WORK IN PROGRESS
This page has been set up as a record of and tribute to the many men and women who served in World War 2 and through good fortune returned home to their families, though often changed physically and mentally. Also, we will list below as far as possible those who served in various ways on the Home Front at Denbies or Ranmore Common. There is also a linked page for those who served in the Denbies Home Guard.
Of course, without a definitive record such as the War Memorial, tracking down those who survived is no easy task, and so this page and its companions They Also Served (World War 1) and The Denbies Home Guard are a work in progress. Facts were jotted down in various ways and at various times as they came to light (often while researching another family member); there is, therefore, often inconsistency of treatment, which will be addressed in time. Also, sources have not yet been listed, but again this will be remedied in due course,
It is hoped that more information can be added to this page as it is discovered. If you have information to add or correct, or photographs of these or other people who served in the Second World War and were associated with Denbies or Ranmore Common, please contact us.
Below are the names of those that for various reasons we know or believe to have served in, and survived, World War 2.
The Hon. Henry CUBITT, later 4th Baron Ashcombe, b. 1924, d. 2013. Served in RAF as Sergeant Pilot until forced to retire following a flying accident.
The Hon. Archibald Edward CUBITT, brother of Roland, 3rd Lord Ashcombe, b. 1901, d. 1972. Major, Surrey and Sussex Yeomanry. Home service throughout the War, for most of the time commanding prisoner-of-war camp or camps.
Cadet Hugh Cubitt 1942 (his own copyright)
The Hon. (Charles) Guy CUBITT, DSO, brother of Roland, 3rd Lord Ashcombe, b. 1903, d. 1979. Major, later Lt-Col. Commanded Surrey Battery, Surrey and Sussex Yeomanry, up to and including Dunkirk. Mentioned in despatches 1940. Commanded 98th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery after Dunkirk, through North Africa (Battle of El Alamein) and Sicily landings. DSO August 1943. Severely wounded Italy September 1943, invalided home and out of the Army. Hon. Colonel, Surrey Yeomanry 1951.
Sir Hugh Guy CUBITT. son of (Charles) Guy CUBITT (above), b. 1928 Naval Cadet 1942-45. Lieutenant Royal Navy, later served Korea 1949-51. Flag Lieutenant to Admiral, BJSM Washington 1952, to C-in-C Nore 1953. Retired from Navy 1954.
George Haynes while training on HMS St Vincent (copyright Greg Haynes)
George HAYNES, b. Jun qtr 1923, son of Arthur Haynes(worker on Denbies Estate) and Constancenee Lucas. Ranmore School, St Barnabas Church choir, helped father Arthur Haynes with ditching and farm work. Royal Navy – boy trainee at Portsmouth (HMS St Vincent). Servedduring WW1 – HMS King George V (battleship and flagship of British Navy), involved in destruction of German battleship Bismarck, North Atlantic (convoys), Mediterranean and Pacific Fleets (present at Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay). When home on leave, runner for Denbies Home Guard of which his father Arthur Haynes was a member). Emigrated Australia (Sydney) 1948, worked carpenter, married Muriel Webb, 4 children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Died 2018.
Isaac Henry LUFF (“Ike”). b 1914, d 1993. Son of Isaac Luff (senior), and Amelia nee Dennis. Isaac Senior was gardener at Denbies, Isaac Henry (junior) worked as a garage boy at Denbies, cleaning and polishing cars. Later became second chauffeur, Joined Surrey Yeomanry. In WW2 gunner in Royal Artillery, part of British Expeditionary Force. Captured during retreat to Dunkirk, prisoner-of-war camp at Stalag Marienburg (Malbork), Poland, towards the end of the war forced on infamous prisoner marches westwards across Europe. After demobiIisation in 1943, chauffeur/valet to Roland, 3rd Lord Ashcombe, then to Henry, 4th Lord Ashcombe. Married Annie (“Nancy”) Richardson, buried Ranmore (G16). Ike and Nancy’s son Robin still lives on Ranmore and was elected Churchwarden of St Barnabas in 2016 .
Hugh MACKAY, born c.1908 Scotland. In tank corps at beginning of the war, captured in the desert and held prisoner for much of the war. Died at Lincoln (more likely, Lincoln Road, Dorking), 1979. Buried Ranmore churchyard (Q8).
Gordon Mackie about 1940, Ranmore Archive
Gordon Campbell MACKIE, born in London in 1922, came to Ranmore in the early part of the War, where he met his future wife Irene ROYAL (see below) from Garlic Cottages while working the searchlight near the gun emplacement on Ranmore Common. His regiment at this time is not certain, but his cap badge in the photograph looks like that of the “Queen’s Own” Royal West Kent Regiment. Gordon was sent to North Africa and joined up with the 8th Army. He fought alongside the Coldstream Guards at Monte Camino in Italy, where many men were killed and Gordon taken prisoner by the Germans. From December 1943 until liberated by the Americans in 1945, he was held in a POW camp at Mooseburg near Munich (not far from Dachau), where he had to labour in the stone quarries with the other prisoners. After the War, he joined the Merchant Navy to see something of the world, then was in the Coldstreams for a few years. He married Rene in 1949 and they lived with their daughter in No 2 Golden Ring Cottages at the western end of Ranmore Common. Gordon died in 2006 and is buried in St Barnabas churchyard (Q33).
Alfred John Royal, Ranmore Archive
Alfred John ROYAL (always known as John), son of George Herbert Royal and Emily Louisa nee Hedger, b. 1922, farm worker Denbies Estate, joined the RAF before WW2 as a boy trainee, died 1992, buried Ranmore (Q19).
Edward Royal, Ranmore Archive
Edward George ROYAL, son of George Herbert Royal and Emily Louisa nee Hedger, b. 18th June 1920, farm worker Denbies Estate, joined the RAF before WW2 as a boy trainee, ultimately became Squadron Leader (reputedly not aircrew), worked on early radar, stayed on in RAF after war until retirement from service, m. Glenys Mary Putt, d. 19th August 2011, ashes buried Ranmore (Q34).
Elsie Royal , Ranmore Archive
Elsie Margaret ROYAL, daughter of George Herbert Royal and Emily Louisa nee Hedger, b. 1913. Spitfire mechanic in the WAAF, ? Dec 1941 – ?1945, d. 2006, buried Ranmore (Q35).
Laura Royal, Ranmore Archive
Laura Annie ROYAL, daughter of George Herbert Royal and Emily Louisa nee Hedger, b. 1916, served in the WAAF as a cook, 9.9.1941-2.12.1945, Service No. 2000591 from Discharge Book), d. 2009. buried Ranmore (Q32).
THE HOME FRONT
Of course, people at home served in various ways, including the Denbies Home Guard to which there is a dedicated page. Others known to have served in various other ways on the Home Front are below, and no doubt others will come to light in the course of time.
Irene Royal printing railway tickets (photograph Ranmore Archive)
Irene (Rene) G. ROYAL, later MACKIE, daughter of George Herbert Royal and Emily Louisa nee Hedger. Born in 1924, Rene worked at Dorking Station for Southern Railways printing third-class railway tickets. This was regarded as essential war work. Being only 17, she had failed to persuade her father to allow her to join up like her older sisters Elsie and Laura Royal (see above). In 1949 she married Gordon Mackie (see above), and they had a daughter who still lives on Ranmore.
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