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WE Parsons . British Army WE Parsons 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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Sub Lt. William Walter Parsons . Fleet Air Arm Observer 827 Albacore Squadron from Tirphil, Tredegar Will Parsons was my grandfather, he used to tell me tales of what he did in WWII - It was only when I saw his photo in a book 'From Coastal Command to Captivity' in Oflag XXIB with the author Jim Hunter, that I thought to research a bit more and come across this website. In the book he is in picture 11, 2nd right but he is not in picture 12, even though it has his name listed). So I thought I'd share some of his memories with you;
Will Parsons was shot down in the Kirkenes raid, during torpedo attack on ships anchored in Boksfjord on the 30th July 1941, they got caught up in flak from the ships, flak from the land and shot at by German fighters and eventually hit so badly that they had to ditch in the Fjords. Will told the pilot to make sure he hit the sea tail first, as he knew that if he hit nose first they'd flip over, it worked and they all got out safely.
They were picked up by a Norwegian fishing boat and were nearly shot as spies when the Germans boarded, but the Norwegian captain pointed to their uniforms hanging up to dry and saved their life! My grandfather corresponded with this chap for years after the war.
I'm aware that he ended up in various camps, including Oflag XIB and Stalag Luft III East, he told me that he was one of the PT fellows who got people to jump over the wooden horse, he dug tunnels and also made compasses with the magnet in the base of his razor, which he had won in a swimming competition
One story he told me was how Douglas Bader used to throw snow balls at the German's in the middle of the parade ground, but they couldn't touch him as he was too much of a prized asset, however the German's took reprisals on the other POW's, Bader wasn't a popular figure...
Finally he mentioned about the long forced march from Sagan, through that harsh winter, where he said he'd pushed a wheel barrow for hundreds of miles. He had a ring that he always wore which became bent due to the wheel barrow and kept it ever since, until it was stolen by burglars a few years back.
Will Parsons became a Teacher after the war and died in 2002 aged 83
I would be interested in hearing from anyone who knew Will Parsons from his Squadron or POW camps. I am trying to find out which other camps he was held in.
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A Partington . British Army Lancashire Fusiliers A Partington served with the Lancashire Fusiliers 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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Charles Clifford "Spike" Partington . British Army 7th Btn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders My brother sent me some photos of our father, Charles Partington when he was a POW. I know he was in either the 7th or 8th battalion, and was captured, but that is all the information I have.
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F/Sgt. Edward Seabrook Partington . Royal Air Force 55 Squadron from London Ted Partington is thought to be in the last allied aircraft to be shot down. The last aircraft he flew in as crew, in January 1946, was the BAe Mosquito, RR299, that crashed at Barton in July 1996.
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Audrey Parton . Women's Land Army from Castleford, Yorks. My mother Audrey Parton and her sister Joyce Parton were in the Land Army.I believe they were both based together around Syerston. Mum often speaks of her great days in the Army, and all her pals.
The lovely dances she would go to, though many unofficial, as she and her sister would shimmy down drain pipes to go out and climb back in through small windows, before the farmer caught them.
Mum speaks of her friends Olive and Betty, sorry don't know their surnames. I'm sure Mum would love to catch up with old pals if you have any contacts, before time runs out.I hope you can help, as Mum is not aware I am trying to locate her pals.What a suprise! Joyce died in the late 1970s. She was the outgoing one and had no fear; often getting mum into trouble! Or so Mum says, ha ha.
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Bmbdr. Clifford John Parton . British Army 105 Anti Tank Regt. Royal Artillery from Kidderminster, Worcestershire (d.8th July 1944)
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Dvr. John Henry Parton . British Army 677 Artisan Works Coy. Royal Engineers from Hadley, Shropshire In February 1941, at the age of 20, I received my 'calling up' papers and had to report to the Royal Engineers Training Camp at Gresford, Wales. After three months of training I passed out as a Driver. From the training I had to report to a Bailey Bridge Company, the 247 Field Park Company in Crawley, Sussex, and soon after the Company moved to Billingshurst. Another move took us to Bournemouth, and here we were billeted in houses commandeered by the Army for their use. I was in Tower House in the Canford Cliffs area. One night at about ll.00 p.m. we heard the sirens and a single bomber dropped a time bomb in the garden. We were told to evacuate the house but before we could do so the bomber came round again, dropped a further bomb which again landed in the garden but nearer to the house destroying a large portion of it. Some of the soldiers sustained cuts and bruises but no one was killed.
The next day three of us were told to locate the unexploded bomb to put a cordon around it. We searched for a while to no avail and came to the conclusion it was buried under the house rubble. As we were about to move the rubble the tea wagon arrived and we went to get a drink. As we sat on some grass to drink the tea suddenly there was a tremendous bang from the unexploded bomb – it must have been our lucky day! Had the tea wagon not arrived at that moment we would have been moving the rubble. That night we all dispersed to several different billets used by the other lads until a more suitable place was found for us near Branksome Park.
Whilst in Bournemouth the Banns were posted for my marriage to my fiancée Kathleen and we married in August 1942 in our home village of Hadley in Shropshire. We will celebrate our 72nd Anniversary this coming August 2014.
About a month after the move to Branksome Park another move took place, this time taking us to Shroton. As we were no longer known as a Bridging Company our wagons were left there for use by other companies.
Following this we went to Street, Somerset, where our task was to do maintenance work for other companies until we were shipped abroad.
Before we moved from Street, I was downgraded because of an eye defect, and was posted to a holding unit at Halifax before being taken on by the 677 Artisan Works Company Royal Engineers who were stationed at Hull. I was put into H.Q. Platoon and there were four other platoons to make up the Company. I had an interview with Major Witton and one question he asked me was “What did you do in civvy life?” I replied that I was a barber. He asked me if I had any tools at home and if so to send for them. This I did, and from then on I was the Company barber and would be sent out to whichever platoon needed a trim.
From Hull we went to Seaview on the Isle of Wight to be trained for the kind of work that we would be carrying out once we moved abroad. This was construction of petrol installations, ship to shore lines, pipe lines and large tank farms. After our six weeks training here we were sent to Woodhouse Eaves, again for six weeks. Our next move was to Tenby and here the Company’s task was to carry out the same type of installations we practiced on the Isle of Wight.
Another move was this time to Saundersfoot, where we slept in bivouacs. Here petrol was brought in by large barges, two of which grounded and cracked causing thousands of gallons of petrol to be lost; some we were able to save.
Our next move was to Tow Law, County Durham. This journey was to take two days as we were to stay at a staging camp in Shropshire for the night before leaving early next morning for the remainder of the journey. We had reached Bridgnorth (about 15 miles from my home) when the convoy was halted and someone came to tell me that the Major wanted to speak to me. He said “You live in Shropshire, do you know where Apley Park is?”, I replied “Yes Sir, it is near to where I live”. I then had to sit in the Staff car and lead the way for the rest of the convoy. On arrival I asked if I could go home for the night and he answered “Yes but be back here for 6.00 a.m. tomorrow morning."
We started on the rest of our journey and arrived at Tow Law in County Durham where the weather was terrible. We were under canvas once again and the water just ran through the tents but fortunately our stay here was a short one. We then moved to Staindrop, where we were to have three weeks physical training but after two days we had orders to go back to Tow Law and thankfully this was only for one week. Our next move was to Grimsby, quite a pleasant place, and from there to Chandlers Ford before going to Scarborough for further training on petrol pipe lines. Here we stayed with civilians in their homes.
Early in June 1944 we moved to Berrys Green near to Sevenoaks to prepare to go abroad and this is where we saw the first flying bombs. Our wagons were taken to the docks in London, and the rest of us moved to a tented park in Southampton awaiting orders. When these came through it was to go to the docks ready to sail for France. We boarded the Empire Spearhead on the 28th June, and dropped anchor a mile from the French coast. We then had to climb down netting thrown over the side of the ship to landing craft which were to land us on the beach near to Arromanches.
From there we walked to an area a short distance away where we stayed the night. We had no cover as our kitbags were left on the beach. Unfortunately there were two terrific thunderstorms that night and we were all drenched. Next morning, a wagon was sent out to search for us. Having located us the driver informed the R.A.S.C. who came to collect us to take us to Escures, where we met up with our own transport. Bivouacs were erected and the Company settled down to our first permanent location in Normandy. Here we could hear the gun fire at Caen which was still held by the Germans, and where fierce fighting was still ongoing. The following morning orders came to report to Port en Bessin to construct petrol installations and pipe lines for petrol that was to be brought into Cherbourg and Port en Bessen. Another pipe line was erected between Port en Bessen and Bayeux. Cherbourg was still in German hands.
Once Cherbourg had fallen we moved from Escures to Juvigny near to Tilly. This move came about because Caen had fallen and the Germans were in full retreat. Recent heavy fighting had taken place here, the smell of death was everywhere, dead cattle were lying in the fields and men had been buried in very shallow graves and the road had been heavily shelled. Our bivouac area was by the side of a church and large chateau; both had been heavily shelled. The weather was very hot and I remember having a parcel from home which, among other items, included insect repellent; we were plagued by flies and wasps which carried disease and we all had a form of dysentery. Our first job was to burn the carcasses of the dead cattle around the camp and unfortunately one of my mates was blown up by a booby trap and seriously injured.
At Juvigny we were to erect more petrol storage tanks and several miles of pipe line as well as felling trees which were in the path of the pipe lines. On completion of this task we moved again further up the line to Aunay, which was a terrible place as all the houses had been shelled and there were no people, only dogs, cats, and cows, and these were all starving. From here we moved further up the line to another village where we slept in the open, it was pouring with rain all night but we were given a rum ration to cheer us up. Our task here was to erect more storage tanks and on completion of this job all platoons were sent to various places, where I had to follow to keep the lads in “trim!”
At Escures we lost two of the lads as their vehicle was involved in an accident with a civilian truck. Moving from Escures further up the line to Rouen we passed abandoned German vehicles and other military equipment.The port of Ostend had now been opened and tankers were able to offload petrol there, so the company moved there to build further storage tanks. Unfortunately, a valve burst on one of the tanks and petrol was lost, some running into a small bunker. About two days later there was a loud explosion followed by a fire. After the fire had been put out, the body of a British sailor was found. We reckoned he had gone into the bunker to have a look around and had probably struck a match causing the explosion.
Work continued on various pipe lines and as it was late December it was bitterly cold. I was outside cutting hair because all the buildings had been booby trapped. A tanker was unloading petrol when I heard someone shout from the deck asking “Could you come on board to cut hair?” I answered “Yes, if I could get permission”. This was granted, so I went aboard and tidied them up before they sailed. We had our Christmas dinner in Ostend, and in mid-January we moved to a village called Leke and here we were billeted in civilian homes. I was with a family named Del Rue. There was Mr & Mrs Del Rue, two sons and one daughter named Madeleine. They were very kind to us, and in the evenings invited us to sit around their kitchen fires with them. Whilst we were at Leke the whole village was covered with snow. It was here that some of us were to be sent on our first leave since D-Day and to decide who would be lucky enough to get a leave pass, all names were put into a hat and I was told that my name had been drawn out. I was to sail from Calais, but the weather was so bad that the ship was delayed for a day. When I did arrive home my wife presented me with a daughter, born on February 5th, the day I should have arrived had the boat not been delayed.
After my leave we moved to a place near Calais, and here the lads were sent to various sites to do a variety of jobs, one of which was to build a large Parcel Depot for the Army Post Office in the docks. As usual I followed, still cutting hair, and one of my sites was the Calais Lighthouse. We went from Calais to Bourg Leopold where we were erecting POW camps. It was here we received orders to “cease fire” but this did not affect our work.
We moved again to Eindhoven in Holland where the lads carried out some work on civilian properties that had been bombed. The Phillips Radio Factory was also situated in Eindhoven. We next heard that we were to move close to the German border to a place near to Venlo and from here to Bonn before going to our final destination of Mehlem on the River Rhine. Company Headquarters was in a large mansion which had belonged to a Baron and we were billeted in a smaller house in the grounds. The mansion fronted the River Rhine with magnificent views of the Drachenfels on the other side of the river. Someone cut down a large tree and the trunk was used as a flag pole on which the Union Jack was very quickly hoisted for the first time on German territory. It was at Mehlem where the Company split up and I was posted to Bad Oeynhausen to await my demobilisation in July 1946.
On arrival home my wife had secured a rented shop for me and I was able to start my own hairdressing business. In time another shop a few yards away was for sale and so I left the rented shop and bought a double fronted shop, remaining there for 40 years until I retired.
I could not end this article without saying that some ten years ago when my daughter and her husband were on holiday in York, they met a Belgian couple with whom they spent some time. They were telling them about me being stationed with the Del Rue family, and when they returned to their home they went to Leke to take a photo of the house to send to me. They discovered that daughter Madeleine was still living there with her husband and they welcomed them into their home. Unbelievably, they still had a photo of my wife and I that I had given them in 1945. Sadly Madeleine and her husband have passed away, but on the odd occasion and always around Christmas time we still correspond with Madeleine’s daughter Carine. Whilst our daughter and husband were on holiday in Belgium in 2008 they were able to meet up with Carine and talk of my time spent in Leke.I am now in my 94th year and I often wonder if any of the lads from 677 A.W. Company, Royal Engineers are still alive today?
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W/O D. G. Partos DFM.. 97 Squadron
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Pte Frank John Partridge VC. Australian Army 8th Battalion from Australia
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Pte. George Albert "Rob" Partridge . British Army Seaforth Highlanders from Bromyard, Herefordshire George Partridge was my wife's father.
He was a private with the Seaforth Highlanders and was imprisoned at Lambinowice, Poland, Camp 344 during WW2.
This was a Stalag type camp and his POW number was 17013.
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Able Sea. Robert "Ginger" Partridge . Royal Navy HMS Penelope from Great Yarmouth Robert Partridge is my Dad, he is now 85 and alive and kicking. He was part of the crew who nicknamed her "Pepperpot" with Force K.
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PO. Robert "Ginger" Partridge . Royal Navy HMS Penelope from Lancaster My father will be 90 in April, 2013. He was part of Force K and hopes that The Malta story will one day be told in more detail. A recent documentary leads viewers to believe that the ships in Force K were sunk, still fully loaded. In actual fact my father was one of the crew who blew the bottom
out of one of the ammunition ships to save the ammunition from bombing raids. This was successful. Food had also been unloaded in time before the ships were sunk.
My father has many facts and is not (thankfully) suffering from
memory loss, in fact you would think he was 60. It's hard to get him to talk of the War but if anyone could, his facts would be crystal clear. Vine was a Captain he admired.
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Sgt. Thomas Partridge . British Army 8th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment My grandfather, Sgt Thomas Partridge, was at Stalag 8A and 8b. He died when I was 14 and I have very little information about his wartime experiences. I found his POW release and a couple of other documents. I know he was captured nr Dunkirk on 29/5/1940 and was released on 1/5/1945 and I think spent most of the war at Stalag 8b. If any one has any information, photos or documents it would be greatly appreciated.
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Adamo Pascale . Italian Army My father Adamo Pascale served in Albania and was sent to Stalag XA in 1943-1945. I was told the camp was mistakenly bombed and many of my father's unit were killed and a memorial was placed there.
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Pte. Arthur Sidney "Taffy" Pascoe . British Army 73 G.T.Coy R.A.S.C from Birmingham My father left England at the end of 1942 aboard the "Windsor Castle " and served in Algeria, Sicily, Italy and Palestine. He left a journal and diary relating his war time experiences. I am transcribing them and would love to get in touch with any family of the following people mentioned by my Dad: Les Herman, Charles Brewer ( died in Sicily ), John Bragg ( died in Italy), John Vaughan, "Taffy" Evans, "Jock" Read and "Hank" Stockton. I have photographs and stories they may be interested in. My Dad was the company sign writer and later a vehicle mechanic. His journals tell of the conditions they endured in North Africa in detail, but unfortunately the details of Sicily and Italy are not as good. I would love to complete his work to give to the Grandchildren he never knew. His company was the 73rd Transport which was with the 8th Army and also the American 5th.
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Stan Pascoe . Royal Air Force 82 Squadron I am a survivor of a Blenheim V6445 which crash
landed in Northumberland 20th August 1941. My Pilot was F/Lt Dennis Gibbs
and our Observer was Laurie Cash. The aircraft was damaged during an attack
on shipping and the Observer was seriously wounded bearing the brunt of the
nose damage that occurred. Dennis Gibbs and I went on to continue our
operational flying until I was admitted into Ely Hospital with suspect lung
damage. I was grounded for a number of months, the Squadron moved on to the
Far East and Dennis survived to become an Administrator of Montserrat. He
died from a brain haemorrhage in 1985. I am now 91 and reasonably fit. I
would like to hear from anyone who may remember us from those days at RAF
Bodney.
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F/Sgt Stan Pascoe . Royal Air Force 82 Squadron This is a photo of Pilot Officer Dennis Gibbs and myself, F/Sgt Stan Pascoe after we returned to Bodney airfield after the raid on power stations near Cologne in 1941. Losses were 12 aircraft out of 56. Our Observer, Laurie Cash died of wounds when we crash landed near Acklington, Northumberland. Dennis eventually became Administrator of the Island of Montserrat and passed away suffering a brain haemorrhage. I live in Australia just South of Brisbane in Queensland, and have just passed my 91st birthday. If anyone seeing this maybe remembers us, I would love to hear from them. A picture at the time may help my fading memory.
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TC Pascoe . British Army TC Pascoe 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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WG Pascoe . British Army 56th Regiment Reconnaissance Corps WG Pascoe served with the 56th 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.
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1st.Sgt. Joseph Giles Pase . United States Army Signal Corps from Sussex County, Delaware Sergeant Joseph Pase was captured during World War 2 and was a part of the Bataan death march before being sent to Kamioka POW camp. Luckily he kept a detailed diary of his life in the camp which has help historians locate which men were in the camp. He helped calm tensions between the different groups of POW inmates, and was an effective leader. However, my great great uncle died when on his way home after being rescued. Family members of the time recall hearing that he was under 100 pounds when rescued.
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D Pashley . British Army D Pashley 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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JD Pashley . British Army JD Pashley 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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Gnr. Lawrence Pashley . British Army 182nd Bty. 65th H.A.A. Regiment Royal Artillery from Queensbury (d.17th May 1941) Lawrence Pashley was my Father's cousin. He served with the 182nd Battery,, 65th Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery in WW2. He died 17th of May 1941.
I have been researching our family tree and my Father was interested in finding out more on the circumstances of Lawrence's death, as he was only a boy when it happened. He remembers that it was sad family news but did not know all the details. Now we all do.
Lawrence died following an air attack on the SS Archangel in the North Sea, near Fraserburgh, while being transported from Kirkwall to Aberdeen en route to Birmingham.
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RW Paske . British Army 6th Btn. Royal Tank Regiment RW Paske served with the 6th Btn. 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.
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PFC Carl John Pasquale . United States Army 17th Btn. 5th Regiment from Elizabeth, NJ, USA Carl was in Stalag XIB from November 1944 until liberation in 1945.
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Stkr1. Ernest Pass . Royal Navy HMS Hood from Derby Ernie Pass was a very lucky man.
Only two to three days before the tragic loss of HMS Hood he luckily for him was struck down with an appendicitis.
He was assigned the tragic ship only few days before.
God bless all those who lost their lives.
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N Pass . British Army Royal Armoured Corps N Pass 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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Fay Passman . Women's Land Army from Manchester My Mother, who has sadly now passed away, worked during the War as a Land Army girl at Mentmore Towers in Leighton Buzzard. Owned I think at that time by Lord Rosebury. I do not have any further info but would like to hear from any one who knew her. Her name was Fay Passman. She came originally from North Manchester.
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Pte. Arthur Victor Passmore . British Army 308 Res M.T. Coy Royal Army Service Corps from Willenhall (d.26th April 1941) My father's father, Arthur Passmore, was born in 1916, and was the son of Alice and James, and one of ten children: Harold, Benjamin, Blanche, Bertha, Daisey, Doris, Elsie, James, Daisey.
He was a coal miner when the war began, with a baby boy called Michael Arthur. He had married in 1938 at Bilston, Staffordshire, and his wife was Gladys Baugh, who was born in 1918.
He joined the army as a driver in the Royal Army Service Corps. Arthur was believed to be dead in April of 1941 as part of the disastrous BEF invasion of Greece. This information was not known until my father was a married man with children of his own, because information released by the government and the MOD was sparse. My grandmother was widowed and never got over his loss. She remarried, but Arthur was a fixed member of the family and she would wistfully relay details of her wedding to Arthur, his features, and how heartbroken she was to have lost him. The period of his assumed death resulted in a nervous breakdown, so facts were difficult to pin down. My father was her only child.
In the past few years, the tragedy of the Greek evacuation has attracted more interest and books. Memorial ceremonies for the soldiers of the Greek Campaign have been held at the National Arboretum of War Dead in Staffordshire and more family members of those who were there have begun to put the pieces together.
My grandfather is also commemorated in Athens on the Athens Memorial, Arthur Victor Passmore T/182010, driver aged 25, 26th of April 1941. This date has changed recently, from 24th to 26th and it was assumed this is where he was most likely killed.
I have recently found another document that lists him as a dead prisoner of war in Singapore, Changi hospital, with the correct name and service number. No date is given, details and archival number are given a ref number in a list compiled by a Rev. Chambers. How do I find out more information to validate what happened as much as you can expect in the chaos of war and how only now have we learnt about the Changi list? My father has now died and his mother died in 2000. Neither would have guessed he could have ended up in Singapore. No date is given on the list of dead prisoners as to when they died. I know about the Slamat and Diamond ships that were bombed in the evacuation and have found that other evacuees captured in Greece were sent to Austria, I think to Poland and to Germany, and again (I think) Malaysian prison camps. Any information would be gratefully received. His loss affected every life he touched and the family he would have known if he had survived. I give thanks every day for what was sacrificed for my own family, but it's a high price.
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