Arborfield
Local History Society

 Memories - Deaths in WWII Arborfield

Those on active service in the Armed Forces

The local newspapers were very restricted in column space during World War 2, and tended to report on deaths in active service or resulting from accidents. However, throughout the conflict, they did manage to find space to record short obituaries of local residents.

Bearing in mind that Arborfield Church's Burial Register was stolen in the mid-1970s, we don't have a record of burials after 1925. It is therefore appropriate that we give space to these obituaries and reports of funerals from the local newspapers. Most of the articles are from the 'Reading Mercury', but a few are from the 'Times and Weekly News' as indicated.

1938:

September 30th: Sad Death at Arborfield - Joan Barker

1939:

March 25th: Announcement: On March 23rd, 1939, at Targetts, Arborfield, Rachel Mary, late of 48 Albert Hall Mansions, S.W., widow of F. M. E. Jervoise, D.L., of Herriard Park, Hants., aged 90. Cremation private. Funeral at Herriard Church, Monday at 2:30.

March 31st: Arborfield: Death of Mrs. Rachel May Jervoise.

April 14th: Personal announcement: The Daughters of the late Mrs. Louise Morrell desire to thank all friends for their kind messages of sympathy in their bereavement and for the lovely flowers received. The Mole Inn, Arborfield.

June 16th ('Times and Weekly News'): Arborfield: Death: The death is announced after a long illness, of Mr. Archibald Henry Owen Holdstock of Arborfield Hall Farm, and the funeral service was held at Greyfriars Church, Reading, yesterday (Thursday).

September 16th: Soldier Killed by ‘Bus – Black-Out Tragedy at Arborfield – Unsuccessful Effort to Save his Life - Gunner Oswald Hughes

1940:

February 10th: Death of Mr. T. H. Allen – Much regret will be expressed at the death of Mr. Thomas Henry Allen, who formerly carried on the Post Office and also ran a confectionery business in Christchurch Road, Reading. He was for many years organist at Arborfield.

February 17th: Funeral of Mr. T. H. Allen – A former Organist at Arborfield: The funeral of Mr. Thomas Henry Allen, confectioner and sub-postmaster of Christchurch Road, Reading, and for 25 years organist at Arborfield, whose death was reported last week, took place on Saturday at Arborfield Parish Church. He retired from the office of organist 2 years ago.

Canon J. A. Anderson conducted the service and the organist was Mr. A. H. Lusty, hon. secretary of the Berkshire branch of the Association of Organists. Psalm 23 was sung, also the hymns ‘The Day Thou Gavest’ and ‘For All the Saints’. [Long list of mourners and floral tributes]

April 20th: Road Tragedy at Arborfield – Aged Man found Lying in Road: William Morland

September 20th ('Times and Weekly News'): Arborfield: Death of Mrs. Anderson: It is with regret we record the death on September 14th, at Arborfield Rectory, of Mrs. Edith Constance Anderson, the wife of Canon J. A. Anderson. The funeral was held at the Parish Church yesterday.

September 21st: Announcement – Death – Anderson. On September 14th, at Arborfield Rectory, Reading, Edith Constance, the beloved wife of Canon J. A. Anderson.

1941:

January 11th: Funeral of Harry Vincent.

March 7th: Death by Misadventure at Arborfield: Ruby Kathleen Barker.

October 17th ('Times and Weekly News'): Death of Mr. H. Bacon, of Shinfield. The death took place on Wednesday following a stroke, of Mr. H. Bacon, who was aged 63 years. He was very well known as a preacher at many local chapels, and he will be greatly missed both by his customers and the people for whom he did much voluntary work.

October 18th: Death of Pastor Bacon: We regret to record the death of Pastor Herbert Bacon, of "Westwood", Shinfield, which occurred on Wednesday. He was a well-known lay preacher, being pastor of Beech Hill Baptist Church and of the Silver Street Mission Hall, Reading. Pastor Bacon was closely connected with many Christian societies in Reading, serving on the committee of the Advent Testimony Movement, Reading. A native of Bracknell, he had lived at Shinfield for 34 years, where he carried on a grocery business.

October 25th: The Late Pastor Bacon: A memorial service in memory of the late Pastor Herbert Bacon, of "Westwood", Shinfield, was held on Saturday at the Silver Street Mission Hall, Reading. The service was conducted by the Rev. E. J. Willis, assisted by Mr. E. Springall. After the service at the Mission Hall, the interment followed at Shinfield Churchyard, the committal prayers being read by the vicar, the Rev. H. G. Seymour, and the Rev. E. J. Willis and Mr. E. Springall also took part in the service.

The personal mourners were: The widow, Mr. H. C. Bacon (son), Mrs. F. Searle (daughter), Mr. and Mrs. H. Chandler and Mr. and Mrs. H. Drinkwater (sons-in-law and daughters), Mr. and Mrs. D. Bacon (brother and sister-in-law), Miss L. Bacon, Miss M. Bacon (sisters), Mr. and Mrs. W. Stanton, Mr. Perry, Miss F. Perry. Many others also attended.

1942:

February 14th: Funeral of Mr. C. W. Crocker: The funeral of Mr. Charles W. Crocker, who died at his home, ‘Wormstall’, Arborfield, on Wednesday last week, took place at Arborfield parish church on Monday. The service was conducted by the Rector, Canon J. A. Anderson, and Mr. F. C. Griffin, A.R.C.O., A.R.C.M, L.T.C.L., was at the organ. Interment followed at Reading Old Cemetery.

The mourners were: The widow, Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Crocker and Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Crocker (sons and daughters-in-law), Mrs. W. Ballard (daughter), Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. C. Hutchins, and Mr. and Mrs. W. N. Rowe (son-in-law and daughter), Mr. C. Ballard (grandson), Mr. I. Crocker and Mr. S. Crocker (nephews), Miss K. Crocker (niece), Mr. and Mrs. C. Waterer, Mr. F. Ball (nephew), Mr. W. Smith, Mrs. Jupp, Mrs. H. May, Mrs. Grant, Miss Davis and Mr. Ronald Quelch. [After the family and close friends, many other mourners were listed].

July 4th: Bear Wood: Death of Capt. Philip Walter, R.N., Captain P. Walter R.N. (retired), who died at Thorney Court, W.8. on Sunday at the age of 77, was the eighth and last surviving son of John Walter, the third, of Bear Wood, chief proprietor of ‘the Times’.

September 12th: Arborfield: Death of Mr. Foster: The funeral took place at Arborfield Church on Saturday of Mr. John Charles Foster, who died on September 2nd aged 66. The service was conducted by Canon Anderson. The family mourners were: The widow, Mr. T. Foster (brother), Mrs. Smith (sister). Amongst the congregation were Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Simonds, Miss Simonds, Mrs. Laurence, Dr. Halpin, Mr. E. Bowyer, Mr. Lee.

[Note: John Foster was described in different issues of "Kelly's Directory" as either the Land Steward or the Farm Bailiff of John Simonds, and lived at the usual residence for the Bailiff, 'The Poplars' in Mole Road.]

October 30th ('Times and Weekly News'): Arborfield Funeral: The funeral will take place at Arborfield Parish Church today (Friday) of Mrs. Emily O. Buchanan, the wife of the Rt. Hon. T. R. Buchanan. [In the graveyard is a memorial to 'The right honourable Thomas Ryburn Buchanan, Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, a privy councillor, twenty nine years member of parliament. Financial secretary for war 1906, Under secretary for India 1908. Born 20 April 1846, Died 7 April 1911'.]

November 14h: Photo: Mr. J. Hautenville Cope, of Finchampstead, whose death has occurred.

December 18th ('Times and Weekly News'): Arborfield: Death. The death took place at Arborfield last week of Mr. John Gutteridge, an old soldier of the 3rd Hussars. Deceased served in the Boer War, in India, and in the last war. He was a very active supporter of the British Legion movement in Arborfield. He leaves a widow, a son in the R.A.F., and two daughters. The funeral took place on Wednesday at Arborfield Church and conducted by the Rector, the Rev. Canon Anderson.

1943:

May 15th: Arborfield: Obituary: Mr. William Hainworth, late of Herne Hill, S. E., passed away at Arborfield Rectory on Sunday, aged 78.

October 22nd ('Times and Weekly News'): Obituary: Mr. Walter Scott (65) of Langley Common Road, Barkham. [The inquest recorded that he was employed as a store assistant at the Army Technical School, Arborfield].

1944:

February 4th: Army Lorry Crash at Arborfield: Woman Dies.

April 15th: Arborfield: Death of Mrs. Streak: The death of Mrs. Elizabeth Kate Streak, aged 64, of School Road, Arborfield, took place at the Emergency Hospital.

September 2nd: Arborfield: Death of Mrs. E. Streak: Mrs. Ellen Streak, an old inhabitant of Arborfield, passed away on August 25th, aged 95.

December 23rd: The late Mrs. Churcher: Mrs. Madeline Amy Churcher, widow of the late Lieut.-Col. Douglas Churcher, Royal Irish Fusiliers, died suddenly at Broadcroft, Lymington, Hants., on December 20th. The funeral will be at Arborfield Cross today (Saturday).

With acknowledgements to:

Surrey & Berkshire Media ('Times and Weekly News and 'Reading Standard');
Berkshire Media ('Reading Mercury').

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