Abbott, H. H.
Horace Harold Abbott, 6296389, was a Private in the 5th Battalion of The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment). He had suffered severe asthma in his youth, but was deemed fit for active service on the outbreak of war. He was drowned with others of The Buffs while crossing the Sangro River on 6 October 1943, aged 31, buried at the Sangro River Cemetery, Italy. II C 33

He was the youngest son of William John and Bertha Ann Abbott, of Dover, with two elder half-brothers and a brother

The headstone below is in Charlton Cemetery

On the front it reads: In Loving Memory of Hilda Mary Abbott Who died 4th April 1935 On the eve of her 21st birthday Peacefully Sleeping Also of Bertha Ann Abbott Died 20 March 1936 Aged 52 years

On the back it reads: In Loving Memory of William John Abbott Husband of B. A. Abbott Died 27 October 1945 "Reunited" Also of Horace Harold Abbott Killed in Action 6 October 1943 aged 31 Interred at Sangro River Cemetery Italy Through Strife to Eternal Life

(We Remember 06)
with thanks to Judy Hart and John Abbott
Charlton picture and transcription with thanks to Joyce Banks

Abbott, R. B.
Ronald Bernard Abbott, C/KX 115226, was a Leading Stoker, Royal Navy on HMS Curacoa. He died on 2 October 1942, aged 22. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Panel 61.1

He was the son of Alfred Henry and Ellen Mary Abbott, of Dover

Allen, C. A.
C.A. Allen was a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He served with the HMS Campania. He was 31 when he died on 30 September 1944, and is commemorated on the Lee on Solent Memorial, Hampshire. Bay 5, Panel 4

The bottom kerbstone below is at Charlton cemetery

It reads:
and his son Cyril Arthur Allen, Lost at Sea Sept 1944, aged 31 years, and is at the bottom of this grave:

In Loving Memory of Emma Beloved Wife of William Exton Allen who fell asleep 6 July 1931 aged 81 years Peace Perfect Peace

Also of William Exton Allen (Late Trinity House Pilot) Devoted husband of the above suddenly called home 29 April 1935 in his 87th year To the Great Pilot's care we commend you

(left kerbstone) Also in loving memory of Ebenezer Cotton Allen died 26 August 1957 aged 82 years

transcription and photos with thanks to Joyce Banks

Allen, W.
William Allen, 14527495, was a Corporal in the 7th battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry. He was 20 when he died in action at Nigmegen on 20 November 1944, and is buried at the Leopoldsburg War Cemetery, Belgium. VI B 13

He was the son of William Valentine and Emeline Allen, of Dover

"In loving memory of my dear son and our brother... Gone from our home, but not from our hearts" - 1949 - From Mother and Sisters Louie and Edie

He was the son of Ellen Mary Anscombe, from 18 Devonshire Road, Dover, and her late husband, CPO Anscombe, and the brother of Sylvia

in memoriam 1942

Arbuckle, G.
George Arbuckle, C/SSX 26900, was a Leading Seaman onboard HMS Hurst Castle. He was 23 when he was presumed killed in the Irish Channel on 1 September 1944. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Panel 74.3

He was the son of George Arbuckle and his wife Esther (nee Berry), from Eythorne. They were married in 1918

1948 - "In everlasting memory of our dear son" - from his loving Mother, Dad, Brothers, and Sisters

Archer, A. E.
Albert Edward Archer, 1897506, was a Sapper in the Royal Engineers. He died at the age of 39 on 15 November 1942 at the City Hospital, Nottingham. He is buried at Charlton cemetery, Dover. Section 2U, Grave 2

He was the son of Albert Edward and Emily Archer, and the husband of Edith Maria Archer, nee Minter, of Tower Hamlets, Dover, whom he married in 1927

At the base of his headstone are the words, "Resting where no shadows fall, Dearly loved by all"

The stand in front is inscribed "In ever loving memory from his (words obscured)" and has on the other side the words, "and his son, Albert E. (Sonner) Archer 1975(28?)-1993"

transcription and photo with thanks to Joyce Banks

Archibald, C. R.
Charles Ronald Archibald, 89072, was a Flying Officer (Pilot) of the RAFVR. He was reported missing and then officially presumed to have lost his life while in action over the North Sea on 25 February 1942. He was 23. He is buried in the Trondheim (Stave) Cemetery, Norway. A IV British F 7

He was the only son of Mr and Mrs Archibald, from 275 Folkestone Road, Dover, and the husband of Elaine (nee Pettigrew), from Oaklands, Old Park Avenue, Dover

Ashman, F. E.
Frederick Edward Ashman, 1337269, was a Sergeant Navigator in the RAFVR, 49 Squadron. An Old Boy of the County (now Grammar) School, he had worked in Lloyds Bank at Buckland and had served in the Home Guard before joining the RAFVR. He was the son of Herbert and Edith Eliza Ashman, of Lenham, Kent, formerly of 67 Dour Street, Dover

Frederick was reported as missing from operations on 26 November 1943. On that day Avro Lancaster MkIII JB362 EA-D from 49 Squadron, took off at 17:31 hours from Fiskerton in Lincolnshire for a raid on Berlin. Later that evening the Lancaster crashed to the south of Lake Gransee, about 25 miles north of Berlin. The crew members that were killed are buried in the Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany. Frederick Ashman lies in Joint Grave Section 9, Row F, Grave 12-13 with Sgt Bronsky

The names of the crew were:-

Warrant Officer Ronald BRUNT		Captain (Pilot)	aged 21
Sergeant Harold BRONSKY		Flight Engineer	aged 24
Sergeant Frederick Edward ASHMAN		Navigator	aged 19
Sergeant J G BURROWS		Bomb Aimer	survived as PoW
Sergeant Ronald William NORLEY DFM		Wireless Operator/Air Gunner	aged 23
Sergeant Edward David WILSON		Air Gunner	age unknown
Flight Sergeant Ronald Patrick O'DEA	RAAF	Air Gunner	aged 21

The raid was part of RAF Bomber Commands concerted effort to attack Berlin and other distant German cities over a four month period that started in mid-November 1943. On the night of 26/27 November, 450 bomber aircraft took part in the Berlin raid, plus another 178 aircraft attacked Stuttgart on a diversionary raid. A total of 34 RAF aircraft were lost on the raids including JB362, plus 14 more aircraft that crashed on return to England, with the loss of more than 220 RAF aircrew killed. In addition to factories being hit, residential areas of Berlin suffered badly with up to 800 people killed. Berlin Zoo was hit causing the escape of many 'big cats' like panthers and leopards that had to be hunted down and shot

Notes:
Flt/Sgt O'Dea was the son of Daniel Patrick and Amy O'Dea, of Geraldton, Western Australia
Sgt Burrows was held prisoner at Stalag 4B at Mühlberg-Elbe
Sgt Ronald Norley was also a Dovorian. A third Dovorian sadly lost on this raid was Sgt Wilfred Buzan

*

In memoriam 1948: In loving memory of a dear brother son and brother, Sergeant-Navigator Frederick (William)Ashman, killed in air operations over Berlin, 26^th November 1943. From Mum, Dad, Bertram and Beryl

Atkins, R. A.
Reginald Arthur Atkins, C/JX 151928, was an Able Seaman aboard HMS Gallant. He was 20 when he died on 10 January 1941, and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Panel 42.1

He was the "beloved son" of Joseph and Mary Hannah Atkins, of 9 Cherry Tree Avenue, Dover, Kent

Austin, A.
Albert Austin, 5389397, was a Lance Serjeant in the 7th battalion of the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He was 31 when he died on 16 September 1944, and is buried at the Coriano Ridge War Cemetery, Italy. XVIII K 10

His parents were William John Charles and Emily Austin, and his wife was Marie Elizabeth Austin, all from Dover

Axford, N. F.
Norman Frank Axford, 1181575, was a Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and a member of 420 (RCAF) Squadron. On 27 July 1942 he took off in a Handley Page Hampden AE202 PT-X for a raid on Hamburg

403 RAF aircraft took part, and 29 were lost. One was Norman Axford's, which crashed near Tonning, about 120 miles northwest of Hamburg. Those who died were originally buried there, but after the war their remains were taken to Kiel War Cemetery, Germany. 4 D 1 The crew were:

Norman's parents were Frank William George and Hilda Frances Axford, of River, Dover

with thanks to Dean Sumner for RAF information