Jan Gore's biographies of Bournemouth's civilian war dead 23 May, 1943

Jan welcomes further information and readers can email her at jangore3@gmail.com

Reginald George Adlem, aged 43, of 7 Orcheston Road. He was born in the September quarter of 1899 in Christchurch. His parents were Charlie Albert Adlem (1869-1945) and Emma Squires (1862-1925). In the 1911 census Charlie was described as an invalid furniture salesman, originally from Tarrant Keynston; he and Emma had been married for 24 years and had 10 children, 8 of whom were still living and 7 were at home with them at 235 Stewart Road. Reginald married Hilda Smith (1898-1978) in the June quarter of 1924 in Christchurch; they had two children. Reginald was a motor engineer for Shamrock and Rambler. He died at the Shamrock and Rambler Garage, 77 Holdenhurst Road, on 23 May 1943.He was buried 27th May in Wimborne Road Cemetery: grave reference G4/96s.

Lillian Maude Baker, aged 57, of 24 Purbeck Road. She was the daughter of Sidney Horatio Herbert (1858-1944) and Bertha Maude Fletcher (1861-1927); they married in Burton on Trent in the September quarter of 1884. Lillian was born in the June quarter of 1886 in Burton.In the 1911 census Sidney was a postmaster from Nottingham; Lillian was their oldest child, aged 24, and was working as a post office clerk. Her parents later moved to 6 Pevensey Road, St Leonards. Lillian married Cyril John Baker in the March quarter of 1933 in Hastings; he was a dental mechanic. She died at the Metropole Hotel on 23 May 1943. She was buried in Wimborne Road Cemetery: grave reference J4/97s on 27 May. (Some of the records give her names as Lilian Maud)

Maud Violet Bircham, WVS, aged 47, of Covehithe, Newmarket Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. She was the daughter of the late John Henry Murgatroyd and Grace Elizabeth Levers of 63 Belle Vue Road, Ipswich; they married in the December quarter of 1891 in Sheffield. Maud was born in the December quarter of 1895 in Ipswich. In the 1911 census, her family were living in Ipswich. Her father was a teacher of handicraft, and Maud was the eldest daughter. She married Raymond Frank Bircham (see below) in the December quarter of 1923 in Ipswich; they had no children. She died at the Central Hotel, along with her husband. She was buried at Ipswich with her husband on 1 June.

Raymond Frank Bircham, Royal Observer Corps, aged 45, of Covehithe, Newmarket Road, Bury St. Edmunds. He was the son of Herbert William Bircham and Edith Anna Greenacre of Brundall, Norfolk; they married in the June quarter of 1887 in Wayland, Norfolk. Raymond was born in the December quarter of 1897 in Aylsham, Norfolk. In the 1911 census, Herbert William Bircham was described as a retired sailor; he and his family were living at 15 College Street, Norwich. Raymond was their only surviving child; he was an accountant at the National Provincial Bank. He died at the Central Hotel on 23 May, along with his wife Maud (see above). He was buried with his wife at Ipswich on 1 June.

Eliza Minnie Blount, aged 67. She was the daughter of Robert Blount (1839-) and Isabella Woodward (1841-), who married in the September quarter of 1873 in Bethnal Green. Eliza was born in the June quarter of 1876 in Poplar. In the 1891 census, Robert was a shoemaker and Isabella a laundress; they had 5 children, including Eliza who was 16 and a general servant. By 1911, Isabella was widowed and Eliza was living at home and working as a laundress; Eliza was one of 10 children, 6 of whom were still living in 1911. She was a servant in 1943. She died at 20 Bethia Road on 23 May 1943, and was buried on 28 May at Bournemouth North Cemetery: grave reference G4/65. As she had no known relatives, a neighbour from Soberton Road made arrangements for her funeral.

Walter Ernest Blower, aged 57, of 211 Phipps Bridge Road, Merton, London. He was the son of John and Mary Blower; John was a carpenter. Walter was born in the March quarter of 1886 in Islington and baptised on 13 May 1891. He married Mollie Mason Arundell (1894-1992) in the September quarter of 1920 in Hackney Wick; they had two children. He was a civil servant; he joined the Ministry of Pensions in 1933 and then moved to the Land Registry in 1935. He and his wife were living at 23 Vale Road at the time of his death. He died at the Hotel Metropole on 23 May 1943 and was buried on 28 May at London Road Cemetery, Mitcham.

Catherine Bowie, aged 74, of 12 Lansdowne Road. She was the daughter of James (1843-1925) and Elizabeth Durran (nee Elmore, 1843-1929) of Steeple Aston, Oxfordshire; James was a carpenter and they married in the December quarter of 1866 in Woodstock. She was born on 24 September 1868 at Steeple Aston. She married Lewis John Bowie (1861-1926) on 14 November 1897 at Lambeth St Mary. Lewis was a warehouseman and came from Fawley. In the 1901 census they were living in London; by 1911 they were living in Westminster, Lewis was a taximeter inspector at a garage and they had two children. Lewis died in 1926 in St Luke’s Hospital, Paddington. Catherine was injured on 23 May 1943 at 12 Lansdowne Road and died at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Boscombe, the following day. She was buried in Bournemouth East Cemetery: grave reference F4/55.

William Henry Brown, Air Raid Warden, aged 53, of 31 Cecil Avenue. He was the husband of Grace Brown and a retired commercial traveller (textiles). (I have been unable to locate any more confirmed information about him). He was the Head Warden for Bournemouth. He died in Howard Road on 23 May 1943; Grace Clyne (see below) died in the same incident. He was cremated on May 27 1943 at Bournemouth Crematorium, North Cemetery. He is remembered in the County Borough of Bournemouth book of remembrance.

Agnes Louise Browne, aged 30, of 6 Trafalgar Road. She was the daughter of William Sinfield Kingham (1878-1950) and Caroline Howard (1879-1929) who married in Hitchin in the December quarter of 1899. Agnes was born in the September quarter of 1912 in Hitchin; she was one of a numerous family. She married Cyril Onslow Browne in Paddington in the June quarter of 1934; he was born in the March quarter of 1913 in Hitchin. They had a daughter. Cyril was a Leading Aircraftman at the time of his wife’s death; he had previously been a hotel chef. Agnes died at the Central Hotel (basement) on 23 May 1943. She was buried on 29th May in Wimborne Road Cemetery: grave reference A4/100s.

Thomas John Walker Browne M.B., aged 91, of 20 Bethia Road, and of 49 St Ronans Road, Southsea. He was a retired doctor, of Killymaddy House, Castlecaulfield, County Tyrone. He was the son of William and Ann Elizabeth Browne (nee Walker); they had eight children, many of whom either became doctors or were associated with the military. Thomas John was born on 4th August 1851. He became a doctor and medical inspector for the Local Government Board for Ireland. His first wife was Sarah Sinclair, his first cousin; they had five children. His second wife was Jane Donaldson Lindsay; they had one son. She died in February 1940. He was then living at 49 St Ronan’s Road Southsea. Thomas was injured at 20 Bethia Road on 23 May 1943; he died the same day at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Boscombe. He was cremated at Bournemouth Crematorium on 28 May. His daughter, Eleanor Ida Sinclair Collen (née Browne) died in the same incident (see below).

Frances Budden aged 76, of 60 Richmond Wood Road, formerly of 287 Seely Road, Tooting, London. She was the daughter of Job Bower (1815-1886) and Mary Spencer (1824-1891); they married in 1844 and Job was a stonemason. Frances was born in the September quarter of 1866 in Langton Matravers and was one of a large family. In the 1881 census Frances was a servant in London. By 1891 she was living with her widowed mother and Henry and Jane Corben in Lambeth; Henry was a stonemason and Jane was her step-sister by her father’s first marriage. Later in 1891 she married Samuel Havard Baker (1864-1892) in South Africa. He was a school teacher and had emigrated for health reasons. He died the following year, leaving her with a son.

In 1895 she married George Henry Corben Budden, a carman originally from Chettle in Dorset. By 1901 they were living in Kennington with her son and their two younger children. By 1911 her son had moved to live with his father’s parents in Lambeth and was working as a clerk. George and Frances had moved to the Kennels, Sandford, near Ringwood with their four children; George was a farmer. He died in the December quarter of 1921 in Lambeth; at that point he was a storekeeper. Frances died at 60 Richmond Wood Road on 23 May 1943. She was buried on 28 May at Langton Matravers. She is remembered on the 6th Boys Brigade/Moordown Sunday School war memorial.

Albert Edward Callan aged 41, of Vyrnwy, Stanley Road, Malvern, Worcestershire. He was the son of Charles Edward Callan (1866-1938) and Rose Alexandra Mary Polden (1869-1956), of Brecon, King Edwards Road, Malvern Wells; they married on 15 October 1898 in Camberwell. Albert was baptised on 16 June 1901 in Camberwell. He married Dorothy Irene Jones (see below) in the June quarter of 1931 in Upton; they had two sons. He was a company director of Ledbury Preserves, and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. The factory had a long history; it became known as Ledbury Preserves in 1928 and was a major employer in the area. Albert was injured on 23 May 1943 at the Central Hotel, Richmond Hill; he died at Royal Victoria Hospital, Boscombe on 25 May. His wife was killed in the same incident; they were buried together in Malvern Wells churchyard on 1 June: grave reference 1184.

Dorothy Irene Callan aged 32, of Vyrnwy, Stanley Road, Malvern. She was the daughter of Mr. Albert E. and Mrs. L. M. Jones, of Overseas, Little Marcle, Herefordshire, and the wife of Albert Edward Callan (see above), a jam manufacturer; he was killed in the same incident. She died at the Central Hotel, Richmond Hill on 23 May 1943. She was buried on 1 June in Malvern Wells churchyard: grave reference 1184.

Dorothy Kent Candy, aged 47, of Flat 3, Cairns House, St. Peters Road. She was the daughter of Arthur Littlefair and Mary Kent, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Northumberland; she was christened on 20 August 1896 at Newcastle. In the 1911 census her parents were living at Kingsley Terrace, Newcastle; her father was a railway clerk and her parents had been married 15 years. They had two daughters. Dorothy married in 1915 to Joseph Snee. She married again on 2 December 1929 in Paddington to Rupert G L Candy; they had a daughter.

Robert George Leverton Candy was born in the September quarter of 1876 in London. In the 1911 census he was an authorised clerk to stock jobbers of the London Stock Exchange. During the First World War he was promoted to Lieutenant in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in 1916, and then a Major in the Royal Flying Corps until he was transferred to the unemployed list on 5 July 1920. He died on 7 March 1937 in London, and left his estate to his unmarried sister.

Dorothy was working as a hotel assistant at the time of her death. She died at Cairns House, along with Michael Geoffrey Wheeler, on 23 May. His mother was née Candy; Dorothy may have been his grandmother, but I have been unable to confirm a link. However, the two were buried together, with a joint headstone, at Bournemouth North Cemetery on 2 June: grave N4/65.

Donald John Salter Chapman, aged 54, of 6 Gervis Road. He was the son of John Farmer Chapman (1861-1932) and Helen Elizabeth Salter (1868-1950); they married in the December quarter of 1886 in Wolverhampton. Donald was born in the September quarter of 1888 in Wolverhampton; he was the eldest of 7 children. In the 1891 census, John was a japanner. Donald was at St Kenelms Anglican Boarding School, Headington in 1901. In 1911 he and his family were in Hampton, near Kingston. John was a life assurance manager for Gresham’s Life Assurance; Donald was a bank clerk. In the March quarter of 1915, Donald married Victoria Margaret Lloyd; she was born in Hampton in 1888. They had one daughter. By 1943 they had moved to Bournemouth and were living at 6 Gervis Road. Donald was injured there in an air raid on 23 May 1943, and died the next day at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Boscombe. I have been unable to find any record of his burial.

Barbara Christine Clark, aged 17, of 12 Lansdowne Road. She was the daughter of the late Stanley Clark and Barbara Christine Kater; her stepfather was John Kater. She was born c. 1926. She was injured at 12 Lansdowne Road on 23 May 1943 and died the same day at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Boscombe; her mother (see below) died in the same incident. They were buried together on 31 May at Bournemouth East Cemetery: grave reference L4/55.

Grace Condon Clyne, M.A., L.R.A.M., L.G.S.M., A.R.P. Telephonist, aged 42, of 163 Richmond Park Road. She was the daughter of William Hall Addison (1854-1944) and Beatrice Condon (1870-1939); they married in Hastings in the June quarter of 1899. In the 1891 census William was the headmaster at the Deaf and Dumb Institution in Cathcart, Glasgow; he was the master of instruments and a widower. Beatrice’s maternal grandfather was a retired schoolmaster, according to the 1881 census, and she was born in Cawnpore, India. Grace was born in 1901 in Cathcart. She studied at the University of Glasgow, where she gained her MA. In 1922 she acted in Antigone, as part of the Glasgow University Dramatic Club. She shared the title role of Antigone, during a week’s performances at Hengler’s Circus, Glasgow. She later became a licentiate of both the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music. By 1930 she was working as a teacher in Trinidad, and returning to her parents in Bournemouth each summer. By 1934 she had married Frank Christopher Clyne, an oil engineer from St Mawes who was also living in Trindad, and they were recorded as travelling back to Trinidad from the UK that September. She continued to work as a teacher until the birth of her daughter. In 1936 she brought her six month old daughter to Bournemouth for a summer visit. In November 1937 all three travelled back to Bournemouth. In April 1938 Grace and her daughter were due to travel from Dover to Port of Spain in April, but the records suggest they may not have travelled as their details are struck through. In May 1938 Christopher returned from Trinidad to Bournemouth. He died at 163 Richmond Park Road on 27 March 1939, aged 37. His mother-in-law, Beatrice, had died the previous month, on 25 February, aged 68.

By 1943 Grace was working as an ARP telephonist. She died at Howard Road on 23 May. William Henry Brown, the Head Warden, was killed in the same incident. She was buried at Bournemouth North Cemetery on 27 May: grave reference A2/72. There is a memorial to her in St Alban’s Church, Charminster; she is also remembered on the County Borough of Bournemouth book of remembrance.

Clement John Cole, aged 48, of 56 Drummond Road, Boscombe. He was the son of the late Clement Gough Cole (a storekeeper and Army pensioner) (1860-1941) and Fanny Jeffery Saunders (1861-1934). They married in the June quarter of 1891 in Christchurch. His father was originally from Newbridge, County Kildare, and his mother was from Ripley, Hampshire; he had served in the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry from 1884. He was 5 feet 8 ¾ inches tall, blue eyed and with dark brown hair. He was promoted to corporal in 1886 and served until 1890, first in in Malta 1885-88 and then in India 1888-90. He was discharged with atrophy of the thigh muscle and awarded an Army pension; he died in 1941 in Southampton Borough Hospital, aged 81.

Clement junior was born in the June quarter of 1895 in Christchurch. In the 1911 census, Clement, his parents and 2 of his 3 siblings were living at 5 Cotlands Road, Bournemouth. Clement was a mechanical engineer, as was his elder brother. He married Ada Jane Clarke in the March quarter of 1920 in Christchurch. They had two children. By 1943 Clement was working as a brewer’s helper. He was injured at 56 Drummond Road on 23 May 1943, and found dead on arrival at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Boscombe the same day. His elder daughter, Beryl Gough Westbrook (née Cole), was killed in the same incident (see below). They were buried together at Bournemouth East Cemetery on 31 May: grave reference O4/55. They are remembered in the County Borough of Bournemouth book of remembrance.

Eleanor Ida Sinclair Collen, aged 64, of 20 Bethia Road. She was the daughter of Thomas John Browne (see above) and his first wife, Sara Henderson Sinclair, formerly of Thomas Street, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Eleanor was born on 11 February 1879 in Dungannon. By 1911 she was living in York and was a nurse at York County Hospital. In the September quarter of 1920 she married William Collen (1862-1932) in Rathsdown. He was a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, and became the County Surveyor for Dublin, 1891-1924. A biography of him says: “A man of intelligence and energy, Collen was a pioneer and advocate of steam-rolling for roads and procured and maintained a steam-roller at his own expense until he had converted the county council to his views. He was responsible for the improvement of many roads in the county, especially in the southern portion”.

He took early retirement in 1924 and went to live in Bournemouth. His health in retirement was not good; he died on on 29 April 1932, a few months after a severe illness from which he never fully recovered.

Eleanor died at 20 Bethia Road on 23 May 1943. Her father was injured in the same incident and died later that day in the Royal Victoria Hospital. She was buried on 29 May in Bournemouth East cemetery: grave reference T4/172. She is listed on the Dungannon war dead database.

Jean Crute, aged 22. She was the daughter of Reginald John and Mabel Badcock, of 4A Knowles Hill Road, Newton Abbot, Devon, and the wife of Lieut. Leonard Robert Edmunds Crute, R.E (who died in the same incident). Reginald John Badcock (1881-1953) married Mabel Parker (1888-1945) on 5 September 1907 in Newton Abbot. In the 1911 census he was described as a drapery director. They had four children; Jean was the youngest. She was born in the March quarter of 1921 in Newton Abbot. She married Leonard Robert Edmunds Crute in the December quarter of 1941 in Newton Abbot. She, her husband and her parents were all at the Central Hotel, Richmond Hill, at the time of the attack on 23 May 1943. Her husband Len was killed outright, but Jean and Mabel were trapped by falling masonry; Mabel was rescued alive after almost 20 hours, but by then Jean had died. Her father was unhurt. She is believed to have been buried at Highweek (All Saints) Newton Abbot, along with her husband.

Annie Dawes aged 65, of 12 Lansdowne Road (the Kingsway Hotel). I have been unable to find any details about her family; she was working as a domestic help. The Bournemouth Civilian War Dead Register describes her as a spinster with “no known relatives”. She died on 23 May 1943 at the Hotel Metropole, Holdenhurst Road. She was buried on 29 May at Bournemouth North Cemetery: grave reference J4/65.

Phyllis Emily Deller, aged 28. She was the daughter of Mrs. E. Rice, of Corner House, 3a Lansdowne Crescent, and the wife of Sapper Arthur Henry Deller, R.E. Her parents were Alfred Rice (1888-1935) and Emily Vizzard (1887-1962); they married in the September quarter of 1907 in Bristol. In the 1911 census they were at the Worcester Arms, Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham, and Alfred was a licensed victualler; their eldest son was born in Bournemouth. (Alfred’s father David was a publican, and in the 1901 census was at the Richmond Hotel, Bournemouth.) Phyllis was born in Christchurch in the June quarter of 1915. She married Arthur Henry Deller (1909-1972) in the June quarter of 1941 in Bournemouth. She died on 23 May 1943 at the Hotel Metropole, Holdenhurst Road, killed by falling masonry. She was buried 29 May at Wimborne Rd Cemetery: grave reference E4/60s.

Pamela Clara Dimascio, aged 43, of 250 Holdenhurst Road. She was the daughter of Walter Leonard Lane (1871-1954) and Elizabeth Bessie Lane (nee Tuck) (1878-1932); he was a woodman from Stoke Abbott. She was born on 18 October 1898 in Christchurch, and was baptised in Broadwindsor on April 20 1900 along with her younger sister Flossie Conora Lane. She was one of a large family of approximately 16 children. She married Jack (Giahino) Dimascio (1889-1949) in the June quarter of 1920; he was a cycle mechanic and dealer. His parents Giovanni and Domenica were originally from Italy, and in the 1911 census his father was a sweetmaker at 21 Capstone Road, Bournemouth. Pamela died on 23 May 1943, at or near 248 Holdenhurst Road, along with her daughter Sylvia (see below). They were buried in Wimborne Road Cemetery on 31 May: grave reference S6/52s (this is an unmarked plot).

Sylvia E. Dimascio, aged 9, of 250 Holdenhurst Road. She was the daughter of Jack Dimascio, and of Pamela Clara Dimascio (nee Lane). She was born in Bournemouth in the September quarter of 1934. She died at or near 250 Holdenhurst Road, along with her mother, on 23 May 1943, and was buried with her in Wimborne Road Cemetery on 31 May.

Charles Stanley Dolton, aged 53, of 62 Darracott Road, Boscombe. He was the son of George James Dolton (1852-1924) and Elizabeth Ann Selway (1853-1913); they married in the June quarter of 1877 in Yeovil. He was born in the June quarter of 1890 in Yeovil. In 1891 he was living in Holdenhurst, Bournemouth, with his parents; his father was a woodturner and carver, and there were 4 other children. By 1901 he was living with his parents and siblings at 25 Dunsford Road (the Dimascio family were at no. 29). In 1911 Charles was the eldest son at home at Stewart Road with his two older sisters and was an upholsterer. By 1943, he was a grocer’s assistant; he was living at 62 Darracott Road with W.J. Atwill, his brother-in-law, who was believed to be a grocer. He died at the Hotel Metropole, Holdenhurst Road on 23 May, killed by falling masonry. He was buried on 27 May, in Bournemouth North Cemetery: grave reference B4/65.

Alfred Charles Downer, aged 52, of 44 Fenton Road, West Southbourne. He was the son of Moses and Mary Jane Downer (nee Sandey) of New Town, Kinson; Moses (1867-1950) was a labourer. He was baptised on 12 October 1890. The family were living at Ringwood Road, Kinson, in 1891. In 1901 Jane (1871-1911) was a laundress, with 4 children and her sister, Rose Sandy. By 1911, Moses was a widower, living with his four children in Wood Green; Jane had died in London shortly before the census was taken. Moses was a general labourer and Alfred was a messenger for a shipping agent. He married Lily Rose Dear (1885-1954) in the December quarter of 1911 in Christchurch; they had two children. He is believed to have served in the Royal Engineers duing WW1. He was working as a demolition worker in 1943 when he was killed in Christchurch Road, near Beales Corner, on 1 June 1943; part of a building fell. He was buried in Bournemouth East Cemetery on 4 June: grave reference L4/18.

Beryl Dyson, aged 23, B.R.C.S., of 45 School Road, Moseley, Birmingham. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph William Dyson, of the same address. Joseph William Dyson (1885-1973) married Martha Edna Powell (1885-1955) in the March quarter of 1908 in Ruthin. In the 1911 census they were living in Denbigh and he was a farmer. By 1915 they were living in Lancaster, with 5 children; Joseph was a butcher. He enlisted in the Army Service Corps in December 1915, and served in France and Egypt. He had persistent health problems after suffering from dysentery and was discharged in November 1918. Beryl was born in the September quarter of 1919 in Lancaster. It is possible that she was the fiancée of Peter Guy Francis (see below), but I have been unable to confirm this. She died at the Central Hotel, Richmond Hill, on 23 May 1943. She was buried on 31 May at Yardley Wood Cemetery, Birmingham. Henry George Eggett, aged 73, of 54 Drummond Road, Boscombe. He was the son of John Henry Eggett (1845-1901) and Ann Symonds (1847-1939), of Harwich, Essex; they married in 1867. His father was a lighthouse keeper; he was the keeper of Mucking lighthouse, Stanford le Hope, at the time of his death. Henry was born in the September quarter of 1869 in Tendring, Essex. He married Christiana Goffin (1869-1950) in the September quarter of 1892 in Tendring. He gained his mates certificate in 1891 and his masters certificate in 1903; he is named there as George Henry Eggett. The 1911 census says he was a master mariner, living in Dovercourt with his wife and three of their four children. He died at 54 Drummond Road on 23 May 1943. He was buried on 28 May in Bournemouth East Cemetery: grave reference U5/145.

Harriett Maria Evison, aged 74, of 12 Lansdowne Road (the Kingsway Hotel). She was the daughter of Charles Henbest (1832-1904) and Eliza Parsons (1836-1919); they married in 1860 in Southampton and had 8 or more children. Charles was a grocer who later became a fly driver and coachman. Harriett Maria was born in the June quarter of 1869 in Southampton. She married William Alfred Leigh in 1891 in Eastleigh. In the 1911 census he was a clerk at Southampton docks.

In September 1926 she married Symonds Evison (1854-1934) in Bournemouth. In the 1871 census he was a boarder and undergrooom. In 1881 he was married and living in London; he was a billiard marker. By 1891 he had become a billiard room proprietor, and was still working as one in 1901. However, in 1911 he was living in Northcote Road, Bournemouth, at the same address as Harriett’s widowed mother; he was working as a store keeper. He was employed as a kitchen porter at the time of his death. Harriett died at 12 Lansdowne Road on 23 May 1943. She was buried on 29 May in Bournemouth North Cemetery: grave reference B3/93.

Bernard Flynn, Home Guard, aged 41, of 12 Crescent Road. He was the son of Mary Ann Flynn (née Campbell) of 9 Nadine Street, Seedley, Salford, and the late John Flynn; John was a brass fitter in the 1911 census. Bernard was born in the March quarter of 1902 in Salford. He married Catherine Barbara Walker in the September quarter of 1935 in Surrey SouthWest. He was a telephone engineer at the time of his death; he died at the Central Hotel, Richmond Hill, on 23 May 1943. His wife died in the same incident. He was buried at Guildford on 1 June, along with his wife.

Catherine Barbara Flynn, aged 33, of 12 Crescent Road. She was the daughter of Frederick John Walker and his wife Catherine. She and her twin sister Christine Johanna were born in the September quarter of 1909 in Marylebone. She married Bernard Flynn in the September quarter of 1935 in Surrey. She died at the Central Hotel, Richmond Hill, on 23 May 1943, along with her husband. They were buried together on 1 June at Guildford.

George Foley Forsyth, aged 62, of 12 St Stephen’s Mount. He was the son of the late Revd. Thomas Jonathan and Jane McMurray Forsyth, of Straid, Northern Ireland. He was born in Lisburn on 26 June 1880. In 1900 George became an assistant clerk in the Valuation Office, Ireland. By 1911, he was married to Annie Margaret Forsyth (they had married in 1904), and they were living in Wandsworth with their son. George was then a customs and excise clerk. Annie died in Lambeth in the December quarter of 1914. George then married Mabel Florence Clode in Rochford in the September quarter of 1917, and they had a daughter. By 1943, he and his wife were living at 12 St Stephen’s Mount; George was a higher clerical officer in the statistical office of the Customs and Excise. He died on 23 May 1943 at the Central Hotel, Richmond Hill. He was buried on 28 May in Wimborne Road Cemetery: grave reference D4/50s.

Julia Hannah Hartin, aged 47, of 38 Carlton Road. She was the daughter of the late Mr Norman Travers Hartin (1865-1926) and Elizabeth Ann Goodridge (1873-1935), of 26 Meadway, Stoke Heath, Coventry; they married in 1894 in Pembroke. Her father was born in Port Louis, Mauritius, and her mother came from Wales. In the 1901 census they were visiting relatives in Pembroke. Norman had served in the Army from 1879 (when he was only 14 and barely 4 feet 7 inches tall) until after 1901; he served in India in 1882-1886. He re-enlisted in the Special Reserve in 1914; he was discharged in 1918.They had six children; Julia was the eldest and was born in the June quarter of 1895 in Ockendon, Essex. She was called Hannah after her maternal grandmother, Hannah Venables. By 1943, she was running a boarding house for evacuated children. She was injured on 23 May 1943 (the CWGC record states she “lost her life in saving evacuated children”) at Carlton Road, and died on the way to the Royal Victoria Hospital; Michael Woodward, aged 4, was killed in the same incident (see below). Her brother, Hugh Vernon Hartin (1909-1985), a sergeant in the Royal Marines at Lympstone, took care of the funeral arrangements. She was buried in Boscombe East Cemetery on 28 May: grave reference D4/18.

Harold Albert Michael Harvey, Air Raid Warden, aged 44, of 46 Kings Road, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey. He was the son of Albert Edward Harvey (1866-) and Emily Louisa Rolls( 1868-1941); they married in South Stoneham on 1 May 1893. He was born on 6 September 1898 in Croydon. He served in World War 1. He married Doris Annie Trent on 27 September 1919 in Croydon. He went to Australia in August 1921; he was working as a seaman, and later worked as an agent. He married in New South Wales in 1926. He was deported from Australia in 1932 and worked his passage to England as a seaman. Later that year, he remarried Doris Annie Trent in Croydon; they were living in Shepperton in 1936. He was believed to have been working as a journalist at some stage. In 1943 he was working as the Australian agent for British, Australian and New Zealand newspapers. He died on 23 May 1943 at the Central Hotel, Richmond Hill. He was buried in Bournemouth North Cemetery on 31 May: grave reference G1/14.

Frederick Edward Hasler, aged 49, of 48 Barton Road, Branksome. He was the son of the late Margaret Hasler, of Switzerland, and was a Swiss citizen. He was injured on 23 May 1943, at the Central Hotel; he died at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Boscombe, on 28 May. I have been unable to discover any further details about him.

Florence Eva Hawke, aged 40, of 54 Drummond Road. She was the daughter of Samuel S. Mould and Annie Jefferis; Samuel was a dock labourer. They married in the March quarter of 1901 in Winchester. Florence was born in the September quarter of 1902 in Winchester. She married Leslie Charles Hawke (1908-1992) in the March quarter of 1931 in Bournemouth. His parents were William Henry Damerel Hawke and Bessie Evans; William was an advertising agent and the family came from Devon. Leslie was an engineer; he and Florence had three children (see below). Florence and her two younger children died at 54 Drummond Road on 23 May 1943. They were buried in Bournemouth East Cemetery on 27 May: grave reference E4/55. They are remembered in the County Borough of Bournemouth book of remembrance, and in St John’s Church, Boscombe.

Pamela Hawke, aged 10, of 54 Drummond Road. She was the older daughter of Leslie Hawke, and of Florence Eva Hawke (who died in the same incident). She died at 54 Drummond Road on 23 May 1943.

Wendy Hawke, aged 8, of 54 Drummond Road. She was the younger daughter of Leslie Hawke, and of Florence Eva Hawke (who died in the same incident). She died at 54 Drummond Road on 23 May 1943.

(Their elder brother, Peter, died at RAF Negombo, Ceylon, in 1952.) Michael Douglas Hayward, aged 10, of 22 Bethia Road. He was the son of Douglas Wilfred Hayward (1902-1978) and Isabel Rosser Tovey (1902-1988); they married in Bournemouth in the June quarter of 1930. Douglas was a builder. They had three children. Michael, their younger son, was born in the December quarter of 1932. He died at 22 Bethia Road on 23 May 1943. He was buried on 26 May in Bournemouth East Cemetery: grave reference R4/17.

Douglas Victor B. Herridge, aged 38, of 36 Shirley Road. He was the son of Emma Herridge and was born in the September quarter of 1904. He married Lilian Florence Hamilton (1904-1982) in the December quarter of 1926 in Bournemouth; they had seven children. He worked as a torpedo fitter, and was also a private in the 6th (Bournemouth) Battalion of the Hampshire Home Guard. He died at Beales’ Stores, Old Christchurch Road, on 23 May 1943; he was killed by falling rubble while on duty. He was buried in Bournemouth North Cemetery on 31 May: grave reference K4/65. His wife was buried in the same grave. He is remembered in the County Borough of Bournemouth book of remembrance.

Harry Hoffenberg, aged 50, of the Corner House, Lansdowne. He was the son of Barnett and Betsy Hoffenberg, of 8 Broom Lane, Salford; they were originally from Russia, and married in about 1882; they had 12 children, 11 of whom were still living in 1911. Harry was born on 14 December 1892. In the 1911 census, he was living with his parents at 281 Chetham Hill Road, Manchester; at that point he was called Hyman Hoffenberg. He eventually worked as a jeweller’s traveller, like his father and at least one of his elder brothers, but was a picture framer at the time of his journey to America; he emigrated in 1913, and worked as a salesman in New York. In 1918-1919 he served in France as part of the 118th Machine Gun Battalion. He applied for a US passport in October 1919 so that he could travel to England; he is described as having grey eyes and brown hair and is wearing glasses in the photograph. He wanted to return to the UK to discusss a business venture with his father, who was in the wholesale jewellery business. In 1926, there was a notice in the London Gazette, giving a change of name under the aliens’ restrictions: H Hoffenburgh, formerly Harry Hoffenberg, carpet salesman, 281 Chetham Hill Road. By 1943 Harry was a jeweller’s traveller once more, and was a private in the 6th (Bournemouth) battalion of the Hampshire Home Guard. He died at the Hotel Metropole on 23 May 1943. He was buried on 27 May at Urmston New Synagogue Cemetery. He is remembered in the County Borough of Bournemouth book of remembrance.

Cynthia Betty Hooper, aged 17, of 41/43 Cleveland Road (the Drop-In Cafe). She was the daughter of Lily Elizabeth Mildred Woodward (1891-1957) and Walter Hooper (c 1870-1942); they married in Bridgewater in 1913. (In the 1911 census, Lily was working in Bournemouth as a general servant; Walter was a labourer.) Cynthia was their third child; she was born in the December quarter of 1925 in Bridgewater. She was working as a domestic help at The Drop-In Cafe, 43, Cleveland Road, at the time of her death on 23 May 1943. She was buried on 28 May East Cemetery: grave reference G4/55. She is remembered in the County Borough of Bournemouth book of remembrance.

Eileen Howard, aged 52, of White House, West Dean, Salisbury, Wiltshire. She was the daughter of the late George Charles Howard. He was born in 1859 and married Rose Anna Chapman (1859-1896) in Brighton in the January quarter of 1890. They had one child, Ellen, who was aged 5 months at the time of the 1891 census. In 1901 she was at boarding school at Elmcroft, Church Road, Heene, Worthing; by then she was known as Eileen. George was a very successful stockbroker; when he died in 1942 he left an estate worth over £253,000. He married again, firstly to Ethel Marcia Gush in 1900; they had a son who died in infancy. After Ethel’s death in 1907, he married Roseannie Eldred in 1909; she was working as a nurse in a diphtheria hospital in East Ham at the time of the 1901 census. They had a son in 1913. In May 1943 Eileen was staying at the Normandie Hotel, 61 Manor Road, with her companion Lilian Maud Wormell (see below); both women were described as “of independent means”. Lilian was the youngest sister of Roseannie Howard, Eileen’s stepmother. They died on 23 May at 61 Manor Road, and were buried at Whiteparish, Wilts, on 27 May. Eileen’s half-brother, John Eldred Howard, of Medstead Grange, Alton, was listed as her next of kin.

Kathleen (Kay) Jeffrey, aged 37, of 2 Palmerston Villas, Dublin, Irish Republic. She was the daughter of Arthur Hall (1883-1936) and Lucy Anne Bowdler (1881-1927); they married on 12 December 1904 in Bloxwich, Staffs. Kathleen (later known as Kay) was born on 19 November 1905 in Walsall and was the eldest of a large family. In May 1927, Lucy died of consumption, two years after the birth of her youngest daughter; Kay then took over the care of her brothers and sisters. One of her sisters wrote “Kay was always our Mum”. She later went to England to try to earn money for the family, and returned to Dublin as soon as she had done so. The family had a flat in Upper Baggot Street and Kay worked at the Irish Sweepstake office. She married Harry Cecil Jeffrey (1900-1972) in Dublin South in the December quarter of 1933; they had a daughter the following year. Harry joined the Army and Kay remained in Dublin with her siblings. Later they bought a house in Preston. At the start of the war, Harry was in the Signal Corps; however, he was on the Lancastria when she was sunk off St. Nazaire on 17 June 1940. The incident left him with severe arthritis and so he was transferred to the Army Pay Corps. By May 1943, he was a Captain in the Pay Corps, working in Bournemouth and living at 42 Grosvenor Gardens, Boscombe. (Their daughter had been sent to Dublin for safety and was at boarding school there.) He and Kay separated on 21 May and she moved to 6 Undercliff Road, Boscombe; she was working in the Army Pay Corps. She arranged to meet friends for lunch at the Metropole Hotel on Sunday 23 May, and died there. She was buried on 28 May in Bournemouth East Cemetery: grave reference E4/18.

Barbara Christine Kater, aged 41, of 12 Lansdowne Road. She was born in about 1902; her maiden name may have been Marshall, but I have been unable to confirm this. She married Stanley Clark (who died before 1943) and they had a daughter, Barbara (see entry above for Barbara Christine Clark). She married John Kater (1907-1963) in the September quarter of 1936 in Hendon. She was injured on 23 May 1943 at 12 Lansdowne Road and died on 29 May at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Boscombe. She was buried with her daughter on 31 May at Bournemouth East Cemetery: they were buried in the same grave, grave reference L4/55.

Dorothy May Keen, A.R.P. Ambulance Driver, aged 30, of 275 Devizes Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire. She was born Dorothy May Phillips in c. 1913; I have been unable to establish any further details. She married George Leslie Keen in the September quarter of 1937 in Leicester. At the time of her death, he was a Sergeant in the Royal Army Service Corps. She died on 23 May 1943 at the Central Hotel, Richmond Hill. She was originally unidentified and was buried in Bournemouth North Cemetery on 27 May: grave reference C4/65. She was later disinterred under the faculty of the Bishop of Winchester, for reburial at Devizes Road Cemetery, Salisbury: grave reference 7/347. John James Kerslake, aged 62, of 51 Olga Road, Victoria Park, Dorchester. He was the son of the late John James and Leah Kerslake, of 41 Mount Street, Charlton, London; they married at Portsea Island in the September quarter of 1879. John was a timekeeper at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. Their son John James was born in the September quarter of 1880 at Portsea Island. He became a sailor, and married Elizabeth Annie Bubier (1882-1966) on December 25 1908 at West Fordington. They lived in Dorchester and had four children; John later worked as a labourer. He died at the Central Hotel, Richmond Hill, on 23 May 1943. He was buried on 27 May in Dorchester.

Josephine McLauchlin Lally, aged 51, of 43 Village Way, Pinner.She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Mirrilees, of Glasgow. Her father, John Drysdale Mirrilees (1869-1926) married Mary Jane Ferns (1870-1903) on 10 November 1889 in Glasgow; he was a law clerk general. They had 2 daughters; Josephine was born in about December 1890(she was 4 months old at the time of the April 1891 Scottish census). Mary Jane died of chronic gastroenteritis in 1903. John, by now a solicitor, married again in 1922 to Ella Jack Pollock (1890-1938); he died in 1926 after an accident in Glasgow. Josephine moved to London in the nineteen-twenties. She married Peter Martin Lally in the June quarter of 1939 in Marylebone. He was born in Navan, County Meath, Ireland in 1880 and by 1901 was living in Marylebone and working as an abstractor for the Board of Trade. He had retired from the civil service in 1943. Josephine died on 23 May 1943 in Holdenhurst Road. (It is thought that she and a friend had just finished working for the American Red Cross in Jacey House and were walking to the bus stop in Holdenhurst Road when the siren went. The friend caught the waiting bus, while Josephine decided to shelter in the doorway of the Metropole Hotel.) She was buried on 26 May in Wimborne Rd Cemetery: grave reference Q6/60s.

Agnes Elizabeth Lawton, aged 57, of Flat 2, Pavilion Court, Pavilion Road. She was the daughter of James and Martha E Blight, of Guernsey. James Blight (1850-) was a seaman from Guernsey, and he and Martha married in about 1884. Their daughter Agnes Elizabeth was born in about 1886 in St Peter Port. In the 1901 census her mother was a widow and letting furnished apartments at Brunswick House, St Peter Port; her lodgers included the manager of the local public library and a number of bank clerks. She married Ernest Aubrey Lawton (1878-1955). He was born in 1878 in Huddersfield, the son of George and Mary Anne Lawton; George was a book-keeper. In the 1911 census he was in Guernsey, St Peter Port and was working as a druggist. By 1943 they were living at Pavilion Court and Ernest was a chemist. Agnes died at Pavilion Court on 23 May 1943; she may have been killed by cannon fire, given the location overlooking the Gardens. She was buried on 27 May in Bournemouth North Cemetery: grave reference K2/46.

Florence Ethel Litman, aged 56, of Central Hotel, Richmond Hill. She was the daughter of the late George W. and Emma J. Litman, of 9 Allen Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire. George W. Litman from Wiltshire, (1862-1932) married Emma Jane Hall, from Oxford, (1854-1917) in the September quarter of 1883 in Melksham. He was a gas fitter. They had 5 children, 3 of whom were still alive at the time of the 1911 census. Florence was born in the March quarter of 1887 in Melksham; in 1911 she was working as a cashier at the drapery cash desk for a large drapery store in Newport. Her father George left his estate to her in 1932. By 1943, she was the housekeeper of the Central Hotel. She died at the Central Hotel on 23 May 1943, on the top floor, killed by falling masonry. She was buried on 29 May, Bournemouth North Cemetery: grave reference H4/65.

Nathan McGavin, (Capt. Rtd, MC), aged 46, of Studleigh Royal, Upper Terrace Road. He was the son of Samuel and Mary McGavin of Glasgow; Samuel was a grocer from Lanark. Nathan was born in about 1897 in Lanark, and studied at the University of Glasgow; he was a member of their OTC. In the First World War, he was awarded a Military Cross, and was mentioned in despatches in June 1919. He served with the 6th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles and saw service in Gallipoli , Suvla Bay and Salonika in 1915, and later Egypt and Palestine in 1918-1919. He married Olive Henrietta Templeton Mew (1900-1963) in the June quarter of 1926 on the Isle of Wight. She was born in Newport in 1900. Her parents were Francis Templeman Mew (1857-1922) and Olive Katherine de Pledge (1866-1950). Francis was the director of the Mew brewery in Newport (later Mew-Langtons and then Gibbs Mew) and they lived at Polars, Staplers, Newport, Isle of Wight; when he died in 1922, he left over £245,848. Nathan McGavin was still serving in the Army as a Captain in May 1933 before retiring. He was killed at the Central Hotel, Richmond Hill, Bournemouth, on 23rd May 1943. He was buried on 28 May at Bournemouth East Cemetery: grave referenceY4/17.

Alfred McTernan, aged 41, of 163 Old Christchurch Road. He was born in the June quarter of 1902 in Marylebone. He married Daisy A. Reed in the December quarter of 1923 at Pancras. They had four children, two in London followed by twins after their move to Bournemouth in the early 1930s. In 1943 he was working as a lorry driver. He died at the Metropole Hotel on 23 May. He was buried on 27 May at Bournemouth North Cemetery: grave reference D4/65.

Annie Manfield, aged 65, of 56 Drummond Road, Boscombe. She was the daughter of Whitwell Manfield (1842-1916) and Sarah Elizabeth Scriven (1842-1892), of Grove House, South Kilvington, Thirsk, Yorkshire; they married in the June quarter of 1877 in Wharfedale. Whitwell was a chemist and druggist; his unusual forename was his mother’s maiden surname. Annie was born on 17 February 1878; she was named after Whitwell’s mother Ann. By 1881 they were living in Leeds; they had a further daughter, Edith, and Whitwell was employing two men in his business. By 1891 they had moved to South Kilvington, Thirsk. Sarah died in late 1892; Whitwell remarried in the December quarter of 1897 to Mary Anne Jopling. He died in 1916, leaving over £14,000 to his wife and daughters. Annie died at 56 Drummond Road on 23 May. She was buried at Bournemouth East Cemetery: grave reference K4/55. Her brother-in-law Charles Souter took care of the arrangements.

John Marsh, aged 61, of 19 Victoria Place. He was the son of Thomas and Mary Marsh; Thomas was a plasterer and in 1901 they were living with 5 of their 6 children in Windham Road, Bournemouth. Their son John was 19 and working as a bricklayer’s labourer; he was born in Bournemouth in 1881 or 1882 but I have been unable to locate the details. He was working as a labourer in 1943, and died at the Hotel Metropole, Holdenhurst Road, on 23 May. He was buried on 29 May in Bournemouth East Cemetery: grave reference P2/197. His elder brother Charles took care of the arrangements. John is commemorated in St Christopher’s Church.

Lilian Mary Mason, Air Raid Warden, aged 40, of 27 Richmond Hill Chambers. She was the wife of John A. Mason; they married in the December quarter of 1928 in Cambridge. He was a chef in the Merchant Navy; it is believed she may have been a telephonist for the Bournemouth Post Office. She died at Central Hotel, Richmond Hill on 23 May 1943, and was buried in Wimborne Road Cemetery on 31 May: grave reference G4/113s. She is remembered in the County Borough of Bournemouth book of remembrance.

Maimie Dorothy Peregrine, Air Raid Warden, aged 27, of 17 The Oval, Burn Bridge, Harrogate, Yorkshire. She was the daughter of Richard Henry Lippitt and Martha Doreen Season; they married in Oswestry in 1915. Richard Henry Lippitt was an actor, otherwise known as Dick Francis. They had three children; Maimie and her twin sister Betty (1916-1918) were born in 1916 in Ireland, and their younger brother Peter Guy (see below under military deaths) was born in 1923. Maimie married Wilfred John Peregrine (see below under military deaths) in Anglesey in 1941; he was a Corporal in the RAF Volunteer Reserve. Maimie and Wilfred were on leave and visiting her brother Peter and his fiancée in Bournemouth. They were having lunch at the Central Hotel at the time of the raid on 23 May. Mamie and her husband were killed; her brother was injured and died in hospital the next day. (I have been unable to confirm the identity of the fiancée, but she may have been Beryl Dyson). Maimie and Wilfred were buried at St John’s, Roundhay, Leeds, on 31 May. They are both commemorated on the Peregrine family grave: reference NG11.

Harold Pethybridge, Company Quartermaster Sergeant, 6th (Bournemouth) Battalion, Hampshire Home Guard, aged 63, of Flat 17, York Towers, 5 Pine Tree Glen, Bournemouth, and 35 Kenilworth Road Ealing. He was the son of John Pethybridge (1839-1916) and Sarah Georgina Faulls (1838-1919); they married in February 1867 in St. Pancras. John was an architect and surveyor. They had nine children; Harold was the youngest and was born in the March quarter of 1880 in St. Pancras. He married Frances Ada Cousins in July 1907 in Islington, and they had a son. Harold then fought in the First World War; at that point he was an assistant works manager (beer bottlers’ manager) and wanted to be part of the expeditionary force canteen. He was an acting Warrant Officer and was in the Army Service Corps; he joined up in 1916 and served in the Expeditionary Force Canteen. At the time he joined up he was 6 feet 1 and ½ inches tall. He served in Egypt in 1917, and in Bombay and Basra; he was demobilised in 1919. After his wife’s death in 1932, he went to live with his older sister Ethel in Ealing. By 1943 he was a retired civil servant and an active member of the Bournemouth Home Guard. He died at the Central Hotel, Richmond Hill, on 23 May. He was buried on 29 May at Bournemouth East Cemetery: grave reference M4/55. He is commemorated in the County Borough of Bournemouth book of remembrance.

Nellie Rose Piper, aged 43. She was the wife of one of the Central Hotel proprietors. Her mother was Elizabeth Jane Hussey (1876-1961), from Bridport, who married Henry James Dunham (1877-1947) on 30 April 1894 at Allington. Her daughter Ellen Rose was baptised on 2 September 1900 at Allington. In the 1901 census Henry was a railway engine stoker, living in Canton, Glamorgan with the 2 older children. Elizabeth was living with her parents and sisters in Bridport and working as a hemp spreader; her daughter Nellie was 9 months old. In the 1911 census Elizabeth was the head of household and a flax spreader; by then she had 5 children, of whom 4 were still living. Nellie was then living with her uncle and aunt in Burton Bradstock and was described in the census as a “niece at school”. She married George James Piper in Bournemouth in the June quarter of 1935; she was his second wife. He previously married Hilda May Burningham in London in 1915; they had one son. Hilda died on August 19th 1933 in Bournemouth, aged 37. George was the stepson of Lawrence Herbert Schofield (see below); they owned and ran the Central Hotel. On 23 May 1943, George was standing outside the hotel, at the top of the front step when he heard the noise of the raid. He was initially buried by rubble, but survived. His wife and step-father both died. Nellie was buried on 31 May at Burton Bradstock: grave reference E41.

Mabel Pougher, aged 26, of 56 Drummond Road. She was the daughter of Henry P. Wilson and Catherine Burr; they married in the December quarter of 1911 in Beverley, and were living at 83 Keldgate, Beverley, East Yorkshire in 1943. Mabel was born in the June quarter of 1917 in Beverley; she married Ernest Pougher (see below under military deaths) in the March quarter of 1940 in Holderness. By 1943 he was a Corporal in the Royal Army Pay Corps. She died at 56 Drummond Road on 23 May 1943. The CWGC record for Ernest suggests he died on 25 May; this would presumably be in the Royal Victoria Hospital, after being injured at 56 Drummond Road. Mabel was buried at St Mary’s Church, Beverley, on 29 May, as was her husband.

Robert Barrington Robshaw, aged 36, of Oakhurst Garage, Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. He was the son of Robert Benjamin and Minnie Robshaw, of Downs Cottage, Whitstable, Kent. Robert B. Robshaw (1877-) married Minnie Burkitt (1881-1938) on 25 June 1902 in Brixton. He was described as an athletic outfitter in the 1911 census. His father (also named Robert Benjamin) had been a bandmaster; he was a drummer and later a musician in the Royal Marines. Robert Barrington Robshaw was born in the September quarter of 1906 in Herne Hill. He married Mabel Brownhill in the December quarter of 1939 in Elham. In 1943, he was working as a radio distributor; his younger brother Kenneth was living with his wife and family in Bournemouth at the time. Robert was killed by cannon fire in the Central Pleasure Gardens on 23 May 1943. He was cremated on 26 May at Bournemouth Crematorium, North Cemetery.

Hubert Edgar Rogers, aged 49, of 14 Curzon Road, Poole, Dorset. He was the son of George Robert Rogers (1865-1895) and Eva Emily Anna Cookman; they married on 4 August 1888 in Parkstone. George was a labourer. Hubert was baptised on 8 October 1893 at Parkstone St. Peter. He married Mabel Newick in Bristol in the December quarter of 1921. They were living in Poole by 1923, when their first child was born. Hubert died at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Boscombe on 24 May 1943; I could find no record of where he was injured on 23 May. The casualty records suggest he was probably buried in Parkstone Cemetery.

Lawrence Herbert Schofield, aged 59, of the Central Hotel. (He was the proprietor, along with his stepson, George Piper). He was the son of Major James Schofield (1848-1925), a printer, and Emily Andrews (1852-1929); they married in Southwark in 1878. They had five children. Lawrence was born in the December quarter of 1883 at St Olave, Southwark, and baptised at Bermondsey St Crispin 9 March 1887, along with his elder brother, Major Henry Schofield. He married Florence Emma Cattell in the June quarter of 1905 in Holborn. In the 1911 census he was living in Bermondsey with his wife and family. He was an engineer’s fitter, dealing with gas and engines. Florence was 11 years his senior and was a coffee house keeper. They were living with her son, George Piper, an assistant cook in a coffee house, and her nephew Harvey Piper. By 1915, when he married his first wife, George (who had changed his name by deed poll) was a coffee house keeper.

Florence Emma Schofield died on 14 December 1926, aged 54. She died at Stagsden Nursing Home, West Cliff Road, Bournemouth; a contemporary account describes it as “Bournemouth’s leading surgical nursing home”. Her husband and son were awarded probate; they were described as hotel proprietors, living at the Central Hotel.

On 23 May 1943, the Central Hotel received a direct hit during the German attack on Bournemouth. Lawrence was killed, along with his daughter-in-law, Nellie. His stepson George was buried in the rubble, but rescued soon afterwards. Lawrence was buried on 28 May in Wimborne Road Cemetery: grave reference O7/2n. He was buried in the same plot as his wife Florence and his daughter-in-law, Hilda.

Howard Lecky Sikes, CBE, B.A., B.E., M.Inst. C.E., F.G.S., F.R.G.S., aged 61. Senior Regional Technical Adviser, Ministry of Home Security; late Director of Public Works, Kenya. He was the son of the late Richard Cherry Sikes, and Susannah Lecky Sikes, of The Grange, Co. Wexford. Richard Cherry Sikes (1833-1927) married Susannah Lecky Jacob in 1866 in Cork; they had seven children. Howard was the youngest; he was born on 12 December 1881. He served in the Magadi Defence Force and the East African Force in the First World War, rising to the rank of Captain. His brother Richard Cherry Sikes, a sub-lieutenant in the RNVR, was killed in France in April 1917. Howard married Elsie Priscilla Robson (1887-1974) in Shropshire on 5 November 1919; they had two children. He was the author of several books, including “The underground water resources of Kenya Colony”, 1934 and “Modern water legislation”, 1922. He and his family lived at Lamwia, 33, Conisboro Avenue, Caversham, Reading, after his return from Kenya. On 23 May 1943, while on regional service, he died at the Central Hotel, Richmond Hill. He had been attending a Civil Defence meeting; they were having lunch at the hotel at the time of the bombing. He was cremated at Bournemouth North Cemetery on 29 May.

Lily Smoothy, aged 28, of The Bungalow, Ely Road, Stretham, Ely. She was the daughter of Joseph and Eliza Ann Smoothy, of 9 Farrer Street, Nelson, Lancashire. Joseph Smoothy married Eliza Ann Mason in the March quarter of 1901 in Edmonton; both came from Cambridgeshire. By the 1911 census they had five surviving children and he was working as a dyers labourer. Lily was born in the December quarter of 1914 in Burnley. By 1943 she was working as an aircraft fitter and living at the Bungalow, Ely Road, Stretham, Ely; her mother had been born in the village and her elder brother Joseph and his wife Eva lived there. Joseph was a Signalman in the Royal Corps of Signals; he died on 2 April 1943, aged 31, and was buried in Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore: grave reference 16 A 1. (Presumably captured by the Japanese during the conquest of Malaya in 1942.) Lily died at the Hotel Metropole, Holdenhurst Road, on 23 May 1943, killed by falling masonry. She was buried on 30 May at Stretham, Isle of Ely.

Abraham (otherwise known as Albert) Spinak, aged 41, of the Merville Hotel, Exeter Road. He was the son of Solomon and Bertha Spinak, of Rudyard Grove, Mill Hill, London. Solomon Spinak (1880-1960) married Bertha (or Betsy) Bor (1880-1959) in the June quarter of 1899 in Mile End New Town; both of them were born in Russia and came from families of Jewish musicians. By 1911 Solomon (or Soly) was a wood carver of furniture working away and they had two sons, Abraham and Jack. Abraham was born in the September quarter of 1901 in Hackney; in the 1911 census he was staying with his grandmother, Golda Bor (nee Paikin, 1858-1922). She was aged 51 and a widow; she came from Russia, had been married 32 years and had 8 children, 4 of whom were still living. She was living with her son David, 26, a musician from Russia, her daughter-in-law Anna, who was also Russian, her 16-year-old daughter Hilda, who was a musician giving piano lessons, her granddaughter (also named Hilda) and her nephew Abraham. (Golda came from Dvinsk, also known as Daugavpils in what is now Latvia).

The Bor family claimed at least 8 generations of musicians in their family. Golda’s daughters both had sons who were professional musicians: Abraham Spinak and Tony Howard. David Bor and his wife Anna had four children, all of whom became musicians. In about 1913, he and his brother-in-law formed the orchestra that played at the Colonnade at Bexhill-on-Sea, then a fashionable resort. Hilda Bor (1910-1993) was the most famous of them all. She was a child prodigy. She became a concert pianist (giving recitals at London’s Wigmore Hall and the Royal Exchange) and a regular broadcaster for the BBC; after the war she became a teacher, her most notable pupils being the children of Yehudi Menuhin, and Prince Charles and Princess Anne.

In the March quarter of 1927, Abraham married Constance Gertrude Cunliffe at Marylebone. They had two daughters. He worked as a professional musician. In May 1939, Abraham (now known as Albert) Spinak aged 37, musician, of 29 Woodnook Road SW16, was travelling from Cape Town to Southampton on the Athlone Castle. By 1943, Constance was living at 55 Fishergate Hill, Preston, while Albert was staying at the Merville Hotel, Bournemouth. On 23 May 1943, he was killed by cannon fire while walking in the Central Pleasure Gardens. He was buried on 27 May in the Jewish section of Bournemouth East Cemetery: grave reference G6/157.

Edith Constance Stockton, aged 41, of 248A Holdenhurst Road. She was the daughter of Edith and the late William Henry Stockton. William Henry Stockton married Edith Eleanor Wright on 8 November 1900 at Ealing St Peter. In the 1901 census they were at Chipping Ongar with her father Joseph and sister Alice; William and his wife were both golf club stewards. Their daughter Edith was born in the December quarter of 1901 in Ongar. In the 1911 census, William and Edith were still golf club stewards, living with their daughter and baby son at the Golf Club, Littlestone, Kent. By 1943 their daughter was a newsagent and tobacconist in Bournemouth, while their son John was a gunner in the Army. Edith died at 248A Holdenhurst Road, killed by falling masonry. She was buried on 31 May in Bournemouth East Cemetery: grave reference N4/55.

Florence Thomas, aged 29, of 20B Edmondsham House, Terrace Road. She was the wife of Richard James Thomas, and was a waitress at the Central Hotel; I have been unable to find any more confirmed information about her. She died at Central Hotel, Richmond Hill, on 23 May 1943, killed by falling masonry. She was buried on 27 May in Bournemouth North Cemetery: grave reference F4/65.

Henry Steven Thrower, aged 73, of 10 Surrey Road. He was the son of Henry Johnson Thrower (1841-1904) and Elizabeth Kate Tennant: they married in the September quarter of 1866 in Shoreditch. Henry Stephen Thrower was born on 4 October 1869 in Shoreditch, and baptised at Holy Trinity Hoxton on 24 October 1869; the baptismal record states his father was a schoolmaster.In the 1881 census, the family were in Hornsey; Henry Johnson Thrower was a certified teacher and Elizabeth was a schoolmistress. In 1901 they were at the same address; Henry was the headmaster of a board school and Elizabeth was the headmistress of a board school. I have been unable to find an occupation for him, but he was described as a gentleman in the burial record. He died at the Central Hotel, Richmond Hill, on 23 May 1943. He was buried at Wimborne Road Cemetery on 28 May: grave reference S6/56s. Probate was awared to his younger brother Horace Tennant Thrower, a retired publicity agent.

Barbara Jean Todd, aged 20, of 5 Downs Road, Purley, Surrey, living at WTC (Women’s Timber Corps) Victoria House, Wareham. She was the daughter of Samuel Lawrence Charles Oliver (1884-1962) and Una Kenyon Fleming (1899-); they married in Devonport in the September quarter of 1921. Samuel was originally from Helston and served in the Royal Navy; in 1901 he was in Devonport and in 1911 he was an Able Seaman on board the Kent. Una was from Suffolk and both her father and grandfather were clergymen. Her father was Hugh Raincock Fleming (later Le Fleming); he married twice and Una was the eldest of a large family. Barbara was born in Devonport in the December quarter of 1922. She married Richard Frederick Todd (1916-1997) in the December quarter of 1942 in Bournemouth. He was a Lance Corporal in the Royal Engineers; she was a Lumberjill in the Women’s Timber Corps. She died at the Metropole Hotel, killed by falling masonry, on 23 May 1943. She was buried on 29 May in Bournemouth North Cemetery: grave reference H4/52.

Mary Frances Trent, aged 30. She was the daughter of Alfred CharlesTrent (1884-1982) and Jessie Hyde (1886-1944), who married on 4 July 1912 in Upton on Severn. Alfred came from Puddletown; in 1901 he was a footman at Wolfeton House, near Dorchester and by 1911 he was a coachman domestic, living at Knowle Stables, Cranleigh, Surrey. He served in the Royal Scots Greys. He was a chauffeur when he enlisted in 1915 in the Army Service Corps, Mechanical Transport. He served in France as part of the British Expeditionary Force. Mary Frances was born on 23 May 1913 in Cranleigh. By 1943 she was working as a shorthand typist, and her home address was 39 Copse Edge Avenue, Epsom; her parents were living at the same address. On 23 May 1943, she died at the Central Hotel; it was her thirtieth birthday. She was buried on 2 June in Bournemouth North Cemetery: grave reference M4/65.

William Henry Vaughan, A.R.P Rescue Service, aged 51, of 142 Old Christchurch Road. He was the husband of Elizabeth Vaughan of 18 Stanton Road, Ensbury Park. (I have been unable to find any further confirmed information about him.) He was employed by Bournemouth Council as part of the rescue squad. On 23 May 1943, he died at Holdenhurst Road, outside the Metropole Hotel, killed by falling masonry. He was buried in Bournemouth North Cemetery on 27 May: grave reference A4/65. He is remembered in the County Borough of Bournemouth book of remembrance.

George William Vincent, aged 33, of Tivvy House, Tower Hill, Williton, Somerset. He was the son of Arthur William James Vincent (1883-1923) and Alice Florence Vincent (1879-1954); they married in the September quarter of 1906 in Shepton Mallet. George was born in the September quarter of 1909 in Wells, Somerset. In the 1911 census, they were at the Railway Inn (later renamed the Apple Tree), West Pennard, Glastonbury. Arthur was an innkeeper and farmer; by 1943 Alice had moved to High Street, Shepton Mallet. George married Doris Esmay Gane (1907-1993) in the September quarter of 1934 in Shepton Mallet; her father was an insurance agent from Croscombe. They had two children. George was a radio engineer. He died on 23 May 1943 at the Metropole Hotel, Holdenhurst Road. He was buried on 29 May in Croscombe, Somerset, probably at St Mary the Virgin. He is listed on the Williton war memorial.

George William Walton, aged 50, of 25 Cotlands Road. (I have been unable to find any more confirmed information about him.) He was the husband of Ethel Walton and worked as a garage attendant at the Shamrock and Rambler Garage. He died on 23 May 1943 at the Shamrock and Rambler Garage, 77 Holdenhurst Road, of fire due to enemy action; Reginald George Adlem was killed in the same incident. George was buried on 28 May in Wimborne Road Cemetery: grave reference E4/72s.

Marriott Webb, DCM, aged 47, of West Leigh, West Hill Road, Bournemouth. He was the son of Charles Henry Webb (1858-1936) and Rebecca Sarah Baldock (1862-1935); they married in the September quarter of 1880 in Romford. They had 11 children; Marriott was the eighth. He was born in the March quarter of 1896 in Islington. In the 1911 census, Charles and Rebecca were living in Harringay; Charles was a paviour and Marriott was an office boy. He served in WW1, in the Royal Sussex Regiment as a Sergeant, and in the Somersetshire Light Infantry; he gained the DCM for gallant leadership near Verchain on 24 October 1918. He married Lily Triphick in the March quarter of 1919 in Greenwich; they had a daughter. By 1943, he was living in Bournemouth and working as a bank clerk, while Lily was living at 72 Fairfax Drive, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex ; he was also a Lieutenant in 6 Battalion, Hampshire Home Guard. He died on 23 May 1943 at the Central Hotel. He was buried on 2 June at Sutton Road Cemetery, Southend on Sea. He is commemorated in the County Borough of Bournemouth book of remembrance.

Annie Christian Webster, aged 73, of 39 Cleveland Road. She was the wife of Walter Clarke Webster (1881-1955); they married in the December quarter of 1939 in Bournemouth. Her maiden name was Evans. I have been unable to find a birth record for her. Annie died at 39 Cleveland Road on 23 May 1943. She was buried on 31 May in Bournemouth East Cemetery: grave reference G4/18. Her husband was buried in the same plot.

Edward Henry (“Sam”) Weller, aged 75, of the Central Hotel, Richmond Hill. He was the son of Edward and Hannah Weller. He was born in the December quarter of 1868 in Battle, Sussex. In the 1901 census he was in Hove; he was a hotel waiter, living with his wife Amelia and three children. By 1911 he had moved to Bournemouth and he and his family were living in Haviland Road, Boscombe and he was a hotel waiter; he had been married 21 years and had four children, three still living. Amelia died on 25 May 1940, aged 75, at 90 West Cliff Road. By 1943, Edward had become the head waiter at the Central Hotel; on 23 May 1943, he died there. He was buried on 29 May in Bournemouth East Cemetery in the same plot as his wife: grave reference M3/226.

Beryl Gough Westbrook, aged 21, of 56 Drummond Road. She was the daughter of Clement John Cole (see above) and Ada Jane Clarke; they married in the March quarter of 1920 in Christchurch. Beryl was born in the March quarter of 1922 in Christchurch; she was named Gough after her paternal grandfather. She married Cyril Leslie Westbrook (1917-1978) in the December quarter of 1942; he was serving in HM Forces as a soldier. She was killed at 56 Drummond Road on 23 May 1943; her father, Clement John Cole, was injured in the same incident and died later that day in hospital. They were buried together in Bournemouth East Cemetery on 31 May: grave reference O4/55. She is commemorated in the County Borough of Bournemouth book of remembrance.

Michael Geoffrey Wheeler, aged 21 months, of 16 Bourne Valley Road. He was the son of Maurice Henry and Valerie Wheeler (nee Candy); Maurice was variously described as in the 40th Royal Tank Corps, and a head waiter. Michael was born in the September quarter of 1941 in Poole. He died on 23 May 1943 at Cairns House, St. Peters Road. Dorothy Candy (see above) died with him; they were buried together on 2 June at Bournemouth North Cemetery: grave reference N4/65. (It looks as though Dorothy may have been his grandmother, but I have been unable to confirm this.) Beatrice Lamb Whitwell, aged 48, of 29 Vale Road. She was the daughter of William Newby (1858-1935) and Elizabeth Lamb Langley (1859-1920) of Leathley, near Otley; they married in 1881 in Wharfedale. William was a farmer. They had nine children. Beatrice was baptised at Guiseley on 22 July 1894. By 1911 she was at Pool Dairy with her eldest brother George (1882-1963); he was a farmer, aged 30, and she was his housekeeper. She married James Sylvester Whitwell in Bournemouth in the September quarter of 1937. He was originally from Stourbridge and was born in 1875. He married in the June quarter of 1900 in Stoke on Trent to Henriette Marie L. Boullemier; in the 1911 census he was described as a shopkeeper jeweller. By then, he and Henriette had three children; she died in the June quarter of 1930 in Stoke on Trent. Beatrice died on 23 May 1943 at 29 Vale Road. She was buried on 27 May in Bournemouth East Cemetery: grave reference W4/55.

Roger George Woollard, aged 4. He was the son of Private Herbert Samuel Walker Woollard (1912-1964), Royal Army Pay Corps, and Daisy F. Johnson; they married in the September quarter of 1935 in Bournemouth and had five children. By 1943 they were living at 30 Shirley Road, Winton. Roger was born in the March quarter of 1939. He died on 23 May 1943 at 38 Carlton Road; this was a childrens’ hostel. He was buried on 27 May in Wimborne Road Cemetery: grave reference C4/88s.

Lilian Maud Wormell, aged 60, of White House, West Dean, Salisbury, Wiltshire. She was the daughter of Thomas Eldred (1849-1934) and Lydia Austen (1845-1920); they married in the March quarter of 1873 in Romford. Lilian was the youngest of five children; she was born in the September quarter of 1882 in Romford. In the 1901 census, Thomas and Lydia were in East Ham; he was a labourer at the gas works. Lydia’s elder sister Roseannie was working as a nurse in the diphtheria hospital in East Ham. Lilian was a servant in Camberwell in 1901. By 1911, her sister Roseannie had married the wealthy stockbroker George Charles Howard and was living in Farringdon, Hampshire.

Lilian married Robert Albert Wormell in the June quarter of 1908 in Richmond, Surrey. He was born in the June quarter of 1864 in St George’s Hanover Square. By 1891 he was an electrical engineer. He married Mary Cantwell in the June quarter of 1901 in Croydon; they had three daughters. (I can find no record of Mary’s death prior to his second marriage – it is possible they divorced). In the 1911 census, he, Lilian and two of his three daughters were living in Upper Tooting; on the census day his youngest daughter was visiting her aunt, Roseannie Howard. Robert was an electrical engineer and draughtsman. On 26 February 1913, he died in the City of London Asylum in Dartford.

His middle daughter died four years later in Wandsworth. At some stage Lilian worked as a nurse; one of her stepdaughters was a nurse at New End and Brompton Hospitals in the 1930s. She later moved to West Dean, and lived there with Eileen Howard, her sister’s stepdaughter. Her parents may have joined them there; Lydia died in 1920 and Thomas in 1934, both in the Salisbury area. Lilian and Eileen died on 23 May 1943 at the Normandie Hotel, 61 Manor Road; they were buried at Whiteparish on 31 May. The burial records describe Lilian as a widow of independent means. She left her estate to her stepdaughters.