BEYOND THE
CATISFIELD MEMORIAL
Catisfield Memorial Hall - The WW2 Dedication Expanded
There are many tragic stories behind these names, some
very tragic…...
The following table summarises what is known about each of them.
And points to an expanded story about each.
Click on ‘ONL’ in the table to see each story
From the researches of Doug Glading, with assistance
from Glenn Duggan. Last update
2/8/2026
|
|
Online |
NAME |
SERVICE |
DIED |
AGE |
LOCATION |
HOME |
Story |
|
1 |
Supply Assistant Geoffrey David Berney |
RNVR |
25/11/41 |
20 |
Mediterranean,
off Sidi Barrani |
Heathfield
Farm |
30/6/2026 |
|
|
2 |
Wren
Driver Diana Sydney Biddlecombe |
RN |
21/10/44 |
33 |
UK
Hospital |
Clanconnel, on Catisfield Rd., |
20/6/2026 |
|
|
3 |
Commander
William Charles Bushell DSC |
RN |
9/11/40 |
40 |
UK
Hospital |
‘Aveley’ ,Titchfield Road, Catisfield |
20/6/2026 |
|
|
4 |
Flying
Officer John Weldon Butt |
RAFVR |
18/9/42 |
19 |
Somerset |
‘Savandi’ on the Avenue |
30/6/2026 |
|
|
5 |
Lieutenant
John Philip Couzens, |
Royal
Artillery |
5/4/43 |
22 |
Ballali Island. (Captured Singapore.) |
‘Woodstock’, The Avenue |
30/6/2026 |
|
|
6 |
Lance Bombardier Edward Lionel Dominey, |
Royal Artillery |
23/5/40 |
20 |
Pas de Calais, France |
‘Edna’, Highlands Road |
30/6/2026 |
|
|
7 |
Warrant Mechanician Moses William Evans,. |
RN |
19/12/41 |
38 |
Mediterranean off Tripoli |
Littleholme, Highlands Road ( now No. 203 )- |
15/7/2026 |
|
|
8 |
Leading Aircraftsman William Henry Flood. |
RAFVR |
7/1/43 |
30 |
UK
Hospital |
42 Woodcote Lane, Peel Common. Or 42 Highlands Rd. |
11/7/2026 |
|
|
9 |
WO Class I Frederick Augustus Gates RSM, |
Royal Artillery |
15/11/41 |
27 |
Malta |
5 Fairthorne Cottages, Catisfield. |
15/7/2026 |
|
|
10 |
Christina Emsie Gordon |
Wife |
2/11/42 |
|
|
Peaklands, 73 The Avenue |
28/07/26 |
|
|
11 |
Gunner
(T) Mr Harold Hargreaves WO |
RN |
28/3/42 |
38 |
Loire
Estuary |
37 Highlands Road. |
29/3/2026 |
|
|
12 |
Lieutenant (E) Frank McLeod |
RN, |
27/2/42 |
42 |
Java
Sea |
? |
5/7/2026 |
|
|
13 |
Petty Officer Robert Savitri Millener, |
RN |
3/8/44 |
26 |
Off Le Havre |
‘Lynton’ Highlands Road. |
7/7/2026 |
|
|
14 |
|
Lieutenant Edward Graham Mortimer |
RNVR |
22/7/46 |
39 |
Lyme Bay |
The Limes |
|
|
15 |
Private
Edmund Charles Neville, |
R Infantry |
15/2/42 |
26 |
Singapore |
4 Rugby Cottages, Catisfield Road |
21/7/2025 |
|
|
16 |
Able Seaman John Woodman Spanner, |
RN |
28/11/39 |
28 |
North Sea |
Lynton’, Highlands Road. |
7/7/2026 |
|
|
17 |
Mr Alfred Dennis Streten |
Civilian |
5/12/40 |
31 |
Cosham |
89 Chatsworth Avenue, Cosham. |
28/07/26 |
|
|
18 |
Captain
Charles Edward Stone |
Royal
Artillery |
30/6/44 |
25 |
Normandy |
“Ligoniel”, Highlands Road, |
27/07/26 |
|
|
19 |
Clement
(John) Young |
Merchant
Navy |
8/5/41 |
34 |
Langstone Harbourr |
40 Highlands Road |
27/07/26 |
Note: The map shows Catisfield just
before the war. The Avenue is also known as Titchfield Road and as
the A27. Highlands Road houses were re-numbered
post-war. And named houses given numbers.
BACKGROUND:
CATISFIELD
is in Hampshire, located between Fareham, England, one and a half miles
to the east, and Titchfield, half a mile to the west, on the edge of the
valley of the River Meon.
Originally
just a hamlet, separated from Fareham by a mile and a half of green fields, but
now just part of the Fareham town area. But maintaining a village atmosphere.
It
used to consist of some ‘big house’s, with various cottages and
terraces for the workers and servants. Some ‘middle
class housing had arrived by 1940, mostly on
Highlands Road and The Avenue.
Wealthy
farmer and landowner Samuel Mortimer lived in a country house called ‘The
Limes’. After the war he gave 
land
for the building of a Memorial Hall.’
The
lobby of today’s Hall contains a stone marking this and a plaque commemorating
the 19 local people who died serving in WW2
I started researching these names some
years ago, and in 2025 prepared a Powerpoint presentation summarising the story
behind each name for a VE Day 80th anniversary event in the
village. This was turned into a memorial book which is housed in
the lobby alongside the plaque.
Of course there is often much more to tell – more than can be said in a few bullets. Hence this extended work. - DG
Please send Comments, and any additional information/images you might have,
to history@catisfield.com