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Research by Den Budden 2007

Chief Petty Officer GEORGE THOMAS STURMEY, R.N. P/J 105928, Chief Petty Officer, Royal Navy, HMS Sandwich. Age 34 Died 16.4.1941

Chief Petty Officer GEORGE THOMAS STURMEY, Royal Navy, was the son of Walter George and Mary Sturmey of Gosport. He was also the husband of Dorothy Hilda Sturmey of East Finchley, Middlesex. They lived at No., 2 Willow Place, Gosport. He was serving at HMS Sandwich. My research indicates that he served aboard a Destroyer Escort vessel, which plied the Atlantic Ocean trying to protect the ships of the convoy from air or submarine attack. On the night of Wednesday 16th April 1941, his ship was berthed in the Birkenhead docks area. The docks were subjected to one of the heaviest air raids of the war that night. Despite intense anti aircraft fire from ship and shore alike, the German raiders were just above the range of the shells. The bombers immune to the flak, ‘blanket bombed’ the docks. The result was severe. Many ships were sunk at their moorings, others so badly damaged that they had to be scrapped. The cost in lives was terribly high. Amongst the hundreds killed or wounded during the raid, was C.P.O. Sturmey. He was killed when a large piece of shrapnel hit him, killing him instantly.

Chief Petty Officer, GEORGE THOMAS STURMEY, R.N., was brought back to Gosport, where he was buried on Monday 24th April 1941. He is laid to rest, Plot 61 Space 52, and is commemorated by a Family Memorial.

Sapper WILLIAM PATON FAIRBRIDGE SUTHERLAND, R.E. 364614, Sapper, Royal Engineers.  Age 34  Died 7.11.1918

Sapper WILLIAM PATON FAIRBRIDGE SUTHERLAND, Royal Engineers, was the son of Paton Elizabeth Sutherland, who lived at No. 18 St. George’s Square, Forest Gate, Essex. He was serving with the London Electrical Company, under the command of the Royal Engineers. His unit was tasked with manning a searchlight unit, which was self-powered by a generator, mounted on a truck. They were responsible for illuminating the night skies over the capital when an air raid was in progress.

The hope was that once illuminated the airship or aeroplane could be targeted by the anti aircraft batteries dotted around the city, and shot down. During the cold autumn and the start of the winter, he caught influenza and died on the 7th of November 1918, as a result of contracting the ‘Spanish Flu’ epidemic, which raged throughout war torn Europe. Somewhere in the region of a million people died after becoming infected. Sapper WILLIAM PATON FAIRBRIDGE SUTHERLAND, R.E., was laid to rest, Plot 39 Space 30, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.

Private DANIEL TABOR 17581, Private, 17581, Hampshire Regiment. Age 36  Died 2.7.1918 

Private DANIEL TABOR, serving with Hampshire Regiment, had been to France and served in action on two tours, his battalion was returned to this country for respite after having spent a long time in the trenches. They were stationed at Fort Gomer, one of the Victorian (Palmerston Follies), built in the mid 1800’s. These forts were damp and cold, many servicemen being taken ill during the extreme cold. Private Tabor, lived was able to live in married quarters with his wife and family (details of address, not recorded), his wife woke him one morning and found him to have a high temperature.

His condition deteriorated. He was given sick leave, and was sent home into the care of his wife, because there were no beds available in hospital. He sadly passed away on the 2nd of July 1918, Private DANIEL TABOR was buried on the 4th of July 1918, and is laid to rest, Plot 38 Space 2, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.

Petty Officer JOHN WILLIAM TAYLOR, R.A.N. PO/7738, Petty Officer Stoker, Royal Australian Navy, H.M.A.S. Warrego. Age 26   Died 24.2.1919 

Petty Officer JOHN WILLIAM TAYLOR, Royal Australian Navy, was living at No. 59 South Street, Gosport. He was at home on leave after having served in the Baltic Sea, as part of the Imperial Force, which lay off the Russian coast, as a result of the Russian Uprising. He was taken ill and developed pneumonia, from which he never recovered, he died on the 24th of February 1919. Petty Officer JOHN WILLIAM TAYLOR, R.A.N., was buried on the 1st of March 1919, and is laid to rest, Plot 100 Space 60, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.

Private WILLIAM TEES 6213628, Private, Middlesex Regiment.     Age 27 Died 16.8.1940 SEE – Corporal GEORGE ATKINSON, R.A.F.

Sergeant JOSEPH PATRICK THOMPSON 5136, Sergeant, XIIth Royal Lancers. Age 36  Died 29.6.1917

Sergeant JOSEPH PATRICK THOMPSON, was the son of Henry Charles and Letitia Katherine Thompson. He was wounded in action in France. He was medically evacuated by troop hospital ship. He was taken to the Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot. He underwent further surgery, but his wounds were severe. Complications set in and he sadly died of his wounds on the 29th of June 1917. Sergeant JOSEPH PATRICK THOMPSON’s body was returned to his hometown of Gosport, and was buried on the 3rd of July 1917, he is laid to rest, Plot 91 Space 65, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.

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