John Godwin Attrill
This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher.
John Godwin Attrill was born on the 31st of July 1924, the son of Roland Charles & Florence Elizabeth Attrill (née Godwin). His father lived in Wandsworth and Earlsfield and had served in the Army Service Corp in the First World War. Roland and Florence got married in 1919 in Parish Church of St. Saviour, Raynes Park. At that point Florence was living at 38 Seaforh Avenue, New Malden. Shortly afterwards, he and Florence moved to Dale End, Birmingham where he was employed as a Foreman, then Manager, at the factory for for Messrs Marsh & Baxter Ltd., Pork Butchers & Bacon Curers.
Sadly, I have no information on John Attrill, neither his early or teen years but when the 1939 Register was taken he is recorded as being at school.
He served in the Royal Signal Corps and landed in Normandy on D-Day but was killed in action on 6th June 1944. He was first buried at Ver-sur-Mer and then reinterred in Bayeux War Cemetery on 1st December 1944.
His parents put a number of memorial notices in the Roll of Honour and In Memoriam sections in the local newspapers.
Birmingham Daily Post 06 June 1945
Perhaps then most poignant of them was the one they put in the Birmingham Mail of 6th June 1945:
ATTRILL – With silent thoughts of John Godwin, killed in action June 6, 1944. He gave the greatest gift of all – his unfinished life.
The last one to be published was in 1963 but this time it was just signed Mother.
British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information
Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of John Atrill. If you are aware of one or you are related to John we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story.
FALLEN HEROES
JOHN GODWIN ATTRILL
Army • SIGNALMAN
Royal Corps of Signals
DIED | 06 June 1944
AGE | 19
SERVICE NO. | 14431405
FALLEN HEROES
JOHN GODWIN ATTRILL
Army • SIGNALMAN
Royal Corps of Signals
DIED | 06 June 1944
AGE | 19
SERVICE NO. | 14431405
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