MacDonald, D. 
Donald MacDonald was a Trinity House Pilot, with S.S. Stokesley. He lived at Park Avenue, and was 41 when he died on 24 April 1940, and was cremated at Charing, Kent. Service people cremated there are commemorated on a Portland stone in a recess in a pavilion on the west of the crematorium building

His parents were John and Christina Howat MacDonald (nee Anderson), and his wife was Bessie A L MacDonald, from Glasgow 

Macdonnell, P.
Percy Macdonnell was a Regimental Sergeant Major, 6280472, serving in 4th Battalion, The Buffs. He was born in Dover on 14 September 1903, and brought up in that town. He lived in Randolph Road and went to Buckland School. There he met Emily Thomas. They were married on 22 June 1929 at St Andrew's Church, Buckland.

Percy joined the army aged 18, owing to unemployment. He was later posted to India, and Emily travelled with him. They were there for six years, and in that time had three daughters: Betty, Daphne, and Kathleen. They returned to England in January 1936, and lived for a while in Canterbury, Kent. Percy was then sent to Shorncliffe, Folkestone. When war broke out he was sent to France, and in retreat was rescued from the beaches of France.

Percy was then, with his battalion, sent to Malta, where they stayed for the three years during the siege of Malta. During that time he, with Sergeant C. Cook, supervised a very efficient corps of drums and they beat the retreat on many evenings in numerous villages, so doing much to keep up the morale of the inhabitants of Malta. In recognition of their tenacity, the George Cross was bestowed on the island by His Majesty The King. (Left, RMS Macdonnell leading the drums)

When Malta was liberated the battalion was sent to Egypt for a brief break. Following this they were sent to the islands of Leros and Cos. Near to Cos their ship, HMS Eclipse, struck a mine and sank in three minutes. A hundred and twenty eight other ranks, seven officers and 11 non-commissioned officers were lost. Percy was reported missing, and two years later confirmed as having died on HMS Eclipse on the night of 23 October 1943. His name is recorded on the Athens memorial.

Percy was a very good swimmer and often swam from Dover beach to the breakwater - which was why he was last seen handing his life jacket to a young soldier who could not swim.

Emily Macdonnell, née Thomas, was of a Dover family descended from Thomas Thomas, who, with his son and wife, fled from France during the St Bartholomew uprising in the 17th century. Thomas was believed to be a stonemason and was in due course naturalised and became a British citizen, and some of the family have resided in Dover ever since.

RMS Macdonnell's daughters still live in Kent - two in Hawkinge and one in Dover. His wife Emily died in Dover on 22 January 1974, and is buried at St Mary's cemetery.

with thanks to Daphne Sayer
gravestone by Joyce Banks

Martin, V. D.
Victor Douglas Martin was a sergeant who died at the age of 36 as the result of an accident on 6 April 1942/3. He was the son of Mrs V Martin, late of 36 Eaton Road, Dover

Marshall, J. E.
James Eglington Marshall, 70809, was a Pilot and Squadron Leader in the RAF. Winner of the DFC, he was the son of Engineer-Commander Hugh Haddow Marshall, RNR, and Daisy Miriam Marshall, and was brought up in West Africa. He started his flying training in September 1937 after gaining a short service commission with the RAF and later in the year was commissioned into the RAFO (Reserve of Air Force Officers). In early 1939 he joined 79 Squadron to undergo 'Fighter Command Training' and then in June he relinquished his RAFO commission to take up his short service commission and later joined 85 Squadron

He claimed his first combat success on 18 August 1940 when he shot down a Heinkel He111 bomber over the Thames Estuary. Soon after he collided with another He111 and lost a wingtip of his Hawker Hurricane fighter, but managed to land safely back at Debden

On 29th August Flying Officer Marshall shot down a Messerschmitt Me109 along the Sussex coast, but the next day was himself shot down whilst attacking a formation of He111's and baled out unhurt. He got his revenge on 27 October when he shot down another He111

He often flew as wingman to Squadron Leader Peter Townsend and in April 1941, Marshall was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for "... gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations"

In July 1941, Marshall was posted to Command 1452 Flight at West Malling in Kent, equipped with experimental Turbinlite Havocs, aircraft that mounted searchlights to illuminate enemy aircraft in the air at night to allow other aircraft to shoot them down (not a great success)

On 18 April 1942, 23 years old Squadron Leader Marshall and his two crewmen were killed when their Havoc crashed at Widford in Essex., He is buried at Maidstone, plot CC1, grave 44. His grave is in the second row, second from left in the picture below.

The words at the foot of his gravestone read: "Eldest son of Engineer Commander and Mrs H H Marshall".

pictures and words with thanks to Dean Sumner

Maxted, W. C.  
Walter Charles Maxted, 6297545, was a Gunner in the Royal Artillery, 2 Maritime Regiment. He was 28 when he died on 6th May 1941. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire. Panel 61, Column 3

He was the son of Walter George and Frances Maxted, and the husband of Hilda Doris Maxted, from Guston, by Dover . He was brother to William, below; their father Walter George Maxted was killed in 1918 and is buried at Nine Elms Cemetery, Belgium

May 1942

Maxted, W. H. 
William Henry Maxted, 175237, was a Gunner in the Royal Artillery, 89 HAA. He was 32 when he died on 5th July 1943, and is buried in Benghazi War Cemetery, Libya. 3 D 15

He was the son of Walter George Maxted and his wife Frances Emily (Emily Frances), née Baldwin, later Mrs G Terry, who were married in Dover in 1907, and the brother of Walter, above. William was the "beloved husband" of Hilda May Swinerd, born in Dover in 1909, and who was later living in Finchley, Middlesex, and father of Brenda  

In Charlton cemetery is a headstone for Hilda May Maxted, which states "Now re-united with her husband Bill, buried in Libya", and on which are also commemorated her parents

left - 1944

Marks, R. E.    
Robert Edward Marks was a Second Engineer Officer in the Merchant Navy. He died on the SS Maid of Kent when she was bombed, being used as a hospital ship. He was 40, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. Panel 66 

He was the third son of Frederick James Marks of Ramsgate, and Mrs Weston, of the Railway Hotel, Kearsney, and the "dearly beloved husband" of Florence G Marks, from 45 Cherry Garden Lane, Folkestone

Illustration: bombed and burnt out Maid of Kent at Dieppe, the destroyed casualty carriages train beside

Note: The Maid of Kent was one of the cross channel ferries, converted to a hospital ship. See here for more information

McGah, J. E.
John Edward McGah, 125487, was a Diesel Greaser and Fireman. With the Naval Auxiliary Personnel (Merchant Navy) he was with the HMS Avenger (aircraft carrier) when he died on 15th November 1942. He is commemorated on the Liverpool Naval memorial. Panel 7, Column 1

He was the "dearly loved husband"  of Rose Gertrude McGah of 48 Noah's Ark Road, Dover, and father to Jeannie, Clive, little Marian, and baby Johnnie

"Although gone from our sight he will always live in our hearts. Beloved by all who knew him" 

Mills, S. H.  
Sidney Harold Mills, 749135, was a Sergeant in the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), 20th battalion. He died on 20th September 1941, shortly after his promotion to RSM, through enemy action on the Isle of Wight. He was 37

He lived at 4 Brook Street, Dover. The funeral took place from 6 Peter Street, the home of his mother, Mrs Wetherly, and his stepfather, whom his mother had married in 1935. The coffin was draped with the Royal Fusiliers colours, and was borne by his brothers, Bert, Len, and Ron, his brother-in-law Joe and Steve, and his old pal Sergeant Taylor. He is buried at Charlton, Dover, 3 D grave 29. Mourners included his wife and his parents, his brothers, sisters, and in-laws. Amongst the floral tributes was one from his "broken-hearted wife and babies, Jean and Shirley" and one "in memory of a comrade, from Gunner Phipps (school pal)"

He was brother in law to Ellen and Yvonne Mills, who were killed by enemy action in 1944, and the "beloved husband" of Mrs M Mills (late of Dover) "RIP"

"Always remembered"

extra details with thanks to Joyce Banks and Bob Hollingsbee

Mitchell, G. F.
George Forsyth Mitchell, 2821364, was a Private in the Seaforth Highlanders, 2nd battalion. He was 27 when he died on 27 April 1940, and is buried at the Chambieres French National Cemetery, Metz, France. Grave 19

He left three children and a wife, who was then living in Canterbury. Before he had joined the army, thirteen months before he died, he had been a miner at Snowdown. He came originally from Glasgow

Mockeridge, P. R.
Percival Robert Mockeridge, 10575766, was born in Dover on 21 August 1915, and was the youngest son of Henry George Mockeridge from Dover and Sarah Ellen, his wife, née Crompton. He was a Corporal in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and was 28 when he died on 12 May 1944. He is buried in the Cassino War Cemetery, Italy, grave XVI E 21.

He left a widow, Dorothy Emma, née Hutchings, whom he had married in the Eastry area in 1937, and a daughter, Muriel, born 1940. At St Leonard's church in Deal there is a processional cross said to be dedicated to him (right), as he was once a Sunday School teacher there. 

with thanks to Valerie Nice
with thanks to Muriel Pierce
with thanks to June Trollope (above)