23rd March 1941

Remembering the men and women who died whilst serving with United Kingdom forces, or as a result of enemy action, on the 23rd March 1941.

Quartermaster Ah Tee Merchant Navy
17071 Driver Arikadi Mukasa East African Army Service Corps
85573 Lieutenant Giles Compton Domville Auchmuty Royal Corps of Signals
Civilian Louisa Baker Civilian War Dead
1254405 Leading Aircraftman Kenneth Herbert (Ken) Beale Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
PO/X21545 Marine James Beazley Royal Marines
Civilian Ethel Florence Berry Civilian War Dead
1730824 Gunner Samuel George Bishop Royal Artillery
Second Engineer Officer Emmerson Joseph Black Merchant Navy
Civilian William Samuel Bowles Civilian War Dead
Civilian Mary Margaret Helen Burns Civilian War Dead
D/KX 107842 Stoker 2nd Class Victor Campbell Royal Navy
Sailor Chan Sun Sang Merchant Navy
Sailor Chao Ah King Merchant Navy
Civilian William Derry Chapman Civilian War Dead
SLA/33 Private Charles Williams West African Army Service Corps, R.W.A.F.F.
Lieutenant Richard Malet Boileau Charter Royal Navy
Third Hand Charles Chellis Fishing Fleet
Pumpman Chong Fai Merchant Navy
Fireman Chong Song Merchant Navy
Fireman Chong Wo Fook Merchant Navy
Fireman Choung Hee Merchant Navy
Civilian Albert Clements Civilian War Dead
Third Officer Ian Cyril Cunningham Merchant Navy
Deck Hand James Edward Dann Fishing Fleet
Civilian Albert William Dove Civilian War Dead
Civilian Helena Dove Civilian War Dead
Boy Ee Muay Merchant Navy Sailor Ee Ong Fatt Merchant Navy
GC/26393 Private Emmanuel Amponsah Gold Coast Regiment, R.W.A.F.F.
745506 Sergeant Cecil Roy Evans Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Pantry Boy Foo Yee Yain Merchant Navy
1259563 Sergeant Joseph Forster Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
13001692 Private James Foy Pioneer Corps
123433 Lieutenant Silvester Fudge Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Fireman Fung Kui Merchant Navy
60097 Pilot Officer Irvine Scott Owen Gaze Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
755569 Sergeant Frederick Gibbs Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Chief Officer Alfred Gray Merchant Navy
Skipper Robert James Harper Fishing Fleet
970533 Sergeant Eric Harold Harvey Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Senior Electrician John Lyon Herd Merchant Navy
Civilian Annie Hicks Civilian War Dead
Apprentice Richard James Hilhouse Merchant Navy
6982574 Fusilier Daniel Holmes Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Second Officer William Howard Hume Merchant Navy
Steward Joe Tin Fatt Merchant Navy
72685 Flight Lieutenant Sedgebert Herschel Joelson Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Civilian Samuel Charles Jones Civilian War Dead
Chief Steward Juan Seng Merchant Navy
6982911 Fusilier James Kennedy Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
759103 Sergeant Victor Sydney Key Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Sailor Kin Kwang Merchant Navy
904527 Sergeant Cecil Hubert King Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
745364 Sergeant David Kirkland Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
6914989 Rifleman George Edward Knott Rifle Brigade
Fireman Lan Kan Merchant Navy
Volunteer Lawrence  Home Guard
Quartermaster  Lee Ah Chay Merchant Navy
Mess Room Boy Lee John San Merchant Navy
552119 Sergeant C. Francis Xavier Leighton Royal Air Force
Quartermaster Leng Ah Moy Merchant Navy
Bimbashi (Major) William Harold Blyth Lesslie Sudan Defence Force
Fireman Li Kan Merchant Navy
842310 Lance Serjeant Philip George Lilly Royal Artillery
Sailor Lim Sin Keng Merchant Navy
Sailor Lin Loon Merchant Navy
Civilian Susan Linehan Civilian War Dead
Cook Ling Ah Chaw Merchant Navy
4541549 Private Robert Henry Lister West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
D/30209 Private Frederick Harry Lockhart Devonshire Regiment
553787 Sergeant George Sutherland Murray Macleod Royal Air Force
1052363 Aircraftman 2nd Class Harold Major Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Fifth Engineer Officer Peter Hammill Manderville Merchant Navy
Civilian James Martin Civilian War Dead
Civilian Albert Frederick Mason Civilian War Dead
Cook Mew Po Heng Merchant Navy
Fireman Mik Kia Merchant Navy
Fourth Engineer Officer Frank Cameron Miller Merchant Navy
Sub-Lieutenant (A) Peter Mittell Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
740943 Sergeant John Bernard Molony Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Second Radio Officer Michael Timothy Murphy Merchant Navy
755142 Sergeant Robert Friar Murphy Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
967874 Sergeant James Dennison Mccallum Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
First Radio Officer Cornelius William Mccarthy Merchant Navy
Third Engineer Officer Andrew Hughes Mcknight Merchant Navy
87427 Pilot Officer Anthony William Bright Newman Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Storekeeper Ngai Ah Sai Merchant Navy
Apprentice Rothes Gerald Novak Merchant Navy
971337 Gunner Francis Joseph Parsley Royal Artillery
5380041 Lance Corporal Rupert John Perry Corps of Military Police
630635 Leading Aircraftman Leslie James Prior Royal Air Force
936508 Leading Aircraftman Arthur Quarmby Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Civilian William Herbert Ramm Civilian War Dead
Civilian Henry John Reed Civilian War Dead
P/JX 212249 Sick Berth Attendant Joseph Douglas Rice Royal Navy
3601417 Private Thomas Riddell Border Regiment
4465546 Private Frederick Whelans Robson Durham Light Infantry
4040641 Private Ernest Rowley King's Shropshire Light Infantry
Mate Abe Davis Sampson Merchant Navy
4041312 Private Thomas James Sankey Cheshire Regiment
Civilian John Christopher Seward Civilian War Dead
Saloon Boy Sim Tee Jong Merchant Navy
Fireman Siong Wah Merchant Navy
Master Hubert Stanley Sivell Merchant Navy
D/JX 238131 Able Seaman Bertram Smith Royal Navy
Chief Engineer John Murdo Smith Fishing Fleet
Civilian Henry James Swainsbury Civilian War Dead
Deck Hand Walter St. Pierre Fishing Fleet
Chief Cook Tan Tian Teck Merchant Navy
Sailor Tang Siew Luk Merchant Navy
12357 Private Taulo Chitenje King's African Rifles
747821 Sergeant David Arthur Taylor Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Sailor Teong Ah Tay Merchant Navy
Donkeyman Thoe Foon Merchant Navy
Deck Hand William Heaton Thompson Fishing Fleet
Second Engineer William Findley Thomson Fishing Fleet
Carpenter Tiew Khek Guon Merchant Navy
Sailor Ting Meng Merchant Navy
Boatswain Tow Siong Kong Merchant Navy
6348320 Private Cyril Wade Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
Fifth Engineer Officer John Walker Merchant Navy
45188 Flying Officer Clifford Vernon Walters
Royal Air Force Steward William Weir Fishing Fleet
Fifth Engineer Officer Frank Wellings Merchant Navy
LT/KX 107518 Engineman Frederick James Western Royal Naval Patrol Service
4537577 Lance Corporal Percy White West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
Deck Hand Thomas Alfred Wilde Fishing Fleet
Chief Engineer Officer Alfred Leonard Francis Lambert Williams Merchant Navy
971577 Sergeant Harry Willis Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
C/J 24653 Chief Petty Officer Albert Victor Wincup Royal Navy
Quartermaster Wong Ah Chong Merchant Navy
Sailor Wong Ah Tay Merchant Navy
Cook Wong Choo Merchant Navy
Boy Wong Tung Kwan Merchant Navy
1161131 Sergeant Maurice Frederick Woodhams Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Civilian Giuseppe Zahra Civilian War Dead

Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

For King and Country

Remembering the following British and Commonwealth citizens who gave their lives for King, King Emperor and Kingdom, 69 years ago this day, on the 13th March 1944.  Data supplied by The Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

MTN/929819 Sepoy Abdul Aziz 31 Indian Armd. Div. Transport Coy, Royal Indian Army Service Corps
16557 Lance Naik Abdullah Khan 3rd Battalion, 8th Punjab Regiment
MTN/912079 Sepoy Adalat Shah 52 (B) G.P. Transport Coy, Royal Indian Army Service Corps
14424982 Private Leslie Morris Adams 2nd Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment
17597 Sepoy Ahmad Khan 2nd Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment
43590 Lance Naik Ali Akbar 29 Mountain Regiment, Royal Indian Artillery
30593 Private Ali Juma East African Army Ordnance Corps
19488 Sepoy Allah Ditta 1st Battalion, 10th Baluch Regiment
3779341 Private William Henry Bill Anders 13th Battalion, The King's Regiment (Liverpool) LT/JX
224942 Seaman Ernest Andrews H.M.S. Salpa. Royal Naval Patrol Service
4854912 Private Howard Ashmore Pioneer Corps
40605 Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Sydney Athron Royal Engineers
24167 Lance Naik Atma Ram King George V's Own Bengal Sappers and Miners
12514 Sepoy Babaji Kadam 1st Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry
5055612 Private Cyril Bailey 2nd Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment
Fireman Gasper Banjo S.S. Peleus (Greece) Merchant Navy
42358 Pilot Officer Malcolm Eber Palmer Barriball 487 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
T/10667759 Driver John James Allen Bates 42nd Inf. Bde. Coy, Royal Army Service Corps
5055155 Private Thomas William Beardmore 2nd Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment
787973 Sergeant Herbert Beck 311 (Czech) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
3600544 Private Phillip Bell 9th Battalion, Border Regiment
13014845 Private John George Benson Pioneer Corps
MTN/791929 Sepoy Bhagirath Singh 312 G.P. Transport Coy, Royal Indian Army Service Corps
19227 Rifleman Bhagirath Thapa 4th Battalion, 1st King George V's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment)
14585598 Private William Lawson Birch 2nd Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment
Radio Officer John Harold Birtles S.S. Peleus (Greece) Merchant Navy
D/JX 550875 Able Seaman Leonard Bonner H.M.S. President III Royal Navy
NX97238 Private Colin James Bray A.I.F. 7 Div. Pro. Coy, Australian Army Provost Corps
3912060 Gunner Alfred Broome 313 Battery, 90 Lt. A.A. Regiment, Royal Artillery
984854 Lance Bombardier Richard Douglas Burgoyne 114 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
5950913 Private Douglas Sydney Button Pioneer Corps
3913409 Bombardier Joseph Byrne 313 Battery, 90 Lt. A.A. Regiment, Royal Artillery
1386500 Flight Sergeant Alexander Vernon Charles Campbell 81 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
IA/249 Lieutenant Colonel Charles Harry Campbell Cdg. 2nd Battalion, 7th Gurkha Rifles
97049 Rifleman Churamani Khattri 1st Battalion, 9th Gurkha Rifles
M/27083 Trooper Charles William Clark 14th Armd. Regiment, Calgary Regiment, R.C.A.C.
Lieutenant William Maxwell Aitken Corbett Carleton and York Regiment, R.C.I.C.
4386935 Corporal Joseph Coulter 1st Battalion, Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment)
T/14554063 Driver William James Coulthard 726 Water Transport Coy, Royal Army Service Corps
7020392 Private John James Cunningham 2nd Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment
4059 Lance Naik Damar Sing Thapa 1st Battalion, 4th Prince of Wales' Own Gurkha Rifles
GC/53910 Lance Bombardier Dampare 2 Lt. Battery, West African Artillery, R.W.A.F.F.
4272653 Lance Serjeant Thomas Davison 410 Battery, 53 (5th Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery
17455 Havildar Deputy Singh 5th Battalion, 16th Punjab Regiment
V/4123 Sowar Dewa 25 Advanced Field Veterinary Hospital. Indian Army Veterinary Corps
543081V Pupil Pilot Malcolm Dick South African Air Force
51507 Recruit Dil Bahadur Thapa 4th Prince of Wales' Own Gurkha Rifles
3774279 Sapper John Disley 1002 Docks Operating Coy, Royal Engineers
14585 Sepoy Duli Chand 3rd Battalion, 4th Bombay Grenadiers
4685084 Serjeant Albert Charles Dyer 2/4th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
F/602415 Gunner Arthur De Witt Eaton Royal Canadian Artillery
5770086 Serjeant James Robert Everett 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, A.A.C.
MTN/992851 Lance Naik Faqir 103 G.P. Transport Coy, Royal Indian Army Service Corps Lieutenant Gerald Garfield Ferguson Cape Breton Highlanders, R.C.I.C
VX1211 Private George Fildes Australian Headquarters
T/788584 Private James Anthony Flanagan Royal Army Service Corps
NA/42278 Lance Corporal Gabriel Oti West African Army Service Corps, R.W.A.F.F.
138400 Sweeper Gangadharan Indian Army Medical Corps Lieut-Commander Douglas John Gavin H.M.S. Victory. Royal Navy
20119/IO Subadar Ghulam Ahmad 4th Battalion, 6th Rajputana Rifles
3252384 Private Robert James Gordon 2nd Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment
2718653 Guardsman Cecil Graham 1st Battalion, Irish Guards
NX47400 Private Robert William Griffin A.I.F. 2/20 Battalion, Australian Infantry
4398392 Private John Halpin 1st Battalion, Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment)
W/130692 Corporal Margaret Halton Auxiliary Territorial Service
3528829 Private George Hankinson 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment
3602743 Private William Hatton 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment
41456 Lance Naik Hayat Ali 24 Mountain Regiment, Royal Indian Artillery
4131283 Private Frederick Hayes 7th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment
787207 Flight Sergeant Frantisek Hecl 311 (Czech) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
14309415 Gunner Ronald Heywood 69 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
D/JX 207959 Leading Seaman George Edwin Hindle H.M.S. President III Royal Navy
EC/13628 Captain Gordon Hinds 1st Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry
V/4293 Sowar Hira 25 Advanced Field Veterinary Hospital. Indian Army Veterinary Corps
5059385 Private Cyril Holford 2nd Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment C/JX
551763 Able Seaman Charles George Howe S.S. Peleus Royal Navy
PAL/3737 Corporal Moshe Hurvitz Royal Engineers
J/43229 Pilot Officer Victor Herman Inderbitzin Royal Canadian Air Force
Q112639 Private Douglas Earl Inglis A.C.M.F. 15 Battalion, Australian Infantry
8197/IO Subadar Jabre Pun 1st Battalion, 4th Prince of Wales' Own Gurkha Rifles
Fireman Jahia Saleh S.S. Peleus (Greece) Merchant Navy
KML/29216 Private Jairo Libale Wambasa King's African Rifles
MT/201079 Sweeper Jog Lal Royal Indian Army Service Corps
14629416 Private Henry Johnson 2nd Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment
4542825 Gunner James Leslie Johnson 2 Maritime Regiment, Royal Artillery C/JX
389931 Ordinary Telegraphist Leonard Harold Johnson H.M.S. Milne Royal Navy
3714536 Private Frederick Harry Jones 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment
787308 Warrant Officer Ladislav Kadlec 311 (Czech) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve O/82977 Sepoy Kaliyappan 223 Base Ordnance Depot Indian Army Ordnance Corps
22199 Rifleman Kalyan Singh Machine Gun Battalion, 6th Rajputana Rifles
3907190 Private Michael John Kennedy 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
18896 Sepoy Khan Muhammad 6th Battalion, 2nd Punjab Regiment
14609498 Private Norman Brian King 1st Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment
T/139712 Driver William Kirkbride Royal Army Service Corps
7047432 Private Samuel Kirkland 6th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers
311979V Private Kraft South African Medical Corps
127085 Flying Officer Pavel Kubin 311 (Czech) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
28736 Havildar Labh Singh 1st Battalion, 11th Sikh Regiment
ME/10411 Craftsman Ladava Indian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
106488 Rifleman Lal Man Rai 4th Battalion, 10th Gurkha Rifles
D/163213 Private Joseph Albert Dollard Noel Lalonde Royal 22e Regiment, R.C.I.C.
K/62329 Lance Corporal James William Lawrie Canadian Scottish Regiment, R.C.I.C.
M/23575 Private Le Fleur Indian and Malay Corps, S.A. Forces
V/32595 Petty Officer Gordon Henry Lemessurier H.M.C.S. Givenchy Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve
235952 Lieutenant Arthur Walter Lewis Royal Engineers
FX582343 Leading Airman Barry Ryder Lewis H.M.S. Canada Royal Navy
3778120 Private Francis James Lindsay 9th Battalion, Border Regiment
14212248 Signalman Edgar Martin Littlejohn 118 Lt. A.A. Regiment,, R.A. Sig. Sec. Royal Corps of Signals
787998 Sergeant Oskar Lojka 311 (Czech) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
GA/1579 Private Louis Gomez 1st Battalion, Gambia Regiment, R.W.A.F.F.
 Sailor Peter Macleod S.S. Peleus (Greece) Merchant Navy
195 Sepoy Mahbub Khan 1st Battalion, Hyderabad Infantry, Indian States Forces
O/77402 Sepoy Mallappa Shindur 5 Ordnance Mobile Laundry Indian Army Ordnance Corps
Boatswain Dimitrios Mamas S.S. Peleus (Greece) Merchant Navy
17875 Sepoy Mangal Singh 1st Battalion, 14th Punjab Regiment
498 Labourer Mathai Cochin State Civil Labour Unit
NA/38071 Private Mbowe Binka 12th Battalion, Nigeria Regiment, R.W.A.F.F.
1874152 Serjeant Charles Arthur Melton 225 Field Coy, Royal Engineers Ordinary Seaman John Henry Melville M.V. Glenstrae (Glasgow) Merchant Navy
NA/ 46993 Private Michael Olapade Fagbemi West African Army Medical Corps, R.W.A.F.F.
13069821 Private Alfred Thomas Miller Pioneer Corps P/JX
335758 Able Seaman George Laidlaw Miller H.M.S. President III Royal Navy
V/5961 Sowar Mir Mai Ram 25 Advanced Field Veterinary Hospital Indian Army Veterinary Corps
J/28363 Flying Officer Thomas Ridley Mitchell Royal Canadian Air Force
14591770 Private Leslie Walter William Mosedale 2nd Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment
45764 Sapper Muhammad Aslam 17 Field Coy, Royal Bombay Sappers and Miners Sailor James Mcconnach S.S. Peleus (Greece) Merchant Navy
4127065 Private Douglas Stapleton Mcgreevy 7th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment
4442120 Warrant Officer Class I John Gregory Mcgurk Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
36216 Leading Aircraftman Donald Charles Mckenzie Royal Australian Air Force
7942642 Trooper Thomas Simpson Mckerrow 12th Royal Tank Regiment, R.A.C.
B/37766 Sergeant David Mcmillan Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, R.C.I.C.
430391 Leading Aircraftman Keith Robert Mcpherson Royal Australian Air Force
46251 Rifleman Nandaras Gurung 1st Battalion, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force)
109618 Rifleman Nar Bahadur Rana 4th Battalion, 10th Gurkha Rifles
ME/133266 Sepoy Narayan Pillai Indian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
ISC/61751 Signalman Narayanaswami 6th Indian Air Form. Sigs. Indian Signal Corps
8951/IO Subadar Narsing Dayal 7th Battalion, 10th Baluch Regiment
15762 Sepoy Nawab Khan 202 Base Ordnance Depot Indian Army Ordnance Corps
FX 83876 Air Mechanic Walter Charles Nicholls Royal Navy
14400875 Fusilier Robert James Nugent 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers
N/11794 Lance Corporal Oketch Odye King's African Rifles
A/23435 Lance Corporal William James Orris Royal Canadian Regiment
1874868 Lance Corporal Dick Palmer 18 Field Park Coy, Royal Engineers
2370948 Signalman Stanley Paton Royal Corps of Signals
14628761 Private Ernest Pierce 2nd Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment
122091 Flying Officer Charles Harrison Pigg 613 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Steward Alfred Pike S.S. Peleus (Greece) Merchant Navy
233139 Pioneer Pitti Purti Indian Pioneer Corps
21336 Sepoy Polu Ram 26th Battalion, 15th Punjab Regiment
420487 Pilot Officer David Allan Priddle Royal Australian Air Force
Lieutenant Colonel Alexander John Loft Pritchard British Columbia Regiment, R.C.A.C.
21160/IO Jemadar Qurban Ali 2nd Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment
ISC/16612 Signalman Rai Chand 7th Indian Div. Sigs. Indian Signal Corps
786305 Sepoy Ram Bir Parshad 55 G.P. Transport Coy, Royal Indian Army Service Corps
616 Sepoy Ram Singh 1st Battalion, Hyderabad Infantry, Indian States Forces
NA/125856 Private Ramadan Galo 5th West African Aux. Group West African Army Service Corps, R.W.A.F.F.
1097227 Lance Bombardier Henry Sidney George Ranson Royal Artillery
13099079 Signalman George William James Redford Royal Corps of Signals
R/181611 Sergeant Howard Murray Reed Royal Canadian Air Force
234820 Corporal Norman Riddle Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
626503 Corporal Fredrick Arthur Roberts Royal Air Force
198567 Naik Rothar John 604 Supply Sec. Royal Indian Army Service Corps
7022417 Private Norman Roy 2nd Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment
T/286715 Private Thomas Royle Royal Army Service Corps
MT/787660 Sepoy Sadiq 103 G.P. Transport Coy, Royal Indian Army Service Corps
43560 Naik Sadiq Husain 24 Mountain Regiment, Royal Indian Artillery
F/43879 Private James Donald Schofield 1st Canadian Special Service Battalion, R.C.I.C.
D/KX 109385 Leading Stoker Walter Scott H.M. Submarine P.512. Royal Navy
J/22158 Flying Officer David John Shea 41 (R.A.F.) Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force
4189938 Fusilier Frederick Edward Sheady 1st Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers
O/72626 Lance Naik Shivram Sawant Indian Inf. Bde. Workshop Coy, Indian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
SW/1129 Private Shongwe 1991 (Swazi) Smoke Coy, African Pioneer Corps (H.C.T.)
5890330 Private Reginald Shorter 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
14586 Sepoy Siri Chand 3rd Battalion, 4th Bombay Grenadiers
6982270 Bombardier Francis Herbert Smith 4 Maritime Regiment, Royal Artillery
SX12772 Corporal David Arthur Stephen A.I.F. 2/5 Australian Commando Squadron
4619868 Corporal James Herbert Stokes 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment
850426 Gunner Frederick Storey 2 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
5887688 Private James Frederick Straw 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
Fireman Emmanuel Sulley S.S. Peleus (Greece) Merchant Navy
Civilian Sushila Bala Majhi Civilian War Dead
37299V Sergeant Samuel Oswald Swailes General Service Corps, S.A. Forces
Captain Alex Jeffrey Swann Indian General Service Corps
34992 Sepoy Tara Chand 15th Punjab Regiment
F/76116 Private Murray Edward Tarr West Nova Scotia Regiment, R.C.I.C.
2879742 Corporal Alexander Taylor 1st Battalion, The London Scottish Gordon Highlanders
SW/496 Private Tela 1991 (Swazi) Smoke Coy, African Pioneer Corps (H.C.T.)
B/63584 Private Norman Templeton H.Q. 1st Corps Defence Coy, Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment), R.C.I.C.
10330 Rifleman Thamman Bahadur Sing 3rd Battalion, 9th Gurkha Rifles
7942287 Trooper Lawrence Clayton Thomas 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards) Royal Armoured Corps
R/189290 Leading Aircraftman James Edward Tierney Royal Canadian Air Force
170928 Pilot Officer Jan Timko 311 (Czech) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
SR/176939 Sepoy Tirlok Singh 588 Supply Sec. Royal Indian Army Service Corps
8214 Rifleman Tul Bir Pun 1st Battalion, 4th Prince of Wales' Own Gurkha Rifles
102530 Flight Lieutenant Alois Frantisek Uvizl 311 (Czech) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
1814929 Leading Aircraftman Douglas Van Der Biesen Barham Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
300205 Lieutenant John Douglas Vine Royal Sussex Regiment 285 Pioneer Vithu 1st Central Provinces and Berar Civil Pioneer Force
6098338 Private Walter Cyril Warner 1st Battalion, The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
240100 Lieutenant Bernard Joseph Webb 1st Recce. Regiment, Reconnaissance Corps, R.A.C.
2763105 Company Quartermaster Serjeant David Burness Westwood 6th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
14336509 Rifleman Frederick A. Whittaker 1st Battalion, The London Irish Rifles Royal Ulster Rifles
Private Emlyn Williams 9th Glamorganshire (Merthyr) Battalion, Home Guard
3912476 Gunner Thomas Eric Williams 313 Battery, 90 Lt. A.A. Regiment, Royal Artillery
228337 Lieutenant Christopher Moelwyn Strachey Williams-Ellis Welsh Guards
5572412 Gunner Horace Arthur Wills 2 Maritime Regiment, Royal Artillery
173115 Pilot Officer William Joseph Wills 613 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Private Edward Woolley 22nd County of Lancaster (Rochdale) Battalion, Home Guard
169618 Pilot Officer Otakar Zanta 311 (Czech) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
UML/160267 Private Zedekia Kafero East African Military Labour Corps

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

Died in London - 21st February 1944

The following civilians all died on the 21st February 1944 as a result of enemy action on London. It would appear that some of these 24 civilians died in the line of duty. For instance, Harry Cresswell was serving with the Heavy Rescue Service; Jesse Evans was a volunteer fire-watcher; Winifred Medleycott was working for the British Red Cross Society, James McKenzie working as a fire guard, and Herbert Pill a staff sergeant with the Home Guard.

James Michael Clark aged 5
Harry Cresswell aged 41
Alfred Patrick Donoghue aged 20
Jacqueline Donoghue aged 7
Brian Evans aged 4
Jesse William Evans aged 60
George William Gooch aged 38
Audrey Mary Elaine Hine aged 65
Edward Stimpson Long aged 74
Winifred Mary Medleycott aged 54
Edith Mary Morton aged 66
Roy Leonard Mcguire aged 28
James Reid Mckenzie aged 42
Winifred Rose Nash aged 60
Martha Newton aged 43
John Osborne aged 59
Doris Louisa Penning aged 32
Herbert Ernest Pill aged 44
Sophie Pauline Plane aged 76
Fred Porter aged 50
Henry Oliver Randall aged 53
Audrey Stannard aged 11
Isobel Margaret Marion Thomas aged 39
Mary Turner aged 47

The deaths occurred across London but with six of these recorded in Hammersmith and Fulham. I am assuming that all deaths were as a result of bombing raids.  

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.

6088544 Pte Herbert Jeffries, 2nd Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)

According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 177 men and women serving with United Kingdom forces died on the 2nd January 1945; seventy years ago today. Herbert Jeffries died at home this day and was buried in Abney Park Cemetery in Stoke Newington. He was 24 years old, the son of Henrietta Jeffries of Hackney.

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

 

Abney Park cemetery image borrowed from the Jane Shoots World blog.

531390 Leading Aircraft man David Graham Hodge, 99 Sqdn RAF

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that there were 96 fatalities on this day, 14th December 1939. My own mother was a day old at what, in London, must have been a very worrying time for my grandparents.

Thirty-four of the 96 casualties were amongst members of the Royal Air Force or Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and Leading Aircraftman David Graham Hodge was one of these men. He was 22 years old, the son of Elizabeth Hodge and the foster-son of Margaret Grant of Greenock, Renfrewshire when he was killed whilst serving with 99 Squadron, RAF. David Hodge has no known grave and is commemorated with over twenty thousand others on the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede in Surrey. Image above courtesy of: http://london.indymedia.org.

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

1101197 Flt Sgt Laurence Helm, 39 Sqdn, RAF VR

Remembering today 1101197 Flight Sergeant Laurence Helm of No 39 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who lost his life on this day, 30th November, 1942. He has no known grave and is commemorated on panel 3, column 2 of the Malta Memorial (pictured above, courtesy Wikipedia).

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

Derek and Henry Cecelin, civilians

According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, 137 service personnel and civilian air raid casualties died on the 2nd November 1940. Amongst the latter, was 15-year-old Derek Anthony Cecelin who died at King's College Hospital. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records that his home address was 31 Angell Road, Brixton and that he was the son of Henry Bohuslan Cecelin who also died at the hospital on the same day. He was 51 years old.

I have not found Henry on the 1911 census but his marriage in 1923 to Lily Blakeney is recorded as is Derek's birth in 1925. Derek was a twin, his brother Kenneth Bohuslan Cecelin's birth also recorded in the third quarter of 1925 in the district of Thanet, Kent. Kenneth Cecelin died in 1985.

The bomb site website notes that a total of 21 high explosive bombs were dropped in Brixton Hill between October 1940 and June 1941. Map, below courtesy of www.bombsight.org; blitz image from Wikipedia.

Remembering Derek and Henry Cecelin.

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.

1806050 Gnr Leonard Bailey, Royal Artillery

1806050 Gunner Leonard Bailey of the Royal Artillery died on this day, 12th October, in 1940. He was 20 years old, the son of John and Florence Bailey, of Earls Barton. At the time of his death he was serving with 432 Battery, 65th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment. He is buried in Earls Barton churchyard.

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

 

Photo of Earls Barton church courtesy of Higham and Rushden U3A.

3318426 Pte William Brawley, 5th Seaforth Highlanders

3318426 Private William Brawley of the 5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders was one of 705 men and women to die on this day, seventy years ago. He died in France on the 21st August 1944 and is buried in the St Desir War Cemetery in Northern France. I've borrowed the image above from Michael Weening's blog. About the cemetery, The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes:

"The Allied offensive in north-western Europe began with the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944.

"St Desir War Cemetery is the most easterly of the Normandy cemeteries. For the most part, those buried here died in the final stages of the campaign, in pursuit of the German forces towards the Seine.

"The cemetery contains 598 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War. 78 of these graves were brought in from Chartres (St Cheron) Communal Cemetery after the war, together with the four First World War burials now at St Desir."

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

2695025 Dmr Roland F Dunn, 2nd Bn, Scots Guards

2695025 Drummer Roland Frederick Dunn of the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards died on the 22nd April 1941. He was the son of Frederick Hunter Dunn and Ada Lucy Dunn (nee Feild) of Walworth, London and is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial in Egypt.  Roland's birth was registered in Wandsworth, south London, in the June quarter of 1920 and he was therefore just short of his 21st birthday when he died.

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

Sources:

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

7374015 Pte Kenneth Laycock, RAMC

 
Today marks the seventieth death anniversary of 7374015 Private Kenneth Laycock of the Royal Army Medical Corps.  He was born in Bradford and was living there when he enlisted.  The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that he was serving with the 197th Field Ambulance at the time of his death and that he is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial.  The Army Roll of Honour notes that he died whilst serving in Malaya.
 
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 of the Singapore Memorial from the 152 (Hyderabad) F Squadron website

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

2588477 Cpl Arthur Eagles, RCS

2588477 Corporal Arthur Henry Eagles of the Royal Corps of Signals died on the 21st September 1941 - seventy years ago this day. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission gives his nationality as British although according to the Army Roll of Honour he was born in Australia and living in West London when he enlisted. He is buried in Hatfield Park War Cemetery in Hertfordshire.

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

5769867 Pte Basil E Leggett, 5th Bn, Royal Norfolk Regiment

5769867 Private Basil Edward Leggett of the 5th Batalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment died on the 28th August 1945. He was 32 years old and the son of Mr and Mrs H. W. Leggett of East Dereham, Norfolk. He is buried in Sai wan war Cemetery in Hong Kong, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission noting, "...the remains of those who died as prisoners in Formosa (now Taiwan) were brought to Hong Kong for burial at Sai Wan in 1946. There are now 1,505 Commonwealth casualties of the Second World War buried or commemorated at Sai Wan War Cemetery. 444 of the burials are unidentified."

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
Wikipedia for the Sai Wan war Cemetery photo.

10687261 Dvr Thomas E Whiskin, ASC

10687261 Driver Thomas Edward Whiskin of the Army Service Corps died on the 9th April 1944. He was 20 years old and the son of Ernest William and Eva Jane Whiskin, of Sittingbourne Kent. He is buried in Bari 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

14250548 Gnr Roy H Brindley, RA

14250548 Gunner Roy Hollick Brindley of the 136th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, died on the 9th March 1944. He was 22 years old, the son of James George and Edith Mldred Brindley of Newbury, Berkshire. He is buried in Taukkyan War Cemetery in Myanmar (formerly 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

As strange as it may seem, I find I have less and less time these days to devote to blogs and so, it is with some regret, that I am temporarily suspending the entries on this particular remembrance blog. I will retain what I have already posted and hopefully, when I reach a positon where I am able to devote sufficient atention to the men who gave their all for us during WW2, I'll return to this topic.

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

6019500 Pte Natale Avitabile, Essex Regt

6019500 Private Natale Avitabile of the Essex Regiment (battalion unknown), died in England on the 20th December 1941. He was 24 years old, the son of Juan and Mary Avitabile, and the husband of Rita May Avitabile of Dagenham. He is buried in Barking's Rippleside 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

2663479 Gdsmn Harold Grundy, Coldstream Guards

2663479 Guardsman Harold Grundy of the Coldstream Guards (no battalion is given on either the CWGC site or the UK Army Roll of Honour) died in England on the 19th December 1940. He was born in Nottingham and living in Leicester when he enlisted, the 22 year old stepson of William G Bunker of Leicester. He is buried in Leicester's Gilroes 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

4749594 Pte Thomas Peers,2/6th Bn, West Riding Regt

4749594 Private Thomas Peers of the 2/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, died on the 18th December 1940. Thomas was 22 years old, the son of William and Ellen Peers of Dalton. He is buried in Dalton's Holy Trinity New Churchyard in Yorkshire.

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

5679680 Pte Alfred Mears, 2nd Bn, Dorset Regt

5679680 Private Alfred Mears of the 2nd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment died on the 17th December 1943. He was 29 years old and the husband of Rosina Lilian Mears of Kennington, London. He is buried in the Imphal War Cemetery in 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

14410954 Spr Charles M N Dewar, RE

14410954 Sapper Charles M N Dewar of the 164th Railway Operating Company, Royal Engineers, dies on the 16th December 1944. He was 29 years old, the son of Charles Murray Niven Dewar and Helen Margaret Dewar, of Perth. He is buried in Schoonselhof 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

254775 Pte Betty Flushon, ATS

254775 Private Betty Flushon of the Auxiliary Territorial Service died on the 15th December 1945. She was born in South-East London but living in Essex when she enlisted.

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

4858147 Pte Edwin Bollington, 1st Bn, Leics Regt

4858147 Private Edwin Bollington of the 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment died on the 14th December 1941. He was 22 years old, the stepson of Frederick Wilkinson of Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire. He is commemorated on Column 65 of the Singapore 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

7870813 Signalman Cecil H Cuming, RCS

7870813 Signalman Cecil Herbert Cuming of the Royal Corps of Signals died on the 13th December 1943. He was 43 years old, the son of Lewis Herbert and Mary Cuming and the husband of Janetta Cuming, of Paignton, Devon. He is buried in the churchyard of St Thomas, Killinghall in Yorkshire.

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

6296150 Pte Leslie W Stoneham, 5th Bn, The Buffs

6296150 Private Leslie Wilfred Stoneham of the 5th Battalion, The Buffs, died on the 12th December 1942. He was 31 years old, the husband of Nellie Stoneham of Gravesend, Kent. He is buried in the Medjez-el-Bab War Cemetery 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

3445376 L/Cpl James Ratcliffe, 2nd Bn, Lancashire Fusiliers

3445376 Lamce-Corporal James Ratcliffe of the 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers died on the 11th December 1942. He was from Bury and he is buried in the Beja War Cemetery 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

1940796 Spr Andrew Swan, RE

1940796 Sapper Andrew Swan of the Royal Engineers died on the 10th December 1941. He was 29 years old and is buried in the Heliopolis War Cemetery in Greece.

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