Author: Chris Bennett
World War 2
This article form’s part 2 of the historic record of names inscribed on the War Memorial plaque and the Roll of Honour inside St Mary’s church, Burton.
Part 1 focussed on the memorial to persons who lived in the Parish of Nettleton, and died in service during World War 1, as featured in the Bugle newsletter issue 73 in November 2024.
The aim of this article is again to expand upon the very good work undertaken by John Belcher in providing some initial information on the Nettleton War Memorial (see base of this article), John is a relative of a current resident in Burton village. During my additional research of the names appearing on the World War 2 memorial I have made use of the census records for the time periods pre/during/post war to try and establish links with Burton.
Census records began in 1801 and as you may know, are generally updated every 10 years. However, during the period of World War 2 (1939-45) a census wasn’t taken and is replaced by a 1939 Register
What’s the historical significance of the 1939 Register?
The 1939 Register is one of the most important twentieth century genealogical resources for England and Wales. The 1931 census was destroyed by fire and no census was taken in 1941 because of the war. So, the 1939 register is the only national census-like resource available for this period.
Once war became inevitable the British Government knew they had to issue National Identity cards. They planned for the wide-scale mobilisation of the population and the eventual introduction of rationing. The most recent census was now almost a decade old, so more up-to-date statistics were needed. Some preparations had already begun for the 1941 census, so the Government capitalised on this to take a register of the civilian population. They issued Identity cards immediately afterwards (which were used until 1952).
The Government constantly updated and changed the 1939 Register over time to take account of changes of address or deaths. When they introduced rationing in 1941, they planned it with information from the 1939 Register. The 1939 Register eventually formed the basis of the NHS registration system.
The World War 2 Memorial Plaque in St. Mary’s Church.
Here is what we have discovered from this research:
George Lewis Copeland (1921 – 1944)
Sgt – 100 Squadron RAF Bomber Command
The grave (see below) of George Copeland is located at Haverskerque British cemetery situated between Calais and Lille, France. The headstone bears the names of his parents George & Mabel Copeland of Chippenham, Wiltshire.
The census register of 1939 show George (Bn.1882 a retired postman) & Mabel (Bn. 1884) living in Nettleton along with son Ronald (bn.1925 a farm labourer) and another person by the name of Frederick Purbrick (Bn.1916 a painter and decorator) Interestingly, the Webb family (as below) were very near neighbours in the village.
Photo of Grave – George Copeland
Census Register 1939 – Copeland Family
Screenshot
Sydney Raymond Edridge (1917 -1944)
Private – 1st Leicestershire Regiment
Military records of death show Sydney born in Barrow-in-Furness, formerly residing in Darlington and his place of rest is unknown, possibly in Malaya. Birth records for Barrow in 1917 show Sydney born to his mother who has the Maiden name of Young. Although there is no apparent direct link, we could bear in mind a Young family did live in Nettleton, as shown in entry below for Francis Young (is there a link?)
Despite research of census records I subscribe to, I have been unable to obtain any further information on Sydney.
Kenneth Arthur Rawlings (1920 -1943)
Trooper – Royal Tank Regiment
The War graves records for Kenneth Rawlings reveal his parents were W E Rawlings and Mary A Rawlings from Burton. On researching Kenneth using the Ancestry website, I have located a full family history tree. The tree states his parents were William Edward Rawlings (1877-1957) and Mary Alice Rawlings nee Woodman (1883-1922), they married in 1913. Mary was born in Tormarton and lived in Littleton Drew. Mary’s father is Thomas Woodman (1846-1885)
Census records for 1939 (as below) show the Rawlings family living at Burton Hill (now known as Hillside, Burton) The house residents are William Edward (father) employed as a GWR Lengthman, his second wife Clara, x4 children from his first marriage (incl. Kenneth) and another child with wife Clara.
Census records for 1881 show mother Mary Alice Woodman living with her parents Thomas Woodman (1846-1885) and Hannah Woodman nee Hurcom (1855-1931) in Tormarton, Gloucestershire. These persons being the grandparents of Kenneth Rawlings.
War Graves Record – Kenneth A Rawlings
Census Register 1939 – Rawlings Family
Frederick Albert John Webb (1919 -1942)
Able Rate – HM Submarine Thorn R.N.
War graves records for Frederick Webb reveal his parents as Walter Frederick (Bn 1887 in Pewsham, Wiltshire) & Rowena Sarah Jane Webb nee Hopkins (Bn 1884) of Nettleton, Wiltshire. Researching the 1939 Register (see below) we discovered Frederick lived with his parents Walter (a construction worker) & Rowena (housewife) and an elder sister Nora in an unnamed house very near The School House, Nettleton. Frederick was listed as a motor van driver. Earlier census records for 1911 show father Walter (aged 24yrs) living with his brother-in-law Joseph England and Laura England at Tyning Cottage, Green Street, Cymtillery, Monmouthshire.
War Graves Record – Frederick A J Webb
Census Register 1939 – Webb family
Francis Young (1920 -1944)
Able Rate – HMS Warwick R.N.
Military records show Francis’s parents were a Sidney Thomas Young (aged 30 yrs) a shepherd & Nellie Louisa Young nee Isaac (aged 26 yrs) from Nettleton. Census records (see below) for 1911 show the Young family living in Nettleton. There are also x2 children, a grandmother and x2 boarders living in the 5 roomed house. An earlier census record for 1901 for Nellie Isaac (aged 16yrs) shows her living with her parents in Nettleton, the handwriting is difficult to decipher but the address looks similar to a Grove Lane in the vicinity of the Methodist Chapel.
Census Records 1911 – Young Family
Census Record 1901 – Isaac Family
In conclusion, during the investigation of census records for the names of the servicemen appearing on the World War 2 Nettleton memorial plaque, the Rawlings family are possibly the only persons to have lived in a home within the present-day boundary of Burton village.
The Nettleton War Memorial booklet as compiled by author John Belcher can be viewed here
The Bugle Editorial Team would like to very much thank John Belcher for providing some of the military records/information used in this article.
Article written by Chris Bennett
An earlier form of this article by Chris Bennett first appeared in The Bugle
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