Civilian War Grave

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

 

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

 

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

 

Try the search engine, put 144 BRENTWOOD ROAD in:

<!-- <tr> <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="30%">Force:</td> <td id="td_force"></td> </tr>--> <table class="datatable" width="97%" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr id="tr_name"><th valign="top" width="30%" align="right">Name:</th> <td id="td_name">GILL, GEORGE</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_initials"> <th valign="top" width="30%" align="right"> Initials:</th> <td id="td_initials">G</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_nationality"> <th valign="top" width="30%" align="right"> Nationality:</th> <td id="td_nationality">United Kingdom</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_rank"> <th valign="top" width="30%" align="right"> Rank:</th> <td id="td_rank">Civilian</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_regiment"> <th valign="top" width="30%" align="right"> Regiment/Service:</th> <td id="td_regiment">Civilian War Dead</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_age"> <th valign="top" width="30%" align="right"> Age:</th> <td id="td_age">64</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_death"> <th valign="top" width="30%" align="right"> Date of Death:</th> <td id="td_death">19/04/1941</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_information"> <th valign="top" width="30%" align="right"> Additional information:</th> <td id="td_information">of 144 Brentwood Road. Husband of Adelaide May Gill. Died at 144 Brentwood Road.</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_type"> <th valign="top" width="30%" align="right"> Casualty Type:</th> <td id="td_type">Civilian War Dead</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_cemetery"> <th valign="top" width="30%" align="right"> Reporting Authority:</th> <td id="td_cemetery">HORNCHURCH, URBAN DISTRICT</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

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

Andy

 

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

 

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.

 

Was the father serving overseas ?

 

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


my way was far easier:

Try the search engine, put 144 BRENTWOOD ROAD in: