Gravestone of Charles Howard, 20th Earl of Suffolk, bomb disposal expert, Church of St. John the Baptist, Charlton

Image: © Vieve Forward Taken: 22 Apr 2012

Gravestone in the churchyard of St John the Baptist, Charlton, commemorating Charles Howard, 20th Earl of Suffolk & 13th Earl of Berkshire, who was a member of the Ministry of Supply’s Department of Scientific Research during World War II. This department’s role was to obtain complete examples of fuses and bombs for experimental and training purposes. Working with a team of seven (his chauffeur Fred Hards, his secretary, Miss Eileen Morden, Staff Sergeant J. Atkins, Driver D. Sharratt of 25 Bomb Disposal Company, and Sappers R. Dutson, B. Gillett and J. Hardy of 719 General Construction Company attached to 2 Bomb Disposal Company) in the Erith marshes on 12th May 1941, Charles Howard was attempting to remove two fuses from a bomb which had been dropped some eighteen months previously. The bomb exploded, killing all. Charles Howard, Earl of Suffolk, was awarded a posthumous George Cross. F. Hards and E. Morden were each given a Posthumous Commendation by the King for brave conduct in civil defence.http://www.royalengineersbombdisposal-eod.org.uk/12_may_1941.html There is also a memorial by G.E.R. Smith to the 20th Earl of Suffolk in the north-west window of the church, with an inscription by John Masefield.http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-315656-church-of-st-john-baptist-charlton See also http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/43/a3924443.shtml

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