Some stories from six headstones across Cornwall. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. https://www.philhadleypublications.com/post/november-2021
Cornwall was one of my favorite places in the late sixties visiting customers for my German employer. I was a young German,but customers, B&B owners, etc. never said a word about these attacks. Stefan.
Lindele I am glad your experience was positive. That's just how it should be. Cornwall was the most bombed county in England for three months in 1941. Fortunately, we did not suffer the mass casualties experienced elsewhere.
A few years ago I was contacted by an American living in Cornwall who sent me a photo of a gravestone and Memorial. I lost his email address . He was listing gravestones of Servicemen if my memory is correct. In the churchyard of St Michaels in Bude is the grave of Mrs Gertrude Florence Beadle which also includes a memorial to her son Lt Hedley Noel Beadle of the 67th Field Regiment RA (TA) killed by a landmine in Florence Italy 2nd September 1944 Aged 29. He lies with his three colleagues killed in the same Jeep, In Florence War Cemetery. He was born in Hendon on Christmas Day 1914 hence the name Noel. Educated in Buxton Derbyshire where his father was working for the Board of Trade. Noel worked for Glaxo Pharmaceuticals as a Public Relations executive. He married Ruth Martin of West Mersea who he met when stationed with 373 Coastal Artillery, the week before he embarked for North Africa. His parents moved to Widemouth Bay in 1947 where his mother died in 1948.
Gertrude Florence Beadle nee Norris was born in Bristol 1881 she was a school teacher, married Frank Beadle in Bath in 1913 she lived with her husband Frank Beadle in Widemouth Bay. She died in 1948 They have no direct living relatives. Alfred Frank Beadle was born Maldon Essex 1887. He died in Bude & Stratton June 1969. His second wife Gladys died in Bude in 1998. The headstone is also inscribed in memory of their son Lt Hedley Noel Beadle Died 2nd Sept 1944 Florence Italy He lies in Florence War Cemetery. The stone has deteriorated badly since I last saw a photo of it circa 2016. I have never seen the grave and was unaware of it until I received an email and photo (now lost when my computer crashed) circa 2016.
Charles Henry Norris Newsagent killed along with his wife in an air raid when the neighbourhood shops were destroyed in Plymouth 1941. Charles was the brother of Gertrude Florence Beadle.
A nice touch from GCHQ on the wartime RAF Cleave site: GCHQ Bude satellite dish turns red for Remembrance
