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The Old Pangbournian Record Volume 2

Casualties in War 1917-2020

Collected and written by Robin Knight (56-61)

The Old Pangbournian Society The Old angbournianP Record Volume 2

Casualties in War 1917-2020

Collected and written by Robin Knight (56-61)

The Old Pangbournian Society First published in the UK 2020

The Old Pangbournian Society Copyright © 2020

The moral right of the Old Pangbournian Society to be identified as the compiler of this work is asserted in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, “Beloved by many. stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any Death hides but it does not divide.” * means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior consent of the Old Pangbournian Society in writing.

All photographs are from personal collections or publicly-available free sources. Back Cover: © Julie Halford – Keeper of Roll of Honour Fleet Air Arm, RNAS Yeovilton

ISBN 978-095-6877-031

Papers used in this book are natural, renewable and recyclable products sourced from well-managed forests.

Typeset in Adobe Garamond Pro, designed and produced *from a headstone dedication to R.E.F. Howard (30-33) by NP Design & Print Ltd, Wallingford, U.K. Foreword

In a global and such as 1939-45, one in Both were extremely impressive leaders, soldiers which our national survival was at stake, sacrifice and human beings. became commonplace, almost routine. Today, notwithstanding Covid-19, the scale of losses For anyone associated with Pangbourne, this endured in the World Wars of the 20th century is continued appetite and affinity for service is no almost incomprehensible. A sobering example is surprise. The College’s combination of leadership captured in the picture included in this Foreword development, self-discipline, care for others, – that of the 1st XV of 1932 – of whom one third resilience and an enduring ‘can-do’ spirit finds a were to lose their lives in WWII. One of those five natural home in the Armed Forces. Much of the dead was my uncle and namesake, Tom Symes. school’s tradition and character has its roots in the generation of OPs who were at the Nautical Statistics, while conjuring a ‘quantitative’ sense College in the 1920s and 1930s and went on to of loss, can also obscure the ‘qualitative’ human fight in the 1939-45 war. tragedy. Those of us who have lost brothers and sisters-in-arms know that each number is also a This volume records, as far can be ascertained 80 name; a set of memories; a collection of never-to- years after the events, the details of the 178 OPs be-realised aspirations. Our brains struggle with who lost their lives from 1939-45, as well as two the statistics, but it is our hearts that bear the loss. who died before and after that war. It is a modest attempt to preserve these individual stories, before In its sacrifice during WW11, Pangbourne claims they are lost to the mists of time and the vagaries of no unique records. But for a small and relatively human memory. The various exploits and deaths young school, the impact of the war was deep and described took place around the world, in every lasting. Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of those theatre of war. Among the dead are three who died who had been at the Nautical College since the as prisoners-of-war, eleven teenagers and three sets 1932 1st XV. TG Symes back row extreme right school’s foundation in 1917 served in one of the of brothers. four branches of the Services – the Merchant Navy, the (including the ), the For decades after World War 2, the only memorial and the . to these OPs was the evocative window (and the plaque beneath it), depicting the figure of a risen Since 1945, this record of selfless commitment has Christ with four uniformed figures gazing inwards been sustained, with OPs serving with distinction – an Army and a Merchant Navy in Korea, Malaya, , Aden, Northern officer on the left; a Royal Navy officer and an RAF Ireland, the , the Balkans, Iraq, pilot on the right. This account, painstakingly Afghanistan and numerous other conflicts. Today, compiled by Robin Knight, offers an equally new generations of OPs maintain this tradition. enduring tribute. It is an essential record and a When handing over command of a battlegroup worthy memorial. By remembering them, we in Central Helmand in Afghanistan 2012 I was honour them. delighted to discover that the incoming Adjutant Tom Copinger-Symes CBE and Operations Officer were Pangbournians. (Hesperus 82-87) Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020

A the Mediterranean by the German Baring, David Stuart (36-40) Sub Lt RN, killed had taken off from RAF Portreath, Cornwall U-331 with the loss of two-thirds of its crew. in action June 15, 1944 aged 21. Baring was at 1025 hours to patrol over the Atlantic on The ship capsized in four minutes after three of serving in the HMS Mourne and taking anti-shipping duties ordered earlier in 1941 by the four torpedoes, fired at it from close range, part in Operation Neptune, the assault phase despite the unsuitability of hit amidships followed by a massive explosion. of the invasion of , when the ship was the Blenheim for such a role. He was shot down Only 450 men out of a complement of 1,312 sunk by a homing from the submarine at 1116 hours while attacking an enemy survived. The news was censored for many U-76. Of the 130 men on board Mourne, 110 at sea level. He is commemorated at the CWGC weeks. perished. U-76 was sunk three days later. Runnymede Memorial to airmen and women.

Adams, Nigel Ansell, Ralph Basham (24-26) Merchant Barker, Robert Bramston (31-35) Sqn Ldr RAF, Barr, Derek Singleton (31-33) Norrington (36-40) Navy, killed June 6, 1941 aged 31. Ansell came died May 7, 1941 aged 23. ‘Binks’ Barker was FO RAFVR, killed in action March 21, 1945 RN, from and was in the flying a Blenheim 1V aircraft with the marking aged 29. Barr was a member of 75 , a killed in action May 24, 1941 aged 18. A Ulster Company’s cargo steamer ss R3741 and was a member of 18 Squadron. He largely New Zealand unit and a key component former Chief of the College, Adams was Glen Head in convoy OG63 from of RAF Bomber Command. The squadron flew commissioned into the Royal Navy in July to . A day short of Gibraltar and Lancaster aircraft. It had the second highest 1940 and had served in HMS Birmingham and southwest of Cape Vincent, the 35-ship convoy casualty rate and the fourth highest number of HMS Vanoc before joining the battle was bombed, sinking the Glen Head. raids to its credit of any RAF squadron. It also HMS Hood. “His great interests were the Navy dropped the third highest of bombs and ships, plus shooting” according to the (21,600 tons) over enemy territory and flew Hood memorial site. He was one of three young the most sorties (8,017) in Bomber Command. OPs to die in Hood during its epic and fatal In total, it lost 139 aircraft during the war and encounter with the German Bismarck suffered 1,139 casualties. Barr is commemorated in the Battle of the Strait. at the Runnymede Memorial to airmen and Barker, RB (31-35) 1st X1 1935. women. Ansell, RB (24-26) - Hartcup & Rodgers also died Addenbrooke, Derek (25-29) Wing Cdr MN memorial Tower Hill RAF, killed in action April 4, 1941 aged 29. Addenbrooke led Bomber Command, based at RAF West Raynham in the B 1940-41 period, during which year Blenheims from the squadron flew more than 600 sorties Baker, John Cecil (27-28) Lt RN, killed in over France and , attacking the action January 7, 1940 aged 28. Baker was German invasion fleet gathering in Channel serving in the submarine HMS Seahorse in the ports and harbours, and losing 15 aircraft. Bight and was probably killed as a He was “Lost without Trace” flying Blenheim result of action by the German 1st N3552 near Brest. Flotilla. Seahorse had sailed from on December 26 on a patrol. It had failed to return Andrews, Gyles Anthony (24-26) Lt. Cdr (E) by January 9 and was assumed at the time to RN, killed in action November 25, 1941 aged have been mined but now is believed to have 32. Andrews was serving in the battleship HMS been sunk by a attack. All 39 Barham, searching for Axis military convoys on crew were lost. Baker is commemorated at the passage to Benghazi, when it was torpedoed in Naval Memorial. Bar, DS (31-33) with his Lancaster crew 8 9 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020

Barr, the pilot, and all eight of his Lancaster Battersby, John Christopher (39-42) LAC was flying in Wellington T2465 when it was and administrative point of view. In addition crew, was killed in 75 Squadron’s final raid of RN FAA, died December 12, 1944 aged 19. shot down in a raid on Hamm and crashed at to the administrative work, his flying hours the war in what seems to have been a “friendly Undergoing FAA operational training at RNAS Bachum-Landgendneer, Germany. He is buried exceed those of any instructor in his flight. fire” incident during a daylight operation to Ronaldsway (Isle of Man; HMS Urley), he was in the CWGC cemetery at Reichswald. Squadron Leader Bennett is a first class pilot bomb the 855-metre-long Stuttgart-Münster flying a Barracuda aircraft and instructor and has proved a valuable asset to Viaduct over the river Neckar. Exactly what MD 880 when it crashed Benn, John Harold (41-43) Merchant Navy, the station.” happened has never been clear. As 75 Squadron into home waters after died August 16, 1944 aged 17. An Apprentice The AFC recommendation had been drafted approached the target, flying in formation and releasing bombs on a night in the pre-war Alfred Holt ss Empire on January 9, 1942 by Bennett’s Commanding due to bomb first, “something went wrong with exercise. The pilot and Lancer, Benn is believed to be the youngest OP Officer in No.16 EFTS (Elementary Flying the leading aircraft and we overshot the turning observer were also killed. to die in the Second World War. His ship was Training School) at RAF Burnaston, near point and flew on for some distance,” according sunk by the German submarine U-862 while Derby, who wrote: “This officer has served a to a Navigator in another plane in the unit as Baylis, Hugh Umphelby (19-21) Merchant sailing unescorted through the Mozambique Short Service Commission which terminated recounted in Forever Strong, a history of 75 Navy, killed December 5, 1939 aged 34. He Channel from , to Aden after the declaration of hostilities and is Squadron published in 1991. “Then we turned was Fourth Officer on the 9,000-ton Royal and the U.K. At the NCP, Benn had been a continuing his service in the RAFO [Royal onto the target but now on the wrong heading Mail steam merchant ss Navasota. The ship was Cadet in Harbinger and Air Force Reserve of Officers]. He is one of and, in fact, under-flew another squadron sunk by the German submarine U-47 about Captain of Athletics. my flight and I can say without bombing from above. At that stage, the flak was 150 miles west of Bishop’s Rock in the Isles of hesitation that his flight is the most efficient one very, very heavy…Bombs were falling all around Scilly sailing between Liverpool and Buenos Bennett, Peter Elkins at this Unit, both from the flying point of view us.” A Wireless Operator in an accompanying Aires. Of the 119 people on board Navasota, 37 (26-29) Sqn Ldr RAFVR, as well as in its administration. He has largely aircraft saw Barr’s Lancaster go down as were killed. died on June 16, 1943 achieved this efficiency and keenness in his recorded in Night after Night, a 2007 book aged 31. Bennett joined own flight by setting the example himself, and about New Zealanders in Bomber Command – the Royal Mail Lines in addition to the administrative work his own “the one (aircraft) in which they were all killed. Ltd on leaving the NCP. flying hours exceed those of any instructor in It was all buckled up, hit right in the bloody In the mid-1930s he his flight. He is a first-class pilot and instructor middle” most likely wiped out by a bomb from entered the RAFVR and an asset to this station.” above or, possibly, by flak from the ground. and by , when On January 12 1942, the Air Officer he was Mentioned in Commanding No.51 (Training) Group added: Batley, Francis William Despatches for the first “Squadron Leader Bennett is a most efficient Yorke (32-36) Lt (E) RN ss Navasota of three times, he was officer and flight . He has flown FAA, died September a Flight . In 1942 he was awarded 2,470 hours, 755 hours of which have been 17, 1945 aged 26. He Beattie, John Stainton the AFC as a Squadron Leader. He died near as an instructor and 690 hours operational was flying a Supermarine (35-37) Flt Sgt Air Fairford in Gloucestershire, most probably flying in Coastal Command. His keenness Seafire P372 from Gunner RAFVR, killed as a result of a training flight crash, and is and efficiency, coupled with his experience of RNAS Donibristle in action December 29, buried in the CWGC plot in Kemble Church, operational flying have been of very great value (HMS Merlin) when he 1940 aged 19. Beattie Gloucestershire. The Citation for his AFC to his station commander. He has set a very crashed into the Firth of had joined the RAF in states: “This officer commenced the duties good example to other operational pilots in the Forth off Starling Burn, 1940 and was a member of flying instructor on 1st . He energetic manner that he has got down to flying near Burntisland. He is of 115 Squadron and one has displayed great skill and keenness which, instruction after the glamour of operational commemorated at the of the crew of a Vickers combined with his operational experience, have flying. Recommended for the award of the Air FAA memorial at Lee- Wellington aircraft in been largely responsible for the high standard Force Cross.” on-Solent. Bomber Command. He of efficiency of his flight, both from a flying 10 11 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020

Benson-Dare, Ronald William (32-34) Lt the NCP, Blandy joined Steel Brothers, a Far been heavily mined by the Germans as their War 2 and is commemorated at the Portsmouth RN FAA, killed in action May 18, 1940 East trading company then based in Burma. He forces retreated north. On January 1, 1945, Naval Memorial. aged 23. At the time, he was based in HMS enlisted in the 4th Battalion Straits Settlements there were still four German and Devonshire and flying off Namsos, . He Volunteer Force on the outbreak of war when three German operating off Croatia. As Brendon, Peter Algernon (29-32) Lt RNR, is commemorated at the FAA Memorial at Lee- his profession was listed as “Merchant.” How late as early April 1945 three of these ships were died March 29, 1941 aged 25. Brendon served on-Solent. he was taken prisoner-of-war is not clear but still available to fight. Allied aircraft had sunk in HMS Hector; an armed merchant cruiser An obituary of one of Benson-Dare’s the Japanese captured nearly 140,000 Allied four in port in March-April and a British MTB attached to the East Indies Station based in crew, David Corkhill, published in The Daily military personnel in the Malayan Peninsula. torpedoed the last in commission in Ceylon (). After taking leave in Telegraph in 2015, stated: “On May 18, 1940 Most were forced to engage in hard labour. April. Bone was awarded a posthumous DSC the UK, he was returning to Ceylon in ss 18-year old Corkhill’s aircraft was flying the More than 30,000 died from starvation, disease “for marked courage, skill and resource, whilst Staffordshire with his wife and children when third sortie of the day over Malangen, a fjord or mistreatment in captivity. serving in Light Coastal Forces, in a successful the ship was bombed 150 miles northwest of near Tromso, Norway when it was attacked attack on heavily-armed enemy ‘’ off the the Butte of Lewis. Thirty people on board by a German Heinkel twin-engine bomber. Istrian Coast.” He is commemorated at the were killed including Brendon and at least one Corkhill’s pilot, Lt Pat (sic) Benson-Dare, Portsmouth Naval Memorial. of his children. He is commemorated at the dived to 100 feet and manoeuvred inside Portsmouth Naval Memorial. the German’s turning circle, whilst the faster Blandy, MJ (24-28) Bradford, Ridley Lewkenor (26-28) Sqn Ldr Kanchanaburi War Memorial Heinkel made repeated passes, firing all its guns. Cemetery, RAF, died May 1, 1940 aged 28. Bradford Bridgman, Clement For 15 minutes Corkhill and crewman Naval was “lost off the Norwegian coast” during the Edward (20-22) Airman William Hill defended themselves Bloomer, Kenneth Howard (22-23) Lt Cdr Norwegian campaign. Flying in a Wellington, Lt Cdr RNR, killed with Lewis guns, until the fuel and engine (E) RN, killed in action October 9, 1943 P9213, he was “last seen in combat with enemy in action September caught fire. The pilot was hit, Corkhill knocked aged 34. An officer in the destroyer HMS planes off Norway” after a raid over Stavanger. 23, 1943 aged 37. unconscious and the Walrus (plane) fell wrecked Panther, Bloomer died after his ship was sunk At the time he was a member of Bomber Bridgman had an into the water.” Only Corkhill survived. He was by dive bombing German Ju87 aircraft in the Command’s 37 Squadron flying night missions active war. It began picked up by a Norwegian fishing boat whose Mediterranean. Panther was part of an Allied from RAF Feltwell. In the mid-1930s he served in 1939 when he was captain threatened to throw him back into the naval group protecting islands in the Aegean in armoured cars with RAF Command in posted to Gibraltar as part of the Contraband freezing water if he was German. Three days against German attempts to occupy them after Iraq. He is commemorated at the Runnymede Control Service – a cover for naval intelligence. later, he was flying in Devonshire again. the Italian surrender; the ship received two Memorial to airmen and women. In February 1940 he was given command of direct hits and sank quickly. Earlier, Bloomer “quite a nice large steam yacht.” Six months was serving in the carrier HMS Argus when Brasher, Harold Herbert (30-33) Lt RN, killed later, he took over a new-build Flower-class the ship was hit by a Ju87 Stuka bomber in action May 22, 1941 aged 24. Brasher joined destroyer HMS Dianthus and began a long stint while ferrying aircraft to – the first such the Royal Navy from the NCP and became a of Atlantic convoy escort duty. In November German success in World War 2. Bloomer Sub Lt in 1937. By 1941 he was serving in the 1942 he was awarded a DSO after a convoy was Mentioned in Despatches for his role in destroyer HMS Greyhound when the ship was which Dianthus was escorting was badly mauled

Benson-Dare, RW this incident. He is commemorated at the sunk during the Allied evacuation from by German in mid-ocean; his ship (32-34) - Walrus managed to track down and sink one of the being hoisted on Portsmouth Naval Memorial. following the German invasion of the island. board a ship The ship was hit by three bombs, dropped perpetrators. An account of this action held in Bone, Anthony Watney (32-35) Temporary Lt by Ju87 Stuka dive bombers, northwest of The National Archives at states: Blandy, John Marett (24-28) WO 11 Army, RNVR, killed in action April 10, 1945 aged 27. Crete as she escorted RN of the “On a calm, sunny afternoon on August died in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp He was CO of a Royal Navy Motor Torpedo Mediterranean Fleet. Six officers, including 8, 1942 U-379 had sunk two merchant ships November 30, 1943 aged 32. He is buried in Boat, MTB 710, which hit a mine killing 17 of Brasher, and 74 sailors lost their lives. He was of convoy SC94 sailing eastwards from Nova Kanchanaburi war cemetery in Thailand. After the 21-man crew. The Northern Adriatic had one of three Brasher brothers to die in World Scotia to Liverpool – a US freighter and a 12 13 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020

British freighter. The same day a submarine Burnett-Ramsay, Noel Entwistle (22-24) Lt C Flaming onions seemed to go floating past and was spotted on the surface by two ships (in RNVR, killed August 19, 1942 aged 34. At burn out. One Observer had a vivid impression the convoy). Dianthus gave chase firing her the time of his death Burnett-Ramsay was Campbell, Bruce Colin Patrick (18-19) was of a circle of stabling flame. He wondered how guns at the surfaced U-boat as she desperately attached to HMS Quebec, a so-called ‘stone killed in a air raid in 1943. His father, they were going to get out of it. As the pilot dived. Initially (the submarine) escaped and the frigate’ or naval base, near Inveraray, . Sir John Campbell, died in a Japanese prison dropped his torpedo, he came down so low convoy moved on, but Dianthus made a last Here army and naval personnel were trained camp. that his undercarriage touched the surface, sweep and spotted U-379 back on the surface in the use of for assault troops. In sending up an enormous column of water. But attempting to slink away in the darkness. October 1942 Burnett-Ramsay was Mentioned Carline, George they succeeded in pulling out.” Half the Italian Commander Bridgman fired off a spread of in Despatches posthumously for his role in the Albert (24-25) Lt battlefleet had been disabled or sunk. Carline depth charges, forcing the now submerged in August 1942. It appears that Cdr RN FAA, killed was awarded a DSC “for outstanding courage submarine back to the surface. Dianthus then he commanded Queen Emma, a commando in action December and skill in a brilliant and wholly successful opened up with all her guns and prepared to troopship used to land Canadian forces on ‘Blue 22, 1941 aged 31. night attack.” ram, catching the submarine a glancing blow Beach’ east of Dieppe at Puys during the raid. He drowned when forward of the .” In fact, U-379 his ship, HMS Carter, Clifford Woodruff (25-26) Lt Cdr RN, was rammed four times before it finally sank. Bush, Richard Edward (35-38) Plt Off Audacity, protecting killed in action September 1, 1940 aged 30. Dianthus also managed to pick up 175 survivors RAFVR, killed in action April 4, 1942 aged convoy HG76, No. 2 in the minelaying destroyer HMS Esk, from four merchant ships sunk during this 21. Bush was flying Spitfire BL509 over the Lee-on-Solent memorial was torpedoed by a Carter was part of a mission by five destroyers June-August period. as a member of 129 Squadron, U-boat in 500 miles west of from 20th Destroyer Flotilla to mine the seas Joining the frigate HMS Itchen as CO in escorting RAF bombers and attacking targets in Cape Finisterre. A year earlier, then a member around Island, . Esk had November 1942, Bridgman was escorting an occupied Europe when he “failed to return.” He of the Second-Strike Force in the carrier HMS gone to the rescue of the crew of another of the Atlantic convoy westbound and was south of is commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial Illustrious, he took part in a famous action destroyers, HMS Express, which had struck a when his luck ran out and his ship was to airmen and women. during the Allied attack on the Italian fleet mine and had its blown off when it, too, torpedoed and sunk by U-666 with the loss at . He is commemorated at the FAA was hit and sank “immediately.” 135 members of 14 officers and 134 ratings. Having picked Memorial at Lee-on-Solent. of the ship’s crew were killed. Three months up more than 80 survivors from the Canadian A section in Fleet Air Arm, a book issued before, Carter had been awarded a DSC for destroyer St Croix two days earlier, Itchen was during the war by the Admiralty, gives a vivid Esk’s part in the . The ship carrying many wounded and exhausted men. account of what the FAA pilots faced: “The made six cross-Channel trips and rescued In the event, there were only three survivors Swordfish had to fly through this criss-cross 4,500 Allied servicemen. His commanding Bush, RE (35-38) - out of 231 men on board after the frigate 1st XV 1937. of fire. The air stank with incendiary bullets. officer wrote: “[Carter] has outstanding went down. Bridgman was not among them. (Also died Grant-Sturgis, Phillips, Wells, Yeatman) He is commemorated at the Naval Memorial.

Bridgman, C.E. (20-22) - HMS Dianthus having rammed U-379 (IWM) HMS Esk

14 15 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 ability as an executive officer. In addition, his Charlton was serving with 9 Parachute Battalion 42 Commando’s base at Kampung Biawak being listed as Lt Cdr RNR in 1937. By the personal courage on several occasions was a – part of the 6th Airborne Division. The in Sarawak. Ian Clark was posthumously start of 1945 he was an acting Cdr and senior fine example.” He is commemorated at the battalion had been dropped into the Mentioned in Despatches. He is buried in officer in HMS Adamant, a submarine depot Portsmouth Naval Memorial. night before D-Day to neutralise the Merville Edinburgh. ship based in Colombo, Ceylon. Adamant’s gun battery. In spite of severe problems in the role was to liaise with Allied submarine flotillas Cazalet, Alexander landing, which meant that only 150 of the 750 Clarke, Eric Hugh Paul (27-28) Wing Cdr patrolling in the and as far south Brise Travers (27-30) dropped took part in the attack, the battery RAF, killed in action March 15, 1942 aged and east as Fremantle, Western . In FO RAFVR, killed in was captured. In doing so, 65 men were killed 30. Leaving the NCP, he went to sea in the the King’s Birthday Honours List of 1945, action September 9, or put out of action. The numerically weak Merchant Navy with the Booth Line. By Clarke was Mentioned in Despatches. He 1940 aged 26. Cazalet and all-but exhausted battalion then pushed 1935 he had left the sea and become a Flying is commemorated at the Plymouth Naval failed to return from on and seized further objectives. Charlton was Officer in the RAF. At the start of 1941 he Memorial. a night bombing killed during these attacks. He is buried at the was awarded an AFC. In March 1942 he operation during the CWGC . Earlier in the was leading 233 Squadron, a Gibraltar-based Clegg, Douglas Hollington (18-20) Merchant . He war he had been Mentioned in Despatches naval reconnaissance unit that scoured the Navy, died on December 11, 1940 aged 37. A was “lost without trace” and awarded the Africa Star while serving with seas on the lookout for German submarines Master Mariner and Chief Officer of the New remembering Alexander near Oostende, KOYLI in East Africa and . and patrolled over the . Flying a Zealand Shipping Company’s 12,000-ton ss during a raid by Bomber Command’s 107 Hudson 111 aircraft, V9128, he was lost on Rotorua, Clegg was one of 21 crew lost when Squadron from RAF Wattisham. Cazalet had an operational flight near the Channel Islands the vessel, carrying refrigerated goods, was been granted a commission in the RAF in May and is commemorated on the Allied Aircrew torpedoed and sunk without warning by the 1938. Today he is remembered at Holbrook Memorial, . German submarine U-96 110 miles west of St. churchyard with his brother, Squadron Leader Kilda off the west coast of Scotland. Rotorua Charlton, EG (26-31) - 1st XV Clarke, Reginald Edkins (18-20) Robert Travers Cazalet, who died on duty in 1930 - Stenimann Lt Cdr South was in transit from Lyttelton, New Zealand February 1939. & Durrell also died African Naval Forces, died July 24, 1945 aged to Avonmouth and earlier in the voyage had about 40. Clarke joined the Merchant Navy been attacked repeatedly and damaged by a Clark, Ian Campbell (50-53) Lt RM, was after Pangbourne and remained in the RNR, German submarine in the Pacific between killed in action in Sarawak March 16, 1966, aged 29, during an Indonesian-inspired communist insurgency in known as Confrontation. Clark is believed to be the Cazalet, ABT (27-30) - last OP to have died on active service up to 1st X1 cricket 1930 2020. From the NCP he went to Millfield Charlton, Edward School and then into the Royal Marines. He Gerard (26-31) Acting saw action in the Cyprus Campaign, the Aden Lt Col Army, killed in Campaign, and at least twice in in 1963 action June 9, 1944 and 1966 with 42 Commando. Described as aged 31. Although an a “fine officer” by his colleagues, he was killed officer in the King’s Own by a single shot in an exchange of fire with Light Infantry, Indonesian forces near the village of Sebedang. which he joined from His unit was on a clandestine cross-border RMA Sandhurst in 1933, surveillance mission codenamed Lively Cricket at the time of his death against enemy forces that had been shelling Clarke, R.E. (18-20) - on right Lt Cdr. 1944 16 17 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020

Australia and Panama. Off St. Kilda’s, Rotorua is commemorated at the FAA Lee-on-Solent advance into France and supporting the French Algerine was clearing mines with another RN sank in 15 minutes. “The ship went down stern Memorial. after the Dunkirk evacuation. Outgunned and minesweeper and had neutralised 46 mines first and stood up like a tall skyscraper before lacking ammunition, the Gordon Highlanders when it was struck by two torpedoes. The sinking slowly into the deep sea,” remembered eventually were trapped and forced to surrender destroyer sank quickly and 84 of the crew died. a survivor. Of the 151 crew and passengers on after an attempt by the Royal Navy to retrieve Only eight survived. Cooke had earlier been board, 21 crew lost their lives. On its previous the battalion was thwarted by fog. Colville Mentioned in Despatches for his minesweeping voyage between and New Zealand, is buried in the CWGC cemetery at St. work and also commanded HMS Salamander Rotorua had carried child refugees. Valery-en-Caux, Seine-Maritime where 51st for most of 1941 before joining Algerine in Coates, JP (27-30) (Highland) Division made its last stand. He is November 1941. He is commemorated at the 3rd left at a Cleveland, Graham Francis (32-36) Sub Lt wedding 1939 commemorated at Northwood Cemetery Portsmouth Naval Memorial. RN, died December 17, 1940 aged 22 while serving in HMS Acheron. The destroyer was Cochrane, John Henry (29-33) Sgt RAF, Cooper, Astley John (25- running trials at night in heavy seas off the killed in action December 4, 1943 aged 29. A 29) Maj Army, killed in Isle of Wight and was sunk by a mine laid in member of Bomber Command’s 7 Squadron action July 14, 1943 aged a random pattern by the . The ship (a Pathfinder force which marked targets with 31. When he died, Cooper sank within four minutes and 186 crew and flares for following bombers, and the first RAF was Adjutant of the Glider dockyard workers on board drowned. Cleveland unit to operate four-engined bombers in the Pilot Regiment (GPR) is buried in the Royal Naval Cemetery at war), he was a crew member of a Lancaster under George Chatterton

Haslar, Gosport. aircraft. He is buried at the CWGC cemetery at Colville, FJ (27-30) - Northwood Cemetery (25-29). Known as Alistair Gramsbergen, Netherlands. to his friends, he joined the Regular Army in 1934 and was commissioned Codrington, Thomas Michael Geoffrey (32-35) Cooke, Edred Rodney Fitzpatrick (35-39) in the Cheshire Regiment. In early 1942 he Lt RNR, killed in action December 19, 1941 Flt Lt RAFVR, died July 30, 1943 aged 21. volunteered to serve in the GPR and did basic aged 24. At the time of his death, Codrington Cooke was a member of 25 Squadron Bomber six-week training with the newly-formed unit in was serving in the submarine HMS Perseus in Command. Piloting a Mosquito, DD748, from mid-year. With Chatterton, he then played a big the Mediterranean. After sinking two Italian RAF Martlesham Heath on an intruder night part in turning large numbers of raw soldiers merchant ships off North Africa, Perseus was patrol over Westerland on , Germany, he into glider pilots ready for action. When the Cleveland, GF (32-36) - Haslar RN cemetery sent to patrol east of . Having torpedoed went missing having called in shortly after take- regiment was deployed from South West one merchant vessel, the submarine struck a off to report that he was returning to base with England to North Africa in June-July 1943, he Coates, James Patrick (27-30) Lt RN FAA, mine and sank off Cephalonia. Only one out engine problems. His aircraft crashed 15 miles was awarded an AFC for his role “flying gliders killed in action November 26, 1940 aged 27. of the crew of 61 survived. Codrington had east of Hornsea. Both men on board were killed. to North Africa. This task, which involved Flying off HMS Ark Royal in a Fulmer N1943, previously been awarded the DSC for his role Cooke is commemorated on the Runnymede flying in the face of enemy interception and Coates was covering convoys from Gibraltar to in an action involving HMS Soika, an armed Memorial among more than 20,000 airmen and in adverse weather, was performed with a high and Malta in November 1940 and whaler. He is commemorated at the Portsmouth women who have no known grave. degree of courage and determination” in the crashed astern the carrier on attempting to land, Naval Memorial. words of the Citation for his decoration. sinking in 35 seconds. Sailing to Gibraltar and Cooke, Wilfrid Alan (21-24) Lt Cdr RN, killed Cooper had been captain of one of the first spotting a target, Ark Royal launched 14 aircraft, Colville, Frederick James (27-30) Capt Army, in action November 15, 1942 aged 35. He gliders being towed. About 140 miles from including a dozen Hawker Sea Hurricanes, killed in action June 11, 1940 aged 27. Colville was commander of the minesweeper destroyer enemy territory, and under attack by German prematurely and eight of the Hurricanes ran out was serving in the 1st Battalion Gordon HMS Algerine which was sunk by the Italian Condor aircraft, Cooper pulled the glider of fuel before reaching their objective. Seven Highlanders which was part of 51st (Highland) submarine Ascianghi in the Mediterranean off off its tow to allow its tug aircraft to engage airmen, including Coates, lost their lives. He Division tasked with delaying the German Bougie (now Bejaia), a port city in . the Condors. He then landed his glider on 18 19 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 the sea and launched dinghies with his two was piloting an American-made Waco glider Cope, Hilary Arthur Robin (40-43) Leading returning to the UK with many soldiers and companions; they were promptly machine- he had never flown before, and was expected Seaman RN, was killed on Tuesday, September naval personnel on board. A torpedo fired by gunned by the Condors. Surviving this, 24 to land in pitch dark without lights. In his 18, 1945 aged 19. The circumstances of his U-562 struck the port side of the engine room, hours later the three men were rescued by an book Wings of Pegasus, Chatterton describes death are not clear. He was serving in the British causing the ship to list 15 degrees to port. An RN frigate. Cooper immediately volunteered to Cooper. He was, he wrote, “a small dapper Pacific Fleet based at Sydney, Australia in HMS initial evacuation enabled 1,300 people to get make a second glider tow to Salé in , figure…by some stroke of fate he had been in Reaper – a converted escort carrier loaned to the off the ship which was then deemed able to be completing another highly dangerous mission my term at Pangbourne and I remembered him RN under the Lend-Lease agreement by the US towed at 5-6 knots to , Algeria by HMS safely. “This officer has been responsible for well…For courage and guts, there has not been Navy. From August-November 1945, Reaper Laforey. Sometime later 2,000 more people training all glider pilots engaged on this difficult his equal. I never had an officer who showed was used to transport were transferred off. Strathallan then exploded, tow and has set an outstanding example of such complete loyalty and self-sacrifice…He civilians imprisoned by caught fire and had to be abandoned. A skeleton courage, resourcefulness and devotion to duty” supplied the inspiration that was needed. The the Japanese between crew was left on board. Fourteen hours later states the Citation. story of Alastair Cooper (is) an epic of courage and and by now only 12 miles off Oran, Strathallan The successful but costly Allied airborne and determination (and) unlimited patience HMS Reaper Australia. At the time capsized and sank drowning the dozen people invasion of in July 1943 followed. It was for he was to see officers, less worthy than he, of his death Reaper was being prepared for a still on the ship. Cox is thought to have died during this operation that Cooper was killed promoted over his head without grumbling humanitarian mission to Hong Kong against in the initial torpedo explosion which killed when his Halifax tug aircraft was hit by flak at or complaining. He served on faithfully and the backdrop of industrial action by Australian two officers. His name is on the Tower Hill 500 feet and exploded. In attempting to land loyally.” He is buried at the CWGC cemetery waterside workers. Cope is commemorated in Memorial to Merchant Navy casualties. his glider, Cooper crashed into a river bed at at Catania, Sicily. the Sydney war cemetery in New South . Lentini near the target and was killed. Crokart, Norman David He had had no glider night-flying practice, Copsey, Donald (30-34) Sub Lt RN FAA, died (24-26) Wing Cdr aged 22 from multiple wounds having dived RAF, killed in action into the ground at the North , RAF June 27, 1940 aged 31. Netheravon, on November 13, 1939. Following a daylight At the time Copsey was attached to HMS attack on Langenhagen Daedalus and was flying as a co-pilot in a North airfield near Hanover, American Harvard Mk. 1 N7043 on a training Germany in the exercise. He is buried in Netheravon (All Saints) mediocre Hampden churchyard, Wiltshire. monoplane medium bomber (P1329), Cox, Frank Edwin (18- Crokart was returning 19) Merchant Navy, over the Netherlands when one engine failed. killed December 22, Half an hour later, his aircraft crashed in to the 1942 aged 38. Cox after transmitting ‘going down’ in was Chief Officer in plain language. Next day, his body washed up ss Strathallan, a large near Callantsoog, Noord-Holland. He is buried pre-war passenger liner at the CWGC cemetery at Callantsoog. Crokart owned by P&O, which had joined the RAF in the early 1930s. sinking of ss Strathallan was sunk by the German submarine U-562 with 16 dead and 5,106 Croker-King, Charles R.B.F. (30-33) Trooper Cooper A.J. (25-29) - survivors. Having taken part in the Allied No. 4 Glider 3rd County of London Yeomanry, killed in Training School troop landings in North Africa, Strathallan was action November 22, 1941 aged 25. Croker-

20 21 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020

King was fighting in the Western Desert as worked in two jobs for Naval Intelligence in 1944. Here he was kept in solitary confinement Dawson, Douglas Algernon (18-19) Lt Cdr part of Operation Crusader - the attempt by Marseilles and the Cape Verde Islands as well as for the next 14-15 months, fed starvation RNVR, killed in action June 30, 1944 aged the to relieve the siege serving for a time as a liaison officer on the staff rations and treated as a common criminal 40. In command of Landing Craft Flotilla of . He is ‘Remembered with Honour’ of General de Gaulle in London. before being shot in the back of the neck and 42, Dawson had embarked in HM CF42 and at The Knightsbridge War Cemetery which is to be Posted to the Mideast in 1941 and now on murdered by the SS in February/March 1945 as was overseeing the unloading of converted found 25 km west of Tobruk in Acroma, . the pay roll of the Special Operations Executive Soviet forces advanced on . landing craft known as Landing Craft Flak on formed on Churchill’s orders to “set Europe Awarded a DSO & Bar and the Greek an exposed beach in Normandy following the Cullum, Noel William ablaze,” he was tasked with forming a para- Medal of Honour for his two attempts to D-Day landings. LCF were up to 200 feet in Aubrey (22-25) Capt naval force of small boats, mostly caiques and blow up the Corinth Canal, Cumberlege’s length with a front ramp welded into position Indian Army died trawlers, to carry out clandestine missions in wartime operations were the subject of forensic and a covered to give a platform for anti- June 6, 1941 aged 34. the Eastern Mediterranean, a region he knew analysis in a book by Platon Alexiades Target aircraft guns, and were intended to provide air Cullum joined the RAF like the back of his hand from his yachting Corinth Canal 1940-1944 published in 2011. cover for the Allied invasion fleet. Dawson was in 1934 and was a Flt experiences in the 1930s. Based mostly in Seven years later, a full-length biography The posthumously Mentioned in Despatches in Lt in 1936 serving in Alexandria, his small force of two or Extraordinary Life of Mike Cumberlege SOE “for operations associated with HMS Glorious in 823 three boats and a dozen men took part in was published in 2018 and written by Robin the .” He is buried in the Squadron (a spotter successive sabotage actions during the Allied Knight (56-61). Today Mike Cumberlege CWGC Hermanville War Cemetery eight miles Henfield War Memorial reconnaissance unit). retreat from Greece and Crete including is remembered on a plaque at the site of north of Caen, France. By early 1938 he was a Sqn Ldr in the Air Cumberlege’s first attempt to blow up the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, 22 miles Force Reserve. In August 1938 he joined the Corinth Canal which led to his first DSO. northwest of Berlin, and also on the Roll of Indian Army as a 2nd Lt. By June 1941 he was While escaping back to North Africa from Honour at the Chatham Naval Memorial. a Captain attached to the Royal Indian Army Crete in , he was wounded (and his Service Corps but it is not known how he cousin and a seaman in the boat killed) in an died. He is commemorated at the Brighton attack by a Me 110 bomber. D (Woodvale) Borough Crematorium. Once recovered, Cumberlege made three clandestine trips from Alexandria to German- Davies, Brough (37-40) Merchant Navy, died Cumberlege, Claude occupied Crete towards the end of 1941 to in 1944 aged about 21 but the details are not Michael Bulstrode liaise with Allied troops stranded there, deliver known. He was born in Ulverston, Lancashire LCF (19-22) Lt Cdr RNR, supplies and take out various individuals. For and his family moved to southern Africa in shot and murdered by much of 1942 he was out of action suffering, 1924. Initially, he was educated at Gifford Dearden, Lionel Humphrey Lucas (33-34) the SS in February/ and nearly dying, from paratyphoid. On a High School in Bulawayo, Southern Sub Lt RN, killed in action October 27, March 1945 at second operation to destroy the Corinth Canal before going to the NCP. In March 1943 he 1940 aged 23. The son of an operational RN Sachsenhausen in 1943, faulty explosives saved the canal. is listed as a Cadet on the 7,600 tons Union- officer, Dearden was serving in the submarine concentration camp Cumberlege and his three-man team were left Castle vessel mv Sandown Castle when it visited HMS H49, launched in 1919, when it was near Berlin, aged 39. stranded in the hills on a small island in the New York. depth-charged by a German patrol craft off A professional sailor Aegean full of German sympathisers. Eventually Texel Island, Netherlands. There was one pre-war, specialising they were betrayed. Captured by the Germans survivor. Dearden was on his 13th war patrol, in skippering ocean-going yachts for wealthy at the end of April 1943, he was transferred to the first with a new commanding officer. He Americans in the Baltic and Mediterranean, Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria, is commemorated at the Portsmouth Naval Cumberlege remained in the RNR after leaving where he was tortured and held for eight Memorial. the NCP until he married in 1937. When war months, before being moved to Sachsenhausen broke out, he re-joined the RNR and in 1940 concentration camp near Berlin in January Bulawayo School Plaque 22 23 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020

Dennis, Richard Francis Legendre (19-22) air bombardment. De Stacpoole was wounded Dundas, Robert Charles (26-28), Lt RN FAA, of the gliders carrying parachutists to attack Merchant Navy, died July 11, 1943 aged 38. but returned to the unit by August when it was killed in action May 21, 1940 aged 29. 812 the airfield at Catania north of Augusta were Dennis was Troop Officer in ss Duchess of York, fighting around Douzie. Naval Air Squadron from HMS Glorious had shot down by the merchant ships when they a 20,000-ton troopship/ which had In late- 48 RM Commando been detached to RAF Coastal Command overflew the convoy.” Durrell was Mentioned belonged to the Canadian Pacific Steamship was tasked with the liberation of while the carrier was in refit. Dundas, flying in Despatches. Plagued by engine problems, Co. before the war. In 1940 the vessel was used Island as part of the battle of the . Its a Swordfish, was missing presumed killed Venomous was ordered back to England and to transport German refugees from Liverpool role was to capture gun emplacements and a when he ditched in the North Sea 100 miles arrived at Falmouth in October. Soon after, to Ontario and also to take British evacuee station. De Stacpoole led Y Troop but east of North Coates, Lincolnshire whilst on Durrell took over command of Isis. He is children to . In July 1943 Duchess of was machine-gunned and killed before reaching minelaying operations. He is commemorated at commemorated at the Plymouth Naval York was sailing from , Scotland as the enemy. In a tribute on a Royal Marines the FAA Lee-on-Solent Memorial. Memorial. part of a small convoy to , Sierra memorial, his commanding officer described At the NCP, where he had been CCCC in Leone. About 300 miles west of Vigo the De Stacpoole as “a gallant, handsome Irish Durell, Henry Dumaresq (26-30) Lt Cdr RN, Winter Term 1930, Durell was described in The convoy was attacked by three German FW200 gentleman and a most admirable soldier. We killed in action July 20, 1944 aged 31. Durell Log as the “most effective” fly-half the College aircraft based in Bordeaux. Duchess of York was owed much to the standards he had set.” De was captaining the destroyer HMS Isis when it had had in its 1st XV since the time of the hit and some 90 people killed out of 717 on Stacpoole was Mentioned in Despatches in struck a mine five miles from the coast off the England international HCC Laird (22-25). board. The ship was crippled and later sunk by 1944 for “good services.” He is buried at the western sector of the Normandy beaches during the Royal Navy. Denis’s name is on the Tower CWGC cemetery at in the Netherlands. the Allied invasion of France. Badly damaged, Duval, Henry Snaith (24-28) Lt Cdr RN, died Hill MN Memorial. His brother was killed fighting in the the ship was then bombed by German aircraft May 7, 1945 aged 33. Duval had joined the Netherlands on the same day he died. and later sunk with manned torpedoes by the RN in 1928 via HMS Erebus. Always known De Stacpoole, Derick RN. In all, 154 members of the crew, including as ‘Claude’, he served in 1939- Roderick William (32- Durell and another OP, FH Seymour (33-37), 42, commanding two (Sutton and Albacore) as 37) Maj RM, killed in died. a Lieutenant. In 1942 he spent nine months action November 1, 1944 Durrell joined the RN in 1937 and served in the cruiser HMS Phoebe before being aged 25. An outstanding in destroyers at the outset of war. For most posted in February 1943 to the battleship rugby player at the NCP, of 1943 he served in the Mediterranean as HMS Queen Elizabeth and promoted Lt Cdr. de Stacpoole – a son of commanding officer of the destroyer HMS From November 1944 he was serving in HMS the 5th Duke de Stacpoole Venomous – “a modest, unassuming officer Highflyer, a shore-based establishment in Ceylon of Co. Meath, Ireland – popular in the Wardroom” according to a 2017 (today Sri Lanka). It seems likeliest that he joined the Royal Marines book A Hard Fought Ship. It goes on: “In May died from illness. He had married in 1934 and in 1938 and by 1942 was de Stacpoole, DR (32-37) - 48 RM Commando 1943 Axis forces in north Africa surrendered left a widow and daughter. He is buried in the a Captain in 103 RM Brigade. Early in 1944 he and Venomous escorted KMS14X, the first CWGC Cemetery at , Sri Lanka. joined 48 RM Commando, the last Commando Dorrell, Kenneth John (31-33) Lt RN, died through-convoy from Gibraltar to Alexandria. A unit formed in World War 2. Deploying in probably on June 16, 1940 aged 24. Dorrell case of cannibalism on a German lifesaving raft, unarmoured craft, the unit was the second was serving in the mine-laying submarine and their (ship’s company) entry to the recently- to reach during the Normandy HMS Grampus. By June 13 it had laid 50 liberated blockaded port of in the Italian landings in 1944, and suffered “severe losses” mines in the Syracuse/Augusta area off Sicily colony of Libya, made a deep impression on the both from the landing itself in a heavy swell and but shortly after was spotted by an Italian ship’s company. They enjoyed cold beers and vicious tidal stream, and from strong German and quickly destroyed by the bought souvenirs in Alex before escorting the resistance as it pushed inland to capture coastal encircling Italian Navy with all hands lost. He second wave of troops to the landings in Sicily, villages. Beach defences on Juno had been is commemorated at the Portsmouth Naval Operation Husky. Venomous was bombed almost untouched by the preliminary naval and Memorial. after the troops landed at Syracuse and many Duval, HS (24-28) - Trincomalee war cemetery in Sri Lanka

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E planes flying from Ark Royal were lost. England F On the evening of January 12, 1942 Farrar is remembered at the FAA Memorial, Lee-on- flew one of three Catalina flying boats of 205 Elliott, Roy Charlton (36-39) Sub Lt RNR, Solent. Falconer, Keith James Squadron on a raid of the Singora railway died in captivity in March 15, 1944 aged (22-24) Flt Lt RAFVR, yards in southern Thailand which had just been 21. Leaving the NCP, Elliott joined Metro- killed in action captured by the invading Japanese. Leaving at Vickers as an office boy in Newcastle. Soon September 8, 1941 1835 hours, the Catalinas took off from Seletar after, in November 1939, he entered the RNR aged 33. A member of airfield on Island at ten-minute as a Midshipman, was promoted to Sub Lt in 214 Squadron, part of intervals, each aircraft carrying eight 500 lb January 1943. In he was serving Bomber Command, bombs. Catalina number W8409/Q, flown by in the RN submarine HMS Saracen on patrol Falconer was a Farrar, failed to return. His aircraft had been off when it was forced to scuttle by two Navigational Observer intercepted by a Japanese Nakajima fighter Italian corvettes. Taken into captivity, Elliott is in a Wellington aircraft flown by Hideshima listed as “accidentally killed” in Italy in March England, IHB (34-37) - flying off HMS Ark Royal aircraft, T1784, that who shot it down into the sea; there were 1944. He is buried in the Protestant cemetery took off from RAF Stradishall and was shot no survivors. Farrar is commemorated in the in Rome. Evans, Leonard William (36-39) Midshipman down over Germany. Two months earlier he CWGC Singapore Memorial. RN, killed in action May 22, 1941 aged 21. had been awarded a DFC. According to the Evans was serving in his first ship, the cruiser 214 Squadron historian, Falconer “had actually Felton, Colin (23-26) Sub-Conductor Indian HMS Gloucester, during the . finished his tour and had no need to fly but Army Corps of Clerks, died in May/June 1942 Short of anti-aircraft ammunition and fuel, agreed to this one trip with a new Commanding aged 33. He lost contact with the College in Gloucester had been ordered into the battle to Officer.” Keith was married to the well-known the mid-1930s, having gone into the Merchant support two RN destroyers – a “grave error” pre-war actress Freda Morello and was a popular Navy with the Orient Company and then according to the C-in-C Mediterranean Fleet figure in 214 Squadron. He had entered the joining the Army and being posted to India Sir Andrew Cunningham. Gloucester MN from the NCP but by 1938, when he with the East Surrey Regiment in 1931. He was sunk by German dive bombers with the loss gained his Aviators Certificate at Redhill Flying remained in India throughout the 1930s,

Elliott, RV (36-39) - CWGC cemetery, Testaccio, Rome of 726 out of 807 crew. Evans is commemorated Club, he listed his occupation as “market serving in at least three other regiments before at the . salesman.” One of his two brothers was also being seconded from The Duke of Wellington’s England, Ian Hugh Bellingham (34-37) Sub killed flying in the RAF. He is buried in the Regiment into the Indian Army Corps of Clerks Lt RN FAA, killed in action September 24, 1939-1945 Berlin War Cemetery maintained by in Rangoon, Burma. 1940 aged 20. England was flying from HMS the CWGC. By March 1942 Felton had been promoted Ark Royal and taking part in an unsuccessful to Sub-Conductor when the Japanese invaded attempt to persuade Vichy French forces in Farrar, Maxwell Francis Campbell (28-31) Burma and the Allied retreat from Rangoon , Senegal to change sides. An Allied Task Sqn Ldr RAF, killed in action January 12, 1942 began. Having reached Myitkyina, more than Force of about 20 ships and 8,000 troops had aged 28. Farrar had joined the RAF about 700 miles north of Rangoon, the airfield there been assembled and the plan was to persuade 1935, was promoted to Squadron Leader and was bombed by the enemy at the start of May, the Vichy French forces to allow General de had been awarded the DFC for anti-submarine rendering it useless for evacuation flights. Felton Gaulle to take over. Ark Royal’s aircraft dropped patrols during 1941 from Gibraltar over the and thousands of refugees of all backgrounds HMS Gloucester sinking 22.5.41 150 bombs around the harbour and dockyards Mediterranean and Atlantic as a member of and races, soldiers and civilians, had no choice at Dakar but the Vichy French refused to back 202 Squadron. Sometime later in 1941 he was but to walk 600 miles east over the most down. As de Gaulle was determined to avoid transferred to a maritime reconnaissance unit, northern passes between Burma and Assam fighting other French forces, the taskforce 205 Squadron, based on Singapore Island as the in appalling monsoon conditions. Many died withdrew. Three Swordfish and six torpedo Japanese began to invade the Malay peninsula. on the way, including Felton. “My father was 26 27 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 picked up by the trackside but died soon after G Eve. Nothing was ever heard from the boat from the German-held port of Brest on the in a Mission hospital in Gauhati of malaria and again and it was assumed it had been lost evening of May 26, 1941. Two days earlier, exhaustion,” his son informed the College in Gibbs, Frank Bridger through striking a mine. Bismarck had sunk HMS Hood in the Denmark February 2016. Having no known grave, Colin (28-31) Lt RN, killed This was to have been Frank Gibbs’s last Strait. Launching their single torpedoes at 900 Felton is commemorated in the Taukkayan war in action between patrol in command of H31 as he had been yards distance from an altitude of 90ft at a cemetery outside Rangoon, . 19/26 December given another appointment. “A keen sportsman, speed of 90 knots, the two pilots dropped their 1941 aged 27. He six foot one inches in height and blue-eyed,” ‘fish’ and turned quickly, zigzagging away to joined the RN in according to a file in the RN Submarine evade enemy anti-aircraft fire. None of this was 1931, initially serving archives, “with fair hair and fresh complexion, done mechanically; a Swordfish pilot had to mostly in “Big Ships” he was a good swimmer and horse rider. A quiet work out for himself such matters as the best such as the cruiser man, he was a very friendly person and had set angle of aim to take account a target’s likely HMS Exeter, the his heart on becoming a submariner from an speed and the best collision course for the battleship HMS Nelson early age. He said he would feel more at home torpedo. Godfrey-Fausset’s fellow pilot was Lt. and the knowing every member of the crew personally Kenneth Pattisson, father of Rodney Pattisson

Felton, C (23-26) - Taukkayan cemetery, outside Rangoon, Myanmar HMS Courageous. and that was typical of his approach to life. He (57-61), the future OP Olympic Games Portsmouth Naval Memorial He moved to the was greatly respected by all who served with medal sailor. Franks, Alexander Lumsden (22-26) Sqn Ldr Submarine Service in 1936. His first boat was him – always willing to listen and give advice RAF, killed in action May 29, 1940 aged 32. HMS Rorqual, a mine-laying vessel, in which he when needed.” At the time of his death he was Gordon, Dennis Michael (36-39) Merchant Known as ‘Bonzo,’ Franks joined the RAF spent three years on the Station as Third married and had a son and a daughter. Gibbs Navy, died on November 14, 1942 aged 19. from the NCP having been CCCC in Lent Hand. Returning to England in March 1940, is commemorated at the Portsmouth Naval Gordon was a Cadet in mv Warwick Castle, a Term 1926. At the end of 1931, now a Flying he became First Lieutenant of H44 and then Memorial. 20,000-ton Union-Castle vessel transformed Officer, he was seconded to be ADC to the transferred to Unbeaten. In Unbeaten he was into a troopship. Part of convoy MKF-1X, British High Commissioner in Iraq. By 1938 he Mentioned in Despatches at the start of 1941 Godfrey-Fausset, David Frederick (27-31) Lt the ship was carrying returning Servicemen was a Squadron Leader and had been awarded while serving in the Mediterranean. His first RN FAA, died on March 11, 1942 when flying from North Africa where it had earlier landed the AFC for pre-war services in an unnamed, command was H31 in August 1941. from HMS Condor, an RNAS near Arbroath, troops as part of Operation Torch. A German probably Middle East, theatre. The H boats, many dating from World Scotland and a rest station for FAA pilots. He submarine U-413 detected the convoy about Franks became CO of the Spitfire-flying War 1, were used primarily to give training was 28. His Swordfish aircraft L2772 flew into 200 miles northwest of Cape Espichel, 610 Squadron in . During the to officers and men but, when necessary, they the sea off East Haven during a night formation . Warwick Castle was hit by four Dunkirk evacuation he was credited with were pressed into service for operational patrols. flight. In 1941 he was awarded a DSC for his torpedoes and sank in 85 minutes. It was one destroying two German aircraft before being In December 1941 it was thought likely by important part in helping to sink the German of the largest merchant vessels destroyed in shot down himself by a ME-110. His body the Admiralty that the German battleship Bismarck, making two attacks on World War 2. Out of 428 people on board, 114 washed up at on the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, accompanied by the ship from HMS Ark Royal in poor weather lost their lives including 60 members of the and was buried there during the war. After the cruiser Prinz Eugen, would leave their and damaging the enemy with at least one crew. Gordon is remembered on the Tower Hill the war it was moved to Sage war cemetery 40 base at Brest for a sortie in the Atlantic. All torpedo. Prior to this, Godfrey-Fausset had been MN Memorial. miles west of in Germany. This CWGC available RN boats were assigned to watch Mentioned in Despatches twice, in 1940 and cemetery mostly contains the bodies of airmen the approaches to Brest in the hope that the 1941, while serving in Ark Royal. His godfather brought from burial grounds on the Dutch German ships could be attacked. H31 left was Edward, then Prince of Wales. coast and in North West Germany. Falmouth on December 19 with a crew of 33 Godfrey-Fausset was one of a flight of two and was to patrol 250 miles north of Finisterre (a third pilot lost contact) from Ark Royal who in the Bay of Biscay. The submarine was dived down through thick cloud and fading scheduled to return to Falmouth on light to attack Bismarck about 700 miles out ss Warwick Castle 28 29 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020

Graham, John Malcolm (36-40) Plt Off At Pangbourne, Grant-Sturgis was one of were destroyed by ditching or on landing. Nine by a combined US/Canadian/British sea and air RAFVR, killed in action July 28, 1941 aged four members of the 1938 1st X1 cricket team FAA pilots on this raid were captured by the force north of the . Much of Asphodel’s 18. He had enlisted in the RAF direct from who was killed in action in World War 2. The Japanese and executed in April 1945. Gunn’s high loss of life was caused by its primed depth the NCP in 1940 and was serving in 50 others were MAG Lovell, CN Parker and RA aircraft was one of those shot down by Japanese charges which exploded after the torpedo Squadron – part of Bomber Command – which Shuttleworth. Two other members of the side fighters. struck. flew Hampden aircraft and was based at RAF – MJ Baring and RE Bradshaw – both died in Swinderby. On July 28 the squadron was their 30s in accidents during the 1950s. Grant- undertaking a hazardous operation to lay mines Sturgis is commemorated at the FAA Memorial H in Kiel Bay in the southwestern . at Lee-on-Solent. Graham’s aircraft was lost without trace. He is Haig-Haddow, John commemorated at the Runnymede airmen and Green, Anthony Moulton (29-32) Lt RN, Renwick (33-37) Lt RN, women Memorial. killed in action December 6, 1940 aged 24. killed March 28, 1946 A member of the Submarine Service since aged 26. Haig-Haddow Grant-Sturgis, Robin Julian (33-38) Lt Cdr 1936, Green was serving in HMS Regulus died on active war HMS Aspodel RNVR FAA, died February 16, 1943 aged on its seventh war patrol out of Alexandria, service during a flying 23. In 1941 Grant-Sturgis was Mentioned heading for the Adriatic. Regulus is known to exercise. At the time he Hampden, Grenville Robert (32-34) Sub Lt in Despatches for actions related to the have struck a mine in the Straits of Taranto and was serving in the shore- RN FAA, killed in action April 13, 1940 during surrender of Diego Suarez on the northern tip was lost with its entire 55-strong crew. Green based HMS Mercury, the Norwegian Campaign, aged 21. Launching of Madagascar. At the time he was serving in is commemorated at the Portsmouth Naval the RN communications from a converted World War 1 cruiser, HMS the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable which Memorial. and navigation Furious, off , Hampden was one of a took part in the Allied invasion of Madagascar. establishment in Hampshire. In 1942, while number of FAA pilots on board flying Swordfish FAA aircraft from Indomitable had attacked serving in the submarine HMS P42, Haig- aircraft to provide anti-submarine cover during an airfield and destroyed Vichy French fighter Haddow had been awarded a DSC “for gallant the second battle of Narvik. He is believed to planes. Posted to the USA and assigned to the and distinguished services in successful patrols.” have been shot down by anti-aircraft fire from stone frigate HMS Saker for training related to He is buried at the CWGC Cemetery at Mearns the German destroyer Erich Giese and crashed anti-submarine patrols, Grant-Sturgis was killed HMS Regulus in Renfrewshire, Scotland. into Ofotflord. Hampden is commemorated at in an accident flying out of the Naval Auxiliary the Lee-On-Solent FAA memorial. Air Facility Lewiston, Maine. Gunn, Malcolm John (38-40) Sub Lt RN Halliday, Michael Albert (28-31) Lt FAA, died of his wounds when flying from RNZNVR, killed in action March 9, 1944 Harris, John Anthony (31-34), Sub Lt RN HMS Victorious off (now part of aged 30. He was serving in the HMS FAA, killed in action June 13, 1940 aged 23. ) January 29, 1945 aged 21. Gunn’s Asphodel, protecting convoy SL150/MKS41, Harris was a member of FAA’s 803 Squadron, FAA squadron had been tasked that day with when the ship was hit aft by a Gnat (German flying a Skua aircraft from HMS Ark Royal attacking and crippling acoustic torpedo) fired from the submarine during the Norwegian Campaign. Ark Royal’s a large oil refinery at U575. At the time, the joint convoy was task was to provide aircraft protection for other Soengi-Gerong thought moving along at 15 knots and was 390 miles Allied warships and cover the evacuation of to be the last source of northwest of Cape Finisterre heading to the Allied troops from Narvik. At midnight on June oil for Japanese forces in UK from Gibraltar. Five survivors were picked 12/13 the Skuas were sent 40 miles over enemy- the Malay peninsula or up by the corvette HMS Clover, commanded occupied territory and through intense flak Sumatra. Sixteen FAA by T.E. Fanshawe (32-35), but 92 of Asphodel’s (anti-aircraft fire) to try to bomb the German aircraft were lost in the crew perished. The U-boat was hunted for 18 Scharnhorst. All surprise was Grant-Sturgis, RJ (33-38) - front row second left Gunn, MG (38-40) - (with MAG Lovell, CN Parker & RA Shuttleworth all KIA) Lee-on-Solent memorial operation and another 25 hours but escaped. Four days later, it was sunk lost, the attack was a disaster, Scharnhorst was 30 31 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 undamaged and eight of the 15 Skuas taking moved in with three other destroyers to attack where Harvey-Kelley was killed is not known. part were shot down including that of John an eight-ship Axis convoy. All the ships in the He is buried in the CWGC cemetery at Kranji, Harris. His plane crashed into a hillside above convoy were sunk as well as two of its three Singapore. The inscription on his gravestone a farm at Kjora. Both air crew were taken to escort vessels. However, before its sinking, Luca reads: “In the words of his Jemadar: ‘He was the Orkdal Hospital as POWs. Harris died just Tarigo launched torpedoes, two of which hit most “shaif” (noble) officer I ever met.” after arrival. He is buried in the CWGC Mohawk. Forty-one of the crew perished but Cemetery at , Norway. His partner, 168 were rescued. Hartcup is commemorated at Hay, William (36-38) Sub Lt RNR, killed Naval Airman A. Stevenson, died a year later the Royal Naval Cemetery, Haslar Gosport. in action August 7, 1942 aged 21. First still a prisoner-of-war. Lieutenant in HM MTB 45, Hay died in

Hartley, Horace Aidan an action off . Previously he had been Henley AB (33-36) - 1st XV 1935. de Stacpoole also died Harris, Wilfrid Arthur (30-34) Flt Lt RAF, (18-19) Lt RNR, died of Mentioned in Despatches in November 1941 killed in action December 7, 1940 aged 24. injuries on June 28, 1946 “for courage and skill in action against the Hill, Alastair Conway (28-32) Capt Army, Harris was co-pilot of a Wellington aircraft of whilst serving in HMS enemy” in another action in the Channel missing presumed dead January 1, 1942 aged 214 Squadron Bomber Command taking part Pembroke, a shore barracks and had taken part in the torpedo attack 28. Chief Cadet Captain of Hesperus in in a raid on Düsseldorf, Germany. A squadron at Chatham. He was 42 – on the Scharnhorst in February 1942. He is 1932, Hill went to RMA Sandhurst and was report states: “His crew and two others were one of the two oldest OPs commemorated in Pulborough (St. Mary) commissioned in the East Surrey Regiment. In despatched half an hour ahead of the main to appear on the Roll of churchyard in West Sussex. 1939 the regiment’s 2nd Battalion was stationed force as ‘Pathfinders’ by locating and marking Honour. He is buried at in Shanghai before being moved to a base the target with incendiaries. The weather was the Royal Naval Cemetery near Singapore Island. In the atrocious and his aircraft lost both engines, at Haslar, Gosport. regiment was shifted north to within a few miles falling several thousand feet before they could of the border with Siam (Thailand). be started again.” All three ‘Pathfinder’ aircraft Harvey-Kelley, Hume When the Japanese Army invaded Malaya in were lost. He is buried at the CWGC Cemetery Diarmid (31-34) Capt December 1941, Hill led Rifle Company B. The at Oye-Plage, near Calais. Indian Army, died in regiment’s commanding officer broke his leg Malaya February 11, and Hill, as the senior company commander, 1942 aged 25. He had assumed command. At the subsequent battle obtained an ‘Emergency of Gurun in mid-December the East Surreys Commission’ as a 2nd were overrun by Japanese forces. A headlong Hay, William - one of officers of MTB 219 1941 Lieutenant in the Indian retreat began. Hill gathered together what Army in late- was left of the battalion and organised a move nd th Oye-Plage and joined the 2 Bn 10 Baluch Regiment. Henley, Antony Basil (33-36) Lt RN, killed in south through the jungle on foot. Thirty CWGC cemetery The regiment was part of 8th Indian Brigade action January 12, 1942 aged 22. At the time miles northeast of Taiping, he collapsed with and was allotted to guard a central beach of his death, Henley was off Tobruk, serving in exhaustion. Alastair Hill insisted on being Hartcup, Peter James sector from Kelantan to Kuantan in northeast the destroyer HMS Kimberley when the ship left behind alone (32-36) Sub Lt RN, Malaya. As Japanese forces invaded Malaya was struck by a torpedo fired by the German and was not killed in action April on 8th December 1941, associated Indian submarine U-77. Major damage to the stern seen again. He is 16, 1941 aged 22. units retreated leaving 2/10 Baluch exposed. resulted and Kimberley had to be towed back to commemorated Hartcup was serving The battalion withdrew without firing a shot, Alexandria. Three of the crew, including Henley on the CWGC Memorial plaque Swaffham in the destroyer HMS leaving its heavy guns and transport behind. It who was Mentioned in Despatches, were killed Memorial in Kranji Mohawk when it was torpedoed by an Italian then found itself in the middle of a headlong in the attack. He is commemorated at the Hill, AC (28-32) - 1st XV 1932. War Cemetery on Also died - Massy, Pittar, submarine, Luca Tarigo, off Sfax, as it rout going south towards Singapore. How or Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Whittaker, Symes Singapore Island. 32 33 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020

Hill, Douglas Russell (37-41) Sub Lt RNR, explosive sweep cutter was found at a beach Humphrey, Michael Stephen Thurlbeck killed in action February 17, 1945 aged 22. during a swimming party and brought back (34-36) Lt RN, killed in action May 24, 1941 Hill was serving in the corvette HMS Bluebell. on a truck returning to the camp. On arrival, aged 21. Humphrey was one of three OPs Having reached escorting convoy it exploded at the camp at Burgh-el-Arab.” A serving in the battlecruiser HMS Hood when it JW64, Bluebell was one of the vessels assembling sweep cutter is a component in the system used was sunk in the by the German in the Kola Inlet with convoy RA64 for the long to clear tethered mines at sea. Hornby is buried battleship Bismarck. He had joined the RN as voyage back to Scotland. U-boats were known at the CWGC cemetery at El Alamein. a Cadet at the start of 1937. His mother came to be gathering in the area and anti-submarine from St. Helena. He is commemorated at the Hutton, (19-21) - Thanbyuzayat Cemetery precautions had been taken. However, Bluebell Howard, Richard Portsmouth Naval Memorial. was hit astern by an acoustic homing torpedo Edward Fitzalan from U-771 and the corvette’s depth charges (30-33) 2nd Lt RM, Hunt, Martin Hoby (20-21) Cdr RN, killed I exploded. The ship sank within 30 seconds. died in the London in action September 24, 1942 aged 36. Only one member of the crew of 86 survived. Blitz October 19, Hunt joined the RN in 1924 and lectured in Iremonger, Richard Hill is commemorated at the Portsmouth Plaque in Luccombe 1940 aged 24. A New engineering at BRNC Dartmouth. In 1938-39 Antony (30-32) Lt Naval Memorial. Zealander by birth, he served in the Royal Yacht Victoria & Albert. Army, killed in action Howard had served By 1942 he was in the destroyer HMS Somali October 20, 1944 aged Hornby, Michael George Lonsdale (31-35) two years in the RM and part of convoy QP14 returning from 29. Iremonger left Plt Off RAF, died in North Africa June 22, ranks before being Murmansk. The ship was torpedoed by U-703 the NCP with an RN 1942 aged 24. Hornby was a member of commissioned as war and hit in the engine room, but not sunk. Taken Nomination but by 203 Squadron operating Blenheim bomber broke out. A plaque under tow by HMS Ashanti and crewed by 80 of 1939 was serving in the aircraft from West Egypt and flying patrols erected by his family the 102 men originally onboard including Hunt Queen’s Own Cameron from the Libyan coast to Crete and over the in his honour in St. (all forbidden to go below on the badly damaged Highlanders. In 1944 Mediterranean. In July 1942 he was awarded a Mary the Virgin vessel), Somali sank suddenly five days later, he was attached to the Army Air Corps but had DFC that is likely to have been associated with church, Luccombe, drowning most of those still in the vessel. Hunt been returned to QOCH by October. He was the squadron’s hazardous role in shadowing an Somerset reads: was Mentioned in Despatches posthumously killed in or near Schijndel in the Netherlands Italian naval force approaching North Africa in “Beloved by many. “for brave or skilful conduct while escorting or together with his company commander, Major June 1942. Soon after he was killed, according Death hides but it protecting a convoy.” He is commemorated at Nigel Parker, and is buried in the CWGC to an accident report, “when a German does not divide.” the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Cemetery at Uden. A book, None Bolder by Richard Doherty, Hutton, William Menzies (19-21) Signalman describes the action in which Iremonger was Australian Corps of Signals, died on August 31, killed: “No sooner were the Camerons in open 1943 in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp aged country than they came under intense fire from 39. He was born in Scotland and enlisted in enemy machine guns but, in spite of this, ‘B’ the Australian Army in June 1940. A member Company reached its objective. However, ‘A’ of AIF 8 Division, Hutton was probably one Company’s opposition was much stiffer and the of 15,000 Australians taken prisoner by the company’s casualties included its commander, Japanese at the fall of Singapore in February Major Nigel Parker, who was wounded 1942. One in three were to die in captivity. He severely and later died. ‘A’ Company’s advance is buried in the CWGC Thanbyuzayat cemetery was brought to a halt. ‘D’ Company, which in Burma at one of the terminal points on the attempted to make a flanking attack, was also Hornby, MGL (31-35) - El-Alamein Siam-Burma Death Railway. held up but the situation was relieved somewhat 34 35 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 when ‘C’ Company, by dint of a wide detour, a hard-won and held bridgehead. As you know, From early 1940, 812 Squadron was attached K came in on ‘A’ Company’s original objective and the Division responded magnificently and to RAF Coastal Command and tasked with wrested it from the enemy.” achieved what I believe to be one of its greatest minelaying and bombing operations in coastal Keddie, Richard achievements since D Day.” areas off Holland. However, Johnston may have George Damyon flown from RAF Bircham in Norfolk, (31-35) Lt RN, J Johnston, Douglas Stewart (30-31) Plt Off or RAF North Cotes, Lincolnshire whilst killed in action RAF, died June 18, 1940 aged 25. As far as can being recorded, for pay and administrative August 29, 1944 Jobson, David Alan be determined, Johnston, a New Zealander, purposes, on the books of Peregrine. Both RAF aged 26. Keddie (38-41) Lt Army, was killed while flying to the Middle East. His Stations were bases for RAF 16 Group (Coastal was serving in died of his wounds Mk.1V L9314 crashed at Command) for Swordfish squadrons operating the destroyer November 19, 1944 Prunieres, Hautes-Alpes, France en route. All over the North Sea 1940-41. 812 Squadron was HMS Cattistock when the ship intercepted aged 20. Jobson, three crew were killed. His service record states: at both bases from mid-June 1940. German naval forces trying to escape . from Scotland, “Missing, believed killed on active service while According to Michael Reece In the resultant action, Cattistock was hit 26 was serving in 2/5 engaged in non-operational flying duties or on RM, who wrote a book about Flying Royal times. Keddie was on the bridge with his Seaforth Highlanders the ground through enemy action.” He is buried Marines published in 2012: “It is quite possible commanding officer when both were killed by and is buried in the in Mazargues CWGC cemetery, on the road to Johnston’s body was not recovered; that of a shell. Despite severe damage, Cattistock was Leopoldsburg war Toulon in southern France, near the grave of his pilot, Sub Lt. Ralph Eborn, is buried at able to get back to Plymouth. Earlier that year cemetery in Belgium. RM Rodgers (33-35). Noordwijk, Holland. This would suggest Keddie was in Cattistock when it took part in The regiment, part they were on an extended mission and were the D-Day landings. In 1943 he was Mentioned of 51st Highland Division, was taking part in lost off the coast of Holland, either in action in Despatches for his role in the destroyer HMS Operation Ascot to push the Germans back over or as a result of a technical failure. I have Wishart during the . the River Mass. This was achieved. Jobson was looked at both places on the map and my In late 1941 he was awarded a DSC, also while with the 2nd Seaforth Highlanders D company admiration for these chaps knows no bounds. serving in Wishart, “for skill and enterprise when it came under attack from light machine The distances involved, in open cockpits with in actions against enemy submarines” during guns and bazookas whilst trying to clear primitive navigation aids and communications, Operation Perpetual, the transfer of aircraft to Beringen. He was injured during this assault is humbling.” It is about 250 miles from Malta from Gibraltar. Richard Keddie is buried and later died of his injuries. Lincolnshire to Holland – a 500-mile round in a joint grave at St. Margaret’s churchyard, The GOC, Major General D.N. Wimberley, Johnston, DS (30-31) - Mazargues War Cemetery trip. Johnston’s death is recorded on the FAA Downham, . wrote to the CO of the Seaforth Highlanders Memorial in Lee-on-Solent. on the day Jobson died. In his words: “I am Johnston, Timothy Armstrong (31-35) Lt Kindersley, Robert writing to congratulate you and your Bn on RM, killed in action August 4, 1940 aged Erskine Gordon its great achievement on 17 November. The 22. Johnston was an RM officer who served (20-21) Capt Royal action of the Bn in crossing the canal will, I in HMS Resolution from September 1938. Canadian Engineers, feel, rank as one of the great episodes in the Transferred to the RNAS/HMS Peregrine at died May 31, 1945 history of your Regiment…The point I want to Ford, West Sussex, he gained his Observer aged about 39. make is that everything was against a crossing wings on July 23, 1940 – the second Royal Kindersley went that night - the weather, the appalling state of Marines officer to qualify as an FAA Observer. to Oundle School the approaches and the short time to prepare Twelve days after joining 812 Squadron, he was after the NCP and for a complicated assault crossing with difficult killed on patrol in the English Channel flying then to Magdalene a Swordfish Mk.1. He is commemorated at the College, Cambridge University. On graduating, bridging problems. The decision was made on Johnston, TA (31-35) - Observer in Swordfish Mk 1 in training flight your account, to avoid the possibility of losing FAA Lee-on-Solent Memorial. in Scotland, 1940. A3532 he became a mechanical engineer and in 1927 36 37 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 joined the International Petroleum Company, Lance, Geoffrey Charles of 65, two gunners and six passengers. The when the ship was sunk off the Lofoten Islands working in Peru and Canada. In 1934 he Philip (27-31) Lt Col first torpedo struck at 0045 hours underneath far above the with the loss of 160 married a Canadian and settled in Toronto. Army, killed in action the forward , stopping the ship for a brief men following an action with the German Commissioned into the Royal Canadian July 10, 1944 aged 31. time at which point distress signals were sent ships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. Most of the Engineers in June 1940, he spent the next four At the time of his death out. Zealandic got under way again but was hit crew died from exposure after Acasta sank. Law years in the UK before embarking for Europe Lance was commanding amidships by two more torpedoes fired at 0059 is commemorated at the Portsmouth Naval on July 28, 1944. He lost his life at Zutphen the 7th Bn Somerset hours and 0127 hours. The ship sank slowly Memorial. in the Netherlands “while trying to destroy Light Infantry in France. allowing the crew to take to three lifeboats. The Acasta was one of three RN ships sunk in grenades.” An inquiry found that the accident The regiment landed Zealandic sank soon after and the three lifeboats this encounter, the others being the Navy’s was not caused by “culpable neglect.” Kindersley in Normandy in June and was taking part in and their 73 occupants were never seen again, fastest and largest aircraft carrier at the time, is buried at the CWGC Canadian War Operation Jupiter – known as the battle for Hill no doubt lost in the severe weather conditions HMS Glorious, and the destroyer HMS Cemetery at Groesbeek in the Netherlands. 112 – as Allied forces attempted to surround the that characterise this part of the North Atlantic Ardent. The three ships initially had been town of Caen. Fiercely resisted by the 9th and during the winter months. His brother John part of the operation to evacuate British 10th German Panzer Divisions, the Somersets had been killed three months earlier. David is forces from Norway. The trio then set sail L suffered 556 casualties out of a strength of 845 commemorated at the memorial at Runnymede independently across the in seizing the objective the day after Lance to airmen and women. before being intercepted by the two German Lamb, Geoffrey Silverwood (23-26) Lt Cdr died. Earlier in the war Lance was awarded a battlecruisers. All three were hit and sunk in RN, died in a flying accident July 1, 1942 aged DSO for “gallant and distinguished services Lascelles, John Richard Hastings (34-37) FO an explosion of flames and smoke – but not 32. He joined the RN in 1926. In the 1930s in the Middle East” while fighting in 1942 in RAF, killed in action October 14, 1940 aged 20. before Acasta, having laid a protective smoke Lamb was listed as a RN “Flying Officer” and the Western Desert when he was wounded. He A member of 206 Squadron which had recently screen, hit Scharnhorst with a torpedo that was attached to the RAF. In 1935 he was posted went to RMA Sandhurst straight from the NCP re-equipped with Hudson Mk 1 aircraft, killed 53 German sailors. The captain of the to 810 Squadron, a fleet unit. in 1931 and was commissioned two years later, Lascelles was flying a long-range patrol over the Scharnhorst praised the “audacity and pluck” of When war broke out Lamb was a pilot officer subsequently serving in India. He is buried in North Sea in N7362, when he was posted as the destroyers. The incident was covered up by in the cruiser HMS Exeter and took part in the the CWGC War Cemetery at St. Manvieu, “Missing” and later as “Killed in Action.” He the Admiralty and its Board of Enquiry findings Battle of the River Plate against the Admiral Cheux, France. is commemorated at the airmen and women’s sealed until 2041, giving rise to all kinds Graff Spee. Afterwards, suffering from trauma, memorial at Runnymede. of explanations in the years since as to why he returned to the UK and was invalided out of Lascelles, David Pellew (24-26) Wing Cdr Glorious and its escorts had been sailing alone the RN. Shortly after, he was reassigned to test RAF, killed January 17, 1941 aged 31 with his with the result that a total of 1,519 men died – upgraded Spitfire aircraft models at Eastleigh wife Diana travelling across the Atlantic to a the UK’s second biggest loss of life at sea during and a Walrus aircraft Mark 11 at Addlestone, posting in the . The couple were World War 2. In 2020 a new theory emerged. Surrey. On July 1, 1942 he was flying a Walrus sailing in mv Zealandic, an 8,000 tons armed This linked Glorious to a secret plan hatched by being developed at the Weybridge trading merchant ship. The unescorted Zealandic Prime Minister Churchill for the Royal Navy estate. The plane had a wooden hull, suitable was torpedoed by U-106. At this stage in the to attack neutral and stop the export of for “amphibian flying.” The main factory was war those vessels with a good turn of speed iron ore to Germany. surrounded by high-tension cables on tall would frequently travel alone, with the more pylons and was therefore far from ideal for test northerly Atlantic route being taken to avoid Levinge, Reginald Vere Noel (33-36) Sub Lt flying. It seems that Lamb was killed attempting active U-boat areas further south. The ship was mv Zealandic RN, killed in action April 8, 1940 aged 20. to take off from the trading estate in one of the about 450 miles south of Iceland at position Serving in the destroyer HMS Glowworm, Walrus aircraft. 58.28N/ 20.43W when the attack took place. Law, Reginald James Duncan (32-36) Sub Levinge was taking part in a minelaying The Zealandic was under the command of its Lt RN, killed in action June 8, 1940 aged 21. operation during the Norwegian campaign. In Master, Frederick James Ogilvie, with a crew Law was serving in the destroyer HMS Acasta fog, Glowworm ran into two German destroyers 38 39 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 and the Admiral Hipper and was He volunteered at once and went to England Command, Llewellyn 220 was part of an MTB flotilla attempting to hit by Hipper’s fourth salvo from short range. where, after a period in the ranks of the Duke and his unit had been stop the German auxiliary cruiser Stier moving The captain of Glowworm managed to ram of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, he went to OCTU thrown in to the desperate through the Channel to reach the Gironde Hipper but in doing so Glowworm’s bow was and then joined the Durham Light Infantry.” battle to stem the German estuary in southwestern France. Earlier in broken and the ship exploded taking 109 of Livesey obtained an Emergency Commission advance in France. He 1941 in MTB 220, Lovell was Mentioned in her crew with her. Glowworm’s commanding in early 1941 and in 1944 was serving in took off at 1010 hours on Despatches for his “actions against the enemy.” officer, Lt Cdr G.B. Roope, was awarded the the 10th Bn DLI. The battalion landed in May 23 in a Blenheim IV, His WW2 papers may be accessed in the Surrey first VC of World War 2 but died in the action. Normandy on June 10 1944 and was part of P4909, from RAF Wyton History Centre, Woking (Ref: 9471). He is Levinge is commemorated at the Portsmouth an attempt to outflank German defenders at in Cambridgeshire and buried in the St. James Cemetery in Dover. Naval Memorial. Caen. The 10 DLI was part of 49 Infantry was shot down by ground Division. Its war diary states: “2nd August flak later that day. There was one survivor from Livesey, Frederick 1944: Slight shelling up to 02:00 hours. Our the crew. When hit, Llewellyn was flying over Cardwell (28-31) patrols, returning at 05:00 hours, reported Arras-Boulogne. He is buried in the CWGC Lt Army, killed in enemy seen digging in a certain wood, also a cemetery at Beuvry, Pas de Calais. action August 2, few further enemy positions located. Conditions 1944 aged 30. A card remained quiet by day, but at 23:15 hours Longhurst, John Michael (35-38) Sub Lt RN, index held by his two enemy guns fired a 20 shell stonk on the killed in action September 24, 1942 aged 21. regiment states: “After Battalion area. This was followed 20 minutes Serving in the destroyer HMS Somali protecting leaving Pangbourne later by several salvos from Panzerwerfers, and convoy QP11 which was returning to the UK he lived a varied life. there was one fatal Officer casualty – Lt. F.C. from Murmansk, USSR, Longhurst was killed Lovell, MAG (35-39) - 1st X1 1939. Also died DS Baring He trained shooting Livesey – Pioneer Officer.” He is buried at the when a torpedo fired by U-703 hit the engine dogs, farmed for a CWGC Cemetery at Banneville-la-Campagne, room. Most of the casualties on board Somali while in Essex and, , France. died of cold and exposure. Earlier in 1942, Lucas, John Michael (35-38) Sub Lt RNVR after his marriage, ran a hotel in London. The while serving in the destroyer HMS Punjabi, he FAA, killed in action August 12, 1942 aged 21. outbreak of war found him in learning Llewellyn, John Griffith (22-26) Wing Cdr had been Mentioned in Despatches “for brave Flying from a new carrier, HMS Indomitable, all departments of his father-in-law’s () RAF, killed in action May 23, 1940 aged or skilful conduct while escorting a convoy.” Lucas was shadowing Operation Pedestal, the business, with a view to becoming a Director. 31. CO of 40 Squadron, part of Bomber Longhurst is commemorated at the Chatham decisive Allied attempt to relieve the siege of Naval Memorial. Malta. On the day he was killed, German and Italian planes made four raids on the convoy Lovell, Maurice Antony involving nearly 200 aircraft and were opposed Grayson (35-39) Lt by a maximum of 24 FAA planes. On August RNVR, killed in action 12 Indomitable launched 74 sorties and lost May 13, 1942 aged 20. seven FAA aircraft in air combat. “All the pilots Commanding MTB (were) up twice and some three times – they 220, a Motor Torpedo responded to every call” reported the captain of Boat, Lovell was killed Indomitable later. “We lost four fighter pilots, in a fierce encounter two were shot down, one is missing and one is with bigger, faster badly wounded (having) crashed overboard on German E-boats off landing.” Lucas was one of those killed. Ambleheuse in northeast Levinge, RVN (33-36) - HMS Glowworm in flames France. HM MTB 40 41 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020

about 15 minutes before the second aircraft. dawn in a blinding snowstorm and fired all Martin, Arthur Charles The intention was for him to reach Distré 15 eight of its torpedoes at the massed German Woolcott (30-34) Acting minutes ahead of the others and mark the invasion fleet. As Hunter was withdrawing, it Lt Col Army, killed in target. Bombs were to be released at 1,000 feet.” ran into five German destroyers at close range, action June 6, 1944 aged Lysaght’s rear gunner Sgt J. Bailey survived. was badly damaged, capsized and sank. More 27. At the time of his He recalled flying over the target at least twice. than one hundred of the crew lost their lives. death, Martin was leading The squadron account ends: “After it (the Maidlow is commemorated at the Plymouth the Hampshire Regiment, aircraft) was hit by fire, the plane hit some Naval Memorial. the first British infantry to treetops before crashing. The time of impact is land in Normandy on D-Day. His commanding estimated at about 2315 hours.” Previously, at Manfield, Vyvyan Guy (32-36) Lt RN, killed officer was badly wounded and Martin took the start of 1943, Lysaght had been awarded the in action April 30, 1942 aged 23. An officer over. The Hampshires, making their third King’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the in the cruiser HMS Edinburgh, Manfield was assault landing in 11 months, arrived on Gold Air in recognition of “bravery and merit without in convoy QP11 returning from Murmansk Beach early on June 6, 1944, “unsupported the presence of an enemy force.” He is buried in when the ship was torpedoed in the . by , and walked into minefields and a

Lucas, J.M. (35-38) - HMS Indomitable’s bombed the CWGC cemetery at Saumur, France. Edinburgh did not sink at once despite being hit whirlwind of shell, mortar and small arms fire” by two torpedoes and was able to crawl along in the words of a regimental historian. A few Lysaght, Philip Michael Vaughan (28-31) Wing at 2-3 knots. Three days later Edinburgh ran days before the regiment embarked, Martin Cdr RAF, killed in action February 19, 1943 into three German destroyers and was hit by wrote: “It’s incredibly lovely here today…it aged 29. At the time of his death Lysaght was a third torpedo and sank off , the is very hard to realise that the world is in just leading 295 Squadron. Formed in 1942, 295 southernmost island of the Norwegian Svalbard about as bloody a mess as it can possibly be.” Squadron was an airborne forces and transport archipelago. Manfield was one of two officers Shortly after landing in France, A Company unit equipped with Whitley Mark V aircraft. Saumur CWGC cemetery and 56 other ranks killed in the attacks; 840 of had ceased to exist and the Hampshires’ CO On February 19, “Fourteen aircraft from 295 the crew were rescued by accompanying RN was severely wounded. “Martin was called Squadron were tasked with a raid on three destroyers. Edinburgh had been carrying gold forward to take command. As he set off across electricity transformers at Distré, near Saumur. M bars worth £70 million in today’s money – part- the beach, he was killed by a sniper.” One of Two aircraft were brought down by anti-aircraft payment to the United States for arms deliveries 2,700 British servicemen killed on the first day fire” according to a squadron history. Eleven Maidlow, Henry Richard Munden (31-34) to the USSR. The gold was not recovered of the landings, he is buried in the CWGC crew were killed outright including Lysaght. Lt RN, killed in action April 10, 1940 aged from the seabed until the 1980s. Manfield joint British-German cemetery at Ryes near The squadron was based at RAF Netheravon 22. Maidlow joined the RN in 1935 and is commemorated at the Plymouth Naval Arrogances where the first interments took place and was part of 38 Wing. was serving in the destroyer HMS Hunter. Memorial. just two days after June 6th. Earlier in the war The squadron history continues: “The During the first Martin, who had been commissioned into the crews had found constant training to deliver battle of Narvik, Dorset Regiment in 1936 and endured the siege paratroops and gliders for airborne operations Hunter attacked of Malta for three years, was awarded a DSO increasingly tedious and the Air Officer German troopships related to the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943. Commanding 38 Wing sought to remedy the transporting an At the time he was leading the regiment’s C problem with Operation Sparks…The main invasion force to Company. His DSO Citation recounts his part purpose was to provide crews with experience . in the Sicily landing: in precision navigation over enemy territory One of five H-class “On July 10th 1943 at Mirzaei Captain and identifying small, unlit targets at night. destroyers involved, Martin was in command of the company whose

Lysaght led the raid and his Whitley was Maidlow, HRM (31-34) - Hunter got into task it was to make the initial landing on the the first to leave Netheravon at 2030 hours, scene after HMS Hunter struck Narvik harbour at Manfield, VG (32-36) - HMS Edinburgh sinking battalion sector and secure a bridgehead. The

42 43 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 point selected for this landing was on some on the ground and disposed of the remainder approximately 120 miles northwest of Gibraltar. rocks with a village just in the rear. An enemy of the crew by using the butt of the rifle.” In a The torpedo ignited the carrier’s bomb load pillbox covered the landing place selected and letter home afterwards, Martin explained: “The and blew out the centre section. The ship sank a wall, approximately eight feet high, had to pistol actually behaved very well but in the heat within two minutes. There were 514 dead be scaled before the village could be entered of battle I’d forgotten how many bullets there and only 12 survivors. Massy was awarded a and the main beach to the left be cleared of the were left and got the most awful shock when posthumous DSO for his role in convoy QP14 enemy. Captain Martin handled his company the thing went ‘click’ in the middle of the fracas. “for gallantry and skill in HM ships escorting with such skill that surprise was obtained and it Still – all’s well that ends well.” In his account, an important convoy to North Russia in the was not until the whole company had been led the Brigade Intelligence Officer described how face of relentless attack by enemy aircraft and ashore that the alarm was raised. In the ensuing Martin eventually was found at the bottom of submarines.” He is commemorated at the FAA fighting that took place within the village a slit trench grappling with its fourth occupant. Lee-on-Solent Memorial. Metford, Christopher Captain Martin directed operations with great When awarded to Army Captains, DSOs are Joseph Seymour (30-34) coolness, and he himself led the platoon against usually near-misses for a VC. Flt Lt RAF, killed in action an enemy pillbox. Having ensured that the April 9, 1942 aged 26. At village was cleared, Captain Martin reorganised Massy, Patrick Wilfred Villiers (30-33) Lt the time of his death, he his company and cleared the enemy defences RN FAA, killed in action September 15, 1942 was flying a Kittyhawk 2 on the main beach from a flank, thus allowing aged 26. Pre-war, Massy served in the RAF. aircraft which had been the main landings to take place. Throughout Switching to the Royal Navy in February 1939, supplied by the United this operation Captain Martin, by his leadership he was Mentioned in Despatches in HMS States and introduced into service by the RAF and utter disregard for his personal safety, Eagle in and awarded a DSC in the Mideast in January 1942. Most probably, gave the greatest inspiration to those under his in February 1941 for “courage, resolution and Massy, PWV (30-33) - HMS Avenger hanger he was supporting defensive ground action command. It was to a large extent due to his devotion to duty” during operations in the by retreating Allied forces following the Axis action that the main landings were carried out Mediterranean in HMS Formidable. In late- Medlicott-Vereker, John Herbert Radcliffe capture of Benghazi in February. Metford is so rapidly and successfully.” 1942 Massy was flying a Hawker Sea Hurricane (28-31) Lt RN FAA, killed in action December buried in the CWGC cemetery at Alexandria The Citation also describes Martin’s gallantry from the carrier HMS Avenger as part of 21, 1940 aged 26. Medlicott-Vereker was part (Hadra), Egypt. twelve days later: “On the night of July 22nd convoys PQ18 and QP14 to and from Russia of a group supplementing FAA squadrons 1943, just south of Agora, the company which fought off U-boats and aircraft attacks in HMS Illustrious following the Battle of Middleton, Hugh de commanded by Captain Martin was ordered throughout their journeys, losing 16 of 59 Taranto. Moving towards Alexandria via a series Montmorency (21-25) to make a night attack on an enemy position. merchant vessels. of actions in the Aegean and Mediterranean, Sqn Ldr RAFVR, died of The position was an entrenched one on Within a month Avenger had taken part Swordfish from Illustrious bombed the island a brain haemorrhage at commanding ground and covered by medium successfully in Operation Torch (the Allied of before attacking two Axis convoys RAF Ashbourne caused by machine guns, mortars and light automatics. invasion of North Africa). The carrier was near the Kerkennah Islands off the east coast of very high blood pressure As the enemy’s main position was being then sent to Gibraltar to escort convoy MKF- Tunisia on November 21. Medlicott-Vereker, on February 6, 1943 aged approached and after the artillery covering fire 1Y back to the UK. This convoy came under flying in P4075, was shot down in this action. 35. He was commanding had ceased, an enemy post opened sustained attack from a large German force of He is commemorated on a plaque in a church 81 Officer Training Unit fire, pinning one of Captain Martin’s platoons submarines and Ju-88 aircraft. Massy lost his at Kew, North Cornwall. at RAF Ashbourne in to the ground. Captain Martin, having life on the second day of a three-day battle. Derbyshire. The unit observed this, stalked the enemy post himself Avenger’s ten Hurricanes shot down 20 of trained night bomber crews using Whitley over a distance of some sixty yards. He shot 70 attacking aircraft on September 14 but aircraft. From 1931-40 Middleton was a Flying one member of the machine gun crew and then lost three planes itself. Next day Avenger was Officer in the RAF Reserves. He is buried in the rushed in, picked up a rifle which was lying hit by a torpedo fired by submarine U-155 CWGC Cemetery at Ashbourne. 44 45 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020

Miller, Andrew Lyall (36-40) Sub Lt RNR Sarawak Medal. An Australian commando A member of 296 Squadron RAF, he was flying Newman, Stanley John FAA, died February 17, 1944 aged 21. Serving incursion had been attempted into Sarawak a twin-engine RAF Albemarle aircraft from McNab (28-29) Plt Off RAF, in HMS Bambara, a shore base for RNAS in early 1943 to try to set up a radio-listening Malta and was towing gliders and transporting is thought to be the first OP China Bay, near Trincomalee in Ceylon post on the north of the island and Moore may paratroopers of the 1st Parachute Brigade who to be Killed on Active Service. (now Sri Lanka), Miller was attached to 733 have been involved in this operation. Moore is were taking part in Operation Huskey, the He died on May 8, 1935 Squadron FAA and training to become a Fairey commemorated both at the Plymouth Naval invasion of Sicily. About 37 of the Albermarles aged 22 when he was shot Barracuda carrier-borne torpedo and dive Memorial in Devon and at the Australian War were shot down or damaged down by tribesmen over the bomber pilot in the FAA. He died in an air Memorial at . by enemy or friendly fire. In Euphrates where his squadron was carrying out crash and is buried in the CWGC cemetery at all, only 39 of the 189 aircraft a reconnaissance mission. After the NCP, he had Trincomalee. An inscription on his grave reads: Moseley, Oswald Anthony (30-34) Lt RNR, involved in the operation gone to sea with Union Castle. Two years later “All you had hoped for, all you had you gave.” killed in action October 23, 1942 aged 26. An managed to drop troops within he switched career and joined Redwing Aircraft officer in the cruiser HMS Charybdis, Moseley half a mile of a target bridge. Company at Croydon. Early in 1934 he took a was one of two OPs in this ship – the other He is commemorated on the Short Service Commission in the RAF and went was Lt J.M. Phillips (33-37) – to die when the CWGC Malta Memorial. to Abou Sueir, Egypt for training before being German submarine T-23 surprised Charybdis posted to Hinaidi, Iraq where he qualified for during a night sweep in the Bay of Biscay that Newall, Leslie Vyvyan (33-35) FO RAAF, died promotion to Flying Officer. had been planned to find a German merchant April 7, 1942 aged 23. From South Australia, After his death, the officer commanding RAF vessel carrying latex and scarce strategic metals Newall died during formation flying practice. Iraq, Air Vice Marshal Mitchell, said: “Newman to the Third Reich. Doubts about the operation He was piloting an AS 694 was a most promising officer and especially had been voiced earlier by Lt Cdr Roger Hill twin-engine mono-plane widely used for keen on photographic work. I feel that it was (23-27) in HMS Grenville, one of the destroyers training Commonwealth pilots in navigation, just this keenness that led him to turn back Miller, AL (36-40) - arming a Barracuda at HMS Bambara involved, but he was not heeded. Six torpedoes radio-operating, bombing and gunnery roles. to Rumaitha to get more photographs after were fired altogether at the convoy by two The aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision the other machines had started for Baghdad Moore, Francis Alan (23-27) Lt RANVR, killed German submarines. Charybdis sank within and crashed two miles south west of Point and his death was caused by sheer devotion to in action March 23, 1943 aged 33. Moore half an hour with the loss of over 400 men; Cook, Victoria, killing all three RAAF men on duty.” His Squadron Commander added: “I joined the New Zealand Shipping Company HMS Limbourne had to be scuttled later. The board. The other aircraft is not identified but had detailed him to take photographs because I from the NCP. Later he worked in the Colonial German force escaped unharmed. Ever after, the training squadron did not suffer any other could always rely on him to obtain the very best Service as a District Officer in a remote part of in the words of one of the 107 survivors from casualties that day. Newall is commemorated at results. He was most efficient at this work and Sarawak. Following the Japanese invasion in Charybdis, the suspicion lingered that the night the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. carried out all his duties most cheerfully, always late-1941, he reached Australia. He joined the sweep had been compromised. “Someone setting an excellent example. He was most RANVR in 1942 as a Paymaster Lieutenant, talked – they were ready for us.” Moseley popular in the squadron, always doing good for allocated to Special Intelligence, and was based is commemorated at the Plymouth Naval others and leading such a clean, happy life.” His at HMAS Moreton, a shore facility in , Memorial. brother Charles (31-36), who became CCCC Queensland. At the end of November 1942, at Pangbourne, had intended to go to sea but, he left Australia with a colleague on a secret when Stanley was killed, he decided to join the operation and is believed to have been landed N RAF and won the DFC and Bar during World in Sarawak, then occupied by Japanese forces, War 2. around January 14, 1943. After that, there Neill, Terence de Lancey (18-19) Flt Lt is no news of Moore of any kind and as late RAFVR, killed in action July 13, 1943 aged Newton-Clare, John Edward (34-37) Plt Off as November 26, 1945 he was still listed as 41 or 42. Neill, one of the 1st term, is Newall, LV (33-35) - RAF, killed in action September 6/7, 1940 aged Victoria memorial, missing. Sometime later, he was awarded the probably the oldest OP to die in World War 2. Australia 20. Officially, Newton-Clare was “Lost without 46 47 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020

Trace” returning from a raid over Germany. Onslow, Thomas Philip Riou (30-34), Lt Army, on the website http:aircrewremembered.com/ what was known as “the Atlantic ferry service” He was a member of 144 Squadron Bomber wounded May 20, 1940, died July 6, 1940 AlliedLossesIncidents/ describes the incident: usually flying non-stop between Prestwick in Command, piloting a Hampden bomber, aged 24. Attached to the 1st Bn Herefordshire “He [Owen] was flying very low at 0130 hours. Scotland and Montreal in Canada. At the start P1172, which had attacked . On the Regiment, the battalion record states: “During His aircraft received a direct hit. One body of 1942 a new hard-surface airport runway return journey to England it seems to have got the morning Lt. T.P.R. Onslow, the Battalion was found next morning lying on a rock, three at permitted the use of civil-registered into difficulties and is believed to have crashed Liaison Officer, had been sent to Brigade… to others were found on the beach (near the village Liberators to fly from the UK to North and into the North Sea. He is commemorated at the report progress but was never seen again. He of Lochrist). Next day witnesses identified West Africa. Page and his First Officer, Richard Runnymede Memorial for airmen and women. was later reported to have been killed in action. four bodies that the Germans were summarily Williamson (24-27), died when their plane The inaccuracy of the map (provided) probably burying in the sand on the upper beach was near the south coast of England on a flight caused him to lose his way and run into the Przliogan. Still wearing their flying gear, they from Lisbon. Two Polish pilots of 317 Squadron enemy.” Onslow, in fact, had been wounded showed no apparent injuries. failed to recognise the Liberator as friendly and and taken prisoner. He died in captivity and Access to the beach (was restricted) by mines shot it down. On board were five crew and five is commemorated in the CWGC Maastricht and barbed wire but the Germans directed the passengers including the first US airman to be General Cemetery in the Netherlands. witnesses to the scene. The bodies were then killed in Europe in World War 2. transported by truck to Magneur Cemetery, A British Court of Enquiry was held and Lochrist. Here they were placed inside crude found that “Liberator Aircraft AM 918 in the O coffins made urgently by M. Cleach, a local service of British Overseas Airways, carrying carpenter. The burial was preceded by a blessing (US) Lieutenant Colonel Townsend Griffiss O’Brien, John Chares of the bodies on July 8 in the early afternoon. and British military and civilian passengers, (1940) A salvo was fired by a detachment of German was shot down about five miles southwest of Lt Army, killed in Onslow, TPR (30-34) - action April 20, 1945 aged 1st XV 1934. soldiers who provided the Wellington crew with the Eddystone Lighthouse, near Plymouth, Also died Iremonger, nd 20. Serving with the 2 Keddie, de Stacpoole full military honours in the presence of many England, on Feb. 15, 1942 at about 8:50 Bn , O’Brien, people who had gathered for a final tribute.” A.M. British Standard Time. Plane was on from Co. Meath in the Owen, John Jervis Today Owen is buried in a communal cemetery non-stop flight from Cairo to England. Plane Republic of Ireland, died (22-26) Wing Cdr at Le Conquet, Finisterre – the most westerly crashed into Channel. Crew and all passengers of wounds received in the RAF, killed in action town on mainland France. were lost. No bodies have been recovered. Rhineland campaign. He July 6, 1943 aged Plane was shot down by two Polish pilots of is buried in the CWGC 35. Owen joined the the who failed to identify Reichswald Forest cemetery. The inscription on RAF in 1930 and by P it as friendly aircraft. Court also found that his grave reads: “Greater Love Hath No Man 1941 was a Squadron contributory cause was lack of exercise of Than This, That A Man Lay Down His Life For Leader. That year Page, R. Humphrey (25-29) Captain BOAC/ proper and effective control of pilots by ground His Friends.” he was Mentioned RAF Ferry Command, killed February 15, organization. Evidence is being taken with the in Despatches for 1942 aged 31. After the NCP he served in the view of bringing the two pilots before court “distinguished RAF before joining Imperial Airways as an martial. It is requested that no publicity be services” after crashing in a target area in Empire flying-boat pilot in 1936. Three years given to findings of Court of Enquiry.” Despite France in his Wellington bomber, surviving later he joined Imperial’s successor airline, the attempt to hush up the incident, a report and returning to England. He lost his life the state-owned British Overseas Airways about it appeared in The Times newspaper soon taking part with 33 other aircraft on a mission Corporation (BOAC). In the early years of the after. As far as is known, no Court Martial codenamed Operation Gardening to lay mines war RAF Ferry Command/BOAC developed was ever held. Page and Williamson are both in coastal waters off Brittany in July 1943 – one and sustained the first North Atlantic landplane commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial O’Brien JC (1940) - Irish Guards tank 20.4.45 of the two aircraft to be shot down. An account service; Page was one of the pioneer pilots on for airmen and women. 48 49 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020

Parker, Clement Nevil (37-39) Acting Sub Zeebrugge harbour during this second crossing. Altendorf, a German ace with 23 ‘kills’ to his heavy losses during the German invasion of Lt RN, was killed in action on June 15, 1942 The ship was split in two with the bow sinking name 1939-45. Pine-Coffin is buried in the France. The squadron flew the obsolete Fairey aged 19. He was serving in the destroyer immediately. Only 25 of the Wakeful crew, CWGC section of Maubeuge Centre cemetery Battle bombers and was attempting to slow the HMS Bedouin which was part of Operation and only two of the 640 troops on board, in France. An inscription on his grave from German advance. His aircraft, a Battle L5112, Harpoon to ship relief supplies to Malta. survived. Percival-Jones is commemorated at the Matthew 16:25 reads: “Whosoever will lose his crashed near Fallencourt in Normandy. The Bedouin was sunk in a combined attack by two Chatham Naval Memorial. life for my sake, shall find it – Bridget to Pine” crash site was investigated in 2016, but very Italian and a Savoia torpedo bomber little wreckage remained. Pittar had enlisted in off Tunisia. As recounted after the war by Lt. Phillips, John Martin (33-37) Lt RN, killed the RAF as a Class F Reservist in 1935. He is Sherard Manners, the ship’s gunnery control in action October 23, 1943 aged 23. Phillips buried at the CWGC Cemetery at Fallencourt. officer who was standing next to him on the was serving in the cruiser HMS Charybdis bridge, Parker was badly wounded by one of when the ship was torpedoed by the German the shells that hit the side of the bridge early submarine T-23 seven miles off Brittany while in the action. Bedouin was not sunk in this taking part in what an investigation later called initial attack and while being towed towards the “ill-planned and poorly executed Operation Pine-Coffin, GT - Halifax bomber he was shot down in Pittar WDP (30-34) - Tunisia by HMS Partridge, another destroyer, Tunnel” to intercept a German merchant vessel CLY Wright and GR Rawnsley of this 1932 1st X1 cricket Parker was laid out on the deck where he died thought to be carrying vital commodities for Pink, William Ernest (40-43) Merchant Navy, team died shortly after. Later that day Bedouin was fatally the Third Reich. Charybdis sank within half died on August 19, 1944 aged 18. A Cadet in damaged by a second aerial torpedo assault an hour in very cold water with the loss of the passenger/cargo vessel ss Wayfarer, Pink Powell, Henry Charles but before the ship sank the crew succeeded in 426 men. One of the 107 survivors said later: died three days after John Benn (41-43) having Richard (39-40) Midshipman damaging the attacking aircraft which crashed “Someone talked – they were ready for us.” Also been torpedoed by the same German submarine RNR, killed in action May into the sea later. All told, 28 men on Bedouin on board Charybdis was another OP who did U862 in the same stretch of sea around the 28, 1941 aged 18. An were killed in this action but 230 survived and not survive – Lt. O.A. Moseley (30-34) RNR. northern tip of Mozambique. Wayfarer was Australian from Sydney were captured by an Italian ship. They spent the Both are commemorated at the Plymouth Naval sailing unescorted from Colombo/Port Said serving in HMS Registan, a next nearly three years as prisoners-of-war in Memorial. to the U.K. with a cargo of copper and coal. cargo ship requisitioned by Italy and Germany. Parker is commemorated at Fifty of the 61-strong crew perished. The ship the RN in September 1940 the Chatham Naval Memorial. Pine-Coffin, had avoided two torpedoes by zigzagging and converted into an ocean boarding vessel, Geoffrey Tristan before it was hit by a third. The surviving Powell was on board when the ship was bombed (33-34) Sgt RAF, members of the crew eventually reached an off Cape Cornwall, West Cornwall by German died July 14, 1943 uninhabited island aircraft and 63 of the crew were killed. Registan aged 24. Pine-Coffin in the Mozambique was repaired, rebuilt as a merchant vessel

HMS Bedouin sinking was Flight Engineer Channel eleven days and then sunk by a U-boat 140 miles east of in a Halifax heavy after the attack and Barbados in . Powell is buried Percival-Jones, John Septimus (31-35) Sub bomber, JD297 were rescued later by in the Bude Haven (St. Michael) churchyard in Lt RN, died May 29, 1940 aged 22. Percival- DY-Q known as a passing dhow. Pink Cornwall. Jones joined HMS Hood as a Midshipman in “Queenie,” belonging is commemorated at 1936. By 1940 he was deployed in the destroyer to the Tower Hill MN Pulliblank, Benjamin Godfrey (21-23) Acting HMS Wakeful. Part of the Dunkirk evacuation and being flown by Memorial in London. Maj Army, killed in action February 6, 1941 fleet, Wakeful embarked 631 Allied troops Pilot Officer Jack aged 34. Pulliblank joined the Royal Tank on May 27 before returning to Zeebrugge to Towse. Its target was Pittar, William David Parke (30-34) Sgt Corps in the mid-1920s and by 1927 is listed as take more on board. A German E-boat (fast Aachen in Germany. All seven of the crew were RAF, killed in action June 8, 1940 aged 23. a 2nd Lt, rising to Lieutenant in 1930. In 1934 attack craft) torpedoed Wakeful twice outside killed after JD297 was shot down by Rudolf He served in 150 Squadron which suffered he was seconded to the -based King’s 50 51 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020

African Rifles (KAR) and designated as “Serving Sgt McDermott and Tpr Davies were all killed Towards late-1942 Renny was awarded under Colonial Officer or under Colonial instantaneously.” The Allied invasion continued a second DSC “for bravery and skill in the Government.” In 1937 he was listed as Captain, and five days later the port of Kismayu was hazardous operations in which Allied Forces Royal Tank Corps attached to the Somaliland captured followed, eleven days later, by the rout were landed in North Africa.” A month Camel Corps. When he was killed in action of the main Italian position at Jelib. Mogadishu, later Samphire was instrumental in rescuing in East Africa, he was still officially a member the capital of Italian Somaliland 200 miles away, nine survivors from the British merchant of the Somaliland Camel Corps although the was captured on February 26. vessel Edencrag which had been torpedoed unit had been disbanded in August 1940 after west of . At the end of January 1943 fighting Italian forces in . Samphire was escorting a convoy taking troop He is buried in the Nairobi CWGC cemetery R Rawlins, R.M (22-25) - Halfaya Sollum cemetery reinforcements to North Africa when it was alongside two soldiers of the East African torpedoed by an Italian submarine, killing Reconnaissance Squadron who were also killed Rawlins, Geoffrey Hugh (27-31) Lt Army, Rawnsley, George Rawson (30-32) Merchant Renny, two of his on the same day. killed in action July 6, 1942 aged 30. An officer Navy, died on September 21, 1941 aged 25. officers and 42 of The circumstances of belonging to 5 , Rawlins At the time of his death, Rawnsley was Third the crew. He is Pulliblank’s death are was taking part in the First Battle of El Alamein. Officer in ss Balltallin, a small cargo steamer. commemorated at recorded in a history of the He is buried in the El Alamein cemetery in The vessel was travelling in convoy OG74 from the Chatham Naval KAR written in the 1970s Egypt. Oban to Gibraltar with a cargo of government Memorial. by Mervyn Carnelly. On stores when it was torpedoed 500 miles west of HMS Samphire about January 15, 1941 ‘C’ Rawlins, Ronald Moore (22-25) Acting Lt Brest. Six ships in the 25-ship grouping were Squadron of the regiment, Col Army, killed in action November 25, 1941 lost but the convoy is most notable for being Rigby, Donald Arthur Page (18-20) Second as part of the 11th (African) aged 33. At the time of his death Rawlins was the first occasion when an accompanying carrier Officer Merchant Navy, died on December Division led by General fighting in the Western Desert as a member of (HMS Audacity) managed to shoot down a 5, 1940 aged 36. No other details are known Alan Cunningham, moved 42 Royal Tank Regiment. He had joined the shadowing German aircraft. Eighteen of the although three U.K. merchant vessels were sunk forward to a position 20 miles from the Italian Tank Corps in 1932 and is commemorated 30-strong crew on Balltallin lost their lives on that day. He is commemorated at the Tower Somaliland border. During the following in the Tank Museum. His brother, also in when the ship sank. Rawnsley is commemorated Hill MN Memorial. three weeks patrols of the KAR pushed ahead the Army, was killed the following year. He on the Tower Hill MN Memorial in London. unsupported by infantry 30 miles over the is buried at the CWGC Cemetery at Halfaya border to Badea. Here “close contact” was made Sollum close to the Libyan-Egyptian border. Renny, Frederick Thomas (18-19) Lt Cdr with enemy armoured cars. RNR, killed in action January 30, 1943 The KAR history continues: “On February aged 39. Renny had an active and dangerous 5 ‘C’ Squadron left Kolbio as advance guard existence in World War 2 before he died. In Rigby, DAP (18-20) - to 1/4 KAR who were tasked to take Badada. 1940 he commanded HMS Skoot Hondsrug, Tower Hill About 0600 hrs on February 6, the column a 227-ton Dutch coaster, during the Dunkirk passed through Uamalda. Two mine fields had evacuation, making four trips across the English Robins, William Henry (24-25) Merchant been laid there but were so well camouflaged Channel unscathed and bringing 1,442 troops Navy, died September 21, 1941 aged 33. An that the column proceeded over them. Major safely back to England. He was awarded his Able Seaman on the steam ss Vancouver, Pulliblank’s car, which was 18th vehicle, first DSC. In 1941 he was given command of Robins was on board when the ship struck a stopped over a second mine field on hearing fire a corvette, HMS Samphire. At the end of the mine two miles from the ‘Sunk Lightship’ off off the road. As it was starting again, five mines year Samphire sank the German submarine Goodwin Sands and caught fire when carrying went off under the car which was split open and U-108 with gunfire and he was Mentioned in a cargo of gasoline. The vessel burned for several turned over. The occupants, Major Pulliblank, Rawlins, RM (22-25) - Royal Tank Regt in North African desert 1941 Despatches. days and no one could approach it. Three crew 52 53 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 managed to escape but 40 people on board were complement of 1,234 men, 835 were killed by German Junkers aircraft off Tobruk on killed. He is commemorated at the Tower Hill that night or died later of their wounds. He September 14, 1942. For most of 1942, Zulu MN Memorial in London. is buried at the All Saints Churchyard, Great had been attached to at Gibraltar, Barford, Bedfordshire and commemorated at striking against Axis supply convoys. In mid- Rodgers, Rodney Maurice the CWGC Portsmouth Naval Memorial. September the ship was deployed to take part

(33-35) Lt RN FAA, killed Heliopolis in what the describes when flying from the escort CWGC cemetery as “a largely unsuccessful land and sea attack carrier HMS Emperor during (involving Royal Marine ) on the off Sampson, Roderick Graham (35-38) Lt RN, port of Tobruk.” The Naval History website is southern France August 22, killed in action March 10, 1943 aged 21. more scathing, terming the incident, in which 1944, aged 26. Supporting Sampson volunteered for service in submarines two ships of a six-ship RN flotilla were sunk, the 1944 Allied landings in southern France, and was on board HMS Tigris near the Gulf of as “ill-planned.” Zulu was fatally damaged at 800 Squadron FAA’s Grumman F16F Hellcats Tunis when the boat was mined. All 63 men on 1600 hours on the 14th when a bomb pierced were carrying out sorties up the Rhone valley board were lost. On a previous patrol in Tigris its side and exploded in the engine room. The and over much of southern France from August in December 1942, Sampson was awarded a ship sank later under tow 21. Eleven aircraft were lost in the period DSC “for courage and skill.” He was Officer of to Alexandria. Scott was to August 24 during which 252 sorties were the Watch when he sighted a vessel “broad on wounded and died nearly undertaken by 800 Squadron. Rodgers was the port bow.” This he “instantly and correctly nine weeks later – one of 39 posthumously Mentioned in Despatches. His judged to be a submarine end-on” according to men in Zulu killed in the aircraft was hit by crossfire from the ground the Citation for his medal. “He immediately action. Why he is buried while attacking a railway works in Villneueve- swung Tigris towards the enemy under full in the CWGC cemetery at les-Beziers, a suburb of Beziers. Rodgers is helm, gave the alarm and reduced speed” before Caserta, north of in commemorated in the community by a road the captain arrived on the bridge and took over. Caserta war cemetery Italy, is unknown. named in his honour and by a plaque which was Sampson is commemorated at the Portsmouth unveiled in 2012. He is buried in the CWGC Naval Memorial. Scott-Kerr, John Hubert cemetery at Mazargues. Alastair (32-35) Sub Lt RN, Roupell, MP (28-32) - his grave and his father’s at All Saints Savill, James Anthony Churchyard, Great Barford killed in action May 24, 1941 (33-37) Capt Army, aged 21. Scott-Kerr was one killed in action April 27, of three young OPs serving in S 1943 aged 23. Taking the battlecruiser HMS Hood Massicault CWGC cemetery part in the North African when it was sunk in the Denmark Strait by the Rodgers, RM (33-35) - Sabine, John Sydenham (25-28) 1st X1 cricket 1934. Wing Cdr campaign, Savill died in Tunisia and is buried German battleship Bismarck. He came from Pittar & Barker also died RAF, died August 24, 1943 aged 32. Sydenham in the CWGC Cemetery at Massicault in Tunis. Blackrock, Co. Dublin and his family later was awarded a DFC in July 1940 as Sqn Ldr He was a Captain in the Royal Fusiliers (2nd Bn moved to the Isle of Man. Scott-Kerr joined Roupell, Michael Prideau (28-32) Lt RN, of 110 Squadron (a Bomber Command unit) City of ). HMS Exeter in May 1938, was promoted to killed in action October 14, 1939 aged 24. for operations connected to the Dunkirk Acting Sub Lt in May 1940, and had joined He was the first Old Pangbournian to die in evacuation. He lost his life, along with ten Scott, Anthony Walter (37-41) Midshipman Hood in March 1941. He is remembered at the World War 2. At the time, he was serving in the others, in a ground crash accident involving RNR, died of his wounds November 13, Portsmouth Naval Memorial. battleship HMS Royal Oak which was anchored two Wellington 11 aircraft, including his 1942 aged 18. A former Cadet Captain of at in when it was torpedoed Z8425, at Cairo West Landing Ground. He Macquarie, Scott was serving in his first ship, Seelly, Michael George St. John (37-41) FO by the German submarine U-47. Of Royal Oak’s is buried at the CWGC cemetery at Heliopolis. the destroyer HMS Zulu, when it was sunk RAF, died February 10, 1945 aged 21. Seely 54 55 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 had enlisted in the RAF as an Aircraftman in 29, Shattock and all six other men on the plane Rotterdam. Three crew on board his plane were Edrich then described the background to July 1943 and been selected for officer flight were killed by enemy fire in northern France. killed after it was hit by flak (anti-aircraft fire). Shuttleworth’s last flight. “The CO went on leave training soon after. At the time of his death he He is buried in the CWGC Dunkirk Town Shuttleworth was alive when a rescue boat arrived and I was left in charge of the squadron. Orders was piloting a Martinet (RG 883) aircraft for Cemetery. at the location of the crash. Taken to Wilhelmina immediately came through for an important raid the 4 Ferry Pool RAF when it hit a slag heap in Hospital in Amsterdam, he died shortly after next day. We were to supply six Blenheims for bad visibility at Tankerton Colliery, Holytown, Shillitoe, John Bertram (30-34) Lt RNR, died admission from his wounds. Two large cargo a low-level strike on Rotterdam harbour. The Lanarkshire. He is buried at the Holmer & of wounds April 18, 1941 aged 24. He was ships were hit in the raid but four 21 Squadron orders specified that I was not to fly (Edrich’s Shelwick Cemetery in Herefordshire. injured when his ship, HMS Fiona, was sunk by aircraft were lost including Shuttleworth’s. A tour of operations was over). Dick Shuttleworth Axis aircraft and is buried in a CWGC cemetery plaque in his memory was placed in St Mary was to lead. I didn’t think Dick had had anything in Alexandria, Egypt. Fiona was a “steam the Virgin church in Wroxham and he is also like enough experience to lead the squadron passenger ship” requisitioned and fitted out as commemorated in the CWGC cemetery at on so dangerous a raid.” Edrich tried to get the an by the Royal Navy in Amsterdam Eastern in the Netherlands. orders changed, but failed. 1939. It operated in the Mediterranean landing In 1973 the famous Test cricketer W.J. ‘Bill’ “When the six Blenheims took off from troops in Crete and Greece. At the time Fiona Edrich, a Sqn Ldr and DFC recipient who flew Watton the following afternoon I was deeply was sunk by German dive bombers, the vessel in Bomber Command in WW2, wrote a long anxious about the outcome. My worst fears were was ferrying supplies to the besieged Allied article in The Sunday Express about his RAF days. confirmed. Only two Blenheims got back and garrison at Tobruk. It sank within a minute. Of He knew Shuttleworth well and described in one of them was very badly shot up. Among the the 220 soldiers and 90 crew on board, only 45 detail what happened in August 1941: four pilots shot down was Dick Shuttleworth Seymour, Frank Hugh (33-37) Lt RN, killed survived. “Dick Shuttleworth became probably the whose promotion to acting squadron leader had in action July 20, 1944 aged 24. At the time best friend I had time to make in that crowded come through that very day.” It was Bill Edrich’s of his death Seymour was serving in HMS Isis, summer (1941). We were quite unlike, both unhappy task to inform Shuttleworth’s wife. under the command of HD Durrell (26-30), physically and in flying experience. Whereas I “There followed one of the saddest nights of my when the submarine struck a mine in Seine Bay am short and compact, he was well over six feet life…After that last tragic five miles off the coast of the western sector of tall and a great big bear of a chap. And whereas raid I think it was just the Normandy landing beaches. Only 20 of I had comparatively few flying hours but had as well for me that I was Isis had intensive experience in flying Blenheim given a rest at that time. the 174-strong crew survived. was the last Chatbry cemetery, interwar-standard destroyer lost in World War Alexandria, Egypt bombers, often at low level, he had flown long Apart from one week’s 2. Seymour is commemorated at the Plymouth hours in single-engined Fairey Battles on convoy leave I had been flying on Naval Memorial. Shuttleworth, Richard and anti-submarine work, but had limited operations for virtually Ashton (34-38) Acting Sqn experience of low-level work in Blenheims. He the entire summer and Shattock, Robert Ldr RAF, killed in action had applied for a job with more action, but I I was one of the few to Mark (22-24) August 28, 1941 aged 21. felt that posting him as a flight commander in 2 Amsterdam memorial plinth survive.” FO RAFVR, Shuttleworth had had a rapid Group was rather throwing him in at the deep killed in action rise in the RAF moving from end, and I resolved to break him in gently, so far Sibley, Samuel Anthony Compton (34-37) Plt April 29, 1942 Pilot Officer at the start as it lay in my power. My resolve, I suppose, was Off RAF, killed in action May 15, 1940 aged 19. Dunkirk CWGC cemetery aged 34. Shattock of 1941 to Flying Officer stiffened by the fact that he was such a delightful He was part of 504 Squadron, a fighter squadron joined the RAF in 1940 and by 1942 was and Squadron Leader the fellow. Furthermore, he had recently married. flying Hawker Hurricanes which was rushed to based at RAF Croft, south of Darlington, Co. same year. A member of 21 Squadron Bomber His honeymoon had been interrupted by his France in May 1940 in an attempt to ward off Durham as a member of 78 Squadron. His unit Command based at RAF Watton in Norfolk, posting and he had obtained permission to live the Luftwaffe but was soon forced back to the flew Halifax aircraft and was part of Bomber he was flying a Blenheim 1V aircraft, Z7447, temporarily with his wife in the local pub, a rare UK. On the day he was killed, Sibley was flying Command. Piloting Halifax W7663 on April on a low-level mission to attack the docks at privilege in 1941.” a Hurricane, registration L1941, and was its only 56 57 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 occupant. He had taken off from Vitry-en- from Palestine to Egypt in 1940 and fought in presumed to have hit a mine. All 65 men on Steinmann, Robert Artois airfield and was brought down near St. the Battle of Sidi Barrani and also at Tobruk. board lost their lives. St. Clair Ford had taken Norman (29-31) Hilaire-le-Grand in the Marne department. His In April 1941 Sparkes was Mentioned in command of the boat at the end of November Merchant Navy, died body was not recovered. He is commemorated Despatches for his actions during the Battle when the previous commanding officer was November 10, 1941 at the CWGC Runnymede Memorial for of Sidi Barrani. He is buried in the CWGC taken ill with dysentery. He joined the RN aged 27. Steinmann airmen and women. cemetery at El Alamein. Submarine Service in 1929 and had previously was Chief Officer in a captained HMS Sturgeon and HMS Parthian. vessel called ss Lettie. Skidmore, Bruce Ian Muddiman (33-37) Plt Speakman, Eric Vernon (33-36) Lt RN FAA, In Parthian he ran six cargos of spirits and other The son of the owner Off RAF, killed in action May 11, 1940 aged killed in action August 20, 1944 aged 25. He supplies to Malta but the submarine was dogged of a Liverpool shipping 20. A member of 88 Squadron flying a Fairey was flying a fighter MB314 by constant engine troubles during its 15 war company (R. Steinmann Battle monoplane bomber aircraft – one of the in 807 Squadron FAA from HMS Hunter as patrols following a defective refit in the USA. & Co.), he grew up “most disappointing” aircraft in service in the part of the Allied invasion of southern France. Before that, St. Clair-Ford (younger in Formby. According RAF during World War 2 – Skidmore and his The squadron had 23 Seafires which flew brother of the OP destroyer captain Aubrey) to the website ‘Find A Grave,’ “Bobby died squadron, without fighter escort and attacking 219 sorties. Four were lost during the 15-27 completed seven war patrols in Sturgeon. On while effecting a sea rescue and (afterwards) from only 250 feet with delayed action bombs, August period. Speakman, who crashed on one occasion Sturgeon was attacked by the RN collapsed exhausted on the beach in France. suffered “very heavy” losses in the face of the returning to the ship after his mission, went in Kristiansund South off Norway. On another, For this reason, his death was not recorded in German during the . into the Mediterranean. He was Mentioned it had to dive suddenly to escape from “a England. The person he saved survived.” He is On May 11 seven out of eight Battles sent aloft in Despatches for his actions – along with his darkened ship” that then steamed right over it. buried at St. Luke’s churchyard in Formby and were shot down including Skidmore’s. Four OP contemporary R.M. Rodgers (33-35) who Among Sturgeon’s successes was the torpedoing commemorated on a war memorial at Wavertree days later the squadron had to be withdrawn to was killed two days later also flying in the FAA of an 8,000-ton German tanker. This action was St Michael church, Aigburth, Liverpool. England after it had lost most of its aircraft; the and attacking targets in southern France. He is announced by the Admiralty. Just before this Battle’s career as a day bomber ended. Skidmore commemorated at the FAA Memorial at Lee- event early in 1941 St Clair-Ford had written Stott, Anthony Walmsley (30-33) Lt RNR, is buried at the CWGC cemetery in Hotton, on-Solent. to the College to say how much he was looking killed in action November 5, 1940, aged 24. Luxembourg. forward to playing cricket again on Big Side Stott took part in one of the most famous and hitting sixes off Harry Sykes’s slow left early naval actions in the Second World War arm bowling. “We cannot imagine German when serving in the armed merchant cruiser officers expressing similar anticipations – but HMS Jervis Bay. Protecting HX84, a convoy of they don’t play cricket, do they?” responded 37 vessels bound for Liverpool from Halifax, Mr. Sykes in The Logfor Lent term 1941. He Nova Scotia it was threatened by the German is commemorated on the CWGC Portsmouth battleship Admiral Scheer. The massively Naval Memorial. outgunned Jervis Bay fought a hopeless battle Skidmore, BIM (33-37) - Hotton War Cemetery for one hour, allowing 32 of the ships in Speakman, EV (33-36) in Seafire, HMS Hunter the convoy to escape. The Captain of Jervis Sparkes, John Drury (30- Bay, Edward Fogarty Fegan, was awarded a 35) Lt Army, accidentally posthumous VC (the first to an RN officer in killed November 13, St. Clair-Ford, Drummond (22-24) Lt Cdr the war). Only 65 of 255 men on board Jervis 1940 aged 23. Sparkes RN, killed in action December 4, 1942 aged Bay survived the encounter and got away, being was serving in the 2nd Bn 34. At the time St Clair Ford was patrolling picked up three days later by a neutral Swedish Queen’s Royal Regiment the Gulf of Taranto in the submarine HMS ship. Stott is commemorated at the Liverpool at the time of his death. Traveller, reconnoitring Taranto harbour for Naval Memorial. His twin brother John died at His battalion had moved a possible human torpedo attack. Traveller is St Clair-Ford, D (22-24) - marriage to Norah Maberly sea in 1944. 58 59 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020

Stott, John Tweedy (30-33) Merchant Navy, in the Gold Coast Regiment (now the Ghana out in one day. “Tom carried out a perfect moving. He was killed outright. His death left died at sea February 6, 1944 aged 27. Stott Regiment). During World War 2 he saw action withdrawal. His was the last unit to come out us very stunned. I was unable to attend the was Second Officer in the Albion vessel ss with the 1st Battalion Gold Coast Regiment in …and didn’t reach its (new) positions (an area funeral (next day) as I had to get the Brigade Mataroa, a mixed cargo/passenger ship used the Abyssinian Campaign against the Italians called Letinauk almost on the Arakan coast) on the move again although I was able to leave mainly in World War 2 as a troop ship for black in 1941 and in East Africa in 1942. In 1944 until well after dark. No slit trenches were dug Tom’s battalion where they were for another 24 US soldiers. It is not clear how Stott died; he the regiment was sent to Burma as the Japanese and everyone was very weary, not only from the hours.” is listed simply as “Missing at Sea.” His twin retreat began. heavy going that day but also from the strain Symes’ was buried “in a peaceful shady spot brother A.W. Stott (30-33) had been killed in In March 1945 Symes’ battalion, part of and short rations during the previous two or by the side of the road” but his grave could action in 1940. 2 Brigade and the 82nd Division under Maj three weeks.” Unexpectedly, someone “started not be found after the war to be relocated to a Gen Hugh Stockwell, was taking part in the a shooting match” with a couple of Japanese CWGC cemetery. A memorial to the 82nd West third attempt by Commonwealth forces to ‘jitter’ parties (patrols designed to get a reaction African Division was installed at Tamandu, a retake the coastal Arakan region in Burma (now so an enemy reveals its position). “It was during village on the Dalet River close to the Bay of Myanmar) from the Japanese. The objective was this time that Tom was killed. I gather that one Bengal, in a position on a promontory. Symes is ss Mataroa Tower Hill to prevent the Japanese reinforcing their main of his officers was wounded and he went either commemorated in the CWGC Taukkyan War body in the Irrawaddy Valley where the 14th to assist him or to get the Medical Officer to Cemetery in Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar. He Strong, Cecil Warwick (35-40) Capt Indian Army was attacking. Symes took command of him. One of the Jap parties concentrated near was one of five members of the 1932 1st XV Army, died October 28, 1945 after being the 2nd Battalion as Acting Lt Col in February Tom’s battalion area must have spotted him rugby side to die in the war. released from a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp. 1945. He was 23. Strong, who came from Southern A year later, a letter from Tom Symes close Rhodesia, had enlisted in the Indian Army friend and colleague Major JWM Ridgway in 1941 and joined the 5th Mahratta Light spelled out what happened: “Our Brigade Infantry. The th4 Battalion of the regiment was operating more or less independently of took part in the defence of Imphal in March- the rest of the Division. We had no Line of July 1944 when Japanese forces tried to invade Communication and were dependent on air India. Almost certainly, Strong was captured supply in absolutely bloody country, all large here. He is commemorated on the CWGC hills and thick bamboo jungle. It was impossible Singapore memorial. to build a light plane airstrip. (Our battalions) had fought a very successful battle but our Symes, Thomas Glascott casualties were mounting heavily and we could (29-33) Acting Lt. Col not get them out which tied us to the ground Army, died in Burma owing to lack of men to carry the wounded March 26, 1945 aged and fight at the same time. On 15th March 30. Symes, from Ireland, Brigade HQ was hit by a Jap [sic] heavy mortar joined The bomb. We remained in occupation of various Regiment after the commanding features until 24th March…On NCP with one of his the night of the 25/26th we got all the casualties contemporaries John out by moonlight under the Japs’ noses.” The Willoughby (28-31; a future Major General). plan then, in the face of determined Japanese The pair were confined to barracks after fighting, was to pull back the entire Brigade one particularly breath-taking escapade in towards the Arakan coast in stages. Symes, TG (25-29) - on right with Portsmouth. In 1938 he volunteered to serve Suddenly a new order was issued to pull Middlesex Regt in 1930s 60 61 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020

T Thornley, Leslie Thomas Wing (27-30) Flt Lt of German invasion plans. A London Gazette south of Tournai and in action all day. On the RAF (Auxiliary Air Force), killed in action May citation was published without detail on 26th it received a fateful order to “fight to the Teacher, John Angus 16, 1940 aged 26. Thornley was serving in 615 November 5, 1940. At the time of his death, last round and last man.” By the 30th it had Macdonald (25-28) LAC Squadron, part of the British Expeditionary Walker was commanding 16 Squadron – a effectively ceased to exist “having held up the RAF, died as a pilot under Force in France. Equipped with the outmoded reconnaissance unit that flew Lysander aircraft. Germans for three critical days.” Only a handful training November 5, aircraft, the squadron had Based at RAF Weston Zoyland in Somerset, of made it back to 1941 aged 30. After the moved to Moorsele in Belgium by early May. the squadron conducted roving sea patrols the UK. Nearly 300 became NCP, Teacher joined the Here it was thrown into “a very intense ten searching for downed RAF air crew and enemy prisoners-of-war and 500 were Royal Mail Steam Packet days of combat (begun) on 10 May, with some forces. Walker is thought to have been shot killed, including Watson. He is Company but by the second of the squadron’s pilots flying six or seven down by a German Bf109 a couple of miles buried at the CWGC Cemetery half of the 1930s was serving in the Army. He sorties per day.” Thornley was one of three 615 west of Dawlish in Devon when flying a at Le Paradis, Lestrem in transferred to the RAF in January 1939. Family Squadron pilots shot down on combat patrol Lysander 111 registration number V9510. He is France. lore has it that Teacher, a Scot always known on May 16 near Tienen in Belgium at which buried in Thornton-Le-Fylde (Christ Church) as Jock, was killed flying under a bridge. His point he was flying a Hurricane N2335. He is churchyard. Watt, Irvine Willox (21-26) widow emigrated to Australia. He is buried commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial Lt RNR, died September in a CWGC grave at St. Wystan Churchyard, for airmen and women. Watson, John Louie C. (36-39) Midshipman 1, 1940 aged 33. He was Repton, Derbyshire. RN, died serving in the battlecruiser HMS serving in HM Trawler Turner, H.F. (19-21) Lance Corporal South Repulse on December 12 1941 aged 19. Repulse Royalo either as commanding Thomson, John St African Forces, killed in action March 3, 1944 and the battleship HMS Prince of Wales were officer or First Officer when John (26-29) Sqn Ldr aged 39. Turner, a South African, enlisted in sunk off the east coast of Malaya by Japanese the vessel hit a mine and RAF, killed in action the Imperial Light Horse/Kimberley Regiment bomber aircraft. Watson is commemorated at sank off South Cornwall. April 21, 1942 aged which eventually became part of the South the Plymouth Naval Memorial. Post-war, a local eye-witness 30. At the time Officer African 6th Armoured Division in the North recorded: “The Royalo was Commanding 16 African campaign. He died of his wounds Watson, Rodney George sweeping Mount’s Bay of mines, laid before Group, Thomson was in North Africa and is buried in Heliopolis (18-20) Acting Lt. Col Army, by German aircraft. Around midday came the a passenger observing cemetery, Egypt. His inscription reads: “He gave killed in action May 27, sound of a huge explosion. She was blown up a training flight in a his life that we might live.” 1940 aged 36. Watson was by a magnetic mine, a column of water lifted Hudson aircraft by members of 59 Squadron leading the 1st Bn Royal Scots her out of the water. And she was gone. The from RAF North Coates, Lincolnshire that at the time of his death and lifeboat was launched and small boats went failed to return to base. A search that afternoon W was awarded a posthumous out to the rescue of the survivors. Royalo sank by planes of 53 Squadron of an area about 80 DSO. He had already won an MC in 1939 for in position 50.06N: 05.30W about one mile miles off the Lincolnshire coast found nothing. Walker, Donald (28-30) “distinguished services in Palestine” during the off Penzance.” Watt is buried in Penzance Later that evening, a German radio report stated Sqn Ldr RAF, killed in 1938 Arab Revolt when his battalion lost 15 Cemetery. that a German aircraft, most probably a Ju-88, action June 11, 1941 aged men killed in skirmishes with Arab nationalists. had shot down a Coastal Command aircraft about 27. Walker joined The Royal Scots formed part of the British Welbury, David Edgar (35- near the English coast and the pilot had thrown the RAF in 1934 and by Expeditionary Force in Belgium and during the 39) Sub Lt RNVR FAA, the ditched RAF crew a dinghy. All four airmen 1935 was listed as a Pilot Allied retreat to Dunkirk, Watson’s battalion killed in a flying accident on board were killed. He is commemorated Officer. He was awarded was “virtually destroyed” in the words of a January 24, 1942 aged 20. at the Runnymede Memorial for airmen and a DFC as a member of regimental history. Initially positioned around Welbury was a member of women. 613 Squadron for his role in dawn-to-dusk Waterloo, the battalion began to withdraw 823 Squadron based at HMS st patrols over occupied France to gather evidence to the coast on May 16. By the 21 , it was Bridgend war memorial Kestrel, a RN Air Station at 62 63 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020

Worthy Down near Winchester. He was flying November 1940 he was commanding HMS close quarters and almost certainly sank a a Percival Proctor P6140 which crashed and H50 and undertaking exercises in the Clyde area second. burnt out at St. Brides Minor, near Bridgend, until relieved by another OP, P.R. Harrison (27- This latter encounter involved one of the Glamorgan. The Observer survived but was 30), in February 1941. He then took command most extraordinary submarine incidents of the injured seriously. Welbury is buried at Coity of HMS Talisman and for the next five months war. Talisman and a German U-boat made a churchyard, Glamorganshire. escorted convoys in the North Atlantic, being “mutual” sighting on a dark, overcast night 60 described as an “alert and resourceful officer” in miles south of the east end of Crete. The enemy SS Automedon Wells, Derrick Stanley a confidential report. fired a torpedo first, but missed. By then the Thomas (34-38) Williamson, Richard John (24-27) First Officer Moved to the Mediterranean in July, two submarines were on opposite courses and Midshipman RNVR, BOAC/RAF Ferry Command, killed February Talisman was deployed on six war patrols out about to pass very close, starboard to starboard. died in a flying accident 15, 1942 aged 32. Williamson was flying in a of Gibraltar and Alexandria. During the first Talisman opened fire with its gun, hitting September 26, 1940 BOAC Liberator aircraft B-24 for RAF Ferry four patrols Willmott participated in half a the enemy with a second round. The U-boat aged 19. At the time he Command. The pilot was fellow OP Humphrey dozen engagements with the enemy, sank four then dived close alongside Willmott who had was attached to a shore Page (25-29). Near Plymouth in the English vessels and rescued a downed RAF crew. He “the astonishing experience of looking down establishment HMS Raven Channel, two Polish pilots of 317 Squadron also landed an Allied commando unit 250 his opponent’s conning tower and seeing the but had moved to the failed to recognise the Liberator as friendly and miles behind enemy lines; this unit had orders lights in the control room below” to quote RNAS at Yeovilton ten days shot it down. On board were five crew and five to kill the commander of the German Afrika from a report made after the incident which is earlier for training in Sea passengers including the first American airman Corps. Talisman was grounded while landing now in the file ADM 236/26 in The National Gladiator aircraft. He is buried in the CWGC killed in Europe in the Second World War (Lt. the commandos but re-floated and escaped. Archives. Both Willmott and his superior officer cemetery at the FAA Memorial Church, St. Colonel Townsend Griffiss). Camp Griffiss, On an extraordinary fifth patrol at the end of – Captain Raw of the 1st Submarine Flotilla – Bartholomew Yeovilton. now headquarters of USAF in Great Britain and November 1941, which resulted in a DSO for believed that the U-boat must have destroyed located in , west London, is named Willmott, Talisman sank at least four vessels itself by diving with its conning tower hatches Whitaker, Peter Lindsay (30-33) Merchant after the officer. An attempt to hush up the including one of 15,000 tons, was depth- open. This “remarkable and highly successful Navy, died November 11, 1940 aged 24. incident collapsed when The Times revealed full charged multiple times, sank one U-boat at patrol,” in Raw’s words, brought rare praise for Third Officer in ss Automedon, Whitaker was details six days after the plane crashed. A Court a member of the crew when the ship was sunk of Enquiry was held to establish the facts but by the German surface raider Atlantis 250 whether or not the Polish pilots were court- miles northwest of Sumatra. Atlantis fired on martialled is unclear. Automedon, hitting the bridge, causing extensive damage and killing all the officers. Automedon was said to be carrying secret papers for British Command concerning the defence of Singapore and Malaya. Fifteen bags of ‘Top Secret’ mail, including a ‘Highly Liberator in Confidential’ envelope for the Commander- RAF markings in-Chief Far East Command, were discovered by the Atlantis crew before Automedon was Willmott, Michael (22-25) Lt Cdr RN, died scuttled and are thought to have been handed September 16/17, 1942 aged 33. Willmott over by the Germans to the Japanese. Whitaker joined Union-Castle in 1926 before switching is remembered on the to to the Royal Navy by 1932 and entering Merchant Navy casualties. the Submarine Service in the mid-1930s. In Willmott, Michael (22-25) - and a damaged Talisman 64 65 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 an individual RN officer from the Commander- battleship the Admiral Graf Spee later that year lifeboat which was being lowered and killing the the second was found by a trawler and the in-Chief Mediterranean Fleet, in the Battle of the River Plate. The ship was passengers and crew in it. He is commemorated survivors taken to Iceland. The explosion in Sir Andrew Cunningham (later a governor at severely damaged during the battle and spent at the Tower Hill Memorial to the Merchant Beaverdale damaged U-48 enough to force it the NCP). He wrote: “A most successful patrol. the following year in a being repaired. Navy. to return to Germany in June where it became Lt Cdr M. Willmott, Royal Navy, displayed a Woods was one of 61 men killed in Exeter a training vessel. During two years attacking capacity for quick appreciation and action as during its prolonged exchange of fire with Allied shipping in the Atlantic on 12 war remarkable as the speed and alertness displayed Admiral Graf Spee. He is commemorated at the Y patrols 1941-42, U-48 sank 51 ships for a total by his men in executing his orders.” Plymouth Naval Memorial. of 321,000 tons. On his sixth, and as it turned out, last war Yeatman, Edward Farr (33-37) 2nd Lt Army, patrol, Willmott was tasked with conveying Wright, Christopher killed in action May 26, 1940 aged 20. Serving supplies from Gibraltar to Malta in September Louis Yser (28-32) in the Royal Fusiliers, Yeatman was killed 1942 during the Siege of Malta. On September Wing Cdr RAF, during the retreat of the British Expeditionary 15 Willmott reported sighting a U-boat to the killed in action Force in France. A memorial plaque on the wall north of Cape Bougaroni, the northernmost November 23, 1943 of his parish church in Sturminster Newton, point of Algeria. Nothing further was heard aged 29. He had Dorset states that Yeatman was killed at Halluin from Talisman and the submarine was presumed entered the RAF (on the French-Belgian border) “when his to have hit a mine in the Sicilian Channel. in 1934 and at the battalion was covering the retreat to Dunkirk.” There were no survivors. He is commemorated time of his death was Underneath there is an inscription: “Deeper at the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. leading 51 Squadron. Younghusband, RS than life the plan of life doth lie. He who knows (36-40) - Halifaxe The unit flew Halifax all fears naught. Great death shall die.” Yeatman Memorial Woods, Humphrey Ropner Duncan (18-22) aircraft and was a night bomber squadron in is buried in the CWGC cemetery at Linselles Capt RM, killed in action December 13, 1939 Bomber Command. On a mission to Berlin in Cemetery, France. aged 35. Woods entered the Royal Marines in Halifax 11 HR726, Wright, and four others in 1923 and was promoted to Captain in 1935. the aircraft, was shot down near Groeneveld in Younghusband, Robin Stuart (36-40) Cadet He joined the cruiser HMS Exeter in August the south of the Netherlands – “Cause of loss Merchant Navy, killed April 2, 1941 aged 1938. On the outbreak of war, the cruiser not established.” A photo of him and his cap 18. A Canadian sailing in a Canadian Pacific ss Beaverdale was assigned to patrol South American waters came up for sale in Morlaix, Brittany, northwest Steamship vessel, the 10,000-ton ss Beaverdale, against German commerce raiders and was one France in January 2012. He is commemorated Younghusband died after Beaverdale was of three British ships that fought the German at the CWGC airmen and women’s memorial at attacked by the German submarine U-48 Z Runnymede. southwest of Iceland while sailing East-West across the Atlantic unescorted. Of 79 people Zambra, Roger Wynne, Owen Peter Henry (21-23) Merchant on Beaverdale, 21 were killed. Younghusband Murray George Navy, died September 25, 1940 aged 34. is commemorated on the Halifax, Nova Scotia (28-31) Flt He was Second Officer in the cargo ship mv Memorial to Canadian merchant seamen. Lt RAF, died Eurymedon when the vessel was torpedoed West The Beaverdale was carrying a hold of mixed October 2, 1940 of Ireland with the loss of 29 lives. The ship goods. It was shelled by U-48’s commanding aged 26. After the was sailing from Liverpool to via Cape officer, Herbert Schultze, after being holed by a NCP he joined Town in Convoy OB217 when it was hit by torpedo. Following a 35-minute bombardment, the Army and two torpedoes fired by the German submarine the vessel exploded, tipping to port. Two soon was a 2nd Lt in the Royal Fusiliers. In the U29. The second torpedo blew a hole in the lifeboats conveying 58 people got away. The late-1930s he transferred to the RAF. His father Woods, HRD (18-22) - Exeter at River Plate (c) starboard side of the engine room, wrecking a first rowed 300 miles to Ondverdanes, Iceland, was a Squadron Leader in the RAF. A history 66 67 Old Pangbourian Casualties in War 1917-2020 of the Zambra family (of Italian origin) by killed. On the night of 2 October 1940, he was Glossary Anthony Brunning states: piloting a two-seater, Miles Master I N7749, “Roger Zambra was born shortly after the in order to practise circuits and landings on his outbreak of the First World War, the son of first night-time solo when, “shortly after being AFC – Air Force Cross Me – Messerschmitt Nelson Zambra and his second wife Mary given permission to land the aircraft dived into Bn MID Olive, née Marshall probably at Hattingley the ground” one mile north of Shrewton Relief – Battalion – Mentioned in Despatches House, Medstead, Hants. By 1935 the family Landing Ground. The accident report was non- Capt – Captain (Army or RN) MN – Merchant Navy was living at Pruetts, Liss and the family became committal concerning the cause of the accident CCCC – Chief Cadet Captain of the College MTB – well-known in the neighbourhood. Roger was but criticised the poor illumination of the flares (Nautical College, Pangbourne) NCP – Nautical College Pangbourne commissioned into the Royal Fusiliers and on in use and suggested “that the pilot had become Cdr – Commander (RN) OBE – Officer of the Order of the British Empire 31 October 1938 was seconded to the Royal disorientated.” C-in-C – Commander in Chief Air Force as a flying officer. In April 1940 his Zambra’s funeral “took place St Mary’s, Liss OP – Old Pangbournian engagement to Monica, the youngest daughter on Saturday, 5 October 1940 and was attended CO – Commanding Officer Plt Off– Pilot Officer (RAF) of the late Major Moore-Gwyn, of Clayton by a large gathering of relatives, friends and CWGC – Commonwealth War Graves Commission POW – Court, Liss and Mrs Moore-Gwyn, of Dyffryn, men from his regiment. Officers of the Royal DFC – Distinguished Flying Cross RAAF – Royal Australian Air Force Liphook was announced in The Times. The Fusiliers acted as bearers and a firing party of DSC – Distinguished Service Cross marriage “took place quietly at St Mary’s, Liss” , under Captain Castle, was RAF – Royal Air Force on Saturday 1 June 1940 but no other details present. He was buried on the north side of DSO – Distinguished Service Order RAFVR – Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve are known. the churchyard and his grave is marked by FAA – Fleet Air Arm (RN) RAN – Roger gained his wings on 13 May 1939 and a characteristic CWGC tombstone with the Flt Lt – Flight Lieutenant (RAF) RANVR – Royal Australian Navy Volunteer Reserve was selected to be an instructor. It was while inscription: “Lieutenant R. M. G. Zambra, Flt Sgt – Flight Sergeant (RAF) RM – Royal Marines on a training course at Shrewton, Wiltshire The Royal Fusiliers and Flt. Lieut. R.A.F., 2nd FO – Flying Officer (RAF) that during a night flight at Upavon he was October 1940, age 26.” RN – Royal Navy GC – George Cross RNAS – Royal Navy Air Station Gen – General RNR – Royal Naval Reserve GOC – General Officer Commanding RNVR – Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Gp Capt – Group Captain (RAF) RNZAF – Royal New Zealand Air Force HMS – His (or Her) Majesty’s Ship RNZN – Royal New Zealand Navy Ju – Junkers (87 & 88 aircraft) RNZNVR – Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer LAC – Leading Aircraftman (RAF) Reserve LCF – Landing Craft Flak Sgt – Sergeant L/Cpl – Lance Corporal (Army) Sqn Ldr – Squadron Leader (RAF) Lt – Lieutenant (Army or RN or Royal Marines) Sub Lt – Sub Lieutenant (RN) Lt Cdr – Lieutenant Commander (RN) Tpr – Trooper Lt Col – Lieutenant Colonel (Army) VC – Maj – Major (Army or Royal Marines) WO1 & WO2 – Warrant Officer Class I & 2 MBE – Member of the Order of the British Empire Wing Cdr – (RAF) MC – Military Cross

68 Afterword

When The Old Pangbournian Record of Obituaries During the war, this was expressed by letters and certainly our hope in publishing this work since and Death Notices 1917-2016 was published in articles for The Log from every part of the globe it will be posted digitally on the OP Society connection with the centenary of Pangbourne where OPs were fighting or meeting. Any death website and can be amended easily. But, as of College in 2017, a decision was taken to list notices in national newspapers were carefully mid-2020, it is as complete as possible given those who died as a result of the 1939-45 war collected, and Sykes also scoured the London constraints of time, technical expertise and the in a one-line statement without accompanying Gazette for details of awards to OPs. Such an unexpected such as a global pandemic and the detail. Four years later, it is possible to produce initiative, in conditions of wartime censorship, resultant archive and museum closures. Volume 2 of the OP Record based on extensive was bound to be incomplete. Nevertheless, research of digital and military records. a Roll of Honour and a list of the latest OP Writing in 1945 to the widow of one OP killed Awards and Honours was published in each issue in action, Sir Philip Devitt – the son of the The OP death toll in World War 2 was 178. of The Log produced between 1940-46. founder of the Nautical College and the most Some Old Pangbournians were killed in action influential person in its development – assessed and are listed as such. Some died in captivity From this basis it was possible for Lionel the sacrifices of the Second World War like this: as prisoners-of-war. Some died in unknown Stephens and Mike Harris (54-59) “His loss adds yet another name to the terribly circumstances such as ‘Lost at Sea.’ Some were to compile a Book of Remembrance in the early long list of Old Pangbournian cadets who have killed on secret operations, details of which 2000s. It was presented to the College and today given their lives during this ghastly war. They remain murky even three-quarters of a century is kept in a display cabinet in Devitt House. This have, however, bequeathed, by their devotion to later. Deaths were spread across the world and was a huge undertaking and set a new base line. duty, a priceless heritage of example. It will, and throughout the four components of the British However, it confines each entry to basic facts I believe it has already, become an inspiration to and Commonwealth wartime effort – the Royal such as date of death, age and unit. Two decades those following and who are now at the College Navy, the Merchant Navy, the RAF and the later, the dawn of the digital age and easy access – and also to those who will join in the future.” Army. to specialist websites has enabled the record to be It was a powerful message of belief and hope – broadened. one that resonates 75 years later. During the war limited details of the OP deaths were compiled by one of the long- My thanks are due to the OP Society for serving teachers, Harry Sykes. He had served funding this project. Also, to Major-General Robin Knight, July 2020 in the Great War, winning a Military Cross. Tom Copinger-Symes (82-87) and particularly He arrived at the Nautical College in 1919, to Colonel Mike Nicholson (57-61) for their taught Mathematics at the College until 1956 help and support, to OP Jon Nye (99-02) and nurtured the OP Society from its inception and Helen Parkin of NP Design & Print in 1926. For almost 50 years he was the first Company, Wallingford, to picture researcher point of contact for all Old Pangbournians. In Susan Millership, to the Keeper of the FAA Roll the early 1960s, making use of his prodigious of Honour Julie Halford, to military historian memory, he produced a Register of Old Frank Baldwin and to proof-reader Jean Knight. Pangbournians. This was published in 1963. No doubt, in time, more information will be In return, OPs gave this modest, unassuming unearthed about the fate of those who feature in man their undivided loyalty and affection. this compilation. History is never still. That is

ISBN 978-095-6877-031

9 780956 877031 The Old Pangbournian Society