Cook Jock Aberdeen . Royal Navy HMS Nigeria Jock Aberdeen served on board HMS Nigeria during ww2.
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Pte Hugh F Ables . (d.27th November 1944) Prisoner in Fukuoka 3b.
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Pte Hugh F Ables . (d.27th November 1944) Held in Fukuoka 3b
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Pvt. Norman Lesley Ablett . Australian Army from Australia POW Camp Fukuoka 17 in Japan
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Pte. Ronald Victor John Ablett . British Army 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry from West Hartlepool, Co. Durham (d.27 May 1940)
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Sgt. B. A. Abraham . Royal Air Force 90 Squadron (d.22nd June 1943) 90 Squadron Royal Air Force Bomber Command Stirling Mark 3 serial number EE887 WP-T. With a seven man crew took off from West Wickham at 2345 hrs on 21st June 1943 on a bombing mission to Krefeld, Germany. The aircraft was shot down in the early hours of 22nd June by a night fighter, later identified as the German fighter ace Hauptmann H.J. Jabs, and crashed at Hoogwoud North Holland with the loss of all of the crew. . Crew members were:- - Pilot Officer H.N. Peters Royal Australian Air Force
- Sergeant D.J. Davies Royal Air Force
- Sergeant David Gillis Royal Air Force Volunteers Reserve
- Sergeant E. Bradshaw Royal Air Force
- Sergeant B.A. Abraham Royal Air Force
- Sergeant A.S. Andrews Royal Air Force
- Sergeant R.R. Law Royal Canadian Air Force
All are buried in Bergen General Cemetery in the Netherlands
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Cyril Ernest Abraham . Royal Navy HMS President III (d.19th June 1944)
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A/Able Sea. Cyril Ernest Abraham . Royal Navy SS Garoet from Northampton (d.19th Jun 1944) My great-uncle Cyril Abraham was just 22 years old when he was lost with all but 10 hands on the S.S. Garoet, a Dutch steam merchant vessel of 7,118 tons built in 1917. On 19th of June 1944, when en route from Bombay and Marmagoa to Durban, she was torpedoed by German submarine U-181 and sunk. From a total crew of 99, 89 crew were lost.
Cyril had been detailed to the SS Garoet, it is told in our family, after he either overstayed his leave or went AWOL to attend, and be best man at, his younger brother's wedding in Northampton in December 1943. As the story goes, he was detailed as a member of the DEMS (Defence Equipped Merchant Ships), gunners especially trained at shore bases like HMS President III, for defence on merchant vessels. They were typically equipped with 12-pounder anti-aircraft guns, 3-inch or 6-inch guns, or older Lewis guns. They operated whatever guns were installed on supply ships on critical missions, and the postings were considered highly hazardous. Our family believes that Cyril was posted on a particularly dangerous route as part of his punishment for the leave violation.
S.S. Garoet, operating in the Indian Ocean and taking supplies from India to Africa, was hit by two torpedoes fired by U-181 and sank within two minutes. Eleven days later, on 30th of June, 5 crewmen were picked up by the British mule transport S.S. Nirvana and taken to Durban. On 4th of July, 5 other crew were rescued after 16 days at sea and having drifted over 550 miles WNW, they were landed at Mauritius on 9th of July.
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F/O Robert Stanley Abraham . Royal Canadian Air Force No.426 (Thunderbird) Squadron from Toronto, Canada
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Sgt. Aleck Abrahams . Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 76 Squadron from Blackwood, Monmouthshire (d.21st Jan 1944) Alexander Abrahams was born on 3rd of April 1921 in Blackwood, Monmouthshire to Ephraim and Esther Abrahams. Alec was the penultimate of 13 children. All 6 of his brothers enlisted in the Army but Alec was the only one who joined the RAF and the only one who did not return.
In Sept/Oct 1942, Alec was on a navigation and bombers course in Grahamstown in South Africa. He met a young woman called Beatrice from Cape Town and they fell in love. It was Alec's intention to return to after the war, marry Beatrice and settle down in South Africa. Sadly, this was not to be and when Alec's letters to his intended ceased, sadly she never knew of his fate.
In 1943 Alec was posted to 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit at RAF Rufford in Yorkshire. On the evening of 26th Nov 1943, Alec's crew were:
- Sgt Colin Walker (Pilot)
- Sgt Frederick Hughes (Flight Eng from Liverpool)
- Sgt John Sutherland (Navigator, RCAF from New York City)
- Sgt Peter Carmino Gizzi (Wireless Op/AG from Rhyl, Wales)
- Sgt Kenneth Charles Southward (Air Gunner)
- Sgt George Armstrong Shield from Northumberland, (Air Gunner)
flew out on Halifax EB183 from Rufforth airfield. In the process of taking off at 20.00 hrs to undertake a training flight, as the aircraft picked up speed on the runway, a swing developed. The plane left the runway, crossed the grass and struck a pile of rubble which removed the Halifax's undercarriage. Two members of the crew sustained minor injuries (Sgt Walker and Sgt Shield). A couple of months after this incident, on 8 January 1944, the crew were assigned to 76 Squadron at Holme on Spalding Moor in Yorkshire.
At 20.00 hours on 20th of January 1944, the same crew flew from their base in a Halifax V LL.185 (G) on what was to be their first and last operation for 76 Squadron. Their mission was to bomb Magdeburg. Tragically, on its return journey home, the plane crashed into the North Sea west of Walcheren, Holland. The Ops sheet read: "Aircraft missing. Last message received at 04.45 hours (21 Jan) that the aircraft was being ditched. No further news" It turned out to be a terrible night for 76 Squadron with a total of 5 aircraft lost.
My Uncle's body sadly remained in the water until 2nd of May. He would have been 24 on 3rd of April. His body was washed up at a beach near Horntje and he is buried in Den Burg cemetery on Texel Island, Holland. Sgt Fred Hughes was washed up on the beach at Wissekerke on 16th of March and is buried in Kamperland General Cemetery in Zeeland, Holland. The other five members of the crew have no known graves and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
On Sunday 16th of January 1944, just days before Alec Abrahams died, he wrote to his sister Fay from the Sgts Mess at Holme-on-Spalding Moor. This was a very new camp for Alec. In the letter he describes the long journey he had by train from Blackwood, via Newport to the camp in Yorkshire. He also said he had completed the News of the World crossword with just two words wrong so he was pleased with his effort as he "had not done that crossword for a long time"! He said his new camp had "several snags - the food was not as good as at the previous camp (RAF Rufforth) and transport facilities for getting to town were very bad. However, he said he "had got organised and everything is OK this end. Cheerio, (signed) Alec". Five days later he was dead.
If anyone knows or is related to any of these brave men, I would love to hear from you. So far I have been able to track down Peter Gizzi's relatives.
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Allan Wolf Abrahams . Bevin Boy My dad Allan Wolf Abrahams was a Bevin Boy from 1944 to the end. He would have been 18 in October 1944. He stayed in the mines after the war until 1960 as a shot-firer.
I was always told that he volunteered for the pits rather than fight as he was a conscientious objector. I don't know now if that wass true. He was Jewish (from the East End of London)and had some difficulties with anti-Semitic attitudes during his time with the Coal Board.
I don't know where he did his training but he was posted to Wigan. I think he stayed with a Mrs Hamilton. Some time later he moved (or was moved) up to Scotland where he was at Patna Colliery, Ayrshire. He met my Mum in Glasgow in 1956. He finished at Mansfield, Notts.
I haven't seen anything about Bevin Boys at the Wigan coalfield. If anybody remembers anything or knew my Dad please get in touch. He died sadly early in 1979 after a car crash. He was only 52.
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W/O Gerry Abrahams . Royal Air Force 75 Squadron
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Sgt. J. W. Abrahams . Royal Air Force 115 Sqn.
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Jack Abrahams . I have just returned from a visit to the museum at Lambinowice. I was trying to find further information about my father - Jack Abrahams who spent time there and like most prisoners never talked about it.
I only found out about the camp when I found old letters sent to and from this camp. I contacted the camp by email - on their website, and the curator Maciej Lachowicz could not have been more helpful - with trains and providing a translator who spoke very good English. Anna Wickiewicz who was so helpful. I also stayed the night - but beware there are no pubs and restaurants so take your own food. Obviously I would like to find more information about my father but for those interested in visiting the museum I can certainly recommend it.
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Jack Abrahams . Royal Navy HMS Nigeria I stood by HMS Nigeria in the summer of 1940 while she was still brand new in the dockyard at Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne. Three months billeted ashore with Newcastle on the doorstep; a cushy number! Then two years on Russian convoys and Atlantic patrols...not so cushy. A couple of trips to Spitzbergen to evacuate Russian and Norwegian mine-workers before the mines were destroyed by Royal Engineers to stop the enemy getting hold of them. A scrap with some Germans in a fjord up in northern Norway when, due to a bit of dodgy seamanship, we managed to collide with a sinking enemy destroyer, losing our bow in the process. We limped back home under heavy escort because the Jerries thought we were a sitting duck and paid us quite a bit of attention. Then another great three more months in Newcastle getting the new bow fitted.
I left her in June of 1942 so missed the infamous Operation Pedestal convoy. I knew some of the casualties of course. Bandmaster Ridout was one. A fine musician and a true gentleman. I knew him because we did a couple of concerts ashore in the Newcastle area. I wasn't a musician, just the compere of the show. I had done a bit of DJing on board (before DJs had been invented) playing records on the internal system, and Mr Ridout asked me to front the band.
If you want to add some names to the ship's company list I remember Cook Jock Aberdeen, L/Wtr. E. Smart, A.B.J. Smith, Commander Ransome (Second in Command) and the Skipper, Captain Dundas.
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Pte. James Michael Abrahams . British Army 2nd Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment from Fulham, London My father James Abrahams, served in India during the thirties. He was not involved in the massacre in France but said he left France via a coalboat from St Malo.
I know no more other than that his discharge papers mentioned REME and I think he spent the rest of the war years working on railway lines. He was friends with Bert Pooley and we socialised as families together after the war.
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Sgt. John Allott Abrahams . Royal Air Force No.41 SFTS from Sheffield John Abrahams served as a Flying Instructor at No. 41 SFTS.
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GR Abrahart . British Army GR Abrahart served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Jean Abram . Auxiliary Territorial Service from Southport, Lancs My mother, Jean Abram, was in the ATS and stationed at Nottingham. She was married while she was there in March 1945 and became Jean Mietta. Her husband Nick was with the American Army at that time and also stationed there. My aunt Katherine Molloy was also stationed there. I am interested in any information I can get about the ATS and what they did while they were enlisted.
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WO. Sidney Edward Abrams . Royal Air Force 103 Sqdn (d.7th Jan 1945)
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Sergeant R W Abrams. . Royal Air Force No.149 Sqd. (d.6th June 1944 )
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Thomas Charles Abrehart . Royal Navy HMS Indomitable from Bromley Thomas Abrehart was my father. He served with the Royal Navy aboard HMS Royal Arthur and HMS Indominatble in WW2. I found a photo of my father's class on HMS Royal Arthur.
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John Absolon . British Army 82 LAA Bty. Royal Artillery I was in 82 Bty in 1943-44 in the UK and Normandy.
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Gnr/cook Harry Acaster . Royal Navy HMS Sirius
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Sgt. J. H. Ace . 97 Squadron
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Sgt. J. H. Ace . 97 Squadron
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Tech.Sgt. Ralph Leon Achelpohl . US Army 54th Inf 10th Armd. Div. from Indianapolis, Indiana My grandfather, Ralph Leon Achelpohl was born on July 15th, 1920 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was 5'10'' with a slim body and red hair. He graduated from Brownstown High School in the summer of 1937. He joined the US Army at the start of 1942 and was assigned to the 54th Inf. of the 10th Armored Division and served until the end of the war. Sadly, I know of no personal stories of his time in the ETO. After the war he worked for Chrysler and fathered four children. He died of diabetes complications on June 4th, 1987 a few years before I was born. I hope this information becomes helpful in remembering the bravery of my grandfather and his comrades. The photos I have provided is the same bible he carried during his combat tour in Europe, and one of him and his wife (my grandmother) in their later years.
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Pte. Ekpo Achen . West African Frontier Force African Pioneer Corps (d.4th April 1942) Ekpo Achen was buried in the Limbe Botanical Gardens Burial Grounds in the Cameroons.
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Pte. Dennis Claude Ackland . British Army 2nd Battalion Welch Regiment from Weston-super-Mare, Somerset (d.18th May 1945) Dennis Ackland was my uncle but I was only 4 when he was killed in action in Burma - aged 21. I do not have any details of his service but I hope to learn more in the future. He was born in 1923 so I can only assume that he enlisted when he was 18 in 1941. He was the only child of my step-aunt Violet May Ackland who was unmarried. Dennis was therefore a very precious child.
He was serving in Burma when VE day was declared and he was killed a week later which is indeed bitter sweet. He is buried in Rangoon War Cemetery along with the many others who died in that war. His grave is beautifully tended but for my aunt it was devastating that she was never able to visit his grave. He was awarded the Burma Star which is now in my possession, being the only survivor of his family.
May he sleep well albeit in a foreign land.
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Henry Ackland . Auxiliary Fire Service from Bethnal Green, East London My Grandfather was Harry Ackland who joined the AFS full time on the 24/08/1939, Class 'B' AFS number 18393. He was stationed at Bethnal Green Fire Station (East London) where he served until the end of the war. He covered most of the East/ West End especially the Docks, after narrowly escaping death on several occasions tackling fires he had to contend with UXB's (Unexploded Bombs). He used to drive the fire engine to the blazes and he was the one fighting the fires whilst up the long ladders. My Grandfather wasn't the one to talk about his experiences apart from the fact that he was buried alive for several hours before being rescued and after losing several of his fellow fireman to falling buildings.
He was one of the first on the scene at the Bethnal Green Tube Disaster. Due to the fact that he was stationed so close to the disaster and living in Mendip Houses on Globe Rd, which are situated at the rear of Bethnal Green Fire Station, his station was virtually the first on the scene of the disaster so he was one of many fireman to help carry out the injured and those who died as they we're being taken to the waiting ambulances. He said it was absolute chaos as so many people were trying to get out of the station at the same time that people were trampelling on one another while he was trying to help the injured and at the same time there were bombs still being dropped. He said he would never forgot that night.
If anyone recognises my Grandfather or those who were stationed at Bethnal Green Fire Station during the war, I would be interested in hearing from you.
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