Mystery plaque dumped in Hornchurch, Essex

Mike et al.

This is indeed the same Douglas Pegrum.

Ed is going to scan a photo over to me, which I will post up here.

Internets a PIA sometimes, but then, out of the blue......reflects that little prayer you hear from time to time......'They shall not grow old...'

Regards all

Pete

 

Below is the course photo for No.2 Sqn, 8 ITC.

Doug Pegrum is in the second row down, one in from the left as you look at the photo.

Ed Lansdell is in the third row down, one infrom the right as you look at the photo.

 

Attached is the body of the message Ed sent me, including some details about himself.

I have attached photos of Doug, myself, & 8ITW photo, also, a photo of me flying a B-26 over the S. Atlantic on a delivery flight to Accra.
I was an Atlantic Ferry Command Pilot and later posted to 231 Sqn. Flying communications from Montreal to the UK, Africa & India. I served in the RAF, RCAF, RCNR and Can Armed Forces.Res. Retired in 1980.
It was nice to see the RAF put on a memorial service for my cousin John, who was shot down on Sep.17th. 1940. This was at Hempnall, Norfolk and they also had a fly past by the Memorial Flight ( Hurricane, Lancaster & Spitfire.

Sorry I can't give you more info on Doug Pegrum, he was a good friend and I have been trying to find the whereabouts of his family.



I am immensely grateful to Ed for the details, something about Doug Pegrums particular story has stuck with me more than the others, and its gratifying to see a photo of the man.

Ed recalls that Doug Pegrum was at University before joining up. I'm wondering if getting hold of a copy of his service history would benefit our search at all?

Pete

 

Can I ask everyone to take a look at this link, third marriage down.

http://www.pyinoolwin.info/images/Churches/Marriages%20by%20date.pdf

I dont do genealogy so dont know how to start tracking Margeurite down, all suggestions welcomed.

Cheers

Pete

 

Pete,
Superb work as ever, well done mate!
As you say, every so often something like this crops up and gives you a bit of a warm feeling inside.
I have asked a friend with an interest in genealogy to have a look into this but how you would start a search based in Burma I would have no idea. She might be able to try the UK side of the family though.
That is a great photo of the course members. I hope Ed can perhaps fill in some info about some of the other students (not strictly part of our quest I know).

I really MUST get round to the LMA visit, things are starting to calm down a bit at work now so might be easier soon.

Mike

 

I second that Mike. Wonderful stuff. The recovered plaque has now led to us learning about the crew of a Lanc that went down off Denmark.

Lest we Forget.

 

Rich, there are so many other stories still to find about these men who died and are remembered on the plaque (I tend not to use the phrase 'gave their lives', as somehow it doesen't seem quite right to me).
There are quite a few of the 17 we still still haven't identified and know absolutely nothing about. I would like to think that the frequent 'renewal' of this thread might lead to a new breakthrough every now and then. Nice to see there is still interest from the fellow 'WW2Talkers'.

Mike

 

Stuck this here so i dont lose it....

Memories of Maymyo

Trek out of Burma group.

The Trek out of Burma 1942 | Google Groups

Trek out of Burma - NA Evacuee list

Trek out of Burma 1942, Evacuee List

Several PegrAms, one PegrUm (K), but no address or further details.

 

Born 1909, family lived lived at 153 Grange Road King's Heath, Kings Norton, Worcester. Younger brother of Alfred and Catherine Frances.

The undermentioned from Artists ,Rif.,
T.A. (Cadets, i63rd Officer Cadet Training
Unit) are granted Emeigency Commns. as
2nd Lts. 22nd Oct. 1939: —

R. War. R.—Pte. Harold BLOWER (105014)

According to the probate records for 1940, Harold Blower, lived at 102, New park Avenue, Palmers Green, London at the time of his death. His estate, was awarded to his Father who at the time was still living in Birmingham.

His elder sister, Catherine Frances appears to have died aged 10 in 1916.

 

3. Stanley John Clarkson, 651183, Aircraftman 1st Class, 113 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
Died on 19 December 1941, age 22. Son of John H. Clarkson and Margeret E. Clarkson, of Leyton, Essex.
1.H.23. HELIOPOLIS WAR CEMETARY.

The marriage details for Stanley John Clarksons parents

Name: John Henry Clarkson
Age: 24
Estimated birth year: abt 1886
Spouse Name: Margaret Eliza Mallows
Spouse Age: 21
Record Type: Marriage
Marriage Date: 25 Dec 1910
Parish: St Paul, Homerton
County: London
Borough: Hackney
Father Name: Edward Clarkson
Spouse Father Name: Ernest William Mallows

In 1911, the couple lived at 189 Homerton High St, Hackney and had the following children.

Name: Henry E E Clarkson
Mother: Mallows
Birth: Dec 1911 - Hackney, Greater London, London, Middlesex

Name: Albert W Clarkson
Mother: Mallows
Birth: Mar 1913 - West Ham, Essex, Greater London

Name: Doris M Clarkson
Mother: Mallows
Birth: Jun 1915 - West Ham, Essex, Greater London

Name: Stanley J Clarkson
Mother: Mallows
Birth: Jan Feb Mar 1920 - W Ham, Essex, Suffolk

Name: Eileen J Clarkson
Mother: Mallows
Birth: Jul Aug Sep 1923 - W.Ham, Essex, Suffolk

The break in births suggests that Stanley’s father served in WW1.

 

Mike

Was there a response from the gt nephew of Humphrey Garth?

Pete

 

Pete, didn't get a response to the letter I sent, bit disappointing really.
Phil, thanks for your continued help mate.

Mike

 

I have posted a message on teh Trek out of Burma googlegroup asking for info on families who did not leave.

Pegrums parents did not appear to leave in 1942, the Pegrum marrying did so in 1943 (although I dont know for certain it was his sister) so possibly they stayed on.

I wonder if All Saints Church still exists in Maymyo?

Pete

 

To answer my own question, yes it does, but cant find any contact details whatsoever!

In relation to margeurite Pegrum....the priest that married them John Aung Hla, is mentioned in a book on the Church in Burma during and after the occupation

He ministered to a large internment camp there, so she may well have been interned there.


The War and After: Burma, by George Appleton (c. 1946)

Pete

 

hello Peter have a look at the links below you might possibly find a contact who can assist.

All Saints Church

Pyin Oo Lwin Myanmar's Highland City of Flowers



regards
Clive

 

Clive

Had a good look through that website before, the odd thing is that there is absolutely no indication who runs it ! Maybe not odd in modern Myanmar?

Pete

 

hello Pete

allsaints (at) mail4u.com.mm
Rev Joseph Yin Oo

worth dropping him an email

also Pete have a trawl through the link below
Burma Childrens Fund » How It All Began

regards
Clive

 

Hi, and a Happy New Year to everyone!
Looks like I might get a chance to visit the LMA later this week (at last), anyone got any suggestions apart from the TG Magazines etc? I will obviously look for any other possible Gas Board links while I am there.
If anyone has something they want from the Archive let me know and I will see what I can do. At the moment it's looking like I will probably go either Thursday or Friday.
Cheers all,

Mike

 

Hello all

I now have a good contact in Myanmar who will do what they can to help at that end - mainly related to Pegrums parents.

I understand from Ed Lansdell (hello Ed if you're reading this!) that pegrum was at Oxford but left to join the RAF.....so, anybody know how we can approach the universities for info?

This is all a bit 'round the houses', but there must be paperwork somewhere on Douglas Pegrum! Even if it only gives his fathers occupation, it'll be a leap forward.

Pete

 

The following Pegrums where all born in Burma, and became New ealand Nationals in the 50's

Name: Sidney Percival Pegrum
Birth: 22 Dec 1893 - Burma
Civil: 1 Dec 1954

Name: Edith Marie Pegrum
Birth: 9 Oct 1895 - Burma
Civil: 15 Apr 1955

Name: Pauline Pegrum
Birth: 25 Jan 1909 - Thazi, Burma
Civil: 1 Dec 1954

Name: Joseph John Pegrum
Birth: 1 Jul 1934 - Burma
Civil: 28 Mar 1956

Name: Colleen Ena Pegrum
Birth: 13 Sep 1935 - Burma
Civil: 20 Jun 1957

It looks like the Burma elemant started in 1870 when a Lionel Herbert Pegrum moved their to work on the railways.

Douglas Frank Pegrum's father, James Arthur married Jessie Masanyin in Burma on the 7th Feb 1916

Name: James Arthur Pegrum
Birth: 1893
Marriage: 7 Feb 1916 - Burma (Myanmar)
Parents: William Pegrum, Grace Mah Dwai
Spouse: Jessie Masanyin


Douglas Frank Pegrum had a sister, Victoria (Born 1915), who married William Charles Lutter on 30th Dec, 1934 in Rangoon.