PARISH OF ASHTEAD
War Memorials - Civilian Deaths
Although not commemorated on a war memorial in the village it is appropriate to record the deaths through acts of war or its effects of the following who were resident in the village:
THE WARREN, 30 August 1940
MARY HOWCROFT age 53: died 30/08/1940
of South Cottage, The Warren, Ashtead. Widow of Fred Pollock Howcroft.
Died at South Cottage, The Warren*.FLORENCE PENGELLY age 53: died 30/08/1940
of Currer Wood, The Warren, Ashtead. Daughter of the late Henry William and Alice Pengelly, of 100 Old Street, Finsbury, London.
Died at Currer Wood, The Warren*.
7 GAYWOOD ROAD, 30 September 1940
Very early in the morning of 30 September 1940 a parachute bomb landed in Gaywood Road. Five people were killed and many were injured, but casualties were fairly low because the majority of people had taken refuge in their garden shelters. Gaywood Road, St. Giles’ School and the windows of St. Giles’ Church sustained serious bomb damage.
MARY JANE COOPER age 62: died 30/09/1940
of 7 Gaywood Road, Ashtead. Wife of Harry Charles Cooper (CWGC)
Died at 7 Gaywood Road*. Harry Cooper was a timber merchant..Also killed that day at this address - they would appear to be evacuees:
EILEEN DENNIS age 9: died 30/09/1940
daughter of A. Dennis of 87 Neckinger Estate, Bermondsey (CWGC): five members of the Dennis family were among 87 who died almost a month later on 25 October whilst sheltering at the Druid St Billiard Hall, which was in a railway arch in Bermondsey which received a direct hit.
ANNIE ELIZABETH MITCHELL age 27: died 30/09/1940
wife of H. Mitchell of 41 Linsey Street, Bermondsey (CWGC)
RITA IVY MITCHELL age 18 months: died 30/09/1940
daughter of Annie Elizabeth Mitchell (CWGC)The fifth casualty has not yet been traced.
References: A History of Ashtead, p139; Images of England, Ashtead, p125; The Story of St. Giles’ School, p36
4 NEW ROAD, ERMYN WAY, 19 March 1941
JAMES WINSPEAR age 53: died 19/03/1941
of 4 New Road, Ermyn Way*. Son of the late James and Elizabeth Winspear; husband of Maud Winspear.
Died at Blind School Hospital.
WOODSIDE, GREEN LANE, 15 May 1944
WILLIAM JOSEPH BALL age unknown: died 16/05/1944
of Woodside, Green Lane. Husband of Elsie Ball.
Injured 15 March 1944, at Woodside, Green Lane*; died at Leatherhead Emergency Hospital.
ALLEN HAROLD DASHWOOD PURCELL, 11 January 1941
of Wayside, West Farm Avenue, Ashtead
Clerk with Elder & Fyffes, died at their offices in Bow Street, London,
believed to have been on ARP duty.
see his page on the Epsom & Ewell History Explorer website
* map link is to road, not to address
CWGC research Frank Haslam and Ann Williams: text Ann Williams
If you can add information to this page please contact the editor
page added 23 Feb 2009: last updated 27 Aug 20