If you have any further information or photographs on John please contact us.

Died: 21 January 1940, aged 18 years

Ordinary Seaman, P/SSX31002, HMS Exmouth, Royal Navy.

Buried at Wick Cemetery, Caithness, Scotland

Frederick was born in 1921 and is the son of Frederick H and Annie Lowe, of Somercotes. At the time he joined the Navy the family lived at Cotes Park Cottage, in Somercotes.

Frederick was serving in the E-Class Escort Destroyer HMS Exmouth when, while escorting the merchant vessel Cyprian Prince, she was torpedoed by U-Boat U-22, and sank with the loss of all hands. Eighteen bodies were washed ashore and were buried with full military honours at the local cemetery in Wick, Caithness. His death was reported in the Derbyshire Times & Chesterfield Herald, published on 2nd February 1940. The article reads “Ordinary Seaman Fredk. W. Lowe (18), son of Mr and Mrs E Lowe, 11 Cotes Park Cottages, Alfreton, went down in the destroyer Exmouth. His parents have received the official announcement from the Admiralty. Seaman Lowe, born at Sutton-in-Ashfield was brought to the Alfreton district as a baby. He attended Somercotes School and was formerly employed at Messrs. Ogle’s Works, Ripley, and Riddings Ironworks. He moved to the Cotes Park Colliery and joined the Navy on 31st July last year at Portsmouth. He had periods of training at Gosport and Devonport, joining the Exmouth a few months ago.”

If you have any further information or photographs for Frederick, please contact us.

Died 23.11.1942 aged 31 years

Gunner, 1700161, 89th Battery, 35th Light AA Regiment, Royal Artillery

Commemorated on the Singapore Memorial

William was the son of George and Agnes Meakin, and husband of Edith Evelyn Meakin, who lived at Somercotes. On the 1939 register for the National Identity Card, William and Edith were living at 52, High Street, Somercotes. He was employed as a fryer at a Fish & Chip Shop.

The Army Service Records for William are not available, but it is known that her served with the 89th Battery of the 35th AA Regiment in the Royal Artillery. The 35th AA Regiment was sent to help defend Singapore in late 1941, and the records show that many of the 89th Battery were successfully evacuated from the city. It would appear however, that William was not so lucky. On 15 February 1942, Singapore surrendered to the Japanese and William is recorded as being held as a Prisoner of War. Conditions for British prisoners of war held in th Far East were appalling and many died of maltreatment and disease. William’s records show that he died of diarrhea and exhaustion at 17.10 hours on 23 November 1942. His name is recorded on the Singapore Memorial.  

Died 2nd February 1944

Bombardier, 1103824, 57 Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery, (1/5th Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment)

Sydney has no known grave. His name is recorded on Panel 3, The Cassino Memorial, Italy.

Sydney was born on 11 September 1914 to Richard and Helen Miles. He married Irene Mabel Stanniforth in 1936 and on the 1939 census lived at Albert Street, Ironville. He was employed at Britain Colliery as a “Colliery Ripper”.

Died: 2nd May 1943, aged 27 years.

Sergeant, 4979973, 2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment)

Buried at Oued Zarga War Cenetery, Tunisia

Denis was the son of Charley and Lucy Millington. He was born on 20 May 1916. At the time the 1939 Register was collated, Denis lived with his parents at 46, Coupland Place, Somercotes and worked as a winch hand for an Acetate Silk Dyers. He married Vera Riley in the second quarter of 1940.

There followed a short poem: “I can still be brave in absence/When I hold you in my heart/And the little bridge of love dear/Spans our paths while we’re apart/And the days will seem less lonely/The nights less dreamy seem/For I am with you all the while/In the magic land of dreams”. The notice finished “All our Love, From your loving wife Vera and Baby Denya”

A further poem and birthday greeting were also printed from Denis’s parents and sibling. Sadly, by the time the greetings were printed in the newspaper Denis had already been killed.

If you have any information or photographs on this soldier please contact us.

Died 11 August 1942

Marine, PO/X102125, Royal Marines, (serving with HMS Eagle)

Arthur’s name is commemorated on Panel 70, Column 2 of the Naval Memorial, Portsmouth

Arthur was born on 8 March 1917 at Alfreton. His parents were Arthur and Avelina Parsons. No further information is available on Arthur prior to his service in the Royal Marines, but he may have joined the armed forces prior to the 1939 census. At the time of this census his parents were living at Quarry Road, Somercotes, and his father, also named Arthur, was working as a Boiler Attendant at Riddings Ironworks.

At some point after Arthur joined the Royal Marines he was posted on board the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle. This carrier, launched in 1918, was one of the warships assigned to Operation Pedestal in 1942, escorting merchant ships to Malta in an effort to lift the siege on the island. On 11 August the carrier was hit by four torpedoes from German submarine U-73 and sank with the loss of two officers and 158 ratings. A total of 927 of the ships company survived and were picked up by the British destroyers HMS Lafory, HMS Lookout and the British Tug HMS Jaunty..

Arthur was one of the missing, and his body was never found. He is commemorated on Naval Memorial, Portsmouth

If you have any information or photographs on this soldier please contact us.

Died of Wounds, 11 July 1944

Sergeant, 822705, 20th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery

Buried at Hermanville War Cemetery, Calvados, France

William was born at Somercotes, Derbyshire in 1913. His parents were William and Hephzibah Riley. At the time of the 1939 census they were living at Mill Street, Somercotes, although their son had already moved from the village. William married Gladys Ivy Why at Reading, Berkshire in the third quarter of 1942.

A short obituary for William was published in the Nottingham Journal on 4 August 1944 – "Sergeant William Riley, R.A., son of the late Mr and Mrs W Riley of Mill Street, Somercotes, died on 11 July as a result of wounds received in action in Normandy. He was a native of Somercotes. He joined the Royal Artillery 12 years ago and was called up as a reservist upon the outbreak of war. Service on the Northwest Frontier of India was followed by relief work during the Quetta earthquake. His parents died while he was on active service.  Before joining the Army he was employed at the Swanwick Colliery. He leaves a widow and baby daughter".

Died: 10 September 1943, aged 23 years

Guardsman, 2621148, 6th Battalion, Grenadier Guards

Buried at the Salerno War Cemetery

Roy was the son of George and Lily May Rumley, and the grandson of Edith Rumley, all of Somercotes. His parents died when he was young and he had lived with his grandmother who lived on Sleetmoor Lane since the age of 12.

On 3 September 1943, Italy surrendered and re-entered on the war on the side of the Allies. On the same day the Allies invaded the Italian mainland, with Commonwealth and American forces landing near Salerno on 8-9 September. The object of the landings was to draw German troops from the Russian Front, and also from France, prior to the landings at Normandy the following year. The Allies established a bridgehead, but the fighting was fierce, with German troops putting up strong resistance. Roy lost his life on 10 September 1943 during this battle. A site for a cemetery at Salerno was chosen in November the same year, which is where Roy is buried. He lies with 1,845 other Commonwealth soldiers who are buried there.

An obituary was printed in the Nottingham Journal, published on 20 October 1943 which read: “Somercotes Man Killed – Mrs E. Rumley of 99 Sleetmoor Lane, Somercotes has received an official report that her grandson, Guardsman Roy Arthur Rumley [23], was killed in action on 10 September. He joined the army three years ago and had previously been reported wounded. An only son of the late Mr. and Mrs. George Rumley of Birchwood, Guardsman Rumley had lived with his grandmother for 11 years, and was a miner at Swanwick Colliery. Mrs. Rumley attended the service of remembrance in London.”

If you have any further information or photographs on Roy, please contact us.

Died: 22 February 1944, aged 31 years

Sergeant, 1071210, 48 Squadron, Royal Air Force (Volunteer Reserve)

Buried at the British Cemetery, Bilbao, Spain

John was born 20 September 1912 and was the son of John William and Gertrude Simpson, and husband of Sybil Nelly Simpson, of Somercotes. At the time of the 1939 census John lived with his wife at 40a Coupland Place and worked as a confectioner.

John died in an aircraft accident whilst on his return to the UK. A report of John’s death was published in the Ripley & Heanor News on 10 March 1944, which read: “SOMERCOTES RAF SERGT’S FATAL CRASH – Mrs J Simpson jun. (nee Miss Nelly Glenn, 48, Coupland Place, Somercotes has received news of the death of her husband Sergt. John William Simpson. The tragedy happened when Sergt. Simpson was travelling by plane as a passenger to England, which crashed into a mountain. His wife and son and parents, Mr and Mrs J W Simpson 54, Sleetmoor Lane, Somercotes, were looking forward to seeing him and hearing an account of why he had recently been mentioned in dispatches. During his four years’ service with the RAF he has seen active service in Malta and Gibraltar. He was previously employed as a confectioner by Mr Harry Bakewell, Somercotes. His only brother, P O Herbert A Simpson has been serving in the Navy for over four years.”

John is buried at the British Cemetery at Bilbao, Spain.

If you have any further information or photographs on John, please contact us

Died: 13 December 1943 aged 36 years

Stoker 3nd Class, P/KX526881, HMS Holcombe, Royal Navy

Buried at the Bone War Cemetery, Algeria

George is the son of Henry and Frances Stead, of Quarry Road, Somercotes. He was born on 20 July 1906 at Carlton, Nottinghamshire. He married Millicent Wright at the Church of St. Thomas, Somercotes on 28 December 1929 and the couple initially lived on Birchwood Lane in the village, before moving to Hinckley, Leicestershire. At the time of his death, George and Millicent had four children.

G. A. Stead was 37 years of age and a builder by trade. His younger brothers are serving in H. M. Forces. Frank has served in the Fleet Air Arm just over a year and Walter, a Lieut. In the Pioneer Corps, has seen four years service.”

If you have any further information or photographs for George, please contact us.

Died of Wounds: 02.02.1944, aged 16 years

Private, 4987544, 1st Battalion, Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own Yorkshire Regiment)

Buried at Minturno War Cemetery, Italy

James was born at Pye Bridge in 1927 to Francis William and Edith Martha Swinscoe. The family lived on Mission Row, Pye Bridge at the time the 1939 Register was taken. James joined the army at the age of 16 and was posted to the Green Howards. In February 1944 the 1st Battalion was part of the British 15th Brigade which saw heavy fighting in Italy, particularly around the German defensive position known as the Gustav Line.

James was injured and died from his wounds on 2nd February 1944. He was just 16 years old. Although the site of the Minturno War Cemetery had been chosen for Allied casualties in January 1944, the Germans regained some ground in the early months of that year and the cemetery could not be used until May 1944 after the Allies launched their final assault on Rome. Due to this, James was originally buried in Cellole War Cemetery, but along with other soldiers was re-buried in Minturno War Cemetery on 2nd December 1944.

A personal inscription on the headstone was requested by his family:

A Light is Gone; A Voice We Loved is Stilled; A Place is Vacant; That Never can be Filled

This listing is likely to refer to William Thomas Alexander Thurman

Died: 2 April 1942

Stoker P.O., C/KX.77093, HMS Cornwall, Royal Navy

William’s name is commemorated on panel 61.1, The Chatham Naval Memorial

William Thomas Alexander Thurman was born on 8 February 1907 at Hannover Square, London. The early years of his life are not known but he joined the Royal Navy in 1926 at the age of 19. William married Florence Milnes in 1929, the marriage being registered at Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. William would have been serving in the Navy at the time of his marriage, and although no doubt he was on leave it is not clear how he came to be in Staffordshire or how and where he met Florence.

Florence Milnes was born in Somercotes, Derbyshire on 9 November 1898. At the 1911 census she lived with her parents George and Adeliza [who were born in Riddings and Somercotes respectively], and resided with them on the High Street in the village. When the 1939 Register was taken, Florence worked as a Cook at Brackenhurst Hall in Nottinghamshire. Her husband William would still have been serving in the Navy at the time.

William enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1926 and served on HMS Marlborough as well as other vessels. He originally signed up for twelve years, but whether or not he continued his service or was re-called at the start of the war is not recorded. By 1942, William was serving on HMS Cornwall, a County-Class Heavy Cruiser.  After the start of the Pacific War in December 1942 HMS Cornwall began escorting convoys across the Indian Ocean and in late March 1942 was assigned to Force A of the Eastern Fleet. On 2 April, HMS Cornwall and HMS Dorsetshire were detached from the fleet and HMS Cornwall was tasked with escorting Convoy SU-4 [composed of United States and Australian Transports] and the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes to Trincomalee in Sri Lanka [then Ceylon]. On 4 April the fleet was spotted by a Japanese Fleet and the two British Cruisers left port shortly after midnight. On the 5 April they were seen by an enemy spotter plane from the Japanese aircraft carrier “Tone”, which launched a wave of Aichi D3A Dive Bombers to intercept the Cruisers. The engagement became known as the Easter Sunday Raid, during which the Japanese sank both of the British ships. A total of 424 British sailors were killed. The event was reported in the newspapers, although British losses were not immediately acknowledged.  

It is not known if William ever came to Somercotes, although he may well have visited his parents-in-law. Florence may have returned after his death. It may be assumed that either Florence, or members of her close family who lived in Somercotes requested that William’s name be included on the War Memorial.

If you have any information or photographs on this soldier please contact us.

Died: 14 September 1944, aged 31 years

private, 4864530, 1st Battalion, Welch regiment

Buried at Coriano Ridge War Cemetery, Italy.

George was the son of Joe and Esther Webster, who lived on Coupland Place, Somercotes. He was married to Evelyn, and the couple lived in Selston, Nottinghamshire.

If you have any information or photographs on George, please contact us.

Died 24 July 1944 aged 22 years

Leading Aircraftsman, 1540110, 2823 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment

Buried at Leabrooks Cemetery

Norman was the son of Frank and Edith Wootton of Leabrooks. He married Annie Bradley toward the end of 1943, at Somercotes

Although previously unnumbered since April 1941, 823 Squadron was formed at RAF Burnaston, Derby on 19 December the same year. On 1 February 1942 the ground defence squadrons were absorbed into RAF Regiments and prefixed with “2”. This squadron was transferred to RAF Lympne near Felixstowe in 1943 and converted to a Light Anti-Aircraft role.

Norman’s death was reported in the Nottingham Journal, published 10 August 1944. The article read “LAC Norman Wootton, RAF, son of Mr and Mrs F Wootton of Chapel Street, Leabrooks, has died through enemy action in England. Aged 22 years, he joined up in September 1941; was formerly a chorister at St Thomas’ Church Somercotes and was employed at Messrs. Evans Bros. (Concrete) Ltd., Riddings. Just over six months ago he married Miss Annie Bradley, a daughter of Mr and Mrs J Bradley, Swanwick Road, Leabrooks.”

It was the task of 2823 Squadron to protect London by destroying German aircraft and V1 Rockets flying over the south coast. They were, in effect, the first line of defence. It appears that Norman had just come off duty and was returning to his barracks when the anti-aircraft battery opened fire on a V1 Rocket. The V1 was damaged and came down close to Norman, who was badly injured in the subsequent explosion. He was taken to hospital but his injuries were so severe that he died within a few days.

Norman’s wife, Annie was pregnant at the time and gave birth to a son the following January, whom she named Norman after his father. Heartbroken through the loss of her husband, Annie died on 27 February 1945, at the age of just 21 years, an unrecorded victim of the war.

Norman was a member of the Leabrooks Miners Welfare, and his name, along with other members who lost their lives during the conflict was placed on a memorial plaque which was erected in the Welfare. After its closure this plaque was removed to St. James’ Church, Riddings. The site of the Welfare was re-developed as a small housing estate and the roads were named after soldiers on the memorial plaque. Wootton Close is the road that leads directly from Greenhill Lane into the housing estate.