Lytchett Minster

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Burials at Lytchett Minster Cemetery (New Burial Ground)
Research by Richard Smith into the lives and deaths of the CWGC War Casualties buried in Lytchett Minster.

CWGC Burials at Lytchett Minster Churchyard

BUDDEN Victor Alexander Frank Boy 2nd Class No. J. 90606 HMS Powerful Royal Navy

Born in Lytchett Minster on 7th October 1900 son of Alexander Budden, a general contractor, and his wife Rosalie Teresa
Burden, who lived at Laurel Cottage, Sea View Road, Lytchett Minster. He enlisted in the Royal Navy on 1st July 1918 but
Naval records show that he died three weeks later on 20th July 1918 of Emphysema at Royal Naval Hospital, Stonehouse,
Plymouth Devon. He was aged 17 and buried on the 25th near the east end of the churchyard.

FANCY Ernest John Sergeant No. 1608414 626 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve based at
RAF Wickenby, Lincolnshire

Born in Lytchett Minster in April 1922 son of Willie George Fancy, a clay cutter and permanent way worker, and his wife Edith
Mary Hart (K/as Amy) who died in February 1938. The family home was at Barbary Cottage, Upton, Lytchett Minster. He was the
air gunner on an Avro Lancaster returning from a raid on Karlsruhe, Germany when it was shot down by a German intruder near
Boxworth airfield, four miles north of Colchester, Essex. He was aged 22 and was buried on the 27th in the south east part
of the churchyard.

LOCKYER Evelyn Oliver Private No. 21102 Dorsetshire Regiment

Born in Lytchett Minster on 5th November 1899 son of Mark Lockyer, a farmer at Bulbury Farm, Organford, Lytchett Minster, and
his wife Georgina Kate Lucas. Evelen died on 22nd February 1919 registered at Poole, so was it at home, maybe Spanish Flu or
pneumonia ? He was aged 19 and buried on the 25th in a grave to east of the church.

SPECK Charles William Walter Sergeant No. 207687 Royal Air Force

Born in Lytchett Minster on 11th April 1887 son of Henry Charles Speck, an Army pensioner and clay pit worker who died in
January 1912, and his wife Ann Baker who died in March 1916. He enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery on 3rd July 1908
serving until 14th August 1915, then on 17th August 1915 he enlisted in the Royal Naval Air Service until 31st March 1918
when he transferred to the Royal Air Force. He had married Ella Marion Jackman at Lytchett Minster on 8th April 1912 when he
was working as a carpenter. He died at the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar, Gosport, Hampshire but cause of death not found. He
was buried in a grave south of the chancel on the 5th December. His widow had only just also suffered the shock of burying
their one month old son Bernard Wilfred Speck on 30th October 1918. By 1921 Ella was living with her two other children
(Charles and Iva) at the home of her brother Robert in Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight where she was born.

SQUIRE Ralph Leslie Wilfred Gunner No. 14621570 196 Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery.

Born in Organford, Dorset on 21st July 1903 son of Edward Squire, a domestic coachman who died in March 1936, and his wife
Eliza Ann Hall who died in March 1939. He married Hetty Louisa Terrell at Poole in July 1929, and the family home was at
No. 5, Council Houses, Upton, Lytchett Minster. Ralph died at Oldmill Emergency Hospital, Aberdeen, Scotland on 7th August
1944, but I did not find a cause of death. He was aged 41 and was buried on the 12th in the south east corner of the
churchyard.

WILLS Esau William D.S.M. Able Seaman No. P/J 173 HMS Turtle Royal Navy - shore establishment at Hamworthy

Born in Upton on 4th July 1891 son of William Wills, an estate woodman, and his wife Ellen Elizabeth McEwing. He enlisted in
the Royal Navy on 22nd January 1908, and in October 1917 was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. He was transferred to
the Royal Naval Reserve on 2nd October 1938 but rejoined on 25th September 1939. He had married Rosa Corbey nee Old at Poole
on 17th April 1922. Rosa had married George Arthur Corbey at Sheffield, Yorkshire on 6th June 1914, but he had died at
Sheffield on 12th September 1916. Esau died at the Royal Naval Auxillary Hospital, Sherborne on 21st September 1944 from a
cerebral haemorrhage. He was aged 53 and was buried in the south west part of the cemetery. His probate to Rosa for £607 6s.6d
on 14th December 1944 gave their address as Bona Vista, Sea View Road, Upton.

June 2025

Richard Smith

orchidgrower@btinternet.com

 

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