The Wartime Memories Project
The Second World War - Day by Day.

Home>Date Index


This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you agree to accept cookies.


If you enjoy this site

please consider making a donation.




    Site Home

    WW2 Home

    Add Stories

    WW2 Search

    Library

    Help & FAQs


 WW2 Features

    Airfields

    Allied Army

    Allied Air Forces

    Allied Navy

    Axis Forces

    Home Front

    Battles

    Prisoners of War

    Allied Ships

    Women at War

    Those Who Served

    Day-by-Day

    Library

    The Great War

 Submissions

    Add Stories

    Time Capsule

    TWMP on Facebook



    Childrens Bookshop

 FAQ's

    Help & FAQs

    Glossary

    Volunteering

    Contact us

    News

    Bookshop

    About


Advertisements











World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945



Remembering those who died this day.

  • Bruty Donald Sidney. Sgt. (d.22nd May 1944)
  • Cameron Peter Talmage. Flt.Sgt. (d.22nd May 1944)
  • Dickson David. Sgt. (d.22nd May 1944)
  • Dukelow Peter James. P/O (d.22nd May 1944)
  • Dunham Leslie Ronald. F/O (d.22nd May 1944)
  • Jarvis Sidney A.. Sgt. (d.22nd May 1944)
  • MacDuff H. E.. P/O (d.22nd May 1944)
  • Mayo David Alfred William. Sgt. (d.22nd May 1944)
  • Moulden William Robert. P/O. (d.22nd May 1944)
  • Pollock James Wallace Roger. Rifleman (d.22nd May 1944)
  • Porter Alec. Sgt. (d.22nd May 1944)
  • Steedman William Kenneth. Flt.Sgt. (d.22nd May 1944)
  • Towsley Leslie Robert. F/O (d.22nd May 1944)
  • Whittick Thomas Leonard John . Sgt. (d.22nd May 1944)

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



The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.

Announcements



  • The Wartime Memories Project has been running for 24 years. If you would like to support us, a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting and admin or this site will vanish from the web.
  • 28th March 2024 - Please note we currently have a huge backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 263784 your information is still in the queue, please do not resubmit, we are working through them as quickly as possible.
  • Looking for help with Family History Research?   Please read our Family History FAQ's
  • The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web.
    If you enjoy this site

    please consider making a donation.


Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the War? Our Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text.



We are now on Facebook. Like this page to receive our updates.

If you have a general question please post it on our Facebook page.


Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to WW2. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to WW2 you may have at home.

If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted. World War 1 One ww1 wwII second 1939 1945 battalion
Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.



Want to know more about the 22nd of May 1944?


There are:25 items tagged 22nd of May 1944 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.




Stories from 22nd May 1944





Rifleman James Wallace Roger Pollock. British Army, 1st Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). (d.22nd May 1944)

My family would love to hear from anyone who might have known or met my uncle, James Pollock of the 1st Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).

Lisa Skedd



Sgt. Alec Porter. Royal Air Force, 9 Squadron. (d.22nd May 1944)

My uncle Alec Porter was, I think, bomb aimer on Lancaster DV395 code letters WSV on a bombing mission over Duisberg on the night of 21/22 May 1944 & was missing presumed killed. He was 20 years old. He trained in Canada originally as a pilot but failed a medical. I'm not sure if he was a bomb aimer or navigator.

M. Jakeman



Flt.Sgt. William Kenneth Steedman. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 7 Squadron. (d.22nd May 1944)

William Steadman was born in Gateshead in 1913, he was the son of William and Margaret Steedman (nee Nichol) and the husband of Majorie Steedman (nee Hibbert) of Jarrow. He died aged 30 and is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial and is commemorated on the WW2 Roll of Honour Plaque in the entrance of Jarrow Town Hall.

Vin Mullen



Sgt. Thomas Leonard John Whittick. Royal Air Force, 550 Squadron. (d.22nd May 1944)

My husband’s great uncle, on his mum’s side, Sgt Thomas L.J. Whittick, was the flight engineer on the DV309 aircraft, that crashed in Westerlo, Belgium. He took over from the pilot as it came crashing down in a field by a small village, saving the inhabitants of the village (As far as we are aware?)... The Loss of DV309

DV309 was shot down on the outskirts of Westerlo, Belguin, one of three 550 Sqdn Lancasters lost on the Duisburg operation on 21/22 May 1944. The crew, all killed on this operation, were:
  • P/O G W Hinde (P)
  • Sgt T L J Whittick (F/Eng)
  • Sgt D Hughes (Nav)
  • F/Sgt C C Sharland (B/A)
  • Sgt D R M Davies (W/Op)
  • Sgt E C Beacham (MU/AG)
  • Sgt W A J Young (R/AG)
On the night of the 21st/22nd of May 1944 Bomber Command sent 510 Lancasters to Duisburg and lost 29. 550 Squdron dispatched 18 aircraft and lost 3, 550 Sqd's worst night. One of the three not to return was D/Sgt G W Hinde and crew flying DV309 BQ-S. They crashed at 01.51 on the outskirts of Westerlo and all crew members were killed. German records show they were shot down my night fight ace Heinz Wolfgang Schnauffer who fished the war with 121 kills, all bombers. The bodies of the navigator and wireless operator were never found - an indication that something catastrophic had occurred. At more or less the same time another Lancaster from 626 Squadron also crashed very close to Westerlo. The Germans quickly cordoned off both sites and removed the wreckage and bodies. It was not firmly established which crash site belonged to which aircraft until 1977 when a piece was found bearing the number of the 626 aircraft. This established that the 500 Sqd Lancaster crashed at Schobbroek and the 626 Squadron aircraft at Herselt. A memorial stone was placed at the location of the crash on 21st of May 1998

My husband is a keen model maker, especially aircraft from the World War 2, he has already made the BBMF model and is trying to locate the serial number of the exact plane he co-piloted in order to find a scaled airfix type model kit as a memoir and tribute to him. I am hoping someone can help with this information or any other information you have regarding SGT T.L.J Whittick.

Update: The Lancaster serial number was DV309, squadron code BQ-S.

Michelle Ward



P/O Peter James Dukelow. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 550 Sqdn.. (d.22nd May 1944)

P/O Dukelow was a member of the crew of Lancaster I LL851 BQV which was shot down south of Antwerp on the Duisburg raid of 21st/22nd May 1944, with all the crew killed. The other members of the crew were:
  • Sgt Sid Jarvis, RAFVR
  • Sgt Donald Bruty, RAFVR
  • F/O Leslie Dunham, RAFVR
  • F/O Leslie Towsley, RCAF
  • Sgt David Mayo, RAFVR
  • P/O H E MacDuff, RCAF

    Gareth Jarvis



  • Sgt. Sidney A. Jarvis. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 550 Sqdn.. (d.22nd May 1944)

    Sgt Jarvis was a member of the crew of Lancaster I LL851 BQV which was shot down south of Antwerp on the Duisburg raid of 21st/22nd May 1944, with all the crew killed. The other members of the crew were:
  • Sgt Donald Bruty, RAFVR
  • F/O Leslie Dunham, RAFVR
  • F/O Leslie Towsley, RCAF
  • Sgt David Mayo, RAFVR
  • P/O H E MacDuff, RCAF
  • P/O Peter Dukelow, RAFVR




  • Sgt. Donald Sidney Bruty. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 550 Sqdn.. (d.22nd May 1944)

    Sgt Bruty was a member of the crew of Lancaster I LL851 BQV which was shot down south of Antwerp on the Duisburg raid of 21st/22nd May 1944, with all the crew killed. The other members of the crew were:
  • Sgt Sid Jarvis, RAFVR
  • F/O Leslie Dunham, RAFVR
  • F/O Leslie Towsley, RCAF
  • Sgt David Mayo, RAFVR
  • P/O H E MacDuff, RCAF
  • P/O Peter Dukelow, RAFVE




  • F/O Leslie Ronald Dunham. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 550 Sqdn.. (d.22nd May 1944)

    F/O Leslie Dunham was a member of the crew of Lancaster I LL851 BQV which was shot down south of Antwerp on the Duisburg raid of 21st/22nd May 1944, with all the crew killed. The other members of the crew were:
  • Sgt Sid Jarvis, RAFVR
  • Sgt Donald Bruty, RAFVR
  • F/O Leslie Towsley, RCAF
  • Sgt David Mayo, RAFVR
  • P/O H E MacDuff, RCAF
  • P/O Dukelow, RAFVR




  • F/O Leslie Robert Towsley. Royal Canadian Air Force, 550 Sqdn.. (d.22nd May 1944)

    F/O Leslie Towsley was a member of the crew of Lancaster I LL851 BQV which was shot down south of Antwerp on the Duisburg raid of 21st/22nd May 1944, with all the crew killed. The other members of the crew were:
  • Sgt Sid Jarvis, RAFVR
  • Sgt Donald Bruty, RAFVR
  • F/O Leslie Dunham, RAFVR
  • Sgt David Mayo, RAFVR
  • P/O H E MacDuff, RCAF
  • P/O Dukelow, RAFVR




  • Sgt. David Alfred William Mayo. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 550 Sqdn.. (d.22nd May 1944)

    Sgt David Mayo was a member of the crew of Lancaster I LL851 BQV which was shot down south of Antwerp on the Duisburg raid of 21st/22nd May 1944, with all the crew killed. The other members of the crew were:
  • Sgt Sid Jarvis, RAFVR
  • Sgt Donald Bruty, RAFVR
  • F/O Leslie Dunham, RAFVR
  • F/O Leslie Towsley, RCAF
  • P/O H E MacDuff, RCAF
  • P/O Dukelow, RAFVR




  • P/O H. E. MacDuff. Royal Canadian Air Force, 550 Sqdn.. (d.22nd May 1944)

    P/O Macduff was a member of the crew of Lancaster I LL851 BQV which was shot down south of Antwerp on the Duisburg raid of 21st/22nd May 1944, with all the crew killed. The other members of the crew were:
  • Sgt Sid Jarvis, RAFVR
  • Sgt Donald Bruty, RAFVR
  • F/O Leslie Dunham, RAFVR
  • F/O Leslie Towsley, RCAF
  • Sgt David Mayo, RAFVR
  • P/O Dukelow, RAFVR




  • Sgt. David Dickson. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 166 Squadron. (d.22nd May 1944)

    Sergeant (Flight Engineer) David Dickson was the son of Archibald Dickson, and of Mary Dickson of Coalsnaughton, Clackmannanshire. He is buried in the Brielle General Cemetery, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands.

    S Flynn



    P/O. William Robert Moulden. Royal Australian Air Force, 115 Squadron. (d.22nd May 1944)

    William Moulden served with 115 Squadron. Three years ago an officer's hat of this gentleman was purchased by a militaria dealer straight from the family in Brisbane and via a friend of mine near Sydney landed in my collection. My request would include any information available, preferably service records, type of aircraft, serial number and markings, crew, action record for 22nd of May 1944 etc. Anything would be interesting and of help.

    Aleksandar Kelemen










    Can you help us to add to our records?

    The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them


    Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area?

    If so please let us know.

    Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice.




    Celebrate your own Family History

    Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc.

    Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.














    The free section of the Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers. We have been helping people find out more about their relatives wartime experiences since 1999 by recording and preserving recollections, documents, photographs and small items.

    The website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources and we currently have a huge backlog of submissions.

    If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running.



    Hosted by:

    The Wartime Memories Project Website

    is archived for preservation by the British Library





    Copyright MCMXCIX - MMXXIV
    - All Rights Reserved

    We do not permit the use of any content from this website for the training of LLMs or for use in Generative AI, it also may not be scraped for the purpose of creating other websites.