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Witherby, James Herbert, son of Bernard Oldham Witherby, stockbroker, of Purley, Surrey; b. 31 Jan. 1906; adm. Sept. 1920 (H); left Apr. 1924; lived in Malaya; Malay Defence Force 1941, p.o.w.; lost at sea off Sumatra Feb. 1942.

James Herbert Witherby was born at Acton, Middlesex on the 31st of January 1906 the only son of Bernard Oldham Witherby, a stockjobber and a Member of the London Stock Exchange, and Isabel Witherby of 64, Ramillies Road, Acton Green in London. He was christened at St Mary’s Church, Stamford Brook on the 20th of May 1906. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from September 1920 to April 1924. He was a member of the Colts Football XI in 1920 and of the 1st Football XI from 1921 to 1924 where he played at centre half. The Elizabethan wrote of his 1922/23 season: - “Very clever dribbler and a splendid feeder of his forwards. Wants to show more pace in getting back to his own goal, when the opposing centre forward has beaten him. A poor shot at goal, who could improve with practice. Has been a most successful pivot to the whole side.” They wrote of his 1923/24 season: - “The only first class performer on the side. Has beautiful control of the ball, and has carved out many a glorious opening for his forwards – the hallmark of a good centre half. Is a little apt to give his opposition centre forward too much rope. His inability to get back quickly after taking a prominent part in an attack being largely responsible for this. Given opportunities, should go far in the game.” He was awarded his School Colours for Football in 1924.
He moved to Malaya as a rubber planter in 1927 where he worked as assistant manager at the Langkon Estate, a job he left in October 1929 to accept the position of assistant manager at the Menrtri Estate, Pahang, where he was later appointed as manager of the plantation. He played cricket for Malacca and for Jasin Cricket Club and was a member of the Malacca Tennis Club. He was also a member of the Jasin Rugby XV. He was married at St George’s Church, Penang to Joan (nee Wilkinson later Hale) on the 18th of October 1938.
He enlisted in the 4th (Pahang) Battalion, Federated Malay States Volunteer Force where he rose to the rank of Company Sergeant Major. On the fall of Singapore to the Japanese on the 15th of February 1942, efforts were made to evacuate as many people as possible from the colony. By late February, James Witherby was one of thousands of evacuees gathered at Emmahaven Padang in the hope of boarding a ship. He managed to find a place on board the 1,693 ton merchant ship SS Ban Ho Guan, under the command of Captain Van der Berg, which departed Emmahaven at around 5am on the morning of the 28th of February 1942 with 227 passengers and 8 to 10 crew on board. She was bound for Tjilatjap and then on to Freemantle in Australia. James Witherby was one of five members of the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force who were on board. During the early part of the journey the ship received a message from the Dutch naval authorities at Tjilatjap that the town was under Japanese air attack and that they should head for the nearest land instead of going there.
Several hours after her departure and having changed from her original course, the SS Ban Ho Guan was sailing to the south of Bali when she was sunk at 5.45pm by the Japanese submarine I-4, under the command of Lieutenant Haijam Nakagawa. There were no survivors, although there were unconfirmed reports that Captain Van der Berg had been captured and taken to Japan
The lack of survivors was very unusual at that time but Haijam Nakagawa gathered a reputation during the rest of the war for killing the survivors of his sinkings. He was tried for war crimes at the end of the war and was convicted in January 1947. He was sentenced to eight year in prison but served only four.
He is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial Column 390.

Wise, Edward Selby, eldest son of Edward Theodore Wise, of Westminster, by Aimée Vaughan, daughter of Prideaux Selby, of Croydon, Surrey; b. Oct. 6, 1887; adm. Sept. 26, 1901 (A); left July 1902; H.M.S. Britannia; Naval Cadet May 15, 1904; Midshipman July 15, 1904; Sub-Lieut. Sept. 15, 1907; Lieut. Sept. 15, 1909; H.M.S. Severn; mentioned in despatches; killed in action on the sand dunes at Nieuport Oct. 20, 1914.

Wilson-Theobald, Ronald John McIver, only child of William Henry Wilson-Theobald, of Kensington, barrister-at-law, by Rosie, daughter of Isaac Lotinga, of Sunderland, co. Dur­ham; b. Sept. 20, 1898; adm. Sept. 26, 1912 (A); left Easter 1914; R. M.C. Sandhurst 1916; 2nd Lieut. attached 5th Batt. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry Sept. 12, 1917; went out to the western front Nov. 2, 1917; killed in action near St. Quentin, France, March 21, 1918. ·

Willmott, Bernard Bruce, son of Harry Russell Willmott, gen. man. I. of Wight Rly; b. 27 Aug. 1918; adm. Sept. 1929 (R); left Dec. 1932; FO RAF Dec. 1938, Flt Lieut. Sept. 1940, temp. Sqdn Ldr Sept. 1941; transf. RAFVR June 1942, temp. Wing Cdr July 1944; killed in action 26 Aug. 1944.

Bernard Bruce Willmott was born at Newport, Isle of Wight on the 27th August 1915 the son of Harry Russell Willmott, an engineer and manager of a railway company, and Ethel Lucy (nee Hewlett) Willmott of St Nicholas, Newport. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1929 to December 1932.
He was granted a short service commission as an Acting Pilot Officer on probation in the Royal Air Force on the 29th of June 1936. He was confirmed in his rank on the 4th of May 1937, which became effective on the 2nd of June 1937 and was promoted to Flying Officer on the 8th of December 1938. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 3rd of September 1940 and to Squadron Leader on the 1st of September 1941. He was posted to 36 Squadron based at Singapore.
At 9.30am on the 26th of January 1942, a Hudson reconnaissance aircraft spotted two Japanese cruisers, eleven destroyers and two 10,000 ton vessels surrounded by barges some 10 miles off Endau and heading towards the coast. The Royal Air Force was despatched to try to stem their advance and at 1pm 6 aircraft from 100 Squadron and 3 from 36 Squadron, escorted by 8 Hurricanes and 15 Buffalo fighters, attacked the Japanese transports and landing craft off the small port in cloudy conditions. In spite of the attentions of Japanese Zero fighters they pressed home their attack, losing five of their number.
At 3pm plans were made for the attack to be repeated by 9 Vildebeest and 3 Albacore aircraft from three different squadrons including 36 Squadron with each aircraft being loaded with six 250lb bombs; the bombers having been ordered to carry bombs as it was felt that the water was too shallow to use torpedoes. They were escorted by 4 Buffaloes and 8 Hurricanes and by this time the weather had cleared.
Bruce Willmott and his crew took off from RAF Seletar in Vildebeest Mk III K4188 for the operation. During the attack the aircraft was seen to be flying at low level while attacking enemy vessels at the mouth of the River Mersin. It was shot down by an enemy fighter and was seen to be going down in flames before being lost to sight.
The fighters’ fire had killed the observer and the air gunner and had wounded Bruce Willmott in the right foot. The aircraft became out of control and he was forced to bale out and land in the sea where he was picked up by the destroyer HMS Thanet.
In a statement written on his release from prisoner of war camp in 1945, Warrant Officer Ivor Raymond Jones reported that: - “In the Endau operation on 26 January 1942, my aircraft was flying next to that of Sergeant Hay. As we peeled off, I saw Hay’s aircraft hit in the petrol tank. It was diving to the deck with a fine spray coming out of the petrol tank. I lost sight of the aircraft after that.”
The crew was: -
Flight Sergeant George Ewen (RCAF) (Observer)
Sergeant Phillip Carlisle Hay RAAF (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Squadron Leader Bernard Bruce Willmott (Pilot) (Evaded)
His mother received the following telegram dated the 2nd of February 1942: - “Regret to inform you that your son Temporary Squadron Leader Bernard Bruce Willmott is reported missing as the result of air operations on 26th January 1942. All possible enquiries will be made and any information received will be communicated to you immediately. Should news of him reach you from any source please advise this department.”
6 Vildebeests and 2 Albacores had been shot down during the engagement with others being damaged and some of their crews wounded. The attacking force claimed to have sunk one enemy cruiser and two destroyers as well as hitting the transport ships of which one was set on fire. Casualties were caused among the Japanese troops both in their barges and on the beach. The enemy fighter escort had also suffered, losing twelve “Zeros” and with four more being damaged for the loss of two Hurricanes and one of the Buffaloes.
He was admitted to Alexandria Hospital at Singapore and was evacuated from the island on board the SS Empire Star during the first week of February. He was landed at Batavia from where he returned to England on board a hospital ship.
Small pieces of the wreckage and a Browning machine gun from his Vildebeest were found by an army search party in June 1946, about two miles into the jungle from the eight mile point of the Endau to Mersing Road. The bodies of his two crewmen were not found.
He transferred to the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on the 2nd of June 1942.
He was married in Wales in 1943 to Marjorie (nee Penny) of “Homefield”, Brighstone on the Isle of Wight.
He was promoted to Wing Commander on the 1st of July 1944.
On the 26th of August 1944, 143 Squadron made eight attacks on enemy E-Boats and other shipping at Boulogne and in the Le Touquet area causing significant damage. The operation was codenamed “Operation Swingate”.
Bruce Willmott and his Observer, Pilot Flying Officer William Snowden, took off at 11.15pm that night in Beaufighter TFX NE772 as one of eleven aircraft from the Squadron for the operation. They were seen to make an attack on enemy shipping but failed to return and their fate is unknown.
His was one of two aircraft that were lost during the operation.
The Vice Admiral commanding Dover wrote to the Squadron the next day: - “A considerable number of E Boats were out during the night, but thanks to the efficient air effort none got through to our convoys. None even made contact with the protecting forces. The E Boats were so well plastered they abandoned the job!”
He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 200.

WILLIAMS, JOHN HERBERT, son of Robert Griffith Williams QC, Denbigh, Denbighshire, barrister, and Jane, dau. of Thomas Evans, Denbigh [but adm. MT as eldest son of John Herbert Williams, barrister, deceased]; b. 6 Aug 1857; adm. 23 Sep 1869 (G); QS 1872; elected head to Trinity Coll. Cambridge 1876 (with Triplett), adm. pens. 10 Oct 1876; LLB 1880; LLM 1911; adm. Middle Temple 8 Nov 1878, called to bar 29 Jun 1881; 1st Equity scholarship Jun 1880, student Oct 1880; North Wales circuit; Capt., on staff Judge Advocate Gen., 19 Oct 1917; went out to France 29 Oct 1917, but soon afterwards invalided home; joint author, The Law of Ejectment, 1911, and other works; m. 8 Sep 1885 Jessie Wilhelmina, younger dau. of William Hunter, Dhunellan, Innellan, Argyllshire; d. 18 Nov 1917.

Wilkinson, Gordon Frederick Noble, brother of Robert Pelham Wilkinson (q.v.); b. Sept. 20, 1892; adm. May 4, 1906 (H); lejt July 1909; enlisted in 10th Batt. Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt.) Aug. 1914; 2nd Lieut. K.O.Y.L.I. June 13, 1916; killed in action at Fricourt July 2, 1916; unm.

Wilkins, Geoffrey, brother of Trevor Hamilton Wilkins (q.v.); b. Nov. 21, 1884; adm. Jan. 20, 1898 (H); left Dec. 1900; enlisted in the Artists' Rifles Sept. 2, 1914; 2nd Lieut. 2nd Batt. Northumberland Fusiliers May 22, 1915; m. Oct. 10, 1914, Letitia Gertrude, daughter of Daniel Hill, of Twickenham; d. Oct. 5, 1915, of wounds received in action Oct. 3, at Loos, in France.

Wilde, David Scott, son of Sidney Algernon Wilde, chartered survevor, and lris Scott, d. of Wal­ter Scott-Thomson; b. 17 June 1923; adm. Sept. 1935 (G); left Dec. 1939; Ordinary Seaman RNVR; killed in action in HMS Coventry 14 Sept. 1942.

David Scott Wilde was born at Radlett, Hertfordshire on the 17th of June 1923 the son of Sidney Algernon Wilde, a chartered surveyor, and Iris Scott (nee Thomas) Wilde of 78, Carlisle Mansions, Westminster in London and of “Crowtrees”, 49, Watford Road, Radlett in Hertfordshire. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from September 1935 to December 1939.
He enlisted in the Royal Navy and was posted to the light cruiser HMS Coventry (D43).
On the 14th of September 1942, HMS Coventry, under the command of Captain Ronald John Robert Dendy RN, was taking part in Operation Agreement, a commando attack on the harbour at Tobruk. At 11.40am she was sailing to the north of Marsa Matruh as part of “Force D” with her escorts, the destroyers HMS Belvoir, HMS Dulverton, HMS Hursley and HMS Croome, when the group was attacked by enemy aircraft. The enemy formation consisted of 16 Junker 88 aircraft each of which was armed with one 500lb bomb and three 250lb bombs. In the ensuing attack HMS Coventry was the focus of the enemy’s attack with four direct hits being scored on her. Three of the bombs fell in the ship’s engineering area while one wrecked the bow. She was set on fire and came to a dead stop in the water. The survivors were taken off and she was scuttled by the destroyer HMS Zulu at 3.15pm. Sixty three of her crew had been killed during the attacks with David Wilde being among the dead. HMS Zulu was also later in the day and the survivors were transferred to HMS Croome. HMS Zulu was taken under tow by HMS Hursley but sank at 7pm.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Radlett.
His brother, Pilot Officer Sidney John Scott Wilde, 115 Squadron, Royal Air Force, was killed in action on the 3rd of August 1940.
He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial Panel 66, Column 2.

Whitehead, Eric Alfred, younger son of Alfred North Whitehead, F.R.S., of Chelsea, by Evelyn, daughter of Capt. A. Wade, Seaforth Highlanders; b. Nov. 23, 1898; adm. April 30, 1914 (R); left April 1917; Ball. Coll. Oxon.; temp. 2nd Lieut. R.F.C. Nov. 4, 1917; went out to the western front Feb. 1918; killed in action over the Forêt de Cobain March 13, 1918.