LOCAL WAR MEMORIALS

I hope shortly to publish a book entitled Forgotten Heroes concerning the men from Waterlooville, Purbrook and Cowplain who were killed in the two World Wars. There should be six memorials in the three parishes but sadly only three exist. Cowplain has no memorials at all and Waterlooville has no Second World War Memorial. Purbrook does have two memorials on the lych-gate of the church but they are far from accurate with many names omitted.

Many of the First World War names from Waterlooville and Purbrook are also listed on the Farlington memorial and a few others on the Catherington and Horndean memorials. For the Second World War I have also included civilian deaths caused by enemy action (six from Waterlooville, four from Purbrook and two from Cowplain), mostly relating to people killed in the Portsmouth blitz. I have also included twelve men from Widley killed in the Second World War.

The large number of naval deaths is especially striking especially in Purbrook. Even more surprising is that many more men were killed in the Second World War though the reverse is true in the great majority of parishes throughout the country. It may possibly be due to increased population in the area by 1939 or perhaps because Fleet actions and naval casualties were more numerous in the Second World War as were Merchant Navy losses. Excluding Widley, 125 are listed for 1939-45 compared with 63 for the First World War.

John Symonds