Men and Women from Eton Wick who served in H.M. Forces 1939—1945

 

The residence of Eton Wick who served in

H.M. Forces during the 2nd World War.

 Ernest Alder     

William Bailey Army

Helen Bannan ATS

Basil Bavin  Army

Henry Barnet Army

Thomas Barnet  Army

Mark Bell RAF

Peter Bell  Army

Ernest Benham     

Charles Benham Army

Maurice Benham     

Albert Bond     

Frank Bond RAF

Thomas Bond Army

Cyril Bond Army

Jack Bond RAF

Philip Bond     

Dennis Borrett Royal Navy

Reginal Borrett Army

Peter Brennan     

Robert Brooks Army

Cyril Budd     

James Burger Army

Les Carpenter        Army

Norman Carpenter     

Michael Cavanah     

Betty Chamberlain WAAF

James Chamberlain RAF

Harry Chantler Army

Joyce Chew WRNS

Albert Clark     

Nobby Clark     

Jack Cleaver Army

Harry Cook Army

Robert Cook RAF

Lucy Cooley WAAF

Peter Cooley     

John Cox     

Edna Day WAAF

Alan Dowson RAF

Bernard Durbin Army

Jack Emery RAF RGT,

Douglas Eyles RAF

George Giles     

Charles Hazell     

Frederick Harris RAF

Frank Hester Army

Keith Hewitt RAF

Albert Hood at

Arthur Hood RAF RGT,

Donald Hood RAF

 Robert Huse Army

Thomas Husted Royal Navy

Harry Kelly Army

James Kinross Royal Navy

Jack Lane     

Jack Ling     

Jock Lockhart     

?LYNCH     

Robert Lynch Army

Michael Lynch Royal Navy

Clifford Mead     

Frederick Millis Army

Richard Mitchener RAF

George Newall RAF

James Newall     

Jack Nuth     

Neuth     

Maurice North     

John Oxlade     

Aubrey Paice     

Charles Paice     

Edward Pardoe Army

William Pardow Army

Robert Pass     

Frederick Reader Army

 Harry Reader Army

Jack Reader Army

Philip Reader Army

Ivor Reeves Army

Andrew Skeels Army

Douglas Slade FAA

Harold Slaymaker Army

Jack Stacey RAF

Walter Stacey RAF

James Stannett     

William Swabey     

Douglas Tarrant     

Wilfred Tarrant Army

Austin Watts RAF

Douglas Wells Army

William Welford RAF

Edward Wilks Royal Navy

Frederick Wilsher     

Edward Woodley     

Albert Wilson     

Ronald Wilson     

Frederick Vickers Royal Navy

Jack Young Army

Maurice Young Army

N Young     

This is an extract from Round and About Eton Wick: 1939 - 1945. The book was researched, written and published in 2001 by John Denham.

World War 2 Eighty Years On - Wednesday August 15th. Victory over Japan Day - The end of World War Two

 Wednesday August 15th.  V.J.Day

The announcement of an end to the war with Japan caused some local confusion. Many had waited for the declaration of the end to the fighting on Tuesday evening and failed to hear the early news on the radio the following morning that a two day holiday was granted for the occasion  Many people went off to work only to find the factory or office closed.   Bakers shops that did open for a short time were soon sold out as no extra supplies of flour had been allocated.  Mothers called it a ‘Q’ holiday. Late night celebrating revellers were witness to the fire at the Palace cinema, Slough, which was gutted in spite of the efforts of the firefighters.

Over one hundred men and women from the village served in the armed forces of whom twelve died on active service. The acute shortage of houses when the war ended made any suitable empty building attractive to the homeless. Vacated military camps  in the Slough / Windsor area became occupied by returning servicemen with their families to be referred to as squatters. The disastrous floods of 1947 covered the Dorney Common with several feet of water from which the camp occupants were rescued by boat.

This is an extract from Round and About Eton Wick: 1939 - 1945. The book was researched, written and published in 2001 by John Denham.

 

C. A. CHEW - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Clifford Archibald Chew A.F.C. (Flight Lieutenant) - 512 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Clifford was born in 1917, the only son of Mr & Mrs A.B. Chew of "Bryanston" Moores Lane, Boveney Newtown. He had four sisters and like the rest of the family he a was a conscientious member of the Methodist Chapel. His Great Aunt, Mrs Annie Tough, was in fact the founder of the Alma Road Chapel in 1886. Clifford was a village lad who passed the entrance exam to Slough Secondary School where he completed his education, and he left the school when he was about 16 years old. He was always a keen sportsman and played rugby for Windsor Rugby Club and rowed with the Eton Excelsior Rowing Club.

When he left school he was employed by I.C.I. as a clerk in the distribution department at Slough, for a period of about two or three years, before transferring to the company's London depot. He became interested in flying and joined the R.A.F.V.R. which enabled him to undergo a course of flying instruction at White Waltham Airfield near Maidenhead. Being in the Volunteer Reserves he was called for immediate service when the 1939 threat of war became a reality. He was serving with Fighter Command and was a pilot with Spitfires throughout the Battle of Britain in 1940. He completed a full tour of duty and was commissioned in 1942.

In June 1944 he was captain of an aircraft engaged on an instructional series of flights requiring take-off from the airfield, flying circuits and landing. Four times he carried out this procedure, but on the fifth occasion the starboard engine developed a serious fault. Flight Lieutenant Chew took over the controls from the pilot under instruction and managed to gain height to an altitude of 800 feet, despite the fact that only the port engine was functioning. Violent vibrations made it impossible to maintain this height and the aeroplane lost the altitude just gained, with the starboard engine catching fire. The undercarriage failed to function and the situation became extremely hazardous. Clifford managed to avoid other aircraft as he successfully landed the blazing aeroplane on the runway. The entire crew were able to jump clear of the wreck without injury. He was subsequently awarded the Air Force Cross for his courageous action.

In March 1945 Clifford was serving in yet another capacity with 512 Squadron in support of the European offensive against Germany. On the 24th of March he was flying paratroopers across the Rhine when his aircraft was shot down. His mother received a letter from his squadron commander dated 27.3.45 notifying her of his "failure to return from the operation" and stating that any further information would be forwarded.

A newspaper reported a few days later under the heading:

Given a British Burial - Air Officer's Fate.

News of the death and burial in Germany of Flight Lieutenant A. Chew, A.EC, of Windsor, has reached his friends in Northern Ireland, where he was formerly stationed. FLT/LT. Chew was shot down while flying paratroopers across the Rhine. The other members of his crew managed to get clear of the aircraft but he was unable to bale out in time, and his body was afterwards recovered by British troops and given a fitting last honours. His mother Mrs D. Chew of "Bryanston", Eton Wick, Windsor has received news of his burial at Rees, a town on the Rhine situated between Emmerich and Wesel.

This gallant airman, who joined the R.A.F.V.R. in 1939, was awarded the A.EC. for outstanding skill and coolness in landing a burning aircraft. During his service in N. Ireland he was stationed at Nutts' Corner, Troome and at Ballymoney...

After the war Clifford's remains were taken from Rees and interred at Hotton War Cemetery in the Province of Luxembourg, 30 miles south west of Liege. Hotton Cemetery contains 666 burials: 340 from the army and 325 from the R.A.F., with one other grave.

Clifford was a single man and at the time of his death he was 27 years old. He was the only commissioned officer from Eton Wick to lose his life in either world war. His father, Archibald Chew, died in 1943 and after the war the family had electric lighting installed in the Methodist Chapel, Alma Road, in memory of the two men and a commemorative plaque placed the Chapel. He is commemorated on the Eton Wick Memorial in the church yard and on the Village Hall plaque. 

Clifford Chew's page on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.

This is an extract from Their Names Shall Be Carved in Stone  

and published here with grateful thanks to the author Frank Bond.

World War 2 Eighty Years On - Planning for the End of the War part 1 - Public Transport - February 1945

The hard fought battles of 1944 had brought a foreseeable end to the war in Europe.  A public meeting,  held at Eton, discussed plans for the  welcome home of service men and women of the village and Eton. A Committee was formed to arrange for fund raising events which commenced with a dance at Eton School Hall. With a public collection at Eton Wick, a donation of £75 from Eton U.D.C. and other activities funds were quickly raised for the `Welcome Home' entertainment. To mark the occasion, a gift was proposed and this took the form of a cigarette box suitably inscribed. Some of these mementoes were made by Mr Plunkett, a local cabinet maker.

With an allocation of extra fuel by the Ministry of Power, the introduction of a new timetable for the Blue Bus service became possible. This gave a more frequent service from Dorney through Eton Wick to Windsor but still no bus after 9pm. A request from village residents for a 10 p.m. bus from Windsor had the support of the Council but many weeks were to elapse after V.E. Day celebrations  before the Traffic Commissioners gave their permission for a later bus.

This is an extract from Round and About Eton Wick: 1939 - 1945. The book was researched, written and published in 2001 by John Denham.

World War 2 Eighty Years On - December 1944

On 16th December the Germans  launched a surprise counter – offensive against the weakest sector of the  Allied line. The battle became known as the ‘Battle of the Bulge’. The main V-2 attack had now switched from London to Antwerp.

As the year drew to its close some wartime restrictions on the home front eased but food rationing made it difficult to cater for Christmas parties. 

A Christmas party given at the village hall by the Miss Rooke, Head Mistress, for the school children was a great success. With the generous support of Mr Rooke, her father, Mr and Mrs de Purdy, Mr and Mrs Miles and others who prepared and gave party food. The scene was set, a beautiful decorated tree lit with candles, paper hats and favours all added to the fun for the one hundred children who had an enjoyable time.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  This is an extract from Round and About Eton Wick: 1939 - 1945. The book was researched, written and published in 2001 by John Denham.

World War 2 Eighty Years On - 1944 - Home Guard

December

Disbandment for the local Home Guard Battalions was held at Windsor Castle on Sunday, December 8th. Among the Home Guard units on parade were the Heavy AA Battalion, the 8th Berks. (Windsor Borough Batt.), the 9th. Berks. (Windsor Crown Land Batt.) and ‘D’ Stretch Upper Thames Patrol who were under the command of Major C.D.N. Butler.  Assembling at Victoria Barracks the parade marched to the Castle via Sheet Street and Park Street. With the band of the Royal Horse Guards playing an appropriate march the troops arrived at their appointed places for inspection by the King. Among those on parade was Alf Cook from Eton Wick to whom the King put questions about the cap badge of the Upper Thames Patrol.

 

King George VI, a keen collector of cap badges, taking a close interest in Eton Wick resident Private Alf Cook’s ‘Upper Thames Patrol’ unit Badge.

The summer had seen the successful invasion of German occupied France and the Allied Armies had by December liberated Paris. V-1 flying bombs still fell on London and Manchester where fifty Heinkel Bombers launched a V-1 raid killing 37 people. Anti Aircraft Gun batteries were strengthened more raids materialized.  The introduction by the Germans of  a new and more deadly weapon had  came into use which was officially revealed by the Prime Minister in November.  The  V– 2 rocket travelled at 3000 miles per hour carrying a one ton of explosive.  The first arrived on September 13th falling on Chiswick causing much destruction and heavy casualties.  Against the V–2 there was no defence and  it was of utmost priority that the Allied armies capture the launching sites in Holland.   

Units were affiliated to their regular county regiments.

December 8th 1944

 Stand Down of the Windsor and Eton Home Guard Battalions

 King George VI inspects lady Home Guard volunteers 

who had been the back room support manning telephones,  

clerical, and catering.

2nd right , Mrs Lovell,  of Eton Wick.

Windsor Home Guard Anti  - Aircraft  Battery

The home Guard Gunners served alongside Royal  Artillery  AA Batteries. The formation of Home Guard AA units allowed the release of regimental Royal Artillery gunners for posting to active war fronts. The 3.7” guns shown in the photographs were located in the Windsor Great Park. 

The 3.7”  heavy A.A gun was designed to engage raiders up to 30,000 ft or more. The difficulty of getting a hit on target resulted in a timed fuse to burst the shell when it had been calculated to reach the target giving a radius of burst of approximately 60 feet.. Precise fuse setting  was required for the shell to burst at the exact point to damage and bring down the target as the shell, travelling at 2000ft./sec., having an error setting error of one tenth of a second would  cause a burst  200ft. From the target.    Improved performance  of the 3.7” was achieved by lining down a 4.5” to shoot a 3.7” shell using a 4.5” cartridge. This proved highly successful until the A.A. gun was replaced by the guided weapon.

This is an extract from Round and About Eton Wick: 1939 - 1945. The book was researched, written and published in 2001 by John Denham. 

World War 2 Eighty Years On - Eton Home Guard Platoon

 Eton Home Guard Platoon

On May 14th 1940 Anthony Eden, War Secretary in Churchill’s Government , broadcast to the nation regarding the threat of invasion by German Parachutists and Fifth Column agents. He called upon men between the ages of 17 and 65  and not   engaged in  military service to offer their service to  form  a  local defence force, to known as Local Defence Volunteers, LDV for short. These came forth in great numbers, reporting to Police Stations to register.  Weapons were short, shotguns being the armaments of many. The volunteers helped in the construction of anti - tank ditches,  placing obstacles on possible air landing points as well as helping to guard strategic landmarks and communications.

The Initials ‘LDV’ was quickly translated by comedians of the day into “Look, Duck and Vanish”.  

By July 1940 the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, Renamed the force, ‘Home Guard’. Units were affiliated to their regular county regiments.

This is an extract from Round and About Eton Wick: 1939 - 1945. The book was researched, written and published in 2001 by John Denham. 

World War 2 Eighty Years On- September 1944

September

Four days after the capture of Antwerp on September 4th. the Germans launched the first V2 rocket attack against London. The V2, unlike the V1, gave no warning of its approach therefore no defence was possible. The attacks continued until the end of November and it is a belief that a V2 fell in Windsor Forest.  A defence measure against the V1's involved the deployment of anti-aircraft batteries to the south coast and those which had manned many of the sites around the Windsor - Slough district moved to become part of the defences. Sections of 608 battery went to Folkstone where they were credited with the shooting down of 102 V1 flying bombs.  

V I  [Doodlebug] flying bomb attacks 

over Bucks and Berks 1944—45

Later volunteers from 183 Regiment Batteries went to Belgium to defend Antwerp against the V1's.  

Although the blackout was still in force limited street lighting was allowed for the winter of 1944.  The observations of the local police considered that the street lighting at Eton was too bright and prevailed upon the local authority to reduce the intensity. At first the lights were turned off at night but as there was very little risk of enemy bombing at that stage of the war people asked if the street lights could be on early in the  morning. Workers on early morning shifts complained that the dark winter mornings were hazardous, with  Keates lane particularly  dangerous, it was surprising  that only one College boys had been accidentally killed. After an inspection of the street lighting the surveyor arranged for selected lights to stay on until the lighter mornings arrived. Limited lighting lasted until 20th April 1945 when the end of the blackout was announced.                   

The prospect of `Victory in Europe’ gave cause for Eton U.D.C. to discuss plans for the building of new houses in Eton Wick. The local building companies of Slough and Windsor were also considering post war construction and informed the Council that they were now able to carry out the preparation of sites and construction of houses if the necessary licenses were obtained. To quickly provide the estimated four million homes needed to replace air raid destruction and house returning servicemen and their families, some aircraft factories changed over to the manufacture of prefabricated housing. The 'Prefabs` were fitted out with all electric appliances, such as electric cooker and refrigerator and electric heating. 

This is an extract from Round and About Eton Wick: 1939 - 1945. The book was researched, written and published in 2001 by John Denham. 

World War 2 Eighty Years On - August 1944

August.

After the very late spring frost of April and the beautiful summer weather of the Whitsun and August Bank Holiday’s brought an influx of visitors to Windsor and Eton. The holiday encouraged the day trippers to take to the river for boating and swimming and before the day was out the pubs were finding that the beer supplies were inadequate. 

Isolated V1's continued to fly over the district and in late August a missile fell in an orchard at Cippenham. The blast wrecked houses and brought the ceilings down at White Heather Garage, Dorney, the home of Mrs Quarterman. 

"As a Radar operator serving with 608 at Dorney, I remember this period after ‘D-Day’ as being very busy. Little sleep was had with the threat of the flying bombs, and it was difficult to know what was happening in the first few days. It called for constant vigil by the battery which was crowned with success when we managed to shoot down one of these bombs”. (Mrs. B. McCade) 

For the months of June, July and August, Windsor and Slough district had 202 alerts with a few bombs falling around the neighbourhood. The maximum number of alerts in any one day for this period was nine. Twenty-one Buzz Bombs fell in the area, three of which were in the Windsor Borough and one at Cippenham (Slough). 

V1 Doodle Bug

A fear of more air raids and V1 attacks brought an enquiry from Councillor Mr. Harding asking whether seats could be installed in the shelters at Eton Wick for the older people. This was not sanctioned as the use of the necessary materials was not warranted at that stage of the war. Reporting that the supply, fixing and waterproofing of Anderson shelters to those who had applied had been completed in Eton Wick and Somerville Road and the Surveyor replied that nothing more would be done. 

V2 Rocket

A reported case of Scarlet Fever also gave concern for the cleanliness of communal shelters and the spread of infectious deceases. 

Many public libraries in towns and cities suffered damage by air raids. To replace the destroyed books a national book drive was launched in which the village school took part. A magnificent effort by the children gave a total collection of 2,934 books and two children, who had collected over 250 books each, received a Field Marshall badge as recognition of their endeavour.

This is an extract from Round and About Eton Wick: 1939 - 1945. The book was researched, written and published in 2001 by John Denham. 

Eton Wick History Group Talk - The Miracle of Bletchley Park with Gillian Cane - 31st July 2024

 

This the third talk of the History Group's 2024 series. The talks schedule can be found by clicking on this link along with a list of all the talks since the foundation of the Group in 1992.

World War 2 Eighty Years On - June & July 1944

Tuesday June 13th

The attack by V1's, known as Doodle Bugs commenced, having been launched from the Pas de Calais area of occupied France.  At 5am on June 15th. a V1. fell on the Bells of Ousley at Old Windsor. The explosion, heard over a very wide area, was quickly reported and brought the Civil Defence Services rapidly to the scene.  Police sealed off the area so the rescue services, under their supervisor Templeman, could work without hindrance from spectators.  Most of the hotel was destroyed and surrounding property severely damage. Within a short time some were rescued alive from under the debris but more were known to be trapped under the rubble. A second rescue party that had been called for found two more, unfortunately both dead. Among the injured was a three year old boy. On arrival the Rescue Squads found scattered among the debris many pound notes and pieces of the V1.  Twenty four hours later the policeman on duty at the site was appalled to hear another bomb approaching on the same line and as its engine cut out, he threw himself to the ground.  On losing power the V1. banked and dived across the river to explode in Wraysbury. Considerable damage was done to many houses, two people lost their lives and others injured.  

Saturday July 1st.

During the afternoon a flying bomb was seen and heard coming from the direction of Slough to pass over towards Windsor.  Within a very short time an explosion was heard as the bomb  hit the chimney of the Windsor Corporation dust destructor in Kentons Lane. Many houses were damaged but no deaths, although many were injured by flying glass. Blast shattered windows at Edward Woolhouse’s cycle shop in the Eton Wick. Royal Navy Artificer  P.O. Frederick Lamb from Sunderland remembered the incident as follows:-

He  was put with a draft from Portsmouth at 5 o’clock in the morning on June 6th 1944 not knowing whence they were bound. His thoughts at that time were of going across the channel with the invasion forces but they were told on reaching Waterloo Station that their destination was the Slough Government Training Centre, and they would be billeted in Windsor. He considered he was lucky, had they gone the other way, who knows what the outcome might have been. 

“After a hectic struggle to get  across from Waterloo to the station for Windsor with all our gear we arrived on Saturday at Windsor. Another artificer  and me had to go on our way to the Police Station to collect a double bunk bed and take it with us along with our kit bags, suit cases, hammocks and tool boxes.  Eventually we were dropped off at a house near to a Pub.  The  family with whom we were billeted, a husband and wife with young girls had a small  upstairs room for us.  We carried our gear to the room and then assembled the double bunk bed.  On the Monday morning we caught the train to Slough to work at the Government Training Centre on shifts from 2—10 one week, 6—2 the following week which brought us to July 1st. . The house was partially destroyed , roof windows etc. I think we were taken to a school , the lady there said they would put us up there for the time being and showed  me to a mattress on the floor which was screened off.  On wakening the next morning I could hear babies crying and women talking.  Having dressed, I prepared to leave but  at the door  enquiries were made as to the my relatives and I explained that I was only billeted in the house.  

Arriving at the Training Centre The Chief Petty Officer  said “You are adrift, Captain’s report” to be charged with absent without leave." 

Having  explained my absence the  charge was dismissed. Leave to find transport to Windsor  and retrieve my gear. On arriving at the billet, it appeared the house was about to cave in any minute and I was faced with getting my gear out by myself as the driver  was not going to risk his life.  Having got my tools, hammock ,cases etc. I then set about finding a fresh billet. I finished the course and went to H.M.S Wildfire.”  

WRNS were also taught engineering trades such as welding, machining, wood working at the Slough Government Training Centre passing out as ship mechanic(LC)  for the repair of landing craft.

Wednesday July 10th. 

The Flying bombs brought new fears of destruction and as a precaution against fire raids a demonstration on dealing with  phosphorous bombs was arranged by Mr S. Romoff, the Council Fire  Officer. This was held at Woodley’s Yard in Tangier Lane, Eton, being  well attended by residents of Eton and Eton Wick.

This is an extract from Round and About Eton Wick: 1939 - 1945. The book was researched, written and published in 2001 by John Denham. 

 

World War 2 Eighty Years On - June 6th. 1944 - D-Day

D-Day Map

The invasion of Europe created a great amount of activity by the Allied Air Forces which were heard and seen locally as part of this massive force flew to their designated targets. The following memories probably refer to the reinforcement supply flights that took place, the main assault by airborne forces having taken place in the early hours of darkness. During the afternoon some of the 256 glider combinations used in the second assault were to be seen passing over the district. 

John Powell’s memory of that day is of hundreds of planes flying his place of employment at Burnham on D-Day 1944 all towing Horsa Gliders or Adrian (U.S.A.) gliders, a sight never to be forgotten. “Wave after wave of them all flying at very low level altitude, all heading towards France. My thoughts were of the thousands of poor souls never to return”. 

John Bye has memories of the sky filled with aircraft when he was on his way to school at Maidenhead. The planes were flying North to South, probably about 400 aircraft, with some towing gliders. This armada took about twenty minutes to pass. 

Sylvia Collier recalled ”I was at work at W.H. Smith & Son, Windsor on the morning of ‘D-Day’ when the Jewish gentleman from the public house next door rushed into the shop very excited with a radio under his arm, shouting in his guttural voice, "They landed, they landed, plug it in". Two of the assistants ran to the staff room in tears remembering how their sons had held them close on returning from their last home leave. One had a son in the army and the other a son in the navy”. 

This is an extract from Round and About Eton Wick: 1939 - 1945. The book was researched, written and published in 2001 by John Denham. 

Note as part of the dispersal of troop in the run up to D-Day a convoy of Army trucks used Alma Road and Bell Lane for one night towards the end of May.

R. H. HOOD - 2nd Battalion Somerset Light Infantry

Richard Henry Hood (Private No. 5385945) - 2nd Battalion Somerset Light Infantry (Formally in Oxford & Bucks L.I.) - 28th Brigade. 

Dick, as he was more generally known, was born on August 31st, 1914, the second son of Albert and Florence May Hood. His older brother was also named Albert, and he was 20 months Dick's senior. Father Albert was popularly known as "Scottie" Hood and was the village coal merchant. He and May went on to have a family of five sons and two daughters at their home in the heart of the old Eton Wick Village at 3, Albert Place. Unfortunately, the elder girl, Rosie, died of tuberculosis as a teenager. 

Dick attended the village Infant School until April 4th, 1922, when he registered at Eton Porny. He left school, nearly a month before his 14th birthday, on August 2nd, 1928. Three years later he joined the regular peacetime army, serving in the Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry. Presumably this was not exactly to his liking, for in 1933 he persuaded his father to buy him out of his army engagement. Father had been delivering coal in the village by horse and cart for many years until early one evening, in the spring of 1931, a tragic fire destroyed his stable in Sheepcote Road, and killed the poor horse trapped inside. Scottie then had motor truck, but he never really mastered its temperamental mechanics in a way which compensated for his love of the old horse. 

By the mid 1930s his two elder sons, Albert and Dick, were running the business. At this time Dick was well known and a popular villager. In his leisure time he played right back for the Eton Wick F.C. and Saturday evenings, after the matches, he often played his accordion in The Grapes public house, for the landlord, Mr Dick Whittington. 

War came in 1939 and Dick had left the business to do military service. He was duly transferred from the Oxford and Bucks L.I. to the 2nd Battalion Somerset Light Infantry. He was now 25. Without his help, Albert probably became unsettled, causing him to volunteer for service in the Royal Air Force. When he arrived at this decision, his brother-in-law, Walter Farmer, moved from Sapperton in Gloucestershire to work in the village coal business before himself joining the R.A.F. in 1941. The business was subsequently sold to R. Bond & Sons for £100. 

In April 1941 the 2nd Battalion Somerset Light Infantry became a unit of the 2nd (Gibraltar) Brigade which was formed for the defence of Gibraltar, and in consequence they served there until December 1943. On December 1st 1943 the Brigade was re-organised as the 28th Brigade and two weeks later, on the 15th, they left The Rock en route for Egypt. Other battalions effected included the 4th Devons, the 7th Kings Own, the 1st Herts, the 2nd Kings, 1st Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders and the 2/4th Hampshires. They were nine days in transit and arrived in Egypt on Christmas Eve 1943, where they served until March 10th 1944. 

Dick and Albert Hood together for the last time. 

At some time during the 10 week stay in North Africa, Dick managed to meet brother Albert. This rendezvous was very probably in Cairo and was certainly the last occasion he would see any member of his family.

The battalion sailed north to Italy, arriving there on the 15th. American and British forces had landed in the south of Italy on September 3rd 1943 and had steadily advanced up through the country. Particularly fierce opposition had been encountered at Cassino, south of Rome. On January 22nd landing barges poured more troops into Anzio. The stubborn defenders of Cassino still held on. 

On March 16th Dick was among fresh reinforcements landed at Anzio and the Battalion's first battle in Italy of note was recorded as Cassino II fought between May 11th and 18th 1944. Dick was reported as missing on May 13th and later recorded as died on that date. The Battalion took part in four more Italian battles in 1944. Cassino fell to British and Polish forces on May 18th. As with so many families whose kin were reported as missing, the hopes remained that one day their loved one would return. Most soldiers reported as "Missing" were in fact those whose bodies had no means of identification, many would be buried in graves with the headstone inscription "Known Unto God". The Commonwealth War Graves Commission says: 

Private Hood, Richard Henry, 5385945, 2nd Bn. The Somerset Light Infantry. Died 13th May 1944. Commemorated on the Cassino Memorial, Italy, Panel 5. 

Dick is commemorated on the Eton Wick Memorial and on the Village Hall Memorial Plaque. He was unmarried and 29 years old. 

Richard Hood's page on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.

This is an extract from Their Names Shall Be Carved in Stone  

and published here with grateful thanks to the author Frank Bond.

R. Hood was Captain of the winning Five-a-Side in 1930.

W.W. FARMER - Royal Air Force

William Walter Farmer (Sergeant Air Gunner) - Royal Air Force

Generally called by his second name, Walter, on account of his first name being the same as his father, he was born in the picturesque Gloucestershire village of Sapperton in 1922 or 1923. Sapperton is a small village with stone cottages and is about three to five miles west of Cirencester. He had two brothers and one sister, but unfortunately one of his brothers died at the age of ten. The older brother made a career m the Royal Navy, and his sister Edna married an Eton Wick man, Albert Hood, and they made their home in a newly built semi-detached house in Tilstone Avenue in 1937.

Walter attended the Sapperton School until he passed the entrance exam for Cirencester Grammar School. He was both popular and good at sports and represented his school at football and cricket. The school considered him to be the outstanding cricketer at the close of one season, and awarded Walter the much coveted "Wally Hammond" bat. He was also an accomplished snooker player. When he was 16 years old he left school and took up employment as a footman to Lord Bathurst at Park House in Cirencester. At this time his brother-in-law was running the family's coal business in and around Eton Wick. Originally the business had been operated by Albert's father, "Scottie" Hood, with a horse and cart, but since the mid 1930's it was run by his two sons, Albert and Dick.

When the 1939-45 war started, Dick was called up to serve with the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and Albert decided to join the Royal Air Force. Because of this, Walter left his native Sapperton to live with his sister in Tilstone Avenue, discarding his footman's clothes for those of a coal merchant. He probably arrived in Eton Wick in mid or late 1940 and Albert was able to explain the business and introduce him to the customers before himself entering the R.A.F. in early 1941. 

When the time came for going abroad, Albert sold the business to R. Bond & Sons, the village road contractors, for £100. Walter decided to join the Royal Air Force also, and left the village for preliminary training in April 1942, having been Eton Wick's coalman for about one and a half years. He was a driver attached to the Motor Transport section, R.A.F. until he decided to volunteer for aircrew duties as an Air Gunner. By this time his sister Edna had a year old son, and his parents, Mr & Mrs Farmer, had moved from Sapperton to keep her company in Eton Wick.

Walter completed the gunnery course and was awarded a trophy for obtaining 85% marks: the highest entrant at that time. Before taking up flying duties with an operational squadron, it was customary for crews to be adjusted to the hazards they would encounter when they took part in raids against the enemy. They obtained this experience from one of many operational training units (O.T.U.s). During the last week of this further training Walter was one of the crew of a Lancaster bomber which crashed into the Brecon Hills in Wales. The entire crew were killed. Had he lived he would have been posted for operations the following week.

Albert Hood returned from the middle east after the war and Dick Hood was killed in the Anzio Landings in Italy on August Bank Holiday 1944. Walter was killed on the Easter Bank Holiday of that year in April just two years after he entered the R.A.F. He was 21 years old and his grave is in the beautiful Haycombe Cemetery that overlooks Bath. He is commemorated in Gloucester Cathedral, in the Sapperton Village Church, on the Eton Wick Memorial and on the Eton Wick Village Hall tablet.

William Farmer's page on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.

This is an extract from Their Names Shall Be Carved in Stone  

and published here with grateful thanks to the author Frank Bond.

World War 2 Eighty Years On - May 1944 - Shortage of House

The acute shortage of housing in the district had the Council considering what could be done to refurbish any derelict houses.  One such premise available was No.2 Bell Cottage in Eton Wick which had been taken over as a salvage depot in 1940 and was in poor condition having been vandalized by children. The council accepted a quote from Burfoots of Eton Wick of £163 for refurbishment including connection to the sewer but the acute shortage of material delayed the work for a year.

D-Day Preparations

As the assault on Normandy as drawing closer preparations increased across the South of England. Men, equipment and other war supplies needed to be in the correct order to reach the invasion forces at the right time. Eton Wick was one of the stop over points as remembered by resident Joan Neighbour.

“During one night, towards the end of May, a convoy of Army trucks arrived in Alma Road  and into Bell Lane. Daylight showed that sentries had been posted and the soldiers confined to the trucks. A dispatch rider took any orders from the men wanting cigarettes etc. and the women from the road made tea for the boys who seemed to be just waiting. I think it must have been part of the dispersal of troops and equipment in the build up to ‘D-Day’.  After a few days the convoy moved out with a farewell comment from the boys of "If we get through we'll be back to see you".  

This is an extract from Round and About Eton Wick: 1939 - 1945. The book was researched, written and published in 2001 by John Denham.