Soldiers who died 75 or 80 years ago during World War Two

Volunteers at Littleborough History Centre have been researching the service personnel from the Pennine districts of Rochdale (Littleborough, Milnrow, Newhey, Smallbridge and Wardle) who died during World War Two.

This list is of men whose 75 or 80 years anniversary occurs in June or July 2020. The war in Europe ended on 8 May 1945 and casualties were much reduced after that date.

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• Littleborough & Wardle

Private Leslie Whittaker Crowther

Leslie was born in 1909, the son of Frank Partington Crowther and Elizabeth Ann Crowther. Leslie married Violet Evelyn McCall on 10 February 1934 in Rochdale, Lancashire and they had a daughter, June, born in 1938.

Prior to enlisting, Leslie was employed as a hank dyer and he lived at 47 Albert Royds Street in Rochdale. 36-year-old Private Crowther 7394889, was serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps in India at the time of his death on 9 June 1945. He is buried in Delhi War Cemetery, India, grave No 5 K 6 and is remembered on St Johns War Memorial.

 

Private William Naylor

William was born on 26 June 1910, the second son of James and Bertha Naylor of Rochdale. In 1939 William (a plant attendant at an oil distillery) was living with his younger brother Robert  and mother at 35 Regent Street, Rochdale. He married Constance Amy Wood of Littleborough, Lancashire on 27 August 1940 at St James Church Calderbrook. His brother Joseph was best man and Robert acted as groomsman.

Prior to enlisting William worked at Cleggswood Oil Distillery in Littleborough. 35-year-old Private Naylor 4133072, 6th Bn Cheshire Regiment died on 18 July 1945 from injuries accidently received whilst serving in the Central Mediterranean region and was buried in Klagenfurt War Cemetery in Austria grave No 3 H 6. His wife, Constance, who was living at 3a Railway Street when she received notification of his death had only recently received information from William that he was coming home on leave.

 

• Milnrow & Newhey

Sapper Roy Sheard

Roy was born in Rochdale on 6 May 1923, the son of Granville and Lily Sheard (nee Buckley). He had a brother Desmond. At the time the 1939 Register was compiled, Roy’s family were living at 27 Rochdale Road, Milnrow, Lancashire but Roy was absent . 22-year-old Sapper Sheard 1878279, 276 Field Coy., Royal Engineers, died of wounds on 24 July 1945 and is buried in Celle War Cemetery 2. D. 4. in Germany and is remembered on Milnrow and St James War Memorials.

 

A/Leading Stoker Derrick Barker Wilson

Derrick was born on 25 April 1921 in Durham, the son of George W and Hilda Minnie Wilson (nee Douglass). In 1939 Derrick lived in Salford where on 10 November 1943 he married Marjorie Jones at St Paul's Church in Pendleton, Salford.

Derrick joined the Navy in 1941 and served on H.M.S. Vestal, a mine sweeper. 24-year-old  A/Leading Stoker Wilson, P/KX 137209, Royal Navy was presumed killed when his ship, HMS Vestal, was hit by a kamikaze aircraft. HMS Vestal was badly damaged and scuttled with casualties and 20 ships company missing, presumed killed.

Derrick is remembered on Portsmouth Naval Memorial Panel 89, Column 3 and on Milnrow and St James War Memorials. Derrick’s parents (his father being vicar of Milnrow) and 24-year-old wife were notified by the Admiralty of him being “missing presumed killed at sea”. Roy and Marjorie had a 11 month old son, Garfield D. The Rochdale Observer of 4 August 1945 advised that Derrick was a frequent visitor to Milnrow over the last 12 months.

 

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If anyone has any photographs of the soldiers, or additional information, please email Littleborough History Centre on lborohist@btvonnect.com

We have been publishing details of men killed in WWII since January 2019. View some of our previous articles here:

May 2020: www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/135402/soldiers-who-died-75-or-80-years-ago-during-world-war-two

April 2020: www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/134173/soldiers-who-died-75-or-80-years-ago-during-world-war-two

March 2020: www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/133090/soldiers-who-died-75-or-80-years-ago-during-world-war-two