Tower and Town, November 2025 (view the full edition)Boy Soldiers - An Accidental DeathIn WW2, there were nearly 120,000 'non' combat deaths from wounds, disease, accidents or other causes in the British Military. Private Harry George Quarterman served in the 70th Battalion, the Gloucestershire Regiment, which was a young soldier unit. Born in Liss, Hampshire, on 7 September 1921 he was one of eight siblings. This unit was part of the Young Soldier companies attached to Home Defence and conducted defence exercises and military skills training. The war diary for 24 June 1941 simply stated: "Glastonbury. No. 5674665 Pte Quarterman died in Bath Military Hospital" He was just 19. He is buried at the Marlborough Cemetery. Born in 1921 in Dundee, Rifleman John Joseph West-Woods signed on at Chatham to the Kings Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC) in 24 January 1938 for a period of 12 years, nine as a regular and three on the Army reserve. He was 5'8" and weighed 139lbs on enlistment. His trade was listed as plumber's assistant. He was awarded the third class certificate from the Army School in 1938. On attaining the age of 17 years and six months, he was posted to the ranks and subsequently he served in the M.T (Motor Transport) of the KRRC. He died 1 July 1940 as a result of a motor vehicle accident while as a despatch rider at Port Hill, and taken to the Savernake Hospital. Records show that he was killed by another army vehicle. The distress caused his mother to suffer ill heath but she sought the other driver until 1955. While that other driver was named by the family, 1955 documents stated that "without an indication of that driver's Regiment or number it would be impossible to trace him." His Commonwealth War Grave at the Marlborough Cemetery is inscribed  |