World War 2 Memorial

Cumberbatchs who served and died for freedom

1. CUMBERBATCH, GEORGE DURONT Fireman and Trimmer   26/02/1941  28 Merchant Navy United Kingdom Panel 65. TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

2.  CUMBERBATCH, GREY DOYLE Sergeant (Air Bomber) 1383404 05/03/1943  21 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve United Kingdom Grave B.2. LONG BENNINGTON (ST. SWITHUN) CHURCHYARD

3. CUMBERBATCH, HAROLD Trooper 550493 09/07/1944  33 Royal Armoured Corps United Kingdom C. of E. Plot 5. Row G. Grave 16. HOYLAND NETHER CEMETERY

4. CUMBERBATCH, LAWRENCE IRVING Private 4037122 12/10/1943  29 King's Shropshire Light Infantry United Kingdom C. of E. and Nonconformist. New part. Grave 16653. NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME CEMETERY

5. CUMBERBATCH, RICHARD ELKIN Lance Bombardier 931467 03/12/1944  25 Royal Artillery United Kingdom 8. H. 8. CHUNGKAI WAR CEMETERY. He was the son of Dr. Elkin Percy Cumberbatch.

   Richard Cumberbatch joined the 137th Field Regiment of the Royal Artillery was was killed whilst a Prisoner of War at Nong Pladuk Camp Siam on 3rd December 1944. Alice Beatrice Maud C Cumberbatch was particularly fond of her nephew Richard and was heartbroken to learn of his death. Alice was probably responsible for the many "In Memoriam" messages to be found in The Times:

   In Memoriam - CUMBERBATCH - In honoured and loving memory of Richard Elkin Cumberbatch 137th Field regiment R.A. [Royal Artillery]. Killed while a Prisoner of War at Nong Pladuk Camp Siam on 3 December 1944. Dear and only son of the late Dr. E.P. Cumberbatch and Mrs Cumberbatch.

   This memorial was placed in The Times 3 Dec 1947 p1 Col A and was repeated on 3 Dec 1948, 4 Dec 1950, 3 Dec 1951, 3 Dec 1955, 3 Dec 1958, 3 Dec 1962, 3 Dec 1963 and 3 Dec 1966.

   Read the account of his death here.

6. CUMBERBATCH, WILLIAM Lance Corporal 6855072 04/01/1945  32 King's Royal Rifle Corps United Kingdom I, B, 9. VILLANOVA CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

7. CUMBERLEDGE [CUMBERLEGE], CLAUDE MICHAEL BULLSTRODE Lieut-Commander   10/04/1945  Unknown Royal Naval Reserve United Kingdom 82, 1. CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL

8. CUMBERLEDGE, FREDERICK Third Engineer Officer   05/05/1943  57 Merchant Navy United Kingdom Panel 19. TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

9. CUMBERLEDGE, JAMES LESLIE Fusilier 14658493 05/11/1944  Unknown Royal Scots Fusiliers United Kingdom II. D. 3. MIERLO WAR CEMETERY

10.  CUMBERLEGE, CLELAND ALEXANDER MARTIN Major 37055 31/05/1941  Unknown Royal Artillery United Kingdom Face 2. ATHENS MEMORIAL

11.  CUMBERLEGE, PATRICIA MARY BRIDGET Section Officer 7014 29/11/1946  33 Women's Aux. Air Force United Kingdom Row E. Grave 11. BENSON (OR BENSINGTON) (ST. HELEN) CHURCHYARD EXTENSION

12. CUMBERLIDGE, HAROLD Bombardier 1134230 24/02/1944  26 Royal Artillery United Kingdom XVIII. A. 23. CASSINO WAR CEMETERY

13.  CUMBERPATCH, JACK Private 14299406 16/07/1944  20 East Lancashire Regiment United Kingdom III. F. 11. FONTENAY-LE-PESNEL WAR CEMETERY, TESSEL

14.  CUMBERPATCH, OWEN DOUGLAS Able Seaman C/JX 408071 29/04/1945  20 Royal Navy United Kingdom 80, 3. CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL

     

Please visit their full memorials at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

The Barbados Second Contingent

Sergeant Grey Doyle Cumberbatch, 1383404 - Air Bomber Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 100 Sqdn.

He was the eldest child and only son of Charles Wilkinson Cumberbatch and Octavia Cecily Cumberbatch nee Jordan, of St. Lucy, Barbados. He was born 2nd June 1921 and baptised 3rd July 1921 as Greystone Doyle Cumberbatch at St. Lucy Parish Church. He died 5th March 1943, aged 21, buried Lincolnshire, England (Grave B.2. Long Bennington (St. Swithun) Churchyard).

Back Row: C.P. King, J.S. Partridge, A.A. Walrond, J.L.L. Yearwood, M.R. Cuke, E. W. Barrow

Front Row: G.D. Cumberbatch, A.P.C. Dunlop, H.E.S. Worme, G.A. Barrow, A.O. Weekes, B.F.H. Miller

Subsequently killed were: Sgt. Charles Parnell King, Sgt. Arthur  Adolphus Walrond, Pilot Mark Radford Cuke, Sgt Grey Doyle Cumberbatch, Flying Officer Andrew P.C. Dunlop, Pilot Officer Bruce F.H. Miller.

The First Contingent, the Harold Wright Contingent as it became known, sailed 27th July 1940 and was recruited for the forces generally. However, the Second Contingent were recruited for the RAF and departed Barbados in November 1940. The 12 men selected included Errol W. Barrow, who would survive the war, enter politics and eventually become Barbados' first Prime Minister (1966 - 1976).

[Source: Barbados at War 1939-1945 by Warren Alleyne privately published 1999 p.9]