Catcliffe
The Carcliffe War Memorial is situated in St Mary Churchyard on Rotherham Road.
It lists the names of 26 casualties from the First World War with the inscription:
In grateful memory of - who laid down their lives in the Great War 1914-1918. They died that we might live.
There are a further 7 names added for the 1939-45 War with the inscription:
Also - who laid down their lives in the World War 1939-1945. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
It lists the names of 26 casualties from the First World War with the inscription:
In grateful memory of - who laid down their lives in the Great War 1914-1918. They died that we might live.
There are a further 7 names added for the 1939-45 War with the inscription:
Also - who laid down their lives in the World War 1939-1945. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
Additional Details
Robert Edwin Brougham (946550)
Royal Artillery - 4 Survey Regiment
27 July 1943, aged 24
Died during the Sicily Campaign
Catania War Cemetery, Sicily
Ernest Ronald Clayton (P/JX 333885)
Royal Navy - Fort Longueuil - H.M.S. President III.
19 September 1943, aged 23
Lost when vessel sunk in the Indian Ocean
Portsmouth Naval Memorial
William Cutts (4692210)
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry - 1st Bn.
28 April 1940, aged 21
Killed in action in the Norwegian Campaign
Kvam Churchyard
William Edward Marsden (4978050)
Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) - 1/5th Bn.
12 September 1944, aged 26
Died as a Japanese POW when ship was sunk
Singapore Memorial
Leslie Rollinson (D/SSX 17622)
Royal Navy - H.M.S. Illustrious
12 January 1941, aged 22
Died when ship was bombed by German aircraft
Plymouth Naval Memorial
Ivor Melvin Wilson (4757739)
York and Lancaster Regiment - 7th Bn.
12 April 1945, aged 32
Killed in action in the Burma Campaign
Taukkyan War Cemetery
Joe Woolley (3130943)
Royal Scots Fusiliers - 2nd Bn.
26 May 1940, aged 20
KIA in Belgium
Bus House Cemetery
Royal Artillery - 4 Survey Regiment
27 July 1943, aged 24
Died during the Sicily Campaign
Catania War Cemetery, Sicily
Ernest Ronald Clayton (P/JX 333885)
Royal Navy - Fort Longueuil - H.M.S. President III.
19 September 1943, aged 23
Lost when vessel sunk in the Indian Ocean
Portsmouth Naval Memorial
William Cutts (4692210)
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry - 1st Bn.
28 April 1940, aged 21
Killed in action in the Norwegian Campaign
Kvam Churchyard
William Edward Marsden (4978050)
Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) - 1/5th Bn.
12 September 1944, aged 26
Died as a Japanese POW when ship was sunk
Singapore Memorial
Leslie Rollinson (D/SSX 17622)
Royal Navy - H.M.S. Illustrious
12 January 1941, aged 22
Died when ship was bombed by German aircraft
Plymouth Naval Memorial
Ivor Melvin Wilson (4757739)
York and Lancaster Regiment - 7th Bn.
12 April 1945, aged 32
Killed in action in the Burma Campaign
Taukkyan War Cemetery
Joe Woolley (3130943)
Royal Scots Fusiliers - 2nd Bn.
26 May 1940, aged 20
KIA in Belgium
Bus House Cemetery
Robert Edwin Brougham - 946550
Robert Edwin Brougham was born in Rotherhamin 1919 to Edwin James and Esther Brougham, of 56 Brinsworth Rd, Catcliffe.
Robert joined the royal Artillery and became a Lance Bombardier in 4 Survey Regt. He was involved in the landings in Sicily which commenced on 9 July 1943 and died, along with 3 comrades from the same regiment, a few weeks later on 27 July 1943, aged 24. He now lies in Catania War Cemetery, Sicily.
Robert joined the royal Artillery and became a Lance Bombardier in 4 Survey Regt. He was involved in the landings in Sicily which commenced on 9 July 1943 and died, along with 3 comrades from the same regiment, a few weeks later on 27 July 1943, aged 24. He now lies in Catania War Cemetery, Sicily.
Ernest Ronald Clayton - P/JX 333885
Ernest Ronald Clayton was born in Rotherham on 21 August 1920 to Charles Henry and Lily Clayton, one of four children to the couple.
He joined the Royal Navy in January 1942 and was an Able Seaman. He was a DEMS gunner on Defensively
Equipped Merchant Ships. He was on board the Fort Longueuil a 7,128 tons Canadian built steam merchantman built in 1942. The ship was crewed by 49 crew members from Britain, India and Canada, as well as ten British gunners (six
Royal Navy and four members of the 6th Maritime Regiment of the Royal Artillery) onboard, to man the array of guns. The ship was fitted with a 4 inch stern gun, 5 Oerlikon guns, 2 'pig troughs', 1 pillar box, 2 FAM rockets, 4 PAC rockets and
a balloon used in cases of air attack. The ship was also fitted with torpedo nets and booms. On 16 Jul, 1943, the Fort Longueuil left Barry docks, Wales with a cargo of government stores, it joined the 66 ship escorted Convoy OS52/KMS21
and arrived safely at Alexandria, Egypt on 8 August. After the cargo was discharged she sailed from there unescorted on 26 August, sailing through the Suez Canal two days later and docked at Aden on 8 September to bunker. The next
day, the ship left for Australia after loading phosphate. She was due to arrive at Fremantle, Australia and then to sail to Port Kembla and Newcastle, New South Wales, but was reported missing on 15 October. By 3 November, it was known that the ship had been lost in the Indian Ocean at the estimated position of 10°S 68°E. In fact on 19 September 1943, the unescorted Fort Longueuil was torpedoed and sunk by German Submarine U-532 southwest of Chagos Archipelago. Only two Indian crewmen, managed to survive on a raft and became Japanese prisoners on 1 Feb, 1944, when the raft drifted ashore on Sumatra after a staggering 134 days at sea. Ernest Ronald Clayton died aged 23, and is commemorated on the
Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Note
It was on a mission to locate survivors from Fort Longueuil that William Henry Westby died (see Woodsetts).
He joined the Royal Navy in January 1942 and was an Able Seaman. He was a DEMS gunner on Defensively
Equipped Merchant Ships. He was on board the Fort Longueuil a 7,128 tons Canadian built steam merchantman built in 1942. The ship was crewed by 49 crew members from Britain, India and Canada, as well as ten British gunners (six
Royal Navy and four members of the 6th Maritime Regiment of the Royal Artillery) onboard, to man the array of guns. The ship was fitted with a 4 inch stern gun, 5 Oerlikon guns, 2 'pig troughs', 1 pillar box, 2 FAM rockets, 4 PAC rockets and
a balloon used in cases of air attack. The ship was also fitted with torpedo nets and booms. On 16 Jul, 1943, the Fort Longueuil left Barry docks, Wales with a cargo of government stores, it joined the 66 ship escorted Convoy OS52/KMS21
and arrived safely at Alexandria, Egypt on 8 August. After the cargo was discharged she sailed from there unescorted on 26 August, sailing through the Suez Canal two days later and docked at Aden on 8 September to bunker. The next
day, the ship left for Australia after loading phosphate. She was due to arrive at Fremantle, Australia and then to sail to Port Kembla and Newcastle, New South Wales, but was reported missing on 15 October. By 3 November, it was known that the ship had been lost in the Indian Ocean at the estimated position of 10°S 68°E. In fact on 19 September 1943, the unescorted Fort Longueuil was torpedoed and sunk by German Submarine U-532 southwest of Chagos Archipelago. Only two Indian crewmen, managed to survive on a raft and became Japanese prisoners on 1 Feb, 1944, when the raft drifted ashore on Sumatra after a staggering 134 days at sea. Ernest Ronald Clayton died aged 23, and is commemorated on the
Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Note
It was on a mission to locate survivors from Fort Longueuil that William Henry Westby died (see Woodsetts).
William Cutts - 4692210
William Cutts was born in Rotherham in 1918, son of railway worker William Cutts and Ellen (nee Leake). Initially the family lived at 29 School Lane, Catcliffe, Rotherham and later, The Bungalow, New St, Catcliffe. He was employed by LMS Railway.
He was a private the 1st Battalion of King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. The regiment was part of the 15th Infantry Brigade which went to Norway to counter the German invasion, it was involved in the Central Norway action. Kvam was the scene of bitter fighting by troops of the 15th Infantry Brigade during the withdrawal of Allied forces in central Norway in April 1940. The 1st Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and the 1st Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment held positions in this area from 24-28 April against fierce enemy land and air attacks and those who were killed in action during the last week of April are buried in a collective grave in Kvam Churchyard. William Cutts was 21 years old when he was killed. Note Of the 54 soldiers buried in Kvam Churchyard, five are from the Rotherham area. Others are: Leslie Staniforth (see Treeton) Wilfred Crummack (see Swinton) Percy Howlett (see Additional Casualties – H) Enoch Kean (see Additional Casualties – K) |
William Edward Marsden - 4978050
William Edward Marsden was born in Rotherhamin 1918 to John Marsden and Mary Annice (nee Hicks). The family initially lived at 31 School Lane, Catcliffe, Rotherham and later at 16 Sheffield Lane, Catcliffe.
He was a Private in the 1/5th Battalion of Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) when they sailed in late October 1941 from Liverpool aboard a converted P&O liner, the troopship Orcades, for the Middle East. The 1/5th Foresters were part of 55 Brigade, one of the three Brigades of 18th Division that was diverted to Singapore to combat the Japanese aggression. They had travelled over twenty thousand miles in three months to disembark on Singapore Island ``The Guardian of the East" on the 29 January 1942, to reinforce the Island``Fortress" against the advancing forces of the Imperial Japanese Army. When Singapore surrendered on 15 February 1942 William Marsden was one of 80,000 British, Australian and Indian troops taken prisoners of war. Having been held captive for two and a half years, William Marsden was one of 2,217 Australian and British prisoners of war, who had survived the building of the Death Railway. On 4 September 1944 they were marched the three miles from the Valley Road camp in Singapore to the docks to board two passenger/cargo ships, Rakuyo Maru (9,500 tons) and the Kachidoki Maru (10,500 tons). The Kachidoki Maru held 900 PoWs (all British) and the Rakuyo Maru a further 1,317 (Australian and British), the two ships joined convoy HI-72 and sailed from Singapore bound for Formosa. On the 12 September in the South China Sea, the twelve ship convoy, including three transports, two tankers and four escorting destroyers, was attacked by three American submarines, the Growler, Sealion and the Pampanito. The Pampanito fired three torpedoes at the Kachidoki Maru at 22:40, the target was 3,700 yards away, two torpedoes hit the ship, one at the stern and the other amidships. Both blew holes in the hull plates, flooding the entire aft end of the ship. The Rakuyo and Kachidoki were both sunk by torpedoes 300 miles west of Cape Bojeador, Luzon, to the north east of Hainan Island. A total of 1,144 British and Australian POW's lost their lives. All told there were 1,073 survivors, 141 were picked up by the three submarines. The USS Queenfish and USS Barb arrived later and in heavy seas rescued another thirty-two before heading for Saipan. The Japanese destroyers rescued 520 British prisoners from the Kachidoki (488 POW's and crew had died) and 277 British and Australians from the Rakuyo, to again become Prisoners of War.
William Edwards Marsden was one of the men lost from the Kachidoki Maru. He was 26 years old when he died and is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial
He was a Private in the 1/5th Battalion of Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) when they sailed in late October 1941 from Liverpool aboard a converted P&O liner, the troopship Orcades, for the Middle East. The 1/5th Foresters were part of 55 Brigade, one of the three Brigades of 18th Division that was diverted to Singapore to combat the Japanese aggression. They had travelled over twenty thousand miles in three months to disembark on Singapore Island ``The Guardian of the East" on the 29 January 1942, to reinforce the Island``Fortress" against the advancing forces of the Imperial Japanese Army. When Singapore surrendered on 15 February 1942 William Marsden was one of 80,000 British, Australian and Indian troops taken prisoners of war. Having been held captive for two and a half years, William Marsden was one of 2,217 Australian and British prisoners of war, who had survived the building of the Death Railway. On 4 September 1944 they were marched the three miles from the Valley Road camp in Singapore to the docks to board two passenger/cargo ships, Rakuyo Maru (9,500 tons) and the Kachidoki Maru (10,500 tons). The Kachidoki Maru held 900 PoWs (all British) and the Rakuyo Maru a further 1,317 (Australian and British), the two ships joined convoy HI-72 and sailed from Singapore bound for Formosa. On the 12 September in the South China Sea, the twelve ship convoy, including three transports, two tankers and four escorting destroyers, was attacked by three American submarines, the Growler, Sealion and the Pampanito. The Pampanito fired three torpedoes at the Kachidoki Maru at 22:40, the target was 3,700 yards away, two torpedoes hit the ship, one at the stern and the other amidships. Both blew holes in the hull plates, flooding the entire aft end of the ship. The Rakuyo and Kachidoki were both sunk by torpedoes 300 miles west of Cape Bojeador, Luzon, to the north east of Hainan Island. A total of 1,144 British and Australian POW's lost their lives. All told there were 1,073 survivors, 141 were picked up by the three submarines. The USS Queenfish and USS Barb arrived later and in heavy seas rescued another thirty-two before heading for Saipan. The Japanese destroyers rescued 520 British prisoners from the Kachidoki (488 POW's and crew had died) and 277 British and Australians from the Rakuyo, to again become Prisoners of War.
William Edwards Marsden was one of the men lost from the Kachidoki Maru. He was 26 years old when he died and is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial
Leslie Rollinson - D/SSX 17622
Leslie Rollinson was born in Rotherham in 1918 to coal miner Francis Joseph Rollinson and Violet (nee Dyson). The family lived at 20 Main Street, Catcliffe, Rotherham and later at 45 Orgreave Rd, Catcliffe.
Leslie enlisted in the Royal Navy service number D/SSX 17622, in 1936 and spent 3 years in the China Seas. In 1940 he took part in the evacuation from Dunkirk. In 1941 he was an Able Seaman on the fleet aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. On 7 January 1941 Illustrious took part in Operation MC4, along with two battleships and eight destroyers forming Force A providing distant cover to convoy MW5½ from Alexandriato the besieged island of Malta. On 10 January 1941 Illustrious, whilst 60 miles west of Malta, was subject to a sustained air attack by Savoia-Marchetti SM79 and newly arrived German Ju-87 "Stuka" dive-bombers. It was hit on the armoured flight deck which was penetrated by a 500kg bomb and along with six other bombs suffered extensive damage, destroying the sick bay and ward room.
Leslie Rollinson, aged 22, was one of 124 casualties on the ship that day. He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Leslie enlisted in the Royal Navy service number D/SSX 17622, in 1936 and spent 3 years in the China Seas. In 1940 he took part in the evacuation from Dunkirk. In 1941 he was an Able Seaman on the fleet aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. On 7 January 1941 Illustrious took part in Operation MC4, along with two battleships and eight destroyers forming Force A providing distant cover to convoy MW5½ from Alexandriato the besieged island of Malta. On 10 January 1941 Illustrious, whilst 60 miles west of Malta, was subject to a sustained air attack by Savoia-Marchetti SM79 and newly arrived German Ju-87 "Stuka" dive-bombers. It was hit on the armoured flight deck which was penetrated by a 500kg bomb and along with six other bombs suffered extensive damage, destroying the sick bay and ward room.
Leslie Rollinson, aged 22, was one of 124 casualties on the ship that day. He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Ivor Melvin Wilson - 4757739
Ivor Melvin Wilson, nicknamed Jack, was born in 1913 in Rotherham to Moses Wilson, a Colliery Surface Screenman, and his wife Florence (nee Whitham). By 1945 they resided at 10 Victoria St, Catcliffe.
He enlisted in army with the York and Lancaster Regiment and was a Private in the 7th Battalion. This battalion was stationed mainly in the North West Frontier of India before finally moving to Burma in early 1945 when they transferred to the command of 123rd Indian Infantry Division. “Jack” Wilson was killed in action, aged 32, along with 14 companions from the 7th battalion on 12 April 1945. He now lies in Taukkyan War Cemetery, Burma.
He enlisted in army with the York and Lancaster Regiment and was a Private in the 7th Battalion. This battalion was stationed mainly in the North West Frontier of India before finally moving to Burma in early 1945 when they transferred to the command of 123rd Indian Infantry Division. “Jack” Wilson was killed in action, aged 32, along with 14 companions from the 7th battalion on 12 April 1945. He now lies in Taukkyan War Cemetery, Burma.
Joe Woolley - 3130943
Joe Woolley was born on 21 August 1919, to coal miner Joseph Woolley and his wife Ethel Nuttall (nee Stevens), who were married in Rotherham in 1912. Young Joe’s mother died when he was just 10 years old. Two of Joe’s older brothers Samuel William and Daniel joined the forces.
Joe joined the army, service number 3130943, and was in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers with the rank of Fusilier. The Royal Scots Fusiliers were in France from 1939 as part of the British Expeditionary Force. In May 1940 they were ordered to stand-fast and defend ground along the Ypres- Comines Canal, just outside Ypres, enabling other troops to withdraw from Dunkirk. Part of “A” company occupied what was known as Hill 60 (a low rise on the southern flank of the Ypres Salient, named after the 60 metre contour which marked its bounds and scene of fighting during WW I). Other companies of 2 RSF held the railway line between hill 60 and the "Entrepot" at the canal bridge. Hill 60 was also the site of a desperate battle. Although the hill was the scene of a tremendous mortar and artillery barrage (Coy HQ being set up in and around the famous Anglo/German/Belgian pill-box), there was hand-to-hand fighting on the nearby Zwarteleen crossroads when a fighting patrol from 2 RSF set-off to destroy German machine gun and mortar positions that had been established there. The actions of this patrol enabled the evacuation of the defences on the railway and allowed for a successful withdrawal to the canal line and a general withdrawal towards St Eloi, Kemmel and Dikkebus.
Fusilier Joe Woolley was reported killed in action on 26 May 1940, aged 20 years old. He is now buried in the Bus House Cemetery (the cemetery stands behind a farm-house that was called "Bus House" by the troops during the First World War), it is 4 km south of Ieper town centre in Belgium. A memorial service was held at St Mary’s Church on Sunday 5 October 1941 at 3.30pm.
Joe joined the army, service number 3130943, and was in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers with the rank of Fusilier. The Royal Scots Fusiliers were in France from 1939 as part of the British Expeditionary Force. In May 1940 they were ordered to stand-fast and defend ground along the Ypres- Comines Canal, just outside Ypres, enabling other troops to withdraw from Dunkirk. Part of “A” company occupied what was known as Hill 60 (a low rise on the southern flank of the Ypres Salient, named after the 60 metre contour which marked its bounds and scene of fighting during WW I). Other companies of 2 RSF held the railway line between hill 60 and the "Entrepot" at the canal bridge. Hill 60 was also the site of a desperate battle. Although the hill was the scene of a tremendous mortar and artillery barrage (Coy HQ being set up in and around the famous Anglo/German/Belgian pill-box), there was hand-to-hand fighting on the nearby Zwarteleen crossroads when a fighting patrol from 2 RSF set-off to destroy German machine gun and mortar positions that had been established there. The actions of this patrol enabled the evacuation of the defences on the railway and allowed for a successful withdrawal to the canal line and a general withdrawal towards St Eloi, Kemmel and Dikkebus.
Fusilier Joe Woolley was reported killed in action on 26 May 1940, aged 20 years old. He is now buried in the Bus House Cemetery (the cemetery stands behind a farm-house that was called "Bus House" by the troops during the First World War), it is 4 km south of Ieper town centre in Belgium. A memorial service was held at St Mary’s Church on Sunday 5 October 1941 at 3.30pm.