Each day this week I am focussing on one or more of the brave Hethersett men who lost their lives in the Second World War - a different soldier each day in the lead up to celebrating the 75th anniversary of VE Day on Friday.
Yesterday we featured Nigel Beaumont-Thomas. Today we look at two more of those who lost their lives, one of whom is buried in Hethersett and has a fascinating story. He died on a train en route to Watford! But we start with Private Fred Foster.
Private Fred Foster of the 7th Battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment was just 20 years of age when he lost his life. He was the son of Robert and Emma Foster of Hethersett. He is buried in St Valery En Caux Franco British Cemetery. The German thrust through the Ardennes in 1940 split the British forces, with those in Belgium forced back towards Dunkirk. Other units like the 7th Royal Norfolks had been stationed in support of the Maginot line near the Saar. To avoid being encircled, they staged a fighting retreat eastwards supporting the French forces. Eventually they ended up on the coast at St Valery-en-Caux.
This was not to be a second Dunkirk, as initially hoped. There were no wide beaches where shelter could be sought. The Germans took the commanding heights around the town and soon no vessel could approach and the allied troops became increasingly concentrated in a built up urban area - an easy target for German Bombers and Artillery.
On the 12th June, 1940, the town surrendered and units like the 7th Norfolks marched into five years of captivity. In the confusion, not all the soldiers could be accounted for. Sadly Fred was one of those killed.
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Raymond Coller was a Major in the Royal Artillery and was killed by enemy action. A Coller family tombstone exists in the churchyard at Hethersett where the inscription reads as follows: "In proud and loving memory of Raymond Geoffrey Coller, Major Royal Artillery. Killed by Enemy Action, 10th December 1940”
It also commemorates his wife Beryl Mary Lempriere Coller (nee Back) who died on 8th April, 1950, aged 49.
It is likely that Major Coller was killed during a raid on London. His death is recorded in the Islington District and this could have been in a hospital after being hit in another part of London.
The following information on Raymond Coller comes from the Find A Grave website at
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/170599018/raymond-geoffrey-coller
Raymond was 41.The role of 3rd Medium Reserve Unit was to assemble troops prior to shipping them overseas to form their field units. He was stationed in Watford and his wife Beryl, together with their youngest daughters Sonia and Jane and their nanny, travelled with him and stayed that year in the Rose and Crown Hotel in Watford to be close to him. The eldest children Mervyn and Nell were at boarding school but spent the summer holidays there together during 1941.
During the raids the nanny would take the children down to the cellar. It was all too much however and the hotel took a direct hit so managing to pull a few strings, Raymond was able to take leave and escort his family back to Hethersett. Upon arrival, they had one dinner together and Raymond boarded a train back to London, where he changed to take a train to Watford. His train took a direct hit. His legs took all the shrapnel damage and he was thrown out on to the line where he was not found for some hours.
He was taken to hospital and survived for 2 - 3 days during which time his wife Beryl (nee Back) was able to make the journey from Hethersett to her husband and be with him before he died. This journey was made possible by her cousin and his daughter - (The Backs of Hethersett Hall) travelling with her. Raymond died of blood poisoning. He was due to be sent abroad but this time as Colonel Coller very shortly afterwards.
It appears that in 1937 Raymond was a Director of Youngs, Crawshay & Youngs, one of the major breweries in the county.
His two brothers fell at Arras in the Great War.