World War 2 – The First Titheridge Casualty

Headstone of Dayrell Titheridge
at Shedfield Churchyard

On 3 September 1939, Britain declared war on Germany. Nine days after war was declared the first war time death of a family member occurred. His life was lost, not by an act of war but by a road accident on home soil.

The victim was 24-year-old Dayrell Charles John Titheridge a member of the Royal Artillery.

Dayrell was born on 28 January 1915 in the Droxford area of Hampshire, most likely near Shedfield or Waltham Chase. He was the eldest of 8 children born to Noah John Titheridge and Annie Louise Ferris. There were 7 boys and 1 girl in the family, born between 1915 and 1936.

Sometime between 1933 and 1935 Dayrell joined the Royal Artillery. In 1935 he was living in the Louisburg Barracks at the Bordon Army Camp, Hampshire. At the age of 21 Dayrell married Jessie Muriel Webb on 25 September 1935 at St Alban's church, Hindhead, Surrey.

By the outbreak of war in September 1939 Dayrell had gained the rank of Lance Bombardier and he was still stationed at Bordon Camp as part of the 2nd Field Regiment.

On Tuesday 12 September 1939 Dayrell was riding his motorbike at about 5.45 in the morning, just as it was light. He collided with a car in Honey Lane, Selbourne, Hampshire while travelling towards Bordon. At the inquest the driver of the car said, he was driving his car along Honey Lane towards Selbourne when, as he was rounding a left-handed bend, he saw a motorbike five to six feet from its off side of the road. The motorist applied his brakes, but the motorcycle seemed to wobble in front of him and crashed into his radiator. Dayrell was taken to hospital and was suffering from severe head injuries. He never regained consciousness and died a couple of hours later.

The inquest was held by the Winchester County Coroner at Alton Police Court. A verdict of accidental death was given with the driver of the car exonerated from blame.

Dayrell was buried in St John the Baptist church in Shedfield, his local home church which was a mile south of his parent’s home of 11 Beaucroft Road, Waltham Chase. His grave is situated to the rear of the church. The grave is pictured above. His death is recorded on the Commonwealth War Grave Commission site as he was a serving soldier in war time. In the burial ground at Shedfield, across the road from the church, is a War Memorial to the men of Shedfield, pictured below.

As far as I can tell Dayrell’s widow never remarried and she died in Taunton in September 1981.

For Dayrell’s parents, Noah and Annie, they not only had to cope with the loss of a son but also the worry of their other sons serving in the war. By the end of World War 2 five of their six remaining sons were serving their country in the forces. Fortunately, all five sons returned home safely.

While researching this article I viewed the British Army Casualty List for the period 3 September to 19 September 1939 a period of 16 days. I was shocked to see that in UK, during this period, a total of 22 soldiers lost their lives on home soil and not due to warfare. (8 were accidentally killed, 5 died as a result of an accident, 7 died, 1 drowned, 1 was missing presumed drown plus 4 were reported as dangerously ill).

If you are related to Dayrell and can add  any more to this story please get in touch.

Shedfielld Memorial
to those who lost their lives in World War 2

St John the Baptist Church
in Shedfield, Hampshire

World War 2 Remembered – 80 years on

War Is Announced

Eighty years ago, on 3 September 1939, Britain declared war on Germany. Hitler's aggressive foreign policy had led to the invasion of the Czech lands in March 1939. Britain and France subsequently agreed to support Poland in the event of a German invasion. However, this had no affect and Hitler attacked Poland on 1 September 1939. On 3 September the British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, announced that the Germans had failed to respond to the British deadline for the withdrawal of German troops from Poland. The Germans were told that unless Germany announced plans to with draw from Poland a state of war would exist between the two countries. Chamberlain announced to the country, "I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received and consequently this country is at war with Germany."

The Effects of War

World War 2 had a devastating effect on all our families.

• Men already in the armed forces they were sent to war.
• Many men volunteered to go and fight in the Army, Navy and Air Force.
• The National Service Act imposed conscription and many men were forced to enlist in the armed forces.
• In the six years of war many lives were lost. Others became prisoners of war and many were wounded. All bearing the mental scars of warfare.
• There were many courageous acts, many recognised with bravery awards.
• For those who lived in London, and other British cities, there were air raids by the German Luftwaffe. The population got used to air raids, air raid sirens, nights spent in air raid shelters and the resulting devastation, loss of houses and loss of life. Many of our family members lived in London and Portsmouth, both areas targeted by the air raids.
• People were displaced from their homes as large-scale evacuation took place of women and children, from the cities to the safer country environment.
• Emergency measures were announced, which included identity cards, blackouts, rationing of food and clothing and other commodities.
• Women took on roles that they had not done before, from working in the land army to the munitions work.
• A few soldiers found themselves a long way from home where they met local girls and fell in love - romances and subsequently families, that would not have happened without the war.

Some World War 2 Stories Relating to The Family

If you search the Internet there are several individuals who have written about their experiences in World War 2. For copyright reasons I cannot rewrite their story but below are links to what information is available on the internet on family name and World War 2. Please click the links to read their story.

Catherine Titheridge 

Catherine was a stewardess Wren on HMS Hornet. Read her story.

Dusty Titheridge

Dusty was in the RAF and married his Canadian sweetheart. Read his story.

Roy Leslie Walter Titheradge 

Roy was mentioned in despatches for his bravery. Read his story.

Muriel Tytheridge

Muriel was a young girl when she was evacuated to countryside from Woolwich. Read her story

Alan Tytheridge

Alan was held in a Japanese Prisoner of War camp. Read his story. 

More World War Stories

Over the next few blogs I hope to recount a few of the family stories I know relating to World War 2. Many of us have heard our parents or grandparents talk about life in the war, but despite this it is much harder to research individuals in the second world war compared to first. This is due to the confidentiality of the records and the fact they are not readily available. However, did you know, if your father or grandfather or other family member fought in World War 2 that their next of kin can access their records if they are deceased? The fee is £30. If they or their spouse are still alive, the records can be accessed for free. Information about this service is available at this link.  

If you can tell us about the life of someone who fought in World War 2, and would like it recorded here, please email me and I will publish your story.