The Wartime Memories Project - The Second World War

Those who Served - Surnames beginning with O.

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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

F/O. D. H.O. O'Niell .     Royal Air Force 41 Squadron (d.11th Oct 1940)




F/O. Denis Patrick O'Regan .     Royal Air Force   from Sandiway, Cheshire.

(d.4th Apr 1943)

Flying Officer (Pilot) Denis O'Regan was the son of Bartholomew and Margaret O'Regan, of Clonakilty, husband of Margaret Vera O'Regan, of Sandiway, Cheshire. He was 23 when he died and is buried in the Ardfield Burial Ground, Clonakilty, Co. Cork, Ireland.




P/O. Lawrence Beresford O'Reilly .     Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 7 Squadron (d.10th July 1941)




Pte. James O'Rourke .     British Army   from Dundee, Scotland




Ships Surgeon. Pierce "Doc" O'Ryan .     Merchant Navy HMT Monarch of Bermuda   from Manchester

(d.20th July 1943)

My uncle Pierce O'Ryan was the Ships Surgeon on the Monarch of Bermuda. I was recently passed a selection of documents relating to this ship as a troop ship. I would like to do more research into my uncle.




Capt. Albert Joseph "Paddy" O'Shea .     British Army 1st Batt/2nd Batt Irish Guards/Inniskilling Fusiliers   from London

My father, Captain Albert J. O'Shea, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, was a Guardsman in the 1st Battalion Irish Guards from 1931 until commissioned in July 1942 in the 2nd Battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers in India. In the Guards, on April 10 1940 the day I was born, he was sent to Norway. In the Narvik campaign he saw a lot of action on the ground and was also on the Troopship HMT Chobry was sunk at 2 AM above the Arctic Circle in May 1940 with many casualties including all the officers. A month later, after several more weeks of fighting, with the German invasion of France, the Narvik campaign was concluded and the troops came home. Norway was a disaster and in 2 months the British and Allied French, Norwegian and Polish lost about 7 thousand dead, wounded and missing from all Services. A disaster with poorly equipped British troops facing German ski troops with command of the air. Only the Navy was superior to the enemy

On his return he was a DI at the Guards Depot in Caterham, close to RAF Kenley a prime target of the Luftwaffe. On September 1, 1940 the house next door received a direct hit and our house was uninhabitable. A Guardsman in September 1939, he was a Sergeant and Temporary Company Sergeant Major in December 1941 en route to Officer Training in India. In July 1942 he was a 2nd Lieutenant and in August a Lieutenant. He was in Persia/Iraq Force, Syria and Egypt until September 1943. My mother died in a raid on my third birthday, April 10 1943. He had volunteered for the Long Range Desert Group and was doing Commando Training in Syria at this time. He was in hospital in Cairo missing the invasion of Sicily. Of the two other platoon commanders in his company the 2nd Battalion Inniskilling, one was killed and one wounded, so his dysentery may have saved him. He returned to the UK in September 1943

I only remember seeing him once during the war. I went to boarding school on my third birthday in April 1943 and he was posted to St Helena, S. Atlantic in August 1944 and came to visit me. I did not know him and thought he was very demanding. My "safe" school in Heathfield, Sussex was in Doodlebug Alley and we were in the air raid shelters almost daily from mid 1944 until early 1945 and one day I ran from the shelter and saw one just overhead. The first V 2 landed in Chiswick 200 yards from my grandfather's furniture store and his accountants' child was one of the first three killed by V2's

He became very ill in St Helena, was sent home in 1945, in and out of hospital for the next two years. He was promoted Captain in November 1945 Father was invalided from the Army in 1948 with a 100% War Disability pension and never recovered, passing away in November 1955. My mothers' 2 brothers both served in the RAF for the duration. One did 3 years in Malta throughout the siege and the other went to India and Burma. He was on embarkation leave in April 1943 when my mother died and left shortly after. He was in 3207 RAF Servicing Commando in Burma until the Japanese surrender.The two brothers did not see each other from 1940-1946

My grandfather, a WW1 soldier 1916-1918 was in the home Guard throughout WW 2 and my stepmother was a WAAD from 1941-1945




JP O'shea .     British Army 3rd Regiment Reconnaissance Corps

JP O'shea served with the 3rd Regiment Reconnaissance 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.




1st Lt. Cornelius J. O'Sullivan .     US Army   from Queens, New York City

Cornelius O'Sullivan was my great-uncle. I have been told he died as a POW in Germany, captured during the Battle of the Bulge. His picture has been hanging in our family home since 1945. I was told his body was never recovered.




Gnr. Gerard Michael O'Sullivan .     British Army 3/2 Maritime Regiment Royal Artillery   from Rotherhithe, London

(d.28th June 1941)

My father, and his brother Gerard O'Sullivan, came from Southern Ireland as children to live in England. When WWII broke out they decided to enlist together to get the choice of which force to fight with. My father, Patrick O'Sullivan, decided to join the Royal Navy, but his brother Gerard didn't like the idea of all that sea and joined the British Army. My father went off to sea and his brother, as it so happens, was posted to be a gunner on merchant ships.

His ship, the Shell oil tanker Auris was lost west of Gibraltar on the 28th of June 1941. My Father was by this time on a minesweeper in the same area and they knew there were submarines in the area. They were firing depth charges over the side of their minesweeper all through the battle. It wasn't until 60 years or so later that my Father found out the name of the submarine that sank his brothers ship and that he was involved with the battle to sink that same submarine, the RM Leonardo da Vinci.




Sgt. Michael O'Sullivan .     Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve   from Newcastle West

(d.15th January 1945)

Sergeant (Flight Engineer) Michael O'Sullivan was the Son of Daniel and Honora O'Sullivan, of Newcastle West.

He is buried in the Castlemahon Old Graveyard, Co. Limerick, Ireland.




K Oag .     British Army Royal Tank Regiment

K Oag served with the Royal Tank 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.




AC. Arthur Charles Oakes .     Royal Air Force HQ 206 Group

My Grandfather, Arthur Oakes was in the Royal Air Force HQ206 Group. He was an aircraftsman, but not sure what his job involved. We have a few photographs which he obtained in Gezira in 1942, and a Christmas dinner menu from 1939.




Sgt. Edward Oakes .     Royal Air Force 78 Squadron   from Garston, Liverpool

(d.17th May 1941)

In the month of May 1941 there was little activity in the air. It was the result of the heavy efforts of Bomber Command in the preceding months and the low returns that the bombing resulted. The squadrons needed a rest period. This rest period was in this month of May but in spite of the everything, bombing still took place and crews lost their lives. On 17th of May 1941 there was an attack by ninety-five bombers, including twenty-eight Whitleys. One Whitley was lost. This aircraft, number Z6493 with squadron code EY-V belonged to 78 Squadron, which was stationed at the RAF Middleton St George (Co. Durham).

Pilot F/O John Garrould took off late at night at a quarter to eleven, in a moonless night and set course for the East. The bombardment was very difficult due to the intense activity of the German searchlights. Nevertheless, 82 aircraft claimed good bombardment results. Garrould and his crew were discovered on the return flight in Nachtjagdraum 5 by the experienced Jagerleitoffizier Knickmeier. He led Uffz Pross from 3 / NJG.1 to the unfortunate Whitley and after a few bursts he managed to hit John Garrould's aircraft a deadly blow. For Garrould there was no chance to survive this attack. His plane burned violently and was unmanageable. With an excessive blow the plane crashed about seven hundred meters behind the farm of the Crommentuyn family in the Mariapeel in Sevenum. All crew members died on the spot. Only three could be identified and they were buried at Ehrenfriedhof Venlo. The two others were so mutilated that identification was impossible and they were buried as unknown soldiers in a collective grave. After the war their mortal remains were reburied at Jonkerbos War Cemetery.

Uffz. Pross was also hit during this raid. It is not known when and where he was wounded, but it was so serious that he lost control of the aircraft during the landing at Fliegerhorst Venlo. With a huge blow, the BF 110 went over and crashed. Pross died in the crash and was buried in Dresden. Bordfunker Facius survived the crash and was taken to Lazarett Krefeld. (From the book Mayday Mayday Mayday by Hub Groeneveld.)

The Crew of the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk V, Z6493, EY-V of 78 Squadron are all buried in Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Nijmegen

  • Pilot P/O John Aubrey Trevor Garrould, Reg.no. 60818 Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve, Age 19, Son of Arthur Henry Garrould and Jessie Emma Martine Garrould-Davies of Little Hadham Hertfordshire.
  • 2nd Pilot Sgt Robert Sydney Langston Keymer, Reg.no. 9448441 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Age 25, Son of Colonel Shirley Langston Keymer, T.D. and Elisabeth Jean Keymer of The Red House, Alderley Edge Cheshire.
  • Observer F/S Reginald James Garlish, Reg.no. 759206, Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve, Age 20, Son of James and Rose Garlish of Stanmore Middlesex.
  • Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Sgt Edward Oakes, Reg.no. 975986, Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve. Age 22. Son of Daniel and Lucy Jane Oakes of Garston Liverpool.
  • Wireless Operator/Rear Gunner F/S Alexander Plant Smith, Reg. no. 653803, Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve, Age 20, Son of Alexander Plant Smith and Annie Scott Smith of Largs, Ayrshire.




L/Cpl. Edwin Oakes .     Canadian Army Highland Light Infantry of Canada (d.3rd Mar 1944)




KG Oakes .     British Army

KG Oakes 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.




Warrant Officer Norman Oakes .     Royal Australian Air Force 460 Sqd.   from Bolton

My Grandfather Norman Oakes, was in the flight crews of RAAF 460 Squadron. He was one of a handful of British men assigned to this squadron but apart from this information, we don't anything more about his service during WWII. If anyone knows more please get in touch.

Editor's note: It's quite likely that your Grandfather was a Flight Engineer, as only British air crew were trained for this role.




Able Sea. Eric Leonard Oakford .     Royal Navy HMS Abdiel   from Trowbridge, Wiltshire

(d.10th Sept 1943)

Eric Oakford would have been my uncle if he had survived the WW2. I do not have any photographs of him or much information but would like to hear from any other members that had relatives who served on the ship and who may have more information.




Kenneth H. Oakhill .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps




AG Oakley .     British Army

AG Oakley 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.




Clarence "Reg" Oakley .     Royal Air Force 44 Sqdn.

My father, Clarence "Reg" Oakley, was a pilot for 44 Rhodesia Squadron. His Lancaster was shot down and he ended up in Stalag Luft III. In think the year was 1943. I am looking for more information.




EB Oakley .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

EB Oakley 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.




HAJ Oakley .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

HAJ Oakley 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.




HRD Oakley .     British Army Essex Regiment

HRD Oakley served with the Essex 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.




Ivor "Taff" Oakley .     Royal Marines No. 41 (Royal Marine) Commando   from Llanelli




James William Charles Oakley .     British Army 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade   from London UK

I was wondering if anyone had any information on where my grandad James(Jim) Oakley ( 6911761 ) was imprisoned as a POW during WW2. Unfortunatly it was a traumatic event for him - like all of those involved and he never spoke of his experiences to us. We know he was in the Rifle Brigade and that he had served in India as an army regular in the later part of the 1920's. He fought at Dunkirk where he was captured during the fighting on about the 2nd of June. We think he was ordered north from Bastion 1 in Calais to Dunkirk as reinforcements possibly being captured on the way as we have spent time in France looking for information and found references pertaining to this in the Calais war museum. My sister and I would dearly love to see where he spent most of the war-as some sort of closure for all of us. He remembered a long journey through Belgium when he was liberated and before he died would always holiday there. We do not, however, know where he passed through all those years ago.

If anyone knew him or could help us then we would appreciate the help. Thank you.




Sea. James Oakley .     Royal Navy HM Trawler Gairsay   from Liverpool

(d.3rd Aug 1944)

Seaman James Oakley was killed on board HM Trawler Gairsay in August 1944. I am trying to find any information.




Pte. James Thomas Oakley .     British Army 2nd Btn. Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment   from Buckinghamshire

(d.2nd July 1940)

Private Oakley was the Husband of Nora Oakley, of Buckland Common, Buckinghamshire.

He was 25 when he died and is buried in the S.E. Corner of Carrigeens Cemetery, Lissadill, Co. Sligo, Ireland.




T Oakley .     British Army Reconnaissance Corps

T Oakley served with the Reconnaissance 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.




Able Seaman Joseph Cecil Oakman .     Royal Navy HMS Forfar   from Eltham, London

(d.2nd Dec 1940)




A. Oates .     British Army Royal Signals

I have a handmade Christmas menu from Homs in Syria signed by those as described "participant in this beanfeast". One is A Oates, the others are J.N.Roberts, A Ashton, , B.L. Griffith, Dennis Hoole, G.H. Ellis, J Bishop, W Hall, Shorts Howell, Brig Roberts and J Morton.

I would like to return it to any of the living relatives of these men if possible as it would be lovely for any of them to have it





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