KIRBY MUXLOE WAR MEMORIAL
Col. (later Sir Robert) Martin unveiled the Kirby Muxloe War Memorial in 1923.
Mr Joseph Morcom, a sculptor who had lived in Kirby since 1910, worked the
lettering. Mr Morcom was not to know at that time that his own son, then only
a very small child, would lose his life in action in World War II. It was perhaps
a blessing that Mr Morcom did not live to experience that loss and the sadness
of seeing his son’s name on the memorial at the end of hostilities in 1945.
My grandfather --John Russell --, whose eldest son was killed in action in 1918,
laid out the Garden of Remembrance.
First World War
D H Blunt
Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Hamilton Blunt DSO -- 1st Battalion Devonshire
Regiment. Died of wounds 3 October 1917 age 39. (Death announced in The Times 15
October 1917). His name is recorded on Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West Vlaanderen,
Belgium, also on a memorial showing 66 names of employees of Mapperley Colliery,
Derbyshire, who lost their lives in the Great War.
Duncan Hamilton Blunt was the fourth son of George Henry and Isabella (Band) Blunt of the
Woodlands, Kirby Muxloe. In 1891 and 1901 George Henry Blunt was a solicitor living at
New Walk, Leicester. Duncan Hamilton Blunt is missing from the 1901 census, when he
would have been about 22 years old. His medal card, held at the National Archives at Kew
shows that he was awarded the 1914 Star, which was awarded to men who served in France
and Flanders between 5 August and 22 November 1914. His record also shows that he
disembarked in France, as a Major in the 2nd Devonshire Regiment on 6 November 1914.
The 2nd Battalion had been in Cairo, Egypt, when war was declared and returned to England
in October – it follows then that the Regiment went to France the following month. At some
stage he moved to the 1st Battalion, probably on promotion. Duncan Hamilton Blunt was also
awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. These medals were all authorized
after the Armistice and, in Lt Col Blunt’s case, awarded posthumously on 26 September 1921.
The DSO (Distinguished Service Order) was a high award for meritorious or distinguished
service, rather than an act of gallantry, although in many cases during 1914-1918 it is not
easy to discriminate between these two reasons for granting an award; in fact in some cases
it appears that a DSO was awarded when perhaps a full recommendation for a VC could not
be justified or corroborated. The award has been in existence since 1886, for officers who
were not eligible for an award of the CB (Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the
Bath): however, after the establishment of the award of the Military Cross, it was unusual for a
DSO to be awarded to an officer with a rank below Major. All awards of the DSO were
announced in the London Gazette, usually with a citation, although awards made as part of
the King's Birthday or New Year's honours were made for reasons of meritorious service and
do not usually have a citation.
H Bury
7919 Private (Acting Corporal) Herbert H Bury 2 nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment DCM
plus Cross of St George 4th Class (Russia), born Aylestone, enlisted Market Harborough died
Mesopotamia 25/6 October 1918 aged 31 years. Buried Beirut War Cemetery. His residence
at the time of his death was Sheffield, although his father and stepmother still lived at Kirby.
Herbert H Bury, who was born in Aylestone and enlisted at Market Harborough, was the
youngest of eight children of William Richard Isaac and Henrietta (Cowley) Bury. William
Bury was an Irishman who met and married his first wife, Henrietta in Bristol. Sometime
during the 1880s the family came to Leicester and the younger children were born in such
diverse places as Belgrave, Mountsorrel and Aylestone. Henrietta (Cowley) Bury died
aged 38 in the Blaby RD (probably at Wigston), in the March quarter of 1890 -- when her son,
Herbert was only two years old. The 1891 census finds the widowed William and his
children in Wigston Magna. In the December qtr 1897 William married a widow, Fanny
(Rayworth) Bickley, who had eight children of her own. Those of the combined family, who
hadn’t already spread their wings, lived at Great Bowden in 1901. At some time prior to 1915
the family moved to Desford Lane, Kirby Muxloe. During the war the family moved again, as
the electoral register for 1919 finds them in Barwell Road, Kirby Muxloe.
Herbert Bury joined the Army in the very early days of the war and joined the Leicestershire
Regiment in France on 12 October 1914. The 2nd Battalion had been serving in India and
they arrived at Marseilles on 12 October and moved to La Valentine Camp. The Battalion
spent a week in the Marseilles area before moving north to relieve the 3rd Battalion
Worcestershire Regiment in the trenches, the plan being to stem the German rush between
Ypres and La Bassee.
After nearly two years on the Western Front, the 2nd Battalion’s involvement in Mesopotamia
began in 1916, for a further two-year stretch. David Lloyd George, who was Secretary of
State for War, described the Mesopotamia Campaign in his memoirs as the Mesopotamia
Muddle, although that was in no way a criticism of the men of the Leicestershire Regiment.
The Campaign had been masterminded by the military, without political involvement, which
Lloyd George, as a politician, wasn’t happy about. The Battalion spent the greater part of the
summer of 1918 in and around Samarah, described by the padre as a dirty sand-coloured
town. During that summer, reinforcements arrived, some from other theatres of war, some on
recovery from wounds or sickness (soldiers had suffered badly from fever) and others had
been shipped out from England; so that by 1 October when active operations against the
Turkish Army were to recommence, the strength of the Battalion was 20 officers and 928
other ranks. The days were described as hot and maddening with flies, whilst the nights were
bitterly cold. The attack on Daur began on 2 November, but by that time Herbert Bury had
lost his life.
Look at Green Tiger Vol 7 – 1911
R W Chambers
21120 Sapper Robert William Chambers, Royal Engineers Died 28 February 1919 age 39 .
Robert William Chambers was the son of William and Emma Chambers; and husband of
Rosamond Chambers of 63 Rosebery Avenue, Melton Mowbray. Robert William (marked as
military voter) and Rosamond Chambers were living at Castle Road, Kirby Muxloe on 1918
Electoral Roll. His name is recorded on the War Memorial at Welford Road Cemetery.
C E Cullen
2364 Private Charles Edward Cullen 28th Battalion Australian Infantry was born at
Whissendine, Rutland in 1885, the son of George and Mary Ann (Woods) Cullen. In
1891 the family was still at Whissendine; but by 1901, Charles was a farm servant
working next door to his family’s new home, at Enderby. The family had lived for a
time, between those censuses, at Braunstone and Brooksby, as the census tells us
that children were born in both places. Sometime during the next five years the
family moved to Winstanley Cottages, Main Street, Kirby Muxloe. The first Cullen
event to take place at St Bartholomew’s Church was the marriage of Phoebe in 1906.
In 1910, when he was 25 years old, Charles Cullen immigrated to Australia where he
was a labourer in the Australian Bush. On 3/4 August 1915, he enlisted at Perth,
Western Australia into the 28th Battalion Australian Infantry; he was unmarried and
gave his address as c/o J Brabner, Bellevue, Western Australia. He named his next
of kin as his father, George Cullen of Main Street, Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire. The
main Battalion had already left for training in Egypt and on 13 October that year
Charles embarked at Freemantle on Australian Troopship, HMAT Themistocles to
join the Battalion, which moved to Gallipoli, back to Egypt and then proceeded to
France and the Western Front as part of the 2nd Australian Division. The 28th
Battalion commenced its first major battle at Pozieres on the Somme on 28th July
1916. Charles Edward Cullen was reported missing on the following day -- 29 July
1916. No further news of him had been received by the time his younger brother
George Frederick Cullen was reported killed in action on 16 September 1916. His
mother Mary Ann Cullen, provided information for The Roll of Honour for Australia in
the Memorial War Museum. The information tells us that Charles had a brother
serving in the Coldstream Guards, whom he hadn’t seen for six years (since leaving
for Australia). The brothers were killed after getting within about 12 miles of each
other. Charles Cullen’s name is recorded on Villers Bretonneux Australian Memorial.
G F Cullen
15736 Private George Frederick Cullen, 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards was born at
Whissendine, Rutland in 1894; the son of George and Mary Ann Cullen of Winstanley
Cottages, Main Street, Kirby Muxloe – the family’s history prior to coming to Kirby is
described in the paragraph above relating to Charles Cullen. George Frederick
Cullen was killed in action on the Somme aged 22 years on 16 September 1916.
The Leicester Mercury reported his death on 11 October 1916 and said that he was
21 years old. The report refers to his elder brother Charles Cullen who had been
missing since 28th July 1916. The two brothers who had travelled so far, died on the
Somme within two months of each other and only about 12 miles apart. Neither
brother has a known grave; George Cullen’s name is recorded on Thiepval Memorial.
F J Dickson
Frank Dixon (spelt ‘Dickson’ on the war memorial ‘Dixon’ in St Bartholomew’s
Church). – John Dickson at Church Road in 1915. Is this Private 22789 Frank Dixon,
2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, born Nottingham, enlisted at Leicester. Died
20 June 1916 Mesopotamia. Buried Basra War Cemetery.
J G Hollis
Temporary Lieutenant John Gordon Hollis 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment was
killed in action during the first phase of the Battle of the Somme on 14 July 1916 age
27 years. He enlisted with two brothers in August 1914. His name is recorded on
Pier and Face 2C and 3A Thiepval Memorial; and on a window at St Bartholomew’s
Church, installed by his parents in his memory; and in memory of all Kirby Muxloe
men who lost their lives in the Great War.
On the first day of the Battle -- 1st July 1916, the 7th Battalion Leicestershire
Regiment, then part of 110th Brigade and 21st Division, was ‘in reserve’ at Souastre.
On 3rd July the Battalion moved on to Warlincourt, and on 6th July transferred to 110th
Division. Moving via Hangest sur Somme the Battalion entrained at Ailly for
Mericourt and then travelled by bus to Meaulte. Moving via Bottom Wood and
Quadrangle Trench the Battalion arrived at Mametz Wood on 14th July for the attack
on Bazentin le Petit. The advance, made with the 6th Leicesters began from an
assembly position 100 yards in front of Mametz Wood, at 3.25 am – leading waves
entered the enemy’s front trenches and the second line was taken by 4 am. It was
probably during that attack that Lieutenant Hollis lost his life. By 4 am that morning
only two officers were left in action. At 6 am the line advanced into the village, which
they held until relieved on the night of 16th July
John Gordon Hollis was the son of Thomas Hollis a timber merchant, who was born at
Cottesmore, Rutland and Sarah Beatrice (Burnett) Hollis. The family lived at Barncroft, Kirby
Muxloe, (a house later owned by the Kendall family). John Gordon Hollis was a public school
boy. He had brothers – Eric Carruthers Hollis (b.1899) Henry Clive B (1891) and Thomas
Geoffrey (1893).
A book entitled ‘The Tigers’ by Matthew Richardson about 6, 7, 8 & 9 Battalions of the
Leicestershire Regiment, held in the Leicestershire Record Office, says of John Gordon Hollis
………”Another 2nd Lieutenant was John Gordon Hollis, son of Mr and Mrs T Hollis of
Barncroft, Kirby Muxloe. He had studied at university at Dusseldorf in Germany before the
war, and like so many other 2nd lieutenants in the Leicestershire battalions, he had enlisted as
a private soldier before being offered a commission in October 1914” .
As mentioned above, Thomas and Beatrice Hollis placed a window in St Bartholomew’s
Church in memory of their eldest son, listed on a carved commemorative board on the North
wall of the church are the names of all the men from the parish who gave their lives for their
King and Country in the Great War.
G Madder
Private 308166, George Madder 2/7 Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment
(formerly 32866 Leicestershire Regiment). George Madder was killed in action on Saturday
17 March 1917 age 28 years. He is buried at Queen’s Cemetery, Bucquoy.
George Madder was born at Kirby Muxloe, the son of Edward Madder, the village baker who
died in 1929, and his wife Sarah. The family lived in Main Street in 1915. George Madder
married and is described on his gravestone as husband of F Ida L Madder of Gartree Hill
Farm, Little Dalby. He enlisted at Leicester. – George’s sister Ellen became Nellie Hancey.
G A Over
Private 45067 George Albert Over, 12th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, (formerly
39071 Leicestershire Regiment) born Enfield, Middlesex, son of Henry, (born
Eversley, Hampshire) and Sarah Over (born Duxford, Cambs.) of Kirby Muxloe,
husband of G A Over, 128 Dunton Street, Woodgate, Leicester. Enlisted Leicester,
died of wounds 7 December 1918 age 33 buried Staglieno Cemetery, Genoa.
C J Russell
R 1051 Able Seaman Cyril John Russell, Drake Battalion, Royal Naval Division, born Kirby
Muxloe February 1899 -- Killed in action 22 August 1918 age 19 years, buried Achiet le
Grand, France. His name also recorded on his brother’s headstone at Kirby Muxloe
Churchyard.
Cyril Russell was my mother’s eldest brother. He was the son of John and Ann Alice (Allsop)
Russell, who at that time lived at Woodbine Cottage, Barwell Road. He was also the second
cousin of Alfred Townsend, who died in naval action in the Second World War. The
grandparents of these two men were, respectively, Martha Townsend and Alfred Townsend
the eldest and youngest of the large family of William Townsend and his wife Mary Ann
(Allen). Although baptized at the Established Church as a baby, Cyril, his siblings and his
Townsend forbears were lifelong members of the Free Church. Cyril’s younger brother,
Clarence Frederick Russell was one of three Kirby people decorated in 1941 for their services
in the village blitz of 1940. Clarence Frederick Russell an ARP warden released an injured
man from the ruins of his home on Station Road and maintained outside communications by
cycling many miles to surrounding villages when the telephones failed.
H W Sleath
Private M/319520 Harold William Sleath, RASC MT was born at Upper Broughton, near
Melton Mowbray. Marked as ‘military voter – NM’ Electoral Roll 1918 of Hedgerow, Kirby
Muxloe. Died 13 April 1919. Buried Marzargues War Cemetery, Marseilles. CWGC say son
of Herbert Sleath of Station Road, Kirby Muxloe.
W H Smith
203033 Private William Henry Smith, 2/4 Battalion Hallamshire (T.F.) Battalion) York and
Lancaster Regiment was killed in action in France on 3 May 1917; he was aged 33 and had
enlisted at Leicester. His name is recorded on the Arras Memorial and on his wife and son’s
grave in Kirby Muxloe Churchyard.
William Henry Smith was the son of George Smith and his wife Caroline (Bradbury), who lived
in Castle Road, Kirby Muxloe. William Henry Smith married Millicent Palmer of Coalville in
1908, and they made their home at 44 Barwell Road. Millicent (Palmer) Smith died on 6
September 1964 aged 76. At the time of her death Millicent was still living at 44 Barwell
Road. Eric Ewart Smith, son of William Henry and Millicent, died aged 14 in May 1925 and is
buried with his mother. The Parish Register mentions that the non-conformist minister
conducted the funeral service.
J S Upton
Private 10415, James Samuel Upton, 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards, was born at Evington,
and enlisted at Leicester; at the time of enlistment he lived at Barwell Road, Kirby Muxloe.
James Upton died of wounds on Saturday, 23 September 1916, a week after fellow
guardsman George Upton was killed. He is buried at Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery, Bray
sur Somme, France. He was the son of John Upton, who was born at Stanton under Bardon
and his wife Esther Mary (Harrison) Upton who was born at North Kilworth. James Samuel
Upton is named on his maternal grandparents’ grave in Kirby Muxloe Churchyard. His
grandparents were Samuel Issitt Harrison who died in 1927 and his wife Mary Ann who predeceased her grandson and died in 1914.
E E Wilshere
Private 534696 Ernest Edward (Teddie) Wilshere 1st/15th Battalion, London Regiment (Prince
of Wales Own Civil Service Rifles) enlisted at Leicester. He died a Prisoner of War behind
German lines age 19 years on Wednesday, 5 June 1916. He is buried at Tincourt British
Cemetery, Peronne, France. There is a photograph of ‘L/Cpl’ E E Wilshere, Leicester
Mercury 4 October 1918 -- page 5
Teddie Wilshere was born at Kirby Muxloe, son of Herbert W (born Athlone, Ireland) and
Maud Sophia (Bark) Wilshere. The Wilshere family didn’t arrive in Kirby until Herbert William
Wilshere, his wife Maud and their children took up residence in the Old House on Kirby Fields
in the 1890s – the younger of their children were born at Kirby. There was however a long
Kirby connection on the distaff side – Maud Sophia Bark was the daughter of Thomas Bark of
Leicester and his wife Priscilla Voss, who was born at Kirby. Priscilla Voss’s mother was
Sarah Hardy, elder sister of Thomas Hardy, a minister of the Gospel, who lived in the cottage
at the top of Blood’s Hill.
Later censuses can lead to a misconception that Herbert William Wilshere was an Irishman;
he was born at Athlone, as were several of his siblings; but his parents were Thomas
Wilshere, born at Melksham in Wiltshire and Jane Sharman born at Market Harborough.
The ‘Wilsheres’ were a very kind and public-spirited family—son Owen Wilshere was the
Scoutmaster in Kirby for many, many years. As soon as was practicable after the end of
hostilities in 1919, Mr and Mrs Wilshere went on a pilgrimage to their son’s grave at Peronne.
My grandparents, who had neither the confidence nor available funds to make the trip to
France to see their own son’s grave, were delighted when Mr and Mrs Wilshere returned
home to discover that they had gone many miles out of their way to take a photograph of Cyril
Russell’s grave at Achiet le Grand. That photograph was one of my grandmother’s most
treasured possessions and, although family members have visited the grave several times in
more recent years, Cyril’s parents were never in a position to make the pilgrimage.
It occurs to me that Mr and Mrs Wilshere may also have visited the grave of George Madder
at Bucquoy, which is quite close to Achiet le Grand.
Second World War
J Baines
88686, Pilot Officer John Lewis Baines, died on active service age 27 years on 18 March
1941. .
John Lewis Baines was born in December qtr 1913 in Blaby RD; son of John Cecil Baines
(who was in turn the son of Samuel C Baines, a Hosiery Manufacturer) and Eleanor Septima
(Britten) Baines, born at Somerby, the daughter of Thomas C Britten, Vicar of Somerby.
John Lewis Baines was living with his mother, ‘Ellen’ Septima Baines at 3 Gullet Lane Kirby
Muxloe in 1939. He married Shirley Hardy Smith in the Barrow on Soar RD in March qtr
1940. The CWGC tell us that he was the husband of Shirley Baines of Bexhill on Sea and
that he is buried at Oadby Cemetery.
Leicester Mercury on 22 March 1941 printed a photograph of Pilot Officer Baines and went on
to say that he was the son of the late Lt. Col. Baines and Mrs Baines of Kirby Muxloe; and
that in March of the previous year he had married Miss Shirley Hardy Smith of Brooklyn
House, Cropston and late of Barrow on Soar
London Gazette 21 February 1941 lists Leading Aircraftsman John Lewis Baines, granted
Commission as Pilot Officer for the duration of hostilities.
A E Bennett
251098 Lieutenant Alexander Ernest Bennett was a Londoner. He was the son of Percy W
and Florence (Groves) Bennett of Barnet, and was born in the 2 nd qtr of 1919. A Chartered
Accountant by profession, he had been in the Forces since the beginning of the war, first of all
serving with an AA Battery in Scotland. Alex Bennett became a Lieutenant in the Royal
Artillery, seconded to the 5th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment. The Leicester Mercury
reported on 17 April that he had been killed in action on 8 April 1945 aged 26 years. His
name is recorded on Cassino Memorial Italy.
The Leicester Mercury on 19 June 1940 reported the engagement between Alexander
Bennett of Friern Barnet and Margaret Harvey, daughter of Mr and Mrs Fred W Harvey of
Brelades, Kirby Muxloe, and granddaughter of William Harvey, shoe manufacturer of Barwell.
The marriage took place at Kirby Muxloe Free Church on 2 August 1940. It was the last
wedding to take place at the Free Church before the Church was damaged by enemy action.
After Alexander Bennett died in April 1945, his widow continued to live with her parents at 29
Kirby Lane until 1948.
A G B Crouch
Sgt Navigator, Arthur George Bernard Crouch 82 Sqdn Royal Air Force – died 17 May 1940.
He was the son of Arthur George and Kathleen Crouch, and husband of Lilian Marguerite
(Lea) Crouch of Leicester, formerly of Holmfield Avenue West, Leicester Forest East. His
name is recorded on Runnymede Memorial. Arthur Crouch’s son, Barry Lea Crouch was
born on 26 April 1940, three weeks prior to his father’s death. Lilian Marguerite (Lea) Crouch
remarried in the Blaby RD in the September qtr 1944. Her second husband, Harold Elliott
was also an RAF Officer. Lilian’s two sons – Barry Lea Crouch and Philip James Elliott, the
latter born 27 March 1945, were baptized together at St Bartholomew’s Church in 1945.
A C Decraen
Andre C Decreane?
Andre C Decreane and Doris Mary Louise Decreane were registered on the electoral roll as
living at Reigrist, Stafford Leys in 1939 and in 1945. London Gazette on 4 August 1945 gave
a list of name changes for aliens. Lists Andre Decreane, Manufacturers Agent and Doris
Mary Louise Decreane, Manufacturers Agent, 1 Stafford Leys, Leicester Forest East,
Leicester.
Bob Townsend, younger brother of Alfred Townsend, was a young man at the beginning of
the war, and, before joining the Navy, he was a member of the Home Guard, which had its
headquarters at Kirby Muxloe Golf Club. Andre Decraen was a member of the Home Guard
at the same time; and Bob remembers him as a delightful, gentle Frenchman, who seemed
rather older than average to be called up for active service. Bob remembers receiving news
that Andre Decraen had been killed, although not in action, in a military vehicle accident on
the outskirts of Paris at about the time that the Allies were advancing in 1944. Bob had
always thought that Andre Decraen was conscripted for his translation abilities.
F Drummond
39440 Captain Frederic Cecil Drummond – Leicestershire Regiment, seconded to 1st
Battalion King’s African Rifles. Died of wounds East Africa, 11 July 1940 age 32 years.
Buried Nairobi War Cemetery, Kenya. Born at Fulham, London, in 1907, the son of Eric
Roderick Brook Drummond and Frederica Lilian (Norris) Drummond of The Spinneys,
Stamford Road, Kirby Muxloe. The Leicester Mercury reported on 17 July 1940 that Captain
E R B Drummond had received a letter that day informing him that his son, Captain Frederic
Cecil Drummond had died of wounds on 11 July.
Captain Frederic Drummond was the youngest son of Captain and Mrs Drummond, and
joined the Army as a profession. He joined the 2nd ~Battalion Leicestershire Regiment in 1928
and was drafted to Konigstein with the British Occupation Army on the Rhine, returning to
Catterick in 1929. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1931 and Captain in 1937. The Times
announcement of his death tells us he was ‘specially employed’ in 1935.
Educated at Wellington School and at Sandhurst, Captain Drummond first played rugger at
Wellington and he played for Leicester Public Schools in 1929. He joined Stoneygate Rugby
Club at this period and was eventually elected Captain in 1934-35. He became a member of
Leicester Tigers Team, playing his first game when on leave from Catterick in 1929; but did
not find a regular place until he was posted to Glen Parva in 1933. He won a Leicestershire
County Cap in the 1934-35 season and had five (caps) to his credit. He only played one
game during the next season before going to Africa on Army transfer. On leave during 193738 he played several games with his old club – Stoneygate.
D W Gilbert
627389, Sgt. Dennis William Gilbert, Pilot Engineer, Royal Air Force. Died 4 March 1945.
The Leicester Mercury reported on 7 March 1945 that Sergeant Pilot Dennis Gilbert had been
filled in a flying accident. His funeral was to be held at Kirby Muxloe at 2.30 pm on Saturday
10 March. He is buried at Kirby Muxloe Cemetery.
Dennis William Gilbert was the son of Frederick John and Beatrice Annie (Tilley) Gilbert. He
was born at Uppingham in 1918. He is buried next to his elder brother; Arthur E Gilbert who
died in 2004 aged 94; and his sister-in-law Lucy, who died in 1975 age 63. They lived at
Forest View, King’s Walk, Leicester Forest East.
G Hall
Flying Officer Geoffrey Sanderson Hall Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 19
November 1943 age 23. Buried Suda Bay War Cemetery, Greece. Born on 21 June 1921
and baptized St Bartholomew’s Church, 15 August 1921, son of Thomas Lewtas Hall, Leather
Factor and Beatrice Mary (Danby) Hall of Eastleigh, Forest Drive, Kirby Muxloe. Thomas
Lewtas Hall died aged 45 and was buried at Kirby Muxloe on 5 September 1925. Beatrice
Mary (Danby) Hall died at Leeds Infirmary aged 69, and was buried at Kirby Muxloe on 4
June 1956.
The Leicester Mercury reported on 27 May 1944 that Flight Lieutenant G S Hall, third son of
Mrs B M Hall of Kirby Muxloe, reported missing from an operation in November 1943, was
now presumed killed in action.
C Hutchinson
Private 4864988, Charles Hutchinson – 7th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment – ‘The
Chindits’. Baptized at Kirby Muxloe 26 February 1911. Died Burma jungle 26 June 1944 age
33. Name recorded Rangoon Memorial
Charlie Hutchinson was a member of the ground staff at Kirby Muxloe Golf Club. He was the
son of Charles and Bertha Hutchinson and cousin of James Hutchinson (below), and was
baptized at St Bartholomew’s on the same day as his cousin. Charles and Bertha (Jones)
Hutchinson were married at Kirby Muxloe on 3 February 1910 and lived at 30 Barwell Road,
Kirby Muxloe. Bertha Jones was a servant to the Joseph Johnson family at Forest Edge in
1901. Bertha (Jones) Hutchinson was buried at Kirby on 8 November 1950. Charles senior
was buried on 9 June 1960 aged 81.
The 7th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment sailed from Liverpool on 29th September 1942, on
board the Union Castle Liner SS Capetown Castle, which had been converted for use as a
troopship. There were 4,500 men on board, representing several regiments, including units of
the Sherwood Foresters, Royal Artillery and Royal Signals. The Capetown Castle steamed
out of Liverpool as part of a large convoy with a Royal Navy escort. The ship made stops at
Freetown in Sierra Leonne and Durban. There was speculation amongst the troops that they
were en route for Madagascar, but that proved not to be the case and they landed at Bombay
on 24 November 1942 and transferred to an aged, rat-infested vessel, the Varsova. They
arrived at Karachi on 1 December. It was whilst the Battalion was in India that the news came
through that the 7th Leicesters had been selected by Major-General Orde Wingate to take part
in Long Range Penetration Operations in Burma.
The British Army in Burma planned that in early 1944 an advance would be made to the
Chindwin River. Intelligence was received that the Japanese also planned an attack in that
same area. General Wingate had made an expedition to Burma in 1943; and during that
preparatory visit it was thought that a name should be found to convey to the Burmese that
the expedition being planned was for the protection of the Burmese against the invading
Japanese Forces, who were enemies of the Buddhist religion as well as the Burmese
themselves. In Burmese mythology a beast called a chinthe (pronounced ‘chinthay’),
resembling part lion and part dog was thought to guard pagodas and keep away evil spirits.
The name Chinthe was decided upon, but unfortunately the newspapers got the word wrong
and reproduced it as Chindit – the name stuck and that is what they were called. When it was
decided to go ahead in 1944 General Wingate’s Long Range Penetration Force, which by
now included men of the 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, was given the name ‘The
Chindits’. The Operation was successful but General Wingate didn’t live to see that success
as he was killed in an air crash in March 1944. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in
Washington USA. US General J W Stilwell took over control of the campaign.
My uncle, on my father’s side, William Vernon Geary, who served with the 7th Battalion,
Leicestershire Regiment and was one of General Wingate’s Chindits, was a friend of Charlie
Hutchinson and was with him in the Burma Jungle when Charlie was badly wounded. My
uncle was a wireless operator and received a call that a Japanese patrol was approaching.
The order was given to move on and the wounded soldiers must be left behind. My uncle
didn’t see Charlie Hutchinson again.
Charlie Hutchinson was the brother of Marion (Hutchinson) Hirons, who delivered the post for
many years in Kirby Muxloe.
J E Hutchinson
Gunner James Edward Hutchinson 107 Battery 27 Lt. A. A. Regt. Royal Artillery – died 19
August 1942 age 32. Ted Hutchinson was baptized, along with his first cousin, Charlie, at St
Bartholomew’s Church on 26 February 1911. He was the son of William and Mary Ellen
(Waterfield) Hutchinson who were married at St Bartholomew’s Church Kirby Muxloe on 27
September 1898. The family lived at 30 Castle Road, Kirby Muxloe. Bob Townsend recalls
that Ted Hutchinson worked for the Co-op in Castle Road, then under the management of
Don Gamble, who was a sergeant in the Home Guard. Ted worked largely on deliveries from
the Co-op – a likeable young man, but an unlikely soldier. His call-up caused much anxiety to
the elderly ladies of the village, who held Ted in great affection and worried about him a good
deal. The Royal Artillery was fighting in the Western Desert when Ted Hutchinson was
captured by the Italians and taken a prisoner of war. He was clearly transported to Italy,
where is buried at Bari War Cemetery.
G J B Kendall
FX 80500 George Jake Bryan Kendall, Fleet Air Arm, Leading Airman HMS Daedalus RN, he
was killed on 27 March 1941. ‘Jake’ Kendall is buried in All Saints’ Churchyard, Netheravon
in Wiltshire. He was born in 1920, the only son of Ewart Clifford and Zoe I M (Taylor) Kendall
of Carisbrooke, Kirby Muxloe. He was the grandson of William Wheeler Kendall, the umbrella
manufacturer and of George Taylor. His parents and both sets of grandparents lived on Kirby
Fields.
The Leicester Mercury of Saturday 29 March 1941 carried the news of Jake Kendall’s
death. It tells us that Jake, who was 20 years old, was educated at Malvern School
and St Edward’s, Oxford. He left school in July 1939 and volunteered for the Fleet
Air Arm, which he joined early in 1940. He had passed his tests, got his wings and
was shortly to obtain a commission when he died.
HMS Daedalus was a Royal Naval Air Station at Lee on Solent; and there was a Fleet Air Arm
Flying Training School at Netheravon. Pilot Officer Henry John Craig died on the same day
and is also buried at Netheravon, which seems to tell its own story. There are 45 CWGC
graves in All Saint’s Churchyard at Netheravon.
R Lewis
I have searched the CWGC records of 100 people named ‘R Lewis’. None of them appears
to have any connection with Leicestershire, other than one Welshman who served in the
Leicestershire Regiment. The Commission does however list 485771 Private Harold Lewis,
of the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, son of Fred and Rosa (Hough) Lewis of 67,
Hinckley Road, Leicester Forest East, who was killed during the Battle of Sidi Barrani on 10
December 1940, aged 20 years. Harold Lewis was born in the Ashby de la Zouch
Registration District in the June quarter 1920. He is buried at Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery,
Egypt.
On 10 December 1940 the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment was involved in heavy
fighting against Italian Forces in the Western Desert. On that day, visibility was appalling
because of a howling dust storm and many Italians surrendered as the 2 nd Leicesters, in
company with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders reached and took the enemy garrison at
Zawiyet Sidi Barrani at 9.30 am. The enemy countered by heavy bombing of Battalion
transport by the Italian Air Force. One officer and 11 other ranks were killed that day. Six
officers and 79 other ranks were wounded.
S Morcom
175625 Flying Officer Stephen Bickford Morcom. 619 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve. Died 19 July 1944 age 22. Buried St Utin Churchyard, France. Name also
recorded on parents’ gravestone in Kirby Muxloe Cemetery.
Born in Melton Mowbray Registration District in December qtr. 1921, the son of Joseph
Herbert Morcom, a sculptor, and Marjorie Rosa (Tindall) Morcom, who was the daughter of a
General Practitioner. On moving to Kirby, the family lived at Northridge, Gullet Lane.
Stephen Morcom was a former pupil of Wyggeston Grammar School; he was also a Rover
Scout at Kirby.
B Morris
I have no further information about B Morris, although a DJ Morris of Leicester Forest East
does appear in the records?
K McCall
190406 Pilot Officer Keith McCall, 143 Squadron RAFVR was reported missing from an
operational flight on 23 March 1945. He was born in 1920 and was the only son of Mrs Ethel
(Canner) McCall and the late Mr John B McCall of Shanklin Avenue, Leicester. He was a
former pupil of Wyggeston Grammar School. He was married two months prior to his death
to Miss Joan Mustoe of Llandenny, Monmouthshire, who was serving in the ATS. Keith
McCall was the brother of Mrs Barbara Brown, wife of Mr Michael Brown and daughter-in-law
of Mr Tom Brown of Kirby Fields. I can find no trace of Keith McCall having lived in Kirby
Muxloe, but that doesn’t mean that he didn’t live in the village at some time, as no electoral
rolls were published during the period of the war. Bob Townsend remembers Keith McCall as
being involved in the Rover Scouts and living at the corner of Station Road and Barwell Road.
Keith McCall’s name is recorded on Runnymede Memorial.
S D Orton
P/MX 56267, Sick Berth Attendant, Stuart Draycott Orton died 18 February 1944, said age 33,
on board HMS Penelope. His name is recorded on Portsmouth Naval War Memorial, on a
Roll of Honour in St Anne’s Church, Portsmouth and on his parents’ grave in Kirby Muxloe
Cemetery.
Stuart Draycott Orton was the 5th child, and third son of John William Orton and his wife
Mabel Jane (Jarrom) Orton of 3 Church Road, Kirby Muxloe. He was born at Bushby, as
were his elder siblings. His birth appears in the GRO indexes during the 2 nd qtr of 1913 and
he was baptized at Bushby on 25 April 1913, so he was certainly no more than 31 years old
when he was killed, notwithstanding the CWGC tell us that he was 33. His father, John
William Orton died 9th and was buried 12 June 1957 age 79. Mabel Jane (Jarrom) Orton, who
was born at Beeby, and lived at Holt Farm Barkby in 1901 died 17th and was buried 19
November 1947 age 67.
Leicester Mercury 8 March 1944 – Roll of Honour says ‘Proud and happy memories – missing
presumed killed February 1944 – HMS Penelope – All the family.
Charles Orton found on the electoral register at Tolcarne, Hinckley Road Leicester Forest
East in 1939 was probably Stuart Orton’s elder brother.
T Randall
751826 Sgt. Thomas Randall, Wireless Operator, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force died 3 March
1942 age 21. Buried at Kirby Muxloe Cemetery.
Thomas Randall was born at Ullesthorpe in the 2nd qtr of 1919, the son of John Willett Randall
and his wife Eleanor (Oakes) Randall. The Randall family has its origins in the eastern part of
the county, and after living in the Lutterworth area for some years, John and Eleanor and their
family came to Kirby Muxloe during the 1930s. They farmed at The Chilprufe Farm, (now
known as Elms Farm) and it was from Chilprufe Farm that Tom Randall’s military funeral
procession started. There is a memorial vase on Tom’s grave to his Robert, who died in
1967.
N Rowe
187426 Lieutenant Noel Claude Walter Rowe, 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment – Royal
Engineers, Royal Artillery, died 26 April 1945 age 29, son of Claude Edward and Lucy Rowe;
husband of Effie (Lount) Rowe of 44 Forest Rise, Kirby Muxloe. Noel Rowe was a former
pupil of Wyggeston Grammar School. He is buried at Jonkerbosch War Cemetery, Nijmegen,
Netherlands.
Noel Claude Walter Rowe and Effie Lount were married in Leicester during the December qtr
1938. They are on the Electoral Register in 1939 at 44 Forest Rise, Kirby Muxloe. Noel
Claude Walter Rowe was described as a wool merchant ‘now in H M Forces’ at baptism of
daughter Patricia Rowe at St Bartholomew’s Church on 18 August 1940. The Rowe family
kept a wool shop in Granby Street, Leicester for many years.
H W Smith
No further information – searched all H W Smith on CWGC roll of honour
P A Smith
No further information – searched all P A Smith on CWGC roll of honour --. The name Paul
Anthony Smith appears on the Wyggeston School Roll of Honour, -- a possiblity
R Smith
No further information – searched 621 R Smith on CWGC roll of honour – nothing conclusive
I felt that these three Smith men could have a Free Church connection, because William
Smith who died in the 1st War had siblings and he was connected with the Free Church.
However, Bob Townsend, who was a Free Church member, remembers no such connection
S A Swain
Flying Officer Stanley Alfred Swain, 93 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28
November 1943 age 27. Buried Cassino War Cemetery, Italy. Born in Leicester in the June
qtr of 1916 the son of Pieter Arend Swain, a cheese factor and Ella (Townsend) Swain of
Uplands, Hastings Road, Kirby Muxloe. Cassino War Cemetery, Italy. Gazetted as Pilot
Officer 28 April 1943
A W H Townsend
Signaller, Alfred William Henry Townsend, HMS Firedrake Royal Navy. Killed in action 17
December 1942, age 21. His name is recorded on Chatham Naval Memorial and on his
parents’ gravestone in Kirby Muxloe Cemetery.
Alfred Townsend, was the elder of two sons of Arthur Thomas and his wife Iris Ellen (Gittins)
Townsend; he was also my second cousin, once removed – His grandfather, Alfred
Townsend and my great grandmother Martha (Townsend) Russell being at opposite ends of
the large family of William Townsend and his wife Mary Ann (Allen).
The ‘Townsends’ were a Free Church Family – Alfred Townsend’s grandfather – another
Alfred Townsend, was the first Choirmaster of the Free Church and his photograph appears in
the 100 year Commemorative Book.
The Leicester Mercury reported on 2 January 1943 that
“Mr and Mrs Townsend of 27 Barwell Road, Kirby Muxloe have been notified that their elder
son, Alfred (Budge) is reported missing, presumed killed, on war service. He was 21 years of
age, educated at Wyggeston Boys’ School and afterwards articled to Messrs Baker and Co.,
Accountants, Lillie House, Leicester. He had joined the Royal Navy about 18 months ago.”
I was unsure whether Firedrake was Alfred Townsend’s first ship, but his brother Bob has
confirmed that not only was it his first trip, but he was only four days into his first voyage when
tragedy struck. The weather at sea was incredibly bad in December 1942. Alfred had served
on two shore stations and after completion of training had been recommended for a
commission, which required him to have service at sea.
HMS Firedrake was an F Class destroyer, built by Vickers Armstrong of Newcastle on Tyne.
She was commissioned on 30 May 1935 and had a full complement of 145 men.
HMS Firedrake had an illustrious history – in September 1939, in company with destroyers
HMS Faulkner and HMS Foxhound, Firedrake dropped depth charges, which resulted in the
sinking of German submarine, U-39, north west of Ireland. Just over a year later HMS
Firedrake was instrumental in the sinking of Italian submarine Durbo, east of Gibraltar; and in
February 1941, Firedrake was part of ‘Force H’, which conducted a combined anti-submarine
sweep in the Mediterranean -- this exercise culminated in the British raid on the Italian city of
Genoa before Force H returned safely to Gibraltar.
On 16 December 1942, Firedrake, under the command of Cdr. E R Tilden RN DSC, was
leading escort to Convoy ON153 with 43 ships bound for Canada. An eyewitness account
tells us that they were sailing in a storm, force 12 when at 20.10 hrs a torpedo fired by U Boat
U211, commanded by Lt. Cdr Hause, hit the ship. Firedrake was in position 50.50o N 25.15
W approximately 1,000 west of Lands End. It broke in two, the bow section sank immediately
and the stern section with 35 men still aboard stayed afloat. HMS Sunflower, a British
Corvette, attempted to come alongside to take off the survivors, but with 60-foot waves
breaking over both ships it was decided to wait until the weather had improved. At 00.40 on
17 December the stern of Firedrake started to sink, so the men still aboard had no option but
to take to the water. The stern section sank at 00.45 hours. A rating from HMS Sunflower
was lowered into the water and managed to get 27 men on board his ship, but one, AB Billy
Kay died before morning. A member of the HMS Firedrake Association has written the
following:
There’s no flowers on a sailor’s grave
No lilies on an ocean wave
The only tribute is the seagulls’ sweep
And the tear drop on a loved one’s cheek
We shall remember them
During the Veterans’ Parade past the Cenotaph in Whitehall, Following the Remembrance
Service in 2006, a wreath was laid on behalf of the HMS Firedrake Association.
D Williams
Derek Millward Williams, son of Mr and Mrs George Henry Williams of 1 Kirby Lane, Kirby
Muxloe and grandson of founder of Williams China Shop, Halford Street, Leicester. Derek
Williams was a midshipman age 17 years on board HMS Manistee when the ship was
torpedoed in the North Atlantic, at a point 58.55N/20.50W, south of Iceland. The ship was on
convoy OB288 escort duty, when at 22.42 hrs on 23 February 1941 U Boat 107 fired two
torpedoes, the second of which hit Manistee in the engine room. At 22.56 the Italian
Submarine Bianchi fired a further torpedo, which claimed a hit to the stern. U107 tried again
at 22.58 and at 23.42 but both torpedoes missed the target. Two further torpedoes were fired
at 7.58 on 24 February. One of these hit the stern and caused the ship to sink. There were
no survivors, despite HMS Heather, HMS Churchill and F.Fr Leopold steaming to assist. 141
lives were lost.
Korea
F B Millington
Frederick Burn (remembered as Brian) Millington, born Leicester 9 March 1927, son of
Frederick Voyce and Ada Elizabeth (Smith) Millington. Killed in action Korea 1951
Names that don’t appear on the War Memorial
D J Roberts
1737592 Sgt. Air Gunner Douglas John Roberts who died age 20 on 8 November 1943 is
buried at Kirby Muxloe Cemetery, although his name does not appear on the Village War
Memorial. Douglas John Roberts was born at West Bromwich in 1923 -- his parents were
William Henry Roberts and Mabel Dorothy Florence (Chettoe). The Commonwealth War
Grave Commission list tells us that William Henry and Mabel Dorothy Florence Roberts were
‘of Leicester’ at the time of listing. Sgt. Roberts is buried in the next grave to Dennis William
Gilbert. – Is there any family connection?
Leicester Forest East
Lieutenant Charles Brian Kendall. Leicestershire Regiment attached to The Glasgow
Highlanders. The Leicester Mercury reported on 27 April 1945 that Lieutenant Kendall was
killed in action in Western Europe on 18 April 1945 age 26 years. Born in Leicester in the 3rd
quarter of 1918, he was the elder son of Albert and Elsie (Pettifor) Kendall of 35 Hinckley
Road, Leicester Forest East. An Old Newtonian and a member of the staff of Faire Bros & Co
Ltd, Charles Brian Kendall joined the Army in 1939. He is buried at Hanover War Cemetery,
Germany.
Sheila Mileham
2007