Paddock, A. G.  
Alan George Paddock, 204311, was a Captain in the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment, 2nd battalion, attached to the Indian Army. He died on 27 January 1944, aged 21, and is buried in the Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar, Malaysia. 4 K 16

He was the middle son of Mr and Mrs J E Paddock, of 38 Marine Parade, Dover

Page, C. P. 
Charles Percy Page's parents were John Samuel, a fishmonger, and Kate Page, nee Kingsmill, of 154 Snargate Street. He was born in Dover on 22 October 1909, and he was their youngest son 

He joined the Royal Navy on 26 May 1925, entering as a Boy, 2nd class, after having worked as a shop assistant beforehand. He was was recorded as having blue eyes, a fair complexion, and light brown hair, and as being  five feet two inches tall. At the age of 18 he had grown by two and a half inches, and was engaged to serve for twelve years. His character was recorded as being very good throughout his service, detailed below  

Leading Seaman Page was officially discharged on 27 May 1941, when he was reported missing, presumed killed. HMS Registan was responsible for boarding suspicious vessels and looking for arms or contraband. On that day she was escorting a convoy from Plymouth to Milford Haven. At 22.40 she was attacked and bombed by enemy aircraft, catching fire badly

There were a number of casualties. Twelve men were buried at sea. Some survivors were taken off by other escort craft, HM Destroyers Vansittart, Wyvern, and Wild Swan, to Milford Haven. Leading Seaman Page is believed to have removed several of his shipmates from a fire-damaged area

Twenty seamen, including the captain, stayed on board to fight the fire. The Registan was towed into Falmouth by the tug Goliath and two launches.

A close ship mate of Leading Seaman Page is said to have visited his home address, thinking that Charles would be there as he had seen him alive after the enemy action. He was not to be found, and is now commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial for seamen with no known grave. Panel 42.1. However, at Falmouth Cemetery in Cornwall are five graves containing the remains of twenty-seven unidentified sailors from the Ragistan. Perhaps Charles lies at rest here

1942 - "Loved and remembered by all. Happy memories. Doll and Peter"

with thanks to Mrs A. Player
with thanks to Ian Smallwood for extensive detail

Note: Charles was the nephew of Amelia, wife of George Bates. Charles' father was Amelia's eldest brother. Kate, Charles' mother, was cousin to Lewis Kingsmill, commemorated on the Hougham memorial. Charles brother may have been the Mr Page who lost his foot in shelling in October 1942 in Last Lane, Dover

Page, R. A. 
Richard Amos Page was an Able Seaman Gunner. He was with the SS WC Teagle when he lost his life on 16 October 1941. He was 21. He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. Panel 115

He was the only son of Mrs Mary M Page, from 50 Ashburton Road, Addiscombe, Croydon, later Shepherdswell, and he was the grandson of Mr and Mrs Ross, from 33 Albany Place, Dover

February 1942

Pascall, J. E. L.  
John Edward Lacey Pascall, 6291180, was a Serjeant in the 1st battalion of The Buffs. He died on 13 April 1945 at the age of 30. He is buried in the Argenta Gap War Cemetery, Italy. III F 7

He was the son of Edward Lacey Pascall and Ellen Elizabeth Pascall, of Dover

Pay, W. J.  
William John Pay, 5503178, was a Private in the 1/4th battalion of the Hampshire Regiment. He was killed in action on 2 March 1943, when he was 26, and is commemorated on the Medjez-el-Bab Memorial, Tunisia. Face 23

He was the son of William and Ethel M. M. Pay, from Dover

Payne, F. W.  
Francis William Payne was a Baker in the Merchant Navy, aboard the Cable Ship Alert. He died on 24 February 1945, aged 38.He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. Panel 5

His wife was E E Payne, from Buckland, Dover  

Pearce, W. J.  
William John Pearce was a Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve and on the Harbour Board salvage tugs.  He had joined the Dover Harbour Board on 2 April 1908, and served as an AB on the tug "Lady Vita". He had been before then the master of the small tug of Pearson's, named "Gnat", and soon became the master of the "Lady Vita"

Renowned for his knowledge of the Channel, he worked during the Great War on the tugs, and was present when the Glatton caught fire. He attempted to douse the flames, but was ordered away by Sir Roger Keyes. Between the wars he undertook salvage work as master of the "Lady Brassey"

Mr Pearce was Mentioned in Dispatches. He was 59 when he died at the Casualty Hospital two days "after a severe accident whilst on war operations" on 7 February 1941. The first part of his funeral service was held at St Paul's in Maison Dieu Road, and he was then buried at St James Cemetery in Dover with full Naval honours. Four Naval ratings bore his Union Flag-draped coffin and an army bugler sounding the Last Post. There were many mourners and floral tributes. Section GW, Grave 11 

He lived at 96(8) Elms Vale Road, and was the husband of Ada Pearce. She laid a wreath, "To my dearest, with love" 

February 1943

Pelham, W. J.  
Wilfred John Pelham, 1397020, was a Navigation Sergeant in the RAFVR. He was 21 when he died on 1 May 1943, and is buried in the Bayeux War Cemetery, France. VIII C 5

He was the son of Frederick Charles and Mary Selina Pelham, from Wyboston, Bedfordshire

Penn, L.  
Leslie Norman Penn, 1895663, was a Sergeant in the RAFVR. He died in an aircraft accident on 18 January 1945, when he was 19. He is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial, Egypt. Column 284

He was the "dear son" of Frederick C A and Mabel Dora Penn, from Dover, and had sisters and a brother

Perren, H. R.  
Henry Robert Perren, C/MX 56502, was a Leading Cook (Acting Petty Officer) in the Royal Navy. He was aboard HMS Welshman, and died of wounds on 2 February 1943. He was posthumously Mentioned in Dispatches in July

He was buried at sea, and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial Panel 73.1 and on the Welshman memorial at St George's Centre, Chatham

"Till we meet again, dear Harry. RIP. From his loving wife, Joyce". Mrs Perren lived at 23 Minerva Avenue

photos by Dean Sumner - left, the Welshman memorial, right the Welshman window and plaque, both at St George's Centre

Peverley, K. W.  
Kenneth William Peverley, 1334693, was a Navigation Sergeant in the RAFVR. He died on 24 March 1943, when he was 19. His ashes were scattered at Harrogate crematorium.  He is commemorated in the adjoining War Graves Plot, the names of the 12 service people cremated there being inscribed on a bronze memorial tablet fixed to the inner wall of the shelter building on the northern boundary of the Air Forces Section

He was an old Country (now Grammar) school boy, and the eldest son of Watson Evans Peverley (see below) and Dora Peverley, from 275 Folkestone Road, Dover

Peverley, W. E.  
Watson Evans Peverley was a Pilot from the Trinity House Service, joining them when he was 32 and serving for 18 years before his death. He was aboard the  SS Storaa. He died on 3 November 1943, when he was 51. He had worked at the Dover Pilots Station until it was transferred to Gravesend in 1940, and was well-known in both towns, and recognised as a fine seaman and a grand pilot. For many years he had handled the large German liners using Dover, the largest vessels that came into the harbour .

He was commemorated on the Tower Hill memorial, London. Panel 122

His father had been also a Cinque Ports Pilot, serving a lifetime with them, until he retired at the extreme limit of 70 years of age. Captain L S Peverley, his brother, was also a pilot, serving in the Gravesend channel. He left three children and a widow, Dora Peverley, from Dover. They had lost their eldest son, above, just months previously.

Phelan, T.  
Thomas Phelan, 2339636, , was a Signalman in the Royal Corps of Signals. He died on 15 March 1947, when he was 66. He is buried at St James, Dover. Row E, Grave 19 

He was the son of Joseph and Mary Phelan, and the husband of Annie Louisa Phelan, from Dover

Phillips, D. C.  
David Colenso Phillips was born on 7 March 1900. With 18 years service, he was a Quartermaster in the Merchant Navy, aboard the Cable Ship Alert. He died on 24 February 1945, when he was 44. He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. Panel 5

His wife was Mrs Phillips, from 3 Invicta Cottages, Finnis Hill, Dover, and his children were Albert and married daughters Nellie and Millie

"In treasured memory of my beloved husband and our father, David Phillips" (February 1946)

Phillips, R. F. J.  
Phillips, Ronald Frank John, C/JX 559435, was an Able Seaman in the Royal Navy, aboard HM tug, "Roode Zee". He died when he was 18 on 24 April 1944. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Panel 76.1

He was the son of John Charles and Olive Phillips, from Ulcombe, Kent

Philpott, R.
Raymond Philpott, 1235295, was an Aircraftman, 1st Class, in the RAFVR. One of ten children, he was the "dear son" of John and Dorothy Philpott, from Buckland, Dover

The letter below is from the Prisoner of War Department of the War Organisation of the British Red Cross and Order of St John of Jerusalem. Dated 23 January 1944 it reads: "Dear Mrs Philpott, Thank you for your letter of Jan 11th., We are very glad to hear that you have received a postcard from your son for we fully realise what a great relief this must be to you."

Aircraftman Philpott was drowned just five months later on 24 June 1944, having been drowned when the POW transport ship Tamahoko was sunk off Nagasaki. . He was 23. He is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, Singapore. Column 440

with thanks to Mrs Mackenzie
illustration above: Raymond Philpott's tie pin

Pilcher, T. L. D.   
Thomas Leonard David Pilcher, 7959676, was a Trooper in the Royal Armoured Corps. He died after an accident on 14 January 1943, when he was 19 years and six months old. He is buried in Charlton Cemetery, Dover. Section 2 U, Grave 14

He was the youngest son of the late Benjamin Albert and Annie Sarah Pilcher, of 4 Primrose Road, Buckland, Dover

Pleasance, A. E.  
Arthur Edward Pleasance, 2316733, was a Serjeant in the Royal Corps of Signals, the 15 Army Group signallers. He was 33 when he died of wounds on 26 February 1944. He is buried in the Caserta War Cemetery, Italy. V E 18

A Barton Road schoolboy, who joined the army soon after leaving school, he was the elder son of Arthur Edward and Florence Hilda Pleasance, brother to George, below, and the husband of Amy Pleasance

Pleasance, G. E.  
George Ernest Pleasance, 152231, was a Flying Officer in 235 Squadron (part of Coastal Command) of the RAFVR.  He was 21 when he died on 28 December 1943

PO Pleasance (navigator) and FO Alwyn Gilbert Metcalfe DFM (New Zealand pilot) were posted to no 235 Squadron at RAF Portreath in Cornwall on 18 December 1943. They arrived from No 9 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit, based at Crosby-on-Eden in Cumbria. No 235 Squadron were flying Bristol Beaufighter aircraft for anti-shipping work and patrols mainly over the Bay of Biscay

Ten days after their arrival on the Squadron, FO Metcalfe and PO Pleasance were detailed for their first operational mission in Beaufighter coded "X". The Squadron diarist recorded the following for 28 December 1943:-

"Weather overcast with low cloud. Another maximum effort as it is again reported that enemy shipping was active in the Bay. Several destroyers had been seen steaming on a westerly course

Six aircraft led by W/C R H McConnell DFC set out at 13.50 hours, followed an hour later by another six led by S/L D H Lowe. W/C McConnell's formation went off in company with six aircraft of 143

Contact was made with the enemy at 16.16 hours. Whilst orbiting the enemy  destroyers, three in number, W/C McConnell and W/O Matthews got separated from the remainder while searching for our force, which  was not found due to its chasing other enemy destroyers on a northerly course. W/C McHardy DFC, Officer Commanding 143 Squadron took over the lead. Crews saw the destroyers firing at an unseen target, which they themselves failed to locate

The formation remained in the vicinity until PLE and then returned to base in safety. The formation under S/L Lowe encountered nothing and made no contact  with the enemy. This formation split up at dusk to return to base independently. Aircraft "X", F/Os Metcalfe and Pleasance were in R/T contact with base, but over cloud. A fix was passed to the aircraft in a position some 15 miles north of St Ives. Nothing more was heard from them. All the other aircraft returned safely"

The following day one of the squadron aircraft piloted by F/O S J Fielding carried out a search in the area where F/Os Metcalfe and Pleasance were last heard of on the previous evening but could find no trace of them or their aircraft. They are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Panel 128

George Pleasance was the son of Arthur Edward and Florence Hilda Pleasance (nee Larcombe), from  Dover, and brother to Arthur, above 

with thanks to Dean Sumner

Note: the Squadron record lists him as a Pilot Officer
Illustrations:
Bristol Beaufighter, from Wikimedia Commons
extract from RAF Operations Record Book
names on Runnymede memorial by Dean Sumner

Prescott, S. J.  
Stephen James Prescott, 6095505, was in the 2nd battalion of The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey). He died on 28 November 1941, when he was 25, and is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial, Egypt. Column 55

He was the son of Ada Elizabeth Prescott, nee Parker, born at Ipswich, and Stephen Valentine Prescott, the brother of Harriet Jane Handley, nee Prescott, wife of Walter Handley.  

Price, C. L.  
Charles Luke Price, C/JX 135088, was a Petty Officer onboard HMS Tarantula. He died on 19 December 1941, when he was 27. He is buried in the Stanley Military Cemetery, China (including Hong Kong) 6 C 4

He was the only son of Edith Kathleen Finnis, formerly Price, and her husband, Charles (brother to Grace, Joy, Nellie, and Wendy?), and stepson of Mr Finnis, of 3 Hamilton Road, Tower Hamlets, Dover. He was engaged to be married to Rosalyn

"We know not why; some day we shall understand"
"Loved and remembered always"

Price, S. W.  
Stanley Wilfred Price, 1392661, was a Leading Aircraftman (Pilot under training) in the RAFVR. He was 19 when he died on 25 November 1942. He is buried in the Vereeniging Old Town Cemetery, South Africa. Church of England Plot, Grave 1282

He was the son of Wilfred C H Price and Ellen Margaret Price, from St Margaret's at Cliffe, Kent

Prince, E.  
Eric Saxon Prince was born on 4 May 1889. He had 26 years service, had been awarded the MBE. He was a Third Engineer Officer, Merchant Navy, on the Cable Ship Alert. He died on 24 February 1945, and his body was washed ashore on 22 June, and was interred in Holland. He is also commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. Panel 5

His wife was Mrs A Prince, from 4a East Cliff, Dover. See also Frederick Baldwin, for circumstances of MBE

Pritchard, G. J. 
George James (Jack) Pritchard,1335090, was a Leading Aircraftman in the RAFVR. He died on 30 October 1941, when he was 20. He is buried in the Camden (Quaker) Cemetery, USA. Memorial Plot

He was the son of Alfred A. and Olive Pritchard, from Dover, Kent