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Pte. Eric George Russon . British Army 2/6th Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment
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Pte. Albert James Rust . British Army 7th Btn. York and Lancaster Regiment from Poplar, London (d.12th April 1945)
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Sergeant D R Rutherford . RAAF 59 Squadron
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Sgt. Douglas Robert Rutherford . Royal Australian Air Force 59 Squadron from Pialba, Queensland (d.2nd Mar 1942) Joined the RAAF in Australia. Trained in Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme. He with 3 other Australians were killed in action in a flying battle over the North Sea. It was his first mission.
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Sgt. Douglas Robert Rutherford . Royal Australian Air Force 59 Squadron from Scarness, Queensland, Australia (d.2nd Mar 1942) Sergeant Doug Rutherford was killed on his first mission, flying in a Lockheed Hudson (AM796), out of RAF North Coates, Lincolnshire. The aircraft took off at 0855 hours on 2nd March 1942, on a coastal patrol, and was not heard from again.
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Sgt. Douglas Robert Rutherford . Royal Australian Air Force 59 Squadron from Maryborough, Qld., Australia (d.2nd March 1942) Douglas Rutherford was among st the crew of Hudson AM796 of 59 Sqn RAF took off on a Reefer patrol over the North Sea from its base at North Coates, Lincolnshire, UK, at 0855hrs on the 2nd of March 1942. Since then nothing further heard of either the aircraft or any member of the crew. The aircraft was believed lost in an air battle over the North Sea.
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Fus. E Rutherford . British Army 4th Btn. Royal Welch Fusiliers Fus.E Rutherford served with the 4th Btn. Royal Welch 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 are no longer in 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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Fus. John James Stuart Rutherford . British Army Northumberland Fusiliers from Northumberland Jack Rutherford of the Northumberland Fusiliers, was a pow at Hohenstein Hesse Stalag 1vA.
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Phyllis Rutherford . Land Army
After reading the article in the current Practical Family History Magazine, I connected to your site. I feverishly read all the contributions from former Land Girls but was disappointed to find no names or places to link them to me. I am 85 and it is perhaps too late to hope to find any of my colleagues, who included Sylvia Farrow, Pat Strange, June Hetherington, Madge, Kath, Vera, but my story may be of interest. I was trained in Stithians, Cornwall and spent the next three years in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire. I seem to have missed out on any distribution of certificates in recognition of my service but I have always said they were the best years of my life.
In 1942 I lied to my mother that to avoid direction into factory work I would have to join the Women's Land Army.
I attended an interview in Oxford Street and when questioned on suitability I had to admit to none, except that I had read a lot about the countryside and it appealed to me. "What books have you read?" the lady asked. Er, that stumped me and I mumbled something about, "Man and his furry friends". In spite of that I was accepted and in due course dispatched to a farmer in Cornwall.
I was a nuisance to my farmer straight away, as I had brought my bicycle and he had to arrange for it to be collected the next day. I found I was one of four or five Londoners off that train and we were all green as grass. As we walked into the farm buildings one of the girls said, "Oh what a dirty yard." The farmer glared at her and said, "Yes my girl, and your first job will be to clean it." Before the end of the month's training I helped to concrete that yard.
Somehow, the farmhands, with the support of a wonderful Head Girl, managed to teach us the rudiments of milking, hoeing, digging ditches, and there was one horror day when I held the squealing piglets for castration. I know one girl didn't last long and the farmer muttered angrily that these city girls couldn't stand being so far from Woolworths.
But I loved the life, though I didn't get on with the farmer. I was first sent to after training. I think it started when he complained about my having one hand in my pocket while turning the handle of the separator. It reached the stage where I wanted my mum and I left in a hurry, the local taxi proprietor lending me the train fare to London, me leaving my bicycle as security.
Years later, while on holiday, I visited this farmer and over a cup of tea apologised for the trouble I had caused him, offering the excuse that if I had beeen a little older I might have been able to cope better. The Women's Land Army was very cross with me but I was transferred to Hertfordshire, where I settled happily for the next three years, being able to go home on my days off.
It was a dairy farm, there were eight other land girls, a delightful village, and it was really the best time of my life. We had rosters, so no job became monotonous. I liked best the early morning milk-run, first catching the reluctant pony, then making sure I had my bottle of cream off the top of the Jersey milk churn-no wonder I got fat.
The gentle meander through the village and down the lanes on a snowy morning, not another soul about, was sheer magic, in spite of having to leave the pony at the foot of a too-steep and slippery hill, and carry a heavy crate of bottles to the top. I got into the habit of buying the pony a currant bun on our return through the village, but it caused a problem on Sundays when the bakery was closed. Spot would stop, drag the float across the pavement and plant his feet on the shop step. I can't remember how this problem was solved, but I know some of the other girls were not pleased when it was their turn for the milk-run, especially if they were hurrying for their half-day off and Spot wouldn't budge from the bakery.
We were billeted out to homes in the village and I was with a dear old couple, the husband still working as a gardener. He came home on the train and his wife dare not miss hearing it, as he expected to see his meal on the table while he was taking off his boots and gaiters, so that it would be cooling to the right degree. There was no bathroom so I had to wash in my bedroom. One day I carried up a kettle of hot water and jug of cold, poured half of each into the basin and started with the dirtiest bits. I poured the rest of the hot into the cold, then had to empty the basin to start again. It wasn't until my landlady called up the stairs for the kettle to make the tea that I realised with horror that it was now filled with my dirty soapsuds. She was furious!
Another memorable day was my 21st birthday. I went into the cowshed and found a golden key tied to Buttercup's tail with a satin ribbon, and I moved the key from tail to tail as the milking progressed. While I was weighing the milk from my last cow someone let out the whole shed and my key went up into the meadow on Marigold's tail. I looked for it many times but it was never seen again.
A highlight was the annual Harvest Home when the farmer treated his staff to a feast and dance in the barn. The farm secretary wrote little sketches for us girls to perform; I once had to wear a frilly apron and cap, knock on the door and say, "If you please ma'am, there's Miss Thurlow to see you." Just that, but it took hours of practice to get it right. Needless to say, after appearing day after day in our dungarees, we dressed to kill on these occasions, and one young man went through the whole affair in his best suit, heavy boots and bicycle clips.
There was an interlude when I went into a hostel and we were driven out by lorry every day to wherever needed, but I found no joy in picking up potatoes day after day, or brussels sprouts in the freezing early hours. I soon returned to my beloved cows and stayed with them until we were no longer needed. I went back a few years ago, and whilst the village was much as I remembered it, the farm, sadly was now a housing estate.
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RW Rutherford . British Army 2nd Sqd Lothian and Border Horse RW Rutherford served with the 2nd Sqd Lothian and Border Horse 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 are no longer in 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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T Rutherford . British Army T Rutherford 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 are no longer in 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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Sierzant Jozef Rutkiewicz . Polish Air Force from Poland (d.30th August 1944) Jozef Rutkiewicz was buried in the Collective Grave 961-966 in the Aalestrup Churchyard in Denmark.
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Pte. Rupert Graham Rutland . British Army 5th Btn. Royal East Kent Regiment from South West London (d.10th Apr 1944)
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Stkr 1st Cl. John Patrick Rutledge . Royal Navy HMS Gosling from Manchester My father John Rutledge was 18 when he joined the Royal Navy in 1943. He served on a number of ships including Gosling, Duke, Drake, Nile, Formidable, Golden Hind and Glenearn. He was a Stoker Class 1 and served from July 1943 to February 1947.
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F/O Albert Leroy Rutter . RCAF 408 Sqd. (d. 25th Apr 1945 )
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Able Sea. Alfred Henry Rutter . Royal Navy HMS Anson from Leamington, Warwickshire My grandfather Alfred Rutter served aboard HMS Anson from the 2nd of June 1942 until the 13th of August 1943. He took part in the Russian convoys and said it was so cold that everyone wanted off the ship. When he spoke to an officer about leaving the ship, he was asked why he wanted to leave. His reply was that he wanted to become a diver. The officer replied with, that is a new excuse, I will grant your transfer. On the 19th of December 1943, my grandfather reported to HMS Dolphin to start his diver training.
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Pte. Benjamin Clarke Rutter . British Army 2nd Btn. Kings Own Royal (Lancaster) Regiment from Lymm, Warrington, Cheshire
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Cyril Charles Rutter . British Army 2nd Battalion Recce Regiment from Atherstone, Warwickshire
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Pte. Ernest James Rutter . British Army 7th Btn. Royal Northumberland Fusiliers from Stakeford, Northumberland My dad, Ernie Rutter, was a machine gunner's mate in WW2. He joined up at 19 years old in 1939. He always said he knew war was coming, so he chose where he went before he was called up and told where to go! He'd been a coal miner since he was 14 and he said he wasn't going to spend the war stuck down a mine (Bevin Boy). He trained at Aldershot and Catterick before he was posted abroad later that year.
His battalion was attached to a Highland Division (Seaforth?) on the Maginot line, but he said he only fought for a short while before being pulled back to St. Valery in Northern France because of the German advancement. Unfortunately, that didn't last very long either, and in May/June? 1940 they surrendered and began a long journey to Poland. My dad never really said that much about that journey - they partly walked and were partly locked in railway animal trucks. He did say it was the survival of the fittest and if you got the chance, for example, to "acquire" a better pair of boots than yours then you took them!
He finally arrived at Camp XXA (66) near a place called Torun after what must have been a horrific journey and that was his home for the next 5 years. He used to make light of it, saying that at least he wasn't behind bars as he worked on a farm, although he did say he roasted in the summer and froze in the winter. But he did at least learn how to plough a field and milk cows!
He said the guards didn’t really bother them as long as they did their job, and there wasn't really much point in escaping as they hadn't a clue where they were other than somewhere in the middle of Poland. He said they occasionally used to wander off for a day or two just to cause a bit of havoc and would end up being locked up for a day or so, but that was about it.
He was in Poland till the end of the war in 1945 when, I seem to recall him saying, he somehow ended up in Luneburg on his travel home where he was put onto a very uncomfortable plane and flown to England!
Just to end on a lighter note, my dad told the story of his actual arrival home. He got the very early milk train from Newcastle to a tiny station a couple of miles from where he lived and managed to get a lift on a coal wagon the rest of the way. So it was about 5.30 in the morning when he knocked on his door (after over 5 years away). His mother (my grandma) opened the door in her dressing-gown and said "Whey wor, Ernie, what time’s this to come knockin’ on the door?" Fabulous!!
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L/Bdr. John Thomas Rutter . Royal Artillery 1 Bty 1 Maritime A.A. Regt. from Warrington, Cheshire (d.5th March 1942) Lance Bombardier Rutter was the son of George James and Rebecca Rutter, of Latchford, Warrington, Cheshire.
He was 23 when he died and is buried in the Matadi European Cemetery in the Congo.
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L/Bdr. John Thomas Rutter . British Army 1 Bty 1 Maritime A.A. Regt. Royal Artillery from Warrington, Cheshire (d.5th March 1942) Lance Bombardier Rutter was the son of George James and Rebecca Rutter, of Latchford, Warrington, Cheshire.
He was 23 when he died and is buried in the Matadi European Cemetery in the Congo, Grave 269.
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Pte. Richard Rutter . British Army East Kent Regiment from Stockton on Tees Dickie Rutter served on Malta during the siege and transferred to Leros were he was taken prisoner and ended the war in a prison camp.
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L/Sgt. Richard Gordon Rutter MC MID. British Army 7th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry from Walsall Richard Rutter was one of a number of men, amounting to a Company strength, transferred to the 7th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry in early August 1944 following the disbanding of the 59th Division, which was due to a high casualty rate and the shortage of replacements. These men came from the 7th South Staffordshire Regiment. Major Leonard Roberts lead this Company for the remainder of the war, was awarded an MC and was Mentioned in Dispatches during that time. The 7th Somerset Light Infantry had earlier lost a complete company.
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L/Cpl. William Rutter . British Army Royal Warwickshire Regiment
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Edgar Harry Rutterford . Home Guard Cook Feltwell Btn. from Feltwell I am told by my mother that her father, Edgar Harry Rutterford, was in the Home Guard, Feltwell Btn.
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Alan Howard Ryan DFC. Royal Australian Air Force 158 Sqdn. from Australia Alan Ryan served as an Air Bombardier with 158 Squadron.
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Pfc. Charles Ryan . US Army 2nd Btn. 39th Regiment, 9th US Inf. Div. from Hyde Park, Massachusetts (d.18th Mar 1945)
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F/O. Donal Thomas Ryan . Royal Canadian Air Force 408 Squadron from Montreal, Quebec, Canada (d.29th July 1944) My uncle, Donal Thomas Ryan, was a Flight Officer in 408 Goose Squadron and was based at RAF Linton-On-Ouse. He flew Lancaster EQ-H. He was shot down on July 29, 1944. Donal is buried at Becklingen War Cemetery, Germany.
He was son of Leo George and Alice Ellen Ryan, and brother of Leo E. and Frances Geraldine Ryan(my mother)of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Donal's citations are; 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and clasp, War Medal 1939-1945, Operational Wings awarded posthumously 8 January 1947.
He was born December 11, 1920, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Donal was 23 years old.
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Edward Ryan . United States Air Force I am looking for the following crew members of the Maxwell House II (SN 42-73245). I have checked the WWII Casualties and these men were not listed on the web page and I believe the following men may have made it back from the war:
Richard Meredith Serial No: 0-728902
Thomas Stephens Serial No: 0-683542
Thomas C. Smeal Serial No: 33253233
Ewell Temples Serial No: 34444337
Charles Pero Serial No: 12168305
John F. Cook Serial No: 19148135
Joseph C. McClung Serial No: 38288140
These men were part of my uncle's crew. If you know these men or any of their family members please contact me. I do have photos of them. The men in this group who did not make it back are:
Joseph C. Rich Serial No: 0-739054
Edward Ryan Serial No: 0-672445
Royal Butterfield Serial No: 0-728565
Fred Hart Serial No: 32437482
I have the MACR from mission B that these men were on. I also have a story of this mission as witnessed from the 10th AF, 7th BG. I would like to correspond with these men or their families. I lost my uncle 2nd Lt. Rich from this crew. This crew was shot down on 27th November 1943 and some were taken prisoner. My uncle was taken prisoner and died in POW camp.
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