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Introduction While there are numerous Commonwealth War Grave Cemeteries throughout the world, there are war graves located in local churchyards. These are often the graves of service personnel who died of wounds while convalescing at home, or died of other causes while a member of one of the armed forces. This page details the service personnel buried in my local churchyard, and that are commemorated with a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone. Holy Trinity (Church of England) Church (Stephen Stratford 2007) William Leonard Parkins Number T4/160039 Driver William Leonard Parkins was born and resided in Leverstock Green (Hemel Hempstead). He enlisted at a recruitment centre in Whitehall (London) and became a soldier in the (later Royal) Army Service Corps. William Parkins died on 23 December 1916 at The Military Hospital, Sidney Hall, Weymouth. The cause of death was nephrites and anaemia. He was 31 years' old. Driver Parkins (Stephen Stratford 2008). Frank Edward Coker Number 1688595 Private Frank Edward Coker was a soldier in the Royal Berkshire Regiment. He was born in Buckinghamshire, the son of Edward and Sarah Jane Coker and husband of Rosie Frances Coker. In civilian life, he was a domestic gardener, living in the Pimlico area of Hemel Hempstead. On 14 April 1945, while on leave, Private Coker died at West Herts Hospital (Hemel Hempstead) of a Perforated Appendix. He was 31 years' old. Private Coker (Stephen Stratford 2008). Gordon Sampson Clear Number 116769 Flying Officer Gordon Sampson Clear was a member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR). He was the son of Edwin Arnold and Margaret Ethel Clear, and was married to Joyce Ella Clear. He lived in Leverstock Green, an area of Hemel Hempstead, and a few minutes walk from where he is now buried. At the time of his death, Flying Officer Clear was stationed with 139 Squadron at RAF Marham. He had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his previous service during World War Two. Six Days after Flying Officer Clear died, the citation for his Distinguished Flying Cross was published in the London Gazette: Acting Squadron Leader Robert Beck Bagguley (since missing), Flight Lieutenant Michael Myers Wayman (since deceased), Acting Flight Lieutenant Charles Kenneth Hayden (since missing) and Flying Officer Gordon Sampson Clear (since deceased), all of 139 Squadron, Royal Air Force: In March 1943, these officers were members of aircraft crews detailed to attack the Molybdenum Plant at Knaben, Norway. Such a task, necessitating a flight over mountainous terrain covered by a blanket of snow which obscured all prominent features, demanded the highest degree of leadership and skill. At various points the formation had to fly through deep ravines and contend with most treacherous air currents. Despite this the correct target, hidden away in the mountains, was located and subjected to a telling attack from low level. The succcess achieved reflects the greatest credit on the efforts of these officers whose high courage and faultless work were worthy of the highest praise. [Squadron Leader Robert Beck Bagguley and Flight Lieutenant Charles Kenneth Hayden are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial]. At the time of his death, 139 Squadron was flying two-seater Mosquito Mark IV twin-engined aircraft. Flying Officer Clear was the Observer in the Mosquito piloted by Flight Lieutenant Michael Myers Wayman, DFC, RAFVR. At 17:50 on 20 March 1943, a Mosquito Mark IV (DZ496 XD-) piloted by Flight Lieutenant Wayman took off from RAF Marham as part of a 12-strong Mosquito raid on the Louvain and Malines Railway yards. However, only the Louvain yards were actually reached. Flight Lieutenant Wayman/Flying Officer Clear's Mosquito was hit by flak which disabled one of the two engines. Later that evening, at 19:25, this Mosquito attempted a landing at RAF Martlesham Heath airfield, Suffolk, but Flight Lieutenant Wayman's first attempt at landing the now one-engine Mosquito was unsuccessful. While preparing for a second attempt, the Mosquito crashed at Foxburrow Wood near Brightwell. Both Flight Lieutenant Wayman and Flying Officer Clear died later that night, 20 March 1943, at East Suffolk Hospital. Flying Officer Clear was aged 31 years' old. Flight Lieutenant Wayman was subsequently buried at Sunderland (Ryhope Road) Cemetery, Durham. Flying Officer Clear (Stephen Stratford 2008). In addition to Leverstock Green, Flying Officer Clear is commemorated on Hemel Hempstead and St. Albans War Memorials. The Local War Memorial The impact of the First World War (The Great War) on UK home life can't be understated. A population that had been somewhat sheltered from the losses of previous conflicts was greatly affected by the loss of life in The Great War. One of the visible effects of The Great War was the appearance of numerous war memorials in every town and village in the UK. Whist the UK's national memorial is the Cenotaph, located in Whitehall (London) and the Grave of the Unknown Soldier in Westminster Abbey (London), every city, town and village had its own memorial. Following the Second World War, additions were made to these memorials to commemorate a city/town/village contribution to those service personnel who died during this war. This section is concerned with the names on my local war memorial, which is located near the church which contains the graves of some of the people listed. Using my local war memorial as an example, the different impact of the two world wars can be seen by the number of people listed for each war: 29 for the First World War and 9 for the Second World War. Leverstock Green War Memorial (Stephen Stratford 2007) The First World War 1914-18 Click here to view the list of World War One names listed on the war memorial. First World War Names (Stephen Stratford 2007). No service number, forename, service branch or regiment is shown on the memorial. This has made the task of researching the person behind the name extremely difficult and time consuming. Grave of Private H.G. Biswell, Essex Regiment, in Essex Farm Cemetery (Stephen Stratford 2011). 2nd Lieutenant R.H. Secretan, Hertfordshire Regiment, on the Menin Gate Memorial (Stephen Stratford 2011). The Second World War 1939-45 Click here to view the list of World War Two names listed on the war memorial. Second World War Names (Stephen Stratford 2007). No service number, service branch or regiment is shown on the memorial. This has made the task of researching the person behind the name extremely difficult and time consuming.
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British Military & Criminal History in the period 1900 to 1999.

Home - Remembrance & Memorials - Local Graves & Memorials - Leverstock Green

Introduction

While there are numerous Commonwealth War Grave Cemeteries throughout the world, there are war graves located in local churchyards. These are often the graves of service personnel who died of wounds while convalescing at home, or died of other causes while a member of one of the armed forces.

This page details the service personnel buried in my local churchyard, and that are commemorated with a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.

Holy Trinity Church

Holy Trinity (Church of England) Church (Stephen Stratford 2007)

William Leonard Parkins

Number T4/160039 Driver William Leonard Parkins was born and resided in Leverstock Green (Hemel Hempstead). He enlisted at a recruitment centre in Whitehall (London) and became a soldier in the (later Royal) Army Service Corps.

William Parkins died on 23 December 1916 at The Military Hospital, Sidney Hall, Weymouth. The cause of death was nephrites and anaemia. He was 31 years' old.

Dvr Parkins

Driver Parkins (Stephen Stratford 2008).

Frank Edward Coker

Number 1688595 Private Frank Edward Coker was a soldier in the Royal Berkshire Regiment. He was born in Buckinghamshire, the son of Edward and Sarah Jane Coker and husband of Rosie Frances Coker. In civilian life, he was a domestic gardener, living in the Pimlico area of Hemel Hempstead.

On 14 April 1945, while on leave, Private Coker died at West Herts Hospital (Hemel Hempstead) of a Perforated Appendix. He was 31 years' old.

Pte Coker

Private Coker (Stephen Stratford 2008).

Gordon Sampson Clear

Number 116769 Flying Officer Gordon Sampson Clear was a member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR). He was the son of Edwin Arnold and Margaret Ethel Clear, and was married to Joyce Ella Clear. He lived in Leverstock Green, an area of Hemel Hempstead, and a few minutes walk from where he is now buried.

At the time of his death, Flying Officer Clear was stationed with 139 Squadron at RAF Marham. He had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his previous service during World War Two.

Six Days after Flying Officer Clear died, the citation for his Distinguished Flying Cross was published in the London Gazette:

Acting Squadron Leader Robert Beck Bagguley (since missing), Flight Lieutenant Michael Myers Wayman (since deceased), Acting Flight Lieutenant Charles Kenneth Hayden (since missing) and Flying Officer Gordon Sampson Clear (since deceased), all of 139 Squadron, Royal Air Force:

In March 1943, these officers were members of aircraft crews detailed to attack the Molybdenum Plant at Knaben, Norway. Such a task, necessitating a flight over mountainous terrain covered by a blanket of snow which obscured all prominent features, demanded the highest degree of leadership and skill. At various points the formation had to fly through deep ravines and contend with most treacherous air currents. Despite this the correct target, hidden away in the mountains, was located and subjected to a telling attack from low level. The succcess achieved reflects the greatest credit on the efforts of these officers whose high courage and faultless work were worthy of the highest praise.

[Squadron Leader Robert Beck Bagguley and Flight Lieutenant Charles Kenneth Hayden are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial].

At the time of his death, 139 Squadron was flying two-seater Mosquito Mark IV twin-engined aircraft. Flying Officer Clear was the Observer in the Mosquito piloted by Flight Lieutenant Michael Myers Wayman, DFC, RAFVR.

At 17:50 on 20 March 1943, a Mosquito Mark IV (DZ496 XD-) piloted by Flight Lieutenant Wayman took off from RAF Marham as part of a 12-strong Mosquito raid on the Louvain and Malines Railway yards. However, only the Louvain yards were actually reached.

Flight Lieutenant Wayman/Flying Officer Clear's Mosquito was hit by flak which disabled one of the two engines. Later that evening, at 19:25, this Mosquito attempted a landing at RAF Martlesham Heath airfield, Suffolk, but Flight Lieutenant Wayman's first attempt at landing the now one-engine Mosquito was unsuccessful. While preparing for a second attempt, the Mosquito crashed at Foxburrow Wood near Brightwell.

Both Flight Lieutenant Wayman and Flying Officer Clear died later that night, 20 March 1943, at East Suffolk Hospital. Flying Officer Clear was aged 31 years' old.

Flight Lieutenant Wayman was subsequently buried at Sunderland (Ryhope Road) Cemetery, Durham.

F/O Clear

Flying Officer Clear (Stephen Stratford 2008).

In addition to Leverstock Green, Flying Officer Clear is commemorated on Hemel Hempstead and St. Albans War Memorials.

The Local War Memorial

The impact of the First World War (The Great War) on UK home life can't be understated. A population that had been somewhat sheltered from the losses of previous conflicts was greatly affected by the loss of life in The Great War.

One of the visible effects of The Great War was the appearance of numerous war memorials in every town and village in the UK. Whist the UK's national memorial is the Cenotaph, located in Whitehall (London) and the Grave of the Unknown Soldier in Westminster Abbey (London), every city, town and village had its own memorial.

Following the Second World War, additions were made to these memorials to commemorate a city/town/village contribution to those service personnel who died during this war.

This section is concerned with the names on my local war memorial, which is located near the church which contains the graves of some of the people listed. Using my local war memorial as an example, the different impact of the two world wars can be seen by the number of people listed for each war: 29 for the First World War and 9 for the Second World War.

War Memorial

Leverstock Green War Memorial (Stephen Stratford 2007)

The First World War 1914-18

Click here to view the list of World War One names listed on the war memorial.

WWI Panel

First World War Names (Stephen Stratford 2007).

No service number, forename, service branch or regiment is shown on the memorial. This has made the task of researching the person behind the name extremely difficult and time consuming.

Grave of Private H.G. Biswell, Essex Regiment, in Essex Farm Cemetery (Stephen Stratford 2011).

2nd Lieutenant R.H. Secretan, Hertfordshire Regiment, on the Menin Gate Memorial (Stephen Stratford 2011).

The Second World War 1939-45

Click here to view the list of World War Two names listed on the war memorial.

WWII Panel

Second World War Names (Stephen Stratford 2007).

No service number, service branch or regiment is shown on the memorial. This has made the task of researching the person behind the name extremely difficult and time consuming.