Those who Served
Isobel Waddon . Land Army My Grandmother, Isobel Waddon, died without disclosing much information about her time she spent in the land army. I would love to here from someone who served with her. I would like to hear their stories or see any photos they may have. She came from West Lulworth.
|
Sgt. Wade . Royal Air Force bomb aimer 101 Sqd. |
Charles Wade . Royal Navy HMS Dorsetshire Does anybody remember my grandad, Charles Wade? He served with the Royal Navy with HMS Dorsetshire. He never spoke much about his time with the navy, but once a year he would recall how he got sunk and how he lost some good friends. Sadly he passed away about 12 years ago. I would be grateful for any info about my grandad.
|
Sgt. Waind . Royal Air Force flight eng. 101 Sqd. |
Mary Wainwright . Women's Land Army My mother, Mary Wainwright, was in the Land Army during the 2nd World War. I have photographs of her on the farm and with the horses. I believe she was with a farmer and his family in the Yorkshire Dales. Sadly she died in 1976.
|
Sgt. M. L. Waite . Royal Air Force rear gunner 106 Sqd. |
"Happy" Wake . US Army Air Force VB 105 Sqd. |
Ord. Seaman Walker . Royal Navy HMS Forfar
The above photo is from the album of Sub Lt Broadhurst, a boxing tournament on board HMS Forfar, Sub Lt Blood weighed in at 142lbs and OS. Walker at 141lbs. The contest was won by Walker with a technical knockout in the third round.
|
Ldg. Steward Allan Walker . Royal Navy HMS Manchester |
Chaplin Donald Bruce Walker . Royal Navy HMS Manchester Donald Walker was the R.N. Chaplin of HMS Manchester, after the ship was torpedoed he made it to the Tunisian coast and was taken POW by the Vichy French along with many of the crew. |
Reginald Seymour Clifton "Todd" Walker . Army Royal Artillery Reginald Seymour Clifton Walker was the youngest son of Arthur George Walker and Teresa Agnes. Like his brother, Angus, he was given a grand collection of names. We are unsure of the Seymour connection, but Clifton came from the place of his mother’s birth. He was always known as Todd. The name came from his inability as a child to say Reginald and it came out as Toddles. Todd was in the Royal Artillery and served from about 1941 to 1946 on the searchlight batteries, firstly at Deal in Kent and for the remainder on the Rock of Gibraltar. After the war he took a course at the Government Training Centre, Letchworth, to become a bricklayer. He married Queenie Cox of Stotfold in St Mary’s Parish Church, Baldock, and they spent their married life at 2 Manor Cottages, Willian. |
William T. Walker jnr. . US Army 664th Tank Destroyer Battalion |
Sgt. John Joseph Walkty . |
Sgt. E. G. Wall . RAF 101 Sqd. (d.3rd Nov 1943) E Wall was killed along with the rest of the crew of Lancaster LM635 SR-H on the 3rd of Nov 1943 flying from Ludford Magna en-route to Dusseldoft. He is buried in the Rheinberg War cemetery.
|
Fireman David Wallace . Naval Auxiliary Personnel HMS Forfar from Liverpool) (d.2nd Dec 1940) David and his brother Robert both served on HMS Forfar and both fell when the Forfar was sunk. |
Private Harry Wallace . Army 16th Battalion Durham Light Infantry from 7 Elgin Street, Sunderland, Co. Durham) I'm searching for my grandfather Harry Wallace. He was in Allerheiligen, Austria in 1946 with 16th Btn., Durham Light Infantry.
I don't know if he is still alive, but my family and I would like to get in contact with him or with our relatives in Great Britain. The last contact address we have is Pte. Harry Wallace, 4468965, 7 Elgin Street, Sunderland, Co Durham.
|
Greaser Robert Wallace . Naval Auxiliary Personnel HMS Forfar from Liverpool) (d.2nd Dec 1940) Robert and his brother David both served on HMS Forfar and both fell when the Forfar was sunk. |
Alf Walls . Royal Navy HMS Birmingham |
Petty Officer Kenneth Wilfred Walls . Royal Navy HMS Birmingham My father, Ken, joined the Royal Navy on the 20th of April 1937 at Portsmouth, Hampshire.
He was stationed at HMS Victory, the shore establishment. He was 18.5 years old. I was always told that he,
and his brothers, joined the Navy like so many Englishmen before them because it was a way out of poverty.
His older brother Ray had joined at 15.5 years. He was obviously dedicated and keen.
His introductory training was completed after eight weeks and he was judged the ‘….. the smartest and most
efficient of his Class during the eight week course’ and presented with a book to record the achievement.
The book was Ships of the Royal Navy (British Commonwealth of Nations) by Oscar Parkes, 1936 .
Dad has hand written comments next to some ships – e.g. ‘sunk Dutch East Indies’, ‘Overdue presumed lost’
which he obviously recorded during the course of the war.
Birmingham was a Town Class Light Cruiser launched on 1 September 1936 and was completed on 18 November 1937.
These cruisers displaced from 9 100 to 11 350 tons. They were powered by 4-shaft Parsons geared turbines
operated by 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers developing 75 000hp. They had a speed of up to 32 knots.
They were 591 feet in length and 62 feet in beam drawing 17 feet. It had a crew of 748. Armament was
4 triple 6 inch guns, 4 twin 4 inch guns, 4 3-pounder saluting guns and two quadruple 2-pound pompom
(anti-aircraft) guns. Dad and his brother Alf were assigned to this brand new ship on commissioning.
It was immediately assigned to the China Station and sailed in 1937. My mother told me that Dad had asked
her prior to his departure to become engaged. Although she was a bit sceptical about this young man I
think mainly because of his age – she was 22 and he only 19, she agreed. She knew there was plenty of
time and they had been going out for a few years. The time that Dad spent away (almost two years) must
have been a real eye-opener and the making of him as the man he turned out to be. Here was a young man
who at this time hadn’t even ventured as far a field as London going out to fulfil that old adage ‘join
the navy to see the world’. I assume that the ship visited Spain on the way to the Far East because
I remember Dad telling me stories about the covert support that the British were giving to the Republicans.
The Spanish Civil War was an absolute tragedy for all Spaniards and the many members of the International
Brigades that volunteered. From memory dad told me they visited Spain on the way to China and they
certainly would have stopped at Malta to bunker. The Japanese had invaded Korea and China in 1931.
Dad told me a story whilst the Birmingham was in Shanghai. The Japanese of course held large sections
of China including Shanghai. The British were apparently supplying arms to the Chinese ‘government’
and other forces. The way Dad told the story was that a British freighter that was carrying arms for the
Chinese had been arrested by the Japanese and was occupied. The captain of the Birmingham told one of his junior officers to take an armed boarding party and take the ship back. The armed party went down the side of the ship and boarded a cutter and motored over to the British freighter. All on board Birmingham watched as the cutter approached the landing steps. The officer along with his armed party climbed the steps and the crew of the Birmingham saw the young officer engage in a heated conversation with the Japanese officer holding the freighter. The British officer saluted turned around and left the ship and rejoined the cutter – motored back to his ship and came back on board without achieving his assigned task. When he returned the way Dad told it, the captain demanded to know what had happened. He was told that the junior officer had ‘asked for permission to board’ and the Japanese officer told him it ‘was denied’ so he came back. The captain is allegedly to have then said at high volume ‘that is why I sent you over there with a xx##$$%% armed boarding party.’ I have never worked out whether he went back and corrected the situation. When Neville Chamberlain finally declared war on Germany on the 3rd of September 1939 following the invasion of Poland two days earlier, my father and his brother (my uncle) Alf were still both stationed on the HMS Birmingham on the China station. History records that as soon as Chamberlain advised the House of Commons that Britain was at war with Germany, the air raid sirens wailed and wailed. The Royal Navy was of course immediately placed on a war footing and the Birmingham was ordered home from China. She returned via Malta for a refit and then she joined the Home Fleet operating out of Scapa Flow in the Orkney’s. According to my uncle Bill, Alf was a bit tight with money. Bill claims that on return to England reminded Dad that he owed him for a stamp he had borrowed whilst in China! The early months of this war became known as the Phoney or the Twilight War. Why? - Because on the western front there was no shooting going on. The strategic situation changed in April.
The real war started for Dad and Alf in Norway. Norway is only about 300 miles from either
Scapa Flow or the Shetlands at its closest and about 800 miles to Narvik – only two to four days
sailing in British warships. On the 5th of April the British Government decided that the navy should lay a minefield off Vest Fjord and a minelayer and four destroyers were despatched from Scapa Flow to accomplish this task. Birmingham and two destroyers (Hostile and Fearless) were sent further north to intercept what purported to be fleet of fishing boats and the to join the rest of the fleet off Vest Fjord on the 7th. On the morning of the 7th British reconnaissance aircraft reported a German cruiser and two destroyers steering northwards. By early afternoon the following message was received from the Admiralty: ‘Recent reports suggest a German expedition is being prepared. Hitler is reported from Copenhagen to have ordered unostentatious movement of one division in ten ships by night to land at Narvik, with simultaneous occupation of Jutland. Sweden to be left alone. Moderates said to be opposing the plan. Date given for arrival at Narvik was 8th April.’ The fleet was ordered to go to ‘one hours steam.’ Later that afternoon, the Admiralty advised more German ships (including a Scharnhorst class ship and ten destroyers) had been sighted steering northwards. The enemy fleet was obviously on the move. The enemy fleet was reported as comprising one battlecruiser, one pocket battleship, three cruisers and about 12 destroyers. The British fleet that was to try and intercept them comprised three capital ships (Rodney, Valiant and Repulse), three cruisers and 10 destroyers. Birmingham was already assigned to assist Renown protect the minelayers who were mining Vest Fjord (the entry to Narvik). Other British ships were at sea protecting two convoys but these were turned back to British waters as soon they were advised of the German movements. As it turned out, some lost contact and at least 13 were destroyed or captured by the Germans. The mine laying was completed by early on the morning of the 8th of April. When the fleet arrived during this exercise Birmingham and her two destroyers were not in sight! Within three hours the first contact with the enemy (the Gloworm came across elements of the German fleet) was made and after exchanging gunfire for some time and sustaining damage, the German ship Hipper accidentally rammed Gloworm as they both emerged from the smokescreen laid down by Gloworm. Gloworm blew up and sank within minutes. Only 40 British sailors survived. It became apparent very quickly that the invasion of Norway was underway and the British fleet needed to stop them. A signal sent by Admiral Whitworth at 1850 on the 8th said, among other things, ‘Our objective is to prevent German forces reaching Narvik; my present intention is to alter course at 2100 to 280 degrees, and turn 180 degrees in succession at midnight; enemy heavy ships and light forces have been reported off Norwegian coast; position of Brimingham forces is not known.’ It was later reported to him that Repulse, Penelope, Bedouin, Eskimo, Punjabi and Kimberley were coming to assist. The official record states that at this time (about 1700 – i.e. 5pm on 8th April) the position of the Birmingham force was not known. The commander (Admiral Whitworth) was building up his forces and signalled Birmingham and Repulse to join him. The Repulse did but for some unknown reason (to me that is) Birmingham never made it. I find this quite intriguing – Birmingham seems quite elusive. A British force had left the Clyde in Scotland aboard s.s Empress of Australia, Monarch of Bermudua, and Reina del Pacifico on the 11th of April and was later joined by the s.s Batory and Chroby from Scapa. This convoy was protected by a fleet commanded by Vice Admiral Layton in Manchester, in company with Birmingham, Cairo, Proctor and five destroyers. Other ships were diverted to also ensure the convoys safe passage. The ships joined the convoy on the 13th and proceeded to escort them into Norwegian waters. At 1907 on the 14th Admiral Layton received orders for the convoy to divide – the record shows that they wre then at 68 degrees 10 minutes N; 10 degrees 20 minutes S about 130 miles from Vaagsfjord. Manachester, Birmingham, Cairo, Vanoc, Whirlwhind, Highlander and 10 destroyers under Layton were despatched to Namsos. At the same time the first British troops had begun to land – an advance party from Galsgow and Sheffield. Also the troops which were onboard the Namsos cruisers were ordered to be landed. A summary of the situation in Norway on the 15th of April is that ‘in the northern area Vice Admiral Whitworth was cruising off the Lofoten Islands in the Warsprite, standing by to support the operations against Narvik … the Valiant remained in Vaags Fjord on patrol till 1900, 15th, when she sailed for Scapa … on the same day Admiral of the Fleet Lord Cork, wearing his flag in Aurora, met General Mackesy for the first time in Vaags Fjord, who had arrived there in Southampton the previous day.’ The record gos on to state that ‘Vice Admiral Cunningham, with the Devonshire, Berwick and Furious was operating in the Tromoso area. … In the central area (Tronheim) Vice Admiral Layton with the Manchester, Birmingham, Cairo and three destroyers and two transports was nearing Lillesjona where he had been directed to transfer the troops to destroyers for passage to Namsos.’ The German landing had all been reasonably successful although air and surface attacks by Bristish forces had taken quite a toll of their ships. The assault on Tronheim (Operation Hammer) was cancelled as the German’s had far superior forces in the area and was building up all the time. The fleet however was very active escorting convoys to and from Norway taking troops and supplies to those already ashore. The ships maintained a blockade of Norway and generally harassed enemy shipping and used their armaments to shell German positions ashore. The Birmingham seems to have operated in these roles up until the 26th May when she was ordered back to the Humber. On 24th of April, Layton and Manchester, York and Birmingham along with the usual fleet of escorts left Rosyth loaded with stores and troops set sail for Norway on one of the resupply sorties. Early in the morning of the 26th Layton’s ships came across a number of German armed trawlers disguised as Dutchmen. One minelayer hoisted the German flag and Birmingham¬ sunk it. My uncle Bill Walls, who was also in the Royal Navy, told me only recently that the rule was that there was no rescue of men when the ship sunk was under 10,000 tons. He tells that my father said that for this reason the captain of Birmingham shut off his engines as the cruiser ploughed through the debris – so as not to diminish the sailors already meagre chances of survival. The Manchester and the Birmingham remained in the area until the 26th of April. The Birmingham then took part in the withdrawal of the British forces from central Norway in late April and 1 May. The Birmingham was bombed but not hit. On the 9th May, the Birmingham (with Janus, Hyperion, Hereward and Havock) was ordered to intercept two enemy forces thought to be operating near the Little Fisher Bank. The Kelly (under the command of Lord Louis Mountbatten), Kimberley, Khandahar and Hostile were instructed to join them. It was during this ‘search and destroy’ type operation that Kelly was torpedoed from a MTB being hit just under the bridge at 2235. During the next few hours a number of contacts were made with MTBs including one attack on the Birmingham. Kelly was put under tow by Bulldog and with the Birmingham and her destroyers she was put under escort back to Scapa. The whole fleet was subject to air attack. That night the German’s invaded Holland and Belgium and the Brimingham and most of the destroyers in company were told to steam immediately to Terschelling. I understand that Birmingham might have operated a fair amount of the next 12 months in convoy escort duty which included at least one trip to South America. It is in this context that my Uncle Bill tells me that at some time the Birmingham was in port in Buenos Aires. Both my father and his brother Alf were keen fans of that great crooner Bing Crosby. Apparently he was in town and after too many ‘jars’ my father and Uncle Alf decided that they would call on him in his hotel to offer their respects. They managed to cajole a hotel employee to advise his room number and armed with a bottle of scotch commenced banging on the door calling out to their hero to open up – they wanted to buy him a drink. According to my Uncle Bill it became quite apparent that he had a woman in the room and he said some rather harsh words to say through the door – quite unlike the Bing we all know! They chose to return to the ship rather than take on a rather angry Bing and the hotel management. A wise decision by all accounts. The certificate presented to my father for having crossed the equator (or the ‘line’ as it was called) is dated 5th September 1939 – two days after the war was declared. Obviously it should have been presented on the way out to China but for some reason it was done on the way home. On the Proclamation by good old King Neptune, my father has written the names of the ports that Birmingham had visited – Gibraltar, Malta, Port Said, Aden, Colombo, Singapore, Amoy, Sharps Peak, Shanghai, Tsingtao, Wei-Hai-Wei, Cheefoo, Manila, Pedang, Kobi, Alexandria and Kulang Su. This is the passage of a young Sussex boy from Worthing who worked in a dairy to manhood. Norway had to wait until the 8th May 1945 to be liberated. My father’s records includes a certificate titled The Liberation of Norway 8th May 1945 recording appreciation of the people of Norway for Kenneth Walls’ valuable service in helping to restore freedom to ‘our’ land. It is ‘signed’ simply Olav, Oslo December 1945. Olav of course was the king. |
F/O A. H. Walmsley . RAF 101 Sqd. |
Ivy Mary Walsh . Land Army |
John Campbell Walters . Army The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders |
Jack Walton . Army 5th Btn. The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders |
Ronald Walter "Wally" Walton . British Army Royal Corps of Signals from Norwich, England) My father, Ronald Walter "Wally" Walton was in the Royal Corp of Signals.
His hometown was Norwich, in Norfolk, England. He was
captured in North Africa (Libya) in 1941 and imprisoned
in Italy until 1943. He was then moved to Stalag 4B until
the end of the war. He didn't tell us much about his
experiences, but we know he taught electronics in the camp.
If anyone knew my dad I would appreciate hearing from you.
Sadly, he passed away in 1996, he was 78.
|
F. F. Ward . US Navy Fleet Air Wing 7 |
Phyl Wardale . Women's Land Army My mother, Phyl Wardale, was warden of both WLA (Women's Land Army) hostels in Wendy & Sawtry, England in the late 1940s. As her young daughter, I lived in the hostels with her. I remember it being very exciting for a small child and the landgirls were brilliant to me. I can remember several names, but would love to hear from anyone who would be interested in getting in touch.
|
First Radio Officer Harold Gervase Warren . Naval Auxiliary Personnel HMS Forfar from Deganwy, Caernarvonshire, Wales) (d.2nd Dec 1940) |
Mjr. Lance Greville Warrington MC.. Army South Staffordhire Regiment (d.20th Nov 1944) Mjr Warrington was attached to the 9th Btn of the Camerionians (Scottish Rifles) when he was killed. He was 31 years old and was married. |
Audrey Washington . Land Army |
P/O S. E. Watchorn . RAF 101 Sqd. (d.14th Jan 1944)
|
Private Louis Reginald Watson . Army 2nd Battalion Cheshire Regiment My late father, Private Louis Reginald Watson of the 2nd battalion Cheshire Regiment, was involved in the withdrawal from Gazala to Egypt via Tobruk where he was captured and shipped to POW Camp PG 73 in Capri Northern Italy. I have a photo taken at the camp on the 28th Oct. 1943 which he sent to my mother. As a member of an outside working party repairing the road surface, he hid inside a culvert and escaped about the time of the Italian capitulation and stayed on the run until the advancing British forces reached him. |
Ralph Watson . Bevin Boy My aunt who lived in Gateshead met and married a Bevin boy, Ralph Watson, who had been enlisted from the London area and sent up north to work in a coal mine near Hetton le Hole. After the war they moved back down south to the Slough area, where they brought up a family of four boys and one girl. I thought it would be a good gesture to have his name added to the list of Bevin boys who all did a good job in time of need. |
Fireman Donald MacPherson Watt . Naval Auxiliary Personnel HMS Forfar from Glasgow, Scotland) (d.2nd Dec 1940) |
Second Cook Frederick Watts . Naval Auxiliary Personnel HMS Forfar (d.2nd Dec 1940) |
Joyce Watts . Land Army I lied about my age when I signed up to join the land army at the age of 15.
I did my training in Whimple, Devon. I was then drafted to a farm at Lapford.
I had to get up at 4.30 in the morning to milk the cows. In the winter my hands got chapped and very painful when I milked the cows. It was all so primitive to me on the farm. I came from London and our house had all the modern convieniances. On this farm I had a candle for a light in my bedroom, the loo was outside and water was obtained from a pump. Despite all this, I must say, I had plenty to eat and the farmers wife was a good cook.
One day the superviser came to visit and I guess she realised how young I was because she arranged for me to go to a hostel near Plymouth.
I was sorry to leave in one way as I loved to work with the horses. I could write a lots more about other good things on the farm.
At the hostel I made friends with lots of girls. One girl, Olga, became a very good friend. We remainded friends and communicated untill her death in 1999.
The Land army days were some of the best years of my life. Olga and I went back and stayed on a farm that we had worked on.
That farmer and his wife have since passed away. Maybe the reason I have out lived them is because I was so young when I was working there.
I guess time is marching on but we still have our memories of the good times that we had.
|
Telegraphist Stanley William James Watts . Royal Navy HMS Pandora (d.1st Apr 1942) My Grandfather was one of the of crew members that died on the Pandora sub on april 1st 1942. He was Stanley William James Watts. Telegraphist. port division: Chatham.
He was married to Florence Lince (Watts) and came from Norwich, Norfolk, England. He was the father of Peter,Margret, and Joyce Watts.
If anyone has pictures of their family with crew members of the sub I would love to see if my grandfather is in with them. Thanks.
|
Pilot Officer Harry "Billy" Waugh . Royal Air Force 21 OTU from Leeds) (d.4th Feb 1942) I am researching my great Uncle P/O Harry Waugh. I believe he was also Known as Billy. The details I have are that the Wellington he was in crashed on takeoff at RAF Moreton-in-marsh on 4th February 1942, on a night flying exercise. The plane was Wellington ic serial L7893. His crew comprised of
- P/O 107518 Joseph Henry Kirk
- W/O gunner Sgt Wilfred Joseph Howson
- W/O gunner Sgt Robert Marshall
2 crew members survived the crash Sgt W.A.J.Brock RAAF, and one other not named. I would very much appreciate any information anyone can give regarding the crash itself or any details about my great uncle and his service within the RAF. |
Ord. Seaman Weale . Royal Navy HMS Forfar OS Weale is listed in the cast of the revue
"Get Sailing" which was performed onboard the Forfar on the 19th of June 1940. |
Sergeant Robert Charles Henry Webb . RAF 106 Squadron (d.3rd April 1943) I am currently trying to write a small book about my uncle, Sgt R.C.H.Webb and crew who were shot down over Germany in a Lanc from 106 Sqdn on the 3rd April 1943. All lost their lives.
The book is for my family to pass on so that these airmen never be forgot and their bravery will always be remembered.
I was wondering if anyone could help me with any info.
Lanc ED 542:
Sgt T.J. Ridd, Pilot
Sgt R.C.H.Webb, F/Eng
P/O J.W.Simpson, Navigator
P/O A.C.Palmer, Bomb /Aimer
Sgt A.Burson, Wireless/Op
Sgt R.S.Sabell, Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt E.Williams, Rear Gunner
|
Yeoman of Signals William John Webb . Royal Navy HMS Forfar (d.2nd Dec 1940) |
Doris Ellen Webster . Timber Corps My mother Doris Ellen Chaffey (nee Webster) was in the WLA, she was at Culford Forestry Camp, Bury St.Edmonds, she has told me some funny stories of how they used to sleep on "3 biscuits"" which were 3 square straw filled pads, and eventheir pillow was straw. She said it was hard work felling trees for telegraph poles and pit props. lots of blisters she even remembers the name of the hook that took the leaves off, a Bill hook. My mother is now 87, and would love to hear from anyone who was at the Culford Forestry Camp. We live on the Sunshine Coast, in Queensland Australia.
|
Arnold "Fred" Weekes . Royal Navy HMS Nelson I don't know if anyone can help, but I have been working with a gentleman who served on HMS Nelson, Mr. Arnold Weekes (Age 92 known as Fred). I would like to know if there is any information anyone can give me on the ship or contacts who may remember Mr. Weekes. I would love to be able to pass on any information to this gentleman who fondly remembers his sea going days. Any info I could pass on to Mr. Weekes would be gratefully received.
|
Pte. Harry John Weeks . Army 2 Motorboat Company RASC from Kent) (d.4th Aug 1943) I discovered some pictures and info in my Gran's bits and peices about two of her brothers who were killed in WW2. I would appreciate any info on Harry Weeks or just about his unit, no 2 or no 247 motorboat company. Thanks in hope and anticipation |
Pte. S. F. Weir . Army Pte Weir exchanged identities with 'Smoky' Hibbens of the RAAF so that the airman could spend time outside the camp with the working party in the hope that he could make an escape. |
William R. Weir . RCAF 433 Sqd. |
F/S G. C. Wells . Royal Air Force 514 Sqd. (d.30th Jul 1944) F/S Wells was lost without trace over the English Channel on the 30th of July 1944 when his Lancaster failed to return to Waterbeach after a raid on Caen.
|
Joseph Alec Wells . Army No: 6 Commando I would like any information with regard to my fathers military career I think he enlisted in 1938 possibly in the Royal Engineers transferred to the commandos. Eventually he was commissioned and joined the Beds and Herts Regiment as an Officer serving in Italy & Greece & possibly Yugoslavia. After the war he seved till 1949 in Q section? BAOR.
|
Sergeant Laurence Ernest Percival wells . RAF 460 Squadron (d.9th October 1943) |
Rfm. Walter Welton . Army 9th Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Rifleman Walter Welton served in the 9th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). He fought from Hout Do Bosq, Eterville. Lost a lot of comrades at Paderbourn (Germany). Did some serious street to street fighting in Celle (Germany). He also remembers going through Keel, Cleve? (Germany). |
Thomas C. Werner . US Army 172nd Field Artillery Rgt. |
Flt Sgt. Ronald Arthur Werrett . Royal Air Force bomb aimer 115 Sqd. (d.16th Mar 1944) |
J.Cpl Frederick Wescott . Army Parachute Regiment My Father, Fredrick Wescott joined the Parachute Regiment from the Cameron Highlanders when it was first formed, also for the 2 shillings a day extra (that's what he told us).
He never really spoke about the war, but we know he joined up in 1938 and was at Dunkirk.
He was posted to the 6th Airborne and dropped into Arnhan where he was captured. My Mother actually collected a weeks widows pension before she found out he had been taken prisoner. He took part in the forced march through Poland and back to Germany.
Two things I can remember seeing from this time were a Woodbine packet which was signed by another Para to pay one days pay for one dead Rat, this during the march, also what we called the White book containing pictures and messages from all the leading figures of the day including The King and Churchill plus many many more.
If I have got the facts about the march wrong could you please let me know as this is only a boyhood memory,I would like to know more about what he did during his time in the army.
|
Able Seaman. Haydn Peter West . Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve HMS Forfar from Hull, Yorkshire) (d.2nd Dec 1940) The above photo is from the album of Sub Lt Broadhurst. Ab Henderson (143lbs) vs AB West (146lbs) the match was a draw. |
Sergeant John Stainley West . Army 116th Light Ack Ack Co Royal Artillery from Stokesley, North Yorkshire) This is very much a long shot, I am trying to research my late grandfather's time during WW11. There have been numerous articles in local newspapers regarding my grandfather and the information given in these is pretty much all I know as he never spoke to us regarding his experiences. To be honest I have no idea where to start but would be most grateful for any links or information that anyone could provide.
He was Sgt John Stainley West of Stokesley, North Yorkshire and was one of the first to land on the Normandy beaches in 1944, helping to clear minefields in northern France and other parts of Europe while serving with a division of the Canadian Army where he specialised in mine detectors and detonators. He also became a POW for half a day. On April 15th 1945 he entered Belsen as the Official British War Photographer. At the time he was serving with the 116th Light Ack Ack Company, Royal Artillery. My Grandfather spent 4 months in Belsen recording the scenes of the few victims left alive and also working in the maternity ward. He also helped collect bodies and supervise the burial of 23,000.
He had a photocopy of a Belsen record card, on the back of which were some brief notes compiled at the time. The following extracts illustrate only too vividly the grimness of the war which was nearing its end.
"We feel that some of you who were not here at Belsen from the beginning might like to see these notes. They give the most accurate facts available, We would liked to have produced them before, but we were one and all rather busy on the first main job of clearing the concentration camp. That job is now finished. On the 12 April 1945 the Chief of Staff of the 1st German Para Army approached the Brigadier General's staff of the British 8th Corps and said he had a terrible situation on hand at Belsen and that the place must be taken over. On 13 April 1945 the terms of a special truce were drawn up, although we must remember that a battle was going on all around the Belsen area. Under these terms, the British agreed to come in and take over the camp, a neutral area was defined around Belsen, the German SS camp staff were to remain, the British doing what they liked with them, and the Hungarians to remain armed and be used by the British until such time as they had no further use for them. It is believed that Brig Glyn Hughes, deputy director of medical services, was the first to arrive. The First British unit in was an Anti-Tank Battery which arrived on 15 April. The scene which met the first officers beggars description. There were an estimated 30,000 people in camp, of which about 10,000 lay dead in the huts or about the camp. Those still alive had been without food or water for about seven days, after long periods of semi-starvation. Typhus, amongst other diseases, was raging. Corruption and filth were everywhere. The air was poisoned. You have no doubt heard these terrible details from those who saw them. The tasks which faced the firstcomers must have appeared insurmountable. Nevertheless they were tackled with outstanding success when one considers the resources available.
The Document says that, eventually the Army took over control of all the concentration camps. All the living inmates of Belsen were moved into hospitals and transit camps. The total moved numbered 28,900, although 2,000 died later.
A memento which he kept to remind himself of man's inhumanity to man was a knife, fork and spoon wrapped in a cloth folder which belonged to the Nazi Commandant, the infamous "Beast of Belsen" I believe his name to be Kramer. My Grandfather confiscated it after being spat on by this officer during one of the morning parades.
He left the camp to return to England in September 1945 after contracting a disease at Belsen that attacked his nervous system and which kept him in hospital for 5 months. His illness affected him for the next ten years, resulting in loss of memory and repeated nightmares. |
Stanley James Weymss MBE.. New Zealand Film Unit from New Zealand) I am hoping to write a book on the WW2 Cinematographer Stanley Wemyss and I am trying to find information and photographs. He worked for the New Zealand Film Unit and was awarded an MBE for bravery whilst filming the horrors of war. He filmed on several fronts including Tripoli, Fiji and Singapore. Any help anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated. |
Elizabeth "Betty" Wharton . Land Army from South Sheilds) I served at Springwell Farm. Washington. County Durham. I can remember moira and olive though their last names escape me.I also served in the Agricultoral College in County Durham.i served from 1945 to 1950 |
Grafton Whincup . My father, Grafton Whincup, who has recently turned 81, is a surviving Bevin Boy. He often relates his stories of working down the pit to myself and my children. |
Flight Sgt G D White MiD. RAFVR navigator 635 squadron Flight Sgt G D White is still alive and the father of my friend. He was "mentioned in a despatch for distinguished service", he cannot recall what for, would anybody have any idea. He trained in Canada in 1941, went to 76 squadron and then to 635 squadron as a navigator. Any help or pointers would be appericated. |
Percy William White . Navy HMS Royal Arthur from Sherborne, Dorset) My grandfather, Percy William White (born in 1913 in Sherborne, Dorset), trained at HMS Royal Arthur at Skegness. Unfortunately he passed away before my sister and I were born, so I never got to hear any of his wartime memories. My mother and grandmother never spoke much about him as his death caused my mother (then only 16) to have a nervous breakdown. From the odd snippets of information we gathered from our mother and grandmother before their deaths, my sister and I believe Percy's death was suicide - possibly a result of Post Traumatic Stress?
I would be very grateful if anyone can provide me with any information about him, his training, or where he was stationed during WWII, as this could help my sister and I to get to know the grandfather we never met |
Sgt Robert Stirratt White . Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve pilot 10th Squadron (d.1943-06-29) |
Sergeant Thomas White . RAF 626 Squadron (d.1st July 1944) Thomas White was in 626 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, service no 925205 and flew the Lancaster bomber for Bomber Command. He was a Sergeant (Flt. Engineer). On the 30 June/1 July 1944 (quote from RAF) "118 Lancasters of No: 1 Group attacked railway yards at the small town of Vierzon, south of Orleans and bombed with great accuracy, a success for No: 1 Group's own marking flight. 11 Lancasters were lost, nearly 12% of the force".
Tom was shot down over France and killed on 1 July 1944. He is commemorated at Theillay Communal Cemetery, Loire et Cher, France.
He had covered a certain amount of flights but due to the shortage of pilots was given extra flights to do and it was on this final flight that he got shot down and killed. |
Cpl William White . Army Royal Pioneer Corps My father's eldest brother, Cpl William White, had been a regular in the Royal Dragoons in the 1920s and served in India. He was transferred to the Pioneer Corps and went to France with the B.E.F. He was captured at Abbeville, after Dunkirk. He was marched with others, through various countries and ended up at Stalag XXa. Bill remained a POW until his release in 1945. He survived and returned to Shoreham by Sea
in Sussex to his wife, Nell, and children, Gordon, Terry, and Renee. He lived until old age and died in 1977. He was a member of the Dunkirk Veterans Assn in Brighton. His pal was Edward Goldring.
|
Rfm. Lionel Edward Whitehead . Army 7th Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) from Chingford, Essex.) (d.27th Oct 1944) |
Pte. Herbert Whitfield . Army Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) from Leeds, Yorkshire, England.) Herbert Whitfield (English) Cameronians (SR) 2nd World War.
I don't have a story, but I do have a question. I found my father's army service and pay book in my mother's effects when she died. It says he was in the Cameronians (SR) and his army no. was 1572231. He was a private. Since he was from Leeds, Yorkshire, I don't know what he was doing in a Scottish Regiment.
I know he served in Wales and was a gunner, but I don't know what that means. What did gunners do in Wales? I remember a story he told of German planes flying into a harbour that had hills on each side. I think the army had guns on the hills firing at the planes, but it's all very hazy because he would have told me this when I was a child.
I know he was shipped out to Burma in March 1945. They were clearing Japanese soldiers out of the jungle, I think.
I'd be very grateful for any information you could give me about this regiment and what the Wales division was doing during the War. |
Jack Whitfield . from Warrington, Lancashire) My wife's father had some old letters in his attic. We have just been looking at them. They are correspondence between Jack Whitfield and his wife. He was from Warrington, Lancashire and imprisoned at some time during the war in Stalag 357. We would like to know more about this Stalag. |
Richard Henry James Whiting . Army Royal Army Service Corps from Croyden) (d.17th Sept 1945) My grandfather Richard Henry James Whiting, died in Rimini at the end of the war on 17 Sept 1945. He was waiting for his
date to come home to Croyden after having served 6.5 years - he went in with the
Territorial Army and served with the Royal Army Service Corps. He had written to the Croydon Advertiser complaining at
how long it was taking to get them home - especially as he had not had any
leave (or seen his little girl) for 2.5 years. His little girl (my mother)
was 2.5 years old when he died - he never did get home to see her. He
offered to do a 'run' for his mate and was either shot by a sniper or had a
road accident - nobody knows. He was 27 when he died.
I am going to Coriano Ridge war cemetery in Rimini to pay my
respects to my Grandfather, of whom I am very proud. I wondered if there
was any way of finding any one who might have known him, or what had
happened to him. I know it is a tall order but nothing ventured nothing
gained. |
Sgt. D. B. Whittaker . Royal Air Force 419 Sqd. |
Private George Whittle . Army 2/4 Battalion East Lancs Regiment Is there anyone out there that knew my father, George Whittle, Private No. 3385209, 2/4 Battalion, East Lancs Regiment.
He served 17 years, some in the Territorials and served in Palestine, Dunkirk and somewhere in Italy.
I am like millions of others trying to piece together his part in saving Britain. My father wouldn't talk about the war and if he did I would be too young or didn't listen. Now that I am writing my life story to leave to my grandchildren I am desperate to find out as much as possible about my dad. |
Hospital Attendant William Whittle . Naval Auxiliary Personnel HMS Forfar (d.2nd Dec 1940) HMS Forfar was an armed merchant cruiser sunk by U99 in December 1940. My Grandfather William Whittle served on board as a CPO in the sick bay. I am eager to get in contact with any "Forfar" survivors.
|
"Geordie" Whitwell . Army Black Watch I was captured at Anzio and eventually transported to Stalag 4b at Mulberg. Two incidents spring to mind apart from the general starvation.
A German plane one day straffed the prisoners walking around the compound and coming in far too low struck and Airforce corporal (I think his name was Brown) killing him.
Another when one of the prisoners crawled through the broken fence between two compounds to retrieve a football and was wantonly shot dead by one of the guards. One name of Blondie who then took off chased by a mob of prisoners who would have torn him apart had they caught him. I understand that he eventually copped his just deserts. I then was transferred with others to Stalag 357 at Fallingbostel and vividly remember having a luger shoved up my nose by one of the guards aptly called The Bull when lying in bed when I should have been on roll call. I was one of the lucky ones who was in the last party to leave the camp when the allies were approaching and which the Germans failed to get over the Elbe and sent back under their own devices to the camp. We were eventually relieved by The Royal Scots and flown back to England in Dakotas. The Man of Confidence was named Dixie Dean an Australian Airforce warrant officer and a great guy. Died about ten years ago here in Sydney Australia. I understand that the idea for Hogans Heroes was based on Dixie's sabotage work.
My muckers were Middy Middleton (Green Howards) Jeff, Taffy, Wally and Sailor and I still have the birthday card they made for me on my 21st Birthday. Sorry that I lost touch with them when the war finished as they looked after me as compared to them I was a kid.to know more about this Stalag. |
Flt/Sgt Samuel Vernon Wickland . RAF 61 Squadron (d.23rd September 1944) My great uncle flew a Lancaster with 61 Squadron and was killed on the 23rd of September 1944. I'm trying to find info on the only survivor, Sgt H.Lea who was put into Stalag Luft 7. I'd like to know if he is still alive.
The crew were:
F/O Ian Melville Campbell RNZAF 426213
Sgt John Norman Hoad 1175274 23/09/1944
Sgt R.D.Cole
F/S M.J.Milne RNZAF
Sgt John McCabe 1348047 RAF Volunteer Reserve
Flt/Sgt Samuel Vernon Wickland 640170
Sgt H.Lea
Lancaster ED470 took off at 19:07 23rd Sep 1944 to bomb the Dortmund-Ems Canal at Ladbergen near Munster. It crashed at 23:30 at Wechte, 3 km from Tecklenburg. Those killed are now buried in the Reichswald Forest War cemetery. |
Minnie Wight . Timber Corps |
Trimmer J. Wilde . Naval Auxiliary Personnel HMS Forfar Wilde had been a crew member when the ship was the Montrose and remained with her under the T124x agreement. He was amongst the survivors when the ship was lost. |
Bdr. Wileman . Army Royal Artillery |
Tpr. Anthony Wiles . Army East Yorks Yeomanry I believe that my Grandfather, Anthony Wiles was imprisioned in Stalag 8b (344) from 1940 to 1945 (he is the only Tpr A Wiles listed - though the A Wiles listed is R.A.C). Sadly, he died in 1989. He was captured in 1940 in France (probably as part of the BEF). He told me he was captured in a cornfield and surrendered after the Germans surrounded the field and threatended to burn them out. He talked of working in Poland, a long march (during which they were abused by the locals), being fed on Beetroot Soup and working near a river. He was fluent in German on his return and I think he served a while as a dispatch rider after the war. He brought back a few mementoes (which he said he picked up on his walk back) including a German army bayonet and flag (both of which I still have). For anyone who may remember him, he was a bandsman (accomplished trumpet player), would have been in his early 20s, was from the Hull area and was referred to as Tony. |
Ord. Seaman J. Wiles . Royal Navy HMS Forfar J. Wiles was one of those who survived the loss of HMS Forfar in the Atlantic in December 1940. |
Saloon Steward P. Wilkes . Naval Auxiliary Personnel HMS Forfar P.Wilkes served aboard the ship when she was the Montrose, remaining with her under the T124x Agreement when she was requistioned to become HMS Forfar. He was amongst those to survive when the ship was lost in 1940. |
F/O Herbert Wilkins . RAF 582 Squadron (d.16th September 1944) I found your website whilst doing some research on my late father's brother, Flying Officer Herbert Wilkins 153130. Flying out of RAF Little Staughton, he was shot down over the German coast (killed in action) on September 16th 1944 and is now buried at Kiel cemetery. Any further information that your readers might know would be very much appreciated. |
2nd Lt. Robert R Wilkins . US Army Air Corps 701st BS 445th BG I am looking for any information available about my cousin, U.S. Army Air Corps 2nd Lt. Robert R. Wilkins, a B-24 pilot with the 701st Bomber Squadron, 445th Bomber Group (Heavy), who was shot down on Nov. 21, 1944. He was from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. According to the American Battle Monuments Commission, he is buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands.
|
Flt. Sgt. Tim Willett . Royal Air Force pilot 50 Sqd F/S Willett was pilot of Manchester L7516 VN-N which was shot down on the 20th of April 1942 flying from RAF Skellingthorpe. They landed on tidal mudflats on the island of Sylt, Germany.
The crew were:
- F/S S.Willett DFM
- F/S S.E.Packard
- P/O N.Hannah
- F/S H.S.McDonald
- Sgt C.A.Miners
- Sgt D.A.Williams
- Sgt C.J.Scott
|
Sergeant Ernest Williams . RAF Lancaster ED 542 106 Squadron (d.3rd April 1943) |
PFC Ralph L. Williams . US Army 707th Tank Battalion I am attempting to gather information regarding Pfc Ralph L. Williams, 707th Tank Battalion taken prisoner December 19, 1944, and sent to Stalag IIA. I Understand he contacted frostbite meeting the requirement to be awarded the Purple Heart. His Daughter attempted to obtain copies of military records only to be advised they were destroyed in the fire at St. Louis.
So the only other option is to locate someone held in same camp or another member of the 707th. Williams was medically discharged. Any assistance would be appreciated.
|
P.O. Gilbert John Willis . Royal Navy HMS Forfar (d.2nd Dec 1940) |
Lesley George Wills . Royal Navy HMS Dorsetshire My grandfather, Lesley George Wills, served on HMS Dorsetshire. He
was on her when she was sunk. He was picked up and taken to South Africa; our family is still in contact with the family who looked after him there.
|
Lesley George Wills . Navy HMS Dorsetshire My grandfather served on HMS Dorsetshire. He was called Lesley George Wills, and was on her when she was sunk. He was picked up and taken to South Africa - our family are still in contact with the family who looked after him there. |
Harry Wilmer . Royal Navy HMS Manchester |
Alan Wilmot . Royal Navy HMS Manchester |
Sgt. R. W. Wilmott . RAF 7 Sqd. from ) (d.29th Jan 1944) |
Flt. Sgt. Allen Howard Wilson . RAAF 101 Sqd. from West Wyalong, New South Wales, Australia.) (d.31st Mar 1944) |
Ord. Seaman C. Wilson . Royal Navy HMS Forfar C.Wilson is listed amongst the survivors from HMS Forfar. |
Jean Wilson . from Warrington, England) Please help us. We are searching for information on a Jean Wilson who lived in Warrington, England during the Second World War.
We have information that Jean married and went to America sometime after 1948. We think she may have married a GI based at Burtonwood, Warrington.
Who did she marry and where did they go? Jean was born around 1925. She may have other children in the USA who aren't aware their half sister in England is desperate to find them.
Please help. Anyone who was at Burtonwood at the time and remembers this lady please get in contact with us. Any tiny detail at all would be helpful.
|
Fireman Joseph Patrick Wilson . Naval Auxiliary Personnel HMS Forfar from West Derby, Liverpool) (d.2nd Dec 1940) |
AMM3C Matt Wilson . US Navy Fleet Air Wing 7 I was stationed at Dunkeswell, (we called it Mudville) in Devon England. I believe it was April 45 we went to New Havenford West with our B-24 for special Air Work. Three of us were ground crew to service the plane. We made a deal with the pilot to put enough gas in for the afternoon flight and the morning flight so we could go to town. ( I dont remember the name of the airfield but it was aprox 7 or 17 miles to town. We get to town and found a pub then found the Cafe. We went in for a bite and finally managed to get a private room, it was in the storage area and we had to clean it out ,but it was great. We met two girls that was stationed at the Hostel. We had a nice week taking them to the Cafe and dancing. The girl I teamed up with was Ivy Emberton. She was a lovely girl. We found the Welsh people wonderful, we stayed with a private family and took the one cab back to the Base. A few weeks we were back again, doing the same things except we had two Motorcycles to get around with.( the 1st class Hendren had bought them and he sold them before we went back to England) So we had another great week. A few weeks later I returned with another crew. The Hostel was closed, and I did not have Ivy's Address. So I lost contact and I hoped she went on to have a happy life. This time it wasn't so great. There was a fight started in the Cafe and we ended up getting involved by chance not on purpose. So that was my last trip to Wales. We sensed the war was winding down when we saw the Hostel was closed.
I remember that while the runways surfaced VB-103 also used the airfield at Upottery,
what they did was send a small crew to Upottery and we loaded the planes with armement and a light load of fuel they landed at Upottery and took on a full load of fuel and took off from there then landed at Dunks. after the mission.
I returned to the U.S.A. at the end of the war on the Queen Mary. But went from Bombers to Fighters and Air Craft Carrier, discharged in 1948.
Winter 1944
Matt Wilson AMM3C, checking gas.
Dean Elliott AMM2C. PATSU 7-A.
 front of our lovely hu.jpg)
E.I. Ross AMM1C and Matt Wilson (Front) outside our lovely hut.
 declares war on the hut deck.jpg)
Tommy (last name unkown) declares war on the hut deck.
F.F. Ward AMM2C, in deep thought about the next liberty
.jpg)
Winter 1945
Winter 1945
.jpg)
Winter 1945
Sidmouth at low tide.
Mr. Martin AMM3C, based at USAAF Dunkeswell, at play at Sidmouth, the scafolding is part of the beach defences. It was intended to slow down enemy landings by preventing tanks from climbing the low seafront walls.
Mr. Martin AMM3C and I. Nebel AMM2C, based at USAAF Dunkeswell, on the beach at Sidmouth.
Matt Wilson AMM3C. based at USAAF Dunkeswell. Like a good "scotch on the rocks" at Sidmouth.
Matt Wilson AMM3C + Mr. Martin, based at USAAF Dunkeswell, at Sidmouth Beach 1944. The scafolding is part of the anti-landing beach defence.
|
Writer. T. Wilson . Naval Auxiliary Personnel HMS Forfar Wilson was one of the crew members who had remained with the ship under the T124X agreement when she was requisitioned for service in 1939. He survived the sinking on the 2nd of December 1940. |
Sergeant Philip Winter . RAF 102 Squadron Sgt Philip Winter, my uncle, served in 102 Sqd during May/June 1941 as second pilot in Whitley DY-R. On the night of 12/13th June he was badly wounded by flak on a mission to the marshalling yard at Schwerte. |
Joseph M "Fuzzy" Wise . from Chesapeake Bay, Maryland) I was a young kid working for Mr. Wise, known locally as "Fuzzy", as a commercial crabber near the Chesapeake Bay for several summers and I thought of him as a grandfather. He was a lot of fun, but one day he told me of his experience as a POW. I'm paraphrasing what he told me over 20 years ago. He died in 1988.
He was captured at Normandy, put on a train and transported to Germany, where he lost 65 pounds during the trip. He was placed in a POW camp in Memmingen, Bavaria, where he was forced to work in a cheese factory. When he was told the cheese was being sent to the front to feed the Nazis, he gathered mouse droppings and threw them in the bin. He claimed that he shivered all night the during the first cold snap and that a kind German guard gave him a long winter coat that he slept in every night. He said that he would have died without it. He made friends with several German civilian workers in the factory and even continued to exchange Christmas Cards into the 1970s. He remembers being liberated and the POWs were allowed to enter a cave that was apparently full of valuables put there by the townspeople to prevent looting. The POWs were allowed to take "anything they could carry". Fuzzy remembered carrying several pairs of binoculars and cameras around his neck, with fine shotguns under each arm. Understandably, he became inebriated during his first night of freedom and passed out, only to find that all of his new valuables were stolen from him. Hopefully, some of the items made their way back to their original owners.
This was all that he told me. I would love to know if anyone remembered this gregarious, fun-loving fellow named "Fuzzy" from Maryland. |
Fourth Engineer Officer Robert Roger Womphrey . Naval Auxiliary Personnel HMS Forfar from Birkenhead, Cheshire) (d.2nd Dec 1940) |
Sergeant Ken Wood . RAF I have just returned from the St. Thomas Airport, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada having seen one of two surviving Lancasters. This prompted me to see what I could find about my uncle, Sgt. Ken Wood of the RAF. Thank you so very much for preserving our history and for making it available. My Mother recently celebrated her 90th birthday by taking a flight in a Harvard, the plane used at the training bases in this area during WWII. Seeing the Lanc today was an emotional experience for us both and I know she will be very appreciative of your website as I am sure she never saw the field where his plane crashed. Once again, thank you. |
P.O. A. L. Woodhouse . Royal Navy HMS Forfar Petty Officer Woodhouse was amongst those who survived when HMS Forfar was lost. He is listed in the cast of the revue
"Get Sailing" which was performed onboard the Forfar on the 19th of June 1940. |
Sgt. Thomas Peter Woodhouse . RAF(VR) w/op 78 Sqd. from Littlehampton, Sussex.) (d.2nd Nov 1941) Flt Lt Campbell flew with my Uncle, James Mercer, I would love to hear from anyone who knew him.
|
Sgt. Thomas Peter Woodhouse . RAF(VR) w/op 78 Sqd. from Littlehampton, Sussex.) (d.2nd Nov 1941) Sgt Woodhouse flew with my Uncle, James Mercer, I would love to hear from anyone who knew him.
|
Fusilier Ernest Woodman . Army 7th Btn. Cameronian Scottish Rifles I am trying to trace my uncle's WW2 history. He was Fusilier Ernest Woodman, No:14755782, he served with 7th Batt Cameronian Scottish Rifles and 5th Batt Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, D Coy. |
Kathleen Woodrow . NAAFI Please could anyone tell me how to go about finding information on the NAAFI? (The Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes) My sister, Kathleen Woodrow, was in the NAAFI and stationed at Egmere in Norfolk. She was born in 1926 and died in 1946 from cancer. I don't know any dates as to when she started work there or when she left, but I would have thought it to be around 1940 which would make her about 15 years of age. I hope you can help me or give me information as to where I can find this information. Thank you for any help you can give me. |
Flight Lieutenant Ernest Robert Woof . RAF My Grandfather served at RAF Biscester during WW2. His name was Flt. Lt. Ernest Robert Woof. He was a ground engineering officer. All my aunts and uncles were either born or brought up in the area. It is my plan to take my mother for a visit in the near future if possible at the location of the airfield.
|
Tasman Cyril Robert Woolcott . According to his service records, my wife’s grandfather, Tasman Cyril Robert Woolcott, was held at Stalag X1B from March 1944 until its liberation.
If anyone has records or information concerning him, I would appreciate hearing from you. |
Edna May Woolford . Land Army My Mother-in-law was in the land army her name was Edna May Woolford she was posted at a farm called Elms Farm in Nuneaton Warwickshire. |
Maisy Woolnough . Land Army |
Flight Sergeant Douglas Alfred Workman . RAF 521 Squadron My father was Flight Sergeant Douglas Alfred Workman of No 521 Squadron, Bircham Newton between 1941-1945. My father past away in 1960, of cancer of the nose and throat, he was 38 years old, I was 9 years old at the time. We think it was caused by his flying in the war years. I remember my father telling me stories about flying in the war but not in too much detail. My mother sadly passed away recently and I am now in possession of his logbook and pictures. Can anyone please put me in touch with someone from my father's squadron or an association through which I can find out more information |
Ldg Seaman. T. Worthy . Royal Navy HMS Forfar Worthy survived the sinking of HMS Forfar on the 2nd of December 1940. |
Carpenters Mate Edward Wrgley . Naval Auxiliary Personnel HMS Forfar (d.2nd Dec 1940) |
Bessie "Betty" Wright . Land Army |
Doris "Half Pint" Wright . Land Army from Hull) I am posting this on behalf of my mum, Doris Wright, who served in the Womens Land Army, based at Stubton Rectory in the village of Stubton, Lincolnshire. My mum has fond memories of her Land Army days, not least because she met my dad, Owen Wright, who was a Scottish Jock serving in the 1st Airborne Division Provost Company, Corps of Military Police stationed at the nearby Stubton Hall. After the war, they married and set up home in Hamilton, Scotland. Dad is sadly no longer with us but mum regularly reminisces about her Land Army adventures when she, a Yorkshire lass from the city of Hull who had only known urban life and factory work, became a country girl assisting the farmers around Stubton with their wartime chores. I am sure mum would love to hear from any of her former Land Army pals. |
Joseph Alan Wright . Army 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry My father, Joseph Alan Wright, served in the 11th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry in France with the BEF, and in Iceland. He tells me that he started to swim the Channel from the Dunkirk beaches before being picked up by a fishing boat.
I don't have many details, except his identification number: 4459285 and the fact that he was in Battalion HQ in 1941 (at that time I think they were in Wales). He also worked in training at some stage - teaching economics!
I'm pleased to say that my father is still alive. |
Kenneth "Larry" Wright . Army 1st Batalion York & Lancaster Regiment from Bradford, West Yorkshire) Kenneth Wright was my Grandad, sadly I never new him as he died when my mum was only 13 and I was not born until she was 24. I know little about him, and although I never knew him I feel proud of him. He was born in 1926 and was called up in April 1944, and he made Sargent in 1947. He was in the York and Lancaster Regiment. He was shot in the leg in Germany. That is all I know of him. I have many photos of him with others from the same regiment and I would like to find out more if possible, so if anyone knew him please get in touch. Thank you. |
Owen Wright . Army 1st Airborne Division Provost Company Corps of Military Police My Dad was a Scottish Jock serving in the 1st Airborne Division Provost Company, Corps of Military Police stationed at the nearby Stubton Hall, Lincolnshire. There he met my Mother Doris, who was serving in the Womens Land Army, based at Stubton Rectory in the village of Stubton. After the war, they married and set up home in Hamilton, Scotland. |
Flt. Sgt. Victor George Wright . RAF(VR) air gunner. 78 Sqd. from Strood, Kent.) (d.2nd Nov 1941) Flt Sgt Wright flew with my Uncle, James Mercer, I would love to hear from anyone who knew him.
|
Corporal Fredrick Wyman . Royal Army Service Corps Fredrick Wyman was my grandfather. I am trying to find some information on him as our family has so little. We know that he was a driver in the Royal Army Service Corps and that he drove some quite influential people around but that is it, we would love to know more. |
|
