Thrybergh Parish Hall - Part 1
Jack Birch - 4611171
Jack Birch was born in Rotherham in 1912, the youngest of nine children of coal miner Charles Edward Birch and his wife of 17 years, Alice (nee Houghton). The
couple were originally from Lichfield, but moved to Rotherham in the first few years of the 20th century and lived at 52 Dalton Road. Jack was married in 1938,
and lived with his wife and son born a year in Ravenfield.
Initially with the Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) before later becoming a Sapper with the Royal Engineers, 170 Tunnelling Company. He went to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force and was killed on active service, on 31 March 1940 aged 29. Jack is buried in Douai Communal Cemetery, France.
couple were originally from Lichfield, but moved to Rotherham in the first few years of the 20th century and lived at 52 Dalton Road. Jack was married in 1938,
and lived with his wife and son born a year in Ravenfield.
Initially with the Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) before later becoming a Sapper with the Royal Engineers, 170 Tunnelling Company. He went to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force and was killed on active service, on 31 March 1940 aged 29. Jack is buried in Douai Communal Cemetery, France.
James Burke - 14373877
James Burke was the ninth of ten children born to Rose (nee Dabbs) and Thomas Burke of 82 Whinney Hill, Thrybergh. James was educated at St Gerard’s School, Thrybergh and later employed at Beedon Street as a bricklayer. He was married in 1937 and lived at 45 Norfolk
St, Rotherham with his wife and three children. He joined the Army, service number 14373877 and was a Private in the 11th Battalion, Parachute Regiment. His unit was part of the second lift on Monday 18 September 1944 of Operation Market Garden, the Arnhem battle also known as ‘A Bridge Too Far’. On the next day, the 11th Battalion, which had stayed out of much of the fighting, was now overwhelmed in exposed positions while attempting to capture high ground to the north. James Burke was reported to have died of wounds on 23 September 1944, aged 29, and is buried in Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery. |
Brian Doyle - 580430
Brian Doyle was born in Rotherham at 12 Cross St, Whinney Hill, Rotherham to Michael Doyle and Agnes (nee Browne). His father was a miner who had served a couple of years in World War I before being discharged due to wounds. Michael was married in the last quarter of 1940.
He joined the Royal Air Force and was a Warrant Officer, service number 580430. On 30 May 1942 he was on board a Vickers Wellington bomber from Upper Heyford belonging to 16 Operational Training Unit bound for Cologne. This was the first of the 1,000 bomber raids, and to achieve this Air Chief Marshal Harris had mustered all the aircraft he could with the training units contributing over one third of the entire force. The pilot of Doyle’s aircraft got into a spin in cumulo-nimbus cloud ten miles east of Southwold and at 2,000 feet he ordered his crew to bale out. After three of them had done so, he managed to right the aircraft at 200 feet, almost scraping the water as he
brought his Wellington under control and climbed away, later landing safely at Stradishall. The three men who baled out had been within sight of the coast as they parachuted down, but the most intensive search failed to find them and they were presumed lost at sea. Brian Doyle was one of the three men lost without trace, aged 23, he is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.
He joined the Royal Air Force and was a Warrant Officer, service number 580430. On 30 May 1942 he was on board a Vickers Wellington bomber from Upper Heyford belonging to 16 Operational Training Unit bound for Cologne. This was the first of the 1,000 bomber raids, and to achieve this Air Chief Marshal Harris had mustered all the aircraft he could with the training units contributing over one third of the entire force. The pilot of Doyle’s aircraft got into a spin in cumulo-nimbus cloud ten miles east of Southwold and at 2,000 feet he ordered his crew to bale out. After three of them had done so, he managed to right the aircraft at 200 feet, almost scraping the water as he
brought his Wellington under control and climbed away, later landing safely at Stradishall. The three men who baled out had been within sight of the coast as they parachuted down, but the most intensive search failed to find them and they were presumed lost at sea. Brian Doyle was one of the three men lost without trace, aged 23, he is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.
Ronald Cecil Inett - 4694965
Ronald Cecil Inett was born in Rotherham in the first quarter of 1922 to Frederick Inett and Edith Hannah (nee Smith). Latterly they lived at 11 Park Terrace, Thrybergh.
Ronald enlisted in the army, initially with King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry service number 4694965, later joining the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards, Royal Armoured Corps. On 15 January 1943 the advance resumed with The King's Dragoon Guards acting as flank guard to another 'left hook' past Tripoli to cut off the retreating enemy. The rough nature of the ground made slow going, but a German rearguard was encountered near Beni Yulid, where the regiment took over the lead, and three Stukas killed four men of 'C' Squadron, wounding seven more. On 19 January Ronald was killed, believed to be during an air attack on the headquarters in the western desert along with three other comrades. Ronald was 21 years old and has no known grave, but is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial. |