William Arthur Marwood
Educated at West Bridgford Grammar School, West Bridgford, Nottingham.
1939. Employed as an insurance accounts clerk, Northern Assurance Company.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
William Arthur (Billy) Marwood was the son of Lawrence Edward Vincent (Vincent) and Florence Rose Marwood (née Kirk).
His father was born in Leicester in September 1886, the son of John William and Mary Marwood, and was baptised at Belgrave St Peter on 21 April 1887. His mother was born in Basford, Nottingham, in January 1887.
They were married in 1911 (JAS) and may have had three children whose births were registered in Nottingham (mother's maiden name Kirk): Margaret b. March 1913, Eileen b. 1914 and William Arthur b. 12 June 1920; Margaret and William were born in Lenton. Eileen has not yet been traced on any records other than the birth registration.
His father, 30594 Gunner Lawrence Edward Vincent Marwood, served with the Royal Field Artillery from 1903 until 1916; he had been awarded the Military Medal. He was discharged in 1916 (sickness) and was issued with a Silver War Badge.
The family was living on Abbey Road, Nottingham, in 1921; Vincent was a greengrocer on his own account. Also in the home on the night of the Census were his wife, their two children, Margaret and William, and his mother-in-law, Sally Kirk (69).
By 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, the family had moved to Lees Barn Road, Radcliffe on Trent, Nottinghamshire. Vincent's occupation was given as 'farming mixed cottage holding' but he was also with the Auxiliary Fire Service Reserve (Radcliffe on Trent). Margaret and Billy were still living at home. Billy was employed by the Northern Assurance Company as an insurance accounts clerk and his sister was a certificated schoolteacher and also a member of the Voluntary Red Cross Nurse Detachment.
Margaret married Lionel Brown in Nottingham on 3 August 1940 and they had two daughters. She died in 1998 (reg. Cheltenham).
Florence Rose died in 1952 (AMJ) and her husband, Vincent, on 15 February 1970.
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Enlisted Cardington, April 1940. Wireless Operator/Air Gunner. Died 15th February 1943, aged 22 years. He was serving with No. 22 OTU, Bomber Command, at the time of his death
Lost In Aircraft: Vickers Wellington III, Serial Number HF613, Markings DD-R.
The aircraft crashed at 1311 hrs at Hermitage Farm, near the village of Hope, Derbyshire, after crossing Peakshole Water and sliding into an embankment which completely destroyed the aircraft, killing all five of the crew. The aircraft had taken off mid morning on a cross country exercise from Wellesbourne Mountford, near Stratford on Avon, and descended, out of control, possibly because of icing after becoming enveloped in a snowstorm.
AIR81/21774 Sergeant R F Cairns (RCAF), Sergeant W J Hackett (RCAF), Sergeant B E Wilkinson (RCAF), Sergeant J D Kester (RCAF), Sergeant W A Marwood (RAF)-sic: killed; Wellington HF613, 22 Operational Training Unit, aircraft accident, Hope, Derbyshire, 15 February 1943.
William was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery.
CWGC Additional information: Son of Lawrence Edward Vincent and Florence Rose Marwood, of Radcliffe-on-Trent.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them'
Commemorated : International Bomber Command Centre Memorial as : Marwood W A.
Commemorated at the crash site, adjacent to the B6062, near Castleton, Hope Valley, Derbyshire. The memorial is an inscribed metal plaque attached to the dry stone wall. Inscription: 'In Memory of Sgt. J. D. Kester, Sgt. R. F. Cairns, Sgt. W. J. Hackett, Sgt. B. E. Wilkinson (R.C.A.F.) and Sgt. W. A. Marwood (R.A.F.)-sic who died on active service in a Wellington Bomber crash 15th February 1943 in Hope Parish'
Nottingham Evening Post, 18 February 1943 (photograph): ‘Local War Casualties. The death of Sergt. W/O-A/G. William Arthur Marwood RAF (sic) has been officially notified to Mr and Mrs V Marwood, 1, Lees Barn-road, Radcliffe-on-Trent. Their only son, Sgt. Marwood joined the RAF in November, 1940. He was an old County Secondary Schoolboy, and prior to joining the service was with the Northern Assurance Co. Mr Marwood won the M.M. in the last war.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Acknowledgements’, 23 February 1943: ‘Mr and Mrs V Marwood and Family, Radcliffe-on-Trent, wish to thank relatives and friends, managers and staff, Northern Assurance Company, for the kind letters of sympathy and floral tributes in their great loss.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 16 & 17 February 1970: ‘Marwood: Vincent (MM), formerly of Radcliffe-on-Trent, on February 15th, aged 83 in Sherwood Hospital, dear father of Margaret and Lionel [Brown, son-in-law], loving grandpa of Joanna and Tessa. Cremation Wilford Hill, 11am, Thursday February 19th. Flowers to Baguley Bros.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Additional research/record updated: RF (Nov. 2025)
Photo of William Arthur Marwood
CWGC headstone & inscribed urn, Nottingham General Cemetery. Photograph Gary Crosby (19 August 2025)
Photo of William Arthur Marwood
Grave with inscribed urn, Nottingham General Cemetery (19 August 2025)
Photo of William Arthur Marwood
Photograph provided by Gary Crosby. (Nottingham Evening Post, 18 February 1943)
Photo of William Arthur Marwood
Crash site memorial near Castleton, Derbyshire. Photograph provided by Gary Crosby
Photo of William Arthur Marwood
Crash site memorial, near Castleton, Derbyshire. Photograph provided by Gary Crosby.