Little Wenlock Memorial WW2

 

 

  R. Blackwell

J. Bufton

B. Hooper

J.E. Wood

P. Toeg

 

Please advise us in any of our information is not correct. 

R Blackwell

It has been difficult to discover who this man was.  It is now thought that his first initial is wrong and it should read G Blackwell.  Further research is being undertaken.

George Blackwell went down with H.M.S. Neptune, his parents are buried in Little Wenlock Church yard.

 

John Bufton

P/KX97480-Stoker second class John Rupert Bufton was the son of Frank and Ethel Bufton, 25 Frame Lane, Horsehay.

He joined the Royal Navy and was lost at sea on H.M.S. Glow-Worm 8th April 1940.  The following article appeared in the local paper.

 Wellington Journal 20th April 1940.

 

HORSEHAY MAN

MISSING

BELIEVED KILLED

Was on Glow-Worm

Mother not given up

Although her son Jack, second class stoker on H.M.S. Glow-Worm was reported missing when the destroyer was believed to have sunk in northern waters last week.  Mrs E Bufton, widow of ex-PC Bufton of 25 Frame Lane, Horsehay, has not given up hope that he may still be alive.

She received a telegram from the Admiralty on April 12 regretting that her son was “missing believed killed  on war service” but she told a Journal reporter that she would go on hoping and would not believe that he was dead until she heard something more definite.

A report published this week that survivors may have been picked up by a German ship has given her fresh hope.

Mrs. Bufton has received over 100 letters of sympathy from friends.

 Jack who was 20 last December was a most popular lad and when he came home unexpectedly on leave just over a month ago he expressed his great liking for Navy life.  He joined up last August and after serving on “The Iron Duke” volunteered for service on “The Glow-Worm”

He was born at Dawley Police Station and went to Dawley and Little Wenlock schools and afterwards to Wellington High School.  On leaving school he obtained employment at the Coalbrookdale Iron Works.

He was an expert swimmer and boxer and had won many prizes at sport.  His father who died last June had served 25 years in the Shropshire Constabulary, retiring about 12 years ago.

Mr and Mrs Bufton had a family of 13 children: seven sons and six daughters, and Jack was the sixth son.  His brother Morton is at present serving in France as a dispatch rider.  Another brother Gordon served four years on H.M.S. Courageous but left the Navy before war broke out following an accident to his hand and he is now employed as a fitter at a Wolverhampton works.  Three of his sisters are in the nursing profession – Phyllis at Dudley, Marjory at Wolverhampton, and Peggy at Broseley.

A photograph appears with this article.

John is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 42 Column 3

 

B Hooper.

117152-Captain Arthur Wilfred Bryan Hooper, known as Bryan, was the son of Edgar and Lillian Wells Hooper, Lifton, Devon.  He joined the K.S.L.I, but was attached to 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment.

Bryan is also commemorated on the Cambridge University Peterhouse WW2 memorial.  He died of wounds in North West Europe, 26th October 1944, age 29.  His address at the time of his death was The Old Hall, Little Wenlock. 

He is buried in Bergan-op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery, Dutch Province, Noord-Brabant, Antwerp.

 

J.E. Wood.

T/10692294-Driver John Edward Wood was the son of George and Mary Alice Wood, The Fatlands, Little Wenlock.  he joined The Royal Army Service Corps, and was accidentally drowned in North Africa, 24th May 1943, age 22.  (one report gives his date of death as 28th May 1943)

John is buried in L.A. Reunion War Cemetery, Algeria.

 

P Toeg.

106158-Flying Officer Joseph Philip Toeg was born in Shanghai, to Solomon Ezekel and Hannah Toeg.  He lived with his brother at New Works, Little Wenlock, and was a member of the volunteer reserve, 98 squadron, Royal Air Force. 

He was killed in action on a bombing raid over Brest, 24th June 1943.  Joseph is buried in Gouesnow Church Yard, Finistere, France. B.A.  ref B.C.I grave 3.

In the northern corner, left of the entrance, are the graves of five airmen of the Royal Air Force.