Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
Additions will be checked before being published on the website and where possible will be forwarded to the person who submitted the original entries. Your contact details will not be forwarded, but they can send a reply via this messaging system.
210549
Sgt. Charles Arthur Denness
British Army 797 Water Transport Coy. RASC
from:7 Rose Hill, Hampton
My Father, Charlie Denness served in Italy during or before the invasion of Sicily by the allies. His job for the Allied Services, was to be the Sergeant Skipper of a Tea Clipper ship, to deliver guns and ammunition for the use of our army in the invasion. I have seen photo's of my dad standing on the deck of his Tea Clipper with some of his crew. Dad told us some stories of what he did in Italy and on one occasion, when he had returned from one of the 'trips', Dad and his first officer left the ship in harbour to report to his HQ. On his return he found his ship at the bottom of the harbour, a German E-Boat had got into the harbour and sunk the Tea Clipper, with some of the crew still aboard, which include one of his pals 'Mac' who lost some fingers in the action, but some of the crew died and their bodies could be seen in the clear water, tangled in the rigging.
I have tried to find out more about Dad's 'adventure' in Italy during the Second World War, but even though I produced all the information necessary, Enlistment Notice, Grade card, Registration Certificate, Soldiers Service and Pay Book, 3 Soldiers Pay Books, Soldiers Release Book and Transfer certificate to the Army Reserve. But even with all this information, I have found nothing, it's as if my Dad didn't exist. Is there anyone out there, still alive, who remembers Charlie Denness and his adventures in Italy in the Second World War.