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Lt.Col. Edward Hedley Body MC.. British Army 5th Battalion East Kent Regiment from Wittersham Court, Wittersham,Kent Lt Col Edward Body, who has died aged 81, was awarded an MC in 1944 while serving in Italy with the 5th Battalion The Buffs during Operation Diadem, General Alexander's advance on Rome.
On May 19 Body, then a captain commanding "Y" Company, was in his battalion's attack on Aquino when the company was pinned down by machine-guns and snipers whose positions proved impossible to locate.
Although he knew that the enemy was less than 100 yards away, Body continually moved about in the grass trying to observe them. Eventually he was hit in the shoulder by machine-gun bullets. Barely conscious, he continued to command his company and to send wireless messages back to Battalion Headquarters until another officer arrived to relieve him.
Eventually the order was given to withdraw. Two men were detailed to carry Body, who told them to leave him. When they refused and started to lift him, he pushed them away and, so as not to be a burden to them, staggered off unassisted. Throughout the withdrawal, which was carried out under heavy mortar and machine-gun fire, Body continued to shout orders at his men, and showed them the way to safety.
In the words of the citation: "Throughout the whole operation, Captain Body was a continual source of inspiration to all the officers and men in his Company, and set a magnificent example."
Edward Hedley Body was born at Middlesbrough on May 24 1920 and educated at Tonbridge. Intending to emulate his father and become a doctor, he then went up to Brasenose, Oxford, to study Medicine. At the outbreak of war, Body discovered that, as a medical student, he was exempted from conscription; anxious to enlist, he made a point of attending only lectures unconnected with his subject until eventually he was expelled.
He was then called up and joined The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment), with which he had family connections. On gaining his commission he joined the 5th Battalion, part of 78th Division, and took part in the North African landings and the Tunisian campaign.
Body was wounded in the leg during the invasion of Sicily and evacuated to Malta. Impatient to rejoin his battalion, he discharged himself from hospital and made his way to Italy. On his arrival at his battalion the adjutant greeted him with the words: "Hello, Edward. We wondered when you would turn up. We've just had you posted as a deserter."
During the 78th Division's march on Cassino, Body was posted at a fork in the road to show the way. It was pouring with rain so he huddled under an umbrella - a sight which soon had the passing troops singing Any Umbrellas. The positive effect of this on morale was such that the adjutant ordered him to carry the umbrella at all times in future. Together with an old blanket which Body draped over his shoulders, this later served as a useful disguise during scouting expeditions around Monte Cassino.
After the action at Aquino, Body was evacuated to England. He was refused permission to rejoin his regiment on the ground that he was not fully fit and posted to the carrier Colossus as Army Liaison Officer, with responsibility for teaching Fleet Air Arm pilots to recognise Army positions. While Colossus was berthed in Alexandria on its way to the Far East, Body learned that a film of Antony and Cleopatra was being made in the desert.
As a training exercise, he instructed his pilots to try to find the film's location. Some time later they returned, having "beat them up at zero feet", sending actors, crew and the Egyptian Camel Corps fleeing in all directions. Fortunately for Body, Colossus sailed the next day, leaving the RAF to take the blame for this event.
Body celebrated the end of the war in Sydney and then spent some time running a camp for former civilian PoWs in Shanghai before returning to England. He re-entered Brasenose but, having inherited the family farm on the deaths of his two brothers (both killed while serving with the RAF), he now studied Agriculture.
In 1948, he took a job as a land agent on a large estate in Cheshire. To gain more practical experience, he then spent a year as a tractor driver and farmhand in Dumfriesshire before buying a small dairy farm in Kent.
After seven years there, a back injury meant that he could no longer work his farm; so he went to Kenya where he ran another large estate for 18 months before joining the Kenya Agricultural Department. After a period as a lecturer in central Nyanza he went to Thika as Sisal Officer, later becoming Colony Potato Officer. Shortly afterwards he was transferred to Kisumu, in Nyanza, to help with the handover to African administration.
After returning once more to Britain in 1965, Body went to live in Wales. Apart from two years in Sarawak as principal of an agricultural college, he remained there for the rest of his life. From 1974 until his retirement in 1989, he ran a bookshop in Brecon.
Edward Body had a fine mind and a cheerful scepticism about conventional wisdom. Quiet and thoughtful, with a gentlemanly disposition, he won the respect and affection of all who knew him. He married, in 1948, Barbro Ygberg, a Swede whom he had met in Alexandria. She survives him together with their four daughters.
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PSA Body . British Army PSA Body 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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J Bodycote . British Army J Bodycote 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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F/O Ralph Lloyd Boe DFC. RCAF 419 (Moose) Squadron F/O Ralph Lloyd Boe DFC was a pilot based at Middleton St George now Teeside airport and flew Halifax`s from this base for 419 RCAF Moose Squadron.
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MM2C. Lucien Charles Boehm . United States Navy from Kentucky. USA
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2nd Lt. Erik Boelskov . British Army Special Operations Executive from Koge, Denmark (d.25th Aug 1943) Second Lieutenant Erik Boelskov was the son of Jorgen and Olga Boelskov of Koge, Denmark.
He was aged 22 when he died and is buried in the Koge Cemetery in Denmark.
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EF Boer . British Army Royal Pioneer Corps EF Boer served with the Royal Pioneer Corps 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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Pfc. Harold John Boetcher . United States Army 33rd QM Regt (Trk) Quartermaster Corps from Montana, USA
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Pte. Wilford Firdand Boettger . United States Army Coast Artillery Corps K Btry 59th CA Regt HDM & SB from Missouri
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Charles Joseph Bofinger . United States Navy Seebees from Bensalem, PA Charles Bofinger was stationed in the Pacific Theatre for 3 years with the Seebees.
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M Bogaert . I have a beautiful large charcoal drawing of my mother, taken from a photo. It is signed M. Bogaert, Thorn, 11.3.1942.
I have just discovered this camp, Stalag XXA is in Thorn Poland. So, my father Norman Key, must have been a prisoner here at some time, as well as Stalag 383, in Hohenfels.
Is there a relative of M. Bogaert, who was exceptional portrait artist, out there? I have tried looking for him on the prisoner list, for Thorn XXA, but he may be American, Dutch or English.
I would love to know if he survived the war, and I have a wonderful reminder of his signed work.
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Pvt. Stuart F. S. Bogey . US Army 1st Btn. 117th Infantry Regiment
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C Bogg . British Army C Bogg 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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CE Bogg . British Army Royal Armoured Corps CE Bogg served with the Royal Armoured Corps 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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J Bogg . British Army Royal Armoured Corps J Bogg served with the Royal Armoured Corps 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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AE Boggis . British Army Rifle Brigade AE Boggis served with the Rifle Brigade 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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AW Boggis . British Army 144th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps AW Boggis served with the 144th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps 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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Basil G. Boggis . British Army Basil Boggis 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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Flying Officer M G Boggon . RAF 59 Squadron
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P Bogle . British Army 17/21st Lancers P Bogle served with the 17/21st Lancers 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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Robert "Bogie Down" Bogue . US Army D Battery 119th Anti-Aircraft from Muncie, Indiana My grandfather, Robert Bogue was in Patton's Third Army with the 119th Anti-Aircraft, D battery. He was transferred to C Battery at Rennes in France. I don't know much about his war experience he died in 1988. I do however have his combat diary from D battery. In the diary it says he was a natural on the 80 and 90 gun and it says his nick name was "Bogie Down". Any info would be greatly appreciated.
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Robert Bogue . United States Army 119thth AAA Gun Btn from Alwood, Indiana My grandfather, Robert Bogue, was with the 119th AAA, D Battery and later moved to C Battery. I have his combat diary and other things. Does anyone remember him or have information about his unit?
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Wally Bohannan . British Army Royal Army Medical Corps My grandad died, aged 50, before I was born. He served in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was captured at Dunkirk because he stayed behind with theinjured. He was then marched across Europe stopping at various Stalags: XXID and VIIB Lamsdorf. would be great to hear from someone who knew him.
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S/Sgt. Carl Eugene Bohannon . United States Army CAC F Btry 200th CA Regt. (AA) Coast Artillery Corps from New Mexico
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James Bohill . British Army 7th Queens Own Hussars James Bohill served with the 7th Queens Own Hussars 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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GK Bohl . British Army GK Bohl 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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Howard J. Bohle . United States Air Force 427th Bomb Sqdn. 303rd Bomb Group 2Lt Howard J Bohle, USAAF was a pilot of a B-17G Flying Fortress and was shot down on 29th od April 1944. He was assigned to the 427th Bomb Squadron of the 303rd "Hells Angels" Bomber Group flying out of Moleworth, England. He would have made the forced march to Stalag XIII in Nuremburg and later to Stalag VII in Moosburg at the end of the war. He was from North Dakota and was my favorite uncle. He wouldn't share stories about his experiences as a POW and wondered if anyone knew him as a prisoner?
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RH Bohling . British Army RH Bohling 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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Sergeant Arthur Reginald Bohn . RAF VR 428 Squadron (d.23rd September 1943) I would be glad to get in contact with anyone who may remember the crew of Halifax LK-635 NA-H of 428 squadron, pilot F/O Mcrae. In his crew was Sgt James Wright an great-uncle of my wife. All killed on Ops 22/23 Sept 1943 Hannover Raid.
The crew were: F/O Hector Earl McRae RCAF J/20195, killed age 23 (Runnymede Memorial)
Sgt Donald Ernest Jeffery, RAF VR 1862968, killed (Runnymede Memorial)
Sgt Leonard Cotton, RAF VR 1516171, killed age 22 (Runnymede Memorial)
Flt/Sgt Walter Edward Dickson RCAF R/1556913, killed (Runnymede Memorial)
Sgt Arthur Reginald Bohn, RAF VR 1415741, killed (Runnymede Memorial)
Sgt James Wright, RAF VR 1590868, killed (Runnymede Memorial)
Sgt Edward George Miller, RCAF R/183626, killed, age 19 (Runnymede Memorial)
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Cpl. Thomas Peter Bohn . United States Army A Bty 200th CA Regt. (AA) Coastal Artillery Corps from Missouri
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