Former pupil who sacrifed his life

Kyt · Oct 14, 2008

Former pupil who sacrifed his life (From Bromsgrove Advertiser)

A LONE memorial stone tablet on the south coast stands as a constant reminder of the brave wartime actions of an Upton Warren man.

Lieutenant Walter Erskine Prior, a former Bromsgrove School pupil whose father, Rev Clement Prior, was also the Rector of Upton Warren, died on the shores at Bognor Regis while defusing a mine in 1945.

Though he may not be a well known figure amongst today’s villagers and nearby residents, his heroic actions, which saw Lt Prior move his men to safety before attempting his final task, have been remembered by the people of Bognor.

Walter Prior was under 18 when the Second World War broke out. Academically successful, interested in English literature and a member of the Bromsgrove School officer training corps, he left school in December 1939.

After a brief spell at the Bank of England, Lt Prior joined the Royal Navy at the earliest opportunity, serving with the Light Coastal Forces before being commissioned and sent to the Faroe Islands.

Lt Prior then volunteered for mine disposal duties, joining HMS Vernon, Havant, whose task was to protect the civilian population from the hazards posed by the many mines which were expected to be washed up on the south coast of England.

Having sent his men to safety, Lt Prior lost his life as he attempted to secure a British coastal protection mine which had become detached from its moorings and drifted to the beach at Aldwick, an area of Bognor. Lt Prior died of his injuries shortly after the explosion.

In June, 1948, the Bognor Observer and Bognor Post both reported on a service of dedication and unveiling of a tablet in memory of Lt Prior.

The tablet was at the end of Dark Lane, Aldwick, and the ceremony was carried out in the presence of the Bishop of Worcester and other local dignitaries.

Lt Prior is buried by the door of St Michael’s church, Upton Warren, with his gravestone bearing the inscription: “In memory of a brave and most lovable and only son Lieut Walter Erskine Prior RNVR aged 23 years. Killed 22nd December 1945 on the foreshore of Bognor Regis while dismantling a mine.”

The brave Upton Warren man was remembered again in 2005 when Aldwick Parish Council marked the 60th anniversary of his death and organised a formal memorial service.
Click to expand...

Name: PRIOR, WALTER ERSKINE
Initials: W E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: H.M.S. President.
Date of Death: 22/12/1945
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Cemetery: UPTON WARREN (ST. MICHAEL) CHURCHYARD

Lt Walter Erskine Prior

liverpool annie · Oct 14, 2008

From the site that K posted .......

How many young men went through this ?? it grieves me to know and read about the terrible thoughts and fears so many of these young men ( many of them just "boys" ) suffered .... and in all wars .... and yet they were all brave weren't they ? working through their troubles in spite of themselves .....

Stress

Stress caused many deep-seated problems for members of the armed forces for which correct medical attention was denied. Sometimes because senior officers preferred to ignore a problem many sufferers kept their trouble to themselves, and some refused help.

Sub. Lt. Prior who was 23 year old came to me one day and told me he was unhappy being a Bomb & Mine Disposal officer. I was sympathetic and as we were at the time on a course at HMS Vernon where Commander Ouvry RN was I suggested that he made an appointment and put his views to him.

We all knew that Cdr. Ouvry was a very considerate man and would listen to any personal problems. The Lieutenant Prior couldn’t consider it. “What would his relatives think of him?” Most of these relatives had served in the Navy in WWI achieving some high ranks. He vowed he would cope as best he could. He spoke at times as though his destiny was already written. His unhappiness was obvious.

Late in 1945 he was sent from Portsmouth to deal with a floating mine off Bognor Regis pier.

Meanwhile I also was very busy rendering safe mines that had washed ashore between Eastbourne and North Foreland, six had exploded before I got to them. Fortunately they had landed on isolated beaches and therefore damage to civilian property was minimal.

When Lt. Prior arrived the mine was almost ashore and was moving with the strong waves and wind towards the beach at Aldwick just west of Bognor Regis. From a safe distance watchers saw Lt. Prior wade towards the mine. He was almost within reach of it when it exploded. 600 hundred pounds of explosives blew great holes in the beach severely injuring Lt. Prior and sadly later he died. His assistant, Wireman Banks was on the beach and was severely injured.

It was a written rule that no effort was to be made to render safe or secure a mine that was still afloat. Was deep-seated stress the cause of this officer’s disregard for this rule?

A memorial plate was fixed to a garden wall at ‘Strange Gardens’ at the end of Dark Lane, Aldwick in 1948. On the 22nd December 2005 the 60th anniversary a wreath laying service was held at Dark Lane. Lt Walter Erkine Prior is buried at St Michaels, Upton Warren and his grave is by the Church door.

His gravestone has the inscription:

“Splendid you passed, the great surrender made”
Click to expand...

Log in or Sign up

Former pupil who sacrifed his life

Kyt Άρης

liverpool annie New Member

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

Former pupil who sacrifed his life

Thread Tools

Kyt Άρης

liverpool annie New Member

Share This Page

Useful Searches