Thomas Frank Cain was serving with His Majesty's Forces in 1944 and 1945.

Thomas Frank Cain was born in Leicestershire on the 21st January 1916. He was the husband of Mrs Dorothy E. Cain, nee Shaw. He and his wife lived at 181, Main Street, Thurmaston. He died during 1984.

 

 

Alec George Cannon, of 331, Main Street, Thurmaston, served in the Forces during the 1939-45 war.

He was born in Leicestershire on the 8th February 1914. He was the husband of Mrs Iris Cannon, nee Hooke, with whom he had three daughters and a son. Alec was the brother of Alfred Cannon (qv). He died during 1997.

 

Alfred (Son) Cannon lived at 352, Main Street, Thurmaston. In 1942, having previously trained at Chatham naval base, he was serving as Able Seaman, C/JX 179372, Alfred Cannon, aboard the R&S class destroyer HMS Thanet. In January 1942 the ship was based at Singapore. On the 26th of the month HMS Thanet and HMAS Vampire engaged a superior Japanese force of warships. During the action that followed HMS Thanet was severely damaged and she sank on the 27th January 1942.

Able Seaman Cannon was fortunate to survive the sea battle; many of the ships company died during and after the action. For some time the Cannon family had to bear the news that Son Cannon was missing. He was eventually evacuated to Australia, and spent time in Kerang, Victoria.

Son Cannon was the brother of Alec George Cannon (qv).

 

 

37, Oakland Avenue, Thurmaston.

 

 

In 1939 Herbert Carter of 6, Melton Road, Thurmaston was serving in His Majesty's Forces. He served as Private, 4857662, H. Carter, Leicestershire Regiment, and was based at the regimental depot at Glen Parva, Leicestershire.

 

 

Charles Samuel Carter was a serving soldier in 1942. He and his wife, Florence, lived at 45, Melton Avenue, Thurmaston.

 

 

Glengarry Melton Avenue, Thurmaston.

 

 

William Henry Cayless was serving with His Majesty's Forces in 1945, at that time his home address was at 39, Oakland Avenue, Thurmaston.

William Henry Cayless was born in Leicestershire on the 11th March 1913. He was the husband of Mrs Phyllis Cayless, nee Sims. He died during 1974.

 

 

22, Unicorn Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

Click on the link Amyas George Chappell

 

 

Click on the link Hereward Chappell

 

 

44, Highway Road, Thurmaston.

 

 

In 1939 Cyril Edward Clark of 131, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston, was serving in the Royal Navy. He served at that time as Petty Officer, Stoker, 2nd Class, C. E. Clark.

 

 

28, Garden Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

Private John William Jack Clarke of 141, Main Street, Thurmaston, served in the Middle East. He was still serving in His Majesty's Forces at the end of the war.

 

 

6, Hill Rise, Thurmaston.

 

 

Louisa Coltman, nee Bowering, was born in Yorkshire, on the 13th March 1920.

Louie Coltman, as she was known, of 47, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston, served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS). She was the wife of Walter Herbert Coltman (q.v.).

Louie Coltman died in 2003 and is interred in Thurmaston Cemetery.

 

 

Walter Herbert Coltman was born in Staffordshire on the 24th May 1916.

In 1945 Walter Herbert Coltman, then serving with His Majesty's Forces, had a home address at 47, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston, which he shared with his wife Mrs. Louisa Louie Coltman, nee Bowering (q.v.).

He died during 1979 and is interred in Thurmaston Cemetery.

 

 

Dennis Percival Cook was serving with the Royal Air Force in 1944-1945. He and his wife, Irene, lived at 15, Brook Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

Christopher Napier Cooper was serving with His Majesty's Forces in 1945, at that time his home address was at 67, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston.

Christopher Napier Cooper was born in Northamptonshire on the 25th July 1912. He died during 1982.

 

 

Tom Cramp was a serving soldier in 1943. He and his wife, Ena Mary, nee Street, lived at 66, Main Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

26, Melton Avenue, Thurmaston.

 

 

Joseph John Ashley Cropper was a serving soldier between 1940-1945.

Joseph John Ashley Cropper was born in Kent on the 26th May 1913. He was the husband of Mrs Agnes Gertrude Cropper, nee Brewer. He and his wife lived at both 11, Winster Drive, Thurmaston and 55, Hillcroft Close, Thurmaston. He died during 1972.

 

 

Eric Cross of 470, Melton Road, Thurmaston, was serving in the Forces in 1945, and remained so until at least 1947.

 

 

Petty Officer Raymond Crossland was serving in the Royal Navy in 1942. He lived at 352, Main Street, Thurmaston. He was still serving in the Forces in 1947.

 

 

37, Westdown Drive, Thurmaston.

 

 

147, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston.

 

 

16, Brook Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

Anthony Thomas De Burle was born in the Leicestershire mining village of Coalville on the 31st January 1907. At the age of 4, at the time of the 1911 census, he and his three sisters were living with their grandmother, Elizabeth Jane Moffatt, at 43A, Graham Street, Ilkeston, Derbyshire. In 1912 Anthony Thomas De Burle's eldest sister, Veronica, was working as a teacher of music from 3, Regent Street, Ilkeston.

In 1939 Anthony Thomas De Burle of 306, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston, was serving in the army.

He served as Corporal, 5613927, A. T. De Burle, 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment.

He died in Leicestershire in 1985.

 

 

31, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston.

 

 

In 1939 William Deacon of 28, Canal Street, Thurmaston, was serving in the Royal Air Force (R.A.F.). He served as L.A.C., 343538, W. Deacon , at the R.A.F. fighter station at Manston, Kent.

 

 

11, Churchill Road Extension, Thurmaston.

 

 

Barbara Doig was born in Leicestershire in 1920, the daughter of Scots born William Robertson Doig and his Hampshire born wife Dorothy Lilian Doig, nee Hogben. Barbara was the second of eight children.

In 1945 Mr. and Mrs. Doig and their family were living at 115, Colby Drive, Thurmaston, and their daughter, Barbara, was in His Majesty's Forces.

 

 

Cadet, 243431, Ronald Dorey received an emergency commision as a Second Lieutenant into the Regular Army on the 29th August 1942, the notification of which appeared in the London Gazette on the 8th September 1942.

Lieutenant Ronald Dorey was serving with the Royal Artillery in 1943. He and his wife, Alice Annie, nee Partridge, lived at 6, Unicorn Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

Able Seaman Gerald Draper, R.N., served aboard a destroyer that took part in the attack on the Sharnhorst. His grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. Coltman, lived at 47, Humberstone Road, Thurmaston.

 

 

Herbert Draycott lived with his wife Phyllis May at 130, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston. In 1942 Herbert Draycott was serving with His Majesty's Forces.

 

 

Frederick Walter Duddle was serving with His Majesty's Forces in 1945, at that time he and his wife lived at 7, Victoria Street, Thurmaston.

Frederick Walter Duddle was born in Leicestershire on the 13th May 1917. He was the husband of Mrs Barbara L. Duddle, nee Garner. He died during 2005.

 

 

28, Oakland Avenue, Thurmaston.

 

 

37, Hillcroft Close, Thurmaston.

 

 

52, Highway Road, Thurmaston.

 

 

Jack Evatt was serving with His Majesty's Forces during 1943-1945. He and his wife, Ada, lived at 302, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston.

 

 

Frank Victor Walter Evers was serving as an army driver in 1942.

Frank Victor Walter Evers was born in Lambeth on the 12th November 1920. He was the husband of Mrs Rose Louisa E.Evers, nee Smith. He and his wife lived at 50, Checkland Avenue, Thurmaston. He died in Leicestershire during 1998.

 

 

135, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston.

 

 

Rupert Alan Forsberry was serving with His Majesty's Forces in 1945, at that time his home address was at 12, Manor Road, Thurmaston.

Rupert Alan Forsberry was born in Leicestershire on the 13th August 1916. He died during 1994.

 

 

Eric Foster, R.A.F., was the son of Henry and Ethel May Foster of Thurmaston. He began his airforce training during July 1940. The training, with 81 Squad, N Flight, 5 Squadron, took place at a camp near Morecambe, Lancashire. He later served at RAF Pembrey and RAF Fairwood Common, Glamorganshire. From mid-1942 he served with 151 Operational Training Unit (OTU), RAF Risalpur, India (Pakistan). He later served at RAF Peshawar, before returning to the U.K.

 

 

Frank William Foster, known to most people as Bill Foster, was the son of William Foster (see WW1 Index) and his wife Annie. He was also the cousin of brothers William Henry, Eric, and Victor Leonard Foster (q.v.). Bill Foster was born in Thurmaston in 1917, and was later baptised at Thurmaston church. During the war he served in the 6th Airborne Force and was dropped at Arnhem, Holland. He served as a despatch rider, having had a motor cycle dropped by parachute for his own use. During his service he was involved in the capture of several German soldiers, who took it upon themselves to surrender to him. He rose to the rank of Sergeant Major. In later life Bill Foster worked for the firm of W. T. Palmer, first as a lorry driver and later as a works manager.

 

Victor Leonard Foster, RN, the son of Henry and Ethel May Foster of Thurmaston, joined the Royal Navy on 27/12/1939. He trained at H.M.S. Royal Arthur (Skegness) and H.M.S. Pembroke, Chatham. He served at the mine-laying base HMS Trelawney, Kyle of Loch Alsh, Scotland. After a short return to Chatham, he was drafted to the destroyer H.M.S. Volunteer. He served in her in the Western Approaches and later as part of Arctic Convoy PQ16. In 1943 he joined H.M.L.S.T. 418. The ship was sunk in the Mediterranean, near Anzio, on the 16/02/1944. Able Seaman Foster was one of several crewmen that lost their lives.

The full story of Able Seaman Vic Foster has been told in a publication called: Our Vic - The Story of a Leicestershire Sailor. Click on the link to find out more details.

Victor Leonard Foster is commemorated on the War Memorial at Thurmaston.

 

 

William Henry Foster was born in Thurmaston in 1913. He was the second child and eldest son of Henry Harry Foster, a basketmaker, and his wife Ethel May, nee Hewick.

During the 1939-45 war Bill Foster, as he was known, was a private soldier in the 1st Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment (Motor Transport).

Private, 4863310, W. H. Foster fought in Malaya and Singapore and was one of only a handful of men that were successfully evacuated from Singapore Island. He was batman to Captain, later Major, L.W. St. John McNair, motor transport officer to the regiment. Bill Foster escaped to Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) where he served for several years before returning to England.

Bill Foster died on the 18th May 1978, and was interred in Thurmaston Cemetery.

Bill Foster's brother Able Seaman Victor Leonard Foster (q.v.) was killed in action in 1944, near Anzio, Italy. His other brother, Eric Foster (q.v.), served in the Royal Air Force.

 

 

The Poplars, Syston Road, Thurmaston.

 

 

The Poplars, Syston Road, Thurmaston.

 

 

Wallace Edwin Foulds of 22, Berkeley Street, Thurmaston, was serving in the His Majesty's Forces in 1945, and was still serving in 1947.

Wallace Edwin Foulds was born in Leicestershire on the 17th June 1915. He was the husband of Mrs Ellen L. Foulds, nee Sewell. He died during 1971.

 

Howard Wilfred Fox was born at Thurmaston on the 6th July 1920, the son of Thurmaston basket maker Albert Fox. Howard attended school at Thurmaston and then Alderman Newton's School, Leicester. On leaving school he gained employment at the British United Shoe Machinery Company (BUSMC), Leicester.

On the 30th July 1940 Howard Fox joined the Royal Air Force (RAF). Following initial training, he eventually voyaged to Egypt, via the Cape of Good Hope. Leading Aircraftsman, 1183487, Howard Fox served with 17 Wireless Unit, RAF, at various airstrips in the Western Desert of North Africa. He eventually left the RAF on the 13th February 1946.

After the war Howard Fox, a member of the Methodist Church, went into teaching. He lived in the village with his wife Joyce. At Thurmaston many of the classes that he taught were held in the Methodist Sunday School building, due to the school being filled to capacity. He eventually became deputy head teacher, but left to become headmaster at Mountsorrel School, Leicestershire.

Today, Mr. Fox lives in the North of England, but remains a self-confessed Thurmastonite!

To see a larger picture of this man click on the link below

Howard Wilfred Fox

 

 

30, Berkeley Street, Thurmaston.

 

 

12, Westdown Drive, Thurmaston.