The Parish Magazine of February 1944 reported “The sympathy of the whole village goes out to Mrs McLeroth in the death of her son Hope – not in battle, but on active service. A very promising career in the Navy has been cut short, but he had already done some years of service at sea – 3 years in the “Revenge”. He came home recently and only a few days before his death he joined the “Glasgow” for a course. During an exercise at sea, he fell from a height and received serious head injuries, from which he died next day in hospital. He was buried with full Naval honours in Plymouth Cemetery, and will be remembered with Brian Laxton and Ernest Squires, who also gave their lives at sea.
Hope was one of twins. While his brother Peter entered the Merchant Navy, Hope signed up with the Royal Navy aged just 15. Early in the war, he was transporting some of Britain’s gold reserves to Canada. Later, he took Poland’s Prime Minister in exile across the Atlantic for talks with President Roosevelt.
In January 1944, he visited his mother at Wrey Villa, possibly for the first time since the passing of his father some 20 months earlier; maybe also the first time since his mother had moved to the village from North London. He departed for Devonport on 20th January 1944 with tragedy striking the very next day.
On Wednesday 22nd January 2025, the Lustleigh Bell Ringers will sound a half-muffled peel in his honour.
Chris Wilson