Showing 393 results

People & Organisations
GB-2014-WSA-17721 · Person · 1876-1918

Waterfield, Horace Clare, son of Sir Henry Waterfield (q.v.), by his first wife; b. April 1, 1876; adm. Sept. 26, 1889 (R); left April 1894; Brown Scholar, Royal Agricultural Coll. Cirencester 1894; Gold Medallist 1896; a land agent in England, and Canada where he had an apple ranch at Nakusp, British Columbia; Lieut. British Columbia Regt. Canadian In­fantry Oct. 25, 1916; went out to the western front May 1917; m. June 25, 1906, Margaret Elspeth, daughter of Col. Edward William Creswell, R.E.; d. at Etaples May 5, 1918, of wounds received in action April 26, 1918.

Whinney, Edward, 1870-1916
GB-2014-WSA-18002 · Person · 1870-1916

Whinney, Edward, sixth son of Frederick Whinney, of London, by Emma Morley; b. Aug. 31, 1870; adm. Sept. 25, 1884 (H); left July 1887; a member of the London Stock Exchange; Capt. 2/7th Batt. (T.F.) Middlesex Regt. Oct. 23, 1914; Major Nov. 27, 1914; transferred to 12th (Serv.) Batt. Middlesex Regt.; served at Gibraltar and in Egypt; went out to the western front June 1916; m. Oct. 7, 1897, Maude Clementine Louise, elder daughter of John Cow, of Hampstead, killed in action at Thiepval Sept. 26, 1916.

GB-2014-WSA-18007 · Person · 1920-1944

Whiskard, Richard Geoffrey, son of Sir Geoffrey Granville Whiskard KCB KCMG, UK High Commissioner to the Commonweath of Australia, and his first wife Cynthia Salome Caroline, d. of Edmund Whitelock Reeves; b. 31 Mar. 1920; adm. Sept. 1933 (H), KS May 1935; left July 1938; Univ. Coll. Oxf., matric. 1938; Welsh Guards 1940-4 (Lieut.); killed in action (Normandy) 2 Aug. 1944.

Richard Geoffrey Whiskard was born at Kensington, London on the 21st of March 1920 the elder son of Sir Geoffrey Granville Whiskard KCB, KCMG, MA, High Commissioner to the Commonwealth of Australia, and Lady Cynthia Salome Caroline (nee Reeves) Whiskard of 156, Sloane Street in London and of 13, Mill Street, Mildenhall in Suffolk. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from September 1933 to July 1938 and was a King’s Scholar from May 1935. From the beginning of his time at Westminster he took an intense interest in the School and in the Abbey and was already a considerable authority on their history and antiquities. He matriculated for University College, Oxford in 1938 but left before graduating for military service.
He attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Welsh Guards on the 2nd of November 1940. He was posted to the 2nd (Armoured Reconnaissance) Battalion of his Regiment on the 8th of September 1943.
The 2nd (Armoured Reconnaissance) Battalion, Welsh Guards landed in Normandy in late June 1944 and fought in a number of engagements during the following few weeks.
On the evening of the 1st of August 1944, the 2nd (Armoured Reconnaissance) Battalion, Welsh Guards moved to a position just to the north of the village of St Martin des Besaces. At first light the following morning Nos. 1 and 3 Squadrons moved through the village to La Tourneur and then to Catheolles where the two Squadrons split with No. 3 Squadron by-passing Courteil and Montchamp before reaching the village of La Marvindiere. No. 1 Squadron, which had been unable to leave the roads, lost two tanks early in the advance. In the evening all three of the reconnaissance Squadrons moved into the area of La Marvindiere where they were under heavy shelling, mortar and sniper fire throughout the night. They held these positions until the 5th of August when they were withdrawn at 5am. They had suffered casualties during this period of three officer and even other ranks killed with twenty other ranks wounded. Richard Whiskard was among the dead.
His commanding officer described his death as: - “One of our major losses.”
His father wrote the following after the death of his son: -
“My son was killed, early in August in Normandy. A fellow officer sent me a sketch map of the spot where he was buried. I sent this to a niece of mine, who is a nursing sister with the British Army, and two months after his death, she was able to visit the place. She found that at the foot of the grave where he and the driver of his tank, who was killed by the same shell, were buried, a flowering shrub had been planted and was in full blossom. At the head of the grave, under each of the two crosses, was a vase of fresh flowers. This had been done by the French family who lived nearby. When they saw my niece, they came to the grave and brought her back with them to the farm house and gave her tea. They told her that they would always, as long as they themselves were there, tend the grave. I feel that this may, perhaps give comfort to some of your readers. Other French people, no doubt, have done, and will do, the same.”
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Mildenhall and on the memorial at University College, Oxford.
He is buried at St Charles de Percy War Cemetery Plot I, Row G, Grave 14.

GB-2014-WSA-18053 · Person · 1898-1918

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.

GB-2014-WSA-18128 · Person · 1894-1915

Wilcox, Kenneth Theodore Dunbar, only son of the Rev. Alfred George Wilcox, Vicar of St. George's, Battersea, Surrey, temp. Chaplain to the Forces; b. Dec. 24, 1894; adm. May 4, 1905 (H); K.S. 1909; elected to an exhibition at Ch. Ch. Oxon. July 1913, matric. Michael­ mas 1913; enlisted in P.S. Batt. Middlesex Regt. Sept. 13, 1914; 2nd Lieut. 8th (Serv.) Batt. Queen's Royal West Surrey Regt. Oct. 17, 1914; went out to the western front Oct. 8, 1915; killed in action at Château Lahnkof, near Ypres, Nov. 8, 1915.

GB-2014-WSA-18129 · Person · 1923-1942

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.

Wilkins, Geoffrey, 1884-1915
GB-2014-WSA-18140 · Person · 1884-1915

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.

GB-2014-WSA-18150 · Person · 1892-1916

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.

GB-2014-WSA-18232 · Person · 1857-1917

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.

GB-2014-WSA-18324 · Person · 1918-1944

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.