ASHTEAD WAR MEMORIALS

WHAT'S NEW?

the dates below are also update dates

April 2023

WW1: The story page for Private SC Button is added: he is also commemorated at Capel, Surrey.

WW1: The story page for Air Mech 2 TACA Newbury RFC has been corrected. It seems that he has no CWGC record although there is a service record and record of burial at St Giles and he is on the Ashtead War Memorial.

March 2022

7 Mar The burial records of St Giles', Ashtead, have been digitised and mapped as part of the National Burial Grounds Survey. A link has been added to the site menu.

August 2020

27 Aug WW2: AHD Purcell 11 January 1941: (not on the War Memorial). Died at his employer's office in Bow Street. It is believed he was on ARP duty - see Ashtead related civilian deaths page

July 2020

28 Jul: WW2: Cpl Eric Street's story is added, from the Leatherhead War Memorials website - he is also commemorated there.

June 2020

14/16 Jun: WW2: Wg Cdr Knocker's page updated, or rather his mother's section - Baroness de T'Serclaes MM - of it with a story of the unveiling of a Blue Plaque at her birthplace in Exeter and a link to her story on the Epsom and Ewell History Explorer website.

February 2019

7 Feb WWI: Harry Reynolds VC MC, a native of Whilton, Northamptonshire, is buried at St Giles. He worked at Milner House. New links about his VC and MC and his life of service to Ex-Services Welfare have been added - see via St Giles War Graves: scroll down to Others of note.

March 2018

26 Mar WWII: a story is added for Able Seaman Victor Saunders, thanks to Roger Morgan and Brian Bouchard.
26 Mar WWII: Brian Bouchard adds more on James Slater - also commemorated at Burghclere, Hampshire; and about his parents.

November 2017

CWGC links are being updated as are links to external websites.

September 2016

27 Sep WWII: Brian Bouchard's researches on Sqn Ldr AST Leach and Serjeant RS Kirtley are added. They are both buried at St Giles and died in 1946 but neither is listed on an Ashtead War Memorial.

May 2015

27 May WWI: Geoff Ballinger enables the correct CWGC record for Pte S [Charles Sidney] Button to be identified and clears up an issue about the address of the parents of Wilfred David.

25 May WWI: A link  to GH Wigston's page on the Lancing College website, which has a photo of him, is added and his 'story' is updated.

5 May WWII: Michael Bourke Connell's page updated with information from Haileybury School and the book Glider Pilots in Sicily, via Brian Bouchard.

4 May WWI: Via Brian Bouchard, a link to CKJ Rooke's page on the Lancing College website, which has a photo of him, is added

February 2015

8-16 Feb WWI: Alfred James Newman's great nephew in Maryland USA contributes additional material including the text of two letters written by AJN, one three days before he was killed in the battle of the Somme. However his exact connection with Ashtead remains elusive.


February 2014

28 Feb WWI: Frank Hillyer [Hillier] is another story added by Ann Williams and Brian Bouchard.
28 Feb WWI: Frank Haslam updates Alfred James Newman with a link to Broadstone's War Memorials website (Dorset) where he is also commemorated.

27 Feb WWI: Thanks to Ann Williams, assisted by Frank Haslam, the stories so far for George Weller and Harry Burfitt have been added.
Ann has also provided the story for Arthur John Jackman who is buried at St Giles. His cause of death is still to be found.

25 Feb WWII: James Hogarth Slater AFC's page is updated with information about his widow, his time at Biggin Hill and the loss of his aircraft.

18 Feb WWII: DC Girdler found by Brian Bouchard on CWGC as DC Marsh, stepson of WC Girdler, and a page is begun for him.

Restyling of the website begins. Many pages are being reformatted which is why for the time being some will look different to the rest.


November 2011

21 Nov 11: WWI St George's: via Goff Powell, an image of an old postcard of the WWI memorial cross at St George's. The postcard is lodged with the Society for safe keeping by John Reynolds of the Ashtead RBL Branch.


August 2010

13 Aug 10 WWI: Leading Seaman George Richard Fox is added thanks to Brian Bouchard, with a probable explanation as to why he is on the Ashtead memorials but not listed by CWGC. He is buried in Epsom Cemetery.

10 Aug 10 More legible and less cramped menu

4 Aug 10 WWI: Pte JW Chapman - Carole Vann, John Chapman's great grand-daughter, enables us to update his story. She has visited the memorial in Greece where he is commemorated.

July 2010

16 Jul 10 WWI Brian Bouchard adds Pte Albert Ansell's story.

15 Jul 10 WWI The information on Pte Albert Ansell is replaced thanks to Hazel Ballan, a volunteer researcher working on Epsom and Ewell's WWI memorials. Research on him originated from his listing on the memorial at St George's. It was not noticed that what had appeared to be the most likely Ansell listed by the CWGC did not in fact match on unit when the list of those on the memorial at St Giles (which unlike St George's includes units) became available. Work continues on tracing his local connections. He is among those born in Leatherhead who are not on any of the Leatherhead memorials.

April 2010

11 Apr 10 WWI Brian Bouchard adds links to some of the personalities involved in Arthur Hayter's story and some local detail about Colin Peake
11 Apr 10 WWII Brian Bouchard explains the Ashtead connections for Thomas Ruxton and Philip Marrack


May 2009

26 May 09 WWI Ann Williams adds Ernest Haffenden's story
26 May 09 post-war Frank Haslam adds Trevor Hood's story, with thanks to Trevor's brother Keith
26 May 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds the story of the Reddick brothers, Percy and Sydney
26 May 09 WWI Brian Bouchard updates William Maples' story
26 May 09 WWII Brian Bouchard adds a little to what we know of John Riley

17 May 09 WWI Brian Bouchard updates Geoffrey Church's story
17 May 09 WWI Brian Bouchard updates William Arundell's story
17 May 2009 WWI Goff Powell updates Harry Millard's story

15 May 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds a note on Officer Cadet Battalions in Frank Hicks' story, which is also updated
15 May 09 WWI Brian Bouchard updates Philip Grove's story
15 May 09 WWI Brian Bouchard updates Kenneth Maples' story
15 May 09 WWII Frank Haslam adds Harry Dooyewaard's page, with many thanks to his sister Brenda de Bruin

April 2009

26 Apr 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds the story for Harry Millard.

24 Apr 09 WWII Ann Williams established the Ashtead connection for Eric Street
24 Apr 09 WWI the previous matching for HA Millard has been withdrawn and a new matching is suggested by Brian Bouchard. It is possible that he may also be the Harry Millard on Gt Bookham's War Memorial Cross.

23 Apr 09 WWII with thanks to Ann Williams who spotted that Alfred Mount had been omitted from the CWGC matching shown on the WWII page and that GSJ White should be George Whife. Frank Haslam adds Alfred Mount's story but seeks more on his family.
23 Apr
WWI Brian Bouchard updates Arthur Hayter's story

20 Apr 09 WWII The sister of Harry Dooyewaard has responded to an article about this website in the Leatherhead Advertiser. A page on Harry is in preparation by Frank Haslam.

11 Apr 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds Leslie Griffin's story (his correct initials are LSH, not JS as shown on the memorials).

9 Apr 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds Charles Carter's story: updated 17 Apr 09

5 Apr 09 WWI Brian Bouchard updates Charles Fabray's story - his father lived in Park Lane: this page was revised again on 13 Apr 2009

2 Apr 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds William Maples' story and updates Frank Hicks' story

March 2009

31 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds Benedict Jones' story - he was an early test pilot
31 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds Henry May's story

29 Mar 09 War Graves - image of New Zealander Tom Allen's headstone at St Giles added and his story updated - his fiancée was Miss Violet Mellish, whose father was a prominent local businessman: with thanks to Stuart and Bruce Tucker.
Some images of headstones which recall those who fell or who gave service are being added to this page.
29 Mar 09 WWI St Giles A new image of the WWI plaque at St Giles is added, with a transcription of the names
29 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds William Childs' MM's story

28 Mar 09 Bruce Tucker enables Brian Bouchard and Frank Haslam to view the WWI brass plaque from St Giles which permits matching of Henry May and Charles (Edward) Carter but leaves us still unable to match S Button and GR Fox on the CWGC database.

27 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds Henry Longhurst's story

23 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds Arthur Osborn's story
23 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds Cecil Newman's story

22 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds Richard Bill's story

20 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds Albert Ansell's story, but is still looking for a clear connection with Ashtead
20 Mar 09 WWI names listing has next of kin information added from CWGC: WWII is in revision: where no information is shown on CWGC but has been found from other sources, this will eventually be added to the page.

18 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds George Chapman's story

17 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds Sidney Edward's story

16 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds Charlie David's story

15 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds Albert Butler's story

14 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds Joseph Bullen's story

13 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds Sydney Heywood's story

12 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds the Dickins brothers' story
12 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds Fred Corbetts' story

10 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds William Matthews' story
10 Mar 09 WWII Ann Williams adds Edward Haynes' story

9 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds George Taylor's story
9 Mar 09 Graves Brian Bouchard adds Herbert Cresswell's story
9 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard & Ann Williams add Henry Birch's story

7 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds Albert Tuckwell's story

6 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds Ernest Seaman's story

5 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds Arthur Culver's story
5 Mar 09 WWI Ann Williams updates William Lisney

4 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds Leonard Drake's story
4 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds William Lisney MM's story
4 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard and Ann Williams add Alfred Cates's story

3 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds Robert Cooper's story

2 Mar 09 WWI A story page is created for AJ Newman with the assistance of a member of the Newman family.

1 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds a bit more on AJ Newman's possible address in Ashtead
1 Mar 09 WWI Brian Bouchard updates John Gordon's and William Arundell's stories - they were neighbours in Barnett Wood Lane
1 Mar 09 WWI FP Vickery is found also named on the War Memorial in St Andrew's, Oxshott, Surrey.

February 2009

28 Feb 09 NEWMAN AJ and HILLYER FR are linked to CWGC: SDGW information is added for a number of WWI names in research

27 Feb 09 WWI Charles Fabray's story is added by Brian Bouchard: his Ashtead connection has still to be found.
Although recorded on the Ashtead memorial as a Private he was a Lance Corporal.
27 Feb 09 WWI Brian Bouchard updates Frank Hicks' story

26 Feb 09 WWI William Arundell's story added by Brian Bouchard

25 Feb 09 WWI Brian Bouchard and Ann Williams add John Chapman's story

24 Feb 09 WWII Ann Williams and Frank Haslam add a page on civilian deaths (found so far) from attacks on Ashtead.
They have no memorial but now are recorded.
24 Feb 09 WWI Richard Pearson's story is added by Brian Bouchard

23 Feb 09 WWI Frank Vickery's story is added by Brian Bouchard: on the memorial he is listed as EP Vickery

20 Feb 09 WWI Albert Ansell - Brian Bouchard adds more information on him, but notes that we are no nearer an Ashtead connection.
20 Feb 09 WWI WJS Arundell - Brian Bouchard adds more information on him - he was probably a PoW.
20 Feb 09 WWI FR Hillyer or Hillier - Brian Bouchard adds more information on him - his Leatherhead connections are plain, so why instead is he on the Ashtead memorial?
20 Feb 09 WWI Charles Rooke's story is updated by Brian Bouchard

18 Feb 09 War Graves Thomas Allen's story added, via Brian Bouchard
18 Feb 09 WWI Pte Footman's story added, via Brian Bouchard

17 Feb 09 Images of St Giles church and most of the war graves in the churchyard are added by Frank Haslam: if you can provide the image yet to be added, please email them to the editor, as from your camera (file sizes about 1MB)

16 Feb 09 WWI AC2 Newbury's story added, via Brian Bouchard
16 Feb 09 WWI 'Chemist' Richardson's story added, via Brian Bouchard

15 Feb 09 Map links added to this page for S George's and St Giles' churches

14 Feb 09 WWI Lt Hayter's story added, via Brian Bouchard
14 Feb 09 WWII P/O KRH Lindley's story added, via Frank Haslam & Brian Bouchard
14 Feb 09 WWII P/O AAH Lindley's story added, via Frank Haslam & Brian Bouchard

13 Feb 09 WWI Brian Bouchard adds an Ashtead cricketing connection between the Kenneth Maples and Charles Rooke stories.

12 Feb 09 WWI 2nd Lt Harrison's story added, via Brian Bouchard

11 Feb 09 WWI Lt Boustead's story added, via Brian Bouchard
11 Feb 09 WWI page added on the Rouquette brothers via Brian Bouchard
11 Feb 09 Cemetery locations added and hyperlinked for WWII

10 Feb 09 Cemetery locations added and hyperlinked: to aid those who may wish to visit; WWI completed.
10 Feb 09 WWI Capt Wigston's story added, via Brian Bouchard

9 Feb 09 WWI Lt Hicks' story added, via Brian Bouchard

8 Feb 09 WWI 2nd Lt Gordon's story added, via Brian Bouchard
8 Feb 09 WWI Lt Church: story added, via Brian Bouchard
8 Feb 09 WWI Photo of D Company Sandhurst, June 1915 added to 2nd Lieut Grove's story page: courtesy Christopher Jordan, via June Underwood
8 Feb 09 WWI & WWII: unit detail added (eg 1st/5th Bn) and age where known
8 Feb 09 WWI Lt Peake is found on Charterhouse School's Roll of Honour, and a story page is added, via Brian Bouchard

7 Feb 09 WWII Wg Cdr Knocker's story page added, thanks to 214 Sqn Royal Air Force Association and acknowledged websites: it includes detail on his locally well known mother who was awarded the Military Medal in WWI: research by Frank Haslam
7 Feb 09 WWII Lt Sinclair's story page added: research by Frank Haslam

6 Feb 09 WWI Photo of 2nd Lieut Grove added to his story page, via June Underwood from Great War Forum
6 Feb 09 WWI PteWeller's Ashtead connection confirmed via Ann Williams
6 Feb 09 WWI Pte Matthews' Ashtead connection confirmed via Ann Williams
6 Feb 09 WWI Lieut Hicks' Ashtead connection confirmed via Ann Williams

5 Feb 09 WWI 2nd Lt JC Gordon's Ashtead connection confirmed via Ann Williams
5 Feb 09 WWI Capt KJ Maples story updated by Brian Bouchard
5 Feb 09 WWII Wg Cdr Burton's Ashtead connection confirmed via Ann Williams and RAF information added by Frank Haslam, all provided in a story page.
5 Feb 09 WWII Wg Cdr Brooker RAF information added by Frank Haslam via Alan Evans, who also provides an Ashstead connection, all provided in a story page.
5 Feb 09 WWII F/O Robertson's Ashtead connection confirmed via Ann Williams, story page added.
5 Feb 09 WWII Lt Connell's Ashtead connection confirmed via Ann Williams, story page added.
5 Feb 09 WWII Wg Cdr Slater's Ashtead connection confirmed via Ann Williams, story page added.

3 Feb 09 WWI A page is added telling some of the story of 2nd Lt Grove - it will be of some interest to paeleontologists.

2 Feb 09 WWI Ian Whitlock has traced JW Chapman in CWGC, a native of Epsom, his wife's address was 5 Park Walk, Ashtead.
2 Feb 09 WWI Via Ian Whitlock's research using the Soldiers Died in the Great War database matches are made in CWGC for AJ Newman, C Newman, SC Heywood, W Matthews, plus a possible match for FR Hillyer.
2 Feb 09 WWI A page telling some of the story of Kenneth Maples is added.
2 Feb 09 WWI Lt Griffin is added - the only WWI Lt Griffin with an Ashtead connection.
2 Feb 09 WWI A possible match for 2nd Lt Millard.

1 Feb 09 This Ashtead, Surrey War Memorials website is 'officially' launched on 1 Feb 2009

At the same time a web page for Fetcham War Memorials (based initially on information in the late Jack Stuttard's History of Fetcham) is uploaded.
Both pages can be accessed via the L&DLHS website's Local War Memorials link.


January 2009

Units are added to names.
A page for post WWII casualties has been added (Trevor John Hood, 19 May 1953).
A page listing those buried in Ashtead (St Giles' churchyard) is added. It is noted that some of these, although evidently having an Ashtead connection, do not appear to be on an Ashtead war memorial.
WWII names are added.
Ann Williams (née Astridge) in Canada adds information.
Frank and Brian do research on these names on the CWGC website and others.
Brian Bouchard provides Frank Haslam with a list of WWI names from the Ashtead War Memorial with a request that a web page be created.

December 2008

Brian Bouchard of the L&DLHS responds with an article for the Society's February Newsletter on Corporal CKJ Rooke.

November 2008

Request in the Leatherhead & District Local History Society Newsletter from the Chairman, David Hartley, for information to be collated about local war memorials and the names on them.

A website already exists on the Leatherhead War Memorials, under the auspices of the Friends of Leatherhead Parish Church, edited by Frank Haslam.