THE  DOVER WAR MEMORIAL  PROJECT

 

war memorial at dusk, photographed by Michelle Cooper

World War II

 

SERVICE CASUALTIES IN THE BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE

Surnames R

Randall, A. D.       
Alfred Douglas Randall, C/JX 162572, was an Ordinary Seaman in the Royal Navy, aboard the HMS Jaguar. He died on 26th March 1943, aged 18. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial., United Kingdom

His parents were  Henry James and Clara Maria Randall, of Dover.

Ransom, B. D.       
Basil Denne Ransom, 144157, was a Pilot Officer in the RAFVR. He died on 13th December 1943, when he was 38. He is buried in the Chittagong War Cemetery, Bangladesh, 6 G 12

He was the son of Percy Kemp Ransom and Fanny Mary Ransom, and the husband of Winifred Beatrice Patricia Ransom, from Finchley, Middlesex

Raysbrook, S. E. F.      
Sidney Ernest F. Raysbrook, C/KX 128707, was a 2nd class Stoker, in the Royal Navy. He served aboard the HMS Repulse, and was reported missing, then killed in action, on 10th December 1944. He was 30. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

He was the eldest son of Mr S Raysbrook, from 13 Hillside Road, Buckland, late of 75 Wyndham Road, Dover, and a player for Wyndham Rovers. .

Reeder, R. C.       
Robert Charles Reeder, was a a/Sub Lieutenant, in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, at the Royal Naval air station HMS Godwit. He was 22 when he died on 2nd January, 1944. He is buried n the Banstead (All Saints) Churchyard, United Kingdom, west of church.

He was the son of Charles Edward and Clara Reeder, from Banstead.  

For more information, see Banstead History Research Group

Reynolds, D. T. W.        
David Thomas William Reynolds, 2024207, was a Corporal in 1 Traffic Control, the Corps of Military Police (also noted as The Buffs). A winner of the Military Medal at Dunkirk, and having seen service in India and Indo-China before the second World War, he was 32 when he died at Preston Hall on Monday, 16th February 1941. He and Private Stickells had been riding motorcycles accompanying their Commanding Officer's car, carrying him and two passengers. His motorcycle collided with a stationary lorry on the Biddenden Headcorn Road at midnight on the Saturday before, and he sustained a fracture to the base of his skull. He is buried at Aylesford Cemetery, SE plot, grave 2.

His parents were David Ambrose and Margaret May Reynolds, from 164 London Road Dover, and his wife, whom he had only recently married, was Hester Jane Reynolds, from Stockwell, London. At the inquest, where a verdict of accidental death was returned, there was uncertainty as to whether the lorry had been sufficiently illuminated. Mrs Reynolds, Corporal Reynolds' mother, was most critical of the verdict, staying that in her belief her son's death had been caused "by someone else's blunder" and that she had "no patience with such verdicts".

The Coroner expressed his "sympathy with the relatives".      

Roberts, J. C.       
John Charles Roberts, 14559803, was a Private in the 1/6th battalion of the East Surrey Regiment. He died on 13th May 1944, when he was 19. He is buried at the Cassino War Cemetery, Italy, XII F 4.

He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Roberts, of Dover.

*Robinson, R. A.       
Ronald Ambrose Robinson was a fourth Engineer Officer in the Merchant Navy. He died on 24th February 1945, when he was 30, with the Cable Ship Alert. He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial.

 He was the son of Frank and Anne Kathleen Robinson, and the husband of Gwendoline Mabel Robinson, of Littlehampton, Sussex.

Rogers, C.       
Charles Rogers was a Signal Boatswain on the Royal Navy's HMS Glorious. He died on 8th June 1940, when the Glorious had taken part in a mission to evacuate troops from Norway. She was sunk around 6pm in a sustained attack by the battle cruiser Scharnhorst.

Charles was the "wonderful and adorable" only son of Mr and Mrs Frank Rogers, from the "Admiral Harvey", Bridge Street, and brother to Ivy (married to Sydney?). He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval memorial.

"Adored son and brother ... Always in our thoughts. So sadly missed."

Note: Lucy Wall, who worked at the "Admiral Harvey" for Mr and Mrs Rogers, was one of the civilian casualties in the Great War, killed there in 1917 by fragments from an exploding bomb.

Rogers, L. V.       
Leslie Victor Rogers, CH/X104204, was a Marine in the 11th battalion of the Royal Marines. He died ashore on 14th September 1942, when he was 19. He is commemorated on the Chatham Memorial.

He was the son of Thomas Fredrick James Rogers and of Bertha Florence Rogers, from Tower Hamlets, Dover.

In Proud & Loving Memory Of
Thomas James Rogers
Who Died Suddenly On The P. V. Pathfinder
13th January 1936
Aged 45 Years
So Loved So Missed.

Also Leslie Victor Rogers
Killed At Tobruk 14th September 1942
Aged 19 Years.

Additional Headstone.
Treasured Memories Of
Bertha Florence Rogers
Reunited
June 15th 1973
Aged 80 Years

To Live In The Hearts
Of Those You Loved Is Not To Die
grave, by Joyce Banks

photo and transcription, Joyce Banks

Rolfe, W.       
William Rolfe, 1893987, was a Sapper in the 706 General Contruction Company of the Royal Engineers. He died on 7th August 1940, when he was 41. He is commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial, France, column 27m. He had also served in the Great War.

He was the son of Stephen and Mary Rolfe, and the husband of Edith Rolfe.  

*Ross, J. G.      
James Geoffrey (Godfrey) Ross, 1621236, was a Gunner in the Royal Artillery, the 95 battery of the 48 Light AA Regiment. He was 32 when he died on 20th February 1945. He is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial, column 29.

Russell, M. L.      
Maurice Lloyd Russell, C/JX 126020, was an Able Seaman in the Royal Navy, aboard the HMS Picotee. He died on 12th August 1941 and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, United Kingdom.

Russell, R. L.       
Robert Leslie Russell, E/22946, was a Sergeant in the Royal Rifles of Canada, RCIC. He died on 15th June 1945, and is buried in the Yokohama War Cemetery, Japan, Canadian section, B A 13

He was the son of Charles Henry and Martha Russell (nee Hills), and the husband of Florence M Russell (nee Simms), from Sillery, Quebec, Canada.


Copyright 2006/7/8 © Marilyn Stephenson-Knight. All Rights Reserved