Kimberworth Road United Reformed Church
This building was demolished in 2012.
A plaque in the church, original known as Kimberworth Road Congregational Church, was unveiled after the Second World War with the names of 3 men.
It bored the Inscription
1939 1945 In loving memory of........who gave their lives in the war of freedom
A plaque in the church, original known as Kimberworth Road Congregational Church, was unveiled after the Second World War with the names of 3 men.
It bored the Inscription
1939 1945 In loving memory of........who gave their lives in the war of freedom
ALAN APPLEGATE
WILFRED NORBURN CHARLES CEDRIC RIDGWAY |
Additional Information
Alan Ashby Applegate (1425580)
Royal Air Force - 153 Sqdn.
8 March 1944, aged 20
Beaufighter aircraft lost on a mission in the Mediterranean
Malta Memorial
Wilfred Norburn (4618825)
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) - 2/7th Bn.
11 June 1940, aged 22
Died in France
Ste Marie Cemetery, Le Havre
Charles Cedric Ridgway (14858305)
Royal Artillery
13 April 1945, aged 19
Drowned in the sea on south coast of England
Rotherham (Moorgate) Cemetery
Royal Air Force - 153 Sqdn.
8 March 1944, aged 20
Beaufighter aircraft lost on a mission in the Mediterranean
Malta Memorial
Wilfred Norburn (4618825)
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) - 2/7th Bn.
11 June 1940, aged 22
Died in France
Ste Marie Cemetery, Le Havre
Charles Cedric Ridgway (14858305)
Royal Artillery
13 April 1945, aged 19
Drowned in the sea on south coast of England
Rotherham (Moorgate) Cemetery
Alan Ashby Applegate
Alan Ashby Applegate was born on 18 March 1923, first of two children to Alfred Applegate and Kate (nee Duke), of 54 Ewers Road, Kimberworth, Rotherham. He was educated at Kimberworth Central School and then Rotherham Technical College, before being employed by the glassmakers Beatson Clark & Co Ltd, Rotherham.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1941 and was given service number 1425580. For his advance training Alan was posted to United States and received his wings there. Alan Applegate was a Flight Sergeant with 153 Squadron in North Africa and the Mediterranean. He was a pilot flying the Bristol Beaufighter Mk VI aircraft as a night fighter and on intruder duties. He was reported missing from a mission on 8 March 1944. He had taken off, with Flt Sgt John Carlton Wesley Marshall (1318746) as navigator/radio operator, at 18:20 in Beaufighter V8872 for a convoy patrol with ‘Mumsie’ (Ground-Controlled Interception Radar). The missing status was eventually reported as believe killed, at the age of 20. Alan Applegate’s name appears on the Malta Memorial Panel 14, Column 1. The memorial commemorates almost 2,300 airmen who lost their lives during the Second World War whilst serving with the Commonwealth Air Forces flying from bases in Austria, Italy, Sicily, islands of the Adriatic and Mediterranean, Malta, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, West Africa,Yugoslavia and Gibraltar, and who have no known grave.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1941 and was given service number 1425580. For his advance training Alan was posted to United States and received his wings there. Alan Applegate was a Flight Sergeant with 153 Squadron in North Africa and the Mediterranean. He was a pilot flying the Bristol Beaufighter Mk VI aircraft as a night fighter and on intruder duties. He was reported missing from a mission on 8 March 1944. He had taken off, with Flt Sgt John Carlton Wesley Marshall (1318746) as navigator/radio operator, at 18:20 in Beaufighter V8872 for a convoy patrol with ‘Mumsie’ (Ground-Controlled Interception Radar). The missing status was eventually reported as believe killed, at the age of 20. Alan Applegate’s name appears on the Malta Memorial Panel 14, Column 1. The memorial commemorates almost 2,300 airmen who lost their lives during the Second World War whilst serving with the Commonwealth Air Forces flying from bases in Austria, Italy, Sicily, islands of the Adriatic and Mediterranean, Malta, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, West Africa,Yugoslavia and Gibraltar, and who have no known grave.
Wilfred Norburn
Wilfred Norburn was the son of Thomas Herbert Noburn and Mildred Mabel (nee Fox), of Rotherham, Yorkshire.
He was given service number 4618825 upon enlisting in the army, as a Private in 2/7th Battalion of the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment. The 2/7th regiment was sent to France in March 1940 for a three month tour to help in pioneer duties. It was an element of 137th Infantry Brigade, part of 46th Infantry Division. Before the tour was over it was caught up in the German advance, which commenced on the 10 May. Although they all participated in the Battle of France, they were not adequately prepared to fight. The division had no artillery, only a skeletal divisional HQ, and few support units. By the 7 June it had withdrawn to Dieppe. On the morning of 11 June 1940, four battalions were holding the line of the River Bethune from Dieppe to Mortingny one of which was the 2/7th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment. On the afternoon of 11 June, fierce mortar and artillery fire directed at the position held by 2/7th Battalion. Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment around Veules-Les-Roses. Wilfred Norburn was killed at the age of 22 between 11th and 12th June 1940 and is buried Ste. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre. |
Charles Cedric Ridgway
Charles Cedric Ridgway was the only child of Edgar H. Ridgway and Maggie (nee Tym), of 11 Fraser Road, Rotherham. He was educated at Rotherham Grammer School & St Johns College, York where he was training as a teacher.
He enlisted in the army in October 1944 as a Gunner in the Royal Artillery and was given service number 14858305. On 13 April 1945 at the age of 19 Gunner Ridgway was accidentally drowned when he was washed off rocks into the sea whilst walking on the beach on the south coast of England at Bovisand Bay, Plymouth. The funeral was held on 19 April 1945, and he was buried in the Rotherham (Moorgate) Cemetery. |