Theydon Bois, Essex. German parachute mine. King's Own Scottish Borderers.

Discussion in 'War Grave Photographs' started by Deacs, Oct 16, 2017.

  1. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

    Buried in Ettleton Old Cemetery, Roxburghshire,Scotland and Castleton Cemetery,Roxburghshire,Scotland lie 2 young lads from the King's Own Scottish Borderers who both died on the same day of 18/11/1940.

    So with a Google I have discovered that they both died along with another 30 lads from the KOSB's and another 30 injured from when a German plane dropped a parachute mine on Theydon Bois, Essex where they were billeted in the Retreat which took the blast of the bomb.

    Picture4.jpg
    Casualty

    Picture3.jpg
    Casualty

    If anyone can add anything else please to this incident please do so as I feel uncomfortable with using another forum for the information..

    Here is the link to the forum I found the details from The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project :: View topic - Theydon Bois, KOSB WW2

    Private David Davidson | War memorials | The Coldstream History Society


    Private James Proudfoot | War memorials | The Coldstream History Society

    Regards Mike
     
  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Just checked - All UK, WWII Civilian Deaths, 1939-1945 for that date and there were no civilians killed in Essex on that date.

    Pvt James Ker ( - 1940) - Find A Grave Memorial
    James Ker
    Birth: unknown
    Death: Nov. 18, 1940
    Theydon Bois
    Epping Forest District
    Essex, England
    Casualty of WWII,James served with the 6th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers Service No:3192796.

    He was 21 and the son of James C. Ker and Elizabeth Ker of Kelso.

    He was killed on active service by enemy action.
    TRAGEDY AT THEYDON BOIS
    On Monday 18th November 1940 sixty men of the Kings Own Scottish Borders were billeted at Yates Retreat, a huge pre-war tea room and playground in Coppice Row, Theydon Bois. A sentry on duty outside saw an object descending by parachute. He had heard an aircraft circling earlier, and assumed that it must be an airman who had been forced to bale out. The object was in fact a mine, one of two dropped. One landed in Piercing Hill, but the other brushed the roof of the Retreat before hitting the helter-skelter and exploding. The Retreat was completely blown apart, and twenty-six soldiers were killed. Over the next few days two more died of their wounds. All the deaths were recorded at Epping Registry Office.

    He and his 29 comrades are commemorated in St Mary’s church, Theydon Bois, Essex at OS Map Ref TQ 447 992.
    The memorial plaque in memory of the thirty who died was installed and consecrated 18 Nov 1998

    IN VERITATE RELIGIONIS CONFIDO
    THIS PLAQUE IS ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF
    THIRTY MEN OF “A” COMPANY THE 6TH BATTALION
    THE KING’S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS
    KILLED BY AN ENEMY PARACHUTE MINE
    WHICH FELL ON THEYDON BOIS ON THE
    18TH NOVEMBER 1940

    R ATKINS
    T G BOYD
    W CLARK
    W H COLTMAN
    A CROZIER
    D S M DAVIDSON
    J B DICKSON
    A B DOBSON
    G D DOUGLAS
    J T DOUGLAS
    G GAY
    A GIBB
    P F GLANCY
    E J GOFF
    R HAY
    G R HEWITT
    J HUNTER
    T W JAMESON
    J KER
    M LANNIGAN
    S M McCREADIE
    J McGUIRE
    R T MURRAY
    J S PROUDFOOT
    J PURVIS
    S D REED
    J ROGERS
    D W SHANKS
    A SHEARER
    R H SKILTON

    NISI DOMINUS FRUSTRA

    The Latin words are from the Regimental Insignia

    IN VERITATE RELIGIONIS CONFIDO

    (I trust in the truth of religion)

    NISI DOMINUS FRUSTRA

    [Unless the Lord is with us, our labour is vain. Psalm 127]
    Literally, it just means 'if not the master, in vain;' Latin requires a lot of interpretation from context. "Without God, we labour in vain"

    Burial:
    Kelso Rosebank Cemetery
    Kelso
    Scottish Borders, Scotland
    Plot: Compt. B. Grave 240.


    TD

    Link added
     
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  3. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

    Once again Richard cheers.
     
  4. jonheyworth

    jonheyworth Senior Member

    Poor old KOSB s didn't have a lot of luck in the UK with the 30 lads killed in the glider crash in April 1944 as well
     
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  5. amberdog45

    amberdog45 Senior Member

    Deacs, try running there names through this site, they may have left Wills Advanced Search
     
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  6. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    PrivateCLARK, WILLIAM
    Service Number 3189638

    Died 18/11/1940

    Aged 19

    6th Bn.
    King's Own Scottish Borderers

    Son of Sjt. William Clark, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regt.) (killed in action in France, 16th May, 1940), and of Christina Clark, of Dundee, Angus; husband of Mary Clark, of Edinburgh.


    INSCRIPTION
    BELOVED SON OF SJT. W. CLARK THE BLACK WATCH KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE 16TH MAY 1940 AGE 38. R.I.P.

    SerjeantCLARK, WILLIAM
    Service Number 2745301

    Died 16/05/1940

    Aged 38

    4th Bn.
    Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)

    Son of William and Helen Clark, of Dundee; husband of Christina Clark, of Dundee. His son William also died on service.


    INSCRIPTION
    DEEP IN OUR HEARTS HIS MEMORY IS KEPT WE WILL REMEMBER WHEN OTHERS FORGET
     
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  7. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Casualty return
    kosb.jpg

    Kyle
     
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  8. Lawman

    Lawman New Member

    This was my grans brother.
    She spoke of him all the time as I looked just like him. She died at 93 years old and his death devastated the family.
    She had mentioned that there was a few from kelso and the local area that died that day.
    I have just started looking into his death and came across this page.
     
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  9. amberdog45

    amberdog45 Senior Member

    Hi Lawman, you will need to apply for service record here for all the official details of training etc.

    Get a copy of military service records - GOV.UK

    Welcome to the forum.

    His birth cert from 1919 (Kelso) can be ordered via Scotlandspeople website. I notice a James Ker married a Jean Mae Cummings in 1937 at Kelso. But, there are two James Ker's in Kelso on the 1935 Valuation Rolls. One living at 11 Hillbank Terrace and the other at 14 Roxburgh Street.

    His entry at Scottish National War Memorial
    Roll Search | View details
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2018
  10. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    It's little consolation, but he was with his mates when he died. Some didn't have company at their death.

    On a less morbid note, it seems there were several of these Retreats, similar to some seaside amusement parks built around Epping Forest, which drew the crowds out of London tenements to enjoy a bit of country air. See Resource Bank: Epping Forest District Museum

    Yates took over Riggs Retreat in 1916 and you can see the helter skelter in some of the photos.
     
  11. Twickersdude

    Twickersdude New Member

    There were 2 retreats in Theydon Bois. Riggs Retreat was on the right hand side as you go up Coppice Row and opposite it on the Left hand side was Gray's retreat ( bounded by Sidney Road ). Riggs was completely destroyed with a terrible loss of life & Gray's was reduced to a collection of ground floor buildings which were used as storage until 1966 when they were cleared to make way for new developments.

    Gray's Retreat was our family business on my late Mothers side. After the war my Grandfather purchased the Riggs site and divided it into building plots which he gave away to young couples from the village when they got married. My parents had one of the plots. My father kept a large box where we deposited all the rotting ammunition, rifle parts etc that came up as the house was built.

    I wonder whether anyone living up there now is aware of what happened ?
     
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  12. IanTS

    IanTS Member

    I've just found this thread and thought I should add the following.
    Jimmy Proudfoot was my dad's best friend, they grew up in Newcastleton. They were like each other's shadows my dad said. I don't think my dad ever got over Jimmy's loss, he always had a tear in his eye when he spoke of him. They were both in the KOSB, my dad became a sniper sergeant in HQ Company, 4th Batt, KOSB. Dad told me that he had to bury many of his friends that were killed in action, he lived to age 95 and died in 2016, I'm glad I was able to video him telling some of his wartime exploits.
    IanTS
     
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  13. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

    Welcome Ian and thank you for adding this bit of information cheers.

    Regards Mike.
     
  14. IanTS

    IanTS Member

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  15. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

    Cheers for that Ian it was brilliant, I was enjoying reading and watching the thread I was late for work this morning whoops but what the heck when you get to listen to an old veteran who cares.

    Regards Mike
     
  16. IanTS

    IanTS Member

    Glad you enjoyed the read Mike.

    Best wishes,
    Ian.
     

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