Leslie Thomas Bicknell

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher.

Leslie Thomas Bicknell was born on the 12th of January 1925, the son of Frederick Charles & Mary Ann Bicknell (née Duffell) who had married, after Banns, on the 13th of November 1909 in St. John’s Church, in the Parish of St. John Harborne in the County of Warwick. They were living at 8, St Johns Terrace, Harborne.

We see Frederick Charles & Mary Ann Bicknell on the 1911 census, living at 25, North Road, Harborne, Birmingham with Frederick's widowed mother, his two sisters and a boarder. Frederick was working as a Glass Beveller and Mary was working as a Charwoman. They had one child, Frederick John Bicknell.

The 1921 census, taken on the 19th of June 1921, shows the family still at the same address. Frederick was  working as Miller Machinist for the Austin Motor Works, Longbridge, Birmingham and Mary was a Charwoman for Dr. Winfield, 113, Lordswood Road. The family had grown as the children now comprised Frederick, 11; Freda Iris, 6; and Lily Violet, 3. Sadly, the family were to suffer a grievous loss on the 31st of August 1, 1930, when their daughter, Freda Iris Bicknell died of a Cerebral Abscess and Pyaemiaaged, aged 15 years.

The 1939 National Register, which was taken on the 29th of September 1939, shows Leslie Thomas Bicknell for the first time. The family are still living at 25, North Road, Birmingham and Frederick's occupation was now recorded as Miller Aero Worker. Mary was still working as a Charwoman. Frederick and Mary had had two more children, Albert, born 1924 and Leslie, born 1925. They were both working as Confectioners Cake Maker.

Sadly, I have no other information on Leslie Thomas Bicknell, neither his early or teen years, but he was to find himself fighting on D-Day and laid down his life for our freedom. He had joined the Royal navy and been posted to the shore base of HMS President III. During the Battle of Normandy he was serving on board the the SS Ocean Courier, a Defensively Equipped Merchant Ship (DEMS).

On the night of July 30th/31st, 1944, SS Ocean Courier was part of convoy FTM.53, made up of 14 Merchant ships and three escorts, which departed the Seine Bay for Southend. But three German E Boats, the S 97 (Waldhausen), accompanied by S 114 (Hemmer) and S 91 (Nolte) attacked the convoy off Beachy Head. They fired six torpedoes at the convoy and reported multiple hits. They sank the SS Samwake, and damaged the SS Fort Dearborn and SS Ocean Courier. Ocean Courier was torpedoed between No.4/No.5 hold on the port side.

A citation for the Lloyd’s War Medal for Bravery at Sea awarded to Tom Pearson, Second Officer on the Ocean Courier explains what happened next.

There were several casualties among the members of the crew, some of whom were trapped in their quarters. Second Officer Pearson showed exceptional courage and leadership in difficult and dangerous circumstances. Although it was uncertain at the time whether the ship would remain afloat, he collected together a party of volunteers and led them to the rescue of their shipmates. Five bodies were recovered and two men were brought out alive.

The damaged ships were towed to Dungeness and Leslie Bicknell was buried in Dover (St James') Cemetery. The Ocean Courier was taken by two tugs to Middlesbrough for repairs which were completed in March 1945.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of Leslie Bicknell. If you are aware of one, or you are related to Leslie, we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story.