Loughborough Roll of Honour

Flying Officer 150263 John Francis Anthony Rayns

Pilot 148 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Died on 28th November 1944, Aged 21.

Buried Udine War Cemetery, Italy, I. B. 3.

Mr. and Mrs. A. Rayns, of Barkestone -le -Vale, Nottingham, and formerly of Quorn, have received official notification from the Air Ministry that the death in action of their son, F/O J. F. A. ("Jack") Rayns, must now be presumed. F/O Rayns was reported missing after air operations over North Eastern Italy on November 22^nd, 1944. He was educated at the Rawlins Grammar School, Quorn, and later at Loughborough Grammar School. He received his pilots training in the U.S.A. and was granted a commission immediately on gaining wings in February, 1943. On his return to this country he served for some months at various aerodromes and he then volunteered for special service overseas. He left for Italy in April 1944, when he joined the 148 Squadron. Much of his work entailed landing behind enemy lines, especially in Greece, and for some time he was stationed in Corsica.

Private 4858120 Leonard Redfern
1st Bn., Leicestershire Regiment Died on 14th December 1941, Aged 24. Commemorated Singapore Memorial Column 66.

Photo courtesy of Asia War Graves.com

Gunner 1828365 Cyril Redman
21 Lt. A.A. Regt., Royal Artillery Died on 4th January 1945, Aged 34. Buried Labuan War Cemetery, Malaysia, U. C. 13.

Photo courtesy of Asia War Graves.com

Flight Sergeant 1165112 Ernest John Watts Reed

12 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Died on 11th August 1944, Aged 24.

Buried Loughborough Cemetery,379/42.

Gunner 4859575 Clifford William Rees
Royal Artillery, 9 Coast Regt. Died on 9th December 1942, Aged 23. Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore, 13. B. 10.
Information was received from the War Office by Mr. and Mrs. W. Rees, 2, Holmfield Avenue, Loughborough, that their son, Gunner Clifford Rees, has lost his life whilst a prisoner of war in a Japanese prison camp. Gunner Rees joined the Army in 1939 and was taken prisoner at the fall of Singapore in 1942. For four years previous to joining the Forces he was employed at Messrs M. Wright and Sons.
Photo courtesy of Asia War Graves.com

Flight Sergeant 1232122 George Stephen Roadley
102 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Died on 24th August 1943, Aged 20. Buried Loughborough Cemetery, 379/17.
George Stephen was the son of Leon Leeson & Gertrude Amy Roadley of Loughborough. George commenced pilot training at No. 4 E.F.T.S. at Brough in October 1941 and, having attended similar establishments in the U.S.A., joined No. 24 O.T.U. back in the U.K. before being posted to No. 102 (Ceylon) Squadron, a Halifax unit based at Pocklington, Yorkshire, in May 1943. Completing his first mission on the night of 23rd-24th, a strike on Essen, he and his crew also attacked targets in Essen and Wuppertal in the same month, while in July, after a month free of operations, they flew against targets in Aachen, Cologne, Essen, Gelsenkirchen and Hamburg thrice, these latter as part of the famous 'firestorm' raids, in addition to a trip to Mont Bielliard, during which latter sortie Roadley was compelled to land at Harwell ('Pilot hatch blew open'). Indeed on his very next operation - against Nuremburg on the night of 10-11 August - he was forced to land at Ford, his Halifax's starboard outer engine having been hit and set on fire. Roadley's penultimate sortie was the famous strike against the enemy rocket research establishment at Peenemunde on the night of 17-18 August 1943, when he piloted Halifax JD-176, but, as stated above, he was killed in action while returning from a raid on Berlin a few nights later. Nothing further was heard from pilot and crew after they took-off from Pocklington at 2026 hours, or not at least until Roadley's body was recovered from the North Sea - the remainder of his crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
George's crew on the last flight. From left to right; Bill Jennings (Navigator), Norman Webb (Gunner), Bert Roberts, (Engineer), Eric Woodrow (Gunner), Johnny Chalkey (Wireless Operator), George Roadley (Pilot) and Ron Roberts (Bomb Aimer).
George's grave Loughborough Cemetery	George's medals.

Lance Corporal 4863944 Clifford William Roe
1st Bn., Leicestershire Regiment Died on 21st October 1944, Aged 31. Buried Geel War Cemetery, Belgium, III.D.7. (His brother Jack Roe also fell see below)
Lance Corporal Clifford Roe, of the Oakley Estate, Shepshed, was fatally injured in Holland. He left a widow and one daughter. A brother was reported missing and another was serving in Belgium.

Corporal 5889720 Jack Roe
5th Bn., Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) Died on 10th September 1943, Aged 23. Commemorated Cassino Memorial, Panel 8. (His brother Clifford William Roe also fell see above)
Following the news in September 1943, that her youngest son Corporal Jack Roe was missing and wounded whilst serving in Italy. Mrs. E. Roe, 132, King Street, Loughborough, received official intimation from the War Office that due to lack of further information Corporal Roe must now be presumed dead. Corporal Roe, who was 23 years of age when reported missing, joined the Army in June, 1940, previous to which he was employed at the Nottingham Manufacturing Co, Trinity Street. Jack was serving with the Sherwood Foresters. He is the second son of Mrs. Roe to be killed in this war, for his eldest brother, L/Cpl, Clifford W. Roe, whose wife and daughter live on the Oakley Estate at Shepshed, was killed in action during the fighting in Holland in November of last year. Thus Mrs. Roe is bereft of both her youngest and eldest sons. Another of her sons, Private A.V, Roe, is serving somewhere on the Continent.

Flying Officer 136361 Phillip Neville Rolfe
57 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died on 23rd September 1943, Aged 21. Commemorated Nottingham Crematorium Panel 4.
News has been received of the death of F/O. Philip Neville Rolfe R.A.F.V.R, second son of Mr. and Mrs. F L Rolfe, Westminster Bank, Long Eaton. He was 21, and was educated at Loughborough Grammar School, where he was house captain. He had a good sports career, creating new school records in the mile, half mile, and quarter mile events, all in the same year. He studied at Nottingham University College, and after passing his Inter. BSc. examination, joined the University Training Force. He took part in several raids over Germany.

Lieutenant 229083 Thomas Anselo Ronchetti
24 Field Regt., Royal Artillery Died on 17th January 1943. Buried Loughborough Cemetery, 199/45
The funeral took place at Loughborough on Wednesday morning with military honors of the late Lieutenant Thomas Michael Angelo Ronchetti (26), R, A. who died rather suddenly at his home, 24, York Road, on Sunday night. He came home on leave on Friday and was due to return to his regiment on Monday. The deceased was one of the masters at St, Mary's Boys Elementary School, where he was loved by his pupils, who particularly enjoyed his instruction in all kinds of athletics. Two years ago he volunteered for the army and first served as a private. He joined the Cadet Training Corps and eventually obtained his commission. He came from Redcar, where his parents reside, three or four years ago. Seven months ago he married Miss Emmy Mary Kirby, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Kirby, Hudson Street. The coffin, which was draped with the Union Jack, rested in St Mary's Church during the night. Requiem Mass was said by the Rev, Father J, Barry. Mr., J, Kidger was at the organ and played the Dead March in "Saul". St Mary's Boy Scouts, under Scoutmaster R. Bennett, served on the Alter and assisted the priest, and the boys from the school attended Mass and sang hymns. In a short address Father Barry observed that the deceased, who gave great promise in his scholastic calling, had been cut down in his prime. The schoolboys were attending that day as a mark of honour and respect to his memory. The family mourners were: Mrs. T. M. A Ronchetti (widow), Mr. and Mrs. T, Ronchetti, Redcar (parents), Messrs. Paul and Lewis Ronchetti (brothers), Miss Winnie Ronchetti (sister), Mr., and Mrs. Bernard Kirby (father in law and mother in law), Mr. and Mrs. Stan Basford, Mr., and Mrs. Norris Kirby, Messrs Leo and Lawrence Kirby, the Misses Mary, Winnie, and Agnes Kirby, and Mr. Bernard Pratt, headmaster of the school. A large contingent of soldiers joined the cortege and two buglers sounded "The Last Post" and "Reveille over the grave. There were numerous floral tributes, including one from the children and staff at St Mary's School and another from Mr. and Mrs. Howard Coltman, Burleigh Hall, where the widow is employed as a land girl.

Private101436 Thomas Rushton

Aux. Mil., Pioneer Corps

Died on 17th June 1940, Aged 32.

Buried La Bernerie-En-Retz Communal Cemetery, France, A. 15.

A Loughborough soldier, T, Rushton, who lived at Rutland-street, and was posted as missing in July, has now been officially presumed dead. He was 32 years of age and formerly employed at the Empress Works. His wife is left with five children, the eldest being 12 years. Rushton volunteered for the Pioneer Corps soon after the outbreak of war, together with Herbert Gibbons, who was well known in Loughborough boxing circles. The last communication Rushton's wife received from him was a field card from France in May. Nothing has been heard of Gibbons since he was posted as missing in the same month.

Private 14510227 George William Russell
Royal Army Medical Corps Died on 20th September 1944, Aged 20. Buried Arnhem Oosterbeek Cemetery, Holland, 22. A. 13.
Private G. W. Russell, R.A.M.C. youngest son of Mr., and Mrs. J. Russell, 9, Shakespeare street, Loughborough, has been presumed to have died from wounds received whilst on active service, on or shortly after September 20^th, 1944, at Arnhem. A report from a member of his unit says that he was seen for the last time lying wounded. He was 21 years of age last August and was 18 when he joined the Forces. He at one time worked for Messrs Barkers, the builders, and later for Messrs Wimpey and Co. As a boy he went to Limehurst School.

Private 10546920 George Ryder

Royal Army Ordnance Corps

Died on10th May 1941, Aged 33.

Buried Loughborough Cemetery, 173/2