Darwen Roll of Honour World War II
This Roll of Honour has been completed from chronologies listed at the end of the year in the pages of the 'Darwen News'. It firstly lists servicemen that are known to have died, secondly the missing, presumed killed, and thirdly awards.
The Roll lists all these who died whilst serving King and Country together with the seven civilians killed during the German bombing raids on Darwen during the weekend of the 19th-21st October 1940. The Roll also lists all those who were reported missing and presumed killed (those recorded as P.O.W. are not included). the Awards page lists those people recorded in the 'news' as being decorated for their war efforts, including two posthumous awards (one of them being the Victoria Cross).
One could sense the sadness in Darwen during the war when compiling this when yet another Darwen casualty was announced. Almost everyone was affected in one way or another regardless of their status or class. Recorded in the list of those killed is one Captain Stuart Russell, Darwen's Conservative Member of Parliament.
It is hoped that this Roll of Honour will be of interest to many people, particulary those researching their family histories.
Graham Groom, Darwen Library.
Full details of casualties and life in Darwen during the war years can be found in the chronologies section of the 'Darwen News' for the following dates:
1939 - Farewell to 1939 - 29th December 1939. p.6.
1940 - Farewell to 1940 - 27th December 1940. p.4.
1940 - Farewell to 1940 - 3rd January 1941. p.4.
1941 - Chronology of Darwen's Principal Events. 27th December 1941. p.6.
1941 - 2nd January 1942. p.4.
1942 - Chronology of Darwen's Principal Events in 1942. 24th December 1942. P.3-4.
1943 - Chronology 1943. 31st December 1943. P.7.
1944 - Chronology of Events in 1944. 29th December 1944 p.7.
1944 - 5th January 1945. p.7.
1945 - Chronology of Events in 1945. 28th December 1945
1945 - 4th January 1946.
Other sources used in compilation of this Roll of Honour were:
Darwen News. 25th October 1940
Darwen News. 8th October 1940
Darwen Advertiser and News. 30th November 1989
There is no official Roll of Honour for Darwen, and staff at Darwen Library are working through newspapers of the time to take out obituaries of the soldiers that gave their lives for thier country. This process does take time, but the results will be published here when they have been researched.
A to D
E to H
I to L
M to P
Q to T
U to Z
Darwen World War II Roll of Honour Introduction
Darwen World War I Roll of Honour
Blackburn Roll of Honour
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