A list of the men by Surname G - I
This is a list of men who were either born or had a connection to either Frimley, Camberley or the local surrounding areas. Addresses are given as shown in the military and other records.
John William, Gaines 1923 - 1944;
Born at Frimley, Surrey, on the 26th September 1923. Registered at Farnham, Surrey.
Enlisted, unknown date.
Royal Hampshire Regiment.
Rank: Private.
Service No: 5511863.
John married Sylvia Emily Lilian White, on the 8th of August 1942. Registered at Basingstoke, Hampshire.
Posted to Italy, unknown date.
John served with the 2/4th Battalion Royal Hampshire Regiment.
Killed In Action on the 14th of May 1944, aged 20.
On the 11th of May 1944 the 2/4th Battalion Royal Hampshire Regiment assisted the other two battalions of their brigade to cross the River Rapido as part of the assault on Monte Cassino. The river and bank were under intense enemy fire, and the river so swift that swimmers from 2/4th had to cross with lines to enable the boats to get across. Troops got across the river but could make little headway against the storm of machine gun fire. The 2/4th could not get across to join their fellow battalions, and so on the 12th of May they came under command of 12th Infantry Brigade and crossed via a bridge on the 13th of May. Supported by 17th/21st Lancers and their Sherman tanks, the 2/4th Battalion attacked along the river, taking 200 prisoners. On the 14th of May, back in 28th Brigade, the 2/4th attempted to cross the River Pioppeta . The bridge for tanks sunk in the mud, and the Battalion took 100 casualties in two minutes. The 2/4th waded the river, but in spite of heavy casualties and fierce resistance, the advance continued. During this advance, Captain Wakeford won the Victoria Cross. By 6.30pm all objectives had been captured, and the 2/4th reorganised on a three-company basis. On the 16th of May the battalion was relieved. Two days later, Cassino was captured by the Polish Corps.
Buried at Cassino War Cemetery, Commune of Cassino, Province of Frosinone, Lazio, Italy.
Grave Reference: XI. F. 11.
Remembered on the Lych Gate Memorial, St. Andrew's, Frimley Green, Surrey.
Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial. (As a Corporal).
Son of John Albert and Ellen Gaines (nee Draper) of 4 Pinewood Terrace, Mytchett Road, Mytchett, Surrey; Husband of Sylvia Emily Lilian Gaines (nee White)
Reginald George, Gardiner 1904 - 1942;
Born on the 31st of May 1904. Registered at Bristol, Gloucestershire.
Baptised on the 26th of June 1904 at St. Paul's, Portland Square, Bristol, Gloucestershire.
Living at 99 Mina Road, Bristol, Gloucestershire, in the 1911 census.
Enlisted into the Royal Navy at Devonport, Devon, on the 23rd of June 1923.
Rank: Officer Steward Class 4.
Service No: DL/14447.
Posted to H.M.S. Vivid II, a shore based training establishment at Devonport, Devon, on the 23rd of June 1923.
Posted to H.M.S. Columbine on the 7th of June 1924.
Posted to H.M.S Greenwich on the 10th of October 1924.
Posted to H.M.S. Vivid II on the 18th of October 1924.
Posted to H.M.S. Hood on the 2nd of January 1925.
Posted to H.M.S. Vivid II on the 13th of June 1925.
Promoted to Officers Steward Class 3 on the 27th of June 1925.
Posted to H.M.S. Hood on the 30th of July 1925.
Posted to H.M.S. Vivid II on the 7th of January 1926.
Awarded Good Conduct Medal on the 27th of June 1926
Posted to H.M.S. Pembroke II on the 7th of December 1927.
Posted to H.M.S. Cumberland on the 15th of December 1927.
Posted to H.M.S Berwick on the 21st of January 1928.
Promoted to Officers Steward Class 2 on the 5th of April 1928.
Posted to H.M.S. Durban on the 28th of April 1928.
Promoted to Leading Steward, unknown date.
Posted to H.M.S Royal Oak, unknown date.
Awarded Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, on the 20th of June 1938.
Promoted to Petty Officer Steward, unknown date.
Posted to H.M.S. Hecla, unknown date.
Killed In Action on the 14th of November 1942, aged 37.
At 00.15 hours on 12 Nov 1942, U-515 fired a spread of four torpedoes at HMS Hecla , which was misidentified as a Birmingham-class cruiser and hit her in the engine room. Two torpedoes were surface-runner and the last also malfunctioned and was a circle-runner. The U-boat then hit the ship with three coups de grâce at 01.28, 01.49 and 02.06 hours, sinking the vessel west of Gibraltar.
Remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Grave Reference: Panel 72, Column 1.
Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial. (Unknown connection to local area)
Son of George and Bessie Laura Louisa Gardiner
D. J., Gates ? - ?
I have been unable to confirm details for D. J. Gates.
No name recorded on C.W.G.C.
Royal Navy
Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.
Patrick Grattan, Geary 1919 - 1942;
Born in India, 1919.
Educated as a Gentleman Cadet, Royal Military Academy Woolwich.
Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Engineers, on the 3rd of July 1939. Published in the London Gazette on the 4th of July 1939. Issue 34642, Page 4567.
Service No: 95193.
Promoted to Lieutenant, Royal Engineers, on the 3rd of January 1941. Published in the London Gazette on the 24th of January 1941. Supplement 35056, Page 538.
Appointed Temporary Captain on the 16th of March 1941.
Patrick married Felicity Clutterbuck, on the 19th of February 1942. Registered at Westminster, London.
Patrick served with the 1st Parachute Squadron, Royal Engineers.
Served in the North Africa Campaign during the Operation Torch landings on the 8th of November 1942.
Killed In Action on the 24th of November 1942, aged 23.
Having parachuted into Souk-el-Arba, Tunisia, the officers of 1st Parachute Battalion, met a recently discharged French sailor while visiting French positions at Sidi Nasis. The French sailor informed the officers that an Italian force of about 20 tanks and 300 men took cover each night at a position about 9 miles from Sidi Nasis towards Mateur.
The battalion's Commanding Officer decided to launch a battalion sized attack, minus R Company who were fighting at Oued Zarga, on the Italian's position that night. Zero hour was set for 3.00 am on the 24th of November 1942. The ensuing engagement became known as the Battle of Gue Hill.
A detachment from 1st Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers was tasked with mining the road to the east of the enemy positions to prevent their escape. The 1st Battalion's assault groups had moved into their assigned positions when three explosions where heard about 2,45 am, from the Sapper's forming up positions.
To save time the Sappers had fully primed their Hawkins mines in sandbags an act which was to have tragic circumstances. It is believed that one man slipped into a wadi causing his mines to detonate, the shockwave triggering detonations of the remaining mines carried by the party of men.
The explosions resulted in the loss of the entire detachment comprising of Captain Geary, Lt. Holland, Lt. White, L/Sgt. Sayer, L/Sgt. Muir, Cpl. Mercer, L/Cpl. Harris, L/Cpl/ Hill, L/Cpl. Hornsby, L/Cpl. Manning, Sapper Calcott, Sapper Elvidge, Driver Hillings, Sapper Moat, Sapper V.J. Mitchell, Sapper J.W. Mitchell. Sapper Rickelton, and Sapper Stanmore.
No Known Grave.
Remembered on the Medjez-el-Bab Memorial, Tunisia.
Panel Reference: Face 10.
Son of Lt.-Col. Herman Noel Grattan Geary, Royal Engineers, and Renee Joyce Geary; husband of Felicity Geary (nee Clutterbuck), of Mimram, Parkway, Camberley, Surrey.
Paul Brian, Gell 1921 - 1941;
Born in India, 1921.
Educated at Imperial Services College Haileybury, Unknown dates.
Shown on the Unattached List of Officers, Indian Army. Published in the London Gazette on the 5th of January 1940. Supplement 34766, Page 68.
Service No: I.A./1260.
Paul served with the 1st Battalion 13th Frontier Force Rifles.
Promoted to Lieutenant on the 30th of June 1941.
Appointed Temporary Captain on the 9th of July 1941.
Killed In Action on the 9th of December 1941, aged 20.
Buried at Taiping War Cemetery, Malaysia.
Grave Reference: 4. B. 8.
Mentioned In Despatches.
Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.
Son of Lt.-Col. Humphrey Vickers Gell, formerly of the Indian Army, and Nina Gell, of Newnhams, Park Road, Camberley, Surrey.
Albert James, Gibbs 1914 - 1944;
Born on the 15th of July 1914 at Strood, Kent. Registered at Strood, Kent.
Enlisted in 1930.
Royal Artillery.
Rank: Gunner.
Service No: 816487.
Transferred to the Army Reserve on the 22nd of November 1934.
Rejoined the Royal Artillery from the Reserve on the 30th of August 1937.
Living at 157 Darnley Road , Rochester, Kent, England, in the 1939 Register.
Albert married Bessie Harrison, between July and September 1941. Registered at Surrey North Western.
Transferred to the Glider Pilot Regiment, Army Air Corps on the 1st of June 1943.
Service No: 816487.
Rank: Serjeant.
Posted to No. 5 Glider Training School, Shobdon Airfield, Herefordshire. Albert was on course No. 16, June 1943.
Albert was selected to go to India to set up new Glider Squadrons to continue the fight against Japan and strengthen the battle units in the Far East.
Posted to India on the 5th of December 1944. Embarking an R.A.F. Dakota (Douglas C-47) at R.A.F Northolt.
Died on the 5th of December 1944, aged 30.
Albert was tragically killed when Dakota FL588 of No. 24 Squadron, R.A.F Transport Command, crashed into a snowy ridge on the north slope of the Pic de la Camisette, at about 1.30pm. The Pic de la Camisette is located in the Pyrennes, Southern France and is 7800ft above sea level.
Of the 23 men aboard the Dakota, 17 men were killed or died as a result of their injuries.
Albert's body was brought down from the mountain on the 11th of December 1944, and buried in the Mijanes churchyard in a area known as the "Englishman's plot". The bodies of the men were moved by C.W.G.C. in the 1950's.
Buried at Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles, France.
Grave Reference: Plot 3. Row C. Grave 37.
Son of Arthur Vincent and Eliza Arm Gibbs (nee Walters); Husband of Bessie Gibbs (nee Harrison), of Camberley, Surrey.
Guy Richard Tufnell, Gillett 1911 - 1942;
Born on the 5th of February 1911, at Clifton Road, Southsea, Hampshire. Registered at Portsmouth, Hampshire.
Living at 14 Rosary Gardens South Kensington, London, in the 1911 census.
Educated as a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military Academy Woolwich.
Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Artillery, on the 29th of January 1931. Published in the London Gazette on the 30th of January 1931. Issue 33685, Page 675.
Promoted to Lieutenant Royal Artillery, on the 29th of January 1934. Published in the London Gazette on the 30th of January 1934. Issue 34019, Page 679.
Guy married Alathea Rachel Constance Talbot-Ponsonby, between April and June 1935. Registered at Petersfield, Hampshire.
Promoted to Captain Royal Artillery, on the 29th of January 1939. Published in the London Gazette on the 31st of January 1939. Issue 34594, Page 679.
Service No: 49829.
Promoted to Major, unknown date.
Died on the 29th of November 1942, aged 31.
Buried at Catterick Garrison Cemetery, Catterick, Yorkshire.
Grave Reference: C. of E. Sec. Grave 269.
Remembered on the Hinton Ampner War Memorial, Bramdean, Hampshire.
Son of Colonel Charles Richard Gillett, D.S.O., and of Gwynne Eveline Dykes Gillett, (nee Keate), of Maida, Camberley, Surrey; husband of Alathea Rachel Constance Gillett, of Bramdean, Hampshire.
Frank George, Goddard 1908 - 1940.
Born on the 20th of October 1908, at Frimley, Surrey.
I have not confirmed records for the 1911 census.
Enlisted into the Royal Navy, on the 21st of February 1924.
Rank: Boy Class II
Service No: D/J 109687.
Posted to H.M.S. Ganges on the 21st of February 1924.
Promoted to Boy Class I, on the 10th of August 1924.
Posted to H.M.S. Thunderer on the 12th of June 1925.
Posted to H.M.S. Resolution on the 10th of July 1925.
Promoted to Ordinary Sailor and signed on for 12 years service on the 20th of October 1926, Frank's 18th birthday.
Posted to H.M.S. Vivid I on the 23rd of December 1926.
Posted to H.M.S. Valiant on the 26th of May 1927.
Frank continued his service with the Royal Navy, being promoted to Petty Officer Telegraphist by April 1940.
Posted to H.M.S Thistle, unknown date.
H.M.S. Thistle was a T-Class submarine.
Killed In Action on the 10th of April 1940, aged 31. (C.W.G.C. records a date of death as the 14th of April 1940).
H.M.S. Thistle, under the command of Lt. Wilfred Frederick Haselfoot, was ordered to patrol off Stavanger, Norway, and to sink any enemy vessel that she might spot in the harbour, since British authorities believed that a German invasion of Norway was imminent. On the 10th of April Thistle signalled her intention to comply with this order and that she had two torpedoes remaining after an unsuccessful attack on a U-boat. With this in mind the Admiralty changed her orders to patrol off Skudenes, Norway. No further contact was made with H.M.S. Thistle.
It was later discovered that U-4, the U-boat Thistle had previously attacked, had sighted the submarine on the surface and sunk her with torpedoes.
The action began when H.M.S. Thistle spotted U-4 cruising on the surface with a periscope. At 16.04 hours on the 9th of April 1940 H.M.S. Thistle fired a spread of six torpedoes, all of which missed. H.M.S. Thistle later reported the unsuccessful engagement via radio, and that the submarine had only two torpedoes left.
U-4 observed one torpedo passing ten meters ahead and evaded further underwater attacks by crash diving. The U-boat crew later heard three explosions of the off-track torpedoes at the end of their run. Afterwards U-4 found H.M.S. Thistle on the surface recharging its batteries.
At 02.13 hours on the morning of the 10th of April 1940, U-4 fired a spread of two torpedoes at its attacker. The first, a G7a torpedo, missed. The second, a magnetic G7e torpedo, found its mark, sinking H.M.S.Thistle with all hands near Skudenes, Norway.
Remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth, Devon.
Remembered on the Lych Gate Memorial, St. Andrew's, Frimley Green, Surrey.
Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.
Son of George and Lucy Goddard, of 20, Oakley Road, Camberley, Surrey.
Charles James Benjamin Issac, Goodyear 1910 - 1943;
Born on the 19th of April 1910, at Woking, Surrey.
Baptised on the 9th of May 1910, at Christ Church, Woking, Surrey.
Living with parents and grandparents at 239 Walton Road, Woking, Surrey. in the 1911 census.
Charles married Ann Burton between April and June 1938. Registered at Surrey North Western.
Enlisted, unknown date.
Royal Navy
Rank: Petty Officer Stoker
Service No: P/KX 80678.
Charles served aboard H.M.S. Beverley.
Killed In Action on the 11th of April 1943, aged 32.
On the 4th of February 1943 H.M.S. Beverley and H.M.S. Vimy managed to sink the U-187. Between them Beverley and Vimy picked up 45 survivors of the German U-Boat. Two months later, on the 9th April 1943, H.M.S. Beverley was escorting convoy ON-176 when it was damaged in a collision with SS Cairnvalona, which included the loss of key anti-submarine equipment.
Early on the morning of the 11th of April 1943 U-188 sighted the convoy about 530 miles south of Greenland. H.M.S. Beverley, by now at the rear of the convoy, was hit by three torpedoes and was lost. Out of a crew of 155 only four survived.
Remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Portsmouth, Hampshire.
Panel Reference: Panel 77, Column 3.
Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.
Son of Charles Albert and Ivy Rose Goodyear of 79 Gordon Road, Camberley, Surrey; husband of Ann Goodyear (nee Burton), of Fleet, Hampshire.
Gordon Stuart Grogan 1923 - 1944;
Born at Frimley Green, Surrey, between October and December 1923. Registered at Farnham, Surrey.
Enlisted unknown date.
Royal Air Force (Volunteer Reserve).
Rank: Flight Sergeant.
Service No. 1320894.
Posted to No. 106 Squadron.
Gordon married Theresa (Terry) Bridget Cairns, between April and June 1944. Registered at Surrey Mid Eastern.
Killed In Action on the 6th of October 1944, aged 20.
On the 6th of October 1944, Gordon acting as Wireless Operator and Airgunner and the rest of the crew of Lancaster PD214 code ZD-N, took off from R.A.F. Metheringham, Lincolnshire at 5.45pm tasked with bombing the docks at Bremen, Germany, on what was the crews 30th and last operational sortie.
Some of the crew of PD214, unknown date.
Nothing more was heard from the aircraft after take-off and the International Red Cross reported that she had crashed and the Germans had recovered two bodies for burial.
PD214 crashed near to the town of Cloppenburg, Germany, and the site of the crash was recently discovered by granddaughters of Flight Engineer Ronald Barton. The site was excavated and the remnants of PD214 were relocated back and put on display at R.A.F. Metheringham, in June 2015.
German children seen playing on the crash site of Lancaster PD214
Remembered on the Air Forces Memorial, Runnymede, Surrey.
Panel Reference: 218.
Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.
Remembered on the Lych Gate Memorial, St. Andrew's, Frimley Green, Surrey.
Son of Robert and Bertha Grogan, of Frimley Green, Surrey; husband of Terry (Theresa) Bridget Grogan (nee Cairns), of Frimley Green, Surrey.
Lancelot Townley, Grove 1905 - 1943;
Born on the 22nd of August 1905, at Satara, Bombay, India.
Baptised at St. Thomas', Satara, Bombay, India, on the 22nd of October 1905.
Living at The Ridge, Jubbulpore, India, in the 1911 census. Lancelot's father is an Officer in the Army.
Educated as a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military Academy Woolwich.
Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Engineers, on the 3rd of September 1925. Published in the London Gazette on the 4th of September 1925. Issue 33081, Page 5836.
Promoted to Lieutenant Royal Engineers, on the 3rd of September 1927. Published in the London Gazette on the 2nd September 1927. Issue 33308, Page 5671.
Posted to India. Lancelot served on the North West Frontier 1930 - 1931.
Awarded the India General Service Medal with clasp North West Frontier 1930 - 1931.
Promoted to Captain Royal Engineers on the 3rd of September 1936.
Appointed Adjutant Royal Engineers, on the 2nd of February 1938. Published in the London Gazette on the 5th of April 1938. Issue 34499, Page 2247.
Issued Service No: 33338.
Appointed Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel Royal Engineers, on the 6th of December 1941.
Promoted to Major Royal Engineers, on the 3rd of September 1942. Published in the London Gazette on the 1st of September 1942. Supplement 35690, Page 3855.
Posted to Canada. Embarking R.A.F. Ferry Command Liberator AL591 at R.A.F. Prestwick, Scotland on the 7th of February 1943.
Died on the 9th of February 1943, aged 37.
R.A.F.F.C. Liberator AL591 crashed whilst attempting to land at Royal Canadian Air Force Station Gander, Canada.
The following are entries from the R.C.A.F. Gander Station Diary:
"Feb. 9, 1943
An R.A.F.F.C. Liberator AL591 from the United Kingdom arrived over the station at 2200 hrs. The ceiling was 200 feet with visibility zero owing to a heavy fall of sleet. The pilot of the aircraft was in contact with the tower and reported that his gasoline gauge had stuck and he did not know how much fuel he had left. Owing to the long crossing caused by strong head winds, the pilot stated he could not reach Sydney and was going to land. The last message was received at 2315 hrs. after the Liberator had passed over the station at 100 ft. in an attempt to land. Contact was suddenly lost and it is feared the aircraft was forced down. A search will be organized immediately weather permits.
Feb. 11, 1943
Clear weather with all aircraft out at dawn on a search for Liberator AL591. The crashed aircraft was found early in the morning by a Harvard. It was about eight miles from the station, and upon aircraft on skis landing in the vicinity, three men were found alive and were immediately given medical aid and brought to the Station Hospital. One of the three survivors, Sgt G.P. Pollard, died in the hospital, which brought the total casualties in this crash to nineteen. The two men who are in the hospital do not appear to be suffering any serious injuries."
The dead included 11 from Great Britain, 5 from Canada and 3 from the United States of America. Twelve were civilians flying aircraft for Ferry Command, five were members of the R.A.F., two were members of the R.C.A.F. and one was a British Army officer. Included in the 12 civilians were four crew members of British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC).
Buried at Gander War Cemetery, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Grave Reference: Plot 4. Row 8. Grave 28.
Son of Colonel Percy Lynes Grove and Lorina Harriette Grove of Tenterden, Kent, England; husband of Joan Blanche Grove, of Peter House, Crawley Drive, Camberley, Surrey.
John, Hadler 1913 - 1945;
Born on the 27th of August 1913. Registered at West Ham, Essex.
Living at Dene Gate, Portsmouth Road, Camberley, Surrey, in the 1939 Register. Occupation given as Commercial Artist & Cartographical Draughtsman.
Enlisted unknown date.
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Rank: Leading Aircraftman
Service No: 1473333.
Died on the 13th of February 1945, aged 31. Registered at Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
Cremated at St. John's, Woking Crematorium, Woking, Surrey.
Panel Reference: Panel 2.
Son of George Ebenezer Hadler and Maud Adelaide Hadler (nee Holt), of Dene Gate, Portsmouth Road, Camberley, Surrey.
Henry Horace, Hallums 1913 - 1944;
Born between July and September 1913. Registered at Farnham, Surrey.
Enlisted unknown date.
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Rank: Leading Aircraftman.
Service No: 1173267.
Died on the 7th of October 1944, aged 31.
Buried at St. Peter's, Frimley, Surrey, on the 12th of October 1944.
Grave Reference: Grave 261.
Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.
Son of John Henry and Evelyn Jane Hallums, of 7 Abbetts Lane, Frimley Road, Camberley, Surrey.
Edward Thomas George, Hamilton 1920 - 1942;
Born between January and March 1920. Registered at Dover, Kent.
Living at Lynhurst, College Road, College Town, Sandhurst, Berkshire, in the 1939 Registers. Edward was working as a Gardener.
Enlisted unknown date.
Royal Hampshire Regiment.
Rank: Private.
Transferred to the Royal Sussex Regiment.
Rank: Private.
Service No: 5507448.
Posted to North Africa, unknown date.
Edward served with the 5th Cinque Ports Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment,
Killed In Action on the 3rd of November 1942 aged 22, During the 2nd Battle of El Alamein.
Buried at El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt.
Grave Reference: XVIII. C. 17.
Son of Harry and Susan Maud Ellen Hamilton (nee Halliday), Lynhurst, College Road, College Town, Camberley, Surrey.
Jack Aubyn, Harper 1921 - 1943;
Born between April and June 1921. Registered at Plympton, Devon.
Enlisted unknown date.
Royal Engineers.
Rank: Sapper.
Service No: 2156137.
Jack served in North Africa with 163rd Railway Workshop Company, Royal Engineers.
Died on the 18th of February 1943, aged 21.
Buried at Dely Ibrahim War Cemetery, Algeria.
Grave Reference: 3. G. 13.
Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.
Son of Sidney Richard and Edith May Harper, of Stonycroft, Upper Gordon Road, Camberley, Surrey.
Robert Roy, Harper 1897 - 1941;
Born on the 11th of October 1897 at Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand. Registered as Gerald Robert Roy Harper.
Living at 32 Cornwall Road, Lyttelton, Christcurch, New Zealand. Robert was working as a Seaman.
Enlisted on the 4th of May 1916, at , Lyttelton, Christcurch, New Zealand.
C Company, Canterbury Infantry Battalion.
Rank: Private
Service No: 21577
Posted to Foreign Service on the 21st of August 1916.
Declared No Longer Fit For Military Service, due to sickness contracted on Military Service on the 31st of October 1916.
Discharged from military service on the 19th of November 1916.
Awarded British War Medal 1914 - 1918.
Robert married Violet Esther Adelaide Lawrence in 1917. This marriage resulted in 6 children with 4 surviving childhood. Violet died in 1936.
Living at 143 Southampton Street, Sydenham in the 1919 election rolls. Occupation give as Factory Employee.
Living at 124 Wordsworth Street, Christchurch, New Zealand on enlistment 1939. Occupation given as Upholsterer, employed by State Forest, Balmoral.
Enlisted on the 4th of November 1939. at Christchurch, New Zealand. Date of Birth given as 11th of October 1904.
23rd Canterbury Regiment.
Rank: Private.
Service No: 10481.
Posted to Overseas Service on the 1st of May 1940. Disembarked at England on the 23rd of June 1940.
The 23rd Canterbury Regiment were based in Mytchett, Surrey.
Robert married Marjorie Olive May Jones, at St. Peter's, Frimley, Surrey, on the 11th of December 1940.
Posted to Egypt, embarked at England on the 4th of January 1941, disembarking in Egypt on the 4th of March 1941.
Killed In Action on the 20th of May 1941, aged 44.
On the 20th of May 1941 saw Germany begin an airborne invasion of Crete. Greek forces and other Allied forces, along with Cretan civilians, defended the island. After one day of fighting, the Germans had suffered heavy casualties and the Allied troops were confident that they would defeat the invasion. The next day, through communication failures, Allied tactical hesitation and German offensive operations, Maleme airfield in western Crete fell, enabling the Germans to land reinforcements and overwhelm the defensive positions on the north of the island. Allied forces withdrew to the south coast. Over half were evacuated by the British Royal Navy whilst the remainder surrendered or joined the Cretan resistance.
No known grave
Remembered on the Athens Memorial, Athens, Greece.
Panel Reference: Face 13.
Awarded the following medals
1939 - 45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939 - 45 and the New Zealand War Service Medal.
Remembered on the Lych Gate Memorial, St. Andrew's, Frimley Green, Surrey.
Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.
Son of Walter and Emma Harper (nee Day), of Sydenham, Canterbury, New Zealand; husband of Marjorie Olive May Harper (nee Jones), of 1 Salisbury Terrace, Mytchett, Surrey, England.
William David, Harraher 1921 - 1943;
Born between October and December 1921 at Swansea, Wales. Registered at Bridgend, Glamorganshire, Wales.
Enlisted unknown date.
King's Royal Rifle Corps.
Rank: Rifleman.
Service No: 6845938.
Posted to North Africa, unknown date.
William served with the 2nd Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps.
Killed In Action on the 15th of April 1943, aged 21.
Buried at Enfidaville War Cemetery, Enfidaville, Tunisia.
Grave Reference: III. C. 11.
Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.
Son of William Harraher, and of Phyllis Doyle ( was Harraher, nee Wears), of, 6 Pembroke Cottages, Park Road, Camberley, Surrey.
Sir John Ledlie Inglis Hawkesworth
Sir John Ledlie Inglis, Hawkesworth K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O & Bar 1893 - 1945;
Born on the 19th of February 1893. Registered at Basingstoke, Hampshire.
Living at The Vicarage, Over Staverley, Cumbria, in the 1901 census. John's father is the local Vicar.
Educated at St. Bees School, St. Bees, Cumbria, between 1907 and 1912.
Boarder at St. Bee's School, in the 1911 census.
Educated at Queen's College, Oxford University. John studied Modern history and Matriculated in 1912.
Whilst attending Oxford, John served as a Cadet in the Officer Training Corps.
Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant (on probation) 3rd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, on the 15th of August 1914. Published in the London Gazette on the 8th of September 1914. Issue 28894, Page 7100.
Posted to the B.E.F. in France and Flanders, disembarking on the 15th of December 1914.
John served with the 1st Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment on the Western Front during the Great War. He was wounded 3 times and finished the war ranked as Captain.
John married Helen Jane Macnaughton at St. Stephen, Kensington, London, on the 1st of July 1919.
Appointed to Staff Captain, at the War Office, London, 1920.
Awarded the French Croix de Guerre and Belgian Croix de Guerre both in 1921.
Appointed Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General to the Military Secretary, at the War Office, London in 1923.
Educated at the Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, admitted in 1927 and graduating in 1929.
Promoted to Major, unknown date.
Appointed Brigade Major 15th Infantry Brigade, 1930.
Appointed Deputy assistant Adjutant-General, Northern Command, 1932.
Appointed as Directing Staff of the Staff College, Camberley as a General Staff Officer, Grade 3 (G.S.O.3) from 1934 to 1937.
Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, on the 22nd of January 1922. Published in the London Gazette on the 29th of January 1937. Issue 34364, Page 618.
Passed as General Staff Officer, Grade 1 (G.S.O.1), 1937.
Posted to Palestine. Serving on Operations between the 12th of September 1937 and the 31st of March 1938.
Mentioned In Despatches for Service in Palestine. Published in the London Gazette on the 23rd of December 1938. Issue 34582, Page 8177.
Appointed as Commanding Officer, 12th Infantry Brigade, on the 20th of October 1939 and Posted to the B.E.F. in France.
The 12th Infantry brigade was then serving with the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F.) in France, although, unlike in the First World War, there was no immediate action and, in late 1939, the brigade moved to the Maginot Line near Metz, where it engaged the enemy in patrolling actions. He commanded the brigade throughout the Battle of France, finally being forced to retreat to Dunkirk where his brigade was evacuated to England at the end of May 1940, leaving France himself on the 1st of June.
Appointed Acting Brigadier on the 24th of November 1939.
Appointed Temporary Brigadier on the 24th of February 1940.
Appointed Brigadier General Staff, Scottish Command on the 10th of June 1940.
Awarded the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.). Published in the London Gazette, August 1940. The citation stated the following:
"For conspicuous and gallant services. During the active operations of the B.E.F. in May 1940, Brigadier Hawkesworth has shown outstanding leadership.
His personal example under fire and presence forward at critical periods in the battle have been a conspicuous feature of his activities, and inspiration to those under his command.
His cheerful and willing acceptance of tasks and his skill and energy in execution of them have been a valuable contribution to the successful carrying out of a succession of difficult operations of war."
Appointed Acting Major-General on the 12th of September 1940.
Appointed Director of Military Training at the War Office, London on the 9th of December 1940.
Mentioned in Despatches for Services in France 1940. Published in the London Gazette on the 25th of April 1941. Issue 35146, Page 2423.
Appointed General Officer Commanding 4th Infantry Division on the 9th of March 1942.
Shortly after John assumed command, a tank brigade (the 21st) was substituted for one of the three infantry brigades (the 11th) to create a "mixed" division and training began for overseas service.
Awarded the Most Honourable Order of Bath, Companion (C.B.) on the 1st of January1943. Published in the London Gazette on the 1st of January 1943, Supplement 35481, Page 3.
Posted to Algeria, French North Africa, disembarking in March 1943.
John and his 4th Infantry Division soon departed for Tunisia where it came under the command of Lieutenant General Charles Allfrey's V Corps, part of Lieutenant General Kenneth Anderson's British First Army. The division, transferring to Lieutenant General Brian Horrocks' IX Corps, took part in the final stages of the Tunisian Campaign until the fighting ended on the 13th of May 1943, with the surrender of nearly 250,000 Axis soldiers who subsequently became prisoners of war, although heavy casualties were sustained by the 4th Infantry Division.
Awarded the Distinguished Service Order. Published in the London Gazette on the 5th of August 1943. The citation stated the following;
"During the 7 weeks his Division has been in action he has led it with skill and great offensive spirit. During the very hard fighting of April 22-30 against the Hermann Goering Division, General Hawkesworth's leadership enabled his own 4 Division to stand up most successfully to a highly experienced opponent. During the critical dash from Hammam Idf to Cape Bon he swept the enemy of his feet and so contributed very largely to the early close of the campaign."
Appointed General Officer Commanding of the 46th Infantry Division, on the 25th of August 1943.
The 46th Infantry Division took part in the Allied invasion of Italy at Salerno on the 9th of September 1943 as part of the British X Corps, under Lieutenant General Richard McCreery, then serving under Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark's US Fifth Army and, repelling numerous fierce counterattacks, suffered very heavy casualties (including Hawkesworth's senior brigade commander, Brigadier M. A. James of the 128th (Hampshire) Brigade). After the capture of Naples in early October the division crossed the Volturno Line, with X Corps forming the left flank of the Fifth Army's advance to the Winter Line (also known as the Gustav Line). During the First Battle of Monte Cassino in January 1944 the division made an assault crossing of the Garigliano river. Lack of assault boats and heavy German resistance condemned it to failure, with heavy losses, mainly to the 128th (Hampshire) Brigade. The 46th Infantry Division's failure was to have serious repercussions for the US 36th (Texas) Division, to the right of the 46th, when it attempted to cross the Rapido River a few days later. After holding the line for the next few weeks, in March the division was relieved by Hawkesworth's old command, the 4th Infantry Division (now commanded by Major General Dudley Ward), and withdrawn to Egypt and Palestine to rest and refit, having sustained more than 5,000 casualties since landing at Salerno some six months prior.
Appointed Temporary Command of the British 1st Infantry Division in the Anzio beachhead on the 4th of May 1944, when its G.O.C., Major General Ronald Penney, fell ill.
Appointed back as G.O.C. of the 46th Infantry Brigade, on the 28th of May 1944.
Posted back to Italy, July 1944.
The 46th Infantry Brigade was back in Italy, now up to strength (largely from anti-aircraft gunners who had been retrained as infantrymen), as part of Lieutenant General Sir Oliver Leese's British Eighth Army's V Corps, under Lieutenant General Charles Keightley, on the Adriatic coast. The division was involved in heavy fighting during Operation Olive, the Eighth Army's major assault on the Gothic Line defences in September and October 1944.
Promoted to General Officer Commanding X Corps, on the 6th of November 1944.
Appointed General Officer Commanding Military Command Athens, Greece, on the 12th of December 1944.
When the Axis forces withdrew from Greece, from October British troops under Lieutenant General Ronald Scobie were sent there to maintain internal stability. In late 1944 John and his X Corps H.Q. were sent to help calm the Greek Civil War and to assume control of military operations so that Scobie could concentrate more on the highly complex and sensitive political aspects of the British involvement.
Awarded the Bar to the Distinguished Service Order. Published in the London Gazette on the 8th of February 1945. The citation stated the following;
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in storming the GOTHIC LINE.
On 28 Aug 44 Major General HAWKESWORTH was ordered to force the Gothic Line in the area of MONTE GRIDOLFO (MR 9475, Sheet No.20).
On 30-31 Aug 44 when his Division went in to attack, he was right up with the leading troops. During this, his car was blown up on a mine. He changed cars and, during the critical period, his car was continually in the most exposed positions and under very accurate shell fire. Eventually this car was hit by shell fire, but MAJOR GENERAL HAWKESWORTH continued to control the battle under similar conditions.
There is no doubt that his example of complete disregard for personal safety was inspiration to all in his Division and largely responsible for its success."
Posted to Italy, March 1945.
By March 1945 X Corps was in a reserve role and not involved in the final offensive in April 1945, which led to the surrender of Axis forces in Italy in early May and the end of the war in Europe. By this time, however, it had become apparent that John was suffering from a serious heart condition.
Died on the 3rd of June 1945, aged 52. John died on the way home to Britain, when he suffered a heart attack while on board his troopship which lay at Gibraltar.
Buried at Gibraltar (North Front) Cemetery (also known as Garrison Cemetery), Gibraltar.
Grave Reference: Plot 1. Row C. Grave 2.
Awarded as Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (K.B.E.) on the 5th of July 1945.
Awarded the United States Legion of Merit, Degree of Commander, for services in Italy. Published in the London Gazette on the 2nd of August 1945. Supplement 37204, Page 3962.
On the 10th of August 1945, General Mark W. Clark, commander of the Allied 15th Army Group, sent a tribute from his headquarters in Vienna mourning the "loss of a most highly-valued friendship to his many comrades-in-arms in the Mediterranean theatre…We shall not forget General Hawkesworth, and England has our eternal gratitude for producing men of his staunch integrity and character." The post-war British Army had been deprived of a popular and able commander."
Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.
Son of the Reverend John Hawkesworth and Frances Hawkesworth; Husband of Lady Helen Jane Hawkesworth (nee McNaughton), of Littlecote, Firwood Drive, Camberley, Surrey.
Cecil William, Haydon D.S.O. M.C. 1896 - 1942;
Born on the 23rd of February 1896, at Newton Abbott, Devon.
Baptised at St. Paul's, Newton Abbot, Devon, on the 26th of March 1896.
Living at Keyberry House, Newton Abbot, Devon in the 1901 census. Cecil's father was a Surgeon.
I've not confirmed Cecil in the 1911 census.
Educated at the Imperial Service College, Haileybury, Hertfordshire. Admitted in January 1912.
Educated as a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military College Sandhurst, unknown date.
Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) on the 1st of October 1914. Published in the London Gazette on the 30th of September 1914. Supplement 28920, Page 7778.
Posted to the B.E.F in France and Flanders, disembarking on the 17th of October 1914.
Cecil served with the 4th Battalion The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment).
Promoted to Lieutenant on the 15th of March 1915. Published in the London Gazette on the 9th of August 1915. Issue 29257, Page 7867.
Appointed Temporary Captain, on the 8th of July 1916. Published in the London Gazette on the 16th of October 1916. Supplement 29785, Page 9940.
Promoted to Captain, 1917.
Appointed (Temporary) Brigade Major 167th Infantry Brigade, unknown date.
Awarded the Military Cross. Published In the London Gazette on the 29th of November 1918. Supplement 31043, Page 14243.
"Capt. Cecil William Haydon, Middlesex R. (Bde. Maj., 167th Bde.).
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He carried out two valuable reconnaissances, obtained important information; and succeeded in clearing up a very obscure situation. His skilful .work was of great value at a time when information was urgently required."
Cecil was wounded twice during the 1914-1918 war, unknown dates.
Mentioned In Despatches, unknown date.
Appointed General Staff Officer 3rd Class (G.S.O III) on the 17th of April 1919. Published in the London Gazette on the 13th of June 1919. Supplement 31404, Page 7630.
Appointed Brigade Major of the Rhine Army, 1919.
Appointed Brigade Major Irish Command from 1920 until 1922.
Posted to Africa, 1931.
Served with Royal West African Frontier Force from 1931 until 1937.
Cecil married Evelyn Kay Buttery at St. George's, Hannover Square, London on the 26th of April 1933.
Granted local rank of Lieutenant-Colonel whilst employed with the Royal West Africa Frontier Force, on the 18th of January 1936. Published in the London Gazette on the 7th of February 1936. Issue 34253, Page 820.
Restored to the Establishment after serving in Africa, on the 17th of June 1937. Published in the London Gazette on the 18th of June 1937. Issue 33409, Page 3924.
Promoted to Major on the 11th of October 1937.
Promoted to Brevet Lieutenant Colonel 1939.
Awarded the Distinguished Service Order for the 1940 Birthday Honours for King George VI. Published in the London Gazette on the 9th of July 1940. Supplement 34893.
Appointed Temporary Brigadier 150th Infantry Brigade 1941.
Mentioned In Despatches for services in North Africa 1942. Published in the London Gazette on the 11th of December 1942. Supplement 35821, Page 5442.
Killed in action on the 1st of June 1942, aged 46, by Artillery Fire, at Rotunda Ualeb in the Gazala defences in the Western Desert.
On the 1st of June 1942 the 150th Infantry Brigade was overrun during the Battle of Gazala in the North African Campaign. For almost 72 hours (29th–31st May 1942) during the battle the 150th Brigade and the 44th Royal Tank Regiment held out against Erwin Rommel's concentrated attacks, without any support. On the 1st of June 1942 the German Army finally forced their surrender. Totally surrounded, the brigade only surrendered when it ran out of ammunition. It was unable to fight on or escape. Field Marshall Erwin Rommel was so impressed with the brigade's fight to defend the Rotunda that he stopped by to congratulate Brigadier Haydon, only to find that he had been killed near the end of the action there.
No known grave.
Remembered on the Alamein Memorial, Alamein, Egypt.
Panel Reference: Column 1.
Remembered on the Newton Abbot War Memorial, Newton Abbot, Devon.
Son of Edgar and Edith Haydon; husband of Evelyn Kay Haydon, of Ropley House, London Road, Camberley, Surrey.
Reginald James, Head 1900 - 1942;
I've not confirmed Reginald's parents or the 1901 and 1911 census returns.
Born on the 11th of September 1900. Registered at St. George, Hanover Square, London.
Reginald married Lilian Elizabeth Longhurst between April and June 1936. Registered at Hammersmith, London.
Living at Sanders Crossing, Hayfield Hill, Cannock, Staffordshire in the 1939 Registers. Reginald gives his occupation as Air Ministry Clerk.
Living at 10 Woodside, Blackwater, Hampshire. (Unsure when Reginald moved here but it is his wife's parents abode).
Enlisted into the Local Defence Volunteers, unknown date. (After the announcement on the 14th of May 1940 by Prime Minister Anthony Eden of the creation of the Local Defence Volunteers).
27th Hampshire (Farnborough) Battalion Home Guard.
The Home Guard (initially "Local Defence Volunteers" or L.D.V.) was a defence organisation of the British Army during the Second World War. Operational from 1940 until 1944, the Home Guard was composed of 1.5 million local volunteers otherwise ineligible for military service, such as those too young or too old to join the services, or those in reserved occupations–hence the nickname "Dad's Army". Their role was to act as a secondary defence force, in case of invasion by the forces of Nazi Germany and their allies.They were to try to slow down the advance of the enemy, even by a few hours in order to give the regular troops time to regroup. The Home Guard continued to guard the coastal areas of the United Kingdom and other important places such as airfields, factories and explosives stores until late 1944 when they were stood down, and finally disbanded in December 1945.
Died on the 20th of December 1942, aged 42. Registered at Aldershot, Hampshire.
Buried at Holy Trinity, Hawley, Hampshire, on the 23rd of December 1942.
Grave Reference: Near west gate.
Husband of Lilian Elizabeth Head, of 10 Woodside, Blackwater, Hampshire.
Eric Bertram, Hearmon 1920 - 1945;
Born on the 18th of November 1920. Registered at Hartley Wintney.
Enlisted into the Royal Regiment of Artillery, 1937.
Service No: 876354.
Rank: Gunner.
Posted to the 88th Field Company Royal Artillery, unknown date.
The 88th (2nd West Lancashire) Field Regiment was posted to the B.E.F. in France May 1940. They fought rearguard actions and were evacuated via Dunkirk with the men scattered across southern England. By the 6th of June 1940 the 88th Field Regiment had reformed at Royal Artillery Practice Camp Okehampton, Devon, before posting to Poole and Bournemouth.
Posted to Malaya, disembarking at singapore on the 28th of November 1941, assigned to Malaya Command.
Attached to the 28th Indian (Gurkha) Brigade (Indian III Corps Reserve), in the 9th Indian Infantry Division.
Eric serving with the 351st Battery(Cornish) 88th (2nd West Lancashire) Field Regiment and were sent to Ipoh, Alor Star and Kuantan, where the Repulse and Prince of Wales were sunk. Eventually the Battery was moved back over Fraser’s Gap to the West Coast, north of Kuala Lumpur and took part in the fights, skirmishes and battles down the Peninsular to Singapore.
Captured as a Prisoner of War by the Japanese on the 15th of February 1942.
Japanese P.O.W. No: 4488.
Sent to Thailand on working party Group No.4.
New Japanese P.O.W. No: 8345.
Died as Prisoner of War on the 12th of August 1945, aged 23.
Eric died from Malaria at Tagri, Thailand.
Buried at Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Kanchanaburi, Thailand.
Grave Reference: 6. F. 51.
Remembered on the Yateley War Memorial, Yateley, Hampshire.
Son of Albert Thomas Hearmon and Laura Helena Hearmon, of 6 Albert Cottages, Darby Green, Blackwater, Surrey.
Hugh Owen Seymour, Herdon 1905 - 1944;
Born on the 16th of November 1905, at Deolali, Bombay, India.
Baptised on the 23rd of December 1905, at Deolali, Bombay, India.
Educated as a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military College Sandhurst.
Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant Royal Warwickshire Regiment on the 25th of January 1925.
Posted to India, 1928.
Appointed as Aide-de-Camp to the District Commander in India on the 29th of January 1928 until the 3rd of November 1928.
Promoted to Lieutenant Royal Warwickshire Regiment on the 29th of January 1929.
Appointed as Adjutant Royal Warwickshire Regiment on the 9th of December 1931. Published in the London Gazette on the 8th of December 1931. Issue 33778, Page 7908.
Appointed as an Instructor at the Royal Military College Sandhurst on the 31st of January 1935 until the 17th of December 1938.
Promoted to Captain Royal Warwickshire Regiment on the 3rd of March 1936. Published in the London Gazette on the 3rd of March 1936. Issue 34261, Page 1383.
Hugh married Sheena Nellice Maclean between July and September 1939. Registered at Wokingham, Berkshire.
Promoted to Major Royal Warwickshire Regiment on the 29th of January 1942. Published in the London Gazette on the 27th of January 1942. Supplement 35438, Page 493.
Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, unknown date.
Appointed as Officer Commanding the 2nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, unknown date.
Killed In Action on the 7th of June 1944, aged 38.
Hugh as O.C. and the 2nd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment stormed the beaches on of Normandy on D-Day the 6th of June 1944. Whilst heading into land on Sword Beach the Landing Craft (L.C.I.) containing B Company, Regimental H.Q and Lt-Colonel Herdon was struck 3 times by enemy shells and the front disembarkation ramps (two thin rails which were lowered when the craft had landed to allow troops to move down onto the beach below) were destroyed by enemy mortar rounds. The L.C.I. crew was able to manoeuvre their stricken vessel alongside a craft already beached during 8th Brigades preliminary landings and the men on-board were, at great risk, able to transfer to, and subsequently disembark from, this vessel. Although casualties were incurred, the quick thinking and bravery of the naval vessel's crew undoubtedly saved many men of the Regiment that day. After heavy fighting throughout the day on D-Day the Royal Warwickshire Regiment were firmly placed on French soil suffering 4 killed and 35 wounded. A comparatively small cost when put against the 683 total killed by the British forces on and around Sword beach.
By the next day 7th of June 1944 the Royal Warwickshire Regiment planned to attack Lebisey Wood, north of Caen but almost immediately the attack began to go wrong. The leading company, A Coy set off at 0800 hrs and soon ran into snipers in Blainville, while the carriers and anti-tank guns got stuck in the marshy ground in the gully. The C.O. decided to postpone the attack to 0945 hrs and cancelled artillery and naval support fire until the later time. The message was passed to the gunners, but not to his leading companies which launched the attack as planned at 0845 hrs, without fire support. The C.O. therefore decided to continue and commit his other companies which then were cut down by German fire at short range, the battalion pinned down. One platoon from B Coy led by Lieutenant Dockerty got to within 10 yards of the German lines before being killed or wounded. The bodies of those killed from Dockerty's platoon would ultimately be left where they fell, in front of the German positions, for over a month until the wood was ultimately secured.
For over 5 hours the 2nd Batttalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment continued to fight against fierce German resistance taking heavy casualties whilst pinned by accurate, rapid fire from the woods, which left many men wounded or dead in the heat of the day, including the Battalions Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Herdon, who was shot in the head and killed by a burst of machine gun fire as he moved closer to the front line. The 2nd Battalion continued to fight for the rest of the day before withdrawing as dusk began to fall. The Battalion lost 154 fighting men, officers and other ranks in the days fighting and would spend the month re-building and re-organising before being pushed onwards towards Caen.
Buried in La Délivrande War Cemetery in Douvres-la-Délivrande, Normandy, France.
Grave Reference: VII. C. 9.
Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.
Son of Major-General Hugh Edward Herdon C.B. C.I.E. and Laura Barron Herdon; Husband of Sheena Nellice Seymour Herdon (nee Maclean) of Little Woodcote, Pine Avenue, Camberley, Surrey.
Leslie Barker, Hewitson 1911 - 1941;
Born on the 14th of February 1911, at Buxton, Derbyshire.
Living at 8 Market Square, Buxton, Derbyshire, in the 1911 census.
Leslie married Florence Margaret Bradshaw between April and June 1934. Registered at Surrey South Western.
Living at Vinegate, Station Road, Frimley, 1937
Granted a Commission for the duration of Hostilities as a Pilot Officer Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves, on the 20th of October 1940. Published in the London Gazette on the 26th of November 1940. Issue 35001, Page 6758.
Service No: 87418.
Posted to No.107 Squadron Royal Air Force, unknown date.
From the 3rd of March 1941 until May 1941, No. 107 Squadron was on loan to RAF Coastal Command and stationed at R.A.F. Leuchars, Scotland. Its duties while in Coastal Command were various: shipping strikes, convoy duties, coastal patrols, submarine searches and attacks on enemy airfields and harbours.
Killed In Action on the 18th of April 1941, aged 30.
Leslie and No. 107 squadron were tasked to attack a convoy near Farsund, Norway. Two Blenheim's R3740 and R3783 were shot down by flak (anti-aircraft fire) including the Wing Commander, A. Birch.
No known grave.
Remembered on the the Air Forces Memorial, at Runnymede, Surrey.
Panel Reference: Panel 33.
Son of Arthur and Mabel Hewitson of Buxton, Derbyshire; Husband of Florence Margaret Alice Hewitson, of Brae-Val, Knoll Road, Camberley, Surrey.
Robert Nockold Hildred
Robert Nockold, Hildred 1921 - 1942;
Born between October and December 1921. Registered at Hartley Wintney, Hampshire.
Enlisted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, unknown date.
Service No.1333535.
Rank: Sergeant.
Served as a Co-Pilot with No.207 Squadron R.A.F. Coastal Command.
Posted to R.A.F. Benbecula, Benbecula, Outer Hebrides, Scotland.
Killed In Action on the 14th of December 1942, aged 21.
"At 09-37 hours on December 14th 1942, 3 Fortresses took off from RAF Benbecula in very poor weather to provide cover for convoys ONS 152 and TA 29. Fortress IIA FL453 'A' was piloted by Flight Officer John Owen. The aircraft was due back at 5pm on the same day, however, when no weather report was received from the aircraft at the most distant point of its patrol it was presumed to have been lost before 2pm on December 14th 1942.
The following day 3 aircraft were dispatched to search for the missing crew, but nothing was found of FL453. One explanation for the loss of the aircraft is that the barometric pressure could vary considerably between base and the area being patrolled and crews routinely descended to around 100 feet (30m) above the sea once on station and set their altimeters to zero feet. This gave them some reassurance that their altimeter was correctly set while providing a small margin of 'padding'. Flt. Officer John Owen may have flown into the sea while attempting this procedure in the bad weather."
Remembered on the the Air Forces Memorial, at Runnymede, Surrey.
Panel Reference: Panel 85.
Son of Victor John and Constance Mary Hildred, of Mileta, 140 Frimley Road, Camberley, Surrey.
Henry Ralph, Hill 1905 - 1944;
Born on the 12th of November 1905, at Champaran, Bengal, India. Henry's father is an Indigo Planter.
Baptised on the 19th of December 1905 at Motihari, Champaran, Bengal, India.
Living with maternal Grandmother at 16 Brunswick Road, Hove, Sussex in the 1911 census.
Educated as a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military College, unknown dates.
Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant, King's Own Scottish Borderers, unknown date.
Promoted to Lieutenant, King's Own Scottish Borderers, unknown date.
Promoted to Captain, King's Own Scottish Borderers, unknown date.
Promoted to Major King's Own Scottish Borderers, on the 29th of January 1942. Published in the London Gazette on the 27th of January 1942. Supplement 35438, Page 494.
Henry married Barbara Mary Wardle between April and June 1942. Registered at Surrey North Eastern.
Henry served with the 7th (Airborne) Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Appointed Office Commanding S (Support) Company, unknown date.
In November 1943 the 7th Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers converted to an airborne role and moved to Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire and begun training with gliders to become accustomed to their new roles. In April 1944 a training accident killed 34 men. A Stirling towing a Horsa Glider carrying No.3 Platoon hit a tree on high ground and crashed killing all aboard. 26 Borderers, 6 R.A.F. personnel and 2 Glider pilots lost their lives.
On the 17th of September 1944 the battalion took off on Operation Market-Garden. Market the airborne element would be the largest airborne operation in history, delivering over 34,600 men of the American 101st, 82nd and British 1st Airborne Divisions and the Polish Brigade. 14,589 troops were landed by glider and 20,011 by parachute. Gliders also brought in 1,736 vehicles and 263 artillery pieces and 3,342 tons of ammunition.
Killed In Action on the 18th of September 1944, aged 38.
The 7th (Airborne) Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers, were tasked with securing Drop Zone Z for the 4th Parachute Brigade were due to land on the next day, and by 7 pm on the first day the battalions dispositions to protect the D.Z.had been completed according . to plan and digging was well advanced. Information from prisoners suggested that some 600 enemy troops had been occupying the barracks in Ede and that there were other reinforcements available further north. One prisoner taken was a girl, a German W.A.A.F. She was sent to Brigade H.Q. Vigorous patrolling by all Companies was carried out overnight and a problems with the radios was found, communications between companies and H.Q. proving to be almost impossible.
The Germans begun to counter-attack the landing early on the 18th of September 1944, and soon became apparent that the Germans held a small wood on the north end of the drop zone. Two companies were sent to clear the wood and fighting could be heard. By 9 am sounds of firing from the east indicated the Germans were moving southwards where D Company was located and with no communications Major Hill was sent to investigate. There followed increased sounds of firing, both machine gun and rifles. When Major Hill returned, some two hours later, he reported having engaged the enemy who were infiltrating through the wood, and inflicted casualties, two to his own rifle.
The 4th Parachute Brigade were due to make their drop at 10 am and the situation at the D.Z was in hand. B Comapny were inflicting severe casualties on enemy parties on the main road where at least six armoured tracked vehicles were knocked out by their anti-tank gun and their occupants eliminated by the fire from machine guns. They were also mortaring and shooting up the artillery barracks in Ede, and mortaring the wood at the north of the D.Z. C Company were covering the southwest portion of the D.Z. and engaging any enemy seen in the open. On the eastern side there was the unknown factor of D Company, but they appeared to be containing the enemy, and Major Hill's small force had the situation in hand in the southeast. At the southern end Battalion H.Q. were holding a firm base. Unfortunately, however, the aircraft did not appear at their appointed time. Now followed a difficult period when the Germans probed and attacked on all sides. The 7th Battalion put up a fierce fight which successfully draw off the enemy attack. Therefore, when the Parachute drop did eventually take place, between 2 pm and 3 pm, the D.Z. was completely clean and fire on it came from only a few isolated enemy weapons situated at a distance.
The war diary for the 18th of September records;
"1500 - All parachutists down, with very few casualties. Brigadier HACKETT, Comd, 4 Para Bde, specially thanked the CO for the protection provided. The Bn has thus accomplished its first task successfully. During the intensive clearing of the woods just prior to the drop, the whole of Bn HQ was actively engaged. Unfortunately whilst crossing the embankment of the motor-road a party which incl the CO and Major HILL came under enfilade MG fire and Major HILL was shot through the head. His loss is a grievous one as he was a cool and courageous leader. "A" Coy under Major BUCHANAN, had, during this day, a very uncomfortable time. Lt STRANG'S Pl was eventually forced, by dint of enemy pressure and sp weapons, to fall back on the main Coy posn at PLANKEN WAMBUS. The enemy followed up closely and attacked this posn repeatedly, but A Coy held on, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy and taking a number of prisoners. During the forenoon the 2IC, Major COKE, was sent back to recce the route to our next posn. At Bde HQ he was informed that the 1 Para Bde, - a small part of it, - had seized the ARNHEM bridge and was holding the NORTH end of it, though cut off from the remainder of the Bde. The GOC, as well as Comd 1 Para Bde, was missing and Brigadier HICKS, Comd 1 Airldg Bde, had assumed Comd of the Div. These circumstances necessitated some alteration in plan and the G1 came up, at the time of the parachute landing, with orders. One Bn of 4 Para Bde, - 11 Para Bn, - was to go to the assistance of 1 Para Bde, whilst the remainder were to proceed with their original task of clearing and holding the NORTH of ARNHEM. 7 KOSB, having completed its task of protecting the DZ, was to seize and hold the high ground in the woods about Pt 56 (698797) and Pt 54 (704801). Infm was that these were strongly held by enemy outposts."
Buried at Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Oosterbeek, Netherlands.
Grave Reference: 23. A. 1.
Remembered on the Eversley War Memorial, Eversley, Hampshire.
Son of James Leslie and Susan Minnie Hill of The Hill Cottage, Eversley, Hampshire; Husband of Barbara Mary Hill (nee Wardle), of Heathwood, Portsmouth Road, Camberley, Surrey.
James, Hill 1905 - 1941;
Born on the 27th of November 1906 at Farnborough, Hampshire.
Living at 4 Cross Street, Camberley, Surrey, in the 1911 census.
Enlisted into the Royal Navy, unknown date.
Service No: D/J 106146.
Rank: Able Seaman.
James served aboard H.M.S. Repulse.
Killed In Action on the 10th of December 1941, aged 35.
On the 10th of December 1941 the Royal Navy suffered their greatest loss as a result of a single engagement, when the Capital ships H.M.S. Prince of Wales and H.M.S. Repulse were sunk by Japanese warplanes, some 50 miles off the coast of Kuantan in Malaya, with the tragic loss of over 840 officers and men. In November 1941, H.M.S. Repulse which was in the Indian Ocean was ordered to Colombo, Ceylon to rendezvous with the new battleship H.M.S .Prince of Wales. The carrier H.M.S. Indomitable, which was assigned to join them, was delayed when she ran aground in the Caribbean. Prince of Wales and Repulse and their escorting destroyers comprised Force Z, which arrived in Singapore on the 2nd of December 1941.
On the evening of the 8th of December, Force Z departed for an attempt to destroy Japanese troop convoys and protect the army's seaward flanks from Japanese landings in their rear. Force Z was spotted during the afternoon of the 9th of December by the Japanese submarine I-65 and float-planes from several Japanese cruisers spotted the British ships later that afternoon and shadowed them until dark. Admiral Sir Tom Phillips decided to cancel the operation as the Japanese were now alerted. Force Z turned back towards Singapore during the evening, after having tried to deceive the Japanese that they were heading to Singora. At 12.50 am on the 10th of December Admiral Philips received a signal of enemy landings at Kuantan and correspondingly altered course so that he would arrive shortly after dawn.
The crew of I-58 again spotted Force Z at 2.20 am, reported their position, and fired five torpedoes, all of which missed. Based on this report the Japanese launched 11 reconnaissance aircraft before dawn to locate Force Z. Several hours later 86 bombers from the 22nd Air Flotilla based in Saigon, French Indochina (now Vietnam) were launched carrying bombs or torpedoes. The crew of a Mitsubishi G3M reconnaissance bomber spotted the British at 10.15 am and radioed in several reports. The pilot was ordered to maintain contact and to broadcast a directional signal that the other Japanese bombers could follow. The first attack began at 11.13 am when 550lb bombs were dropped from eight G3Ms from an altitude of 11,500 ft. Repulse was straddled by two bombs, then hit by a third which penetrated through the hangar to explode on the armoured deck below. This inflicted a number of casualties and damaged the ship's Supermarine Walrus seaplane, which was then pushed over the side to remove a fire hazard.
Anti-aircraft fire damaged five of the Japanese bombers, two so badly that they immediately returned to Saigon. In the ensuing attacks, Repulse was skilfully handled by her captain, Bill Tennant who managed to avoid 19 torpedoes as well as the remaining bombs from the G3Ms. Repulse was then caught by a synchronised pincer attack by 17 Mitsubishi G4M torpedo bombers and hit by four or five torpedoes in rapid succession. The gunners on the Repulse shot down two planes and heavily damaged eight more, but the torpedo damage proved fatal. At 12.23 pm Repulse listed severely to port over a period of about six minutes and finally rolled over, settled by the head, and sank at 12.33 pm with the loss of 508 officers and men. The destroyers H.M.S. Electra and H.M.A.S. Vampire rescued the survivors. The Prince of Wales also being attacked at the same time as Repulse sank at 1.18 pm with the loss of another 327 Officers and men.
Remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth, Devon.
Panel Reference: Panel 47, Column 2.
Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.
Son of George Hill, and of Edith Hill, of 27 Cromwell Road, Camberley, Surrey.
Frederick, Hilt 1917 - 1943;
Born at Doncaster, Yorkshire, between October and December 1917. Registered at Doncaster, Yorkshire.
Enlisted unknown date.
Royal Air Force (Volunteer Reserve).
Rank: Sergeant.
Trade: Observer.
Service No. 957788.
Frederick married Gertrude Ivy Mae Jones, between October and December 1940. Registered at Surrey North Western.
Posted to R.A.F. Stanton Harcourt, Witney, Oxfordshire, unknown date. Frederick served with the 10th Operational Training Unit.
Died on the 27th of March 1943, aged 26.
Frederick was an Observer aboard an Armstrong Whitworth A.W.38 Whitley Mark V. bomber, Serial No. LA 844, that had taken off from R.A.F Stanton Harcourt at 7.47.pm on a cross country training flight. Upon attempting to land at 02.54.am the aircraft landed at very high speed, ran off the end of the runway and crashed into a quarry where the aircraft caught fire. The crew of 5 were all killed.
Armstrong Whitworth A.W.38 Whitley Mark V. bomber in flight.
Buried at St. Peter's, Frimley, Surrey, on the 2nd of April 1943.
Grave Reference: 148.
Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.
Remembered on the Lych Gate Memorial, St. Andrew's, Frimley Green, Surrey.
Son of William and Gertrude Hilt; husband of Gertrude Ivy Mae Hilt (nee Jones), of Frimley Green, Surrey.
Charles Albert, Hoare 1917- 1940;
Civilian War Dead.
Born between April and June 1917. Registered at Farnham, Surrey.
Charles was killed on the 4th of September 1940, aged 23. He was working at the Vickers Armstrong Works at Weybridge Surrey. He was a member of the Home Guard living at 7 Studland Road, Byfleet, Surrey.
Buried at St. Peter's, Frimley, Surrey, on the 9th of September 1940.
Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial.
Son of Charles Christie Hoare, and Amy Diana Hoare (nee Blacklock), of Rosemount, The Avenue, Camberley, Surrey ; husband of Lilian Florence Vera Hoare (nee Hardy). Uncle to Charles Christie Hoare, who fell in 1940 (See Below).
Charles Christie, Hoare 1916 - 1940;
Born between July and September 1916. Registered at Bromley, Kent.
Enlisted unknown date.
Royal Engineers
Service No: 1870970.
Rank: Sapper.
Charles served with 59th Field Company Royal Engineers.
Killed In Action on the 31st of May 1940, aged 23.
The Evacuation of Dunkirk code-named Operation Dynamo, was the evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, France, between the 26th of May and the 4th of June 1940. The operation was decided upon when large numbers of British, French, Belgian, and Canadian troops were cut off and surrounded by the German army during the Battle of France. After Nazi Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, France and the British Empire declared war on Germany. The British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F.) was sent to aid in the defence of France.
After the Phoney War, Germany invaded Belgium and the Netherlands on the 10th of May 1940, and three of their Panzer corps attacked France through the Ardennes Forest and rapidly drove to the English Channel. By the 21st of May, the German forces had trapped the B.E.F., the remains of the Belgian forces, and three French armies in an area along the northern coast of France. Commander of the B.E.F., General The 6th Viscount Gort, immediately saw that evacuation across the Channel was the best course of action and began planning a withdrawal to Dunkirk, the closest location with good port facilities.
The 59th Field Company on La Panne beach helped construct piers to help with the embarking of the trapped troops. They took Army lorries and any expedient materials they could find, drove then them into a line at low tides, and weighed them down with sandbags and anything heavy they could find. The hard part was the organisation of the assembly of the pier between bouts of shelling, low-level bombing and machine gunning from enemy aircraft.
On the first day of the evacuation, only 7,669 men were evacuated, but by the end of the eighth day, a total of 338,226 soldiers had been rescued by a hastily assembled fleet of over 800 boats. Many of the troops were able to embark from the harbour's protective mole onto 39 British destroyers and other large ships, while others had to wade out from the beaches, waiting for hours in the shoulder-deep water. Some were ferried from the beaches to the larger ships by what came to be known as the little ships of Dunkirk, a flotilla of hundreds of merchant marine boats, fishing boats, pleasure craft, and lifeboats called into service for the emergency. The B.E.F. lost 68,000 soldiers during the French campaign and had to abandon nearly all of their tanks, vehicles, and other equipment.
In his speech to the House of Commons on the 4th of June 1940, Churchill reminded the country that "we must be very careful not to assign to this deliverance the attributes of a victory. Wars are not won by evacuations."
Remembered on the Ashford War Memorial, Ashford, Middlesex.
Remembered on the Lych Gate Memorial, St. Andrew's, Frimley Green, Surrey.
Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial
Son of Lewis Alfred and Edith Annie Hoare (nee Dawson), of Egham, Surrey. Grandson to of Charles Christie Hoare, and Amy Diana Hoare (nee Blacklock), of Rosemount, The Avenue, Camberley, Surrey Nephew to Charles Albert Hoare, Civilian War Dead (See Above)
The makeshift lorry pier at La Panne Beach, Dunkirk
James William, Hopkins 1904 - 1940;
Born at Horndean, Hampshire, on the 21st of January 1904. Registered at Catherington, Hampshire.
Living at 89 Chalton, Horndean, Hampshire in the 1911 census.
Enlisted at Portsmouth, Hampshire, March 1919. Occupation given as Watts Naval School.
Royal Navy.
Rank: Boy Class II.
Service No: P/J 94803.
James signed on for 12 years service with the Royal Navy on his 18th birthday, 21st of January 1922.
Promoted to Ordinary Seaman, 21st of January 1922.
Promoted to Able Seaman on the 16th of August 1922.
James married Edith Blackmore, between October and December 1927. Registered at Midhurst, Sussex.
Promoted to Leading Seaman, unknown date.
Posted to H.M.S Wren, unknown date.
Killed In Action on the 27th of July 1940, aged 36.
H.M.S Wren was a destroyer with the 16th Destroyer Flotilla based at Harwich, Essex, for convoy escort and patrols duties in Nore Command. On the 27th of July 1940 she alongside HMS Montrose were providing Anti-Aircraft protection for 16 trawlers on minesweeping duties off Aldeburgh, Sussex. She came under heavy and sustained attacks by 15 Junkers Ju 87 (Stuka) dive bombers and was damaged by several near misses which holed her below the waterline. The bulkheads collapsed and heavy flooding led to her sinking quickly and 37 members of her crew died.
Remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Panel Reference: Panel 37, Column 3.
Son of William and Jane Hopkins; husband of Edith Hopkins, of Frimley Green, Surrey.
David Alexander Hutchison
David Alexander, Hutchison D.S.C. 1919 - 1942;
Born on the 12th of January 1919 at Shanghai, China.
David was living at Southcote Lodge, Camberley, Surrey in 1938. Occupation given as Agriculture.
Passed as a Pilot on the 19th of June 1938, receiving Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificate No. 15946.
David flew the B.A. Swallow, Cirrus Minor, 85 h.p. at Cinque Ports Flying Club.
Enlisted into the Royal Navy on the 11th of September 1939.
Rank: Midshipman (Air) Fleet Air Arm
Promoted to Sub-Lieutenant (Air) Fleet Air Arm on the 14th of March 1940.
Posted to Pilot Training, unknown date. David completed his Flight Training at Flight Training School Belfast, Northern Ireland and Flight Training School Netheravon, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire.
Passed Flight Training School as a Pilot on the 22nd of June 1940.
Posted to No.5 Operational Training Unit, at R.A.F. Aston Down, Gloucestershire, on the 25th of June 1940.
Due to the pressing need to replace R.A.F. pilot casualties sustained during the Battle of France, David was one of about 33 Fleet Air Arm pilots temporarily seconded for Special Service with the R.A.F. and trained to fly Spitfires.
Posted to No. 74 Squadron R.A.F., at Hornchurch, Essex, on the 6th of July 1940.
Throughout July No. 74 squadron was heavily engaged during the Battle of Britain, tackling wherever possible German fighter escorts. After the first phase of the Battle the squadron was withdrawn for rest to No.12 Group.
Posted to No, 804 Naval Air Squadron, Fleet Air Arm at Royal Naval Air Station Hatston, Orkney, Scotland on the 30th of August 1940. Flying Gladiators the squadron protected the Home Fleet´s base at Scapa Flow against regular German bomber intrusions made from occupied Norway, and was subsequently recognised as one of the two Fleet Air Arm squadrons that operated with R.A.F. Fighter Command in the Battle of Britain. The squadron was re-equipped with Martlets (known as Grumman F4F Wildcat by U.S. Forces) in October 1940.
Transferred to No. 802 Naval Air Squadron Fleet Air Arm, on the 21st of November 1940.
David transferred to help reconstitute the ill-fated No. 802 Squadron. The squadron had been based on H.M.S. Glorious, when she was sunk by the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau, on the 8th of June 1940. No. 802 Squadron started training with Martlets in Scotland in early 1941 and suffered casualties as the pilots practised carrier landings.
In July 1941 David embarked with his new squadron aboard H.M.S. Audacity (the first ever Escort Carrier). The Audacity´s flight deck was only 112 metres long and just 18 metres wide, she had no hangar and little safety equipment, all of which made flying from her particularly dangerous in heavy seas or high winds.
On his maiden voyage escorting Convoy H.G. 76 to Gibraltar, David and the other squadron pilots had to operate in appalling weather conditions, with the flight deck pitching 20 metres and rolling 16 degrees. His first notable action occurred when he was scrambled in company with the Squadron C.O., Lieutenant-Commander J.M. Wintour, just before noon, on the 8th of November 1941.
´Wintour made one attack from the quarter and one from the stern, setting the F.W. on fire. Apparently thinking that it´s gunners had ceased firing, he ranged up alongside the burning bomber. One of its´ guns opened fire. Wintour banked away and took a 7.92mm shell right underneath the cockpit. Loudspeakers all over Audacity which had been wired to pick up the pilots´ victory yells relayed his dying scream. His wingman, Sub-Lieutenant D.A. Hutchison, R.N., closed in and finished off the Condor".
On the outward voyage the Martlets had destroyed 4 German Focke Wulf Condors as well as conducting anti-submarine sweeps; the Audacity, as part of a nine warship escort began the homeward bound leg of convoy H.G. 76 on the 14th of December 1941.
By the 19th of December 1941 H.M.S. Audacity was reduced to barely three serviceable aircraft; David and his wingman attacked a Condor in thick cloud cover; despite his guns jamming David managed to drive off the enemy aircraft. The convoy of 32 merchantmen was under constant assault, with the Martlets proving vital - so much so that the Stoerbrecker Wolf-Pack was given express orders to attack and sink the Audacity.
At nightfall on the 21st of December1941, 500 miles west of Cape Finisterre,a rock-bound peninsula on the west coast of Galicia, Spain. The Audacity left the escort screen to begin her nightly zigzag outside of the convoy, no escort could be spared for her and fatally some merchantmen from the convoy panicked in her vicinity, sending up flares. Her unmistakable silhouette attracted a torpedo within 4 minutes, while two further torpedoes sealed her fate, taking No. 802 Squadron and their aircraft down with her. David was rescued from the freezing cold water later that night and after five days concentrated assault the convoy returned home with the loss of Audacity along with No.802 Squadron F.A.A., a destroyer, and three merchantmen. The Germans had lost five U boats, out of twelve that attacked the convoy, and two Condors had also been destroyed.
In February 1942, No. 802 Squadron F.A.A was reformed for a second time at Yeovilton, Devon, this time equipped with Sea Hurricanes.
Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) Received for bravery and skill in action against Enemy aircraft and in the protection of a Convoy (H.G. 76) against heavy and sustained Enemy attacks. Published in the London Gazette on the 10th of March 1942. Supplement 35481, Page 1106.
Promoted to Lieutenant (Air), unknown date.
Posted to H.M.S. Avenger on the 13th July 1942.
No. 802 Naval Air Squadron, F.A.A. aboard H.M.S. Avenger as Escort Carrier sailed with Convoy P.Q.18 on the 2nd of September 1942 for Murmansk, Russia, consisted of 39 merchantmen, with an escort of 20 warships, was shadowed most of the way by enemy torpedo-bombers; this was another ill-fated trip for the squadron with Avenger consistently having engine problems and the loss of another C/O in action. Having made a stop at Iceland in very bad weather they were attacked by Armoured Bv138 (Blohm & Voss BV 138 Sea Dragon) seaplanes with No. 802’s C.O., Lt. E.W. Taylour, killed in combat with them. When convoy made it to Murmansk, Russia, it had lost 10 merchantmen against 41 German aircraft and 3 U-boats. Upon arrival the Avenger and the escort group switched to protect the homeward bound convoy Q.P. 14;, this was made up of 15 vessels, including some of the P.Q. 18 survivors.
No. 802 Squadron and H.M.S. Avenger left the Clyde, Scotland on the 22nd of October 1942, steaming to North Africa to participate in the landings during Operation Torch on the 7th/8th of November 1942. The Sea Hurricanes of No.802 Squadron operated from the Avenger carrying out strikes against Vichy coastal defences and the airbases at Bilda and Maison Blanche. By the 10th of November the landings had succeded and Avenger moored in Algiers port for engine repairs
Killed In Action on the 15th of November 1942, aged 23.
H.M.S. Avenger formed up with Convoy M.K.F.1 (Y) comprising of empty troop and equipment transports returning to Britain. The convoy had reached Gibraltar by the morning of 14th of November 1942 and having taken on more fuel it departed at 6.pm that night. In the early hours of the following morning a U-boat was detected and the convoy made an emergency turn. U-155 had managed to fire three torpedoes, one of which struck the aircraft carrier amidships ripping through her Bomb Room, igniting her ammunition and tearing her apart, and within a few minutes nothing but wreckage remained. The captain of the nearby Ulster Monarch reported to the Admiralty;
"At 0315 a vivid reddish flash appeared on the starboard side of Avenger, stretching the whole length of the ship and lasting about two seconds. This flash made a perfect silhouette of the ship and was followed by a pall of black smoke. After the flash, nothing more was seen of Avenger"
A destroyer searched until dawn but was only able to find and rescue 12 survivors out of a complement of 550 men - this time David was not amongst the lucky ones. It was the third time that No. 802 Squadron had been wiped out when a carrier had sunk underneath them, no pilots survived.
Remembered on the Fleet Air Arm Memorial, Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire.
Panel Reference: Bay 3, Panel 1.
Remembered on the Camberley War Memorial. (As Hutchinson)
Son of David Chalmers Hutchison and Marjorie Roulston Hutchison of Southcote Lodge, Portsmouth Road, Camberley, Surrey.
Lest We Forget
Lee Thomas
October 2020