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Research by Den Budden 2007

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Private EDWIN ATKINSON 5732945, Private, Dorsetshire Regiment. Age 18 Died 18.2.1941

Private EDWIN ATKINSON, was the son of James Walter and Catherine Atkinson, of Small Heath, Birmingham. He was a member of the Dorsetshire Regiment, serving with the 70th Battalion. They formed part of the ground defence forces, protecting the Royal naval Air Station Lee-on-the-Solent. The Air Station had suffered air attacks in the past. 1941 Saw the start of the ‘hit and run’ tactics employed by the German Air Force. Another of these low-level raids, which avoided detection by radar, occurred on Tuesday 18th February 1941. The attack caught many of the personnel in the open. Private Edwin Atkinson, received mortal wounds in the raid. As far as I have been able to find out, he was the only fatality that day, although several were wounded. The attacking aircraft were long gone, before the RAF could get fighters to the area.

Private EDWIN ATKINSON, was buried on Friday 21st February 1941, and is laid to rest in the War Graves Section (see plans on back pages), Row 2 Grave 12, and his final resting place, is commemorated by a CWG headstone..

Mr GEORGE WILLIAM CRIPPS Age 30 Died 16.8.1940

Mr JOHN EDWARD DARRINGTON 7 Bedford Street, Gosport.Age 29 Died 16.8.40

Mr CHARLES R. DUPREE Of 54 Balflour Road, Southall, Middlesex. Age 59 Died 16.8.1940

Master CECIL LEONARD ALBERT GROUT 22 Elmore Avenue. Age 14 Died 16.8.1940

Mr WILLIAM CRIPPS, was a Civilian Engine a Fitter, he was employed at the Royal Naval Air Station at Lee-on-Solent. On the 12th August 1940, an attack on that airfield took place. He died at Marine Parade, Lee-on-Solent. He was one of a number who were enjoying the sunny summer day, they were machine gunned and bombed by dive-bombing German aircraft. With bombs dropping, bullets flying, it is not known whether shrapnel or a bullet hit him. Suffice to say that he was killed by enemy action. His home was at No. 118 the Parkway, Canvey Island, Essex.

Mr JOHN EDWARD DARRINGTON, was working on Marine Parade, he was busy on expansion works of the Lee Air Station. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Darrington, and lived at No. 7 Bedford Street, Gosport. When the raid was over, his body was discovered under the remains of a building that he had been helping to build.Mr CHARLES RICHARD DUPREE lived at No. 54 Balflour Road, Southall, Middlesex. He had lodgings at ‘Beverle’ Marine Parade, Lee-on-Solent. He was in the area working on the expansion work at the Air Station. He was killed when a bomb made a direct hit on the building he was taking refuge in. The whole structure collapsed on top of him, killing instantly.

Master CECIL LEONARD ALBERT GROUT, age 14, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Grout, and lived with them at No. 22 Elmore Avenue, Lee-on-Solent. He was with some friends enjoying the sunshine at the popular sea resort. The above raid then took place. The ‘holiday’ atmosphere was shattered when German dive-bombing aircraft swooped down, masked by the sun, and attacked the Royal Naval Air Station based at Lee. Being a military target, it was understandable it was attacked. But to attack civilian people sun bathing and trying to take cover showed the way the war would continue. First-Aid Workers, who had braved the attack, to get to the Cliff End area, found Master Cecil Grout. Like all the others found there, he was covered in grey dust. He was recognised by first-aiders, who happened to know him. He had been badly mutilated by a bomb explosion, being killed instantly.

Mr GEORGE WILLIAM CRIPPS, was buried on Thursday 15th August 1940, and is laid to rest, Plot 195 Space 65, and is commemorated by a Civilian War Grave headstone.

Mr JOHN EDWARD DARRINGTON, was buried on Wednesday 21st August 1940, and is laid to rest, Plot 61 Space 40, and is commemorated by a Family Memorial headstone.

Master CECIL LEONARD GROUT, was buried on Friday 17th August 1940, and is laid to rest, Plot 173 Space 40, and is commemorated by a Civilian War Grave headstone.

Mr CHARLES RICHARD DUPREE, was buried on Tuesday 20th August 1940, and is laid to rest, Plot 195 Space 65, and is commemorated by a Civilian War Grave headstone.

Flying Officer NORMAN BAGSHAW, R.A.F. 46374 Flying Officer, Royal Air Force. Age 36 Died 15.10.1941

Flying Officer NORMAN BAGSHAW, R.A.F., was 36 years of age. At the time of his death on the 15th of October 1941, he was commanding a High Speed Launch No 112. This was an air sea rescue launch. The boat had been ordered to search for any aircrew from aircraft in difficulties. The position was 50 miles southeast of the Nab Tower, During the search two German fighters were sighted, and the launch was soon under attack. The first aircraft dived down; cannon shells raked the hull. It was during this attack that F/O Bagshaw and another crewmember were killed. The second aircraft’s attack killed the wireless operator who was desperately trying to report the vessel was under attack. With no radio, engine damage and the boat badly holed and taking on water, the launch made for the first point of refuge, managing to limp back to St Helen's on the Isle of Wight. The bodies of the dead crew were brought back to the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, Gosport. F/O BAGSHAW, had been based at Gosport, and came under command of RAF Gosport. Flying Officer NORMAN BAGSHAW R.A.F., was buried on the 18th of October 1941, Plot 188 Space 47, and his final resting place, is commemorated by a CWG headstone.

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