Great Horkesley resident pens Old Heath war history book

Steve Waters, from Great Horkesley, looked into the history of those who died in the Old Heath area of Colchester during the Second World War by reading the names listed in the war memorials inside St Barnabas Church.

His wife, Gilli, grew up in Old Heath and is a church warden at the church.

While dusting the war memorial plaque in the church, he came across the name Ethel Murial Moye.

This prompted him to find out more about her since he said female names on war memorials are rare.

This then led to him researching the names of all those on the memorial plaques for both world wars.

Steve Waters outside St Barnabas Church

He found that seven-year-old Ethel was a schoolgirl from Old Heath who had been evacuated, along with other children from Colchester, for safety from bombing raids.

She was one of three Colchester children who tragically lost their lives when a school at Rushden, Northamptonshire, was bombed in 1940.

Mr Waters’ research also revealed the memorial had a missing 15th name which he has included in a booklet he has created.

He said: “In the process of my research I was approached by Janet Read who said her uncle, Leonard William Johnson, should have been on the memorial but was left off.”

Mr Waters’ research has led him to find out more about the people behind the names which include 16 from the First World War and 15 from the Second.

He has now created two booklets.

Both together cost £6 and proceeds go to the church. To buy, email fathercap@hotmail.com.