Talking Stones

 This month Talking Stones comes from St Mary’s (below) Byflreet, Surrey

With my ongoing research work regarding the Swansea men/women who died during the Second World War, I came across the name Benjamin Edward Booker MM (Military Medal), who died in October 1940 and was buried at St. Mary’s church in Byfleet. Booker was a Guardsman in the 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards. At the time of the outbreak of the war in September 1939, London born Booker, was residing in Swansea.

This raised a few questions. How did a resident from Swansea end up in Byfleet and also, in what circumstances was Booker awarded a Military Medal?

    Booker, according to his death certificate, died of heart disease and high blood pressure, in New Haw, Addlestone, which was his usual residence. It seems that although Booker died at home it was because he had been injured and sent home and subsequently died of heart problems. So, did Booker just come to Swansea for the purpose of enlisting?

To answer the question surrounding the circumstances of the Military Medal, the medal recommendation can be found at the National Archives, with the description of the event which occurred between 21 and 23 May 1940. It would appear that it was awarded for cooking, fighting and getting wounded away safely. What is interesting is that the information refers to Booker, as Benjamin Henry and not Benjamin Edward!

 

 

 

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Also buried at St. Mary’s is the Welsh engineer and motor racing driver, John Godfrey Parry–Thomas. He at one time held the land speed record achieved on 3 March 1927 at Pendine Sands, Carmarthenshire, whilst driving a car called Babs. Sadly, in retaining his land speed title Parry-Thomas was killed. Babs was a 27-litre Liberty aero-engine car. In 1924, Parry-Thomas, purchased Babs from Count Louis Zborowski and rebuilt her. The car was used in 1926 to break the land speed record, of 171.02 mph. Babs which was one of four cars, started out as Chitty 4. These four cars gave the inspiration for Ian Fleming to write Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1964).

Parry-Thomas’ body was brought for burial to St. Mary’s, so he could be close to the Brooklands Circuit, where he set a number of records. After the crash, Babs was buried at Pendine Sands, where she lay undiscovered for 42 years.

In 1969 Babs was excavated and over the following 16 years was restored by Owen Wyn Owen, a car restorer and mechanic. Up until 2019 it was on display at the Pendine Museum of Speed but, was removed when the museum was closed.

Hopefully Babs will return to Pendine when the new museum is completed.

Copyright - The Bay Magazine - March 2022