Research Forum

War memorial Grove Park
published by on Tue, 25/07/2017 - 12:40

Hi My sister's name is on this war memorial in Grove Park 'Doris Violet Thomas' She was killed with her husband 'Harold Thomas' who was in the Army as a driver. They were killed in Orchard Road on the 29th June 1942 during one of the terrible raids on Weston over 2 nights.
They went for a short break from Birmingham before Harold had to go abroad again. He had survived Dunkirk and was killed on holiday!! I cannot find where his name is on a memorial? for some reasons it wasn't placed next to Doris on this memorial ,is this because he was in the Army? Or where else could it be?
My sister was also visiting Weston and arranged to meet them on the next day but finished up having to identify the bodies of her Sister and husband. They we're staying at 52 Orchard Rd according to records and may have been going to the Tivoli Cinema which was also destroyed.
If anyone can shed light on the name of Harold Thomas and if there is a 'services' memorial somewhere else.
It's interesting to read accounts of the bombing 9Iwas only 5 yrs and in Birmingham)but remember the Telegram coming and my Mother bursting into tears and crying her heart out. Thanks for any help forthcoming.
Melvyn Jones

Comments ..

Submitted by Pat Hase on Fri, 28/07/2017 - 0:59

I don't have a full list of the names on the Grove Park Memorial for WW2 - (Does anyone else?) but looking at the CWGC site I can see that Doris is remembered by Weston but not her husband. I see that he was buried in Birmingham - presumably he was included on a Memorial there.