2567599 L/Sgt Frederick Charles William Holliday, 9th Bn, Cameronians

2567599 L/Sgt Frederick Charles William Holliday of the 9th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) died on the 31st October 1944. He was the son of Albert and B. J. Holliday and the husband of Louisa Lillian Holliday. He is buried in Mierlo War Cemetery in the Netherlands.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

176904 2nd Lt Frank Smales, South Lancashire Regiment

176904 Second Lieutenant Frank Smales of the South Lancashire Regiment died on the 30th October 1941 in England. He was the son of Wallace Stanley and Violet Gertrude Smales, and the husband of Beatrice Smales of Bollington, Macclesfield in Cheshire.

Born in Manchester, Frank Smales is buried in Ormskirk (Saints Peter and Paul) Churchyard.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

995320 Gnr Eric Knagg, Royal Artillery

995320 Gunner Eric Knagg of the 76th Anti Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery, died on the 29th October 1943 in Tunisia. He is buried in the Medjez-el-Bab War Cemetery which is 60km west of Tunis.

Eric was a Mancunian, born in Manchester and, according to the UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-45, was still living there when he enlisted. He was 27 years old when he died and was the son of Bertha Knagg and the husband of Dorothy Knagg, of West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

6402919 L/Cpl Stanley Britt, 4th Bn, Royal Sussex Regt

25 year old 6402919 Lance-Corporal Stanley Britt of the 4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment died on the 28th October 1942 in North Africa. He was the son of Eli and Annie Britt of Cross-in-Hand in Sussex and he died inthe fighting around El Alamein in Egypt. He is buried in the El Alamein War Cemetery.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

6150324 Pte William Frederick Limb, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers

6150324 Private William Frederick Limb of the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers died on this day - 27th October - in 1944. He was, according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the "son of Henry Edward and Mildred Limb of Herne Hill and the husband of G. Limb."

William Limb was born in the Republic of Ireland but was living in south east London when he enlisted. The UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-45 notes his rank as Craftsman.

William died in the UK and is commemorated in West Norwood Cemetery where, presumably, he was cremated.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

14332581 Pte Alan Edward Sentance, 1st Bn, Leicestershire Regiment

14332581 Private Alan Edward Sentance of the 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment died on the 26th October 1944. He was 20 years old and the son of Albert and Ellen Jane Sentance of Kirton, Lincolnshire. He is buried in Dordrecht Military Cemetery in the Netherlands.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

2363470 Dvr Alfred George Bailes, Royal Corps of Signals

2363470 Driver Alfred George Bailes of Royal Corps of Signals died on the 25th October 1941. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website notes that he was serving with the 1st Line of Communications Signals and that he was the Son of Lilian Bailes of Newcastle-on-Tyne and the husband of Margaret Coulson Bailes of Byker, Newcastle-on-Tyne. He was 21 years old when he died.

Alfred Bailes is buried in the Byker and Heaton Cemetery in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

S/113951 Pte Eric Dixon Cressey, RASC

7020831 Pte David Gillender, 7th Bn, Black Watch

According to the UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-45, 7020831 Pte David Gillender of the 7th Battalion, The Black Watch died on the 23rd October 1942. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is less certain and records only that he died between the 23rd and 24th October 1942.

David was the son of Robert and Jane Gillender of Belfast, Northern Ireland and he died in the fighting around El Alamein. He is buried in the El Alamein War Cemetery.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

137343 Captain John Maurice Macfarlane Yeo, Royal Armoured Corps

137343 Captain John Maurice Macfarlane Yeo of the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) died on the 22nd October 1944. He was 28 years old and the son of Lt-Col Moritz Rodwell Yeo and Flora Irma Yeo of Bridport, Dorset. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) notes his regiment as 147th (10th Battalion, The Hampshire Regt) Regiment.

John Yeo is buried in Geel War Cemetery in Belgium. The CWGC website states that:

"In the early part of September 1944, Geel was the scene of some of the heaviest fighting encountered by Commonwealth troops since they had left Normandy. The 50th (Northumbrian) Division and the 15th Scottish Division were both involved here in the forcing of crossings of the Albert Canal and the Meuse-Escaut Canal, necessary for the advance into Holland. Some of the casualties they suffered were originally buried in a meadow near the centre of the commune, and some in the St. Dymphna civil cemetery; these graves were later moved into Geel War Cemetery. The cemetery contains 400 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, six of them unidentified."

The War Graves Photographic Project has a photo of Captain Yeo's last resting place.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The War Graves Photographic Project

14618128 Pte Stanley Lenard Maurice Parsley, 2nd Bn, Essex Regt

14618128 Private Stanley Lenard Maurice Parsley of the 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment died on the 21st October 1944. He was 23 years old and the son of Thomas Walter and Florence Maud Parsley of Waltham Abbey, Essex.

Stanley Parsley is buried in Brussels Town Cemetery. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that, "Most of the Second World War casualties buried in the town cemetery died on lines of communication duties after the liberation of Brussels at the beginning of September 1944, but a few date from the brief period that the BEF spent in Belgium in May 1940."

The War Graves Photographic Project has a photo of Stanley's grave.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The War Graves Photographic Project

13027335 Cpl James William Oddy, Pioneer Corps

13027335 Corporal James William Oddy of the Pioneer Corps died on the 20th October 1943 whilst serving near Haifa in Palestine. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website had this to say about Khayat Beach War Cemetery where James is buried:

"Haifa was of great strategic importance during the Second World War because of its deep water harbour and airfield. It was also the terminus of the railway line from Egypt and of the Kirkuk-Haifa oil pipeline. Haifa became one of the main supply bases and arms depots serving the Middle East forces and a large naval depot was established at Haifa Bay. The cemetery was prepared in 1941 for the burial of service war dead in northern Palestine (now Israel) but graves were also brought in from Haifa (Sharon) British Civil Cemetery, from Mafrog Cemetery in the former Trans-Jordan and from Dafna Cemetery in Syria. Among the Merchant Navy seamen buried in the cemetery are those who lost their lives when the SS 'Zealand' was torpedoed off the coast of Palestine on 28 June 1942. The cemetery now contains 691 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, and 91 war graves of other nationalities. Among the 95 non-war burials in the cemetery are some of men of the Merchant Navy who died during the war, but whose deaths were not due to war service. However, the majority of the non-war graves are of soldiers who died during disturbances preceding the end of the British Mandate in Palestine in May 1948."

James Oddy was born in Leeds and living in Leeds when he enlisted. He was 40 years old at the time of his death. The War Graves Photographic project has a photo of his grave.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The War Graves Photographic Project

2336729 Signalman Robert Fotheringham, Royal Corps of Signals

2336729 Signalman Robert Fotheringham of the Royal Corps of Signals was 25 years old when he died. He gave up his life 67 years ago today - 19th October 1942 and lies in a corner of a Foreign Field in Kranji War Cemetery in Malaysia.

At the time of his death - according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Robert was attached to the 11th Indian Division, Signals. He was a Glaswegian, the son of Alexander and Janet Fotheringham, of Glasgow. The War Graves Photographic Project has a photo of his last resting place.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The War Graves Photographic Project

64535 Major Anthony Fleming Coombe, Royal Engineers

64535 Major Anthony Fleming Coombe of the Royal Engineers was attached to the East African Engineers when he died on the 18th October 1941. He was 26 years old, the son of Thomas Bernard and Mary Frances Coombe and the husband of Jocelyn Anne (Anna) Coombe of Nairobi, Kenya. He was born in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and is buried in a Commonwealth War Grave in Adidas Ababa War Cemetery in Ethiopia.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

14610297 Fusilier Ernest Edwin Merrifield, 11th Bn, Lancashire Fusiliers

14610297 Fusilier Ernest Edwin Merrifield of the 11th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers died on the 17th October 1944 in Italy. He was the 19 year old son of Leonard Edwin and Lilian Elizabeth Merrifield of Newton Abbot, Devon.

Ernest Merrifield is one of 1139 Commonwealth burials in Faenza War Cemetery.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

5050430 Trooper Harold John Nickells, Royal Armoured Corps

5050430 Trooper Harold John Nickells of the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) died on the 16th October 1944. He was 23 years old and from Staffordshire. He had originally joined the North Staffordshire Regiment but later transferred to the RAC and was serving with C Squadron, 49th Regiment, Reconnaissance Corps when he was killed. He was the son of Frederick Nickells and Ada Annie Nickells of Bonehill, Staffordshire and he is buried in Leopoldsburg War Cemetery in Belgium.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

1467129 Gunner Harry Kenny, Royal Artillery

1467129 Gunner Harry Kenny of 296 Battery, 66th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery, died on the 15th October 1942. He was 34 years old.

Harry was born in Leeds and living in Leeds when he enlisted. He is buried in Calcutta (Bhowanipore) Cemetery.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

2977189 Sgt John Tonner, 1st Bn, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

William and Elsie Tonner of Bridgeton, Glasgow lost three sons in the Second World War. I was unaware of this when I randomly selected John Tonner's name from the 19 service personnel who died on the 14th October 1941 but there it is, in black and white, on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) site:

2977189 Sgt John Tonner, 1st Bn, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, "son of William and Elsie Tonner of Bridgeton, Glasgow; husband of Annie Tonner. His brothers, William and James Davidson Tonner, also died on service."

John Tonner was born in Glasgow and was still living there when he enlisted. He was 29 years old when he died and is buried in Asmara War Cemetery in Eritrea. CWGC reports:

"The Italian stronghold of Keren was taken by Commonwealth forces at the end of March 1941 and the retreating Italian force pursued to Asmara, which was occupied on 1 April. Asmara War Cemetery contains the graves of those killed in the latter stages of the East African campaign, or who died subsequently at the garrison stationed at Asmara. The cemetery contains 273 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 14 of them unidentified. There are also six war graves of other nationalities and five non-war burials."

2338238 Driver William Tonner of the Royal Corps of Signals was the first of the Tonner brothers to be killed. He was 23 years old when he died. He has no known grave and is one of 4506 men commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial. His date of death is also uncertain; CWGC states that he died between "between 27/05/1940 and 02/06/1940."

FX95018 Air Mechanic Second Class James Davidson Tonner, the youngest of the three brothers, died on 21st April 1942. He was twenty years old and was serving aboard HMS Medina. He is buried in Glasgow (Riddrie Park) Cemetery.

Thus in three consecutive years, William and Elsie Tonner lost three sons. I have no idea whether there were other Tonner brothers who served and survived, but in any event, the family certainly paid a heavy price.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

6202775 Pte Ernest Charles Grafton, 1st Bn, Middlesex Regt

6202775 Private Ernest Charles Grafton of the 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regt died on the 13th October 1942. He was 24 years old and the son of Wallis Henry and Elizabeth Grafton of Morden, south London.

Ernest is buried in Yokohama War Cemetery in Japan which, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission states, "was constructed by the Australian War Graves Group after the Second World War and contains the graves of Commonwealth servicemen who died in Japan as prisoners of war or with the occupying forces after the war."

Ernest is one of 1675 men buried at Yokohama.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

229117 Lt Reginald Loungueville, Coldstream Guards

Twenty-one year old 229117 Lieutenant Reginald Loungueville of the Coldstream Guards had already been mentioned in dispatches when he died on the 12th October 1944. He was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Longueville, D.S.O., M.C. (also of the Coldstream Guards and also mentioned in dispatches during WW1) and Gertrude Beatrice Longueville, of Forthampton, Gloucestershire.

Reginald was born in Shropshire but living in Gloucestershire when he enlisted. He is buried in Overloon War Cemetery in the Netherlands. The Commonwealth war Graves Commission states that:

"There was severe fighting in the vicinity of Overloon in October-November 1944, when the Germans were being cleared out of the region south and west of the Maas in preparation for the final attack on the Rhineland. Most of the burials in Overloon War Cemetery are of men who died during these months. The cemetery contains 280 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, and one Dutch war grave."

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

7362755 Pte Idris G Lewis, Royal Army Medical Corps

Twenty-five year old 7362755 Private Idris G Lewis of the Royal Army Medical Corps died on this day - 11th October - 1944. He transferred to the RAMC some time after enlisting and he was serving with A Company, 132nd Field Ambulance when he died.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that Idris was the Son of Lewis and Margaret Anne Lewis of Machynlleth, Montgomeryshire. He is buried in Faenza War Cemetery in Italy.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

2061694 Cpl Lionel Holmes, Royal Engineers

2061694 Cpl Lionel Holmes of the Royal Engineers died on 10th October 1940. He was the son of Charles William and Kathleen E Holmes and the husband of Eileen Mabel Holmes of South Harrow, Middlesex. He was born in Kent and was 35 years old when he died. He is buried in Fort Pitt Military Cemetery in Chatham.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

6289064 Pte Wilfred Dawes, 5th Bn, The Buffs

6289064 Private Wilfred Dawes of the 5th Battalion, The Buffs, died on the 9th October 1943. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Dawes of Liphook, Hampshire and is buried in Sangro River War Cemetery in Italy.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

14754652 Fusilier Reginald Francombe, 6th Bn, Royal Welch Fusiliers

14754652 Private Reginald Francombe of the 6th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers died on the 8th October 1945. He was born and lived in north London and is buried in Edmonton cemetery. The War Graves Photographic Project has a photo of his grave.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The War Graves Photographic Project

974503 Gunner Stanley Lenard Endersby, Royal Horse Artillery

974503 Gunner Stanley Lenard Endersby of the Royal Horse Artillery died on the 7th October 1944. He is buried in Johannesburg (West Park) Cemetery which in turn, according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) website, suggests that he was possibly a casualty from the Middle East who died of wounds in a Johannesburg hospital. This from CWGC:

"During the Second World War, there was a large military wing in the Johannesburg General Hospital and military hospitals at Baragwanath and Cottesloe. The Baragwanath hospital handled a large number of casualties sent from the Middle East. [The cemetery] contains 617 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War."

Stanley's middle name is spelt Lenard by the CWGC although this could be an error, (CWGC also spells his parents' surname as Endersly). He was born in Bedfordshire and was 24 years old when he died. He was the son of Albert William and Elsie May Endersby of Biggleswade, Bedfordshire.

CWGC gives the additional information that he was serving with 3 Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, whilst the War Graves Photographic Project which holds a photo of Gunner Endersby's last resting place notes that he was serving with "3 Anti-Tank Regt. Royal Artillery" at the time of his death.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The War Graves Photographic Project

2041383 Sapper Leslie John Fisher, Royal Engineers

2041383 Sapper Leslie John Fisher of the Royal Engineers, died in Egypt on 6th October 1940. He was 20 years old and had been born in Bedford. He is buried in the Cairo War Memorial Cemetery. The War Graves Photographic Project has a photo of his grave.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The War Graves Photographic Project

1622924 Gunner Laurence Alfred Weeks, Royal Artillery

1622924 Gunner Laurence Alfred Weeks of 459 Battery, 70 Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery died on the 5th October 1940. He was 26 years old and the son of Alfred Frank and Adeline Laura Amelia Weeks, of Plumstead, south London. He was born in India and is buried in Plumstead Cemetery.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

6285686 L/Cpl Maurice D Sheppard, 1st Bn, The Buffs

6285686 L/Cpl Maurice D Sheppard of the 1st Bn, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) is buried in Prague War Cemetery in the Czech Republic. He died on 4th October 1942.

The UK Army Roll of Honour notes that he was born in Rotherham and living in Kent when he enlisted. It also states that the theatre of war he was serving in when killed was North Africa. This is clearly incorrect.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that Maurice Sheppard was 26 years old and the son of George Clement Sheppard and Sarah Sheppard, of Elvington, Dover.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.


Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

6924531 Rfm Arthur A Gowers, Rifle Brigade

The UK Army Roll of Honour notes that 6924531 Rifleman Arthur A Gowers of the London Rifle Brigade died on the 3rd October 1944. I can find no reference for this man on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database and therefore the only additional details I have for him at this point in time is that he was born in Essex and living in East London when he enlisted.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)

13081433 Pte Gerald Victor Roy Slattery, Pioneer Corps

13081433 Private Gerald Victor Roy Slattery of the Pioneer Corps died on 2nd October 1943. He was born in Devon and living in Plymouth when he enlisted.

Gerald is buried in Gibraltar (North Front) Cemetery, plot 1. row B. joint grave 4.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

2722006 Guardsman Charles Henry John Marler, 3rd Bn, Irish Guards

2722006 Guardsman Charles Henry John Marler of the 3rd Battalion, Irish Guards, died on 1st October 1944. He was born in Norwich and living in Great Yarmouth when he enlisted.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records that he was 24 years old, the son of S. J. and Nellie Marler and the husband of Elsie Doris Marler, of Wealdstone, Harrow, Middlesex.

Charles Marler is buried in Jonkerbos War Cemetery in the Netherlands; grave reference 18.C.2.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (1939-1945 Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission