Roll of Honour- Cumberland

The Royal British Legion

Corporal 1505987, BPSO HS, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died on service 25 June 1944. Aged 40. Born 22 May 1940. Native of Armathwaite, Cumberland. Son of Thomas and Mary A. Gasgarth, of Armathwaite; husband of Margaret Jane (nee Brown) Gasgarth, of Folly Brown, Armathwaite, married January to March Quarter 1928 in Wigton Registration District, Cumberland. On 25 April 1910 he was on the register of Ainstable School, Ainstable, Cumberland, resident Coombs, previously attended Armathwaite, School, left for work May 1918. In the 1911 census he was aged 6, born Hesket, Cumberland, son of Thomas and Mary Ann Gasgarth, resident Coombshead, Armathwaite S O, Ainstable, Cumberland. In the 1921 census he was aged 17, born Ainstable, Cumberland, a Gardener, employed by Ainstable, Cumberland, son of Thomas and Mary Ann Gasgarth, resident Coombe Road, Armathwaite, Ainstable, Cumberland. In the 1939 Register he was a Private Gardener, married to Margaret Jane Gasgarth, resident Folly Brow, Armathwaite, Armathwaite, Border R.D., Cumberland. Buried near North West corner of the church in ARMATHWAITE (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD, Cumberland.

Sergeant (Pilot) 754893, 238 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Fighter Command). Killed in action when his Hurricane I, serial number N2400, was shot down by a Bf109 off Bembridge, Isle of Wight during a patrol 28 September 1940. Aged 22. Native of Armathwaite, Cumberland. Based at Middle Wallop, Hampshire. Son of Robert and Marian Ruth Little, of Armathwaite, Cumberland. No known grave. Commemorated on RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, Surrey. Panel 16.

Extract from England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1942:

LITTLE Ronald of Red Lion Hotel Armathwaite Cumberland died 28 September 1940 on war service Administration Carlisle 7 March to Robert Little hotel proprietor.
Effects £159 11s. 4d.

Private 3782800, 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action in North West Europe 12 October 1944. Aged 21. Born Cumberland, resident Carlisle. Son of Philip and Nellie Rowlandson, of Low Hesket, Cumberland. Buried in OVERLOON WAR CEMETERY, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. Plot III. Row C. Grave 3.

Second Radio Officer, M.V. British Security (London), Merchant Navy. Killed by enemy action when his ship was sunk 20 May 1941. Aged 20. Born Little Strickland, Westmoreland, resident New Close, Armathwaite, Cumberland. Son of James Usher, and of Maria Gertrude Usher, of Armathwaite, Cumberland. No known grave. Commemorated on TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, London. Panel 20.

Extract from England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1941:

USHER John Robert of Nunclose Armathwaite Carlisle died 20 May 1941 on war service Administration Carlisle 23 October to Maria Gertrude Usher widow. Effects £135 18s. 8d.

Extract from Penrith Observer - Tuesday 1 July 1941, page 3:

News has been received by Mrs Usher, Nun Close, Armathwaite, and formerly of Skelton, that her younger son, John Robert Usher, has been killed at sea by enemy action. He was 20 years of age and was trained at a Marconi School and passed his examination in September, 1939. For the past twelve months he had been the senior operator on a British Security Tanker. He attended Armathwaite School. His elder and only brother is serving with the Fleet Air Arm.

ARMATHWAITE WAR MEMORIAL