Bedford Cemetery, Bedfordshire, England

[barryd]

I wonder if it would be possible for a Bedford Roots Chatter to look at the Grave of Raymond Sydney Worrall who was killed/died whilst serving with the Royal Artillery,  5 December 1944. I would like to see if his marker has Raymond OR Sidney John engraved on it.  He is registered on Free BMD Dec qtr. 1944 , Bedford  as Sidney John Worrall which is his correct name but "Raymond" is on his CWGC entry. The fact is that "Raymond" has exactly the same parents as the real Sidney John and the same wife as Sidney John but Raymond is published on the CWGC entry.


Bedford Cemetery
Military Section 1
Grave 362.

[rosie99]

The CWGC web site has a transcript of his grave marker
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2705876/WORRALL,%20RAYMOND%20SYDNEY

[barryd]

Thank you Rosie. No hope that the marker will say anything different than the CWGC  has already published. I know there is a war going on but would one of the local Bedford newspapers have published anything on Sidney John Worrall (or Raymond?) at the time of his death?

[rosie99]

Bedfordshire Times and Independent 15 December 1944 has obituary for Sergeant S J Worrall - wife Gertie - He died at St Peters hospital, Bedford

[barryd]

As I suspected (to be formal) his wife Gertrude Emma knows him by his real name. The Army was mislead. I am wondering if he joined up with a new name because of his past in Royal Air Force Reserves after WW1. He may have stopped going to drills or had a falling out. Would it be imposing on you for the full obituary? He either had an accident in 1944 in England, suffered wounds abroad and was shipped home for hospitalization or died through natural causes.

Or I could order his death certificate!

[rosie99]

I have sent you a PM

[barryd]

Received your Personal Message just fine. Not sure if my technology is good enough to send a reply but tried anyhow. So whatever you did last time I should receive your PM. Looking forward to it.

[rosie99]

Apparently the Worralls of 12 Hartington street owned a grey tabby cat named 'Chippy' which was missing in August 1944 

Briefly - of 10 Hartington St, died 5th December - Educated Clapham Road School -served with Bedfordshire Yeomanry R.A. (T) since 1921 -went to France July 1944. Survived by widow & 1 daughter.
Funeral Bedford Cemetery 8th December
It then lists floral tributes.

[barryd]

It looks like Sidney (Raymond) was wounded in France by enemy action  or injured by his own gun in France and was shipped back to a suitable hospital near his home. Why the change of name remains a mystery. Thank you so much.