1939 – 1945
Reginald Leonard Holt
Before the war Reginald Holt lived at Yew Tree Cottage, Frith Common with his parents, John and Jane Holt, his two brothers and sister. He was said to be kind and gentle.
5253900 Private RL Holt served in the 1st Battalion Worcester Regiment. He was killed in action on 14 November 1942 in the Western Desert aged 23. He is remembered on Column 62 of the Commonwealth Alamein Memorial in Egypt.
Harold Tolley
Harold Tolley is believed to have been fostered and to have lived in the Broombank area of the parish. He attended Lindridge School and later joined the Merchant Navy.
On 19 September 1940 Convoy OB 216 left Liverpool bound for Fathers Point, New Brunswick. The convoy comprised 27 merchant ships, including SS Marbriton, and escorts, amongst which HMS Vanquisher, HMS Scarborough and HMS Arabis. On 25 September German U Boat U32 torpedoed the SS Marbriton southwest of Rockall. 25 survivors were picked up but 12 crew members died in the action. Amongst these was Galley Boy Harold Tolley aged 20. Harold is remembered on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Memorial at Tower Hill. The World War II extension to this Memorial contains the names of 24,000 Merchant Seamen and members of the fishing fleet killed in action and who have no known grave.