DEREK POOLE 1922 - 2010
Derek Poole was born in Stockport in February 1922. He was an only son and had a very happy childhood.
When War broke out Derek was in the Cadets. He joined up and became a Royal Marine.
On “D” Day Derek was manning one of the landing crafts taking in men and supplies on to the Normandy beaches. His one memory was that as they were coming into land the craft next to his had a direct hit – it was something he never forgot.
Derek caught TB whilst in the forces and was pensioned out, and later he had cancer, lost one lung and suffered from diabetes, no doubt this was his legacy of the service he gave for his Country.
After the War Derek met Mary, she was a nursing sister, they married and moved to Ross-on-Wye.
They soon settled into their new life and absolutely loved the area, Derek loved his garden and although he suffered from bad health a lot of the time – Mary nursed him. They became very involved in the community, joining the choral society, the floral society, the church choir. They were very charitable people, always doing their bit to make other people’s lives better.
Derek died on the 28th October 2010 and his beloved Mary six days later and they were laid to rest together. It was a very sad day for all their many friends.
This is the ensign which was on DEREK's landing craft which landed our troops on “D” Day. This will no doubt bring memories to many who landed and those who served in the Royal Marines and Royal Navy.
It was found in the loft by a Mr Jason Games who immediately recognised what it was and the significance of it - had this not happened this piece of history could have been lost forever. This has now been framed and can be seen at the Ross & Monmouth Sea Cadets Headquarters.
JOE ROOKE 1920 - 2014
Joe was born at Mile End in the Forest of Dean on 2nd March 1920. He had three younger sisters Alma, Kathleen & Majorie. At the age of fifteen he joined the Navy as a Boy Seaman and he did his training in Devonport at HMS Impregnable.
In March 1937 he joined the brand new Cruiser HMS Newcastle and he remained on her throughout the War. It is almost impossible to cover Joe's War - he travelled the Oceans of the World and the stories he had to tell are truly astounding from Military Convoys, escorting Supplies & troops, searching for German "U" Boats and supply ships etc.
In 1944 Joe was transferred to HMS Raleigh where he was a Seamanship and Gunnery Instructor and he then spent three years in Singapore organizing transport for troops. On his return to Devonport he went to HMS Drake as an Instructor. I have recently found out that Joe rose through the ranks to Petty Officer – again something no one knew – he was just proud to serve his Country as a Sailor.
He was demobbed in February 1950 and in 1959 he married Joan and made their home in Ross-On-Wye. A little tale he told me how they used to laugh that Joan whose maiden name was Nightingale married a Rooke. During this time he became a member of the Royal British Legion and served on the Committee and held several positions – one of which was Membership Secretary – it was in the days that everyone paid by cash so Joe would go around collecting the money. Bearing in mind there were over 500 members so you can imagine this was quite a job. He was also a dedicated collector for the Poppy Appeal and up until the age of 91 years of age he would collect on the Saturday before Remembrance Sunday – his pitch was outside the Nat West Bank. The last year Joe collected he hadn’t been too well and when I met him in Morrisons I suggested that maybe he shouldn’t collect that year and he immediately said I think I’ll be ok – my leg is much better – (picking up his trouser leg to show me) -I suggested perhaps he could have a chair and sit down occasionally – his reply to that was – Oh no I won’t do that – people will think I’m getting old. That was Joe – a very proud man.
Sadly Joan died in 2007 but Joe continued to live in the family home being as independent as possible but I know Maureen and her husband Alfred kept a close eye on him. Maureen first met Joan when she worked at Ranks in1969 and over the years she had become the “daughter” they had never had. When I visited I asked if there was anything we could do his answer was always Maureen will sort it out.
What memories Joe and his fellow Sailors must have - the things they witnessed first-hand - having spoken not only to Joe but others who served during the War - they will never forget and neither should we.
It was an honour to know you Joe – God Bless
DAVID (DAI) KING - 2/7/1923 - 3/5/2013
Dai was born at Harewood End in 1923, he had a sister Betty and two brothers John and Ralph. When he was a child he lived Raglan but spent many happy holidays at Harewood End with his grand-parents.
At the outbreak of the War he was in a reserved occupation but eventually he was called up in April 1943. The first six weeks were pretty awful and then he joined the 35 Signal Training Regiment and later transferred to Airbourne. He remembers with pride the first time he put on his "Cherry Beret" and of course when he received his "Wings".
On the 5th June 1944 he parachuted into Normandy - he spent weeks in trenches under continued mortar fire, he remembered being on duty both day and night. The reality of it all soon sunk in. At one time Dai took turns to ride a 125cc motorbike to Divisional H/Q - he would put his head down and go as fast as he could. The Germans had snipers on the road - it was very dangerous but it was a job that had to be done.
Later Dai was attached to 3 Para - things were now so different to pre-Normandy - no guard duties, cookhouse fatigues or fire watch even though he was now back in England. He was hoping to spend Christmas at home but on 23rd Dec he was on his way to Ostend where he was soon back into the line of fire.
In March he found himself in the biggest Airborne Operation of them all where they landed by the River Rhine - as he floated down he hoped that the flying bullets didn't have his name on them. There were many casualties but other brigades were hit more severely. After a couple of days of intensive bombing by our troops Dai remembers the thousands of prisoners giving themselves up - mostly the old men or the very young. After seven weeks they reached the Baltic Sea and met the Russians - the War in Europe was over and they returned to England.
Dai's time was not over - he went to India and my word what a journey that was. When the Americans dropped the Atom Bombs on Japan they capitulated which shortened the War - they were told by about 3 years. In Singapore Dai's unit had the task of taking over the Police school which was mainly manned by Sikhs.
In early December 1945 they headed for Java - Dai remembers the filth - it was even worse than India. Later he returned to Singapore and Palestine where he became a signaller for the Commanding Officer.
He was demobbed on 5th November 1946.
Dai's memories were very vivid - he remembered the excitement and good companionship and of course all his comrades who did not return.
Up until about two years ago Dai was still living in Ross having lost his darling wife Brenda in 2003, he then moved to Witney to be near his daughters and he sadly died in May this year.
Dai had been a long-serving member of the Royal British Legion in Ross-On-Wye where he took on many posts on the committee. Many of the Officers attended his funeral in Witney and on Saturday 10th August a group of the members went to the Forest of Dean Crematorium to pay their respects at his last resting place where he is now reunited with his beloved Brenda.
