A few months ago the Parish Council received an enquiry regarding the reason why the names of two casualties of the Second World War appeared to have been left off of the Brentor War Memorial. The names of the two individuals were Russell Eastcott and Percival Cocks. After some research the circumstances in which they died have been ascertained and possible reasons as to why they are not on the Brentor War Memorial.

Russell Eastcott

Russell Eastcott was killed in an air raid at Devonport just after his 49^th birthday. He was a Engine Room Artificer 1^st Class in the Royal Navy and had been in the Royal Navy since 1914 surviving the First World War where he served on a number of ships. At the time of his death he was married and the marital home was in Hampton-on-Thames in Middlesex (now in London). It would seem that he was buried in Christ Church as it was his family church and it was the most appropriate option rather than moving his body to Hampton, although the actual reasons are unknown.

The general rule was that casualties were commemorated where they lived, as his wife was still in Hampton (now Hampton-on-Thames) he should be named on a memorial there. Hampton didn't build a war memorial but instead built cottages for returning veterans. There is a tablet attached to the cottages and a small memorial but no names are on either. I have contacted the trust that still runs the cottages for ex-service men and women to see if he is commemorated somewhere. If he isn’t commemorated in Hampton (or elsewhere) then it may be an application could be made to have his name added to the war memorial.

Percival Rowland Cocks

Percival Rowland Cocks was a South African Master Mariner who was lost at sea when the merchantman he was serving on as Chief Officer, S.S. Navasota, was torpedoed by U-Boat U47 just off the Scilly Isles on 5^th December 1939. It was the day after his 42^nd birthday. He had married only a few months before on the 11^th August 1939 in St Michaels on the Tor where he is commemorated with a plaque. He is also listed on Plaque 27 on the Merchant Navy Memorial at Tower Hill in London for those who have no known grave. As he is commemorated in the church and also in London we would not be able to add his name to the war memorial.

We are continuing to research these two men, if any one has anymore information on either individual that throws further light on the matter then please get in touch via the contact page.