A Poppy
A Poppy

Memorials & Monuments
on the Isle of Wight
- Niton -
- St Catherine's Lighthouse Keepers' Memorial -

Location

In St Catherine's Lighthouse, Niton, Isle of Wight, PO38 2NF.
 
See map on www.streetmap.co.uk
 
National Inventory of War Memorials Record

Link : NIWM Reference 49630
 
English Heritage Listing Status

St Catherine's Lighthouse is Listed Grade II. Since the Memorial forms part of the fittings of the building, it is assumed to be covered by the Listing.
 
Description

A brass plaque in remembrance of three keepers killed in an air raid.

From the leaflet "St Catherine's Lighthouse" published by Trinity House in 2001 :

"A tragic incident took place at the station during the Second World War. On the 1st June 1943, a bombing raid destroyed the engine house killing the three keepers on duty who had taken shelter in the building. R T Grenfell, C Tompkins and W E Jones were buried in the local cemetery at Niton village and a plaque in remembrance of them is displayed on the ground floor of the main tower."

Memorial

Niton : St Catherine's Lighthouse  memorial
 

 

 

 
Niton : headstone to the 3 keepers
 
Inscription


IN MEMORY OF
PRINCIPAL KEEPER R.T. GRENFELL
ASSISTANT KEEPER C. TOMPKINS
ASSISTANT KEEPER W.E. JONES
WHO WERE KILLED WHILST ON DUTY AT ST CATHERINES LIGHTHOUSE
ON 1st JUNE 1943, WHEN THE STATION
WAS BOMBED BY ENEMY AIRCRAFT


 

Further Information

The three men are buried in a communal grave at Niton St John's Churchyard.


 

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF

CHARLES TOMPKINSRICHARD T GRENFELLWILLIAM E JONES
DEVOTED HUSBAND OF MARGARET  BELOVED HUSBAND OF ANNIE  BELOVED HUSBAND OF PHOEBE AND
AND LOVING FATHER OF PEGGY  AND LOVING FATHER OF CYRIL  BELOVED FATHER OF TED AND OLIVE
AGED 47AGED 62AGED 50

WHO WERE KILLED BY ENEMY ACTION IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES AT ST CATHERINE'S LIGHTHOUSE 1ST JUNE 1943
"LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS"


 
CWGC references

Richard GrenfellCWGC record...
William JonesCWGC record...
Charles TompkinsCWGC record...

-----------------------------------
page last updated : 8 October 2007

 
 

 
Site designed by Community Internet Services