Died: In Woolwich and District War Memorial Hospital
Address / Local links: 138 Lovel Avenue, Welling
Family / Relatives: Daughter of R and Ethel Beatrice Mary Skey
By early November 1940, the Luftwaffe was turning its attention to other cities away from London – Coventry, Bristol, Birmingham among others – but bombs still fell locally too – Erith, Bexleyheath and Welling were all hit on November 8th…
It was a tragic day for granddaughter and grandmother Mary Ann Marchant and her granddaughter Beryl Skey of 138 Lovel Avenue, Welling…
Beryl was born in May 1921 and baptised on 29th May at St. Michael’s East Wickham. Her father, Reginald Skey (1897-1976) came from Cheltenham and was a labourer according to his marriage certificate. He had served in WW1 (we have an army photograph of him from a Gloucestershire newspaper).
Beryl’s mother was Ethel Beatrice Mary Marchant, (1898–1980), born in Eastbourne Sussex, the home county of the Marchants.
We’re not sure how or where Reginald and Ethel met, but we know that they were married at East Wickham on Christmas Day 1920 – and Beryl was born just 5 months later…(Two other children, Maisie and Peter Reginald would follow in 1923 and 1925).
We know very little about Beryl’s short life. The 1939 Register finds her in Chippenham, Wiltshire – “Paid domestic duties” with an Alice M. Cambridge (age 38, probably with children).
Beryl and her grandmother Mary Ann Marchant were killed during the Blitz, as they sheltered in their Anderson shelter – both were registered as dead on November 8th at the Woolwich and District War Memorial Hospital. Beryl was just 20. Both were buried at Bexleyheath Cemetery on September 14th 1940.
Beryl’s sister Maisie, was also in the shelter, but survived the attack. She died in 2024 at the grand age of 101.
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If anyone is able to add any extra information, provide more family details, or suggest any corrections, please let us know – also, if anyone has any more photos of this individual listed on our memorials, please get in touch. Thank you.
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Photos of Beryl’s parents, Reginald and Ethel, who both lived on long after the war:
Commemorated
- St. Michael’s East Wickham Church Memorial Tablet
- Woolwich Metropolitan Borough Civilian Records
This story has been researched by volunteers. We have taken every effort to ensure its accuracy. If you are related to Beryl Skey, or if you have any further information, please do get in touch.