Journalist Richard Torné at the Sidmouth Herald is very keen to capture stories of local people doing something a little different – and one of his latest articles looks at a Sidmouth teacher seeking stories of WWII fallen servicemen.
His piece begins thus:
A former teacher from Sidmouth is organising a public talk as part of a project to research local servicemen who died in the First and Second World Wars. Liz Dicker, whose own father served in the Royal Navy during WWII, is appealing to the public to provide information about relatives from Sidmouth who were killed in the conflicts as part of her research into local graves. “I am very keen to discover any information about those Sidmouth men under these special gravestones,” she said.
Liz is also a member of the Cherishing Sidmouth Cemeteries group – and she is particularly interested in uncovering the history of the site and of the people at rest there.
In her researches, she has been in touch with council officers who are putting together a new online record of graves for Sidmouth and Sidbury Cemeteries. And she has gathered a lot of information from local historian John McCarthy on the graves of those who served in the armed forces and merchant navy at Sidmouth Cemetery.
Liz’s latest project is to reach out to members of the local community who have stories and information about those who served in both world wars and who are buried in the Cemetery.
Liz has passed on her complete piece to the CSC blog, and is published with permission. Do get in touch with her at lizdicker777@yahoo.co.uk if you have anything which might contribute to her project. Here is her full article:
In Temple Street, next door to the Spar shop is the unimpressive gateway to Sidmouth cemetery. I grew up just yards away and didn’t even know it was there.
The cemetery’s Commonwealth War Graves are black for the first World War and white for the second. Every two years a transit van arrives and an operative from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission tends all the graves, tidying, cleaning stones and making good any damage sometimes replacing worn stones with new.
I am very keen to discover any information about those Sidmouth men under these special gravestones. I want to ask any individuals from the old Sidmouth families who are still around with memories or materials passed on through the generations whether they might be able to give life to any of these men for me. If they have then please ring me on 01395 514365 or email lizdicker777@yahoo.co.uk. Some of them, together with the information I already have, are listed below.
World War Two
Donald Charles Channing, aged 19, was an ordinary seaman on HMS Trawler Ormonde in 1941 when it was sunk by a German aircraft while minesweeping off the coast of Scotland. He was the son of George and Ada Channing of York Street.
Reginald Victor Brown, an aircraftman aged 25, son of Bigwood and Elizabeth Brown of Sid Park Road. He died in 1940 when his aircraft, severely damaged by enemy action, crashed into the cliff at Dover.
Arthur Albert Hodge, aged 48, army, died in 1941 due to war operations.
Husband of Lottie of Arcot Park. He also served in World War 1. He had been a steam roller driver.
Sydney Cyril Hooper, aged 32, died in 1946. Husband of Una of 166 Manstone Avenue. He had been a boilerman at Sidmouth Baths.
Melford Charles Freeman, aged 18, aircraftman, died 1946. Son of Charles and Elsie Freeman.
Wilfred John Brown, aged 39, army, died 1941, husband of Isabella Brown, 34 Arcot Park
Arthur Albert Hodge, aged 48, army, died in 1941 due to war operations.
Husband of Lottie of Arcot Park. He also served in World War 1. He had been a steam roller driver.
Sydney Cyril Hooper, aged 32, died in 1946. Husband of Una of 166 Manstone Avenue. He had been a boilerman at Sidmouth Baths.
Melford Charles Freeman, aged 18, aircraftman, died 1946. Son of Charles and Elsie Freeman.
Wilfred John Brown, aged 39, army, died 1941, husband of Isabella Brown, 34 Arcot Park
World War One
William Alfred George Richards, aged 49, army, died 1917. Husband of Alice Richards living in Russell Street. He was a gardener.
Mary Gertrude Tindall, Nurse, at a war hospital in Exeter, died 1917, daughter of John and Isabella Tindall of The Marino. Her brother also died during action abroad and is interred where he fell.
There are more and many more under private headstones which I will have to examine all the ones individually to find them.
There is also, in Sidbury cemetery, a CWG stone for H J Gaut, RAF, died 1939, whose aircraft crashed shortly after take off at Catterick aerodrome. I believe his family had a business in Sidbury. It’s an uncommon name and might get a response.
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