Civilian War Grave

AndyBaldEagle · 05-07-2008, 02:38 PM

I hope I have put this in the right place.
Found this grave/memorial when I was visiting Hornchurch (St Andrews) Churcyard and Cemetery this morning.

Obviously a whole family,the memorial put up by a school which is about 150 yards from my front door but the name has changed.

It has aroused my interest somewhat so more research to do

Regards to all

Andy

marcus69x · 05-07-2008, 02:47 PM

"Killed by enemy action". I wonder what kind. Bombing perhaps?

AndyBaldEagle · 05-07-2008, 03:02 PM

I would imagine so, I will have to have a look in a book I have about Havering during the war. I will post what I find

Andy

geoff501 · 05-07-2008, 03:37 PM

Try the search engine, put 144 BRENTWOOD ROAD in:

Name:	GILL, GEORGE
Initials:	G
Nationality:	United Kingdom
Rank:	Civilian
Regiment/Service:	Civilian War Dead
Age:	64
Date of Death:	19/04/1941
Additional information:	of 144 Brentwood Road. Husband of Adelaide May Gill. Died at 144 Brentwood Road.
Casualty Type:	Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority:	HORNCHURCH, URBAN DISTRICT

AndyBaldEagle · 05-07-2008, 06:50 PM

geoff ,thanks for that, brentwood road is just round the corner from me.

Andy

AndyBaldEagle · 06-07-2008, 02:25 PM

I have found out! From the book Hitler v Havering (if anyone has a copy its on Page 63!) there is an extract from the Roll of Honour showing nine members of the same family, the Gill family.

From a direct hit on a shelter in Brentwood Road on the same night as others were killed in Essex Road, Collire Row. On the 19th April 1941 fifty five civilians were killed as a result of bombing, twelve of whom were buried as unidentified and are buried in four mass graves in Romford Cemetery.
'To put that number in perspective (the book states) nearly a fifth of those killed in Havering during the war died on that one terrible night in April'

Andy

DaveBrigg · 07-07-2008, 02:51 AM

I looked up 'Gill', 1941 on CWGC, and ranked them by location. The nine family members came up, with the youngest, Pamela Mary, having age unknown but aged 23 month on the 'more details' page.
Next on the CWGC list were six members of the Gillingham family, a mother and five children from Ilford. Three died at home, and three at hospital on the same day in November 1941. The father is not listed; I can't begin to imagine what it must be like to receive news like that.

Edit: It's suddenly dawned on me that the nine casualties are in a single grave, something that doesn't bear thinking about.

Trincomalee · 07-07-2008, 01:19 PM

Was the father serving overseas ?

geoff501 · 07-07-2008, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveBrigg

I looked up 'Gill', 1941 on CWGC, and ranked them by location....

my way was far easier:

Quote:

Try the search engine, put 144 BRENTWOOD ROAD in:

05-07-2008, 03:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
AndyBaldEagle Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Essex Posts: 188	I would imagine so, I will have to have a look in a book I have about Havering during the war. I will post what I find Andy __________________ In proud memory of Lieutenant James Henry Woods 1st Airlanding Light Regiment Killed in Action at Oosterbeek Arnhem 25th September 1944 Lieutenant William Stewart Donaldson 156th Battalion, Parachute Regiment Killed in Action at Oosterbeek Arnhem 21st September 1944 Sergeant John Burge Glider Pilot Regiment Killed in Action at Oosterbeek Arnhem 25th-26th September 1944 Corporal John Walter Bentley 12th Battalion, Parachute Regiment Killed in Action on the Rhine 24th March 1945 LEST WE FORGET 'They are free-yes-but not entirely free; for they have a master, and that master is Law, which they fear much more than your subjects fear you. Whatever this master commands, they do; and his command never varies: it is never to retreat in battle, however great the odds, but always to stand firm, and to conquer or die' (from The Peloponesian War?- Herodotus 490-425BC )

05-07-2008, 06:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
AndyBaldEagle Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Essex Posts: 188	geoff ,thanks for that, brentwood road is just round the corner from me. Andy __________________ In proud memory of Lieutenant James Henry Woods 1st Airlanding Light Regiment Killed in Action at Oosterbeek Arnhem 25th September 1944 Lieutenant William Stewart Donaldson 156th Battalion, Parachute Regiment Killed in Action at Oosterbeek Arnhem 21st September 1944 Sergeant John Burge Glider Pilot Regiment Killed in Action at Oosterbeek Arnhem 25th-26th September 1944 Corporal John Walter Bentley 12th Battalion, Parachute Regiment Killed in Action on the Rhine 24th March 1945 LEST WE FORGET 'They are free-yes-but not entirely free; for they have a master, and that master is Law, which they fear much more than your subjects fear you. Whatever this master commands, they do; and his command never varies: it is never to retreat in battle, however great the odds, but always to stand firm, and to conquer or die' (from The Peloponesian War?- Herodotus 490-425BC )

06-07-2008, 02:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
AndyBaldEagle Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Essex Posts: 188	I have found out! From the book Hitler v Havering (if anyone has a copy its on Page 63!) there is an extract from the Roll of Honour showing nine members of the same family, the Gill family. From a direct hit on a shelter in Brentwood Road on the same night as others were killed in Essex Road, Collire Row. On the 19th April 1941 fifty five civilians were killed as a result of bombing, twelve of whom were buried as unidentified and are buried in four mass graves in Romford Cemetery. 'To put that number in perspective (the book states) nearly a fifth of those killed in Havering during the war died on that one terrible night in April' Andy __________________ In proud memory of Lieutenant James Henry Woods 1st Airlanding Light Regiment Killed in Action at Oosterbeek Arnhem 25th September 1944 Lieutenant William Stewart Donaldson 156th Battalion, Parachute Regiment Killed in Action at Oosterbeek Arnhem 21st September 1944 Sergeant John Burge Glider Pilot Regiment Killed in Action at Oosterbeek Arnhem 25th-26th September 1944 Corporal John Walter Bentley 12th Battalion, Parachute Regiment Killed in Action on the Rhine 24th March 1945 LEST WE FORGET 'They are free-yes-but not entirely free; for they have a master, and that master is Law, which they fear much more than your subjects fear you. Whatever this master commands, they do; and his command never varies: it is never to retreat in battle, however great the odds, but always to stand firm, and to conquer or die' (from The Peloponesian War?- Herodotus 490-425BC )

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05-07-2008, 02:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
marcus69x I love WW2 meah!!! Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Middlesbrough, UK Posts: 1,346	"Killed by enemy action". I wonder what kind. Bombing perhaps?

07-07-2008, 02:51 AM	#7 (permalink)
DaveBrigg Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 41	I looked up 'Gill', 1941 on CWGC, and ranked them by location. The nine family members came up, with the youngest, Pamela Mary, having age unknown but aged 23 month on the 'more details' page. Next on the CWGC list were six members of the Gillingham family, a mother and five children from Ilford. Three died at home, and three at hospital on the same day in November 1941. The father is not listed; I can't begin to imagine what it must be like to receive news like that. Edit: It's suddenly dawned on me that the nine casualties are in a single grave, something that doesn't bear thinking about.

07-07-2008, 01:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
Trincomalee Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 165	Was the father serving overseas ?

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