In 1944 Private Thomas W. Saddington, whose parents lived in Alexandra Street, Thurmaston, was wounded in Burma.

 

 

137, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston.

 

 

John Bertram Sargeant was a serving soldier during 1942-1945. He and his wife, Doris, lived at 58, Sandiacre Drive, Thurmaston.

 

 

Private, 5776609, Eric Scattergood, 6th Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment died on the 23rd March 1943, age 24 years. He was the son of George and Annie Scattergood; and husband of Alma Lois Scattergood, nee Coupe, of Thurmaston. He is buried in the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand - Grave/Memorial 8. K. 23. He had been in the army as a Pioneer from at least January 1941.

 

 

Lived Maple Road, Thurmaston.

 

 

14, Reading Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

Lance Corporal Joseph Sharpe, whose mother lived at 336, Main street, Thurmaston, was posted missing during early 1943. He was taken as a prisoner of war in Italy. By December 1943 he had been transferred to a prison camp in Germany.  

 

 

St. Helier, Highway Road, Thurmaston.

 

 

Frederick Alfred Shaw was serving with the Royal Air Force during 1941 and 1942. He and his wife, Eileen Mary, lived at 417, Syston Road, Thurmaston. Frederick's father had served as a private soldier in the Sherwood Foresters.

 

 

5, Alexandra Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

Ardath, Churchill Road, Thurmaston.

 

 

175, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston.

 

 

Horace Harold Shuttlewood was serving with His Majesty's Forces in 1944. He and his wife, May, lived at 305, Main Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

16, Alexandra Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

1, Church Lane, Thurmaston.

 

 

11, Canal Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

118A, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston.

 

 

6, Hill Rise, Thurmaston.

 

 

Bertie Horace Smart was serving with His Majesty's Forces in 1941. He and his wife, Edna, lived at 26, Main Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

Archie Smith underwent training at HMS Pembroke, Chatham, He was at the naval base in May 1940 to witness the arrival of Dutch sailors who had fled their German occupied country. Archie Smith trained as a gunner and by the end of June 1940 he transferred to the Royal Naval Depot at Felixstowe. He later served aboard defensively equipped merchant ships (DEMS), travelling to South Africa and beyond.

 

 

53, Oakland Avenue, Thurmaston.

 

 

Ernest Henry Smith, who lived at 333, Main Street, Thurmaston with his wife Frances Emily, was serving with the Royal Air Force in 1945.

 

 

In 1940 Thurmaston born family man Harry Smith was killed in an air raid that took place on Birmingham. See the WWI index for details.

 

 

2, Forest Avenue, Thurmaston.

 

 

9, Melton Avenue, Thurmaston.

 

 

24, Methuen Avenue, Thurmaston.

 

 

15, Highway Road, Thurmaston.

 

 

112, Main Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

11, Church Lane, Thurmaston.

 

 

2, Forest Avenue, Thurmaston.

 

 

50, Garden Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

13, Winster Drive, Thurmaston.

 

 

10, Dorothy Avenue, Thurmaston.

 

 

18, Hardy's Avenue, Thurmaston.

 

 

34, Sandiacre Drive, Thurmaston.

 

 

Alan T. Stevens was the third son of Mr. A. C. and Mrs. Betsy Stevens. In 1944 he joined the Merchant Navy. Fireman (Greaser), R321646, Alan T. Stevens, served aboard ships in the North Atlantic, and others which took him to Europe.

He left the merchant service in 1947. In recognition of his services he received the British War Medal.

His brothers Arthur L. Stevens (qv) and Walter G. D. Stevens (qv) served in the army. Post-war his youngest brother, James B. Stevens (qv), also served in the army.

 

 

Arthur Leslie Stevens, Les, as he was known, was born on the 4th June 1920, the eldest son of Mr. A. C. and Mrs. Betsy Stevens. When war was declared in 1939 Les already had the experience of military life; he had enlisted into the Grenadier Guards during 1938. The following year, 1940, he was amongst those who were lucky to be successfully evacuated from Dunkirk, following the German Blitzkrieg that had pushed the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) back to the sea. He returned to Europe after D-Day and fought through France and Germany with the Guards Armoured Division. He took part in the Arnhem Operation, which included the capture of the bridge at Nijmegen, Holland.

Post-war Les Stevens remained with the Grenadier Guards. He served in Cyprus during the EOKA troubles of 1955-59, during which time he was mentioned in despatches. The award was recorded in the Supplement to the London Gazette, on the 30th September 1958. The War Office made known that The Queen had been graciously pleased to approve several names to be mentioned, in recognition of gallant and distinguished serivces in Cyprus for the period 1st January to 30th June 1958.

Arthur Leslie Stevens completed his military service in 1962.

The photograph at left was taken after 1958. By clicking on the following link a larger image of RSM Stevens may be seen. In the photograph that will appear he is wearing the ribbons of the medals shown at left. His General Service Medal ribbon is decorated with an Oak Leaf, a recognition of his mention in despatches. The Long Service and Good Conduct medal (army) was awarded after eighteen years' service.

Arthur Leslie Stevens passed away in 1994.

His brother Alan Stevens (qv) served in the Merchant Navy during the 1939-45 war, whilst his brother Walter George Derek Stevens (qv) served in the army. James Bernard Stevens (qv), the younger brother of RSM Stevens also had post-war service with the Grenadier Guards.

 

 

James Bernard Stevens was the fourth son of Mr. A. C. and Mrs. Betsy Stevens. James was born on the 1st November 1930 and was too young to see service during the 1939-1945 war. His record of service is shown here to complement the story of his three older brothers, who each served during the war.

James B. Stevens joined the army in 1947 to carry out his National Service. He served as Lance Sergeant, 21056781, J. B. Stevens, 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards.

The photograph at left was taken at Kajang, Malaya, in 1949. James was one of the hundred thousand British soldiers who served in Malaya between 1948-1960, the majority of whom were National Servicemen. For those that took part in the Malayan campaign, which was undertaken to crush communist insurgents, they received the General Service Medal with the clasp 'Malaya'.

His elder brothers were Arthur L. Stevens (qv), Walter G. D. Stevens (qv) and Alan T. Stevens (qv).

 

 

Walter George Derek Stevens was born on the 30th July 1921, he was the second son of Mr. A. C. and Mrs. Betsy Stevens. He joined the army in 1942. In 1944, after D-Day, Private Stevens served in France and Germany with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), which had been formed in 1942. In 1945 Walter's home address was at 342, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston.

Walter George Derek Steven's passed away on the 24th May 2007.

His brother Alan Stevens (qv) served in the Merchant Navy during the 1939-45 war, whilst his brother Arthur Leslie Stevens (qv) served with the Grenadier Guards. Post-war his youngest brother, James B. Stevens (qv), also served with the Grenadier Guards.

 

 

Avonford, Churchill Road, Thurmaston.

 

 

Served with the Warwickshire Regiment.

 

 

10, Churchill Road, Thurmaston.

 

 

Ray Strong of Unicorn Street, Thurmaston, served with the Royal Artillery.

 

 

224, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston.

 

 

Leslie Arthur Sykes, a painter by trade, served as a steward in the Royal Navy. In 1941 he and his wife, Mabel Joan Sykes, lived at 56 Church Hill, Thurmaston.

 

 

496, Melton Road, Thurmaston.

 

 

32, Canal Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

34, Churchill Road, Thurmaston.

 

 

48, Highway Road, Thurmaston.

 

 

33, Westdown Drive, Thurmaston.

 

 

In 1944 Lance Corporal J. H. Toon, Grenadier Guards, a married man, was reported missing. He was taken prisoner and was held in a prison camp in Germany.

 

 

257, Main Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

39, Westdown Drive, Thurmaston.

 

 

2, Ellmore Cottages, Syston Road, Thurmaston.

 

 

Sergeant, 742440, Pilot, Gerald Edward Towe, 220 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He was born on the 5th August 1918 and died on the 19th March 1941. He was the son of Isaac Daniel and Bertha Alice Towe, of Forest Avenue, Thurmaston. For more details about Gerald Edward Towe click on the link Sergeant Towe

 

 

119, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston.

 

 

Lance Corporal, T/14259964, Dennis Townsend, 297th General Transport Company, Royal Army Service Corps died on the 23rd September 1944, age 20 years.

 

 

119, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston.

 

 

18, Garden Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

In late 1945 Geoffrey Wallington was a member of the armed forces, and remained so into 1947. He resided at 118, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston.

 

 

Bert Wallis, South Staffordshire Regiment, died during July 1944 in Normandy, France. He was the son of Albert and Amelia Wallis. At the time of his death Bert's mother lived at 8, Forest Avenue, Thurmaston. His father had died before the war. Phyllis Wallis, Bert's wife, and their daughter lived at 82, Melton Road, Barrow-upon-Soar, Leicestershire. Before the war Bert had worked as a hairdresser's assistant.

 

 

Alton, Hillcroft Close, Thurmaston.

 

 

124, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston.

 

 

49, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston.

 

 

17, Garden Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

Arthur W. Waters, Netherlands Merchant Navy died on the 23rd June 1942, at sea, age 18 years. He was the son of Arthur and Florence Waters of 13, Brook Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

373, Main Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

Herbert Harold Wells was serving with His Majesty's Forces in 1940. He and his wife, Hilda, lived at 2, Reading Street.

 

 

8, Beechwood Avenue, Thurmaston.

 

 

Percy Ernest Wells was a serving soldier during 1943-1945. He and his wife, Vera Margaret, lived at 246, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston.

 

 

20, Barkby Thorpe Road, Thurmaston.

 

 

2, Oakland Avenue, Thurmaston.

 

 

Served with the Royal Signals.

 

 

Fusilier, 14638023, Kenneth Joseph West, served with the Royal Scots Fusiliers.

 

 

Private James Weston, Home Guard, Leicestershire Regiment. James Weston (1912-2004) was the son of James Henry Weston and his wife Susannah, nee Manship. James Weston lived at Thurmaston from the time of his marriage. He worked at the British United Shoe Machinery Company (BUSMC), Leicester, and from the outbreak of war was placed on a reserved occupation list. He was a skilled patternmaker and during the war he was employed in the manufacturing of gun and aero-engine parts. He served in the Home Guard during 1944.

 

 

26, Methuen Avenue, Thurmaston.

 

 

43, Melton Avenue, Thurmaston.

 

 

482, Melton Road, Thurmaston.

 

 

30, Methuen Avenue, Thurmaston.

 

 

Stanley William Wholton of 10, Sandiacre Drive, Thurmaston, was a serving member of His Majesty's Forces in late 1945, and remained so until 1947.

 

 

Gunner Harry Bernard Wicks was serving with the Royal Artillery during 1944 and 1945. He and his wife, Joan, lived at 17, Winster Drive, Thurmaston.

 

 

17, Forest Avenue, Thurmaston.

 

 

Noel John Wilford was a serving soldier in 1939. He and his wife, Constance Dora Sophia, lived at 55, Checkland Road, Thurmaston.

 

 

Albert Wilkins, of 242, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston, served in the forces during the war. He was discharged back to civilian life sometime after January 1945.

 

 

4, Canal Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

17, Roundway Road, Thurmaston.

 

Lieutenant, 172016, Herbert George Williams was a native of Gloucestershire. He was killed in action on the 23rd May 1944, whilst serving with the 245th Field Company, Royal Engineers. He was 27 years' old.

He was the son of Joseph Morgan Williams and Kate Williams of Broadwell, Gloucestershire. His wife Mary Winefride Williams lived at 49 Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston.

He is buried in Grave XV. H. 10. Anzio Beachhead Cemetery, Anzio, Italy.

 

12, Churchill Road, Thurmaston.

 

 

26, Forest Avenue, Thurmaston.

 

 

Leonard Ralph Winterton of 324, Main Street, Thurmaston, was a serving member of His Majesty's Forces in late 1945. He was still serving as late as 1947.

 

 

26, Brook Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

15, Reading Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

15, Reading Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

Leonard Wright was serving with His Majesty's forces during 1943. He and his wife, Lily, lived at 145 Humberstone Lane.

 

 

William Wright was a serving soldier from at least 1941 until the war's end. He lived at 2, Alexandra Street, Thurmaston with his wife Rose Ellen Wright, nee Saddington.