Remembrance

SUNDAY IS TIME TO REMEMBER…this week we take time to think of those that gave their lives that we might live.

This year we are unable to hold our usual ceremony of remembrance at Staines Boat Club during the current Coronavirus lockdown.

Never the less we will be thinking of those members of the club that fell in the two World Wars.

We shall remember them….

STAINES BOAT CLUB

ROLL OF HONOUR

1914 ~ 1918

2nd LIEUTENANT. REGINALD ST. GEORGE BROOKS

CAPTAIN. CLAUDE JEFFREY KEEPING

R. W. WOOD

G. HODSON

1939 ~ 1945

LEIUTENANT. PETER DENIS HAWES STREET

LEIUTENANT. JACK ANTHONY ENGALL

SERGEANT (PILOT). TE ROKI ROBIESON

FLIGHT LIEUTENANT (PILOT). PHILLIP NORMAN OSBORNE

Peter Harvey has collected research about each of these men, you can read about them below

Staines Boat Club Remembrance

World War One

(1914 – 1918)

Staines Boat Club Remembers

CAPTAIN. CLAUDE JEFFREY KEEPING, Middlesex Regiment.

Captain, 8th Battalion (Territorial), Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment). Killed in action 24th August, 1918. Aged 34. Son of Tom Jeffrey and Eveline Elizabeth Keeping, of Staines; husband of Marjorie Gladys Cobbold Keeping of Fairfield Lodge, Staines, Middlesex.

Buried in DOUCHY-LES-AYETTE BRITISH CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot 1. Row B, Grave 13.

The following extract from the Stock Exchange Memorial Book:

The elder son of T.J. Keeping of 32 Nicholas Lane, E.C. was born in 1884 and educated at Tonbridge, which he represented for three years at Bisley.

He became a member of the Stock Exchange in 1913, and was partner in the firm of Pain Bros.

On the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Artists’ Rifles, and in December was given a commission in the 8th Battalion (Territorial) Middlesex Regiment.

After being some time in Gibraltar he took part in the Senussi campaign, during which he served as Assistant Provost-Marshall on General Peyton’s Staff.

In the following May he came back from the East and went to France with the 12th Battalion of his Regiment. While acting as Trench Mortar officer he was wounded at Courcelette in October.

He returned to the front in November 1917 as Company Commander, and after taking part in much heavy fighting was killed near Croiselles in the victorious British counter-offensive on 24th August 1918. Shortly before he had greatly distinguished himself by his courage and presence of mind, when out on patrol.

One of his commanding officers wrote: “He was one of my best officers, and was always reliable and conscientious in the performance of his duty. Everyone liked and trusted him.”

Another wrote: “We shall miss him very much. He was a universal favourite. He was always considerate to everyone and untiring in his efforts for the good of his men.”

Captain Keeping married Marjorie, third daughter of Dr. Peter De La Motte of Staines.

[Marjorie Gladys Cobbold Keeping 1885 – 1952, no children]

The following extract from archive record of Tonbridge School:

Entering the School in September, 1898 from Dulwich College, where he had been since 1895. Claude Jeffery Keeping left the Modern Sixth at Christmas, 1902 having been appointed a House Praeposter in the previous January and having been in the Shooting VIII in 1899 and 1901.

He became a member of the Stock Exchange and enlisting in the Artists Rifles on the outbreak of war received a commission 10th December, 1914 in 8th Battalion. Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment T.F) and going out to Gibraltar early in 1915, proceeded with 2/8th in the following autumn to Egypt where he took part in the Senussi Campaign and served on General Peyton’s Staff as Assistant Provost-Marshall, graded as Staff Lieutenant, 1st Class from 10th December, 1915.

In the following May he returned to England, and on re-joining his Regiment he went out to France to the 12th Battalion and became attached to a Trench Mortar Battery. He was wounded at Courcellette on 26th October, 1916. On recovery he was transferred in March 1917, to the 4/8th, in which he was promoted Acting Captain, as Company Commander, from 21st August to 11th October, 1917. In November, 1917 he returned to France to 1/8th, in which he once more became Acting Captain, as Company Commander on 15th December, 1917.

His promotion from Lieutenant to Captain in his Regiment was dated 4th May, 1917. His Major tells how on 7th August, by presence of mind and courage and personal risk, he saved the lives of several men who had been out on patrol with him, when they were mistaken for the enemy by their own machine gunners and one man had already been killed.

On the 24th August, 1918 he was instantaneously killed while leading his Company in an attack near Croisilles.

The Chaplin of the Battalion wrote: “Since he joined us out here Captain Keeping and I have been friends, and he was always ready to help me in every way he could. It is a great loss to me personally.” His Major wrote: “In the 2/8th we all looked up to him, and he was a friend of us all, but in the 1/8th he was reported as being really brave soldier and a kind, sympathetic and painstaking officer.”

His C/O in the 2/8th wrote: “He was one of my best officers in the dear old 2/8th, and was always reliable and conscientious in the performance of his duty. Everyone liked and trusted him, and to me he was a loyal friend and helper.”

His C/O in the 1/8th wrote: “He was killed in action gallantly leading his men. We shall miss him very much. He was a universal favourite. Personally I can ill afford to lose a good office like him, hard-working and very loyal. He was such a pleasant companion, always considerate to everyone and untiring in his efforts for the good of his men. Had he lived he would have had further reason to be proud of his Battalion. Our Corps Commander said the sacrifice he made and other made paved the way for one of our most brilliant victories.”

Staines Boat Club Remembers

2nd LIEUTENANT. REGINALD ST. GEORGE BROOKS, 97th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.

Born 15th January, 1890 Laleham, Middlesex

Killed in action, Flanders, France 26th September, 1915. Aged 25. Son of Bernard Cecil George and Emma Louisa Brooks of ‘St Swithins’, Sidney Road, Staines, Middlesex

Next of Kin (Brother): CC Brooks, La Paune, Chemin de Violettes, Cagnes AM, France

Pre-War occupation: Stockbrokers clerk

Buried in DUD CORNER CEMETERY, Loos, France. Grave Memorial Reference VI.F.2

The following extract from archive record of High Wycombe Royal Grammar School.

What we know about him: There is not much information on Brooks and it is unknown why he is also the only World War 1 casualty from the Royal Grammar School who doesn’t have a picture.

Reginald Brooks was born 15th January 1890 and his parents were stockbrokers in Middlesex. His parents last known address was at ‘St Swiths, Sidney Road, Staines. The location of Brooks memorial is at The Royal Grammar School in High Wycombe. It is believed Brooks fought in The Battle of Loos and he is buried in Loos.

He was at the school from 1904 to 1905, a boarder, and at the outbreak of war was in Rhodesia. In his last winter he was stationed in Wycombe with his Brigade.

Staines Boat Club Remembers

R. W. WOOD

Killed during World War One the date’s and Information are unknown. The name is listed on the War Memorial in the Market Square, Staines-upon-Thames.

Staines Boat Club Remembers

G. HODSON

Killed during World War One the date’s and Information are unknown.

Poppies in Flanders Fields

World War Two

(1939 – 1945)

Staines Boat Club Remembers

LEIUTENANT. PETER DENIS HAWES STREET, Kings Own Scottish Borders. Service number. 200246

Peter Dennis Hawes Street was born in 1921

Died 9th October 1942, Age 21. The Son of Roland Francis and Edith Lawson Street, of Staines, Middlesex,

He is buried in Tidworth Military Cemetery, England. Section E (Officers), grave 168.

The following extract from archive record Parachute Regiment (Paradata) archive

Peter D.H. Street enlisted as a Private soldier into the Gordon Highlanders (TA) at London on the 5th April, 1939 and was then posted to the 2nd Battalion.

He was called up for Regular Service on the 2nd September 1939, but after over a year’s service stationed in the UK he volunteered for the Commando’s and was posted to No 2 Commando on the 22 November 1940. Three days later he was promoted to Lance Corporal!

On the 4 March 1941 he was posted to No 9 Commando, and then just over a month later he was posted to 163 Officer Cadet Training Unit. He successfully completed the Officer training and was granted an Emergency Commission, as a Second Lieutenant in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and was posted to their 5th Battalion on the 2 August 1941.

In September 1941 he volunteered for Airborne Forces and was posted to the 2nd Parachute Battalion on the 30 December 1941.

He completed parachute course No 9, at RAF Ringway, 2nd to 14th March 1942, by carrying out 2 balloon and 5 aircraft descents.

Peter Street was granted the War-Substantive rank of Lieutenant on the 1st October 1942, but was tragically killed in a parachuting accident just a few days later on the 9th October 1942.

He was taking part in a parachuting exercise with the USAAF’s 60 Group, who were training the 1st Parachute Brigade in the use of their Dakota aircraft. The difference in the jumping techniques from the old converted bombers of the RAF made this a necessary task, but unfortunately the static lines of the British ‘X’ type parachutes were too short for the Dakota and it caused problems in deployment. It was later found that some of the canopies became fouled on the tail-planes of the aircraft, raising the tail just prior to jumping helped to minimise the risk. A total of 4 men were killed on this training exercise.

Staines Boat Club Remembers

LEIUTENANT. JACK ANTHONY ENGALL, 43 Bty. 61 Lt. A.A. Regt., Royal Artillery. Service number 155219

Died on 31st May 1942. Age unknown. Son of Walter Sherwin Engall and Mona Elizabeth Mitchell (Engall) of ‘Thames Cottage’, Riverside, Staines

Commemorated at Alamein Memorial, Middle East

The following extract from McDermott family archive

Cousin “Tony” was always a mystery. We had heard that he was killed in Tobruk in WW2 but had not further knowledge of his name or address. However, having identified Mona’s (his mother’s) two husbands “Percy” Mitchell and Walter Engall, it was easy to locate “Tony”.

We now find that Jack A. Engall married a Maureen Albery in 1940 at Westminster. There the name shows as Mitchell or Engall, so he was obviously born Mitchell and changed his name to Engall. Therefore we know he was born prior to 1920.

Jack A. Engall (Cousin Tony) was killed in WW2 in 1942 listed 2nd Lt. RA He is listed in UK Army Roll on Honour 1939-1945. His name is given as Jack A. Engall. He deid on 31st May, 1942 in the Middle East, whilst serving with the Royal Artillery. Service number 155219. There is no indication that he had any children or whether his wife Maureen nee Albery ever married again.

British & Commonwealth War Graves at Alamein

Staines Boat Club Remembers

SERGEANT (PILOT). TE ROKI ROBIESON. Royal Air Force. 55 Opp. Training Unit. Service number. 1375959

Died on 8th July, 1942. Age unknown. Te Roki Robieson was native of New Zealand

Buried at Annan Cemetery, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Nothing more is known about the relationship with Staines Boat Club and the Staines area.

The following extract from RAAF Fatalities in Second World War among RAAF personnel serving on attachment in Royal Airforce Squadrons and Support Units (Melbourne, Australia)

On the 8th July 1942, Hurricane AG125 took off on non-operational day formation flying practice. It crashed at 09:30 hours at Solway Firth, Cumbernauld, Scotland and the Pilot was killed. The accident occurred when P.O. Maxwell a Staff Pilot was leading Sgt Pilot Gane and Sgt Pilot Robieson (in Hurricane Z70077) in a line astern formation, and it appears the two aircraft collided, and became locked together and crashed. Both Pilots were killed.

Both Pilots are buried in Annan Cemetery, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Staines Boat Club Remembers

FLIGHT LIEUTENANT (PILOT). PHILLIP NORMAN OSBORNE Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 110 (Hyderabad) Squadron, Service number 151968

Died 10th November, 1945. Age unknown.

Buried at Jakarta War Cemetery, 5. F. 1. Indonesia

Nothing more is known about the relationship with Staines Boat Club and the area.

The following extract from www.unithistories.com

Enlisted RAFVR 1941, after training at Hatfield he was sent to Canada with the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan as a Flying Instructor, based at 37 Service Air Flying School in Calgary, Alberta 1942 – 1944.

Commissioned, RAFVR (General Duties Branch / Emergency commission)

1944-1945 110 (Hyderabad) Squadron RAF, Seletar, Singapore. On attachment to Batavia and detailed for a reconnaissance flight with an Army Brigadier as passenger. Eye witnesses stated that the aircraft failed to become airborne and crashed at the end of the runway. Both occupants we killed instantly.

The following extract from Aviation Safety Network

Aircraft type/owner: De Havilland Mosquito FB.MK VI, 110 (Hyderabad) Squadron RAF

Registration: RF948

Departure Airport: Surabaya, Indonesia

Narrative:

RF948 – Hit gun post while taking of and crashed, Surabaya 10th November, 10145. Two occupants, both killed