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Private 4865917 Philip Arthur Kennison |
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2nd Bn., Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment). |
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Philip Kennison was born in Ashby-de-la-Zouch on 26th April 1915, to parents Ernest and Florence. The family later lived in Hugglescote. Before the war he worked at Shepshed Lace Co, which is probably where he met his wife Margery James, who was a lace winder. They married in 1938 and went to live at 97 Kings Avenue, Loughborough. He enlisted in late 1940. In the Sherwood Foresters, he served in North Africa and Italy. |
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Private 4860338 Reginald Ernest King |
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6th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders. |
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Reginald King’s parents were Ernest and Mary King (née Calladine). Reginald was born on 5th February 1915, and his father was killed in WW1 in March 1918. In 1921 little Reg was living in Loughborough with his grandmother at 38 Moor Lane, and a Thomas Calladine, descibed as ‘cripple’ – presumably an uncle. Reginald married Gwendoline Bailey in October 1936. They had a son, Melvyn, and in 1939 lived at 39 Griggs Road, Loughborough. He worked as a slater’s labourer; his boss being Thomas Palfreyman. The same year Reginald joined the army. He served overseas for two years and saw service in Madagascar, Africa, India, Persia, Iraq, Syria, Sicily and Italy. He was killed in action serving with the Central Mediterranean Forces. |
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Gunner 1090721 George Eric Kirk |
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4 Field Regt., Royal Artillery
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George Kirk’s parents were Joseph Francis Kirk and Alice (née Skelton) and he was born in 1920. He had older siblings Arthur, Constance and Jack. His father was a boot salesman and George’s mother died when he was only 4. In 1921 the family lived at 48 Harrison Road, Belgrave, Leicester. In 1941 he married Joan Diggle. Little can be discovered about his war service. He died in Egypt. |
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Flying Officer 52153 Earl Allan Knight |
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239 Sqdn, Royal Air Force Died on 26th February 1944, Aged 27. Buried Thorpe Acre Church Loughborough.
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Earl Allan Knight (aka ‘Tex’) was Canadian. He was born on 15th May 1918, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to Frank Knight (a farmer) and Lulu Margaret Knight (née Launsbury). He had a younger sister, Gwen. On 27th November 1937, 19-year-old Earl (occupation ‘clerk’) arrived on HMS Arcania from Montreal and Quebec, travelling third class. He gave his address in the UK as c/o Canada House in London. The purpose of his travel was to enlist in the RAF, which he joined in the ranks and served in Iceland and Norway. After that, he went into training in Canada as a pilot, was awarded his wings just over two years later, and his commission a year later. It was most likely love which brought him to the East Midlands, for in 1942 he married Margaret Bullock in Loughborough, who lived in the town. They had met in London, and she later served in the WAAF, attaining the rank of Assistant Section Officer. Their son Ian was born on 3rd July 1943, in Loughborough. Earl was the pilot of a De Havilland Mosquito which was reported missing from a bomber support mission to Augsburg from West Raynham on 25th February 1944. At 01.20 hrs, a very weak signal was picked up from the aircraft by RAF North Weald: “vectoring 300, still being fired at”. Nothing more was heard, so the aircraft was presumed missing, possibly in the Channel. Desmond Patrick Doyle, Observer, RAFVR, was also lost in this incident. The report of Earl Knight’s loss noted that he had two recent ‘claims’ (i.e. enemy aircraft shot down) to his credit. His body must have been recovered, for Earl Knight was given a military funeral at All Saints Church, Thorpe Acre. The bearers were six airmen and a flight sergeant from his unit, and Flying Officer W. R. Breithaupt represented the squadron.
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Squadron Leader 85674 Douglas Leatherland DFC |
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97 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. |
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Douglas Leatherland was born in Nottingham on 12th December 1916, to Joseph and Edith Leatherland. His younger brother died aged 2. The 1921 Census records him in Mablethorpe with his mother and maternal aunt – maybe on holiday? Douglas attended Royal Worcester Grammar School from 1931-1934, where he won the Worcester Empire Scholarship. This enabled him to enrol at Loughborough College where he gained a BSc in engineering, and later became an associate member of the Institute of Civil Engineers. In 1937 he was working in Worcestershire County Surveyors Department, then moved to Wakefield where he was appointed Second Bridge Assistant. In 1939 he was recorded as living at 61 Wolverhampton Road East with his mother Edith, a private maternity nurse. By now Douglas was a RAF Sergeant Pilot. In the last quarter of 1940 he married Margery Pilgrim in Loughborough and at the time of his death their address was 144 Forest Road. They had two children. Douglas had now gained his commission and was set on a successful RAF career, earning the AFC and twice being mentioned in dispatches. At the time he was killed, he had taken part in more than 50 operations. Piloting a Lancaster from RAF Coningsby, he was set the task of bombing the railway yards at La Chapelle just north of Paris, on the night of 20th/21st April 1944. The raid was judged a great success, although six Lancasters from the force of some 250 were lost. His aircraft came down at Piscop, 25km north of Paris , killing the entire crew, possibly as a result of flak. This was Douglas’s second tour of duty, and his 39th trip over enemy territory. He was with the Pathfinder Force, comprising the more experienced and able airmen, capable of accurately marking and bombing a target to guide in the other aircraft of the bomber stream. |
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Gunner 11423725 Dennis Morton Lee |
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332 Bty., 100 Lt. A.A. Regt., Royal Artillery
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Born in April 1923, in Loughborough, Dennis was the son of Leonard and Alice Lee. He had one brother and four sisters, one of whom died as a baby. As an adult Dennis worked at Hathernware Ltd, a brickmaking company. He joined the army in 1942 and served in the Royal Artillery. His death in Libya was due to a traffic accident. |
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D. Lester |
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Sergeant 1203314 Philip Frederick Lill |
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40 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Died on 5th January 1942, Aged 29. Buried Catania War Cemetery, Sicily, I. K. 21-22. |
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Born in Newark on 12th December 1912, Philip was the son of Charles and Nellie Lill. He had three brothers and a sister, all younger. Their father was a clerk at the Ministry of Labour. In February 1935 he married Doris Cooke at Leicester Register Office. Their daughter Anita was born four months later, and a second daughter Patricia followed in April 1938. By 1939 he was the manager of a furniture shop and the young family were living in Loughborough at 144 Park Road. By the time of his death they had moved to 14 Woodthorpe Road, on the Shelthorpe Estate. Serving in the RAF and piloting a Wellington, Frederick Lill was shot down by flak during a low level attack on Castel Vetrano airfield in Sicily.
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Pilot Officer 103848 John Horace Lindley |
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Died on 22nd September 1942, Aged 34.
Buried at St James the Greater, Oaks-in-Charnwood churchyard
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John Lindley was born on 4th February 1908 in Coalville, to parents Walter and Emma. Walter was company secretary at a colliery and a JP. There were five boys and two girls in the family, and they must have been reasonably well-off, as they employed a cook and a housemaid. In 1911 the family home was Hollydene, on Forest Road, Coalville. John's father Walter Lindley JP received the MBE in the 1918 Honours List for being the Chairman, Emergency Special Constables and group leader of Leicestershire Special Constables. The 1921 Census records John as being one of many pupils at Denstone College, a boarding school in Staffordshire. In 1939 John was a bank official and was living at 234 Forest Road with his wife Frances (née Tivey) who came from Shepshed. They had married in September 1935 at St James the Greater, Oaks-in-Charnwood. Their wedding was reported in the Leicester Evening Mail with a description of the bridal outfit; Frances was in parchment satin with a pearl coronet and veil. Their honeymoon was in Devon and Cornwall. In 1941 Frances gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, but tragically both died at birth. It is not known when John Lindley joined the RAF, but in September 1941 he was commissioned as Acting Pilot Officer. He was in Fighter Command and at the time of his death was based at RAF Tangmere, a key station in the Battle of Britain. 534 Squadron was formed there in September 1942 but disbanded only a few months later. The Turbinlite aircraft it flew were found to be ineffective. John Lindley was flying in a Turbinlite Boston when he was killed, along with two other airmen. It broke up in the air when one of its engines fell out during a dive (falling through the roof of a cinema, injuring ten people) and crashed near Haslemere, Surrey. The aircraft had been on a night flying test and it seems that the accident was due to mechanical failure. In 2017 there was a memorial event at Shottermill, where the crash happened. Some of this information courtesy of Tracy Perkins
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Gunner 1085601 George Lindsey |
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53 Field Regt., Royal Artillery
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Born on 26th October 1908, George was the son of John and Mary Lindsey of Loughborough. In July 1930 he married Elsie Hutchinson and they had two children, George (born 1931) and Margaret (born 1935). In 1939 the family were living at 43 Rosebery Street, Loughborough and George was a cemetery labourer. George enlisted in the Royal Artillery and at the time of his death was serving in 53 Field Regiment. At this point the Regiment was serving in the UK. It is not known how he died except that it followed injuries incurred on army service. |
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Guardsman 2701323 Jack Lingwood M.M. |
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Scots Guards
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Jack Lingwood was Scottish, born on 28th September 1923 in Renfrewshire, to Duncan and Mildred Lingwood. He had a twin sister, Violet, and older brothers Ernest and James. The family moved to Loughborough around 1937, living at 15 Shelthorpe Road. Jack worked at Brush in the coachworks department. Violet worked at Brush too. Serving with the Scots Guards, in 1944 Jack Lingwood was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the taking of Monte Piccolo in Italy. The recommendation for the medal read as follows: On Sunday 28th May [Jack Lingwood] was a stretcher bearer with S Coy, 2nd Btn Coldstream Guards, on the PICCOLO feature. Throughout the day he tended to the wounded regardless of heavy mortar and machine gun fire. For a good part of the day he was the only stretcher bearer on the posn. and he still managed to bring in the wounded and give them comfort. On one occasion he went out in front of the posn. to bring in a man whose leg had been broken by machine gun fire. All this had to be done in full view of the enemy, and under heavy fire. His courage and skill was a great encouragement and source of inspiration to all ranks. Sadly, this brave young man never got to be offcially presented with his medal at Buckingham Palace. Jack Lingwood died of injuries sustained in further fighting in Italy. |
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Major 112753 Jenkin Lloyd |
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Pioneer Corps Died on 1st September 1942. Aged 50. Buried Loughborough Cemetery, 346 - 41.
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Jenkin Lloyd, who died at 50, is one of the oldest men on the WW2 Roll of Honour. He was born in London on 28th January 1892, to parents Jenkin and Mary Ann. Jenkin senior was a joiner, and there were five other children in the family. The younger Jenkin Lloyd served in WW1. There are several Jenkin Lloyds who received medals, but the record that most closely fits is that which shows he was a Lieutenant in the Labour Corps, with a Chelsea address, 1 Lincoln Street. By 1921 Jenkin was married, to Constance Wiggins, and they eventually had four children, with a live-in nursemaid to help look after them. Jenkin was assistant secretary at the prestigious Carlton Club. In 1939 the Lloyds were still in London, living at 32 Jedbergh Street Battersea, and Jenkin had joined the Officers’ Emergency Reserve. He had a clerical job with an electricity company. The London Gazette of 26th April 1940 shows that Jenkin Lloyd (formerly of Labour Corps) was to be 2nd Lieutenant in the Auxilary Pioneer Corps. Most of those who served in the Pioneers were too old to serve in the front line or were not physically fit. At the time Jenkin Lloyd was 48 and therefore not liable for call-up. Many of the Pioneer Corps were engaged in manual work at home or overseas; constructing roads and bridges or clearing Blitzed areas. All we know about Jenkin Lloyd’s death is that it happened in Loughborough. |
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Seaman LT/JX 240876 Neville Cecil Loader |
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H.M. Trawler Lady Shirley., Royal Naval Patrol Service Died on 11th December 1941, Aged 26. Commemorated Lowestoft Naval Memorial, Panel 5, Column 3.
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Neville Loader was born on 15th September 1915 in Reading, to parents George and Olive. He had a younger sister, Joyce. By 1921 the family had moved to Loughborough, living at 48 Wharncliffe Road. George Loader was Inspector of Work at Cammell Laird, the carriage and wagon works. There were two lodgers in the household, engineering students at Loughborough College. In 1939 Neville was living at 32 Trinity Lane Hinkley and working as a hosiery hand. The head of the household was Ethel Bircumshaw, and her daughter Evelyn lived there too. In the first quarter of 1941 Neville married Evelyn. When war broke out, he registered as a conscientious objector and came up before a tribunal in June 1940. His claim was rejected and he was removed from the register, the judge telling him: “you are trying to ride off on Christianity. You are not a conscientious objector at all.” Whatever the sincerity of his claim, Neville Loader joined the Royal Navy in 1940 and found himself serving in HMT Lady Shirley. This peacetime trawler was now deployed as a submarine chaser. In October 1941 she had had some success at this, sinking U-111 off the Canary Islands. In December 1941 she was not so fortunate, being torpedoed by U-374 at 04.21 hours in the Straits of Gibraltar. All 33 hands were lost, including Neville Loader.
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Signalman 1761551 James Loftus |
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53rd Div. Sigs., Royal Corps of Signals
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James was born in Accrington on 23rd November 1908, to parents Michael and Mary Ann (née Sweeney). They had four other children, one of whom, Bridget, who died aged 1. In October 1939 James married Loughborough girl Amy Cullen. They had children, one of whom died as a baby. At the time of James’s death they were living in Manchester, where they had married. Serving in the Royal Corps of Signals, James Loftus was caught up and killed in the fighting that followed the Normandy Landings (D-Day).
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Private 2063133 Arthur Longson |
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Died on 15th February 1945, Aged 42. Buried Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Holland, 9. A. 2. |
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Arthur was born in Salford in 1903 to Arthur and Lily Longson. They would eventually have four other children. The 1921 Census reveals that Arthur, nearly 16, was living in a children’s home in Hoylayke-cum-West Kirby, Cheshire. This was a convalescent home which provided medical care as well as education. It was founded in the 1880s to treat ‘physically defective’ children with diseases such as TB, rickets, typhoid, bronchitis and all the other ailments caused by poverty and bad housing. At the time Arthur was there, there were around 80 other boys in their teens. In 1936 he married Mary Packer in Salford. Little can be discovered about Arthur Longson’s army service, except that he was wounded on 14th February 1945 in Western Europe and died the following day. His grave record says he was the husband of Mary Longson of Loughborough but it has not been possible to find any other Loughborough connection. |
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Trooper 7914038 Edward Ralph Lumley |
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9th Queen's Royal Lancers, Royal Armoured Corps
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Edward Lumley was born on 5th May 1920 to parents Edward (Ned) and Mary Ann. He had two sisters, Marie and June, and the family lived in Barrow upon Soar. Before joining the army in 1941 he worked at Herbert Morris as a clerk. He was killed in action in Egypt. At the time of his death the Lumley family lived at 17 Edlin Road, Loughborough.
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