1426424 Gunner Percy William Backway of 12 Bty., 6th Heavy Ack Ack Regiment, the Royal Artillery. Son of Sidney and Alice Backway. Born in Ilminster, Somerset in 1901. Died 25 November 1942 aged 41.

1587191 Sergeant William Sidney Backway of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 142 Squadron. Son of Reginald and Olive Backway of Bideford. Born in Bideford in the December Quarter of 1923. Died 28 August 1943 aged 19. Commemorated on the Commonwealth Royal Air Force Memorial in Floriana, Malta. 

D/MX 59811 Leading Writer Ronal George Blackman of SS Eumaeus of the Blue Funnel Line, on loan to the Royal Navy.  Son of George and Alice Blackman of Bideford. Born in Portsmouth in the June Quarter of 1919. Died 14 January 1941 aged 22 when his ship was sunk by an Italian submarine and 23 lives were lost. The remaining crew were picked up by a seaplane, Walrus P 5667 which landed in the sea to rescue them 120 miles off Freetown, SA.

Major Harold. H. Blight of the 6th Battalion, the Devon Home Guard. Son of Albert and Emma Blight;  husband of Marjorie Blight (née Bassett). Born in Lyme Regis, Dorset in 1905. Date of death not known but he was posthumously award the MBE at the Home Guard Stand Down which took place 15 December 1944.

924390 Gunner John Alfred Bond of 142 Field Regiment (the Royal North Devon Yeomanry), the Royal Artillery. Son of Ernest and Edith Bon; husband of Florence Bon in Bideford in the June Quarter of 1920. Died 20 July 1943 aged 23. 

888289 Gunner Alfred Henry Bowden of 142 Field Regiment (the Royal North Devon Yeomanry), the Royal Artillery. Son of Alfred and Florence Bowden of Bideford. Born in Bideford in the December Quarter of 1921. Died 12 April 1945 aged 24. 

2202497 Sergeant Raymond Breaks (Flight Engineer)  of the RAF VR, 156 Squadron. Son of Christopher and May Breaks of Bideford. Born in 1926. Died 29 January 1945 aged 19.

14606383 Private Alfred Austin Butler of the 4th Battalion, the Somerset Light Infantry. Son of John and Florence Butler; husband of Hannah Butler of Bideford. Born in Bideford in 1907. Died 10 July 1944 aged 37.

D/JX Able Seaman John Edward Elenzo Cann of the Royal Navy, HMS Victorious. Son of John and Lily Cann; husband of Beryl Cann of Bideford. Born in Bideford in the September Quarter of 1915. Died 9 May 1945 aged 30, one of three wounded when his ship was bombed.

7648219 Warrant officer Class I Lionel Percival Cannon of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Son of Percival and Edith Cannon; husband of Margaret Cannon. Born in Torrington in the September Quarter of 1917.  Died 14 July 1942 aged 25.

5630774 Private Frederick Kenneth Cawsey of the 4th Battalion, the Dorsetshire Regiment. Son of Frederick and Katherine Cawsey of East-the-Water, Bideford. Born in Bideford in the June Quarter of 1922. Died 10 July 1944 aged 22.

657357 Sergeant Pilot Norman George Clarke of the RAF VR. Son of George and Mabel Clarke. Born in Exeter in the December Quarter of 1916. Died 27 September 1942 aged 26. Buried in St Margaret's Churchyard, Northam. 

14368858 Gunner 81 Field Regiment (The Glamorgan Yeomanry), the Royal Artillery. Son of William and Annie of Bideford; husband of Rose Cole of Northam. Born in Bideford in the December Quarter of 1909. Died 14 November 1944 aged 35.

825448 Private Arthur Collacott of the Devonshire Regiment. Son of George and Emma Collacott of Bideford; husband of Phyllis M. Collacott. Born in Bideford in the Decmeber Quarter of 1913. Died 31 January 1941 aged 37. Buried in St. Mary's Church Cemetery. 

575796 Flight Sergeant Eric Cornish of the RAF. Son of Eli and Dorothy Cornish of Bideford; husband of Diana Cornish. Born in Bideford in the December Quarter of 1922. Died during the night of 23/24 June 1944 aged 21 when the Lancaster in which he was flying as crew crashed at Warrem (or Warhem), Nord, France.

2184648 Private William Davey of the Pioneer Corps. Husband of Minnie Davey of Coldharbour, Bideford. Born in Bideford in 1885.  Died 13 September 1943 aged 48.

553895 Sergeant Walter Douglas Cole (Wireless operator/ Air Gunner) RAF. Son of Alfie and Lottie Cole. Born in Bideford in the March Quarter of 1923. Died 16 November 1943 aged 20. Buried in the Churchyard of St. Mary's. Bideford.

Lieutenant Frank Cyril Dwyer of the Royal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria's). Son of John and Mary Dwyer; husband of Muriel Dwyer. Born in Germany in 1923. Died 6 April 1945 aged 22. 

C/MX 77674 Painter 4th Class Leslie James Eastman of the Royal Navy, HMS Naiad. Son of James and Louise Eastman of Meddon Street, Bideford; husband of Nellie Eastman. Born in Bideford in the December Quarter of 1906. Died 11 March 1942 aged 34 when HMS Naiad was torpedoed by U-Boat 565 and sank with the loss of 82 crew in the Mediterranean..

98804 Assistant Steward Edward Thomas Elliott of Naval Auxilliary Personel (Merchant Navy), HMS Registan. Son of Edward Thomas Elliott of Croydon. Born in Croydon in the March Quarter of 1906. Died 28 May 1941 aged 35 when HMS Registan was bombed off Cape Cornwall.

13074145 Private Douglas Aubrey Elston of the Pioneer Corps. Son of Thomas and Annie Elston of Bideford; brother of Wilfred (see below). Born in Bideford in the December Quarter of 1919. Died 2 May 1941 aged 22.

5572657 Private Wilfred Ernest Elston of the 2nd Battalion, the Wiltshire Regiment. Son of Thomas and Annie Elston of Bideford; brother of Douglas (see above). Born in Bideford in the June Quarter of 1917. Died 4 September 1942 aged 25.

1426660 Sergeant Robert William John Evans of the RAF VR, 467 squadron. Son of Robert and Gertrude Evans of Bideford.  Born in Bideford in the December Quarter of 1920. Died 6 January 1944 aged 23.

926964 Flight Sergeant (Observer) William Arthur Friendship of the RAF VR, 58 Squadron (flying for Coastal Command). Son of William and Florence Friendship of East-the-Water, Bideford; husband of Agnes Friendship of Bideford. Born in Bideford in the September Quarter of 1919. Died 3 August 1942 aged 23. Buried in Bideford Public Cemetery.

5891531 Private Thomas James Geary of the 5th Battalion, the Northamptonshire Regiment. Son of Tom and Mary Geary of East-the-Water, Bideford. Born in Bideford in the March Quarter of 1923. Died 7 April 1943 aged 20. 

PLY/X 3404 Sergeant Eric Hookway Gibson of the Royal Marines,  44 Commando.  Son of William and Susan Gibson of Bideford. Born in Bideford in the June Quarter of 1920. Died 19 September 1943 aged 23. Buried in St. Mary's Churchyard, Bideford. 

117810 Major Frank Edward Gore-Graham of 142 Field Regiment (the Royal North Devon Yeomanry). Son of Percy and Alys Gore-Graham; husband of Marjorie Gore-Graham of Bideford. Born in 1911.

Not yet confirmed.

(Additional information supplied by a family member)

Apprentice Joseph Lewis Groves of the Merchant Navy, MV Cornish City (Bideford). Son of Alfred and Gertrude Groves of Appledore. Born in Appledore in 1925. Died 29 July 1943 aged 18.

MV Cornish City, (a British cargo transport) was torpedoed by German submarine U177. 37 were lost out of a crew of 43.

D/JX 570327 Able Seaman John Gerald Hancock of the Royal Navy, HMS Biter. Son of Stanley and Annie Hancock of Northam. Born in Tiverton in the March Quarter of 1924. Died 5 October 1944 aged 19. Buried in the Bideford Public Cemetery.

5611600 Sapper Richard James Harris of the Royal Engineers. Son of Elijah and Lilian Harris of East-the-Water, Bideford, Born in Devonport in 1907. Died 9 February 1946 aged 40. Buried in St. Mary's Churchyard, Bideford. 

120542 Pilot Officer Kenneth Walter Heywood of the RAF VR. Son of Louisa Jane Heywood and the late Walter Heywood. Born in Bideford in the September Quarter of 1916. Died 5 May 1942 Buried in Bideford Public Cemetery.

1190480 Sergeant Leonard Hocking of the RAF VR, 179 Squadron. Son of Mabel Hocking and the late Frank Hocking. Born in Bideford in the March Quarter of 1922. Died 12 July 1943 aged 21.

1656685 Leading Aircraftman Robert Taylor Hookway of the RAF VR, 2783 Squadron. Son of Robert and Mary Hookway; husband of Vera Hookway of Bideford, Born in Bideford  in the June Quarter of 1904. Died 7 July 1944 aged 40. Buried  in St. Mary's Churchyard, Bideford.

C/J 52813 Petty Officer Frederick Arthur Hooper of the Royal Navy, HMS Repulse.  Son of Richard and Edith Hooper; husband of Ethel Ivy Hooper. Born in Bideford in 1901. Died 10 December 1941 aged 40.

LT/JX 340671 Ordinary Seaman Jack Hooper of the Royal Naval Patrol Service, HM Trawler Hayburn Wyke. Son of Frank and Lilian Hooper of Bideford.  Born in Bideford in the June Quarter of 1924. Died 2 January 1945 aged 20. Hayburn Wyke was torpedoed and sunk by a German midget submarine on 2 January 1945.

D/J 105497 Sailmaker's Mate Leonard Hooper of the Royal Navy, HMS Neptune. Son of Charles and Annie Hooper; husband of Florence Hooper of Plymouth. Born in Bideford 3 April in 1904. Died 19 December 1941 aged 37.

Secoond Officer George Hopson of the Merchant Navy, SS Empire Jaguar (London). Son of Arthur and Mary Hopson of Westward Ho!; husband of Pamela Hopson. Born in Bideford in the June Quarter of 1917. Died 8 December 1940 aged 23.

5629421 Private Harry Horrell of the 1st Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of Charles and Maud Horrell of Bideford; husband of Rhoda Horrell. Born in Bideford in the March Quarter of 1911.  Died 8 May 1844 aged 35.

Not yet confirmed

5625087 Trooper Philip Sydney Kelly of the Reconnaissance Corps, 45th Regiment of the Royal Armoured Corps. Son of Philip and Ethel Kelly. Born in Wandsworth in the September Quarter  of 1917. Died 26 March 1944 aged 26.

7884955 Trooper Thomas Sidney James Kelly of the 51st Battalion (Leeds Rifles), the Royal Tank Regiment, the Royal Armoured Corps. Son of Thomas and Betarice Kelly of Bideford. Born in Bideford in 1915. Died 22 May 1944 aged 29.

149560 Sapper John Reginald Lake of the 994 Docks Operating Company, the Royal Engineers. Son of Reginald and Alberta Lake of Bideford. Born in Bideford in the December Quarter of 1921. Died 17 June 1943 aged 21.

Commander Robert Henry Douglas Lane of the Royal Navy, HMS Wryneck. Son of Charles and Lelia Lane; husband of Evelyn Lane of Westward Ho! Born in 1897 in Dinan, France. Died 27 April 1941 aged 45. His command, HMS Wryneck, was sunk by bombing by U 87, 20 nautical miles east of Greece.

P/J 27051 Able Seaman Walter Sidney Lane of the Royal Navy, HMS President III (a shore address). Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Lane. Born in Fordingbridge in the June Quarter of 1898. Died 18 February 1941 aged 43. He was posted to SS Edwy R. Brown, carrying oil in a convoy. The vessel was torpedoed by  a German U-boat and 49 crew were posted missing including Walter Lane.

104490 Pilot Officer (Pilot) of the RAF VR, 18 Squadron. Son of John and Mary Lowther of Bideford. Born in Tonbridge in the June Quarter of 1922. Died 18 July 1942 aged 20. Buried in Bideford Public Cemetery.

Civilian. Harry Victor Lucas (or, as registered at birth , Lionel Victor Harry Lucas) of North Road, Bideford. Son of the late John and Leonora Lucas; husband of Cecilia E. Lucas (née Shute). Died in Plymouth Blitz 20 March 1941 at the Southern Railway Siding in Plymouth aged 48.

5621321 Private Thomas Arthur Luxton of the Wiltshire Regiment, attached from the Devonshire Regiment. Son of William and Mary Luxton. Born in Bideford in the June Quarter of 1891. Died 25 April 1944 in Burma aged 53.

157750 Flying Officer George Reginald Manley-Tucker of the RAF VR 172 Squadron. Son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Manley-Tucker; husband of Elsie Doris Manley-Tucker of Instow. Born in Bristol in the June Quarter of 1916. Died 15 June 1944 aged 36.

T/ 220197 Driver Laurence Jeffrey Marshall of 67 Armoured Brigade Coy, the Royal Army Signal Corps. Son of William and Fanny Marshall; husband of Christine Marshall of Bideford. Born in Bideford in the September Quarter of 1910. Died 5 January 1944 aged 33.

4132113 Trooper Charles Henry Marshall of the 5th Battalion, the Loyal Regiment ( North Lancs).  Son of Mrs M. Marshall of Yealmpton. Born in 1913. Died 24 February 1942 in Malaya aged 30.

Chief Engineer Officer Stanley Maxwell of the Merchant Navy, SS Royal Crown. Son of Robert and Mary Maxwell; husband of Marjorie Maxwell of Bideford.  Born in Beverley, Yorks in the December Quarter of 1896. Died 25 May 1945 aged 48. Buried in Bideford Public Cemetery.

 

Lieutenant Charles Robert Dalton Messenger of the Royal Navy, HMS Furious.  Born in Devonport in the March Quarter of 1916. Died 22 April 1940 aged 24.

 

D/JX 148928 Able Seaman Wilfred Sinclair Mitchell of the Royal Navy, HMS Galatea. Son of John and Alice Mitchell. Born in Bideford 25 March 1903. Died 15 December 1941 aged 38.

Not yet confirmed

5631025 Private Stanley Moore of the 1st/4th Battalion, the Hampshire Regiment. Son of Alfred and Alice Moore of Bideford. Born in Bideford in 1920. Died 9 September 1943 aged 28.

63824 Lieutenent John Gilbert Howe Moorhead of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, attached to the Royal Tank Regiment. Son of Gilbert and Eileen Moorhead of Northam. Born in 1916 Died 29 September 1944 aged 28.

W. E. NYE

6098482 Gunner Edwin William Nye of the 11th (Honourable Artillery Company) Regiment, the Royal Horse Artillery. Son of Henry and Harriet Nye; husband of Olive Nye. Born in Islington in the June Quarter of 1914. Died 16 April 1942 aged 28.

Not yet confirmed.

2199324 Sapper Stanley Richard Oke of the 1010 Docks Operating Company. Son of Everard and Caroline Oke; husband of Phyllis Oke of Bideford. Born in Bideford in the June Quarter of 1907. Died 17 June 1943 aged 36.

5628983 Private Frank Edward Osburn of the 1/5th Battalion, the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey).  Son of Arthur and Rose Osburn of Bideford; husband of Evelyn Osburn of Bideford. Born in Bideford in the June Quarter of 1911, Died 14 June 1944 aged 33.

M. A. PADDON

Boatswain, Alfred Joseph Paddon, of the Merchant Navy, SS Treverbyn (St Ives). Husband of Gladys Mary Paddon of Bideford. Born in Bideford in the June Quarter of 1913. Died 21st October 1941 aged 28.

K.C. PLOWS

824915 Sergeant Frederick James Potter of No 5 Searchlight Regiment, the Royal Artillery.  Son of Frederick and Lily Potter. Born in Bideford in the June Quarter of 1918. Died 12 September 1944 aged 27.

D/JX 243014 Able Seaman Albert George Randall of the Royal Navy on attachment to SS Cortes. Son of Jack and Lillia Randall; husband of Edith Randall of Bideford. Born in Bideford in the December Quarter of 1916. Died 26 September 1941 aged 25.

P/SSX 19334 Able Seaman Claude Byne Rodgman of the Royal Navy, HMS Hood. Son of Beatrice Rodgman. Born in Bideford in the September Quarter of 1919. Died 24 May 1941 aged 22.

5622700 Sapper Leonard Fairfax Ross of 55 Field Company, the Royal Engineers. Son of Fairfax and Alice Ross; husband of Elsie Ross of Appledore. Born in Bideford  in the March Quarter of 1919. Died 27 October 1943 aged 23.

116026 Pilot officer (Observer) Rowland Richard Henry Rowe of the RAF VR. Son of Richard and Jessie Rowe; husband of Daisy Rowe of Southampton. Born in Penzance in the March Quarter of 1911. Died 2 June 1942 aged 31.

J.  J. SCHILLER

Seaman John James Schillers of the Merchant Navy, SS Devonia. Son of Charles and Phyllis Schillers; husband of Phoebe Schillers of Bideford. Born in Appledore in 1876. Died 28 October 1940 aged 63. 

1168328 Leading Aircraftman Kenneth George Short of the RAF VR, 152 Squadron. Son of Alfred and Matilda Short of Bideford. Born in Bideford in the September Quarter of 1916. Died 8 January 1948 aged 28.

149601 Flying Officer William Ronald Short of the RAF VR. Son of William and Susannah Short. Born in 1916. Died 27 April 1945 aged 29.

14419463 Corporal Edward E Smale of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Son of Bertram and Winifred Smale. Born in Bideford in the March Quarter of 1925.  Died 28 May 1947 aged 22.

1316095 Flight Sergeant Ernest Squire of 215 Squadron. Son of Charlie and Maria Squire. Born in the March Quarter of 1912. Died 1 June 1944 aged 32.

D/JX 126429 Petty officer Leslie Squire of the Royal Navy, HMS Norfolk. Son of Caleb and Emma of Bideford; husband of Katherine Squire of Appledore. Born in Bideford in the December Quarter of 1910. Died 26 December 1943 aged 33. His death was due to surface action.

Captain Charles Eric Cooper Stapledon of Selangor Local Defence Corps. Son of Ernest and Vivien Stapledon; husband of Kathleen Stapledon of Southsea. Born in Bideford in the March Quarter of 1900. Died 16 August 1918 aged 45. Buried in Jakarta.

4133274 Trooper Henry Taylor of the 5th Battalion, the Reconnaissance Corps. Son of Alfred and Fanny Taylor of Bideford. Born in 1907. Died 16 December 1943 aged 36. 

Not yet confirmed.

5630795 Private Peter Tucker of the 4th Battalion, the Dorsetshire Regiment. Son of William and Eliza Ann Tucker of Bideford; brother of Walter (see below).  Born in Bideford in the September Quarter of 1922. Died 3 August 1943 aged 21. Buried  in St. Mary's Churchyard, Bideford.

1087445 Leading Aircraftman Walter Leslie Tucker of the RAF VR. Son of William and Eliza Ann of Bideford; brother of Peter (see above).  Born in Bideford in the June Quarter of 1911. Died 27 February 1943 aged 31.

2343310 Signalman Eric William Upton of the Royal Corps of Signals, Malaya Command Signals.  Son of Frederick and Ethel Upton of Bideford. Born in Bideford in the September Quarter of 1916. Died 20 September 1943 aged 27.

5627900 Sergeant Herbert John Walters of the 12th Airborne Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Son of William and Ellen Walters of Bideford; husband of Dorothy Walters of Bideford. Born in |Bideford in the December Quarter of 1913.

Midshipman Maurice Robert Wyburn Maurice Robert Wyburn of the Royal Navy, the Fleet Air Arm, Macaw, and  of the 9th Pilot advanced Flying Unit. Born in Taunton in the September Quarter of 1925. Died 13 October 1944 aged 19 aged 19 in an air crash.

Civilian. Kenneth Welch of 12 Hawthorne Grove, Peverell, Plymouth. Son of Reginald George and Elsie  Welch of Lloyd's Bank Chambers, Bideford. Born in Luton in the September Quarter of 1920. Died at Wisteria Road, Plymouth 29 April 1941 aged 21.

1187605 Sergeant Pilot Frederick Richard Westcott of the RAF VR. Son of Walter and Louisa Westcott of Bideford. Born in Bideford in 1913. Died 24 July 1941 aged 28. Buried in Langtree churchyard.

D/MX 61239 Supply Assistant William Richard John Westlake of the Royal Navy, HMS Gloucester. Son of William and Annie Westlake of Bideford. Born in Bideford in the June Quarter of 1920. Died 22 May 1941 aged 21 when his ship was lost.

5623820 Private (Richard) John Williams of the 1st Battalion, the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. Son of John and Ellen Williams. Born in Bideford in the September Quarter of 1907/ Died in Burma 3 August 19144 aged 27.

56588 Gunner Eric William Yelland of 28 Field Regiment, the Royal Artillery. Son of William and Violet Yelland. Born in Bodmin in 1918. Died 19 September 1941 aged 23.

5989945 Private Albert Lewis Youngs of the 1st Battalion, the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. Son of William and Mabel Youngs; husband of Isobel Youngs. Born in Bideford in the December Quarter of 1917. Died 24 April 1945 aged 27.