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Lieutenant JOHN MOUNTFIELD LIDDLE, R.A. 2nd Lieutenant, No.1 Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery Age 29 Died 28.10.1940

Educated in Gosport, his former home was in Privett Road, Alverstoke, Lieutenant JOHN MOUNTFIELD LIDDLE Royal Artillery, was the eldest son of John Alfred and Henrietta Liddle. He was married to Joan Lidddle of Corfe Mullen, Dorsetshire. On leaving school he chose to make banking his career, and was employed Lloyds, and was at the Palmerston Road, Southsea, branch. When war broke out, he joined up, before the war was declared, Lt. Liddle was attached to Gosport Territorial anti aircraft battery, and had been an active member of the St. Swithin’s Lodge of Freemasons.

He was posted to France soon after the outbreak of hostilities, and fought with the British Expeditionary Force, in the strenuous rearguard action, that ended in the miraculous evacuation of over a third of a million allied soldiers at Dunkirk. With the Battle of Britain won, Germany turned its attention and might of the Luftwaffe, on the large cities of the nation. With the intention of breaking the morale of the people of this country, by virtually bombing them into submission. The Blitz of London had started in earnest, with nightly bombing raids. The Royal Artillery was charged with its defence. And for that purpose, a ring of anti aircraft batteries, were set up around the Capitol’s perimeter. One of these units, was based at Child’s Hill, Cricklewood, London. On the night of Monday 21st October 1940, during a particularly heavy raid, bombs were dropped, one of which, landed in the middle of the gun site, killing many of the battery crew, including Lt. Little, and seriously injuring others.

Lieutenant JOHN MOUNTFIELD LIDDLE, R.A., was returned to Gosport, the home he loved, and was buried on Monday 28th October 1940, in the War Graves Section, Row 1 Grave 8, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone. On that headstone is the epitaph “Fell Defending London”, and that is exactly what he did. He gave his life in defence of his country, on active service.

Private ALBERT EDWARD LINE 37809, 13th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Age 40 Died 6.12.1916

Private ALBERT EDWARD LINE came from the Gosport area. Although a lot of the details are not known. He was serving with the 13th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment, and was based at ‘Nerdle Camp’ at St. Stephen’s, Saltash, Cornwall. He died on the 6th of December 1916; the cause was thought to be pneumonia. The body of Private ALBERT EDWARD LINE was returned to Gosport, where he was buried on the 12th of December 1916. He is laid to rest, Plot 50 Space 83, and a CWG headstone commemorates him.

Corporal LAWRENCE ROY LITTLE, R.A.S.C. 130324, Corporal, Royal Army Service Corps. Age 23 Killed 13.5.1941

Corporal LAURENCE ROY LITTLE, of the Royal Army Service Corps. Was the only child of Laurence Puxley Little and Beatrice Daisy Little, who lived at No.41, Cambridge Road, Gosport. He was the husband of Patricia Mary Little, and lived in Gosport. He was 23years old. He joined the 8th (R.A.F.) Troop of Scouts, whilst his father, then a Warrant Officer, was serving at Fort Grange. Keen on sport, he was a clever boxer and an excellent swimmer. In the boxing ring, he represented Gosport in many of the Inter Scout Association tournaments. And in more recent years, he gave valuable assistance to the Gosport Boys Club. A member of Gosport Swimming Club, he was a regular goalkeeper for the Club’s water polo team. He was also an old Gosportonian.

Corporal Little, who had married only six-weeks before, was killed whilst on duty, as the Corporal in charge of convoy’s, with the R.A.S.C. near Ashford, Kent. During which, he received fatal injuries when the motor cycle he was riding, was in a collision with an Army lorry. Later he died of his injuries, after having been admitted to Ashford Hospital, Kent.

Corporal LAURENCE ROY LITTLE, R.A.S.C., was buried on Saturday 17th May 1941, the service being conducted by the Vicar of St. John the Baptist Church, Forton, the Reverend Canon, O’Gorman Power, he is laid to rest, Plot 42 Space 41, and is commemorated by a Family Memorial headstone.

Q.S.M., ROBERT McINTOSH 3528, Quarter Sergeant Major, Depot Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regiment. Age 44 Died 25.9.1914

Quarter Sergeant Major ROBERT McINTOSH served with the Depot Battalion, of the King’s Liverpool Regiment. He was the son of Robert, and he had married Flora Isabella, and they lived at No. 5 Little Britain Street, Portsea, Portsmouth. Q.S.M. McIntosh had served in the Army since he was a lad; he had been stationed in the Portsmouth area for some years, as is noted from his married quarter’s address in Portsea. He had prior to his death, been suffering from bad health, and because of this he had been admitted to the Queen Alexandria Military Hospital, Cosham, where he was diagnosed as having a heart condition. Graded as medically unfit for further military service, it was decided that he be honourably discharged from the army as a pensioner. Whilst undergoing the process of discharge, he was drafted to the No. 2 Medical Discharge Unit Depot, at Fort Brockhurst, Gosport. On the 25th of September 1914, he suffered heart failure and died.

Quarter Sergeant Major ROBERT McINTOSH was buried on the 29th September 1914, and is laid to rest, Plot 109 Space 56, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.

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