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
Photo by Claire Moore 3_7_2021
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