Those who Served
2nd Pantryman. J. Fairclough . Naval Auxiliary Personnel HMS Forfar Fairclough was one of the crew of the Montrose who had transferred with the ship under the T124X agreement. He was counted amongst the survivors brought ashore when the ship went down. |
Ships Cook. S. Fairclough . Naval Auxiliary Personnel HMS Forfar S. Fairclough was the ships cook on board HMS Forfar, he was amongst those who survived. |
Sgt. John Falkingham . British Army Royal Corps of Signals Does anyone have any information on John Falkingham who was born in 1915? He may have been a journalist and served in the TA before WW2. He was a Sergeant in 1944 when he was a patient at Addenbrooke Hospital 1943/44. He recovered and went to France in April/May 1944 and "never came back." Whether that means he was killed in action or never contacted the reporter again, I do not know. Thanks for any help anyone can provide.
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Able Seaman William Joseph Farrel . Royal Navy HMS Forfar (d.9th Dec 1940) |
Seaman J. A. Farrow . Royal Naval Reserve HMS Forfar J.A.Farrow was one of the survivors when HMS Forfar was lost in the Atlantic. |
Sylvia Farrow . Land Army |
Seaman J. Faulkner . Royal Naval Reserve HMS Forfar J. Faulkner is listed as one of the survivors from HMS Forfar. |
Sgt. Reginald Favager . Royal Air Force w/op 115 Sqd. |
Doris Feltham . Land Army My mum was in the WLA in Hertfordshire on Watkins farm at Watton at Stone and also worked in Pooley's market garden Crawley Sussex. Her name then was Doris Feltham she is now Doris Evans and lives with my Dad in Horsham. It would be good if her efforts could be recognised.
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Catherine Elizabeth Felton . Land Army Wales My Grandmother Catherine Felton, served in the Land Army in Wales, I would love to know where she served and hear from anyone who knew her. |
Private A E Fennon . Army Durham Light Infantry (d.2nd November 1942) I am over 70 years and I don't know a lot about my dad, Private A E Fennon. I know he was killed on the 2nd of November 1942 and is buried in a grave in Libya, if anyone can tell me more about him it would make my day. |
Able Seaman Albert Ferguson . Royal Navy HMS Forfar from Bermondsea, London) (d.2nd Dec 1940) |
Sub Lt. John Ferrier . Royal Navy HMS Dasher After HMS Dasher sank, the survivors were billetted with local families. One was my maternal grandparents, and I am told that two sailors stayed with them. My mother had Mr Ferrier sign her autograph book. My mother only told the story of HMS Dasher after she was given a copy of John Steele's book. Her father had told her NEVER to talk about it again, and she didn't. She had told us of the existence of the autograph book, but it was only after her death that it turned up.
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Able Seaman Charles Richard Fiddaman . Royal Navy HMS Forfar from Enfield, Middlesex) (d.2nd Dec 1940) |
Desmond Field . Royal Navy class 48 HMS Royal Arthur Was sent to HMS Royal Arthur on 4 September 1941 and joined Class 48.
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Rita May Field . Land Army I live on a sheltered housing scheme and recently got to know Rita Knight....nee Rita May Field. She was born in Sydenham in 1927 and joined the Women's Land Army as soon as she was eligible. I have a particular interest in recording the memories of these gallant older ladies who served our country during wartime. Rita gave me a list of some of the women she remembered serving with. They are: John Bagley, Olive Brown, Sheila Catcheside, Doris Chamberlain, Mary Coldham, Emily le Berre, Ella Olinski, Ethel Quin, Doreen(Rusty)Reynolds, Vera Robbins, Tina Robinson, Marian Smith, Clifford Walters, and Audrey Washington. Rita was stationed in Worcester and stayed in a hostel, not on a farm, towards the end of the war (1944-45 or thereabouts.) The area she served in was known as The Tything. She would love to hear from anyone who served with her.
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Private William Fielding . Army 2nd Battalion The Loyal Regt.(North Lancashire) from Preston, Lancs) (d.23rd Jan 1942) William Fielding was my mum's younger brother he came from a big family but nobody from his family realy knew how he died during the war, they knew he was a prisoner of war in Japan and that his name is on the Singapore Memorial , but that was all they knew. I started looking on the internet to see if I could gather any information about where he was captured and when? or what camp he was in but I was getting nowhere until I went on COEPOW site that site gives a lot of tips on were to look for info, the result was I went on yahoo put Williams name on the search and that he was a POW in Japan and they directed me too your site where I read the terrible story of The Massacre at Parit Sulong, his name was on the list of casualties along with about 40 or 50 from his regiment, but it does not list a camp in this village, so if anyone can give me anymore information on this subject I would be very grateful. My mum know's the story now but it wasn't easy relaying it to her, but I think that should have been done a long time ago and certainly not by me. |
Millie Fifield . Timber Corps |
Sgt. John Findlay . RAF(VR) 101 Sqd. from Dundee, Scotland) (d.1st Sep 1943) |
Sgt. Peter W. Findlay . RAF W/op 460 Sqd. from Dundee, Scotland) (d.30th May 1943) |
Margaret Anna "Peggy" Finney . Land Army My mum, Peggy (Margaret)Finney, later Buss, of Camberwell, London, servied in the Land Army during the later years of the war before becoming a WREN.
She sadly passed away in 1992, but was always proud of her service to her country, as we were proud of her.
I'm very glad to see that the contribution of women during WWII is starting to be more widely recognised.
I'd be glad to hear from anyone who remebers my mum. |
Second Cook Thomas Finnigan . Naval Auxiliary Personnel HMS Forfar (d.2nd Dec 1940) |
Sgt. Frederick Stephen Fish . Royal Air Force 150 sqd from Sydenham, London) (d.3rd Sept 1942) Please can you tell me if anyone remembers my grandad, Fred Fish, he was based with 150 squadron at Snaith in 1941/42. He and the rest of his crew were shot down over the french coastline on their way back from ops at KARSRUHE on 3rd September 1942, it was their 23rd op. The other crew members were pilot L.H.Clarke,D. Laing, R.J.Deans, ad S.B.Ronaldson. I would love to know if anyone remembers anything. He was listed missing presumed dead, which devastated my nan and his 3 children. |
Betty Ivy Fisher . Land Army from London) I am enquiring on behalf of my Mother, Betty Ivy Fisher from London
My mother is 82 and has memory loss, but she still recollects some instances from her days in the Women's Land Army.
I would appreciate any assistance from members of the WLA who might have known my Mother, where she served, and if possible to be able to get in touch.
Thank You
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Sapper Clifford Bernard Fisher . British Army Royal Engineers from Whetstone, Leicestershire) I am looking for info about my father Clifford Fisher.
My dad often talked about the war, but not long before He died he mentioned that he had been a prisoner of war
towards the end of the war, when questioned he said it was too painfull to talk about it,
I would like to find out what I can about my dad in the war. I know after the war he went to Christmas Island
when they let the bomb off and I know he joined the Black Watch Regiment |
LAC Frank Oldfield Fisher . Royal Air Force My grandad, Frank Oldfield Fisher, was leading air craftsman on Halifax bombers at Melbourne then at Seaton Ross. Does anyone have any photos of him during the war years? He was an air frame mechanic and would have repaired shot down planes to fly again. I would love to get replies or hear from some of his pals. |
Ord. Coder Ken Fisher . Royal Navy HMS Forfar Coder Ken Fisher was amongst those who survived the sinking of HMS Forfar. |
Sergeant Robert Vincent Fishpool . RAF 582 Squadron (d.16th September 1944) |
Sgt. Reginald George Fitzgerald . Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 210 Sqd. from Glasnevin, Co. Dublin, Republic of Ireland.) (d.2nd Sep 1940) My Great Uncle Reginald George Fitzgerald was attached to 210
Squadron as a Sargeant flying Short Sunderlands. He died aged 20, missing in action on the 2nd September 1940, I am not sure whether he was
stationed at Pembroke Dock at that time. His name is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
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Robert Blyth Fleming . Royal Navy HMS Nelson My dad served on the Nelson during the second world war and was a boy sailor. He was in Malta for two years. Does anybody remember him at all. He is 82 this year
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Dinah Sarah Fletcher . Land Army from Botley Rd. Oxford, England) I am writing this on behalf of my Mother, Dinah Singleton, nee Fletcher, now 88yrs of age, Born in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, who together with one of her 6 Sisters, Frances, joined the Land Army in 1940. They did their training at Shipton Court, Shipton-under-Wychwood, Oxon & afterwards, were employed there, working for a Mrs Darcy Hall. Later, they moved, to work for a Mr.Brooks, The White House, Nettlebed, Nr. Henley, Berks. Although Mum's memory is now failing & all her Sisters, 2 Brothers & Husband (my Father) have now sadly passed away, Mum recalls many happy times spent during this period. She & her Sisters would attend many a Dance at the local Town Hall, where they would meet & enjoy the company of both British & American Servicemen. This was one of many places where they could have some well earned relaxation, after a hard weeks work. They were very near RAF Brize Norton & like many other Land Girls, would watch the aircraft fly overhead & eagerly await their return, in the hopes that all crew could be counted safely back Home but sadly, so often, this was not the case. A great deal of her time was spent dealing with Poultry, although, all other duties were also carried out, Tractor Driving, Ploughing, using the Threshing machines etc etc. All heavy manual work which my Mother enjoyed. Sadly, my Mother developed Pleurisy & became very poorly, Doctors thought this was brought on by the wet weather conditions & outside manual work, she was discharged due to ill health in 1944. At which time she returned to her job as a Nursery Nurse. Her eldest Brother Joe, sadly was killed at Dunkirk & her younger Brother John, served in the Navy & went on to live until 73yrs of age. She met my Father, Joe, during a walk round Christchurch College, Oxford. He served as a Captain in the Artillery & was amongst other places, posted to the middle east - 8th Army, seeing fierce Battle at El Alamain. He saw many of his men killed & wounded & had many narrow escapes himself, receiving shrapnel wounds to the legs. He also developed Appendicitis but did not want to leave his men in order to receive treatment, his condition later became very serious, it developed into Peritonitis, he was rushed to a field Hospital, where he nearly died. His health was never quite the same but he went on to live to 80yrs of age. Both my Parents used to recount how, my Mum & her Sister were walking one direction round the College & Dad & his friend the other, they passed. Had it not been for the fact they were obviously both taken with one another & so decided to circuit the College again, in the hopes of meeting up a second time, they may never have met!! They kept in touch all during the War, my Father even enclosed a cactus flower from the Desert in one of his letters to her, very romantic! Both coming from Farming backgrounds, she went on to become a Farmers Wife, when after Dad's discharge, they were Married in 1946 & were together for 48yrs. If anyone recalls any of the Family or has experiences in Oxon during this time, please get in touch, we would be delighted to hear from you. |
F/O Edward Eric Fletcher . Royal Air Force bomb aimer 106 Sqd. (d.30th Aug 1944) |
L/Cpl. Joseph William Fletcher . Army 1st Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment from Botley Rd. Oxford, England) (d.27th May 1940) Joe was my mother's brother, he was sadly killed at Dunkirk. Her other brother John served in the Navy and my mother and one of her 6 sisters served in the Land Army. |
Vera Fletcher . Land Army My mother, Vera Ensor, maiden name Fletcher, was a land army girl, and was very proud of it. |
Joan Catherine Flynn . Womens Land Army from Stoke on Trent ) My mother was in the womens land army in the late 1940s as she ha now passed I would love to know if anyone may still remember her . |
Watchman Charles Fordyce . Merchant Navy SS. Athenia (d.3rd Sep 1939) Charles was 65 years old, he was serving aboard the Athenia when she was sunk. He was the husband of Mary Penelope Fordyce and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, in Trinity Square Garden, London. |
Squadron Leader Douglas Montague Foreman DFC. RAF 7 Squadron from Chelmsford) (d.13th Jan 1943) I am posting this message on your web site in the hope that someone can tell me about a fatal crash of Squadron Leader Foreman, DFC, who was killed at RAF Benson on 13th January 1943. He was a friend of my father, the late Flight Lieutenant A Seymour, who lost his life in November 1943 with 7 Squadron. I think he lived at Chelmsford before the war. |
P/O John la Forrest . RAF bomb aimer 44 Sqd. P.O John La Forrest, an Australian, a bomb aimer in the Merrick Heath's crew flying R for Robert PB417 with 44 Rhodesia Squadron based at RAF Splisby. |
Ord. Seaman W. Forrest . Royal Navy HMS Forfar W Forrest is listed as one of those who survived the sinking of HMS Forfar. |
Sgt. Douglas Forster . Royal Air Force mid upper gunner 106 Sqd. (d.30th Aug 1944) |
S/Sgt. Ray F. Fortney . US Army Air Force 855 Bomb Sqd. 491st Bomb Group (d.30th Mar 1945) I am the younger brother of S/Sgt Ray F. Fortney who was a tail gunner on the Robert Siek crew, which ditched at sea on Mar 30, 1945. The "Heavenly Body" had been losing altitude constinually on the return trip as one engine was out. When ditching became inevitable, the radio operator sent the word out. An Air-Sea Rescue unit saved only two men from the crew. It was the last aircraft from the 491st to be lost on operations.
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Sqn. Ldr. Jack Foster DFC. RAF 115 Sqd. I am trying to obtain a complete record of my fathers service in the RAF and the citation for his DFC. I only have rough details, ie: he joined the RAF in 1938/39, broke his service in 1947 then rejoined 1950/51. When he rejoined he dropped a rank to Flt Lnt. He was in other Squadrons as well as 115 but most of his operations were carried out in 115 Squadron in 1941 flying Wellington Bombers. He died in 1988 aged 75 years. |
Ord. Seaman Fowler . Royal Navy HMS Forfar OS Fowler took part in the boxing match held on the 10th of July 1940, he weighed in at 133lbs and was beaten on points by Mid. James Smith who was four pounds lighter. |
Albert James Fowler . Navy HMS Mauritius My father served on HMS Mauritius, until he was transferred to the Dutch Cruiser Java which was sunk in Feb.1942.
His name was Albert James Fowler and he was a leading telegraphist. |
Able Seaman. Ernest Fox . Royal Navy HMS Nigeria from Wythenshaw, Manchester.) (d.12th Aug 1942) My grandad, Ernest Fox, died before my Dad was born so he never got to see what he looked like or meet him, we had a pic sent to us with a memorial plaque with his name on from some memorial but it doesnt say where the memorial is. Does anyone have a picture of him?
His uncle Frank Fox was a petty officer but not we are sure which ship he served on.
Editors Note: Ernest's name is on the Chatham Naval Memorial which overlooks the town of Chatham in Kent. |
Sgt R. Fox . Royal Air Force 514 Sqd. Sgt Fox was a member of P/O Chitty's crew, he survived a serious crash when Lancaster LL645 A2-R was returning to Waterbeach on the 30th of March 1944. Their landing was aborted and whilst attempting to go around the aicraft struck the ground, ripping off the undercarrage.
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Roy Fralick . US Navy 103 Sqd. Fleet Air Wing 7 Roy Fralick served at Dunkeswell with the 7th Fleet Air Wing |
Henry Francis . Army My grandad was Henry Francis and he came from Canningtown in East London. When we were young our grandad always seemed a bit mad, he'd often tell us to be quiet because the germans were coming, this was in the mid eighties and ninties, obviously being young
we often used to laugh at him and take the mick.
After he died in 1994 my younger brother, whom he happend to be very close to, found out that he had been in an italian pow camp in ww2. There is a story that goes around the family that whilst in the camp and on roll call one morning the gaurds were shouting at another
pow who happened to be quite a lot older than my grandad and also profoundly deaf.
Obviously the poor old sod couldn't hear the orders so was beaten with the butt of the guards rifle in front of the other prisoners.
My Grandad apparently attacked the guard and gave him a beating,to which the guards responded by torturing my Grandad for days and pulling his finger nails out, followed up with a spell in solitary confinment.
So we finally understood why he had been so nutty but we have no idea where he was held or for how long as he never really spoke about his ordeal and my father didn't have a very close relationship with him due to his past ordeals as my grandfather was suposedly a very changed man on return from the war.
Me and my brothers are very interested in trying to find out some info on my Grandads war experiences, can anyone help?
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Mary Frank . Land Army from Banstead, Surrey, England) My Mother, who's maiden name was Mary Frank was in The Women's Land Army, working for Mizens market gardeners at one of their farms on Reigate Road, Surrey. She now only has just a few recollections of that time, but prompted by the recent pre-publicity surrounding the issue of the Women's Land Army Badge, she wrote the following article which was published in the Western Morning News:
Land Girl badges
A few weeks ago you published an article about the Land Army Girls receiving a badge. I would very much like to receive one.
I was a Land Girl on a farm near Epsom in Surrey, directly in the path of the German bombers to Biggin Hill aerodrome.
Unfortunately I got blown up by the first "doodlebug" dropped and lost hearing in one ear. As it was on soft soil the rest of me was OK! But nearby houses were demolished, and we were subjected to a lot shrapnel from own nearby guns.
If anyone can help me get the badge I would be very pleased. I am now 88 years old. My Land Girl Headquarters was at Guildford Surrey.
Mary Stidston
In fact when the bomb landed they all rushed to help the families in the houses hit, a difficult task I am told. She was covered in blood and a ambulance crew wanted to take her to hospital, but she wouldn't go. As it happens she was only suffering from a heavy nose bleed. So she cycled home to Banstead where her mother had heard about the bomb. But as she walked through the door her mother saw all the blood and immediately feinted!!
I would point out that we have now submitted an application for a badge for her.
 Mary is on the left in this photo
 Mary is at the front, far left.
It would be interesting to see if anyone else will recognise themselves in the photos. |
Sub Lt. (E) Leonard Musgrave Frankland . Royal Navy HMS Manchester from Cambridge, England) (d.13th Aug 1942) Leonard Frankland was 23 years old when he was killed during a torpedo attack on HMS Manchester off the coast of Tunisia. He had graduated from Liverpool University and is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. |
P/O Franklin . RAF 65 Squadron from Britain) P/O Franklin was stationed at RAF Hornchurch in 1940. I believe he was killed shortly after. I am seeking any information about him, especially a photograph. There is a road in Hornchurch named after him....Why?
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Claude Franklin . RCAF pilot 408 Sqd. |
C.P.O. Cubert William Franklin . Royal Navy HMS Forfar from Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire) (d.2nd Dec 1940) |
Sgt. James Joseph Franklin . RAF air gunner. 15 Sqd (d.16th Nov 1944) |
John Eugene Frasch . USAAF 445the Bomb Group 702 Bomb Squadron I am looking for any information anyone may have concerning John Eugene Frasch, my step-uncle. |
Cadet (Radio) Charles Hugh Fraser . Naval Auxiliary Personnel HMS Forfar from Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, Scotland) (d.2nd Dec 1940) |
LACW Helen Fraser . RAF from Scotland) I was born in the RAF hospital at Bircham Newton on 21st June 1944. My mother was LACW Helen Jane Fraser. I was taken to Downham Market for adoption. Who could I contact for information regarding the birth and subsequent adoption? My mother has passed away and I have no information about my father. Where would the medical records be kept? I would appreciate any leads. |
C.S.M. Hugh Fraser . Army 5th Btn. The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders |
Private John Robert Fraser . Army Black Watch Royal Highland Regiment from Derbert, Nova Scotia, Canada) (d.13th Oct 1944) I'm looking for the family of Private John Robert Fraser, F/36192 of The
Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada.
He was the son of John Hill Fraser and Janet Fraser of Derbert, Nova Scotia, Canada.
He was killed on the 13th of October 1944, aged 21. We bring flowers to his grave in The Netherlands.
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Sgt. William Fraser . RAF(VR) navigator 7 Sqd. from Creetown, Kirkcudbrightshire) (d.29th Jan 1944) |
2nd Lt. Edward W. Freeman . Army Royal Engineers from London) I am in search of my late grandfather Edward W Freeman who was an Ex.British army officer in the Royal Engineers. 1939 - 1947.
Many many hours, months I have been researching sites and sites for him, but having such little information and no d.o.b or service no. I am starting to think my time is up?
Born in London, stationed in West Sussex. He was commissioned 15th February 1941 as 2nd Lieutenant and posted to Singapore, this is the only memory my mother has of him.
She also has letters from him whilst serving in the war. She last heard of him in 1947 (She was 5yrs old). There was No other contact. When she was able to write herself she wrote to the war office and the RE. hoping to locate and reunite with her father. There was No reply.
60years have now passed on and I as a daughter having listened to her story, you can feel her sadness which makes me more determined to keep going.
She lost her husband (my father) to cancer Christmas Day 2006 after 40yrs of marriage. In her lifetime she has NOW lost the 2 men that meant the world too her.
Please,Please, anyone who may of known Edward W Freeman could you make contact as this would mean the world too us and a final closure for my mother.
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Pte. R. French . Army The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders |
Able Seaman George Albert Friend . Royal Navy HMS Penelope from Guernsey, Channel Islands.) (d.18 Feb 1944) My uncle, George Friend,died on HMS Penelope when it was sunk.i never knew him but my father, Ronald,talked about what happened to him.i would like to find out more if anyone has any information. |
Helen Fries . US Red Cross Helen Fries was the Director of the Fleet Aero Club at Dunkeswell. |
Lindsay Frood . Timber Corps |
Ord. Seaman L. Fryer . Royal Navy HMS Forfar L.Fryer was amongst those members of the crew to survive the sinking of HMS Forfar. |
Cpl. Wilfrid Frève . Canadian Army Mont-Royal Fusiliers My father, Cpl Wilfrid Frève, served with the Mont-Royal Fusiliers and took part in the first battle on French soil after the landings of June 6, 1944. The Fusiliers arrived in France on July 7 (Courseulles-sur-mer). They found themselves at Carpiquet Airfield, awaiting their orders of battle. On 18 July, they were outside the village of Ifs, about to take Verrières, but first had to seize two farms (Troteval & Beauvoir). After 36 hours under fire at Troteval only five men remained, and he was captured and taken to Stalag VIII B. He was in 2 ArbeitsKommandos, the E-901 (few days) and E-902 near Michelsneukirchen (Bavaria) which was liberated by the Americans. |
Sergeant T H Fullwood . RAF 619 Squadron |
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