in memory of those from Leverstock Green, and particularly those in the armed forces, who lost their lives during World War Two and subsequent conflicts, either whilst on active service or due to enemy action.
THE LEVERSTOCK GREEN CHRONICLE
Click to link to principle LG Chronicle web pages.
The war memorial photographed in the late 1940's. Thankfully realatively few men from the village were killed during WW2 whilst serving in the forces. Those named on the memorial are: Harry Bagshaw, Gordon Clear, Frank Cokes, Arthur Collins, F.Cother, George Foulder, Archie Foulder, Jack Newland and James Rogers.
Brothers Archie ( above) & George (William) Foulder (right), two brothers who were casualties of WW2..
The war memorial photographed in the late 1940's. Thankfully realatively few men from the village were killed during WW2 whilst serving in the forces. Those named on the memorial are: Harry Bagshaw, Gordon Clear, Frank Cokes, Arthur Collins, F.Cother, George Faulder, Archie Faulder, Jack Newland and James Rogers.
Brothers Archie ( above) & George (William) Faulder (right), two brothers who were casualties of WW2..
Initially this page was created to honour the dead from the armed forces who died during World War II and during the Falklands conflict, whom we honour & remember once a year on Remembrance Sunday. However, given the nature of the conflict during WW2 and subsequent wars and battle zones, I feel it only right that any civilians killed during such conflicts should also be remembered.
At the time of writing this I know of no such civilians, but feel sure that those named on our war memorial are not the only casualties of war to have come from our community. If you know of any such person or persons, please contact me with the details.
Similalry if you have any additional photographs of the men so far named on this page, again, please contact me.
Barbara Chapman
LEVERSTOCK GREEN
First Active Service Casualty
PTE. A.G.F. COLLINS
A notification received early this week from the War Office by Mr. & Mrs. A. Collins of No 3 White Horse cottages, informing them that their only son, Pte Arthur George Frank Collins, had been killed on active service has cast gloom over the district. This well-known and popular young man is the village’s first active service casualty.
Twenty-four years of age, Pte Collins was serving with the 1st Bucks Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry as a despatch rider when he met his death whilst on Saturday afternoon as a result of a collision with a motor lorry at Culmstock, Devon.
A regular soldier, joining the army three months before the outbreak of was for a period of 12 years, Pte Collins began his service with the Somerset Light Infantry, and was attached to the Regiments General signal headquarters. With his regiment Pte Collins served for a considerable time in France till that country’s capitulation, when he was evacuated with the other British forces.
Following the evacuation Pte. Collins spent several weeks in a military hospital and later he was among a large number of soldiers from his former Regiment that were drafted to the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
Born at St. Michaels, St. Albans Pte. Collins came from there to Leverstock Green five years ago. Previous to joining the army he had been employed as a builder’s labourer at Guildford.
In this great loss they have sustained Mr & Mrs Collins will have the sympathy of the whole village.
A full military funeral took place at the Exeter High Cemetery on Tuesday. A service in the cemetery chapel preceded the interment in the special section reserved for military burials.
The coffin was draped with the Union Jack and the late soldier’s helmet placed on it.
Six members of Pte Collins’ Platoon acted as bearers, and the C.O. and adjutant of the Battalion and members of his Platoon were present to pay a last tribute of respect.
The Last Post was sounded by the Battalion bugler as the coffin was lowered to rest.
The immediate mourners Mr & Mrs A. Collins (father & mother), Mr & Mrs J Bacon, (brother-in-law and sister Miss J Collison (friend) L/Col Collinson of the Somerset Light Infantry (friend).
At an inquest at Exeter on Monday afternoon a verdict of accidental death was recorded.
ABOVE: Arthur George Frank Collins. (Copyright Julie Smith)
The report to the left came from an undated press cutting from the Gazette, owned by Julie Smith, Arthur Colin’s niece. However from the CWGC we know he died on 24th August 1940.
FLIGHT LIEUTENANT JEFF BELL had just completed a tour with 92 Squadron RAF in Germany, prior to commencing a 4 month detachment to the Falklands as part of the peace keeping force from June to October 1983. Flight Lieutenant Bell was killed in a flying accident (he was the navigator in a phantom which hit Mount Osborne) on 17 October 1983, a week before he was due to return home after completing his tour. His remains were returned to the UK and are now buried at Leverstock Green (Holy Trinity) Church.
The Falklands War
World War II
Flying Officer GORDON SAMSON CLEAR, Observer, 139 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 20th March 1943. Age 31. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). Buried by the north east buttress in HOLY TRINITY CHURCHYARD, LEVERSTOCK GREEN, HEMEL HEMPSTEAD.
Gordon Sampson Clear Number 116769 Flying Officer Gordon Sampson Clear was a member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR). He was the son of Edwin Arnold and Margaret Ethel Clear, and was married to Joyce Ella Clear. He lived in Leverstock Green a few minutes walk from where he is now buried.
At the time of his death, Flying Officer Clear was stationed with 139 Squadron at RAF Marham. He had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his previous service during World War Two.
Private FRANK EDWARD COKER
1688595, Royal Berkshire Regiment, who died age 31, on 14 April 1945 Son of Edward and Sarah Jane Coker; husband of Rosie Frances Coker, of Hemel Hempstead. In civilian live, he was a domestic gardener, living in the Pimlico (within LG Parish).
On 14 April 1945, while on leave, Private Coker died at West Herts Hospital (Hemel Hempstead) of a Perforated Appendix. He was 31 years' old.
He is buried by the north boundary of LEVERSTOCK GREEN (HOLY TRINITY) CHURCHYARD, HEMEL HEMPSTEAD
Colour Sergeant HENRY ARTHUR BAGSHAW 5952756, 5th Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. Died 14th February 1942 during the invasion of Singapore by the Japanese. Aged 22. Son of Frank and Daisy Bagshaw; husband of Joan Henrietta Bagshaw, of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. No known grave. Commemorated on SINGAPORE MEMORIAL, Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore. Column 61.
ARCHIE EDWARD FAULDER - Guardsman 2622719, 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Died 10th June 1944. Aged 23. Son of Archie and Lily Faulder; husband of Alice Faulder, of Gateshead, Co. Durham. Buried in BOLSENA WAR CEMETERY, Italy. Plot III. Row B. Grave 22.
GEORGE WILLIAM FAULDER - [Known as William] Private 4863016, 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment. Died 12th Febraury 1942 during the Japanese invasion of Singapore via Malaya. Aged 27. Son of Percy and Lily Faulder; husband of Phyllis Faulder, of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. No known grave. Commemorated on SINGAPORE MEMORIAL, Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore. Column 65.
At the time of his death, 139 Squadron was flying two-seater Mosquito Mark IV twin-engined aircraft. Flying Officer Clear was the Observer in the Mosquito piloted by Flight Lieutenant Michael Myers Wayman, DFC, RAFVR.
At 17:50 on 20 March 1943, a Mosquito Mark IV (DZ496 XD-) piloted by Flight Lieutenant Wayman took off from RAF Marham as part of a 12-strong Mosquito raid on the Louvain and Malines Railway yards. However. Only the Louvain yards were actually reached.
Flight Lieutenant Wayman/Flying Officer Clear's Mosquito was hit by flak which disabled one of the two engines. Later that evening, at 19:25, this Mosquito attempted a landing at RAF Martlesham Heath airfield, Suffolk, but Flight Lieutenant Wayman's first attempt at landing the now one-engine Mosquito was unsuccessful. While preparing for a second attempt, the Mosquito crashed at Foxburrow Wood near Brightwell.
Both Flight Lieutenant Wayman and Flying Officer Clear died later that night, 20 March 1943, at East Suffolk Hospital. Flying Officer Clear was aged 31 years' old.
JAMES SYDNEY ROGERS - The small gravestone (right) reads as follows:
Walter Charles Rogers died April 7th 1937/also son of asbove James Sydney Rogers died from illness contracted during war service on April 6th 1947 aged 21 years.
Corporal JOHN EDWARD NEWLAND
1st Batalion: Dorsetshire Regiment
Date of Death: 04/09/1944 - aged 32
Service No: 5957889
Additional information: Son of Samuel Newland, and of Honor Mary Newland, of Leverstock Green, Hertfordshire.
Buried at: LESSINES NEW COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Hainault France. Plot A Grave 8.
