Southwold War Memorial 1939 to 1945
1939-1945
**I am indebted to the work of Chris Harley of the Great War Forum for providing a starting point. Any information taken from that source is marked (GWF)**********
1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=60444
BRINE F H H Francis Henry Herbert Brine 6561960 Serjeant 7th (1st Bn The London Rifle Brigade) Bn The Rifle Brigade. Son of Francis Nelson Brine and Emily Constance Brine, of Southwold, Suffolk; husband of Joan May Brine. Died 3rd November 1942. Commemorated Alamein Memorial. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2119861/BRINE,%...
The birth of a Francis Henry H Brine was recorded in the Blything District that then covered Southwold, in the January to March 1907 quarter.
The marriage of a Francis H H Brine to a Joan M Brace took place in the East Glamorgan District of Glamorganshire in the October to December 1939 quarter.
Operation Supercharge, the final phase of the Second Battle of El Alamein, had opened on the 2nd November, and although it was a battle mainly of attrition, it was the Allies, closer to the supply bases, who could afford to endure.
A feel for what the battalion had gone through can be gathered from this article. Like the soldier that it is about. Francis could possibly have been wounded in the same action on the 24th October but may not have been so lucky.
www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/56/a2719956.s...
BROWN F No further information currently (GWF)
Military Genealogy has a Frederick G Brown, born and resident Suffolk.
Probably
BROWN, FREDERICK GEORGE
Rank: Driver
Service No: T/280123
Date of Death: 07/02/1943
Age: 32
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Service Corps, 239 Gen. Transport Coy.
Grave Reference IV. B. 9.
Cemetery BONE WAR CEMETERY, ANNABA
Additional Information: Son of William and Alice Maud Brown, of Southwold, Suffolk.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/938197/BROWN,%2...
BURRAGE K Kenneth Cragie Burrage D/MX53832 Joiner 3rd Class Royal Navy HMS Gloucester. Son of William Edward and Helen Burrage, of Southwold, Suffolk; husband of Ida Winifred Burrage, of Southwold. Lost at sea 22nd May 1941 aged 32. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2476428/BURRAGE...
HMS Gloucester (Capt. H.A. Rowley, DSO, RN) was sunk in the Eastern Mediterranean in the Antikythera Channel, north west of Crete in position 35.50N, 23.00E by German Ju-88 and Ju-87 bombers during the German invasion of Crete.
The commanding officer Capt. Rowley, 45 officers and 648 more men were killed when she sank.
uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/1233.html
BLOWERS A E Possibly Alfred Edward Blowers P/JX166147 Able Seaman Royal Navy HMS Acheron. Son of George and Eva Blowers; husband of Winnefred Blowers, of South Harrow, Middlesex. Lost at sea 17th December 1940. Commemorated Portsmouth Naval Memorial. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2491913/BLOWERS...
There doesn’t appear to be a likely match for an Alfred Edward in the GRO index of births for the likely age range for him to have been serving in 1940. There is an Alfred Louis, who’s birth was registered in the Mutford District of Suffolk in the July to September quarter of 1902 as well as an Ernest Alfred who’s birth was recorded in the Ipswich District in the April to June 1903 quarter.
HMS Acheron (Lt. J.R. Wilson, RN) was mined off the Isle of Wright on 17 December 1940. She was running trials after completing repairs following the bomb damage sustained on 24 August. The trial was being conducted at night, with heavy seas running and a strong NE wind in complete darkness.
During one of the passes on the measured mile, 8 nm WSW of St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight,she struck a mine towards the bows, her own speed driving her under; she sank within 4 minutes, killing 196 crewmen and yard workers on board for the trials, only 19 survived. The mine is believed to have been one of those laid by the Luftwaffe in no definite pattern along the Channel coast. The wreck lies in 48 meters of water in position 50.32N, 01.26W.
CANNELL D Dennis Cautley Cannell C/JX130433 Able Seaman Royal Navy HMS Blean. Son of William and Harriett Cannell, of Southwold, Suffolk. Lost at sea 11th December 1942 aged 31. Commemorated Chatham Naval Memorial. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2465708/CANNELL...
HMS Blean (Lt. M.J. Parker) was sunk 60 miles west of Oran, Algeria in position 35.55N, 01.50W by a torpedo from the German submarine U-443. 89 members of her crew went down with the ship.
www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DE-Blean.htm
FOUNTAIN F Frederick Fountain 5835493 Private 2nd Bn Cambridgeshire Regiment. Husband of Ivy Louise Fountain, of Southwold, Suffolk. Died 13th June 1943 aged 33. Commemorated Singapore Memorial (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2131532/FOUNTAI...
The 2nd Bn Cambridgeshire Regiment was one of the many ill-fated units captured at the fall of Singapore in February 1942.
HURST C S No further information currently (GWF)
Looking at the styling of C’s and G’s on the memorial I believe this is a G S Hurst.
HURST, GEOFFREY SNOWDEN
Rank: Private
Service No: 5774712
Date of Death: 21/09/1944
Age: 24
Regiment: Royal Norfolk Regiment, 6th Bn.
Panel Reference Column 51.
Memorial SINGAPORE MEMORIAL
Additional Information: Son of James Snowden Hurst, and of Sarah Hurst, of Southwold, Suffolk.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2133981/HURST,%...
The men of the 6th Norfolks would also fall into the hands of the Japanese with the fall of Singapore.
HURR B No further information currently (GWF)
There is an Esau Hurr buried in the Churchyard - I wonder if this is a mistake on the memorial.
HURR, ESAU ROGERS
Rank: Leading Seaman
Service No: LT/JX 218777
Date of Death: 16/05/1942
Age: 34
Service: Royal Naval Patrol Service, H.M.S. Patrie.
Grave Reference Cemetery SOUTHWOLD (ST. EDMUND) CHURCHYARD
Additional Information:
Son of Ernest William and Harriet Maria Hurr, of Southwold; husband of Sonja Hurr.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2721214/HURR,%2...
Patrie, accident
HURR, Esau R, Leading Seaman, RNPS, LT/JX 218777, DOWS
www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1942-05MAY.htm
There is also an Ernest John Hurr from up the coast at Lowestoft
www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/1800823/HURR,%2...
HAMMERSLEY E Ernest Arthur Hammersley 1831444 Gunner 78 Battery, 35 Light AA Regiment Royal Artillery. Son of Joseph William and Ethel Maud Hammersley, of Southwold, Suffolk. Died 3rd May 1945 aged 24. Buried Labuan War Cemetery Grave L.C.9. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2677332/HAMMERS...
Another Southwold man who would die a prisoner of the Japanese.
HOWARD C No further information currently (GWF)
27 potential matches on the CWGC database but none with an obvious link to Southwold, although it does include the Earl of Suffolk!
Military Genealogy lists a Frederick, initials F C W, who was born and resident Suffolk.
The most likely match on the CWGC database is
HOWARD, FREDERICK CHARLES WILLIAM
Rank: Gunner
Service No: 863535
Date of Death: 15/12/1940
Age: 22
Regiment/Service: Royal Horse Artillery, 'C' Bty., 4 Regt.
Panel Reference Column 7.
Memorial ALAMEIN MEMORIAL
Additional Information: Son of William Lea Howard and Edith Elizabeth Howard
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2122489/HOWARD,...
The birth of a Frederick Charles William Howard was recorded in the Sudbury District of Suffolk in the April to June 1918 quarter. His mothers maiden name was Mansfield.
The marriage of William “Lee” Howard to Edith Elizabeth Mansfield was recorded in the Sudbury District of Suffolk in the April to June 1908 quarter.
From the Suffolk Free Press January 9th 1941
Much sympathy has been shown to Mr and Mrs Howard of Belchamp Otten who have received recent information that their son Gunner Frederick Howard was killed in action in the Western Desert on December 5th 1940 He joined the army in 1937 prior to that he worked at Bevington farms for C.Wjittome, he was 22.
www.foxearth.org.uk/1940-1941SuffolkFreePress.html
The Regiment was formed as 4th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) at Helmieh, Egypt in May 1939. The original Batteries were C Battery, F (Sphinx) Battery, and G Battery (Mercers Troop), drawn from independent commands in India and equipped with the Ordnance QF 25 pounder.
Shortly after the outbreak of war in September 1939 the Regiment moved to Mersa Matruh in early 1940. 4th RHA fired the opening rounds of the campaign in North Africa against the Italians at Sidi Barrani on 8 December 1940. As part of the newly formed 7th Armoured Division, 4th RHA advanced westwards across the desert, seeing action again in January 1941 at Bardia, the capture of Tobruk, and at Beda Fomm.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Regiment_Royal_Artillery
While the rest of the Division and the Australians prepared to attack Bardia, 4th Armoured Brigade, attacked the by-passed Italian camp as Sidi Omar on 16th December 1940. 2nd RTR lead the attack from the west, with good artillery support by 4 RHA, and soon broke through the perimeter, in tactics not dissimilar to a Napoleonic cavalry charge. 7th Hussars and 'B' Squadron, 3rd Hussars soon joined in, with the battle lasting just 10 minutes. The Italian Fascist gunners, with their guns sited on the east of the position (to face where any assault was most likely) fired to little avail, while under bombardment from two batteries of 4 RHA the main attack had come in from the west and south. 900 Italian prisoners were taken with 50 being killed
www.btinternet.com/~ian.a.paterson/battles1940.htm
MITCHELL E No further information currently (GWF)
Find My Past had an Army man, Albert E, born Canada resident Suffolk
Possibly
MITCHELL, ALBERT EDWARD
Rank: Captain
Service No: 88976
Date of Death: 20/07/1945
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 4th Bn.
Grave Reference Brit. Sec. L. B. 11.
Cemetery YOKOHAMA WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information:
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2815806/MITCHEL...
Other matches for A E or A Mitchell on the CWGC database either have different first names or are not from the British Army.
Albert Edward Mitchell is remembered on the Canadian Virtual War memorial, but again there is nothing to specifically link him with Southwold.
www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/collections/virtualmem/Detail/2815806
NICHOLS A Probably Alfred Nichol S/149290 Private Royal Army Service Corps. Died 23rd May 1940. Buried Southwold St Edmund Churchyard Grave Section P. (GWF)
There are no obvious matches on either the CWGC database or the Army Roll of Honour for either an A Nichols or A Nicholls. There is only one A Nichol on the Army Roll of Honour, who was recorded as born Suffolk and resident Essex.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2721215/NICHOL,...
There is no death of an Alfred Nichol recorded in the GRO index for 1940. There are 5 Alfred Nichols, three in the April to June quarter, but the youngest of the 5 was aged 66.
ROBERTS G No further information currently (GWF)
No obvious match on Military Genealogy on the Army Roll of Honour.
No obvious match on the CWGC database for either a Navy, (including Merchant Navy), or Air Force man or woman.
RAFTERY P Patrick Thomas William Raftery 5837468 Private 1st Bn Royal Berkshire Regiment. Son of Patrick and Gertrude Dorothy Raftery, of Southwold, Suffolk. Died 31st December 1944 aged 22. Buried Taukkyan War Cemetery Grave 18.A.10. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2262362/RAFTERY...
Another Southwold man who would die a prisoner of the Japanese
WORRALL J John Edward Wesney Worrall Acting Sub Lieutenant Royal Navy HM Submarine Thames. Son of Edward Ernest Worrall, and of Violet Cross Worrall, of Kelsale, Suffolk. Lost at sea 3rd August 1940 aged 21. Commemorated Portsmouth Naval Memorial. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2670824/WORRALL...
HMS Thames (Lt.Cdr. W.D. Dunkerley, RN) was most likely mined off Norway late July 1940 or early August 1940. She was reported overdue on 3 August 1940.
uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3409.html
WATSON A S Arthur Sidney Watson C/JX125067 Petty Officer Royal Navy HMS Barham. Son of Arthur P. and Amelia R. Watson, of Southwold, Suffolk. Lost at sea 25th November 1941. Commemorated Chatham Naval Memorial. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2473734/WATSON,...
On 25 November 1941, while steaming to cover an attack on Italian convoys, HMS Barham (Capt. G.C. Cooke, RN) was hit at 1629 hours north of Sidi Barrani, in position 32.34N, 26.24E by three torpedoes from the German submarine U-331. As she rolled over to port, her after magazines exploded and the ship quickly sank with the loss 862 members of her crew. There were 449 survivors.
uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4058.html
WALE T H Thomas Henry Wale 22414 Captain 231 Battery, 67 Medium Regiment Royal Artillery. Son of Henry Augustus and Helena Wale; husband of Thelma Winifred Wale. of Southwold. Died 18th November 1945 aged 46. Buried Southwold St Edmund Churchyard Grave Sec U. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2721216/WALE,%2...
The death of Thomas H Wale, aged 46, was recorded in the Lothingland District of Suffolk in the October to December 1945 quarter.
On 27 April 1921 Thomas Henry Wale was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 58th (Essex and Sussex) Medium Brigade, RFA (TA) and was promoted to Lieutenant in 231st Battery, 58th (Essex and Sussex) Medium Brigade, RFA (TA) on 27 April 1923. He was promoted to Captain in the 58th (Suffolk) Medium Regiment on 23 August 1926. Sometime between September 1927 and April 1928 he joined the Reserve of Officers as a Captain. He was recalled to active duty on 10 May 1939. In September 1939 T. H. Wale was a Captain in 67th Medium Regiment, RA (TA) at Ipswich.
www.ww2talk.com/forum/royal-artillery/35371-capt-t-h-wale...
SIMPSON M.B.E D W David William Simpson Master Merchant Navy SS Empire Merlin (London). Son of David and Harriet Simpson; husband of Margaret Taylor Simpson, of Beccles, Suffolk. Awarded Lloyd's Medal in 1914-1918 War. Commemorated Tower Hill Memorial. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2796977/SIMPSON...
At 02.45 hours on 25 Aug, 1940, U-48 attacked the convoy HX-65A 90 miles east by north of Flannan Isles and sank the Athelcrest and Empire Merlin.
The Empire Merlin (Master David W. Simpson MBE) sank in 35 seconds. The master, 33 crew members and one gunner were lost. The sole survivor ordinary seaman John Lee was picked up by the British corvette HMS Godetia (K 72) (LtCdr G.V. Lagassisk) and landed at Methil.
uboat.net/allies/merchants/485.html
Captain Simpson is today remembered by a memorial plaque outside Southwold’s Sailor’s Reading Room.He was apparently aged 70.
intheboatshed.net/2010/04/22/a-southwold-memorial-explained/
There is a number of occurrences on the net of Master Simpson as neing the Skipper of SS Wandy, a merchantman which had attacked and sunk a German U-boat in WW1, (and for which presumably he got his MBE). However, there do not appear to be any other references to SS Wandy or any likely incident which led to the sinking off a U-boat. I also couldn’t find any mention of the award of the OBE in the London Gazette.
PARKE D A Donald Arthur Parke 1472604 Sergeant (Pilot) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Son of Edward Gaymer Parke and Beatrice May Parke, of Southwold, Suffolk. Died 3rd April 1944 aged 22. Buried Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery Grave 6.B.10. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2111068/PARKE,%...
There doesn’t appear to be an obvious match for Donald in the official Casualty Communiques, as published in Flight Magazine.
Donald is the only member of the RAF recorded on the memorial for this date.
During the Second World War, Alexandria was again an important hospital centre, taking casualties from campaigns in the Western Desert, Greece, Crete, the Aegean Islands and the Mediterranean. Rest camps and hostels were also established there together with a powerful anti-aircraft base. Alexandria was also the communications centre for the middle and near east and became the headquarters of the Military Police. The cemetery at Hadra was extended for Second World War burials and was used from 1941.
www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/54600/ALEXANDRIA%20(HADRA)%20WAR%20MEMORIAL%20CEMETERY
Southwold War Memorial 1939 to 1945
1939-1945
**I am indebted to the work of Chris Harley of the Great War Forum for providing a starting point. Any information taken from that source is marked (GWF)**********
1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=60444
BRINE F H H Francis Henry Herbert Brine 6561960 Serjeant 7th (1st Bn The London Rifle Brigade) Bn The Rifle Brigade. Son of Francis Nelson Brine and Emily Constance Brine, of Southwold, Suffolk; husband of Joan May Brine. Died 3rd November 1942. Commemorated Alamein Memorial. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2119861/BRINE,%...
The birth of a Francis Henry H Brine was recorded in the Blything District that then covered Southwold, in the January to March 1907 quarter.
The marriage of a Francis H H Brine to a Joan M Brace took place in the East Glamorgan District of Glamorganshire in the October to December 1939 quarter.
Operation Supercharge, the final phase of the Second Battle of El Alamein, had opened on the 2nd November, and although it was a battle mainly of attrition, it was the Allies, closer to the supply bases, who could afford to endure.
A feel for what the battalion had gone through can be gathered from this article. Like the soldier that it is about. Francis could possibly have been wounded in the same action on the 24th October but may not have been so lucky.
www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/56/a2719956.s...
BROWN F No further information currently (GWF)
Military Genealogy has a Frederick G Brown, born and resident Suffolk.
Probably
BROWN, FREDERICK GEORGE
Rank: Driver
Service No: T/280123
Date of Death: 07/02/1943
Age: 32
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Service Corps, 239 Gen. Transport Coy.
Grave Reference IV. B. 9.
Cemetery BONE WAR CEMETERY, ANNABA
Additional Information: Son of William and Alice Maud Brown, of Southwold, Suffolk.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/938197/BROWN,%2...
BURRAGE K Kenneth Cragie Burrage D/MX53832 Joiner 3rd Class Royal Navy HMS Gloucester. Son of William Edward and Helen Burrage, of Southwold, Suffolk; husband of Ida Winifred Burrage, of Southwold. Lost at sea 22nd May 1941 aged 32. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2476428/BURRAGE...
HMS Gloucester (Capt. H.A. Rowley, DSO, RN) was sunk in the Eastern Mediterranean in the Antikythera Channel, north west of Crete in position 35.50N, 23.00E by German Ju-88 and Ju-87 bombers during the German invasion of Crete.
The commanding officer Capt. Rowley, 45 officers and 648 more men were killed when she sank.
uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/1233.html
BLOWERS A E Possibly Alfred Edward Blowers P/JX166147 Able Seaman Royal Navy HMS Acheron. Son of George and Eva Blowers; husband of Winnefred Blowers, of South Harrow, Middlesex. Lost at sea 17th December 1940. Commemorated Portsmouth Naval Memorial. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2491913/BLOWERS...
There doesn’t appear to be a likely match for an Alfred Edward in the GRO index of births for the likely age range for him to have been serving in 1940. There is an Alfred Louis, who’s birth was registered in the Mutford District of Suffolk in the July to September quarter of 1902 as well as an Ernest Alfred who’s birth was recorded in the Ipswich District in the April to June 1903 quarter.
HMS Acheron (Lt. J.R. Wilson, RN) was mined off the Isle of Wright on 17 December 1940. She was running trials after completing repairs following the bomb damage sustained on 24 August. The trial was being conducted at night, with heavy seas running and a strong NE wind in complete darkness.
During one of the passes on the measured mile, 8 nm WSW of St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight,she struck a mine towards the bows, her own speed driving her under; she sank within 4 minutes, killing 196 crewmen and yard workers on board for the trials, only 19 survived. The mine is believed to have been one of those laid by the Luftwaffe in no definite pattern along the Channel coast. The wreck lies in 48 meters of water in position 50.32N, 01.26W.
CANNELL D Dennis Cautley Cannell C/JX130433 Able Seaman Royal Navy HMS Blean. Son of William and Harriett Cannell, of Southwold, Suffolk. Lost at sea 11th December 1942 aged 31. Commemorated Chatham Naval Memorial. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2465708/CANNELL...
HMS Blean (Lt. M.J. Parker) was sunk 60 miles west of Oran, Algeria in position 35.55N, 01.50W by a torpedo from the German submarine U-443. 89 members of her crew went down with the ship.
www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DE-Blean.htm
FOUNTAIN F Frederick Fountain 5835493 Private 2nd Bn Cambridgeshire Regiment. Husband of Ivy Louise Fountain, of Southwold, Suffolk. Died 13th June 1943 aged 33. Commemorated Singapore Memorial (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2131532/FOUNTAI...
The 2nd Bn Cambridgeshire Regiment was one of the many ill-fated units captured at the fall of Singapore in February 1942.
HURST C S No further information currently (GWF)
Looking at the styling of C’s and G’s on the memorial I believe this is a G S Hurst.
HURST, GEOFFREY SNOWDEN
Rank: Private
Service No: 5774712
Date of Death: 21/09/1944
Age: 24
Regiment: Royal Norfolk Regiment, 6th Bn.
Panel Reference Column 51.
Memorial SINGAPORE MEMORIAL
Additional Information: Son of James Snowden Hurst, and of Sarah Hurst, of Southwold, Suffolk.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2133981/HURST,%...
The men of the 6th Norfolks would also fall into the hands of the Japanese with the fall of Singapore.
HURR B No further information currently (GWF)
There is an Esau Hurr buried in the Churchyard - I wonder if this is a mistake on the memorial.
HURR, ESAU ROGERS
Rank: Leading Seaman
Service No: LT/JX 218777
Date of Death: 16/05/1942
Age: 34
Service: Royal Naval Patrol Service, H.M.S. Patrie.
Grave Reference Cemetery SOUTHWOLD (ST. EDMUND) CHURCHYARD
Additional Information:
Son of Ernest William and Harriet Maria Hurr, of Southwold; husband of Sonja Hurr.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2721214/HURR,%2...
Patrie, accident
HURR, Esau R, Leading Seaman, RNPS, LT/JX 218777, DOWS
www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1942-05MAY.htm
There is also an Ernest John Hurr from up the coast at Lowestoft
www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/1800823/HURR,%2...
HAMMERSLEY E Ernest Arthur Hammersley 1831444 Gunner 78 Battery, 35 Light AA Regiment Royal Artillery. Son of Joseph William and Ethel Maud Hammersley, of Southwold, Suffolk. Died 3rd May 1945 aged 24. Buried Labuan War Cemetery Grave L.C.9. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2677332/HAMMERS...
Another Southwold man who would die a prisoner of the Japanese.
HOWARD C No further information currently (GWF)
27 potential matches on the CWGC database but none with an obvious link to Southwold, although it does include the Earl of Suffolk!
Military Genealogy lists a Frederick, initials F C W, who was born and resident Suffolk.
The most likely match on the CWGC database is
HOWARD, FREDERICK CHARLES WILLIAM
Rank: Gunner
Service No: 863535
Date of Death: 15/12/1940
Age: 22
Regiment/Service: Royal Horse Artillery, 'C' Bty., 4 Regt.
Panel Reference Column 7.
Memorial ALAMEIN MEMORIAL
Additional Information: Son of William Lea Howard and Edith Elizabeth Howard
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2122489/HOWARD,...
The birth of a Frederick Charles William Howard was recorded in the Sudbury District of Suffolk in the April to June 1918 quarter. His mothers maiden name was Mansfield.
The marriage of William “Lee” Howard to Edith Elizabeth Mansfield was recorded in the Sudbury District of Suffolk in the April to June 1908 quarter.
From the Suffolk Free Press January 9th 1941
Much sympathy has been shown to Mr and Mrs Howard of Belchamp Otten who have received recent information that their son Gunner Frederick Howard was killed in action in the Western Desert on December 5th 1940 He joined the army in 1937 prior to that he worked at Bevington farms for C.Wjittome, he was 22.
www.foxearth.org.uk/1940-1941SuffolkFreePress.html
The Regiment was formed as 4th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) at Helmieh, Egypt in May 1939. The original Batteries were C Battery, F (Sphinx) Battery, and G Battery (Mercers Troop), drawn from independent commands in India and equipped with the Ordnance QF 25 pounder.
Shortly after the outbreak of war in September 1939 the Regiment moved to Mersa Matruh in early 1940. 4th RHA fired the opening rounds of the campaign in North Africa against the Italians at Sidi Barrani on 8 December 1940. As part of the newly formed 7th Armoured Division, 4th RHA advanced westwards across the desert, seeing action again in January 1941 at Bardia, the capture of Tobruk, and at Beda Fomm.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Regiment_Royal_Artillery
While the rest of the Division and the Australians prepared to attack Bardia, 4th Armoured Brigade, attacked the by-passed Italian camp as Sidi Omar on 16th December 1940. 2nd RTR lead the attack from the west, with good artillery support by 4 RHA, and soon broke through the perimeter, in tactics not dissimilar to a Napoleonic cavalry charge. 7th Hussars and 'B' Squadron, 3rd Hussars soon joined in, with the battle lasting just 10 minutes. The Italian Fascist gunners, with their guns sited on the east of the position (to face where any assault was most likely) fired to little avail, while under bombardment from two batteries of 4 RHA the main attack had come in from the west and south. 900 Italian prisoners were taken with 50 being killed
www.btinternet.com/~ian.a.paterson/battles1940.htm
MITCHELL E No further information currently (GWF)
Find My Past had an Army man, Albert E, born Canada resident Suffolk
Possibly
MITCHELL, ALBERT EDWARD
Rank: Captain
Service No: 88976
Date of Death: 20/07/1945
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 4th Bn.
Grave Reference Brit. Sec. L. B. 11.
Cemetery YOKOHAMA WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information:
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2815806/MITCHEL...
Other matches for A E or A Mitchell on the CWGC database either have different first names or are not from the British Army.
Albert Edward Mitchell is remembered on the Canadian Virtual War memorial, but again there is nothing to specifically link him with Southwold.
www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/collections/virtualmem/Detail/2815806
NICHOLS A Probably Alfred Nichol S/149290 Private Royal Army Service Corps. Died 23rd May 1940. Buried Southwold St Edmund Churchyard Grave Section P. (GWF)
There are no obvious matches on either the CWGC database or the Army Roll of Honour for either an A Nichols or A Nicholls. There is only one A Nichol on the Army Roll of Honour, who was recorded as born Suffolk and resident Essex.
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2721215/NICHOL,...
There is no death of an Alfred Nichol recorded in the GRO index for 1940. There are 5 Alfred Nichols, three in the April to June quarter, but the youngest of the 5 was aged 66.
ROBERTS G No further information currently (GWF)
No obvious match on Military Genealogy on the Army Roll of Honour.
No obvious match on the CWGC database for either a Navy, (including Merchant Navy), or Air Force man or woman.
RAFTERY P Patrick Thomas William Raftery 5837468 Private 1st Bn Royal Berkshire Regiment. Son of Patrick and Gertrude Dorothy Raftery, of Southwold, Suffolk. Died 31st December 1944 aged 22. Buried Taukkyan War Cemetery Grave 18.A.10. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2262362/RAFTERY...
Another Southwold man who would die a prisoner of the Japanese
WORRALL J John Edward Wesney Worrall Acting Sub Lieutenant Royal Navy HM Submarine Thames. Son of Edward Ernest Worrall, and of Violet Cross Worrall, of Kelsale, Suffolk. Lost at sea 3rd August 1940 aged 21. Commemorated Portsmouth Naval Memorial. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2670824/WORRALL...
HMS Thames (Lt.Cdr. W.D. Dunkerley, RN) was most likely mined off Norway late July 1940 or early August 1940. She was reported overdue on 3 August 1940.
uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3409.html
WATSON A S Arthur Sidney Watson C/JX125067 Petty Officer Royal Navy HMS Barham. Son of Arthur P. and Amelia R. Watson, of Southwold, Suffolk. Lost at sea 25th November 1941. Commemorated Chatham Naval Memorial. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2473734/WATSON,...
On 25 November 1941, while steaming to cover an attack on Italian convoys, HMS Barham (Capt. G.C. Cooke, RN) was hit at 1629 hours north of Sidi Barrani, in position 32.34N, 26.24E by three torpedoes from the German submarine U-331. As she rolled over to port, her after magazines exploded and the ship quickly sank with the loss 862 members of her crew. There were 449 survivors.
uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4058.html
WALE T H Thomas Henry Wale 22414 Captain 231 Battery, 67 Medium Regiment Royal Artillery. Son of Henry Augustus and Helena Wale; husband of Thelma Winifred Wale. of Southwold. Died 18th November 1945 aged 46. Buried Southwold St Edmund Churchyard Grave Sec U. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2721216/WALE,%2...
The death of Thomas H Wale, aged 46, was recorded in the Lothingland District of Suffolk in the October to December 1945 quarter.
On 27 April 1921 Thomas Henry Wale was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 58th (Essex and Sussex) Medium Brigade, RFA (TA) and was promoted to Lieutenant in 231st Battery, 58th (Essex and Sussex) Medium Brigade, RFA (TA) on 27 April 1923. He was promoted to Captain in the 58th (Suffolk) Medium Regiment on 23 August 1926. Sometime between September 1927 and April 1928 he joined the Reserve of Officers as a Captain. He was recalled to active duty on 10 May 1939. In September 1939 T. H. Wale was a Captain in 67th Medium Regiment, RA (TA) at Ipswich.
www.ww2talk.com/forum/royal-artillery/35371-capt-t-h-wale...
SIMPSON M.B.E D W David William Simpson Master Merchant Navy SS Empire Merlin (London). Son of David and Harriet Simpson; husband of Margaret Taylor Simpson, of Beccles, Suffolk. Awarded Lloyd's Medal in 1914-1918 War. Commemorated Tower Hill Memorial. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2796977/SIMPSON...
At 02.45 hours on 25 Aug, 1940, U-48 attacked the convoy HX-65A 90 miles east by north of Flannan Isles and sank the Athelcrest and Empire Merlin.
The Empire Merlin (Master David W. Simpson MBE) sank in 35 seconds. The master, 33 crew members and one gunner were lost. The sole survivor ordinary seaman John Lee was picked up by the British corvette HMS Godetia (K 72) (LtCdr G.V. Lagassisk) and landed at Methil.
uboat.net/allies/merchants/485.html
Captain Simpson is today remembered by a memorial plaque outside Southwold’s Sailor’s Reading Room.He was apparently aged 70.
intheboatshed.net/2010/04/22/a-southwold-memorial-explained/
There is a number of occurrences on the net of Master Simpson as neing the Skipper of SS Wandy, a merchantman which had attacked and sunk a German U-boat in WW1, (and for which presumably he got his MBE). However, there do not appear to be any other references to SS Wandy or any likely incident which led to the sinking off a U-boat. I also couldn’t find any mention of the award of the OBE in the London Gazette.
PARKE D A Donald Arthur Parke 1472604 Sergeant (Pilot) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Son of Edward Gaymer Parke and Beatrice May Parke, of Southwold, Suffolk. Died 3rd April 1944 aged 22. Buried Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery Grave 6.B.10. (GWF)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/2111068/PARKE,%...
There doesn’t appear to be an obvious match for Donald in the official Casualty Communiques, as published in Flight Magazine.
Donald is the only member of the RAF recorded on the memorial for this date.
During the Second World War, Alexandria was again an important hospital centre, taking casualties from campaigns in the Western Desert, Greece, Crete, the Aegean Islands and the Mediterranean. Rest camps and hostels were also established there together with a powerful anti-aircraft base. Alexandria was also the communications centre for the middle and near east and became the headquarters of the Military Police. The cemetery at Hadra was extended for Second World War burials and was used from 1941.
www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/54600/ALEXANDRIA%20(HADRA)%20WAR%20MEMORIAL%20CEMETERY