Effingham St. Lawrence WW2 Memorial

Researched by Christopher J. Hogger and Susan W. Morris

Inside St. Lawrence Church is a wall-mounted hardwood plaque "in memory of the men of this parish who died in the war 1939-45". It bears 15 names in gold lettering. Its origins are outlined in the pamphlet "Effingham & The Bookhams Royal British Legion (A Brief History)" by Jim Clarke [Publ. by Frank Rice-Oxley, Roxley Models] who wrote that, according to the Branch records, a proposal for a such a memorial was first voiced in January 1948. Six years then passed, until in 1954 the plaque (or "memorial tablet") was finally unveiled by Mr. A. Poland in St. Lawrence "with a full Church and a strong Legion presence". The Legion had contributed £18.6.6d towards its cost.

The aim of this part of the project is to ascertain the family origins of these 15 men, their connections with Effingham and the details of their military service. The following links access their individual pages:

Statistics

No more than five of the men were born in Effingham parish: Biles (probably), Dench, Nicholls and the two Polands.

Whereas most of Effingham's fallen of WW1 served in the Army, only about half of the 15 who fell in WW2 served in the Army.

Eight of the men are known to have served in the Army: Blaber, Bunge, Dench, McGowan, Nicholls, Payne and the two Polands.

Four of the men served in the Royal Navy: Biles, Chatfield, Curry and Longhurst.

Two of the men served in the Royal Air Force: Lenfestey and Worsfold.

One of the men served in the Royal Marines: Hunns.

The average age upon death was 24.5 years, almost exactly the same as for the fallen of WW1 (24.4).

None of them died in the last year (1945) of the war, and only one died in 1940.

Sources

The principal sources used for the genealogical findings were (i) the 1841-1911 Census Schedules held by the National Archives [Classes HO107 and RG9-RG14], (ii) the General Register Office indexes of births, marriages and deaths and (iii) the International Genealogical Index. 

The principal source used for the military findings was the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Service records for WW2 personnel are not freely available, but may be procured for a fee by close relatives.

Image

photo by Sue Morris, appearing here by kind permission of St. Lawrence Church