St Marys Church 3

LITTON CHENEY WAR MEMORIAL

The Litton Cheney War Memorial is situated to the west of St Marys Church porch and covers both World Wars. As can be seen from the above photo, the inscriptions are now difficult to read. Below are the names of those commemorated on the memorial together with a brief resume of their lives. Further information concerning their families, military records, deaths and burials can be read HERE together with information about others associated with Litton Cheney who died in the world wars but are not listed on the war memorial,

Harper, Kenneth James Born circa 1912, the son of Lt. Colonel Forrest and Mrs C R Harper of Litton Cheney. and 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. ? He died on the 14 th of April 1940 when HMS Thistle was torpedoed and sunk with all hands by a German U-boat off Skudenes, Norway.

Billett, Arthur Summers Born on the 20 th of July 1882 at Bruton, Somerset, the son of James and Ellen Billett (nee Tilbury). Baptised on the 17 th of November 1882 at Bruton. On the 28th of February 1911 he married Laura Minnie Billett of White Cross, Litton Cheney. She appears on the 1911 Litton Cheney census as Laura Minnie Pitcher, daughter of Louis Pitcher, baker, at White Cross, Litton Cheney. During the war he was a gunner with the Royal Marine Artillery, service No. RMA/9392 (R.M.R/B/1241) (Po). He died on the 19th of March 1918 aged 36 on SS Burnstone when she was torpedoed by the German submarine UB-62 (Bernhard Putzier). His body was not recovered for burial. He is commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial Panel 30.

In Honoured Memory of the Nine Men of this Parish who died during the First World War

Chainey, William John Born in Litton Cheney in 1886, the son of Eli and Elizabeth Chainey. Baptised on the 31 st of October 1886. During the war he was a private in the 2nd Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment, service No. 16907 He fought in Mesopotamia where he died on the 25 th of March 1917. He is buried in Al Basra War Cemetery, Iraq. Plot: Panels 22 and 63.

Collins, Albert Thomas Born in 1885 in Litton Cheney, the son of William and Susan Collins. Baptised on the 26 th of December 1885 at Puncknowle. A Litton Cheney Bellringer, he married Bessie Foot on 6 th June 1913. During the war he was a private with the ¼th Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment, service No. 201210. He fought in Mesopotamia where he died on the 1 st of June 1918. He is buried in Baghdad War Cemetery Ref. XII L5

Darby, William John Born in 1886 at Burton Bradstock, son of Richard & Anna Darby. During the war he was a Lance Corporal in the Royal Marine Artillery, service No. PLY/4689 He died on the 5 th of April 1917 on SS Calliope after she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-65 (Hermann von Fischel) He is buried in Trapani Town Cemetery, Italy, plot I, row 4A.

Fry, Charles Edward Charles Fry, born on 26th December 1881 in Dorchester, Dorset, was the son of Thomas and Anna Fry of “Baglake”, Litton Cheney, Dorset. He was married to Hilda Sophie, née Watson, on 4 September 1916. He attended Dover College 1895-1901, where he was head prefect in his final year. Whilst at Merton he was President of the Boat Club in 1903/4. In 1906, he became an Assistant Classics Master at Manchester Grammar School, and set up the school’s rowing club. On the outbreak of war he applied to become an officer with the Public Schools’ Battalion, returning to Manchester to work with the school’s Officer Training Corps. Gazetted to the Royal Field Artillery, he left for France in 1915. He was killed on 17th April 1917, aged 35, along with three other members of his gun team, by a direct hit during a bombardment near the village of Athies, on the outskirts of Arras. He is buried in Anzin-St Aubin British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France, and is also commemorated on the Cheadle Hulme Memorial (as T C Fry), and on the war memorial at St Mary’s Church, Litton Cheney, Dorset.

Fry, Walter Louis Born in 1897, son of George and Annie Charlotte Fry of The Paddocks, Litton Cheney. During the war he was a private with the 1st Battalion, West Ontario Regiment, Canadian Infantry, service No. 6682 He died on the 29 th of May 1915 aged 18. Buried in Choques Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France I. C. 82

Northover, Reginald George Born in April 1884 at Litton Cheney, son of George and Jane (nee Cheney) Northover. Baptised 15th of June 1884. A Litton Cheney Bellringer. Jane Northover died in 1884. George then married Amelia Trowbridge on the 29 th of January 1885. George died in January 1888 whereupon Amelia became head of the household. He enlisted on the 24 th of October 1904 for 12 years. Height 5 feet 4 inches. brown hair, grey eyes, fresh complexion. Postman prior to enlisting. Stoker 1st Class on HMS Queen Mary, service No. 307832 He died on the 31 st of May 1916 at the Battle of Jutland. Body not recovered for burial. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 19.

Walker, William Archibald Smail Not found in any census - probably because he lived in India. Born in Dum-Dum India on the 31st of October 1874, the son of Major General Alexander Walker (C.S.I.R.A.) and Anne Yewdale Lambert Smail. Educated at. Dulwich College and Sandhurst. He married Marion Balfour Crick, youngest daughter of Frederick William Crick, M.A. rector of Litton Cheney, Dorset, at Peshawar, India, on the 30 th of April 1913, Their daughter Anne Margaret was born on the 21 st of January 1914. After a distinguished military career, he was killed on the 12th of April 1915 at Mzima on the Tsava River and was buried in situ.

Weller, Thomas Robert Born in July 1880 at Litton Cheney, son of John Weller and Mary Anne Scadden. Baptised on the 5 th of September 1880. A Litton Cheney Bellringer. During the war he fought in Flanders, France and died on the 24 th of August 1916. He is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, Plot IX. Row F. Grave 16A.

In Honoured Memory of the Six Men of this Parish who died during the Second World War

ST MARY’S CHURCH

Webber, Robert Charles Son of William and Mary Webber. Husband of Mary Kathleen Webber of Dorchester, Dorset. Able Seaman on HMS Glorious. Service No. D/J 91065 Died 9 th June 1940 when HMS Glorious was sunk by the German battle cruiser Scharnhorst near the Lofoten Islands. Body never recovered for burial. Commemorated on Plymouth Naval War Memorial, Panel 38, Column 3.

Van Der Kiste, John Clement Born 1907 in Eire Son of Lt. Colonel F W Van Der Kiste DSO, Royal Artillery, and Mrs E Van Der Kiste. Husband of Barbara Van Der Kiste of Marylebone, London Captain, 2 nd Battalion, North Staffordshire (Prince of Wales) Regiment.. Service No. 38773 Died 28 th May 1940 in France just days before the Dunkirk evacuation. Buried at Oosttaverne Cemetery, West Viaanderen, Belgium.

Thorner, Leslie George Born circa 1922 Son of Elizabeth Thorner of Radipole, Dorset. Trooper, 148 th (9 th Battalion, The Loyal Regiment [North Lancashire]) Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps. Service No. 5350592 Died 11 th July 1944 aged 22. Buried at Ranville Cemetery, Normandy, France, II. C. 8.

Proby, Carson Carysport Born circa 1914 Son of Frank Henry and Luva Lenore Proby of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Flying Officer, 413 Squadron RAF. Service No. 41321 Died 22 October 1941 when Catalina AH566 was shot down by a German B&V 138 Flying Boat. Body never recovered for burial. Commemorated on the Royal Air Force Memorial at Runnymede.

Newman, Peter Rawdon Born circa 1920 Son of Charles H A and Mrs Gertrude Newman of The Court House, Litton Cheney Captain, Royal Artillery, Air OP Service No. 95160 Died 16 th September 1943 at Salerno, Italy Buried in Salerno War Cemetery It. 5