LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWII

Private William Frederick Jaramillo

4 Bn Dorsetshire Regiment

Town Memorial World War II

PRIVATE
WILLIAM FREDERICK JARAMILLO

Service Number: 14513844
Dorsetshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Died 28 August 1944
Age 20 years old
Buried or commemorated at
ST. DESIR WAR CEMETERY
VI. A. 14.
France

From the press reports of his death it appears that when he first joined the Army he was with the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regiment.

Surrey Advertiser
Saturday 30 September 1944

COBHAM SOLDIER’S DEATH
News of the death of Pte. William Fred Jaramillo, second son of Mrs. Daisy Jaramillo, of Riverside Cottage, Cobham, in action in North-West Europe, has been confirmed.

Pte. Jaramillo, who was 20 years of age, joined the Forces 17 months ago, and enlisted in the Beds and Herts Regt. Although born in Cobham, he spent his early boyhood in Columbia, South America, where his father, Juan Pablo Jaramillo. and his eldest brother, Richard, now live. William was, therefore, volunteer in His Majesty’s Forces.

He returned with his mother and younger brother to this country when he was 14 and attended Cobham Central School, and later he was employed at the Leatherhead Water Works. He was a good athlete and won several trophies for boxing in civilian life and took part in many Army contests. He is a nephew of Mr. Wm. Soan, Cobham representative on the Esher Urban District Council. He was married and his wife is living in Fetcham.

Surrey Advertiser
Saturday 07 October 1944

COBHAM SOLDIER’S BRAVERY
With reference to Pte. William Fred Jaramillo, whose death was reported last week, letters have now been received by his wife from his Commanding Officer, Major P. J. Roper, and Sgt. Wise. Major Roper writes that Pte. Jaramillo had proved himself a fine man in every way. He and one other volunteered to go out to bring in a wounded man. They actually got to him when they were fired upon by an enemy tank hidden in a wood, and Jaramillo was killed instantly.

Sgt. Wise offers the sympathy of the platoon and himself and adds that he had known Jaramillo for some time and that he (Jaramillo) was convinced that the cause for which he fought, and died, was a right one. Pte. Jaramillo’s wife and mother thank friends for sympathy in their bereavement.

According to the CWGC Grave Concentration records he was originally buried near Tilly sur Eure and reburied at the St Desir British War Cemetery on 17 October 1946, together with fellow Dorsets from the same location, in graves VI A 10-13.  


His life

His birth in 1927 was registered at Epsom in 1927.

His father was Juan Pablo Jaramillo, born in Chile about 1893, the son of Ricardo Jaramillo, Gentleman.

His mother was Winifred Daisy Soan (1899-1968) from Cobham, Surrey, a daughter of William Soan, a Motor Engineer.

They were married at St Andrew's, Cobham, Surrey on 22 December 1917.

His siblings included his older brother Richard and a younger brother Peter.

There is a record of William travelling back from Panama in 1937 aboard the French Line's Cuba with his mother and younger brother.

The marriage of William and Hazel Reason Ellen Pells was registered in Surrey Mid Eastern District in September 1942. Hazel's birth on 7 October 1923 was registered at Tendring, Essex. She was a daughter of Selena Jane Pells/Bourne ?née Chippington (1893–1972).

In the 1939 England & Wales Register:

Hazel Pells was living at 4 Elmer Cottages,  Hawks Hill, Leatherhead, Surrey. She was a 'Laundry Calendar Hand' (a Laundry Calendar machine is used for ironing flat linen). The others at that address were:
Percival Rowland Bourne, her step-father
Selina Jane Bourne, her mother
Ernest Frederick David Pells

William has so far not been identified in this Register.

After the war

His mother Winifred died on 16 November 1968. In the Probate record her address was 95 Spinney Hill, Addlestone, Weybridge, Surrey.

From the Electoral Registers his widow Hazel remained in the area:
1945-46: 4 Elmer Cottage, Guildford Road, Fetcham

Her marriage to William T Harding was registered in Surrey Mid Eastern District in July 1947.

1948 24 East Street Bookham with William Harding
1953-55 16 Aperdele Road, Leatherhead with William Harding
1956-57 4 Elmer Cottages, Guildford Road, Fetcham with Percival R Bourne and Selena J Bourne

Her marriage to Edward L Last was registered in Surrey Mid Eastern District in July 1958.

Hazel Last's death at the age of 54 was registered at Chelmsford, Essex in July 1978.

William Jaramillo is remembered on these memorials
Leatherhead Town Memorial
Leatherhead RBL Roll of Honour, Leatherhead Parish Church

William Jaramillo is among the WW2 dead commemorated at Cobham, Surrey, listed as serving with William's original unit, the Beds & Herts Regiment. 

the website editor would like to add further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him, his headstone, and any recollections of him

last updated 21 Aug 20