Wymondham -WW2 1939-1945 - Cornerstone 2

E F Drew- also on Abbey Roll of Honour

 

Name: DREW, EDGAR FREDERICK

Rank: Pilot Officer (Air Gnr.) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Unit Text: 7 Sqdn.

Age: 27 Date of Death: 25/08/1941 Service No: 46121

Additional information: Son of Frederick and Violet Harriet Drew, of Silfield, Wymondham, Norfolk.

Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave 8. F. 6-9. Cemetery: RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY

www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2042970

 

Stirling N6020 Information

Type......................................................Stirling

Serial Number....................................N6020

Squadron.............................................7

X1D.......................................................MG-B

Operation............................................Karlsruhe

Date 1..................................................25th August 1941

Date 2..................................................26th August 1941

 

Further Information

"Serial Range N6000 - N6049. 50 Stirling Mk.1. Delivered to Wyton 29Apr 41, to No.7 Sqdn 5 May 41. Total Flying Hours 88.10. Airborne 2102 25Aug41 from Oakington. Crashed at Trier, Germany, due to a combination of battle damage and adverse weather. Those killed are buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery.

F/O K.O.Blunden KIA

P/O J.D.Wright KIA

Sgt G.Nicholson KIA

Sgt J.D.Edworthy RCAF KIA

Sgt W.E.Allan RCAF KIA

P/O E.F.Drew KIA

Sgt D.A.Lloyd PoW Sgt D.A.Lloyd was interned in Camps 8B/L3/L6/357, PoW No.23610. "

www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=690

 

There are no Stirlings claimed as shot down in the Luftwaffe records for this period.

 

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*A G J Dove- also on Abbey Roll of Honour

 

Name: DOVE, ALAN GILBERT JOHN

Rank: Convoy Signalman Regiment/Service: Royal Navy Unit Text: H.M.S. President III

Date of Death: 22/01/1943 Service No: C/JX 309935

Grave/Memorial Reference: 70, 3. Memorial: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL

www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2466830

 

The HMS President III was a home ship for many Royal Naval Personnel who were actually assigned to Merchantmen and other non-RN craft. In Alan Dove’s case this was the SS St Sunniva, a pre-war luxury ocean going yacht that was requisitioned by the Navy and was being used as a Convoy Rescue ship.

 

The winter of 1942/1943 was one of the harshest in living memory. SS St Sunniva had an uneventful journey out with convoy ON158 from the Clyde, heading for Nova Scotia. She was last heard of on the 21st January on the approach to Labrador. Her final fate is not known, but it is surmised that a sudden build up of ice caused her to become top heavy, and she turned turtle. There were no survivors.

archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/Mariners/2005-01/1...

 

St Sunniva, steamship

ANDERSON, Douglas, Act/Able Seaman (DEMS), P/JX 312619, (President III, O/P), MPK

BARLOW, Albert W, Act/Able Seaman (DEMS), P/JX 335076, (President III, O/P), MPK

CALLAGHAN, Bernard, Gunner, RA, 1821370, (7/4 Maritime Regt, RA, O/P), killed

CHRISTER, Robert E W, Sick Berth Attendant (DEMS), C/MX 109355, (President III, O/P), MPK

COOK, William, Gunner, RA, 1826034, (7/4 Maritime Regt, RA, O/P), killed

DAVIES, Claude M, Ty/Py/Surgeon Lieutenant, RNVR, (Spartiate, O/P), killed

DOVE, Alan G J, Convoy Signalman, C/JX 309935, (President III, O/P), MPK

HAWKRIDGE, William L, Sick Berth Attendant, C/MX 109227, (President III, O/P), MPK

HOGAN, John J, Act/Able Seaman (DEMS), D/JX 345350, (President III, O/P), MPK

HOWE, John H, Gunner, RA, 1754676, (7/4 Maritime Regt, RA, O/P), killed

LINDSAY, David P, Act/Able Seaman (DEMS), C/JX 249698, (President III, O/P), MPK

MCINERNEY, Joseph J, Gunner, RA, 1821351, (7/4 Maritime Regt, RA, O/P), killed

MORLEY, Richard W, Ty/Act/Leading Seaman (DEM), C/JX 201866, (President III, O/P), MPK

PEAD, Henry D, Lance Bombardier, RA, 6968723, (7/4 Maritime Regt, RA, O/P), killed

RALPH, Gerald G, Bombardier, RA, 4755362, (7/4 Maritime Regt, RA, O/P), killed

WAKELING, John E, Act/Able Seaman (DEMS), C/JX 339510, (President III, O/P), MPK

WHITE, Robert, Convoy Signalman, C/JX 269287, (President III, O/P), MPK

www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1943-01JAN.htm

 

Another report lists 64 souls on board, presumably from the merchant marine.

archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/Mariners/2005-01/1...

 

www.aberdeenquest.com/Play/LookandPlay/StSunnivaII/StSunn...

shetlopedia.com/St_Sunniva_(II)

www.simplonpc.co.uk/NorthCo/StSunniva1931_03.jpg

 

I suspect this is Alan brother as he mentions he had a brother who served 18 months on the Russian Convoys before going down with his ship

 

www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/02/a3880802.shtml

 

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C F Douglas- also on Abbey Roll of Honour

 

Name: DOUGLAS, COLIN FREDERICK

Rank: Aircraftman 1st Class Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 605 Sqdn.

Date of Death: 25/11/1942 Service No: 1294625

Grave/Memorial Reference: Column 418. Memorial: SINGAPORE MEMORIAL

www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1814442

 

One of many from Norfolk who died in Japanese PoW camps

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F J G Elvin- also on Abbey Roll of Honour

 

Name: ELVIN, FREDERICK JAMES GEORGE

Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Royal Norfolk Regiment Unit Text: 4th Bn.

Age: 21 Date of Death: 15/02/1942 Service No: 5775120

Grave/Memorial Reference: Column 50. Memorial: SINGAPORE MEMORIAL

www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=4018597

 

www.roll-of-honour.org.uk/Regiments/Royal_Norfolk_Regimen...

 

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F G Forster- also on Abbey Roll of Honour

 

Name: FORSTER, FREDERICK GEORGE

Rank: Lance Corporal Regiment/Service: Royal Army Service Corps Age: 21

Date of Death: 26/09/1945 Service No: T/14770444

Additional information: Son of James Ernest and Mabel Gertrude Forster, of Wymondham, Norfolk.

Grave/Memorial Reference: 26. E. 17. Cemetery: TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY

www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2085556

 

One of many from Norfolk who died in Japanese PoW camps

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K F Fowler- also on Abbey Roll of Honour,

 

Name: FOWLER, KENNETH FREDERICK

Rank: Aircraftman 2nd Class Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Age: 19 Date of Death: 31/10/1942 Service No: 1450295

Additional information: Son of Frederick Alomis Fowler and Rose Gwendoline Fowler, of Wymondham.

Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. 3. Grave 465. Cemetery: WYMONDHAM CEMETERY

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J C Hall- also on Abbey Roll of Honour

 

Name: HALL, JOHN CHARLES

Rank: Squadron Leader (Pilot) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Unit Text: 15 Sqdn.

Age: 24 Date of Death: 18/05/1942 Service No: 41693 Awards: D F C, Mentioned in Despatches

Additional information: Son of William Salkeld Hall and Dorothy Mary Hall, of Wymondham, Norfolk.

Grave/Memorial Reference: Grave BD. 382. Cemetery: ODENSE (ASSISTENS) CEMETERY

www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2271434

 

Stirling W7531 Information

Type....................................................Stirling

Serial Number..................................W7531

Squadron..........................................15

X1D.....................................................LS-F

Operation.........................................Gardening

Date 1...............................................17th May 1942

Date 2...............................................18th May 1942

 

Further Information

"Serial Range W7500 - W7539. 40 Stirling Mk.1. Delivered to No.15 Sqdn 2 May 42. This aircraft was the second Stirling to be named 'MacRobert's Reply', the first one was N6086 which was damaged on take off from Lossiemouth by hitting a Spitfire 'which shouldn't have been there' (quote from Sgt Jeffs). The Spitfire pilot was killed, which caused a considerable amount of distress to the crew (Captain S/Ldr P.Boggis)

 

Airborne 2140 17 May 42 from Wyton to lay mines in the Danish Sound (Carrots Region). Hit by Marine Flak in the target area and a port engine caught fire. Shortly afterwards, the Stirling flew over the Little Belt Bridge, again coming under sustained ground fire, which sent the bomber down at 0210 into a wooded area at Galsklint, 2 km W of Middelfart, Denmark. Sgt Jeffs was thrown out on impact and was taken into captivity, severely injured. Sgt Maycock has no known grave, but the rest of the crew killed were buried 21 May 42 in Odense Cemetery.

 

F/L Booth was a not a member of 15 Sqdn. He had been visiting Wyton and, on impulse, had asked to join the crew. F/O Ryan was a New Zealander serving in the RCAF.

 

S/L J.C.Hall DFC MiD KIA

F/L N.G.R.Booth (guest) KIA

Sgt A.Spriggs KIA

F/O J.P.Ryan RCAF KIA

Sgt R.Maycock KIA

Sgt J.B.Butterworth KIA

Sgt F.L.Sharp KIA

Sgt D.J.Jeffs PoW

Sgt R.Nicholson KIA

 

Mr Philip Jeffs, son of the lone survivor, offers the following illuminating information. Sgt Maycock is now also buried in Odense Cemetery, and a new headstone laid in 1999 marks the spot. His family now live in Australia and are aware of the burial of his remains. F/Lt Booth was assigned to W7531 for that flight, not as a guest on impulse, but as an official observer of the new GEE Radar System. The rest of the crew were forbidden to talk about this late entry. It appears that there was some resentment from the regular crewmen about having an RAF Observer on board, especially as a 'second' pilot. John 'Buck' Ryan was a New Zealander who went to Canada to join the RCAF, and was appointed to the 'The Reply' due to his Navigation and Radar skills. Sgt D.J.Jeffs was interned in Camps 8B/344, PoW No.24967."

www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=11118

Stirling I W7531 shot down by flak at Galsklint on 18/5 1942.

 

The Stirling belonged to RAF 15 Sqn. Bomber Command and was coded LS-F.

T/o 21:40 Wyton OP: Gardening Daffodil (South entrance to Øresund)

 

When W7531 was ready to drop mines in the southern entrance to Øresund, it was hit by flak from several ships, as well as from shore batteries.

 

Fires broke out and Pilot Sqn Ldr. John Hall DFC turned due west, while the crew battled the fires. When W7531 passed the Lille Bælt Bridge it was hit several times by flak from 3.lei Flak Abt. 844 II and IV Zug. At 02:10 hours W7531 crashed in the Forrest on Gals Klint , approximately 2 km to the west of Middelfart.

 

When the Stirling hit the ground, one of the remaining mines onboard exploded and the plane was totally wrecked.

 

Only W/Op Sgt Donald Jeffs survived the crash and the explosion, severely wounded. He was by the German Wehrmacht brought to the German Lazarett in Fredericia, and later on to the lazarett in Rendsburg. When he had recovered from his wounds, he was sent to Stalag VIIIB / 344 Lamsdorf.

 

The rest of the crew who apart from Sqn Ldr Hall consisted of Pilot F/Lt Neville G.R.Booth, Navigator F/O John P.Ryan RCAF, Air Gnr. Sgt John B. Butterworth, Air Gnr. Sgt Robert Nicholson, Air Gnr. Frank L. Sharp, Observer Sgt Ronald Maycock and Flt. Engr. Sgt Anthony Spriggs all perished.

 

The bodies were severely mutilated,and on 21/5 at 07:00 hours what was believed to be six crewmembers were laid to rest in a common grave in the Assistens cemetery in Odense.

The ceremony was performed by the German army chaplain Vorrath with full military honuors. Also participating were several Danish and German officers. The missing crewmember was Sgt Ronald Maycock.

 

In 1999 a group of people from Odense had worked their way through reports and testimonies dating back from May 1943 and had collected enough evidence to be able to convince The Commonwealth War Graves Commission that Maycock actually had been buried with his comrades on 21/5 1942. On 10/5 1999 a ceremony was held at the cemetery and a headstone with Maycocks name on it was unveiled.

 

After the war a memorial stone was raised on the spot where W7531 crashed. Every year on 5/5 on the day of the liberation of Denmark a ceremony is held on the site.

 

(There is also pictures of Jeffs and Sharp)

 

www.flensted.eu.com/194227.shtml

 

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W J P Haylett- also on Abbey Roll of Honour

 

Name: HAYLETT, WILLIAM JOHN PATRICK

Rank: Corporal Regiment/Service: Royal Norfolk Regiment Unit Text: 5th Bn.

Age: 26 Date of Death: 18/09/1944 Service No: 5775353

Grave/Memorial Reference: Column 48. Memorial: SINGAPORE MEMORIAL

www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2133472

 

One of many from Norfolk who died in Japanese PoW camps

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W E Holmes- also on Abbey Roll of Honour

 

Name: HOLMES, WILLIAM ERNEST

Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Royal Norfolk Regiment Unit Text: 4th Bn.

Age: 23 Date of Death: 11/02/1942 Service No: 5774338

Additional information: Son of Ernest Daniel and Jane Agnes Holmes, of Wymondham, Norfolk.

Memorial Reference: Column 51. Memorial: SINGAPORE MEMORIAL

www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2133793

 

William was to die during the final days of the Fall of Singapore, and like so many, has no known grave.

 

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R J Howes- also on Abbey Roll of Honour

 

Possibly

Name: HOWES, RAYMOND JOHN

Rank: Private Regiment/Service: South Wales Borderers Unit Text: 2nd Bn.

Age: 19 Date of Death: 11/08/1944 Service No: 14675789

Grave/Memorial Reference: XXII. A. 2. Cemetery: BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY

www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2326766

 

Less Likely is

 

Name: HOWES, RAYMOND DOUGLAS

Rank: Private Regiment/Service: The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) Unit Text: 1st Bn.

Age: 28 Date of Death: 28/02/1944 Service No: 5771965

Additional information: Son of George and Beatrice Elizabeth Howes, of Sculthorpe, Norfolk.

Grave/Memorial Reference: III, H, 1. Cemetery: ASSISI WAR CEMETERY

www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2048841

 

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F Lain- also on Abbey Roll of Honour

 

Either

Name: LAIN, FREDERICK NORMAN

Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment Unit Text: 2nd Bn. The Hertfordshire Regt.

Age: 30 Date of Death: 18/09/1944 Service No: 5778211

Additional information: Son of Frederick and Lucy Lain; husband of Kathleen Kate Lain. Grave/Memorial Reference: XIX, G, 5. Cemetery: CORIANO RIDGE WAR CEMETERY

www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2635743

 

Or

Name: LAIN, FREDERICK CHARLES

Rank: Lance Serjeant Regiment/Service: Grenadier Guards Unit Text: 3rd Bn.

Age: 30 Date of Death: 02/05/1940 Service No: 768990

Additional information: Son of Frederick Archibald and Alice Lain, of Watford; husband of Doris Mildred Lain, of Watford.

Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. B. Cons. Grave 569. Cemetery: WATFORD NORTH CEMETERY

www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2933221

 

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R J Leeder- also on Abbey Roll of Honour

 

Name: LEEDER, ROBERT JOHN CHARLES

Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Royal Norfolk Regiment Unit Text: 1st Bn.

Age: 18 Date of Death: 06/06/1944 Service No: 14646610

Grave/Memorial Reference: 1. A. 5. Cemetery: HERMANVILLE WAR CEMETERY

www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2337265

 

The Allied offensive in north-western Europe began with the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944. The village of Hermanville lay behind Sword beach and was occupied early on 6 June by men of the South Lancashire regiment. Later the same day, the Shropshire Light Infantry supported by the armour of the Staffordshire Yeomanry managed to reach and hold Bieville-Benville, four kilometres to the south of Hermanville. Many of those buried in Hermanville War Cemetery died on 6 June or during the first days of the drive towards Caen. The cemetery contains 1,003 Second World War burials, 103 of them unidentified

www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=203300...

 

A personal narrative of an NCO from the 1st Battalion involved in the D Day landings can be read here.

 

www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/39/a2691939.shtml

 

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K B Howlett

 

Name: HOWLETT, KENNETH BASIL

Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Royal Norfolk Regiment Unit Text: 2nd Bn.

Age: 19 Date of Death: 16/03/1945 Service No: 14631679

Additional information: Son of William and Annie Howlett.

Grave/Memorial Reference: 17. J. 21. Cemetery: TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY

www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2086271

 

 

 

 

Done