Banstead War Memorial. If you have more information about a name or would like to correct or remove any of the information please mail the Webmaster.	WWII P
PARKES, PETER DENYS Pilot Officer 172073 37 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Died 5-May-1944 aged 20 Son of Major and Mrs D V Parkes of Lingfield, formerly of 15 Green Curve, Banstead. Peter attended Sutton County Grammar School between 1936 and 1940. Initially Peter was reported as missing following a bombing raid, and writing to his old headmaster, Mrs D Parkes says that "waiting for news is almost unbearable". On the 16 September 1944, Mrs Parkes wrote to the headmaster again: Dear Mr Cockshutt, ...You will be sorry to hear that Peter was lost over the Adriatic on May 5th. I have lately heard from Air Vice-Marshall Baker, a distant cousin of the boys and he says we must give up all hope of Peter's return. They were already over the sea heading for Italy when they sent out their last message,saying that they hoped to get back on one engine. Had they been picked up by a German ship, which is most unlikely, we would have heard by now. Peter's commission as Pilot Officer was gazetted on March 28th, and dated back to January 14th. He was pilot of a Wellington. Please do not write. Yours sincerely Dorothy Parkes Pilot Officer Peter Parkes flew his last bombing mission in a Wellington 10 out of Tortorella North Africa. Peter is one of the Suttonians listed on the Roll of Honour which still hangs in the hall at Sutton Grammar School. Memorial Reference: Panel 13, Column 2. MALTA MEMORIAL Source : Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Publication - 'The War Memorial, St Paul’s Church, Nork, Banstead'. The Suttonian magazine and war letter archives from Sutton Grammer School. Memorial panel photograph supplied by the Shranz family, Malta. Last updated 22 March 2008 Added photo of Floriana Memorial malta ........................................................ ................................................................................................................... Back to WWll panels

PEASLEY, EDWARD JOHN Leading Seaman P/JX 166792 Royal Navy HMS COPRA Died 18-May-1945 aged 20 Son of Albert Edward and Margaret Dorothy Peasley, of Banstead, Surrey. Edward lived in Kenneth Road located half way between Banstead and Woodmansterne, with his mother and father Edward joined the Navy at a very early age and had been to numerous places abroad. In May 1945 he was based at HMS COPRA in Genoa. This was an acronym for Combined Operations Pay, Ratings and Accounts. It was a shore based establishment set up to process the pay and allowances of Royal Navy personnel serving in Combined Operations in WWll. Edward lost his life after diving into the sea and hitting his head on submerged debris. It was only a few days before his 21st birthday. He kept two detailed diaries which were retained by his sister Grace who lives in Australia. They are now back in the UK and are held by his cousin's daughter, Jane Hill. Jane's mother who also lived in Woodmansterne and was the same age as Edward has fond memories of him. The picture (bottom right) shows Edward earlier in his career whilst training at HMS Ganges. HMS Ganges was a shore based training establishment at Shotley by Harwich Harbour where the River Stour meets the River Orwell, about eight miles from the county town of Ipswich. By the early 1940's, at about the time Edward was there, those under training numbered 2000; approximately 200 joining every five weeks. The boys' training at the time covered seamanship and signals training. Grave/Memorial Reference: I. C. 1. STAGLIENO CEMETERY, GENOA Source : Commonwealth War Graves Commission. http://www.combinedops.com/COPRA.htm Family research by Christine Kent Photos and personal details kindly provided by Jane Hill. ......................................................................................... Back to WWll panels Last updated 10 March 2008

PLOWRIGHT, REGINALD ERNEST Leading Aircraftman 1460296 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Died 25-May-1943 aged 35 Son of George Henry and Florence Minnie Plowright, of 8, Glenfield Road, Banstead, Surrey. Grave Reference: 5. A. 5. HELIOPOLIS WAR CEMETERY Source : Commonwealth War Graves Commission. ........................................................................................................ .......................................................................................... Back to WWll panels