William Henry Forward
Memorial: Hanham - High Street
Regiment: Royal Navy
Medals: 1939–45 Star, War Medal 1939–1945
Rank and number: Ordinary Seaman D/JX206213
Parents: Harry and Elizabeth Forward
Marital status: Single
Home address: 5 Hopps Road, Kingswood, Bristol
Pre-war occupation: General clerk at Cashmore and Company in Victoria Street
Date of birth: 21/03/1920
Date of death: 04/11/1940
Buried/Commemorated at: Holy Trinity Church (s. e. part, Grave 656), Kingswood, Bristol
Age: 20
Further information:
Died in a railway accident. He was returning from leave to his home port, Devonport, when the train he was travelling on crashed at Norton Fitzwarren, Taunton and he was killed. With one of his friends in the photograph, he volunteered to serve on the battle cruiser HMS Repulse. He was waiting for his posting when his fatal accident occurred. His friend served on HMS Repulse and survived when the Japanese sank the ship
William played for one of the local soccer teams and attended Hanham Methodist church where his name is recorded on a plaque. His name is also inscribed on the War Memorial plaque at Holy Trinity Church, Kingswood
Enlisted with the navy 10.7.1940 and served on HMS Raleigh. Moved to HMS Drake in September 1940
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
This information is based by kind permission on the following source.
1) Booklet ‘Not Just a Name on Stone’ by Hanham Local History Society
2) Thanks to Mr R Crew and Mrs. M Antill of Hanham Local History society for their help
3) Jo Hurst, researcher for the South Gloucestershire Second World War Stories Project
4) Forces War Records and CWGC