1045805 BQMS William Stephen Holcombe, Royal Artillery

On this day in 1893 my grandfather Walter Leonard Nixon was born. That's him, pictured above in about 1907. Fast forward 51 years and on this day, 1st February 1944, 217 British and Imperial men and women lost their lives in the service of their King and King Emperor.

1045805 Battery Quartermaster Sergeant William Stephen Holcombe of the 9th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, was one of those 217 men to die on this day in 1944. He was a regular soldier; an Old Contemptible who had enlisted in 1913, served throughout the First World War and who subsequently extended his service. His medal index card (below, courtesy of Ancestry) notes the same regimental number that appears on his headstone in Ilkley Cemetery.

 

Findmypast has William Holcombe in its Royal Artillery attestation registers which, in turn, sheds more light on the man and his service.

• William was born at South Norwood, Croydon and was a seaman before he enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery
• He originally attested on the 7th January 1913 and was given the number 71580
• He extended his colour service at various points ( his number 1045805 dates to February 1919) and re-enlisted on 3rd July 1939
• He married Violet Maud Smith at Woolwich on Christmas Day 1917 and the couple had two children: Francis William Smith (born 28th September 1921) and Reta Violet Smith (born 23rd March 1926).
• He was discharged from the army on 10th December 1943 under paragraph 392 (xvi) of King's regulations 1940. This paragraph deals with discharges as a result of "ceasing to fulfil army physical requirements" and could imply that he was discharged as a result of wounds

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that William was the husband of Violet Maud Holcombe of Stratford, Essex which, coming full circle, brings me back again to my grandfather Walter who was born in Stratford in 1893.

 

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

1119547 Gnr Frank Lee, RA

1119547 Gunner Frank Lee of the 10th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, died on the 29th September 1942, aged 36. He was the son of Thomas Edward and Florence Lee of Morley, Yorkshire, and the husband of Marion Lee, of Morley. He is buried in the Madras War Cemetery in what is now called Chennai, India.

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
Image courtesy of Madras Heritage

11276386 Gnr John W Love, RA

11276386 Gunner John W Love of the 6th Maritime Regiment, Royal Artillery died at sea on the 21st December 1942. He was born in Kent and was living there when he enlsited. His body was committed to the sea and he is therefore commemorated on the Plymouth Naval 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

1086577 Gnr Stanley H Sheppard, RA

1086577 Gunner Stanley Harold Sheppard of the 8th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery died on the 1st December 1941. He was 29 years old and the son of Harold William and Harriet Ada Sheppard, of Walkern, Hertfordshire. 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

941186 Gnr Victor A Datlen, RA

941186 Gunner Victor Allen Datlen of the 85th Anti Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery died as a prisoner of war of the Japanese on the 23rd November 1943. He was 24 years old, the son of William Arthur and Mabel Datlen of Canterbury. He is buried in Kanchanaburi War Cemetery in Thailand.

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

11260120 Gnr Joseph A Pethick, RA

11260120 Gunner Joseph Arthur Pethick of the 4th Maritome Regiment, Royal Artillery died at sea on the 20th November 1942. He was 37 years old and the son of Joseph and Caroline Pethick. He was the husband of Hilda Pethick, of Burnt Oak, Middlesex and, having been buried at sea, is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval 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

777313 Gnr Henry Lockley, RA

777313 Gunner Henry Lockley of the 9th Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery died on the 18th November 1945. He was 38 years old, the son of James and Jane Lockley of Burston. He is buried in Sandon's All Saints Churchyard in Staffordshire.

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

950856 Gnr Alec Davenport, RA

950856 Gunner Alec Davenport of the 137th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery died on the 17th November 1943. He was 26 years old and the son of Harry and Ann Davenport of Nantwich, Cheshire. He is buried in the Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery in Myanmar.

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

3312677 L/Bdr Patrick J McCarroll, RA

3312677 Lance-Bombardier Patrick Joseph McCarroll of 258 Battery, 83rd Anti -Aircraft Regiment,Royal Artillery died on the 4th November 1939. He was a Galswegian, 35 years old and the husband of Bridget McCarroll of Parkhead, Glasgow. He is buried in Glasgow's St Kentigern's Roman Catholic 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

95158 Maj Victor F Benke, RA

95158 Major Victor Ford Benke of the 26th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery, died on the 30th October 1944. He was born in Kent and living in Liverpool when he enlisted. "Dinks" as he was known, was 24 years old, the son of Lt-Colonel Victor Etheridge Benke and Gertrude May Benke of Formby, Lancashire. He is buried in Cesena War Cemetery in Italy.

Victor was an old boy of Haileybury College and is remembered on the college Roll of Honour.

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

900807 Gnr Cyril H Embling, RA

900807 Gunner Cyril Henry Embling of the 122nd Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery, died on the 27th October 1944. He was 24 years old, the son of Frank and Beatrice Blanche Embling, of Abingdon, Berkshire. He is buried in Bergen-Op-Zoom War Cemetery in The Netherlands.

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

5763880 Gnr George Slaughter, RA

5763880 Gunner George Slaughter of the 7/4th Maritime Regiment, Royal Artillery died at sea on the 21st October 1941. He was born and bred in Norwich, Norfolk and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial in Devon.

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

11425402 Gnr Harold Sharman, RA

11425402 Gunner Harold Sharman of the 88th Heavy Anti-Aitcraft Regiment, Royal Artillery died in Italy on the 14th October 1944. He was 21 years old, the son of Mr and Mrs F Sharman of Gipsyville, Hull. He is buried in Florence 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

917098 Bdr Norman W Gleim, RA

917098 Bombardier Norman William Gleim of the 110th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, died on the 13th October 1941. He was 26 years old, the son of William Frederick and Mary Elizabeth Gleim of Manchester, and the husband of Edna Gleim of Newton Heath, Manchester. He is buried in a Nonconformist grave in Manchester Southern 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

149666 Capt John Battarbee, RA

149666 Captain John Battarbee of the 116th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, died on the 8th October 1944. He was 28 years old, the son of John Henry and Sarah Battarbee, of Hull, and the husband of Nancy Battarbee, of Hull. He was a graduate (BA) of Oxford University.

Captain Battarbee is buried in Valburg (Slijk-Ewijk) General Cemetery in the Netherlands.

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

2044475 Gnr Cecil G Constable, RA

2044475 Gunner Cecil George Constable of 327 Battery, 31st (City of London Regiment) Searchlight Regiment, the Royal Artillery, died on the 7th October 1940. He was 30 years old, the son of Mr and Mrs George Henry Constable of Carshalton, and the husband of Annie Constable of Saltburn-by-Sea, Yorkshire. He was possibly killed during an air-raid attack, although this is pure guesswork on my part based on the date of his death and the regiment he was serving with. He is buried in Carshalton's All Saints Churchyard.

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

780600 Battery QMS Murdo Gillies, RA

780600 Battery Quartermaster Sergeant Murdo Gillies of the 39th Battery, 14th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery, died on the 30th September 1941. He was 31 years old, the son of Donald and Catherine Gillies of Greenock, Renfrewshire. He is buried in Tobruk 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

1794599 Gnr Alfred S Jenks, RA

1794599 Gunner Alfred Smith Jenks of 238 Battery, 77th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, the Royal Artillery, died in Singapore on thr 28th September 1945. He was a Yorkshireman by birth, 24 years old, the son of Herbert Smith Jenks and Rose Jenks of Moor Top, Yorkshire. He is buried in Kranji 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

1481188 Gnr Eric McEvoy Gunning MC, RA

1481188 Gunner Eric McEvoy Gunning of 310 Battery, 72nd (The Hampshire Yeomanry) Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery, died on the 20th September 1939. He was born in India and living in Dorset when he enlisted.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that he was the "son of Captain Charles Francis Gunning, formerly of the Durham Light Infantry and Mrs. Gunning; nephew of the Reverend Canon Joseph Oldham Gunning of St Mawgan-in-Pydar Rectory, Newquay, Cornwall. Formerly Captain in the Rifle Brigade in the 1914-18 War." Gunner McEvoy is buried in Netley Military Cemetery in Hampshire.

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

39184 Major Gustavus H M Phillips DSO, MBE; RA

According to the British Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945, Major Gustavus Henry March Phillips DSO, MBE of the Royal Artillery, died on the 12th September 1942 at the age of 34. I have been unable to locate this man on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Roll of Honour website but see from other sources that he is buried in St Laurent Sur Mer Churchyard in France.

Major Phillips was a decorated British officer who died whilst serving with the Special Operations Executive (SOE). Although his parent unit was the Royal Artillery, he died in a Commando raid whilst serving with 62 Commando, and had previously served with 7 Commando. He was the son of Lisle and Isabel Forbes March-Phillipps and the husband of Marjorie Frances Esclairmonde (nee Stewart) March-Phillipps of Chelsea, London. As well as the DSO and MBE, Major Phillips was also Mentioned in Dispatches.

Also read about Major Phillips's role in Operation Postmaster.

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
Special Forces Roll - biography and photo