The Wartime Memories Project - The Second World War

Those who Served - Surnames beginning with G.

Surnames Index


This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you agree to accept cookies.


If you enjoy this site

please consider making a donation.




    Site Home

    WW2 Home

    Add Stories

    WW2 Search

    Library

    Help & FAQs


 WW2 Features

    Airfields

    Allied Army

    Allied Air Forces

    Allied Navy

    Axis Forces

    Home Front

    Battles

    Prisoners of War

    Allied Ships

    Women at War

    Those Who Served

    Day-by-Day

    Library

    The Great War

 Submissions

    Add Stories

    Time Capsule

    TWMP on Facebook



    Childrens Bookshop

 FAQ's

    Help & FAQs

    Glossary

    Volunteering

    Contact us

    News

    Bookshop

    About


Advertisements











World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

JT Gardiner .     British Army

JT Gardiner 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.




F/O Llewellyn Hugh Coverdale Gardiner DFC..     Royal Canadian Air Force nav. 419 Sqd.   from Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

(d.30th Aug 1944)




FO Llewellyn Hugh Coverdale Gardiner DFC.     Royal Canadian Air Force 428 Squadron   from Kingston, Ontario, Canada

(d.30th August 1944)

Flying Officer (Navigator) Gardiner was the son of Clara Gardiner of Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

He was 27 when he crashed into the sea 10 kms off Anholt, Denmark and is buried in the Anholt Cemetery in Denmark.




Mervyn Gardiner .     Home Guard 23rd (Washington) Battalion Durham




Sgt. Peter Gardiner .     British Army 53rd Reconnaissance Regiment   from 73 Restalrig Avenue, Edinburgh

I am the grandson of Sgt Peter Gardiner, who enlisted in the newly activated Reconnaissance Corps 53 Regiment on January 19 1942. He saw action with his unit in France, Holland, Belguim and Germany. I am fortunate enough to hold on to his records from the MOD, as well as personal photographs and stories. I have recently visited Holland, and a city there that was liberated by the 53rd after heavy fighting. I have also found great info from books which talk about their actions.

My granddad was a bricklayer before the war, and what encouraged him to join the Recce Corps was that its soldiers were of the highest standard. Men had to come top on IQ tests before getting in and the press claimed they were as good as the commandos.

My granddad trained at the No 1 Reconnaissance Training Centre at Lochmaben, Scotland before heading down to Catterick. He landed in France in late June. In one incident he was leading a patrol that was recceing some crossroads. He got up on a hill and down below he could see a 88mm Flak gun, with about five Germans firing it unaware that they were being watched. He observed them carefully, and like all proper reconnaissance involved, reported their presence. With dread, he looked at each German through his binoculars then got on the radio to call in an artillery strike. In the next moment he heard the shells come ripping down killing all of those poor Germans and destroying the gun. Smoke was everywhere and what was left was a horrible stench of death and cordite which has never left my granddad since.

He lost his best friend in France too. His name was Sgt Alexander Grant, from Edinburgh just like my granddad. He was a middle-weight boxer in the regiment and my granddad was welter-weight champion. They both used to train together locally when on leave. Does anyone have any more info on Sgt Grant? I will be very grateful for any info anyone has.

Despite witnessing horrible things in the war, my granddad did have some funny stories. In Belgium, during the freezing winter of 1944 'The Battle of the Bulge' as many may recognise it, he was out on another patrol when they came across this old train carriage in the snow. They ripped off planks of wood from it to make a fire, when inside they discovered a stock of wine, cigars and women's fur coats! They were so happy they were smashing the necks off the wine bottles and letting it stream down their faces, but still managing a crate per man. They didn't care much for it though, and started to look for brandy, however I think they got drunk. They put on the women's fur coats and started smoking the cigars! When they got back to their lines like that, the entire regiment must have been laughing!

My granddad was finally discharged from the Recce Corps in 1946, at the time of its disbandment and joined the North Irish Horse until 194... He did win a medal but i'm not sure which one. I would like to find this out.

Please, if anyone has any info could they contact me. Are there any veterans who served in 53 Recce and knew my granddad? Also, does anyone have any information on a man called Paul Rockfeld? He was another friend of my granddad who served in the same unit who died in 1946. All I have is a photograph of him but nothing about his background.This would be kindly appreciated. Thank you.




F/Lt R E Gardiner .     RAF 12sqd




L/Cpl. Robert C. Gardiner MiD..     British Army Seaforth Highlanders   from Cambusnethan

My husband's late father, Robert Gardiner of Cambusnethan, served in the Seaforth Highlanders and was a PoW in Burma. As with a lot of PoWs he didn't speak much about his experiences. The family had thought that due to where he lived when the war started, Lanarkshire, he may have joined the Cameronians. It was only on finding their parents marriage certificate that the following information about his service was found, Private Seaforth Highlanders (fitter), Robert Gardiner. From this it was discovered that he had been Mentioned in Dispatches (notified in the London Gazette of 5th of April 1945). This was something which came as a great surprise to the family and we would all like to know what the circumstances surrounding it were. At the time of the entry in the London Gazette his rank is given as Lance Corporal so we are unsure as to what had happened that he gave his rank as Private. It was also around this time that he changed his surname to Thomson (but that's another story). If anyone is able to give us any information about Robert, we would be very grateful.




Pte. Robert Gardiner .     British Army 2nd Battalion Argyll & Southerland Highlanders   from Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland

Robert Gardiner was the eldest son of William Gardiner & Catherine Miller of 1 Carse Crescent, Laurieston, Stirlingshire, Scotland. Robert enlisted in 1940 and left for service in September 1941. He was captured as a Prisoner of War on 11th of January 1942 and liberated 2nd of September 1945.




Pte. Thomas Kenneth Gardiner .     British Army Worcestershire Regiment   from Tenbury Well, Worcestershire

My father, Thomas Gardiner, sent a photo to my mother, which was taken at the Stalag XX-B (328) camp. His POW number was 5847.




Wilfred James H. Gardiner .     British Army Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment

Wilfred Gardiner served with the Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment 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.




P/O William Henry Gardiner .     Royal Canadian Air Force nav. 419 Sqd. (d.17th Jun 1944)




Pte. William Sinclair Gardiner .     New Zealand 2nd Expeditionary Force 25th Btn.   from Dunedin

My Dad, Bill Gardiner was captured near L'Aquila in 1943. He only saw active service for 7 weeks. He didn't say much except on ANZAC, stories of disobedience were told. He remained respectful of the Germans who he thought treated him well. Dad was only a kid he was 20. Throughout my life in the family home the doors were not allowed to be locked at night. Dad was effected by nightmares and fits of irrational violence. No one ever explained to us children why dad suffered so much.




F/Lt Norman Gardiner. DFC .     RNZAF 12 sqd.




Gardner .    




A Gardner .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

A Gardner 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.




AM Gardner .     British Army Durham Light Infantry

AM Gardner served with the Durham Light Infantry 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.




Pte. Arthur William Gardner .     British Army 1st Btn. Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment   from Hoddesdon, Herts

(d.24th Oct 1944)

Arthur Gardner was married to my late father's half sister. My father told me he died in Italy. His wife Alice passed away at the young age of 46 in 1966. I never met Arthur as I was born 4 years after he died. I do remember my mother taking us on the bus to visit Aunt Alice in Hoddesdon once or twice.




Pte. Charles William Gardner .     US Army




DE Gardner .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

DE Gardner 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.




Cpl. Douglas Henry Gardner .     British Army The Black Watch   from Birmingham

My father 'Harry' Gardner fought in the Second World War in The Black Watch. He signed up when he was 17 and joined a local regiment but they lost a lot of tro0ps and were merged with The Black Watch. He did not talk much about the war and it was hard to get informaton out of him but I do know he served in Egypt (he hated the place)and he was in the D-Day landings.He also had the choice to be 'Mentioned in Dispatches' or have the weekend off instead,he took the latter! He rose to the rank of corporal and when crossing the Rhine he got shot in the back of the neck and the bullet came out of his cheek. Luckily it missed all of his vital organs. He was also shot in the leg while running back for help. For this he lost his stripes! He was discharged from the Army as A1 Fit and didn't get a penny compensation,though they said if he stayed in he could become a Sergeant, he told them where to go!! He died in 1997 and to me he was a hero.




EG Gardner .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

EG Gardner 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.




F/Lt. Ernest Rodney Gardner .     Royal Australian Air Force 195 Sqdn.   from Augusta, Australia




F Gardner .     British Army

F Gardner 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.




Sgt. George Gardner .     Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 624 Sqd.   from Stockton-on-Tees, Co. Durham

(d.1st Feb 1944)

Sgt. George Gardner was the son of George and Mary Gardner, of Norton, Stockton-on-Tees, Co. Durham.

He was 19 when he died and is buried in the TIRANA PARK MEMORIAL CEMETERY in Albania.




Able Sea. George William Gardner .     Royal Navy M.V. Gascony   from London

(d.26th Oct 1943)

Able Seaman Gardner was the son of Mr and Mrs A.E. Gardner, of Carshalton, London; and the husband of D. Gardner. He was 20 when he died and is buried in the Santos (Filosofia) Cemetery in Brazil.




Able Sea. George William Gardner .     Royal Navy MV Gascony   from Carshalton, London

(d.26th October 1943)

George Gardner was the son of Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Gardner, of Carshalton, London; husband of D. Gardner.

He was 20 when he died and is buried in the Santos (Filosofia) Cemetery in Brazil, Row 29. Grave 3036.




HJ Gardner .     British Army

HJ Gardner 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.




Sgt. John Gardner .     Royal Air Force 77 Sqd.

My father was John Gardner, he was shot down in 1943 and survived by using his parachute and is consequently a member of the caterpillar club. He was repatriated at the end of the war.

Update:

Lancaster JD205 KN-Y took off at 23:50 on the 21st of June 1943 from Elvington. It was shot down by a night-fighter flown by Hptm Manfred Meurer, of 1./NJG1, and crashed at 02:04 at Esch, Noord Brabant, near Boxtel, Holland. The two airgunners lost their lives,and P/O A.Hagan evaded capture, Sgt Hawthorn initially evaded but was captured in Brussels on the 11th of August 1943 the rest of the crew were taken as Prisoners of War. Sgt Gardner was confined in Hospital due injuries.

The crew were:

  • Sgt J.Gardner
  • Sgt S.H.A.Nicholson
  • Sgt F.G.Hawthorne
  • P/O A.Hagan
  • Sgt D.A.Clark
  • Sgt R.H.King RCAF airgunner
  • Sgt A.R.Currie RCAF airgunner




John Alexander Gardner .     British Army Recce Corps   from Accrington

I have a few remarkable events in a young man's war career, like so many others, not divulged till the end. My aim in contacting you is to talk to any other vets of the recce corp as its history was short and confused. My father was one of the lucky few in front of the Highland div, mainly Black Watch. Is there anyone who can help in my research? John Gardner(Son)




Pte. John Walter Gardner .     British Army 9th Btn. Cameronians   from Northampton

John Gardner (my dad) was very proud to have served with the Cameronians in Normandy. He spoke very little of the fighting other than the awful waste of life on both sides. I know he took part in the fighting at Hill 112 where he encountered fanatical members of the Hitler Youth, who had tied themselves into trees so they were very difficult to remove. He mentioned the huge allied artillery barrage and the massive air raid, the biggest in history I believe, that took place before one advance in which he took part. Although he was very young at the time he never forgot the awful sights that he saw or the smell of death. He was haunted by bad dreams, terrible memories and the sad loss of friends and comrades all his life. On the lighter side he remembered an RSM, I don't know his name, who was reputedly the tallest soldier in the British Army. He talked of training exercises that went wrong, night time guard duties where rabbits were scary and and having to whitewash coal for some reason! He had huge respect for General O'Connor who he thought would have commanded the army in Normandy in Montgomery's place, had he not been captured.





Page 6 of 72

     First Page   Previous Page   Next Page    Last Page    








Can you help us to add to our records?

The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them


Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area?

If so please let us know.

Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice.




Celebrate your own Family History

Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc.

Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.














The free section of the Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers. We have been helping people find out more about their relatives wartime experiences since 1999 by recording and preserving recollections, documents, photographs and small items.

The website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources and we currently have a huge backlog of submissions.

If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running.



Hosted by:

The Wartime Memories Project Website

is archived for preservation by the British Library





Copyright MCMXCIX - MMXXIV
- All Rights Reserved

We do not permit the use of any content from this website for the training of LLMs or for use in Generative AI, it also may not be scraped for the purpose of creating other websites.