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9th April 1945On this day:
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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Remembering those who died this day.
- Driggers George. Sgt. (d.9th April 1945)
- Dunn Thomas. (d.9th April 1945)
- Green John Ronald. Sgt. (d.9th April 1945)
- Heatlie John Adam Wilson. FO (d.9th April 1945)
- Kwiatkowski Joseph. (d.9th Apr 1945)
- Lassen Anders Frederik Emil Victor Schau. (d.9th Apr 1945)
- Mack Edward C.. Lt. Col (d.9th April 1945)
- Martin Robert. F/O. (d.9th April 1945)
- McCoy James Peter. (d.9th April 1945)
- Rabet John Raymond. Capt. (d.9th Apr 1945)
- Roche John Francis. (d.9th Apr 1945)
- Watson James. Pte. (d.9th Apr 1945)
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
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Want to know more about the 9th of April 1945? There are:28 items tagged 9th of April 1945 available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Stories from 9th April 1945
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Anders Frederik Emil Victor Schau Lassen. VC, MC. British Army, 62 Commando Special Air Service. (d.9th Apr 1945) Anders Lassen was the son of Emil Victor Schau Lassen and Suzanne Maria Signe Lassen, of Nyhavn, Copenhagen. After serving in the Danish Merchant Navy, he came to the United Kingdom shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War and joined the British Commandos in 1940, serving with No. 62 Commando as a private. He was commissioned in the field and awarded an immediate Military Cross for his part in Operation Postmaster, the capture of three Italian and German ships from the neutral Spanish island of Fernando Po, in the Gulf of Guinea.
No. 62 Commando was later absorbed into the Special Air Service in February 1944 and Lassen became a Major by October 1944. During his service he saw action in North-West Europe, North Africa, Crete, the Aegean islands, mainland Greece, Yugoslavia and Italy. He was awarded two bars to the Military Cross, the first dated 27 September 1943 and the seconded dated 15 February 1944
He was commanding the Special Boat Squadron when he was awarded the Victoria Cross. The London Gazette of 4 September 1945, gives the following:
"The King has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to: Major (temporary) Anders Frederik Emil Victor Schau Lassen, M.C. (234907), General List. In Italy, on the night of 8/9 April 1945, Major Lassen was ordered to take out a patrol of one officer and seventeen other ranks to raid the north shore of Lake Comacchio. His tasks were to cause as many casualties and as much confusion as possible, to give the impression of a major landing, and to capture prisoners. ' No previous reconnaissance was possible, and the party found itself on a narrow road flanked on both sides by water. Preceded by two scouts, Major Lassen led his men along the road towards the town. They were challenged after approximately 500 yards from a position on the side of the road. An attempt to allay suspicion by answering that they were fishermen returning home failed, for when moving forward again to overpower the sentry, machinegun fire started from the position, and also from two other blockhouses to the rear. Major Lassen himself then attacked with grenades, and annihilated the first position containing four Germans and two machineguns. Ignoring the hail of bullets sweeping fire road from three enemy positions, an additional one having come into action from 300 yards down the road, he raced forward to engage the second position under covering fire from the remainder of the force. Throwing in- more grenades he silenced this position which was then overrun by his patrol. Two enemy were killed, two captured and two more machine-guns silenced. By this time the force had suffered casualties and its firepower was very considerably reduced. Still under a heavy cone of fire Major Lassen rallied and reorganised his force and brought his fire to bear on the third position. Moving forward himself he flung in more grenades which produced a cry of " Kamerad ". He then went forward to within three or four yards of the position to order the enemy outside, and to take their surrender. Whilst shouting to them to come out he was hit by a burst of spandau fire from the left of the position and he fell mortally wounded, but even whilst falling he flung a grenade, wounding some of the occupants, and enabling his patrol to dash in and capture this final position. Major Lassen refused to be evacuated as he said it would impede the withdrawal and endanger further lives, and as ammunition was nearly exhausted the force had to withdraw. By his magnificent leadership and complete disregard for his personal safety, Major Lassen had, in the face of overwhelming superiority, achieved his objects. Three positions were wiped out, accounting for six machine guns, killing eight and wounding others of the enemy, and two prisoners were taken. The high sense of devotion to duty and the esteem in which he was held by the men he led, added to his own magnificent courage, enabled Major Lassen to carry out all the tasks he had been given with complete success."
Lassen is buried at the Argenta Gap war cemetery and his Victoria Cross is on display at the Museum of Danish Resistance in Copenhagen, Denmark. S. Flynn
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Pte. James Watson. British Army, 5th Btn. Black Watch. (d.9th Apr 1945) I have managed to get my uncle, James Watson's service records.
He joined the TA went for training PTW Perth, his records show he was relegated to Class W(T) (Can anyone explain the meaning of this?)
He joined the 5th Battalion Black Watch and was one of 5 men killed in Schuttorf on 9th April 1945. It would be good to hear from anyone on the subject. James Brearley
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Sgt. George Driggers. , . (d.9th April 1945) Held as a Prisoner in Fukuoka 3b.
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Lt. Col Edward C. Mack. , . (d.9th April 1945) Held as a Prisoner in Fukuoka 3b.
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FO John Adam Wilson Heatlie. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 206 Squadron. (d.9th April 1945) John Heatley was the son of Adam John and Jane Heatlie. He was 24 when he died and is buried in a joint grave M.1 in the Skagen Cemetery in Denmark.S Flynn
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James Peter McCoy. Merchant Marines, SS Charles Henderson. (d.9th April 1945) James Peter McCoy was in the Navy in WWI as a boiler maker on his ship and later in the Merchant Marines in WWII where he was killed in Bari, Italy on 9th April 1945. His ship blew up in the port of Bari, Italy. The ship's name was SS Charles Henderson. He was the son of Willis and Harriet McCoy.John McCoy
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F/O. Robert Martin. Royal Australian Air Force, 630 Squadron. (d.9th April 1945) Robert Martin flew LE-D NZ949 of 630 Squadron.
He was awarded the Star of Africa
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Thomas Dunn. United States Merchant Marine, S.S. Charles Henderson. (d.9th April 1945) My uncle, Thomas Dunn, served in the U.S. Merchant Marines and was killed when the ship he was serving on as a wiper, the S.S. Charles Henderson, blew up while unloading munitions while in port in Bari, Italy on 9th April 1945. His remains, to our families knowledge were never found.Eileen Suarez
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John Francis Roche. Merchant Marines, . (d.9th Apr 1945) My Uncle, Francis Roche, was a radio operator on the SS Charles Henderson. He died when it exploded in Bari, Italy, 9 April 1945.Ann Fowler
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