Page 741 - Reading Mercury

nd
Sat 2 Dec
KILLED BY ENEMY ACTION
Sgt. Jack Bidwell, R.A.F. of Embrook, a well-known figure in the town who died
recently through enemy action was buried at St. Paul’s on Friday last week. Members
of the Home Guard of which Bidwell was a member prior to his joining the R.A.F.
acted as bearers, and the Rev. F. J. Hepburne Scott officiated.

th
Fri 8 Dec
FUNERAL OF SGT. BIDWELL
The funeral service of Sgt. Jack Bidwell (Flight Engineer, R.A.F.) of 186, Reading
Road, Wokingham, took place at St. Paul’s Church, Wokingham on Friday,
November 24th., and was conducted by the Rev. P. J. Hepburne Scott.
The family mourners were:— Mrs. J. Bidwell (widow), Mr. and Mrs. Bidwell
(parents), Cpl. A. Bidwell R.A.F. and Cpl. S. Bidwell R.A.F. (brothers), Mrs.
Edwards and Mrs. Luckhurst (sisters), Mrs. and Mr. Howard (sister and brother-in-
law), Mrs. A. Bidwell (sister-in-law), Mrs. Langdon (aunt), and Miss Langdon
(cousin). Other mourners included two Sergeants (Flt. Engineers) from Sgt. Bidwell’s
Squadron; Officers, N.C.O.s and men of the Home Guard; friends from the Royal
Insurance Coy.; Major Treharne, Mrs. G.S. Watts, Mrs. L.M. Newham, Mr. Fred Lee,
and Mr. B Carter.
Sgt. Bidwell, who was forty years of age, was killed whilst returning from an
operational sortie over Munster.

GUARD MARCH OFF PARADE
A Job Well Done
Despite inclemency of the weather on Sunday, many residents turned out to honour
the men of ‘D’ Company 11th Berks. Battalion Home Guard, on their last official
public ceremony.
The Mayor, (Councillor W. C. Fullbrook) and members and officials of the Council
were guests of honour on this historic occasion, and the various civil service
organisations were also represented at the ceremonial March Past at the Market Place.
This part-time army of men from all walks of life, youths and grizzled veterans of
the last war, have, during the past four and a half years, given willingly of their spare
time to train and drill for an emergency, which fortunately never materialised—but
nevertheless, their strength and efficiency played an important part when D Day and
the liberation of Europe was planned by the High Command.
Upwards of 250 officers and men of the Wokingham Company of the Berks.
Battalion, without arms but wearing their steel helmets, formed up at the assembly
point at Wokingham Station, and led by the Pipe Band of the R.A.M.C., marched
along Wellington Road and Denmark Street towards the Saluting Base in Market
Place.
As the marching column swung into Denmark Street, it appeared to the onlooker,
not as a part-time organisation, but a highly trained army, which would have done
credit to any front line battalion. The route was lined with spectators who gave the
men a good reception and in the Market Place Lieut. Col. G.F. Gough, D.S.O., M.C.,
was there to acknowledge the salute, and afterwards, in a short address, express his
appreciation of their smartness and efficiency.
At the conclusion of the March Past, the men formed up in the Market Place to hear
an address and prayers, given by the Rector of All Saints’, the Rev. Gordon
Kenworthy.

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