rules rules
Five former pupils of Westonbirt died in the second world war as members of the Forces, Civil Defence and the Nursing Services. Funds were raised for a memorial panel, inscribed with their names and placed in the School's Main Hall.
IN
HONOURED
MEMORY
1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 5
BARBARA BLAKISTON
HOUSTON W.A.A.F.
BRIDGET HILL A.T.A.
HONOR SALMON A.T.A
ESTELLE TIDMAN C.D.
GRIZEL WOLFE MURRAY V.A.D.
Bono Malum Superate
Barbara Blakiston Houston, known as Patsy, was in Beaufort, 1930-4. She joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force at the start of the War and died in an air accident in Northern Ireland.
Bridget Hill was in Dorchester, 1929-30. Having qualified as a pilot, she joined the Air Transport Auxiliary (responsible for moving aircraft around, particularly from factory to aerodrome) and died in an aeroplane accident.
Honor Salmon (née Pitman) was in Beaufort, 1929-30. Also a qualified pilot and a member of the A.T.A., like Bridget she died in an aeroplane accident.
Estelle Tidman was in Gloucester 1928-31. She joined the Civil Defence and died driving an ambulance during a bombing raid on London.
Grizel Wolfe Murray (née Boyle) was in House 1928-30. She was a member of the Voluntary Aid Detachment. The troopship in which she was returning from nursing service abroad was torpedoed, and she died a few days later in the lifeboat to which she had been transferred.
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Remaining funds collected in their memory formed the basis of the Westonbirt Memorial Fund, to assist girls to benefit from education at Westonbirt.
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The information above was taken from Miss Freeman's "Weston Birt", 1977 edition completed by Miss Venning
Additional information, mostly from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website:
Section Officer Barbara Kathleen Blakiston-Houston of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force died aged 24 on 16 March 1942. Her parents lived in Killyleagh, County Down.
Third Officer Bridget Grace Marian L. Hill of the Air Transport Auxiliary died aged 27 on 15 March 1942. Her parents lived in Upper Woodford.
First Officer Honor Isabel Salmon of the Air Transport Auxiliary, formerly of the Women's Transport Service (F.A.N.Y.), died aged 30 on 19 April 1943. Her name is on the War Memorial in the churchyard of St Peters Church, Dyrham.
Estelle Tidman, a driver in the London Auxiliary Ambulance Service, died aged 26 on 11 January 1941 at Green Park Station, Piccadilly. Her parents lived in Cheltenham.
Grizel Mary Wolfe Murray died aged 29 after the S.S. "Laconia" was torpedoed on 12 September 1942. Her parents lived in Fairlie, Ayrshire.
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page last updated 23 September 2008