First Battalion Leicester Regiment. Letter from his widow says ‘Serving in Malaya, presumed killed in action February 11th 1942’. But comment on index card reads ‘Killed in Penang, Malaya 1941’
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| School index card with loss recorded |
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| Family letter notifying the school of the loss |
*****************
Ronald Victor COLLINGTON 1929-33.
Sergeant in the REME. Comment on index card reads ‘Killed on active service 1944’ However newspaper cutting reports that he died at home whilst on leave.
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| Newspaper cutting announcing the loss |
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| School index card with the loss recorded |
*****************
Harold DAY 1925-29.
Sergeant Pilot RAF Volunteer Reserves, Killed in action 4th October 1940, aged 27.
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| Newspaper cutting reporting the loss |
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| School index card with the loss recorded |
*****************
Killed in Normandy 7th June 1944 (The day after D-Day) See David Atton’s 2008 booklet ‘Alan Dockerty 1922-44 - A Short Life Tragically Taken – Heroically Given’.
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| Cover of David Atton’s 2008 booklet |
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| Alan's gravestone at La Delivrande Cemetery, Douvres, about 5 miles inland from the Normandy Beaches |
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| School index record with the loss recorded |
*****************
Henry FLAVILL 1933-37.
Naval Telegraphist. Killed on active service 1943. (Wounded in 1940 according to press cutting).
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| Newspaper cutting reporting the loss |
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| School index card with the loss recorded |
*****************
Sergeant Bomber Pilot RAF. Shot down over Holland July 1942. Aged 22, killed a week after his birthday. (Comment on index card reads ‘Reported missing 1943’). Very moving letter from his mother.
 |
| A moving letter from the family |
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| School index card with the loss recorded |
*****************
Sergeant Pilot RAF. Killed in action in North Africa September 23rd 1943
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School index card
with the loss recorded
|
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Letter from the family
notifying the school of the loss
|
RAMC, Dunkirk evacuee, died of pneumonia in India 1944.
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School index card
with the loss recorded
|
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Press cutting reporting the loss
|
*****************
Philip Arthur HEALY 1931-36
Leading Aircraftman Philip Arthur Healy, 655368, R.A.F. Pilot under training, of 5 Elementary Flying School, Meir, Stoke-on-Trent, died on 10th July 1941 in a mid air collision accident during training.
His mother was spared this heartache as she died when he was 15.
 |
| Press cutting from the Leicester Evening Mail dated 11th July (note the incorrect spelling of Healy). |
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This is his grave stone where he lies in the Gilroes Cemetery, - so he came home to rest |
Below is the only picture the family currently have of Philip aged about 12 or 13. They are wondering if he is wearing his school uniform and if that’s his school tie?
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School index card with the loss recorded |
Ronald Arthur HORTON 1931-33.
Sergeant Pilot RAF. Missing, presumed killed in air operations over Germany 1944. Four years service.
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| Press cutting reporting the loss |
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School index card
with the loss recorded
|
Captain in the African Pioneer Corps, killed in an air crash October 1945.
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| Press cutting reporting the loss |
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School index card
with the loss recorded
|
Maurice Henry KNOWLES 1933-38.
Sergeant RAF. Killed April 8th 1943.
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Letter from the family
notifying the school of the loss
|
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School index card
with the loss recorded
|
RAF Sergeant. Died in Germany May 22nd 1946
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Letter from the family
notifying the school of the loss
|
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School index card
with the loss recorded
|
Staff Sergeant and Glider Pilot Army Air Corps killed at Arnhem September 1944
 |
| Headstone for Staff Sergeant T W Mayes buried in Oosterbeck Holland |
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| Letter to Mr Crammer (Headmaster) informing the school of the loss |
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School index card
with the loss recorded
|
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| Newspaper cutting reporting the loss |
*****************
AC2 RAF Volunteer Reserve. Died in Japanese hands November 1943, aged 22.
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| Newspaper cutting reporting the loss |
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School index card
with the loss recorded
|
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| Note informing the school of the loss |
Drowned at sea December 1942 following a torpedo attack on Convoy ON-149. Has been researched by Bob Childs and myself. We acquired his school cap as part of the Downing Drive hoard.
This cap resided in several teachers’ offices including that of Bill Mann, and was recently rescued from the School by Bob Childs. It bears the name ‘H. Murby’ and has a gold tassel which is assumed to indicate that the wearer was a prefect.
Harry was born on the 29th August 1918 and joined City Boys on 17th September 1930. He became a prefect in 1935 and in March 1937 made a successful application to continue his education at St Pauls College, Cheltenham , which was a teacher training college. He left City Boys on the 27th July 1937.
His index card bears a note in red pencil which says “Killed on Active Service”, and a handwritten note on the bottom of a letter from the bereaved parent of another former pupil says, “Sgt Harry Stockton Murby RASC Drowned at Sea Dec. 6th or 7th 1942”. In the April 1943 edition of ‘The Wyvernian’ he is reported as ‘missing’.
Bob Childs has researched what happened to Harry, and he takes up the story:-
“Harry Murby was on board the 18,713 ton steamer ‘Ceramic’ (built in 1913) with 656 other passengers as part of convoy ON-149 on its way to Australia via Durban Liverpool on 26thNov.) it was hit by torpedoes fired by U-boat 515 commanded by Werner Henke. Eight fully laden lifeboats were launched in dark, cold and very rough seas some 400 miles west of the Azores .
The U boat later sank the crippled vessel and then surfaced to take aboard a few survivors to find out where the ship was headed. As they surfaced in a force 10 gale they took aboard the first survivor they came across and left the area. That man was Sapper Eric Munday who they landed at
On the 9th December two destroyers made their way to the area but found no other survivors. In terms of U-boat attacks it was the 9th biggest loss of life of the war. U-boat 515 was itself sunk by American air and naval forces off Madeira on the 9th April 1944.
Harry Murby's Army reference number was S13049465.”
Harry Murby's Army reference number was S13049465.”
Harry’s name appears on the World War II Memorial Board.
Ernest Roy NEAL 1933-38.
Gunner, Royal Artillery. Killed in action 1944 aged 21.
Gunner, Royal Artillery. Killed in action 1944 aged 21.
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| Newspaper cutting reporting the loss |
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School index card
with the loss recorded
|
Thomas NORMAN 1934-39.
Lance Corporal Leicestershire Regiment. Killed in North-west Europe September 1944 (probably Arnhem).
Lance Corporal Leicestershire Regiment. Killed in North-west Europe September 1944 (probably Arnhem).
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| Newspaper cutting reporting the loss |
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School index card
with the loss recorded
|
Vincent Edward NORMAN 1934-39.
Missing, presumed killed, in 1944.
Missing, presumed killed, in 1944.
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| Newspaper cutting reporting the loss |
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School index card
with the loss recorded
|
Frank Leslie REYNOLDS 1922-27.
LAC. Died whilst serving with the RAF in India.
LAC. Died whilst serving with the RAF in India.
 |
| Newspaper cutting reporting the loss |
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School index card
with the loss recorded
|
Ronald James REYNOLDS 1931-34.
Leading Seaman. Died on D-Day.
Leading Seaman. Died on D-Day.
 |
| Newspaper cutting reporting the loss |
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School index card
with the loss recorded
|
Ordinary Seaman Royal Navy. Killed in action July 1940.
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| Newspaper cutting reporting the loss |
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School index card
with the loss recorded
|
Flying Officer, 502 Squadron Coastal Command. Killed on active service September 16th 1942
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School index card
with the loss recorded
|
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| Letter to the school informing them of the loss |
Aircraftman RAF. Died of wounds received in an air raid 1940. Aged 20.
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| Newspaper cutting reporting the loss |
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School index card
with the loss recorded
|
Leo Lawrence SIMPSON 1938-42.
Seaman, missing at sea after the sinking of his vessel August 19th 1944. Only 17.
 |
| Newspaper cutting reporting the loss |
 |
School index card
with the loss recorded
|
 |
| Note informing the school of the loss |
Horace James Worthing SMITH 1923-26.
Pilot Officer/Navigator RAF Volunteer Reserve. Killed March 22nd 1944 over Belgium.
Pilot Officer/Navigator RAF Volunteer Reserve. Killed March 22nd 1944 over Belgium.
 |
Letter to the school
informing them of the loss
(page 1 of 4)
|
 |
Letter to the school
informing them of the loss
(page 2 of 4)
|
 |
Letter to the school
informing them of the loss
(page 3 of 4)
|
 |
Letter to the school
informing them of the loss
(page 4 of 4)
|
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School index card
with the loss recorded
|
Roland Tom SMITH 1937-41.
Private in the Parachute Regiment. Died at Arnhem September 1944, aged 19.
 |
Letter to the school
informing them of the loss
|
 |
School index card
with the loss recorded
|
Acting Leading Telegraphist, Royal Navy. Reported missing 1944. Killed in action on HMS Inglefield.
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| Newspaper cutting reporting the loss |
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School index card
with the loss recorded
|
Raymond Frere WATERMAN 1932-37.
RAF Sergeant and Navigator, Coastal Command. Killed on active service 1944.
RAF Sergeant and Navigator, Coastal Command. Killed on active service 1944.
 |
| Newspaper cutting reporting the loss |
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School index card
with the loss recorded
|
John Harold WILSON 1934-39.
Royal Navy. Killed on active service overseas 1944. Aged 20.
Royal Navy. Killed on active service overseas 1944. Aged 20.
 |
| Newspaper cutting reporting the loss |
 |
School index card
with the loss recorded
|
Norman YATES 1934-39.
Royal Artillery Gunner. Killed in North Africa 27th April 1943
Royal Artillery Gunner. Killed in North Africa 27th April 1943
 |
Letter to the school
informing them of the loss
|
 |
School index card
with the loss recorded
|
*****************
