14585570 Tropper Arthur Rouse, Reconnaissance Corps, Royal Armoured Corps

Twenty-eight year old Arthur Rouse of the Royal Armoured Corps, 49th (West Riding) Regiment, died seventy years ago today on the 26th October 1944. He was the son of Arthur J and Ellen Rouse, of Smethwick, Staffordshire, and the husband of Frances Beatrice Rouse (nee Davis), of Smethwick. He is buried in Bergen-Op-Zoom war cemetery in the Netherlands.

Arthur and Francis had been married for less than three years when Arthur was killed.

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

 

 

Image of Bergen-Op-Zoom courtesy of Wikipedia.

7956606 Tpr Frank J Kingsbury, RAC

7956606 Trooper Frank James Kingsbury of the Royal Armoured Corps gave his life for his King and Country on the 7th December 1943. He was 36 years old, the son of William Henry and Ada Mary Rachel Kingsbury, and the husband of Rosina Aline Kingsbury of Muswell Hill, Middlesex. He is buried in the Sangro River War Cemetery in Italy.

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

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

549068 Sgt George A Jarvis, RAC

549068 Sergeant George Albert Jarvis of the 3rd King's Own Hussars, Royal Armoured Corps, died on the 12th October 1939. He was born in London and was the son of Samuel and May Elizabeth Jarvis, and the husband of Anne Jarvis, of York. He was 30 years old and is buried in Islington Cemetery.

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

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

7944609 Tpr John F Blair, RAC

7944609 Trooper John Finlay Blair of the 17th/21st Lancers, Royal Armoured Corps, died on the 11th October 1943. He was born in Edinburgh and living in Glasgow when he enlisted. He was 33 years old, the son of John Finlay Blair and Jane Cessford Blair, and the husband of Marian Blair, of Edinburgh. He is buried in Florence War Cemetery in Italy.

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

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

6010543 Tpr William J O'Hara, Reconnaissance Corps

6010543 Trooper William James O'Hara of the 46th Regiment, Reconnaissance Corps, Royal Armoured Corps died on the 2nd October 1943. He was born in London and was living in Essex when he enlisted. He was 30 years old, the son of Charles George and Rose O'Hara, and the husband of Queenie Eleanor Frances O'Hara of Branksome, Dorsetshire. He is buried in Salerno War Cemetery in Italy.

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

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

7884205 Sgt Arthur A McFegan, RAC

7884205 Serjeant Arthur Ainsley McFegan of the 44th (Oldham) Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, died on the 17th July 1942. He was 28 years old, the son of Robert and Helen McFegan, and the husband of Kathleen Phyllis McFegan of Chase Cross, Romford, Essex. He is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial in Egypt.

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

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

409287 Tpr Douglas A Prigmore, RAC

409287 Trooper Douglas Arthur Prigmore, of the 1st Battalion, Royal Dragoons, Royal Armoured Corps, died in North Africa on the 12th July 1942. He was 22 years old, the son of Fredrick Arthur and Edith Elizabeth Prigmore of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire. He is buried in El Alamein War Cemetery.

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

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

226175 Capt Philip L Tilley, RAC

226175 Captain Philip Lewis Tilley of the Royal Armoured Corps, died on the 4th July 1945. He was born in Somerset and was living in Wiltshire when he enlisted. He originally joined the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars and was attached to the Headquarters of XXXIII Corps, RAC at the time of his death. Philip Tilley was 33 years old and the son of Arthur Herbert and Edith Anna Tilley. He is buried in Rangoon War Cemetery in Burma.

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

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

550638 Sgt George F Gramson, RAC

550638 Sergeant George Frederick Gramson of the Queen's Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards) Royal Armoured Corps, died in North Africa on the 13th June 1942. He was 28 years old and from south east London. He is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial.

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

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

7942036 Cpl Samuel Foxon, RAC

7942036 Corporal Samuel Nevil Foxon of the 26th Hussars, Royal Armoured Corps, died in India on the 10th June 1943. He was 32 years old, the son of Samuel and Rhoda Louisa Foxon of Leicester, and the husband of Hilda Foxon, of Humberstone, Leicestershire. He is buried in the Madras War Cemetery in Chennai.

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

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

408550 Pte William Clouston, Parachute Regt

D-Day + 3. Another 248 men died on the 9th June 1944 and 408550 Private William Clouston of the Parachute Regiment (South Lancashire Regiment, Prince of Wales' Volunteers)was one of those men. He had originally enlisted in the Royal Armoured Corps (14th/20th King's Hussars) and later transferred to the Paras. He was born in Clackmannanshire and died in France. He was 28 years old, the son of James and Marion Clouston of Coalsnaughton, Clackmannanshire. He is buried in Ranville War Cemetery.

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

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

7887335 Tpr William Ostler, RAC

As Britain, with its back to the English Channel, fought a rearguard action against the German Army on the 28th May 1940, another 549 men died on this day. 7887335 Trooper William Ostler of the 1st East Riding Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps, died on this date. He was 23 years old, the son of William and Louisa Ostler of Hull. He is buried in Hotton War Cemetery in Belgium.

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

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

533671 Staff Sgt Robert Metherell, RAC

533671 Staff Sergeant Robert Metherell of the Yorkshire Hussars Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps, died on the 20th April 1940. He was 43 years old, the son of Robert and Jessie Metherell, and the husband of Dorothy Metherell, of Clifton, York. He is buried in Ramleh War Cemetery in Israel.

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

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

7916304 Tpr Charles Henry Joseph Maltby, RAC

7916304 Trooper Charles Maltby of the 3rd Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, died on the 20th March 1943. He was born in Chester and living in Doncaster when he enlisted. He was 32 years old at the time of his death and, according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, was the son of John Joseph and Margaret Maltby, of Bentley, Doncaster, Yorkshire; husband of Edna Maltby, of Bentley.

Charles Maltby has no known grave and is commemorated on the Medjez-El-Bab Memorial in Tunisia.

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

Sources:

Ancestry (UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

7888181 Tpr Charles Maggs MM, 2nd Royal Tank Regt

7888181 Trooper Charles Henry James Maggs of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, died on the 24th January 1941 in Africa. He was 25 years old, the son of Charles Henry and Laura Louisa Maggs and the husband of Evelyn Mary Maud Maggs of Wenhaston, Suffolk.

Charles Maggs, who was the holder of the Military Medal, has no known grave and is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial in Egypt.

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

7915428 Tpr Walter Henry Milner, Royal Armoured Corps

7915428 Trooper Walter Henry Milner of the Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, died on the 9th January 1942. He was the son of Mr and Mrs H Milner, of Hackney in London and he is buried in Pietermaritzburg's Fort Napier Cemetery in South Africa. He was 22 years old when he died.

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

7911042 Tpr Wilfred Orton, 8th Bn, Royal Tank Regt

7911042 Trooper Wilfred Orton of the 8th Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, died on the 8th November 1941. He was born in west London and was living in Surrey when he enlisted. At the time of his death he was 21 years old and, as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission informs us, the son of Frank Edward and Winifred May Orton, of Cowden, Kent. He is buried in Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma in Libya.

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

7887122 Cpl Allan Sharman, Royal Tank Regt, Royal Armoured Corps

7887122 Corporal Allan Sharman of the Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, died on the 20th November 1942. He was born in Sunderland and living in Durham when he enlisted. Apart from that though, I know nothing further about this man.

Allan Sharman is buried in Knightsbridge War Cemetery in Acroma, Libya. The following information comes from the Commonwealth war Graves Commission:

"The defence against Rommel's drive across Cyrenaica towards Suez consisted of a number of irregularly spaced strong points or 'boxes' linked by deep minefields. Those nearest the Axis forces were held by infantry, while those further back served as reserve static positions and as bases from which the armour could operate. The chief 'box', known as Knightsbridge, was round a junction of tracks about 20 kilometres west of Tobruk and 16 kilometres south of Acroma, commanding all the tracks by which supplies came up to the front. The Eighth Army's advance fuelling stations and airfields were at Acroma, El Adem, El Duda, Sidi Rezegh and Gambut, while by February 1941, Gazala aerodrome, taken from the Italians early in the campaign, housed two Commonwealth squadrons. Knightsbridge was thus a key position, and the pivot on which the armour manoeuvred during the heavy fighting which commenced in late May 1942. Fierce actions were fought at all these places, and a battlefield cemetery was created at each for the burial of the dead. The graves of many of those who gave their lives during the campaign in Libya were later gathered into Knightsbridge War Cemetery from the battlefield burial grounds and from scattered desert sites. The men who fought and died with them, but have no known grave, are commemorated on The Alamein Memorial which stands in El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt. There are now 3,651 Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World War buried or commemorated in Knightsbridge War Cemetery. 993 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate a number of casualties known or believed to be buried among them."

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

71081 Lt Col Geoffrey Charles Tasker Keyes VC, MC; Royal Armoured Corps

71081 Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Charles Taker Keyes VC, MC of the Royal Armoured Corps was killed in action on the 18th November 1941. He was a highly decorated senior officer who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on the night of 17th/18th November 1941.

There is plenty of information about Lt Col Keyes on the web, including this page on Wikipedia. At the time of his death he was serving with the The Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons), Royal Armoured Corps. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that he was "awarded Croix de Guerre. Son of Admiral of the Fleet Roger John Brownlow Keyes, G.C.B., K.C.V.O., C.M:G., D.S.O., A.D.C., 1st Baron Keyes, and of Lady Keyes (nee Bowlby), of Buckingham." The citation for his VC which appeared in the London Gazette of 19th June 1942 reads as follows:

"Lieutenant-Colonel Keyes commanded a detachment of a force which landed some 250 miles behind the enemy lines, in North Africa, to attack Headquarters Base installations and communications. Lieutenant-Colonel Keyes deliberately selected the command of the party detailed to attack the residence and Headquarters of the General Officer commanding the German Forces in North Africa. This attack meant almost certain death for those who took part in it. The disposition of his detachment left him only one officer and a N.C.O. with whom to break into General Rommel's residence. On the night 17/18 November, 1941, he boldly led his party to the front door and demanded entrance. It was unfortunately necessary to shoot the sentry; the noise aroused the house, so that speed became of the first importance. Lieutenant-Colonel Keyes instinctively took the lead and emptied his revolver with great success into the first room. He then entered the second room but was mortally wounded almost immediately. By his fearless disregard of the dangers which he ran and of which he was fully aware, and by his magnificent leadership and outstanding gallantry Lieutenant Colonel Keyes set an example of supreme self-sacrifice and devotion to duty."

Lt Col Keyes is buried In Benghazi War Cemetery in Libya.

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

2822422 Pte Nathaniel Rhind, 5th Bn, Reconnaissance Corps, Royal Armoured Corps

2822422 Private Nathaniel Rhind of the 5th Battalion, Reconnaissance Corps, Royal Armoured Corps, died on the 4th November 1941 aged 33. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that he was the son of Nathaniel and Annie Simpson Rhind and the husband of Isabella More Rhind of Elgin.

The UK Army Roll of Honour 1939-45 records that Nathaniel was born in Moray and living there when he enlisted. He originally joined the Seaforth Highlanders and was, according to the RoH, serving with the "Tower Hamlets Rifles (Recce)" at the time of his death.

Nathaniel presumably died at home as he is buried in Elgin New Cemetery on Moray.

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