Highfields War Memorial
Highfields War Memorial is located at the junction of Coppice Road and South Street, in Highfields Memorial Gardens. It reads:
TO THE GLORY OF GOD THIS CLOCK TOWER IS ERECTED TO THE SACRED MEMORY OF THE UNDERNAMED WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY DURING THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1919 (NAMES) LEST WE FORGET
1939 - 1945 WAR (NAMES)
TO THE GLORY OF GOD THIS CLOCK TOWER IS ERECTED TO THE SACRED MEMORY OF THE UNDERNAMED WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY DURING THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1919 (NAMES) LEST WE FORGET
1939 - 1945 WAR (NAMES)
Additional Details
Donald Whitnall (D/JX 253953)
Ordinary Seaman - Royal Navy - H.M.S. Raleigh
28 April 1941, aged 18
Born in Doncaster in Q4 1922
Son of Frederick and Rhoda Whitnall, of Doncaster, Yorkshire.
Lived at 98 Coppice Road, Highfields
Torpoint (Horson) Cemetery
The gravestone carries the inscription - Always in our thoughts. Remembered by Mam, dad, Borothers and sister.
Air Raid on Plymouth when a bomb hit the air raid shelter
Ordinary Seaman - Royal Navy - H.M.S. Raleigh
28 April 1941, aged 18
Born in Doncaster in Q4 1922
Son of Frederick and Rhoda Whitnall, of Doncaster, Yorkshire.
Lived at 98 Coppice Road, Highfields
Torpoint (Horson) Cemetery
The gravestone carries the inscription - Always in our thoughts. Remembered by Mam, dad, Borothers and sister.
Air Raid on Plymouth when a bomb hit the air raid shelter
Cyril Grice (1115636)
Gunner - Royal Artillery - 88 Field Regt
12 September 1944, aged 24
Born in Doncaster in Q1 1920
Baptised - 15/3/1920 at Thurnscoe St Helen. Father William Joshua, miner. Mother Alice Winetta. Address 39 Albert St.
Son of William Joshua and Sarah Jane Grice, of Highfields, Yorkshire.
Enlisted 1940
Lived at 157 Coppice Rd, Highfields, Doncaster
Singapore Memorial
Unit fell into captivity when Singapore was surrendered on 15 February 1942. Died in allied hands from the effects of exposure, was a PoW when ship Rakuyo Maru he travelling on was sunk by the US Sub Sealion. Rescued and died on board USS Queenfish - Sunday, 17th Sept 1944. Buried at sea.
Gunner - Royal Artillery - 88 Field Regt
12 September 1944, aged 24
Born in Doncaster in Q1 1920
Baptised - 15/3/1920 at Thurnscoe St Helen. Father William Joshua, miner. Mother Alice Winetta. Address 39 Albert St.
Son of William Joshua and Sarah Jane Grice, of Highfields, Yorkshire.
Enlisted 1940
Lived at 157 Coppice Rd, Highfields, Doncaster
Singapore Memorial
Unit fell into captivity when Singapore was surrendered on 15 February 1942. Died in allied hands from the effects of exposure, was a PoW when ship Rakuyo Maru he travelling on was sunk by the US Sub Sealion. Rescued and died on board USS Queenfish - Sunday, 17th Sept 1944. Buried at sea.
William Cole (6137453) DCM
Warrant Officer Class II (CSM) - East Surrey Regiment - 1st Bn. 30 November 1942, aged 36 Born in approx 1906 Son of Joseph and Rachael Cole, of Doncaster, Yorkshire. Awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal on 20 August 1940 Lived at 20 Ridge Road, Highfields Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery Originally buried in a battlefield cemetery before being reburied in present location on 8 January 1944 On 26 Nov, the British 11th Brigade entered Majaz al Bab unopposed. On 27 Nov, German forces counterattacked successfully, capturing 286 prisoners of war from the British 11th Brigade. On 28 Nov, British 11th Brigade, supported by tanks of US 1st Armored Division, assaulted Djedeida unsuccessfully, losing 19 tanks in the process. |
Frank Burrows (851337)
Lance Bombardier - Royal Artillery - 12 Coast Regt.
Between 01/10/1942 and 02/10/1942, aged 26
Born in Doncaster in Q4 1916
Baptised - 15/11/1916 at Woodlands All Saints. Father William, miner. Mother Elizabeth. Address 138 South St
Born Highfields, Doncaster. Enlisted 1935
Lived at 138 South St, Highfields
Sai Wan Memorial
Captured at fall of Hong Kong. Lisbon Maru left Hong Kong, 1942/09/27 for Shanghai with 1816 prisoners on board. Attacked and sunk by USS Grouper (American submarine). He was in Hold Three
Lance Bombardier - Royal Artillery - 12 Coast Regt.
Between 01/10/1942 and 02/10/1942, aged 26
Born in Doncaster in Q4 1916
Baptised - 15/11/1916 at Woodlands All Saints. Father William, miner. Mother Elizabeth. Address 138 South St
Born Highfields, Doncaster. Enlisted 1935
Lived at 138 South St, Highfields
Sai Wan Memorial
Captured at fall of Hong Kong. Lisbon Maru left Hong Kong, 1942/09/27 for Shanghai with 1816 prisoners on board. Attacked and sunk by USS Grouper (American submarine). He was in Hold Three
Thomas Patterson (1485397)
Lance Serjeant - Royal Artillery - 170 Bty., 57 Lt. A.A. Regt. 22 March 1943, aged 33 Born in approx 1910 Husband of Madge Patterson, of Highfields. Enlisted 1938. Discharge 4/3/1943 Para 390 (XVI) KR - "ceasing to fulfil Army physical requirements." Lived at 118 South St, Highfields, Doncaster Married in Doncaster - Q3 1931 - 1 Son 1 Daughter Dearne (Thurnscoe) Cemetery The gravestone carries the inscription - Beloved husband of Madge. Beautiful memories That will never fade Death registered in Newton, Lancashire [also listed on Thurnscoe memorial] |
Albert Clayworth (1621688)
Sergeant - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve - 300 (Polish) Sqdn. 26 August 1944, aged 22 Born in Doncaster in Q4 1921 Joined 300 Squadron on 29 July 1944, and had flown two previous missions. Lived at 33 South St, Highfields Runnymede Memorial Lancaster mk III JB561 coded BH-B airborne 20:17 on 25 Aug 1944 from Faldingworth to bomb a target in Rüsselsheim. Cause of loss not established. Aircraft is believed to have been hit by Flak, though fierce battles with night fighters over the target area have been reported by returning crews. Aircraft crashed near the target area. Six of the crew, including their Polish Flight Engineer, F/S Jagiello, are buried in the Durnbach War Cemetery, Sgt Clayworth is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. |
Frank Curl (10543333)
Craftsman - Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers - 181 Inf Bde Workshops
4 December 1947, aged 26
Born in Sheffield in Q1 1922
Son of Thomas Benjamin and Lily Curl, of Doncaster.
Lived at 4 Second Avenue, Woodlands
Adwick-le-Street Cemetery
The gravestone carries the inscription - He had a heart As good as gold We miss him so; nobody knows. Resting with the brave
Died in the UK, death registered in Don Valley
Craftsman - Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers - 181 Inf Bde Workshops
4 December 1947, aged 26
Born in Sheffield in Q1 1922
Son of Thomas Benjamin and Lily Curl, of Doncaster.
Lived at 4 Second Avenue, Woodlands
Adwick-le-Street Cemetery
The gravestone carries the inscription - He had a heart As good as gold We miss him so; nobody knows. Resting with the brave
Died in the UK, death registered in Don Valley
Joseph Lakin (1484488)
Lance Bombardier - Royal Artillery - 171 Bty., 57 Lt. A. A. Regt. 26 August 1942, aged 36 Born in Nottingham in Q1 1906 Son of Joseph and Mary Elizabeth Lakin; Husband of Bertha Lakin, of Highfield, Doncaster, Yorkshire. 1911 lived at 9 Repton Road Bulwell Notts Born Bullwell, Notts. Enlisted 1938 Lived at 60 Coppice Road, Highfields Married in Doncaster - Q2 1928 - 6 Sons 1 Daughter Heliopolis War Cemetery The gravestone carries the inscription - In loving memory of Joseph. Wife and family, Mam and dad Died of Malaria/ Lobar Pneumonia at 15 Hospital, Middle East |
James Arthur Skellam (D/KX 92937)
Stoker 1st Class - Royal Navy - H.M.S. Neptune
19 December 1941, aged 26
Born in Woolstanton, Staffs in Q1 1916
Son of Samuel James Skellam, and of Sarah Jane Skellam, of Highfields, Yorkshire.
Lived at 46 Coppice Road, Highfields
Plymouth Naval Memorial
On 19 December 1941, following the First Battle if the Syrte, Force "K", consisting of light cruisers HMS Neptune, Aurora, Penelope with destroyers Kandahar, Havock, Lance and Lively, sortied from Malta in the hope of intercepting the Italian convoy known to be heading for Tripoli. At a point 20 nautical miles E of Tripoli, Force "K" entered an Italian minefield, laid by Italian cruiser force in June 1941. At 0106 hrs Neptune, leading the British column, hit a mine and backed her engines but at 0116 another mine detonated under the stern, losing propellers and rudder and going dead in the water. This left the cruiser at the mercy of wind and water in sea state 5 (heavy whitecaps), Neptune hit another mine. A 4th mine detonated under the bridge of Neptune, 5 minutes later she capsized and sank in position 33º15'N, 13º30'E.
Stoker 1st Class - Royal Navy - H.M.S. Neptune
19 December 1941, aged 26
Born in Woolstanton, Staffs in Q1 1916
Son of Samuel James Skellam, and of Sarah Jane Skellam, of Highfields, Yorkshire.
Lived at 46 Coppice Road, Highfields
Plymouth Naval Memorial
On 19 December 1941, following the First Battle if the Syrte, Force "K", consisting of light cruisers HMS Neptune, Aurora, Penelope with destroyers Kandahar, Havock, Lance and Lively, sortied from Malta in the hope of intercepting the Italian convoy known to be heading for Tripoli. At a point 20 nautical miles E of Tripoli, Force "K" entered an Italian minefield, laid by Italian cruiser force in June 1941. At 0106 hrs Neptune, leading the British column, hit a mine and backed her engines but at 0116 another mine detonated under the stern, losing propellers and rudder and going dead in the water. This left the cruiser at the mercy of wind and water in sea state 5 (heavy whitecaps), Neptune hit another mine. A 4th mine detonated under the bridge of Neptune, 5 minutes later she capsized and sank in position 33º15'N, 13º30'E.
George William Drabble (4746527)
Private - York and Lancaster Regiment - 2nd Bn.
20 August 1941, aged 24
Born in Doncaster in Q3 1920
Son of Mr. and Mrs. George Arthur Drabble, of Woodlands East, Doncaster, Yorkshire.
Lived at 38 Third Ave, Woodlands East
Phaleron War Cemetery
Originally buried at Allied Military Cemetary, Lembet Road, Thessaloniki before being reburied in present location on 5 April 1945
The 2nd Yorks and Lancs had been on Crete which was attacked by the German's on 20 May 1941 and fell on 1 June. Probably died as a PoW on Greece a few months later.
Private - York and Lancaster Regiment - 2nd Bn.
20 August 1941, aged 24
Born in Doncaster in Q3 1920
Son of Mr. and Mrs. George Arthur Drabble, of Woodlands East, Doncaster, Yorkshire.
Lived at 38 Third Ave, Woodlands East
Phaleron War Cemetery
Originally buried at Allied Military Cemetary, Lembet Road, Thessaloniki before being reburied in present location on 5 April 1945
The 2nd Yorks and Lancs had been on Crete which was attacked by the German's on 20 May 1941 and fell on 1 June. Probably died as a PoW on Greece a few months later.
George Pegg (C/MX 66733)
Motor Mechanic - Royal Navy - HMML 119 27 September 1940, aged 20 Born in Doncaster in Q2 1920 Son of Annie Mary Pegg, of Highfields, Doncaster, Yorkshire. Lived at 42 Coppice Road, Highfields Plymouth (Weston Mill) Cemetery The gravestone carries the inscription - A loving son So true and kind Beautiful memories Left behind RIP Died at sea |
Colin Rout (14896141)
Private - Seaforth Highlanders - 1st Bn. 12 March 1946, aged 19 Born in Preston on 7 December 1926 (Son of Charles Arthur and Jessie Rout) Resided Doncaster. Scout RoH - 5th Doncaster (Woodlands) Group Lived at 10 Doncaster Road, Highfields Jakarta War Cemetery Died from wounds in Dutch East Indies, |
John Thomas Heath (2662378)
Guardsman - Coldstream Guards - 3rd Bn.
15 September 1943, aged 31
Born in Rotherham in Q1 1912
Son of John and Sarah Emma Heath, of Doncaster, Yorkshire.
Lived at 4 Ridge Road, Highfields
Salerno War Cemetery
The gravestone carries the inscription - For all of us You did your best May God bless you And grant you eternal rest
Originally buried in a battlefield cemetery before being reburied in present location on 24 April 1944
Died in the days after the landings in Italy at Salerno
Guardsman - Coldstream Guards - 3rd Bn.
15 September 1943, aged 31
Born in Rotherham in Q1 1912
Son of John and Sarah Emma Heath, of Doncaster, Yorkshire.
Lived at 4 Ridge Road, Highfields
Salerno War Cemetery
The gravestone carries the inscription - For all of us You did your best May God bless you And grant you eternal rest
Originally buried in a battlefield cemetery before being reburied in present location on 24 April 1944
Died in the days after the landings in Italy at Salerno