Whilst I was 'darn sarf' a finally gave in and joined the RBL and a few members told me about the above chap over a pint. All they seem to know about him is his body was washed up on the beach at Dymchurch (I assume on the date of his death) and they said he was a gunner on a merchant ship that was sunk. If anyone has any ideas about this chaps story I'm sure the local RBL would be most grateful - They lay a wreath on his grave every 2nd Sunday in November. I wondered why he was buried at Shorncliffe Military Cemetery? https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2825887/heyhoe,-arthur-william/
Andy He is listed under 519 Coast Regiment and not a Maritime Regiment. Maybe an accident of some sort. From what I've found, 519 Coast Regiment were based at Dover. Cheers - Rob
Cheers Rob, Anyone have any ideas why he wasn't buried at Shorncliffe? It seems as though very little is known about him -There is no NoK details on his CWGC Cert.
Not much, but a little more. Arthur Heyhoe was born and lived in Norfolk according to Army RoH, WW2. There is no note about him serving before 1/9/1939. Confirms Theatre of War at time of death, UK.
Andy, Congratulations on joining the Royal British Legion. Its amazing what you can learn listening to the older members. Regards Tom
Not much, but a little more. Arthur Heyhoe was born and lived in Norfolk according to Army RoH, WW2. There is no note about him serving before 1/9/1939. Confirms Theatre of War at time of death, UK. Death registered Q4 Oct Nov Dec 1940 Romney Marsh Age given as 28. There's a Birth registration for an Arthur Hayhoe Q1 Jan Feb March 1912 Mitford, Norfolk, possibly the same person, I've not been able to find a registration using the correct spelling of the surname. Nick
Death registered Q4 Oct Nov Dec 1940 Romney Marsh Age given as 28. There's a Birth registration for an Arthur Hayhoe Q1 Jan Feb March 1912 Mitford, Norfolk, possibly the same person, I've not been able to find a registration using the correct spelling of the surname. Nick Good one Nick, have you got the vol. and pg nos? If Andy or the Legion cared to apply for death cert, never know there might be some info on it...
Good one Nick, have you got the vol. and pg nos? If Andy or the Legion cared to apply for death cert, never know there might be some info on it... Thought I'd missed something, here we go; Birth Q1 Jan Feb March 1912 4b 435 Death Q4 Oct Nov Dec 1940 2a 3721 Nick
Andy I have him here Rob. Arthur William HEYHOE 1074227 Gnr, 519 Coast Rgt, Royal Artillery 20-11-40. Dymchurch (SS Peter & Paul) Churchyard, Kent. The coastal batteries at Dover were manned by three regiments of at least 3 batteries. 520 Coastal Regiment Royal Artillery manned the guns to the west of Dover (Capel, Lydden Spout, Hougham and Citadel batteries), 540 Regiment manned the guns to the east ( Fan Bay, Wanstone Farm and South Foreland Batteries) and 519 manned the rest.
You'll find references to them somewhere in the middle of this very long page. UNITED KINGDOM FORTIFICATIONS CLUB DATABASE, PILLBOX STUDY GROUP
Drew, My friend Billy McGee is checking the Deaths at Sea Register just in case something comes up but there were no merchant shipping losses on the date of death and also the Maritime RA were not yet a unit in 1940 so were not aboard ships at that time. However, you never know so he will keep looking. Regards Hugh
Cheers all, Looking at his unit I'm wondering if he fell off the cliffs and his bodied was washed ashore at Dymchurch? Regards Andy
A quick Google shows that 519 Coast regt has 217, 289 and 411 Btys under its command at some stage, but there are no diaries listed at TNA before Jan 1941 either for the Regt. or the batteries, so that's a bit of a dead end. There's a chance that there might be a mention if the body was discovered by an Army unit - as the beaches were closed to the public and the infantry were beginning to erect the scaffolding at this time, it is more than likely. I do see mentions in infantry war diaries of bodies being washed up; although these are usually just one-liners eg 'Body of German airman washed up at map ref. 123456' if the find was recorded, there may just be a clue to the story. As to which units were in the area in November 1940, there is a slight problem - it depends whereabouts at Dymchurch he was found. Dymchurch Redoubt is the boundary between the infantry Div holding most of East Sussex and the Dungeness peninsula; the Redoubt and all east of it is held by the neighbouring Div. 44 Div were to the west of the Redoubt; I already had the diary of 4 West Kents who were holding the coast Lydd - Dymchurch, but it makes no mention of any washed-up bodies at all. I don't have anything from the Div that held the neighbouring sector, but it was either 1 London (later 56) Div or whoever relieved them. - Pete
Gunner Arthur William Heyhoe Service no. 1071227 Age 28 Royal Artillery 519 Coastal Regiment Born Norfolk. Drowned 20/11/1940 (his birthday) after high seas swept him from the Knuckle Lighthouse, Southern side of Dover Harbour in Kent. His unit was manning artillery overnight on the harbour wall and at roll call he was found to be missing. His body was later discovered by soldiers who were erecting coastal defences on the beach at Dymchurch. He was newly married to Grace Ketteringham at Tilney St Lawrence, Norfolk, in August 1940. Arthur was sent to Dover just one day after his wedding. His grave is the only Commonwealth War Grave in the churchyard of St Peter & St Paul, Dymchurch, Kent.
No I'm not related to Gunner Heyoe. I take an interest in Kent local history in relation to both world wars. His story is unique here, by the fact that this war grave stands alone in the church at Dymchurch.
1939 REGISTER TRANSCRIPTION Ash Tree House , Marshland R.D., Norfolk NAME - DOB - OCCUPATION John A Ketteringham - 16 Jun 1869 - General Labourer Charles A Ketteringham - 16 Jan 1909 - Horseman On Farm Louisa Ketteringham - 11 Dec 1907 - Domestic Arthur W Heyhoe - 10 Jan 1912 - Butchers Assistant
