Aylsham War Memorial Popplewell, Pratt, Risebrow, Ward and Williamson
Any reference to (RoH) means the Roll of Honour Website, to which I am deeply indebted.
www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/Aylsham.html
The Roll of Honour site refers to the War memorial in the churchyard. Although there is also a wooden memorial plaque in the church, this appears to be identical in practically every detail, other than adding that the Korean War individual died in 1952.
Chetwin Hamre POPPLEWELL…………………….....(RoH)
(Was originally Possibly but see comment below)
Flying Officer J/16305. Pilot 434 Sqdn., Royal Canadian Air Force. Died Wednesday 29 September 1943. Buried: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY, Kleve, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Ref. 23. E. 3.
On Churchyard War Memorial C Popplewell
On Church Memorial board C H Popplewell
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2041171
Halifax LK634 Information
Type...................................Halifax
Serial Number................LK634
Squadron........................434
X1D...................................IP-T
Operation........................Bochum
Date 1..............................29th September 1943
Date 2.............................30th September 1943
Further Information
Airborne 1818 29Sep43 from Tholthorpe. Cause of loss and crash-site not established. Those killed are buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
F/O C.H.Popplewell RCAF KIA
Sgt N.T.Harris KIA
P/O C.F.Kirk RCAF PoW
Sgt R.A.Earl PoW
F/S R.A.Zahl KIA
Sgt T.Davies KIA
Sgt W.G.Bailey RCAF KIA
Sgt R.A.Earl was interned in Camps L6/357, PoW No.610. P/O C.F.Kirk in Camp L3, PoW No.3011.
www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=7667
There is a picture of Flying Officer Popplewell and crew here
rcaf434squadron.squarespace.com/air-crew-photos/434-aircr...
And of Flying Officer Popplewell in Civvies
rcaf434squadron.squarespace.com/individuals/individual-ai...
The loss of the Halifax LK634 is attributed in text associated with the second photo to Luftwaffe Ace; Prince Hauptmann zur Lippe Weissenfeld
This is all taken from research done by Chet Popplewell’s nephew, which can be seen in more detail here
www.bombercrew.com/434/Chet/chetintro.ht
The only thing missing is the link to Aylsham. The nephew’s research may hint at a possible cause. Chet Popplewell’s first operational unit flew out of North Norfolk which he joined in September 1942. Later, in the acknowledgements, we are told Chet had a daughter who never saw her father. Is it possible that he met and married a local girl, who would all too soon be left a widow.
Our search takes us back to the Birth, Deaths and Marriages records, where in the July to September 1943 quarter, we find the marriage of Chetwin H.Popplewell recorded in the Norwich Outer District area. The previous name of his bride, (presumably maiden name), is Howard. Looking up Howard reveals she was an Eileen M. However, there the trail ends as there is no birth of a Popplewell recorded to a mother with maiden name Howard or in the Norfolk area in the last quarter of 1943 or the whole of 1944.
C PRATT………………………………...................................(RoH)
No further information available at present.
On Churchyard War Memorial C Pratt
On Church Memorial board C Pratt
CWGC
10 possible matches on the CWGC database, none with any obvious link to Aylsham.
(Henry) Robert RISEBROW……………………………..(RoH)
Private 5774648. 6th Bn., Royal Norfolk Regiment. Died Monday 16 February 1942. Age 21. Son of Charles and Ethel Risebrow, of Aylsham, Norfolk. Buried: KRANJI WAR CEMETERY, Singapore. Ref. 29. A. 20.
On Churchyard War Memorial R H Risebrow
On Church Memorial board R H Risebrow
CWGC (Has H R Risebrow as dieing between the 16/02/1942 and 19/02/1942)
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2821284
W WARD………………………………..................................(RoH)
No further information available at present.
On Churchyard War Memorial W Ward
On Church Memorial board W Ward
CWGC
82 possible matches on the CWGC database
Arthur William WILLIAMSON………………………………...(RoH)
Corporal 1109931. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died Friday 18 September 1942. Age 30. Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Williamson, of Aylsham, Norfolk. Buried: EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY, Egypt. Ref. XII. E. 16.
On Churchyard War Memorial A Williamson
On Church Memorial board A W Williamson
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2213041
A F WILLIAMSON………………………………......................(RoH)
No further information available at present.
On Churchyard War Memorial A Williamson
On Church Memorial board A F Williamson
CWGC
51 possible matches on the CWGC database - no obvious link with Aylsham.
G H WILLIAMSON……………………………….....................(RoH)
No further information available at present.
On Churchyard War Memorial G Williamson
On Church Memorial board G H Williamson
CWGC
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2256206
Korean War Commemorated on Churchyard Memorial
P TORTICE………………………………..................................(RoH)
No further information available at present. Not listed on the British Embassy, Korea, web site.
On Church Memorial board P Tortice 1952
No match on the Published casualties lists that are on line.
Not listed on the Naval Net site - although there are two Firefly crashes in December 1952 where the second crewman is not listed - both shot down by enemy flak, and the named casualty is listed as Missing Presumed killed.
Aylsham War Memorial Popplewell, Pratt, Risebrow, Ward and Williamson
Any reference to (RoH) means the Roll of Honour Website, to which I am deeply indebted.
www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/Aylsham.html
The Roll of Honour site refers to the War memorial in the churchyard. Although there is also a wooden memorial plaque in the church, this appears to be identical in practically every detail, other than adding that the Korean War individual died in 1952.
Chetwin Hamre POPPLEWELL…………………….....(RoH)
(Was originally Possibly but see comment below)
Flying Officer J/16305. Pilot 434 Sqdn., Royal Canadian Air Force. Died Wednesday 29 September 1943. Buried: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY, Kleve, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Ref. 23. E. 3.
On Churchyard War Memorial C Popplewell
On Church Memorial board C H Popplewell
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2041171
Halifax LK634 Information
Type...................................Halifax
Serial Number................LK634
Squadron........................434
X1D...................................IP-T
Operation........................Bochum
Date 1..............................29th September 1943
Date 2.............................30th September 1943
Further Information
Airborne 1818 29Sep43 from Tholthorpe. Cause of loss and crash-site not established. Those killed are buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
F/O C.H.Popplewell RCAF KIA
Sgt N.T.Harris KIA
P/O C.F.Kirk RCAF PoW
Sgt R.A.Earl PoW
F/S R.A.Zahl KIA
Sgt T.Davies KIA
Sgt W.G.Bailey RCAF KIA
Sgt R.A.Earl was interned in Camps L6/357, PoW No.610. P/O C.F.Kirk in Camp L3, PoW No.3011.
www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=7667
There is a picture of Flying Officer Popplewell and crew here
rcaf434squadron.squarespace.com/air-crew-photos/434-aircr...
And of Flying Officer Popplewell in Civvies
rcaf434squadron.squarespace.com/individuals/individual-ai...
The loss of the Halifax LK634 is attributed in text associated with the second photo to Luftwaffe Ace; Prince Hauptmann zur Lippe Weissenfeld
This is all taken from research done by Chet Popplewell’s nephew, which can be seen in more detail here
www.bombercrew.com/434/Chet/chetintro.ht
The only thing missing is the link to Aylsham. The nephew’s research may hint at a possible cause. Chet Popplewell’s first operational unit flew out of North Norfolk which he joined in September 1942. Later, in the acknowledgements, we are told Chet had a daughter who never saw her father. Is it possible that he met and married a local girl, who would all too soon be left a widow.
Our search takes us back to the Birth, Deaths and Marriages records, where in the July to September 1943 quarter, we find the marriage of Chetwin H.Popplewell recorded in the Norwich Outer District area. The previous name of his bride, (presumably maiden name), is Howard. Looking up Howard reveals she was an Eileen M. However, there the trail ends as there is no birth of a Popplewell recorded to a mother with maiden name Howard or in the Norfolk area in the last quarter of 1943 or the whole of 1944.
C PRATT………………………………...................................(RoH)
No further information available at present.
On Churchyard War Memorial C Pratt
On Church Memorial board C Pratt
CWGC
10 possible matches on the CWGC database, none with any obvious link to Aylsham.
(Henry) Robert RISEBROW……………………………..(RoH)
Private 5774648. 6th Bn., Royal Norfolk Regiment. Died Monday 16 February 1942. Age 21. Son of Charles and Ethel Risebrow, of Aylsham, Norfolk. Buried: KRANJI WAR CEMETERY, Singapore. Ref. 29. A. 20.
On Churchyard War Memorial R H Risebrow
On Church Memorial board R H Risebrow
CWGC (Has H R Risebrow as dieing between the 16/02/1942 and 19/02/1942)
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2821284
W WARD………………………………..................................(RoH)
No further information available at present.
On Churchyard War Memorial W Ward
On Church Memorial board W Ward
CWGC
82 possible matches on the CWGC database
Arthur William WILLIAMSON………………………………...(RoH)
Corporal 1109931. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died Friday 18 September 1942. Age 30. Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Williamson, of Aylsham, Norfolk. Buried: EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY, Egypt. Ref. XII. E. 16.
On Churchyard War Memorial A Williamson
On Church Memorial board A W Williamson
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2213041
A F WILLIAMSON………………………………......................(RoH)
No further information available at present.
On Churchyard War Memorial A Williamson
On Church Memorial board A F Williamson
CWGC
51 possible matches on the CWGC database - no obvious link with Aylsham.
G H WILLIAMSON……………………………….....................(RoH)
No further information available at present.
On Churchyard War Memorial G Williamson
On Church Memorial board G H Williamson
CWGC
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2256206
Korean War Commemorated on Churchyard Memorial
P TORTICE………………………………..................................(RoH)
No further information available at present. Not listed on the British Embassy, Korea, web site.
On Church Memorial board P Tortice 1952
No match on the Published casualties lists that are on line.
Not listed on the Naval Net site - although there are two Firefly crashes in December 1952 where the second crewman is not listed - both shot down by enemy flak, and the named casualty is listed as Missing Presumed killed.