THOSE WHO GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRAFICE...

The following is a tribute to the many Commonwealth members of the Durnford Worldwide Family who have sacrificed their lives for their country.   Additional information on burial sites, etc. can be found at the Commonwealth War Grave Commission website. Canadian and Newfoundland service members are also listed the The Books of Remembrance.  Names in italics are also listed on the genealogical page. (Note:   If anyone knows of a website or list of American service members killed in action please email me.

IN FLANDER'S FIELD
In Flander's’ fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place, and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead, short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow.
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flander's fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe,
To you from failing hands we throw
The Torch: be yours to hold it high!
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flander's fields.The red Flander's poppy was first described as a flower of remembrance by Colonel John McCrae, who was Professor of Medicine at McGill University of Canada before World War I. Colonel McCrae had served as a gunner in the Boer War, but went to France in World War One as a medical Officer with the first Canadian Contingent. Colonel McCrae died while on active duty in May 1918.

THOMAS EDWARD DURNFORD
Great Britain
Private
1st/7th Bn., Lancashire Fusiliers
Friday, May 7, 1915, age 20
Memorial:  Helles Memorial, Turkey (Gallipoli)
Son of Edward and Sarah Durnford
 12, Scarsdale Street, Pendleton, Manchester, England.
CWGC link

ERIC CHARLES DURNFORD
Great Britain
Private
1st/8th Bn., Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Wednesday, June 7, 1916, age 19
Cemetery:  Couin British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France
Son of Henry William and Ada Maud Durnford
3 Grant’s Crescent, Seaham Harbour, Co. Durham.
Native of Rowsley, Derbyshire, employed by General Electrical Lighting Company, Witton, Birmingham
CWGC link

RICHARD SELBY DURNFORD
Great Britain
Captain
9th Bn., King’s Royal Rifle Corps.
Saturday, July 31, 1915
Eldest son of Richard Durnford C.B., and Beatrice Mary Durnford of Hartley Wespall, Hampshire
(grandson of Bishop Durnford)
Killled in action at Hooge
Memorial:  Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
CWGC link

ROBERT CHICHESTER DURNFORD, DSO
Great Britain
Captain
1st/4th Bn., Hampshire Regiment
Friday June 21, 1918
Youngest son of Richard Durnford C.B., and Beatrice Mary Durnford of Hartley Wespall, Hampshire
(grandson of Bishop Durnford)
Killed on the bridge near Imam Zadeh Hashim, North West Persia
Cemetery: Tehran War Cemetery, Iran
CWGC link

HENRY CHARLES DURNFORD
Great Britain
Private
6th Bn., Somerset Light Infantry
Saturday, September 16, 1916 age 37
Memorial:  Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France
Son of Sylvester and Jael Durnford,
Great Toller, Maiden Newton, Dorchester, Dorset
Husband of Laura A. Bowditch Durnford
“Dulce Domum”, 5 Wesley Street, St. Helier, Jersey
CWGC link

PHILIP JOSEPH DURNFORD
Canada
Corporal
10th Bn., Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regt.)
Wednesday, October 11, 1916
Cemetery:  Contay British Cemetery, Contay, Somme, France

CWGC link
Book of Remembrance page

ANDREW DURNFORD
Canada
Private
1st Bn., Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regt.)
Monday, April 9, 1917, age 20
Memorial:  Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France
Son of William J. and Janet Durnford, Coldwater, Ontario
CWGC link
Book of Remembrance page
memorial

HORACE AGUSTUS REGINALD DURNFORD
Great Britain
Private
1st Bn., Somerset Light Infantry
Thursday, October 4, 1917, age 18
Memorial:  Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Son of H. W. and Ellen Jane Durnford, North Cheriton, Templecombe, Somerset
CWGC link

FREDERICK ROY DURNFORD
Newfoundland (Canada)
Private
1st Bn., Royal Newfoundland Regt.
Tuesday, November 20, 1917, age 19
Cemetery:  Marcoing British Cemetery, Nord, France
Son of John R.S. and Mary Durnford, Recontre West, Newfoundland
(Note: great-uncle of Cynde Durnford-Branecki)
CWGC link
Book of Remembrance page

FREDERICK ROY GOODRIDGE, R.N.
Newfoundland (Canada)
Able Seaman, H.M.S. Victory
March 26, 1943, age 26 years & 6 months
killed in an automobile accident in London, England
Cemetery:  Rencontre West, Nfld
Son of William Chesley Goodridge & Phylis (nee Durnford), Recontre West, Newfoundland
(Note: Nephew of Frederick Roy Durnford & 1st cousin once removed of Cynde Durnford-Branecki)
Book of Remembrance page 

JAMES WILLIAM DURNFORD, R.N.
Newfoundland (Canada)
Ordinary Seaman  H.M.S. Victory, Royal Navy
Tuesday, April 8, 1941, age 29
Cemetery:  Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery, Hampshire, UK
Son of Matthew and Mary E. Durnford, of Rencontre West, Newfoundland
Two tombstones were errected in Rencontre West by his parents: one reads:
"Erected by Matthew & Mary Durnford in memory of sons James W. Durnford, R.N. killed April 8, 1941, age 29 and
Matthew R. Durnford, July 12, 1944, age 22" and;
James W. Durnford, R.N. killed by enemy action Portsmouth, April 8, 1941, age 27.
CWGC link
Book of Remembrance page

EDMUND GEORGE DURNFORD
Great Britain
Lance Corporal
827th Coy., Army Service Corps
Thursday, April 18, 1918, age 38
Cemetery:  Midsomer Norton (St. John the Baptist) Church Cemetery, Somerset, UK
Son of Edmund George and Eliza Durnford
Husband of Bessie Durnford, 6, Rock Rd., Midsomer Norton
CWGC link

and his son...

RONALD GEORGE GUY DURNFORD
Great Britain
Lance Bombardier
48 Bty, 21 Lt. A.A. Regt., Royal Artillery
Friday, December 18, 1942, age 33
Cemetery:  Labuan War Cemetery, Malaysia
Son of the late L. Cpl. Edmund George Durnford and Bessie Durnford, Midsomer Norton, Somerset
Husband of Kathleen Durnford, Bishopsworth, Somerset
CWGC link 

ERNEST WELLINGTON DURNFORD
Canada
Private
38th Bn., Canadian Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regt.)
Saturday, August 10, 1918, age 20
Memorial:  Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France
Son of James H. and Kate Durnford, 222 Earlscourt Ave., Toronto, Ontario
CWGC link
Book of Remembrance page

ALFRED JOHN DURNFORD
Great Britain
Private
2nd Bn., Royal Norfolk Regiment
Monday, May 27th, 1940, age 27
Cemetery: Hinges Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calias, France
Son of George and Ellen Gertrude Durnford, Blaina, Monmouthsire, UK
Husband of Muriel Durnford of Blaina
CWGC link

LAURENCE GEORGE DURNFORD
Great Britain
Royal Marine
H.M.S. Cairo, Royal Marines
Wednesday, August 12, 1942, age 20
Memorial:  Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire, UK
Son of Cyril and Dorothy W. K. Durnford, Eastborne, Sussex, UK
L.G. DURNFORD, Royal Marine, died 12th August 1942, on board the cruiser HMS Cairo. Part of the escort to Convoy ‘Harpoon’ from Gibraltar to Malta, they were attacked by enemy forces when between Sicily and Tunisia. His ship was struck by torpedoes from the Italian submarine Axum, and had to be sunk by HMS Pathfinder
CWGC link

ALBERT LEONARD DURNFORD
Great Britain
Sapper
276 Field Coy, Royal Engineers
Wednesday, March 24, 1943, age 23
Cemetery:  Sfax War Cemetery, Tunisia
Son of Albert James Durnford and Margaret Mary Durnford, Gerleon, Monmouthsire, UK
CWGC link

ROY EARLE DURNFORD, RCAF

Canada
Flying Officer
612 Sqdn., Royal Canadian Air Force
Friday, February 11, 1944
Memorial:  Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, UKFlying Officer R.E. Durnford, Royal Canadian Air Force, 26, was reported missing after air operations overseas on March 18, 1944 and was assumed to having been killed in action. Durnford, who enlisted from Toronto, Ontario, Yonge and Sherwood branch on January 12, 1942, had been engaged in submarine patrol operations in the vicinityof the English Channel.
CWGC link
Book of Remembrance page

JACK HENRY WILSON DURNFORD, R.N.
Great Britain
Leading Air Mechanic
H.M.S. Garuda, Royal Navy
Wednesday, March 29, 1944, age 22
Cemetery:  Madras War Cemetery, Chennai, India
Son of George and Jane Durnford, Burbage, Wiltshire, UK
CWCG link

MONTAGUE JOHN DURNFORD PACEY
Australia
Private
439. 9th Bn. Australian Infantry A.I.F.
April. 25, 1915. Age 24
Son of Arthur Ernest and Mary Pacey
Native of Nebo North Queensland

MEMORIAL TABLETS IN HONOUR OF TWO OF THE "MILITARY DURNFORDS"
In the Royal Garrison Church, Portsmouth, South Isle, West End

In memory of
CHARLES DURNFORD
Late Ensign in His Majesty's 65th Regiment
and fifth son of Colonel Durnford of the Corps of Royal Engineers,
Who died at this place on the 7th of January, 1832
Aged 20 years.

In the churchyard of St. Mary's, Portsea (formerly the Parish Church, Kingston)
is a tombstone with the following inscription:

In memory of
CHARLES DURNFORD
Late Ensign in His Majesty's 65th Regiment
and fifth son of Colonel Durnford of the Corps of Royal Engineers,
Who died at this place on the 7th of January, 1832
Aged 20 years.

And of his brother
VINEY DURNFORD
Lieutenant of the Corps of Royal Engineers,
Who died on the 5th of November 1836,
Aged 23 years.

(Note:  The above were sons of Elias Walker Durnford)
Webmistress: Cynde Durnford-Branecki