The WW2 Roll of Honour:
Surnames W - X

Private 4859809 Donald Eli Wain

 

1st Bn., Leicestershire Regiment

Died on 10th May 1945, Aged 27.

Buried Hilversum Northern Cemetery, Holland, Plot 1E. Row 6. Grave 9.

 

Mrs. E, Wain, of Long Whatton, whose husband driver Don Wain, was killed in action in North West Europe two days following V.E.-Day, has received a letter of sympathy from the Sergeant of the company to which driver Wain was attached.

The Sergeant writes, Don was a grand fellow and will be greatly missed by all of us.  He was an excellent driver.  In fact it was a true saying, If you want to get anywhere in a hurry take Wain.  He was very popular with everybody and was always willing to take any job.

 

Able Seaman P/JX 286470  Frank Edwin Waldron

 

H.M.S. Coventry, Royal Navy

Died on 14th September 1942, Aged 31.

Commemorated Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 65, Column 1.

 

Electrical Artificer 1st Class  Eric Shearstone Walker

 

C/MX 46718, H.M.S. Duchess, Royal Navy

Died on 12th December 1939, Aged 37.

Commemorated Chatham Naval Memorial, 33, 3.

 

 

Chatham Naval Memorial

 
 

Private 4859947  Cyril Herbert Walton

1st Bn., Leicestershire Regiment

Died on 4th September 1943, Aged 25.

Buried Chungkai War Cemetery, Thailand, 5. E. 8.


Photo courtesy of Asia War Graves.com

A. Watts

 

Flying Officer 157188  Ronald Weldon

190 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Died on 15th April 1945.

Commemorated Runnymede Memorial

Gunner 868664  A. L. Westacott

 

Royal Artillery.

Died on 3rd January 1941.

Buried Loughborough Cemetery.

 

Sub-Lieutenant (A) Thomas Weston

King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)

H.M.S. Indomitable., Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

Commemorated Lee-On-Solent Memorial, Bay 4, Panel 2.

Flight Sergeant 745900 Ronald Wheatley

7 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Died on 18th December 1941, Aged 22.

Commemorated Runnymede Memorial                                                                                                                     

Flight Sergeant Ronald Wheatley, W/O Air Gunner, R, A, F, V, R, aged 22 years, was reported missing from operations in December 1941, and has now been officially presumed killed in action.  He at one time lived in Loughborough, with parents at 8, Alfred Street, and was educated at the Loughborough Grammar School.  He is the younger son of Mrs., F, H, Wheatley and the late Mr., F, H, Wheatley, of Heston, Middlesex.

 

Sapper1888346 Robert Edward George Whitby

4 Field Sqn., Royal Engineers

Died on 21st December 1941, Aged 25.

Buried Benghazi War Cemetery, Libya, 2. E. 16.




Sapper Robert Whitby's medals, which are on display in the Loughborough Carillon Tower and War Memorial Museum.


Stoker 1st Class Robert John Frederick Whitehead

 

P/KX 92912 H.M.S. Daring, Royal Navy

Died on 18th February 1940, Aged 20.

Commemorated Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 42, Column 3.

 

Sergeant 1202832  Charles Robert Whitworth

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Died on 25th May 1942, Aged 28.

Buried Shepshed Cemetery, Plot 93. Grave 5.                                                                                                

The funeral took place at Shepshed Cemetery on Saturday, of the late Sergeant Pilot C, Whitworth. The first part of the service took place in the Parish Church, where there was a large congregation. The clergy were Reverend W, J, Martyr, Vicar of Coalville. Mrs. Insley (representing the widow). Mr. C, Whitworth (brother), Mrs. Thomas (mother), Mrs. Northage (sister), Mr. J, Whitworth, Mrs. G, Whitworth, Mr. Thomas, Ron, Mrs. H, Whiworth, Mr. Northage, Mrs. Smalley, Mrs., C, Whitworth, Mrs. Needham and Mrs. Brooks. The bearers were members of Toc H- Messrs. E. Smith, K, Lakin, T, Booth, T, Swann, E, Newman and -Shepherd. The Rev. W. Martyr read the lesson and the hymns "Let Saints on earth" and "Jesus Lives" were sung. Mr., W, G, Thurman was the organist. The vicar said he knew Paddy Whitworth mainly his membership of Toc H. Their ideal was unselfish and these words described the ideal he set. In this town he had largely helped in gathering together a group, and he made those entertaining feel it was an ideal worth striving after. Now he had given himself even more fully in the service of his country and they mourned him. He had fulfilled his life, had done power of unselfish service. "Let us remember him with thankfulness, as one who has gone to a fuller life," concluded the vicar. In addition to the family wreaths were others from Officer Commanding and Officers and N.C.O's. D. Flight; Warrant Officers and Airmen, R.A.F. Station; Shepshed Toc H; Coalville Toc H; Loughborough branch Toc H; Friends on Field Street; Home Guard, 14thPlatoon etc.

 

Stoker 1st Class P/KX 93942 Fred Williams

 

H.M.S. Cape Howe, Royal Navy

Died on 21st June 1940, Aged 20

Commemorated Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 42, Column 3.

 

D. Wilson

 

Aircraftman 1st Class 628821 Douglas Wilson

Royal Air Force

Died on 14th February 1940, Aged 19.

Buried Loughborough Cemetery, 381/49.

MILITARY FUNERAL AT LOUGHBOROUGH.

A YOUNG AIRCRAFTSMAN.

FATALLY INJURED.

Walking along a Scottish Road returning to his camp, Douglas Wilson, a young Loughborough first class aircraftman, was knocked down by a motor cycle and sustained injuries from which he died three days later. News of his death was received by his parents, Mr., and Mrs., J, A, Wilson, of 66, King Edward Road, Loughborough, on Thursday last week. Although only eighteen and a half years of age, Aircraftsman Wilson had a wide circle of friends, to whom the news of his death will be received with the deepest regret.

A Loughborough Echo reporter learned from Mrs., Wilson, the mother of the deceased, that the accident occurred at about 10-30 p.m., when, she presumed Douglas was returning to his base. The younger of two sons, Douglas was, his mother stated, making excellent progress, and was in the best of spirits prior to the accident. At the time of the September 1938, crisis he joined an anti-aircraft battery and joined the Royal Air Force 18 months ago. As a result of the accident he sustained severe head injuries, including a fracture of the skull. He was removed to hospital, where he passed away three days later. Wilson was a pupil of Limehurst School and after leaving there was for a time employed in the cabinet making department of Messrs, Clemersons, Ltd, Loughborough. He also attended evening classes at Loughborough College until he joined the Air Force. In a coffin draped with a Union Jack the body was conveyed to Loughborough, where a funeral with full military honors was held at Holy Trinity Church on Monday. There were numerous floral tributes, including a wreath from the officers and other ranks of his detachment. Soldiers acted as bearers of the coffin of polished English Elm, and the interment took place in Loughborough cemetery.

Sergeant 1169978 Fred Wilson

172 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

Died on 11th December 1943, Aged 22.

Commemorated Runnymede Memorial, panel 170.
Fred Wilson was born in Loughborough in 1921, the only child of Thomas E. Wilson and Hilda Wilson (née Bennett). Fred's parents were married in Loughborough in 1921. In 1939 Fred's parents lived at 100 Burder Street, Loughborough, and his mother was a hosiery mender.

Private 4861271 George Frederick Witherbed

2/5th Bn., Leicestershire Regiment

Died on 17th April 1943, Aged 26.

Buried Bone War Cemetery, Annaba, Algeria, IV. E. 16.


Mrs. D. Witherbed, of 46, Lower Cambridge Street, Loughborough, has received official intimation that her husband, Pte. G. F. W. Witherbed, has died of wounds. He was previously reported "dangerously wounded and in hospital in North Africa". He was wounded on his 26th birthday. Prior to joining the Army he worked at Messrs Tuckers. He has not been married for long and his wife is left with a little boy aged 10 months. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Witherbed, of 12, Manor Drive, Loughborough, who have another son in the forces, Pte. A. Witherbed, who is serving in the Military Police in England. The latter son had served with the Leicestershire Regiment in Norway and escaped into Sweden, being later sent back to England.

Steward Hairdresser  Jack Wolffe

S.S. Ceramic (Southampton), Merchant Navy

Died on 7th December 1942, Aged 29

Commemorated Tower Hill Memorial, Panel 27.

The Minister of War Transport announced the following death of a member of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets due to enemy action and other causes arising out of the war J. Wolffe, hairdresser, of 6, Shelthorpe Avenue, Loughborough.

Air Mechanic 1st Class Stanley Wilfred Woods

FAA/FX. 84297, H.M.S. Avenger, Royal Navy

Died on 15th November 1942, Aged 21.

Commemorated Lee-On-Solent Memorial, Bay 3, Panel 6.

Serjeant 4863732  Reginald Josiah Wortley

 

1st, Special Air Service Regiment, A.A.C.

Died on 17th June 1944, Aged 24.

Commemorated Bayeux Memorial, Panel 18, Column 2.

 


Corporal 408891 James Wylie

8th King's Royal Irish Hussars,  Royal Armoured Corps

Died on 14th November 1942, Aged 29

Commemorated Alamein Memorial, Column 17.