Charlie & Alan
IN MEMORIAM - World War 2
Webber, Robert Charles Robert Charles Webber was born at Litton Cheney in 1902, the son of William George and Mary Ann Webber and husband of Mary Kathleen Webber of Dorchester, Dorset. During the war he was an Able Seaman on the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious, Service No. D/J 91065. He died on the 9 th of June 1940 when HMS Glorious was sunk by the German battle cruiser Scharnhorst near the Lofoten Islands. His body was never recovered for burial. He is commemorated on Plymouth Naval War Memorial, Panel 38, Column 3. Details of family history here
In Honoured Memory of the Men of this Parish who died during the Second World War
The following sixnames are recorded on the Litton Cheney War Memorial situated to the west of St Mary’s Church porch:
Harper, Kenneth James Born circa 1912 Son of Lt. Colonel Forrest and Mrs C R Harper of Litton Cheney. Lived at Harpers Farm, Chilcombe. The 2nd bell in the church tower contains the inscription "To the Glory of God and in memory of Lt Kenneth James Harper RN. HMS Thistle lost with all hands off Norway April 1940" Lieutenant, RN. Service No. ? Died 14 th April 1940 when HMS Thistle was torpedoed and sunk with all hands by a German U- boat off Skudenes, Norway. Details of family history here
Newman, Peter Rawdon Peter Rawdon Newman was born in 1920 the son of Charles Herbert Alfred and Frances Clare Newman of The Court House, Litton Cheney. During the war he was an Air Observation Pilot with 654 A.O.P. Squadron, Royal Artillery, Service No. 95160. He died on the 16 th of September 1943 at Salerno, Italy. He is buried in Salerno War Cemetery, Memorial Reference: I. D. 11. It. 5. Details of Family History here
Proby, Carson Carysport Carson Carysfort Proby was born in 1914 in Saskatchewan, Canada, the son of Frank Henry and Luva Lenore Proby of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. During the war he was a Flying Officer in 413 Squadron RCAF, Service No. 41321. He died on the 22 nd of October 1941 when his Catalina AH566 was shot down by a German Blum & Voss 138 Flying Boat, about 85 nautical miles NW of Molde, Norway, whilst on a special reconnaissance mission. His body was never recovered for burial. He is commemorated on the Royal Air Force Memorial at Runnymede. Details of family history here
Thorner, Leslie George Leslie George Thorner was born in 1922 in Bridport, the son of Elizabeth Thorner of Radipole, Weymouth, Dorset. During the war he was a Trooper in 148th Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, (9th Battalion, The Loyal Regiment [North Lancashire])., Service No. 5350592 He died on the 11 th of July 1944 aged 22. He is buried at Ranville War Cemetery, Ranville, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France, Plot II. C. 8. No other facts concerning his family or military career have been found.
Van Der Kiste, John Clement John Clement Van Der Kiste was born in March 1908 at Clare Abbey, Ireland, the son of Lt. Colonel Freegift William Van Der Kiste DSO, Royal Artillery, and Mrs Evelyn Grace Van Der Kiste. He married Barbara Ellen Newman of Marylebone, London, in 1939. During the war he was a Captain in the 2nd Battalion, North Staffordshire (Prince of Wales) Regiment, Service No. 38773. He died on the 27 th of May 1940, the date when the Dunkirk evacuation began. He is buried at Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery, Heuvelland, West Vlaanderen, Belgium. Details of family history here
Kenneth James Harper
Remembered with Honour Portsmouth Naval Memorial
In Memory of Lieutenant
H.M. Submarine Thistle, Royal Navy who died on 10 April 1940 Age 28 Son of Lt.-Col. A. Forrest Harper and Mrs. C. R. Harper, of Litton Cheney, Dorsetshire.
Peter Rawdon Newman
Remembered with Honour Salerno War Cemetery
In Memory of Captain
95160, Royal Artillery who died on 16 September 1943 Age 23 Son of Charles H. A. and Gertrude Clare Newman, of Litton Cheney, Dorsetshire.
Carson Carysfort Proby
Remembered with Honour Runnymede Memorial
In Memory of Flying Officer
41321, 413 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died on 22 October 1941 Age 27 Son of Frank Henry and Luva Lenore Proby, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Leslie George Thorner
Remembered with Honour Ranville War Cemetery
In Memory of Trooper
5350592, 148th (9th Bn. The Loyal Regt. [North Lancashire]) Regt., Royal Armoured Corps who died on 11 July 1944 Age 22 Son of Elizabeth Thorner, of Radipole, Dorsetshire.
John Clement Van Der Kiste
Remembered with Honour Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery
In Memory of Captain
38773, 2nd Bn., North Staffordshire Regiment who died between 28 May 1940 and 29 May 1940 Age 33 Son of Lt.-Col. F. W. Van der Kiste, D.S.O., Royal Artillery and Mrs. E. Van der Kiste; husband of Barbara Van der Kiste, of Marylebone, London.
Robert Charles Webber
Remembered with Honour Plymouth Naval Memorial
In Memory of Able Seaman
D/J 91065, H.M.S. Glorious, Royal Navy who died on 08 June 1940 Age 38 Son of William and Mary Webber; husband of Mary Kathleen Webber, of Dorchester, Dorsetshire.
The following casualty is not recorded on the Litton Cheney War Memorial but was associated with Litton Cheney:
Ronald James Bowring Ronald James Bowring was born in 1925 the son of Mr and Mrs R W Bowring of The Police Station, Litton Cheney. During the war he was a guardsman with the 1st Btn. Welsh Guards, Service No. 2738672. He died on the 14 th of August 1944 at ?. He is buried in St. Charles de Percy War Cemetery, Calvados, France Details of Family History here
Newspaper Article 8.9.1944 DEATH OF GUARDSMAN R. J BOWRING Another Dorset soldier who has given his life for his country. Guardsman Ronald James Bowring, the son of Police Constable R. W. Bowring, now stationed in Litton Cheney. The young Guardsman, who was 19, was serving in the Welsh Guards and. according to a letter sent home from his major, was killed while on patrol. He was formerly employed by Messrs Hine Bros, contractors, of Gillingham. Mr. and Mrs. R. W Bowring, of the police-station Litton Cheney and late of East Stour, wish to thank all those kind friends and relatives for their sympathy In the sad loss of their son Ronald, who was killed in action. Please accept this, the only intimation.
A detailed diary of events in Litton Cheney during the second world war can be read here
a village in the Bride Valley Litton Cheney Dorset
Photo by Claire Moore 3_7_2021
ABOUT LITTON CHENEY
OUR VILLAGE HISTORIC ARCHIVE