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25th February 1945On this day:
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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Remembering those who died this day.
- Alcantar Max L.. PFC. (d.25th Feb 1945)
- Barratt Harold Bristow. Pte. (d.25th Feb 1945)
- Bradshaw John W.. PFC. (d.25th Feb 1945)
- Dawes Harold Jason. Pte. (d.25th Feb 1945)
- Dawes Harold Jason. Pte. (d.25th Feb 1945)
- Gallagher Terrance. Pte. (d.25th Feb 1945)
- Jackson Michael. Capt. (d.25th Feb 1945)
- MacDonald Ian Lester. Lt. (d.25th Feb 1945)
- Robinson Joseph Arthur. Sergeant (d.25th February 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 25th of February 1945? There are:22 items tagged 25th of February 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 25th February 1945
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Sergeant Joseph Arthur Robinson. RAF, 524. (d.25th February 1945) Joseph Robinson, my great-uncle, died on active duty on the 25th February 1945 whilst serving in a Wellington with 524 squadron. I am looking for more information.Dave Hold
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PFC. John W. " " Bradshaw. Purple Heart US Army, 415th Infantry Regiment . (d.25th Feb 1945) I actually know little about John W. Bradshaw of the 415th Infantry Regiment, 104th Infantry Division. I have recently adopted his grave at the Henri-Chapelle cemetery in Belgium and I am trying to learn about this lost hero.
Little is known about him since his records were lost in the NARA fire of '73 but I am doing my best to find all I can about his life. I added him here, to this site, because I want his name to be recorded. He was "just" a soldier in the Second World War, but I think that alone is a reason to remember him. He was one of many that came to a country he had probably never heard of to fight for the freedom of its inhabitants. And I am forever grateful for the sacrifice that he, and many others like him, made. Joeri Op de Beeck
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Pte. Terrance Gallagher. British Army, 4th Btn. Welsh Regiment. (d.25th Feb 1945) My grandfather is still alive and was a Royal Marine paratrooper dring WW2. Whilst trying to find out more about his service, I discovered that he had a younger brother who was killed aged 18 on the Belgium/German border. It was the first time I had even heard about him and was therefore trying to speak to anybody who may have known him and the circumstances surrounding the final days of his life. If there is, I would love to hear about it.Michael Gallagher
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Pte. Harold Jason Dawes. British Army, 2nd Battalion East Kent Regiment. (d.25th Feb 1945) My Uncle, Harold Dawes, served in The Buffs in WW2 he signed up to serve his Country, completed his training, was posted to Burma and as soon as he stepped onto the beach in Burma, he was sadly shot dead. I would love to find a photo of him. Bless him.
We, as a family, are so proud of this young man, without him and many more like him, we would not have a freedom today. We should never ever forget Harold and people like him.
Sharon Witney
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Pte. Harold Jason Dawes. British Army, East Kent Regiment. (d.25th Feb 1945) Harold Dawes was my Uncle on my Fathers side. He fought in Burma in the Second World War, serving with the East Kent Regiment, The Buffs.
Harold lied about his age, (he was much younger), to enable him to sign up.
He arrived on the Burma Beaches on 25th February 1945, and was killed instantly, so never got to fight for his Country, as he so wanted to do.
May he Rest In Peace, knowing that he did his bit, his family love him and are very proud.
We miss you Harold. xxxx
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PFC. Max L. Alcantar. US Army, 415th Inf, Co. "K" 104th Inf Div.. (d.25th Feb 1945) 104th Inf Div, APO 104
Order number: General 20
Date of Orders: 1 Dec 44
"For gallantry in action in *** (Stolberg, Germany) on 18th November 1944.
During mid-afternoon of 18th of November 1944 Private Alcantar's company was ordered to withdraw from a small heavily wooded park. Enemy observation was very good and their mortar and artillery fire was very heavy. The plan was to withdraw in waves with leap-frog protection on the right flank. An active enemy machine gun was located to the rear of the company. Private Alcantar was in the first wave, and as they came abreast of the enemy machine gun position, it opened fire on them. Private Alcantar, who was an automatic rifleman, immediately engaged the enemy machine gunner by return fire.
This action required him to stand in an exposed position, both to the machine gunner and the heavy enemy mortar barrage which was being placed on them. Private Alcantar forced the silence of the enemy machine gun by this action and though wounded by shrapnel, maintained his position until his comrades had successfully withdrawn to an area of safety, after which he joined them. This heroic act in the face of heavy enemy fire from a fully exposed position greatly reflects the finest spirit of the American soldier."
As PFC Alcantar continued with the Timberwolves, often fighting at night across Germany as part of the First Army in the drive toward the Rhine, it is presumed that he was with other members of the 415th, Company K as they entered Ellen, Germany on 24 Feb 1945. During a night engagement on 25 Feb 1945, Company K entered a town on a hill, a very important place in the drive. They had nearly reached the town when the enemy opened fire. They fought their way into the town, and PFC Alcantar was just entering a house when he was struck by rifle fire. When he fell his comrades went to him and an aid-man came to his side. There was nothing they could do. Death was merciful in this, it came instantly and he did not suffer.
The above account of PFC Alcantar's death was provided by a personal letter to the Alcantar family by Gerald A. Quinn, Chaplain for Company K. The closing of the letter reads, "Max was certainly a brave boy and a good boy. During the past few weeks I used to say mass in the evening at his company command post and Max always attended. His men all looked up to him as courageous and dependable. I hope that even in your sorrow you can have a feeling of pride. May God comfort and console you and may He grant that out of such sacrifice as this, true and lasting peace may come to a suffering world."
Max was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, and he was buried in Henri-Chapelle Cemetery in Belgium. The cemetery is located approximately 7 miles southwest of Aachen, Germany, and was under the care and supervision of military personnel during the war. PFC Alcantar was buried in plot UUU, row 1, grave 10.
On 14 April, 1947, Max's father, John Alcantar, requested that Max be brought home to his family in Fresno, CA. The Fresno Funeral Chapel on A Street would be responsible for accepting the body of PFC Alcanter before he was interred at the Fresno Liberty Cemetery. Almost 5 months after the initial request was made, PFC Max L Alcantar was disinterred from Henri-Chapelle Cemetery on 12 September 1947, and transported via truck to Antwerp Port, Pier 140, under the supervision of Sgt. Lupe J. Valenzuela. Sgt. James Blackmon received PFC Alcantar at the Port of Antwerp on 15 September 1947.
Captain Paul McGee of the USAT Joseph V Connolly left Antwerp Port with PFC Alcantar on 4 October 1947, and brought him home to the United States at the New York Port of Embarkation on 25 October 1947. The USAT Joseph V Connolly was a Liberty ship, used for cargo transport during the war, and converted after the war to be the first funeral ship to bring back the war dead from the European theater. In January 1948, the USAT Joseph V Connolly caught fire, was abandoned, and sank in the North Atlantic. On 27 October 1947, PFC Alcantar was brought to American soil, and awaited a train transport home. 3 November 1947, Max began the cross country journey home via train. He arrived in San Francisco, CA one week later on 10 November 1947.
On 12 November 1947, SSgt Ray H. Lowden of the 36th Engineer Combat Group, Temporary Duty, 6th Army Escort Detachment, Oakland Army Base, received his orders to escort Max home. Included in his orders, “mourning band furnished will be work at all times while performing (temporary duty) at places designated above.” Additional orders to all concerned were provided with the subject: “Request for immediate shipment over other cases” as the son-in-law of Juan and Lupe Alcantar, brother in law of Max, provided the following request: “Mrs. Juan Alcantar, mother of deceased in highly emotional state regarding her son’s death, and her condition has reached the point where even the mention of the boy’s name in the household is taboo. Upon doctor’s orders, Mr. Juan Alcantar, legal next of kin of deceased, has sent mother to LA and hopes to keep her there until body of son is returned to Fresno for final burial.” The letter continues on to state, “Because of critical condition of mother and possible fatal results occurring if she is involved with funeral, brother in law (Mr. Matt Rivera) has requested that we no longer contact family home regarding plans. It has been explained to him that next contact will be between this center and funeral home involved.”
The tragic death of Max was too much for his beloved mother to bear. Her grief overcame her at the mention of his name, and the family was required to make special accommodations just to return him home. Because of this secrecy, even his brother, Sgt. Ernest L. Alcantar, did not know many of the details as his brother was brought home. Sgt. Ernest L. Alcantar died in June of 1996, not fully knowing the details of his brother’s death and return home due to the levels of secrecy maintained in concern for the family matriarch’s health. On 14 November 1947, Staff Sergeant Ray H. Lowden accompanied PFC Max L Alcantar on his final journey home on Train #2 AT & SF, leaving Oakland at 9:55 AM and due to arrive in Fresno, CA at 3:30 PM railroad time on 14 November, 1947. On 20 November 1947, Juan Alcantar submitted an Application for Headstone or Marker for PFC Max L. Alcantar to be buried in Liberty Cemetery 1831 W. Belmont Ave., Fresno, CA 93728.
PFC Max L. Alcantar is honored in remembrance by his family, and the War Dad’s Auxiliary of Fresno, CA has included his name on a monument at Kearney Park. Next to the monument stands a grove of trees where other fallen heroes are memorialized. PFC Max L. Alcantar has a tree dedicated in his honor near 36°43'35.04"N, 119°54'45.29"W. His name is also inscribed in the walls under Silver Star and Purple Heart at the Legion of Valor Museum in Fresno, CA. His last surviving sibling, Raymond L. Alcantar, proudly displays his photo and medals at family reunions and gatherings. Phillip Bautista
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Capt. Michael Jackson. British Army, 7th Bty. 1st Searchlight Regiment Royal Artillery. (d.25th Feb 1945) My paternal grandfather was Capt. Michael Jackson of the 1st Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery who was killed in action during WW2 on 25th Feb 1945 age 32 and is buried in Schoonselhof Cemetery, Belgium.
All I know is from my father that he was blown up whilst stationed at or in a castle in Belgium and his body was found floating in the castle moat.
From preliminary internet searches I understand that his regiment was deployed to Brasschaat and he was killed by a V1 rocket.
Hayden Jackson
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Lt. Ian Lester MacDonald. British Army, 5th Btn. Black Watch. (d.25th Feb 1945) My uncle Ian MacDonald was born in Scotland in 1923. He grew up until age 13 in Chile with his parents, then was sent to Loretto School near Edinburgh.
The full account of his short but glorious life has recently been published in 2017. I transcribed it from my grandfather's handwritten account.
Ian Ruxton
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Pte. Harold Bristow Barratt. British Army, 1st Btn. Northamptonshire Regiment. (d.25th Feb 1945) Harold Barratt served with the 1st Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment. He was the son of Thomas Harold and Mary Barratt of Portobello, Willenhall, Staffordshire.
When you go home
tell them of us and say,
For your tomorrow,
we gave our today.
The British Fourteenth Army was a multi-national force comprising units from Commonwealth countries during World War II. Many of its units were from the Indian Army as well as British units and there were also significant contributions from West and East African divisions within the British Army.
It was often referred to as the "Forgotten Army" because its operations in the Burma Campaign were overlooked by the contemporary press and remained more obscure than those of the corresponding formations in Europe for long after the war. For most of the Army's existence, it was commanded by Lieutenant-General William Slim.
The 1st Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment was a regular army unit that served in the Burma Campaign from July 1942 to April 1945 with the 32nd Indian Infantry Brigade within the 20th Indian Infantry Division.The division was formed at Bangalore in April 1942. It was commanded by Major General Douglas Gracey and at first it consisted of the Indian 32nd, 51st and 53rd Brigades.
In July that year, the 51st and 53rd Brigades were detached to form the Indian 25th Infantry Division and replaced by the Indian 80th Infantry Brigade and Indian 100th Infantry Brigade (the latter brigade being transferred from the 34th Division which had recently disbanded in Ceylon).
The division was intended from the start for operations in jungle and mountain and was on a Mixed Animal and Mechanical Transport establishment for maintenance in rough country.
The division's insignia was a hand wielding a tulwar, in white on black.
After training in Southern India and Ceylon, the Division joined Indian XV Corps at Ranchi in Bihar in December, but from July 1943, it was transferred to IV Corps in Imphal.
At the start of the Battle of Imphal in March 1944, 20th Division was deployed forward to Tamu in the Kabaw Valley. To avoid being cut off, it retreated to the Shenam Saddle in the hills surrounding the Imphal Plain. Because the 17th Indian Infantry Division was in difficulty in its sector, the 32nd Brigade was temporarily detached.
During April and the first part of May, the division held the saddle against attacks by infantry, tanks and heavy artillery. It was then relieved in place and ordered to counter-attack, north-east from Imphal to Ukhrul. The monsoon had broken, and movement was very difficult.
After several Japanese counter attacks, at the start of July the division was transferred to the XXXIII Indian Corps and slowly eliminated large numbers of Japanese in and around the village, which had been made into a Japanese communication and logistic centre.
During the remainder of the monsoon, the division rested around Dimapur. As the monsoon ended, it moved into a bridgehead across the Chindwin River at Kalewa. It attacked southward on the 4th December and cleared Japanese rear guards from Monywa.
On 13th of February 1945, the division made a crossing of the Irrawaddy River 20 miles (32 km) west of Mandalay. The boats used were leaky and other items of equipment already worn out. The first precarious footholds were counter attacked every night for a week but eventually linked up into a solid bridgehead. It was probably during one of these counter attacks that Harold Barratt was killed
He was probably interred initially at the Mandalay cemetery as this was nearest to the place where he fell on the Irrawady River on 25th of Feb 1945.
The graves have been grouped together at Taukkyan to preserve the individuality of these battlefield cemeteries. Burials were also transferred from civil and cantonment cemeteries, and from a few of the isolated jungle and roadside sites.
Taukkyan War Cemetry is the largest of the three war cemeteries in Burma (now Myanmar). It was begun in 1951 for the reception of graves from four battlefield cemeteries at Akyab, Mandalay, Meiktila and Sahmaw, which were difficult to access and could not be maintained. The cemetery now contains 6,374 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 867 of them unidentified.
George Clegg
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