Kimberworth, St Thomas Church - Part 1
Harry Bell - D/KX 81274
© IWM (GM 165) HMS Lively in Grand Harbour, Malta
Harry Bell born in Rotherham in 1909, his birth was registered in second quarter of that year. He was the sixth child of Colliery Stoker, John Arthur Bell and his wife of 15 years, Louisa (nee Glover). The Family was originally from the Leeds area but lived at 12 Hardwick Road, Eastwood Vale, Rotherham. As a child Harry attended St Ann’s Road Council School & South Grove Central School. He later worked for Robert Jenkins Ltd. Harry was married in Rotherham in the summer of 1930 and they later lived at 30 Harrison St, Holmes with their family (son and daughter).
He enlisted in the Royal Navy with service number D/KX 81274. He was a Petty Officer Stoker on H.M.S. Lively, a L (Laforey) class destroyer carrying Pennant Number G40. The ship was built by Cammell Laird in
Birkenhead launched 28 January 1940, and commissioned on 20 July 1941. On the 10th May 1942 HMS Lively and three other destroyers sailed from Alexandria at 18:15 to intercept an Italian convoy of 3 merchant ships escorted by 3 destroyers which had sailed from Navarins Bay, bound for Benghazi, however at about 15:15 on the 11th the ships were spotted by German JU88 reconnaissance aircraft which flew round the ships at a height of 10,000 feet despite the anti-aircraft fire from the destroyers, then flew off. At this point the proposed attack on the convoy was called off by the commander, and the force turned back for Alexandria, forming line abreast, with HMS Lively on the Port wing of the formation. Shortly after this an escort of Beaufighters arrived over the destroyers. At 16:25 the force was attacked by a force of Junkers JU88s of Fliegerkorps II, North of Sidi-el Barrani, the dive bombing attack coming out of the sun at a steep angle. At about 16:30, during the first wave of the attack, which had overwhelmed the 4 Beaufighters escorting the British ships, although they shot down a Heinkel III and damaged two more and five of the Junkers JU88s. A diving JU88 dropped 4 bombs from a low altitude, almost unopposed as the Livelys main armament did not fire, possibly mistaking the German aircraft for one of the Beaufighters, and the pom-poms line of fire was masked by the superstructure, the only guns firing being the Oerlikons. At least 3 of the bombs hit the Lively on the forecastle, penetrating through three decks before exploding, blowing out the whole forepart of the ship. Travelling at high speed, she drove the wrecked forepart under the surface, rolled over onto her Starboard side and sank within 4 minutes. HMS Lively was sunk 100 miles North East of Tobruk at 33° 24’N 25° 38’E, with the loss of 76 of her crew. Harry Bell was aged 33 when he died and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
He enlisted in the Royal Navy with service number D/KX 81274. He was a Petty Officer Stoker on H.M.S. Lively, a L (Laforey) class destroyer carrying Pennant Number G40. The ship was built by Cammell Laird in
Birkenhead launched 28 January 1940, and commissioned on 20 July 1941. On the 10th May 1942 HMS Lively and three other destroyers sailed from Alexandria at 18:15 to intercept an Italian convoy of 3 merchant ships escorted by 3 destroyers which had sailed from Navarins Bay, bound for Benghazi, however at about 15:15 on the 11th the ships were spotted by German JU88 reconnaissance aircraft which flew round the ships at a height of 10,000 feet despite the anti-aircraft fire from the destroyers, then flew off. At this point the proposed attack on the convoy was called off by the commander, and the force turned back for Alexandria, forming line abreast, with HMS Lively on the Port wing of the formation. Shortly after this an escort of Beaufighters arrived over the destroyers. At 16:25 the force was attacked by a force of Junkers JU88s of Fliegerkorps II, North of Sidi-el Barrani, the dive bombing attack coming out of the sun at a steep angle. At about 16:30, during the first wave of the attack, which had overwhelmed the 4 Beaufighters escorting the British ships, although they shot down a Heinkel III and damaged two more and five of the Junkers JU88s. A diving JU88 dropped 4 bombs from a low altitude, almost unopposed as the Livelys main armament did not fire, possibly mistaking the German aircraft for one of the Beaufighters, and the pom-poms line of fire was masked by the superstructure, the only guns firing being the Oerlikons. At least 3 of the bombs hit the Lively on the forecastle, penetrating through three decks before exploding, blowing out the whole forepart of the ship. Travelling at high speed, she drove the wrecked forepart under the surface, rolled over onto her Starboard side and sank within 4 minutes. HMS Lively was sunk 100 miles North East of Tobruk at 33° 24’N 25° 38’E, with the loss of 76 of her crew. Harry Bell was aged 33 when he died and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Frank Churchill - 7598032
Frank Churchill was the second child of son of Frank Salkeld
Churchill and his wife Emma (nee Clark), who
had married on 26 May 1912 in the parish of Wincobank. Frank Salkeld Churchill
was a miner, although that didn’t stop him from serving near four and a half
years in the First World War. The couple initially lived at 13 Jedburgh Street, Wincobank, Sheffield,
and later moved to of 112 Upper
Wortley Road, Droppingwell, Rotherham.
Their son Frank’s birth was registered in Sheffield
in the first quarter of 1920. He was educated at Meadowhall Road
Council School
and later employed by Yorkshire Engine Co Ltd. Before the Second World War he
was a member of the Territorial Army.
In 1939 he enlisted in the army, joining 4 Base Ordnance Workshop of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, service number 7598032. Private Frank Churchill died at sea on 25 October 1941. It is believed that he was on board HMS Latona en-route to Tobruk from Alexandria, Egypt. Latona was an Abdiel class minelayer which was taking part in Operation "Cultivate", the purpose of which was to replenish the garrison of Tobruk. On the evening of 25 October HMS Latona was about 20 nautical miles north of Ras Azzaz, and at 21:05 hours Latona sustained a bomb hit in the after engine room, dropped by a plane unseen in the darkness. At that time, the British ship had been taken under attack by a group of 10 German Stuka from I/St,G.1 belonging to the Fliegerführer Afrika and 2 Italian S.79 3-engined bombers belonging to the 279th Torpedo Squadron, 5th Air Fleet. Both Italians and Germans believed to have scored hits, but were unable to ascertain for sure. In reality, as confirmed from British sources, the damage to Latona, was caused by a 500-kg bomb dropped from close range by a Stuka piloted by Major Sorge, who was able to witness the fireball at the stern of his target immediately after releasing.
The Captain shouted the orders through the tannoy to abandon ship when ready, the captain also said that Army personnel which amounted to thirteen were to leave first when a rescue ship arrived. The first ship to arrive was the H.M.S Encounter, the Army personnel climbed over and lined the outer edge of the rail of the ship in hope of rescue. The Encounter came in alongside, and immediately came under attack from enemy aircraft, some men jumped from the Latona missing the Encounter completely, and finished up landing in the sea, and were seen to drift of into the darkness. The Encounter under attack herself had no other option and withdrew from the burning Latona. After that HMS Hero came in close and rescued the majority of the crew. A second bomb, dropped by Sub.Lt Steinhagen, near-missed destroyer Hero, causing her severe damage, while she was alongside Latona, which had gone dead in the water due to destruction of the after engine room. Aboard Latona, which remained afloat for another 2 hours, there was a further heavy explosion, caused by the ammunition on deck, touched by a fire started by the hit.
Abandoned by crew and passengers, Latona was scuttled by a torpedo from Encounter, sinking at 2230 hours in position 32º15'N, 25º14'E. In the sinking of Latona 4 officers, 16 crew and 7 soldiers lost their lives, including Frank Churchill who was 21 years old, and is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial.
In 1939 he enlisted in the army, joining 4 Base Ordnance Workshop of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, service number 7598032. Private Frank Churchill died at sea on 25 October 1941. It is believed that he was on board HMS Latona en-route to Tobruk from Alexandria, Egypt. Latona was an Abdiel class minelayer which was taking part in Operation "Cultivate", the purpose of which was to replenish the garrison of Tobruk. On the evening of 25 October HMS Latona was about 20 nautical miles north of Ras Azzaz, and at 21:05 hours Latona sustained a bomb hit in the after engine room, dropped by a plane unseen in the darkness. At that time, the British ship had been taken under attack by a group of 10 German Stuka from I/St,G.1 belonging to the Fliegerführer Afrika and 2 Italian S.79 3-engined bombers belonging to the 279th Torpedo Squadron, 5th Air Fleet. Both Italians and Germans believed to have scored hits, but were unable to ascertain for sure. In reality, as confirmed from British sources, the damage to Latona, was caused by a 500-kg bomb dropped from close range by a Stuka piloted by Major Sorge, who was able to witness the fireball at the stern of his target immediately after releasing.
The Captain shouted the orders through the tannoy to abandon ship when ready, the captain also said that Army personnel which amounted to thirteen were to leave first when a rescue ship arrived. The first ship to arrive was the H.M.S Encounter, the Army personnel climbed over and lined the outer edge of the rail of the ship in hope of rescue. The Encounter came in alongside, and immediately came under attack from enemy aircraft, some men jumped from the Latona missing the Encounter completely, and finished up landing in the sea, and were seen to drift of into the darkness. The Encounter under attack herself had no other option and withdrew from the burning Latona. After that HMS Hero came in close and rescued the majority of the crew. A second bomb, dropped by Sub.Lt Steinhagen, near-missed destroyer Hero, causing her severe damage, while she was alongside Latona, which had gone dead in the water due to destruction of the after engine room. Aboard Latona, which remained afloat for another 2 hours, there was a further heavy explosion, caused by the ammunition on deck, touched by a fire started by the hit.
Abandoned by crew and passengers, Latona was scuttled by a torpedo from Encounter, sinking at 2230 hours in position 32º15'N, 25º14'E. In the sinking of Latona 4 officers, 16 crew and 7 soldiers lost their lives, including Frank Churchill who was 21 years old, and is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial.
Stanley Cookson
Stanley Cookson was born in Rotherham on 15 April 1911 second child of George Herbert Cookson and his wife Ada Alice (nee Shirley) who lived at 4 Claremont Street, Rotherham. His father was a railway wagon builder until he enlisted in the Army during the First World War. George became a Sergeant in the Royal Field Artillery and
served in France from 30 December 1915 until he was severely wounded by a gas shell in August 1917. The family later lived at 286 Meadowbank Road, Kimberworth, Rotherham. As a child Stanley attended Kimberworth Central School, and was then employed by P H Johnson (Coal Merchant). Stanley was married in Rotherham in the first quarter of 1938, and lived at 30 Fox Street, Rotherham.
Stanley enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, in January 1942 and was based at RAF North Luffenham, Lincolnshire. This was the base for No. 29 Operational Training Unit was formed to raise crews on Vickers Wellington medium bombers. On the night of 14/15 January 1943 Sergeant Cookson (service number 1542878) was the Air Gunner on a Wellington III serial number DF614. The aircraft was converted to Mk. X and delivered from the Vickers (Squires Gate) factory in August/September 1942. The mission for the training unit that night was a dedicated leaflet drop to the Nancy area of France. The aircraft failed to return and was initially reported as missing. It was later confirmed that the aircraft has crashed on 15 January 1943 and that Stanley and the other four crew members had all died. He was buried in the churchyard at St. Remy-Boscrocourt, a village 15 miles north-east of Dieppe. Stanley Cookson was 31 years of age.
Note
Other crew members were:
Sgt Ernest Alexander Kelly, aged 26 – 655704 - RAF - Pilot
Sgt George William Brothwell – 1239045 - RAFVR - Navigator
Sgt Donald Cecil Nelson, aged 29 – 1553494 - RAFVR - Air Bomber
Sgt Albert Stanley Grove, aged 21 – 1379957 - RAFVR – Wireless Operator / Air
Gunner
served in France from 30 December 1915 until he was severely wounded by a gas shell in August 1917. The family later lived at 286 Meadowbank Road, Kimberworth, Rotherham. As a child Stanley attended Kimberworth Central School, and was then employed by P H Johnson (Coal Merchant). Stanley was married in Rotherham in the first quarter of 1938, and lived at 30 Fox Street, Rotherham.
Stanley enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, in January 1942 and was based at RAF North Luffenham, Lincolnshire. This was the base for No. 29 Operational Training Unit was formed to raise crews on Vickers Wellington medium bombers. On the night of 14/15 January 1943 Sergeant Cookson (service number 1542878) was the Air Gunner on a Wellington III serial number DF614. The aircraft was converted to Mk. X and delivered from the Vickers (Squires Gate) factory in August/September 1942. The mission for the training unit that night was a dedicated leaflet drop to the Nancy area of France. The aircraft failed to return and was initially reported as missing. It was later confirmed that the aircraft has crashed on 15 January 1943 and that Stanley and the other four crew members had all died. He was buried in the churchyard at St. Remy-Boscrocourt, a village 15 miles north-east of Dieppe. Stanley Cookson was 31 years of age.
Note
Other crew members were:
Sgt Ernest Alexander Kelly, aged 26 – 655704 - RAF - Pilot
Sgt George William Brothwell – 1239045 - RAFVR - Navigator
Sgt Donald Cecil Nelson, aged 29 – 1553494 - RAFVR - Air Bomber
Sgt Albert Stanley Grove, aged 21 – 1379957 - RAFVR – Wireless Operator / Air
Gunner
Geoffrey Copson - 14405006
Geoffrey Copson was the son of John Henry Copson and Ivy (nee Dawes), born in Rotherham in the second quarter of 1924.
He enlisted in the Army, service number 14405006, and was in the parachute Regiment, 7th Battalion. On the night 5th/6th june 1944 he was starting part in the airborne operation that preceded the landings on the Normandy beaches, that D-Day. He board a Stirling transport aircraft of 620 Squadron, serial number EJ116, with individual squadron code U at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. On its flight low over France to its drop zone ‘N’ it encountered heavy anti-aircraft flak. It was shot down and crashed near Chateau de Grangues, 20 km east of Caen. All six crew and 19 paratroopers were killed. Geoffrey Copson was 19 years old and now lies in Ranville War Cemetery. Note See also John Joseph Evans – Kimberworth St Thomas Although from different units Geoffrey Copson & John Evans both boarded their aircraft at Fairford late on 5 June 1944. Whether they met each other in the days before D-Day, or even knew each other is not know. However their aircraft crashed only a few hundred metres apart, possibly closer than they lived in Kimberworth. (Further details) |
Ronald Walter Duke - 1015615
Ronald Walter Duke was born on 20 June 1920 to, second child of Walter Duke and Lucy (Rylett), of 9 Herbert St, Kimberworth, Rotherham. He was educated Meadowhall Road Council School and then Kimberworth Central School. After leaving school he was employed Brightside Eng Co, Ecclesfield. Ronald’s father Walter served in the Great War and was severely wounded whilst serving with King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Ronald was an active member of the community. He was a member of Kimberworth Parish Church, also a member of the Kimberworth branch of TOC-H and also a section leader of the first aid post at Ferham House.
In October 1940 he enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and was given service number 1015615. Ronald was a Sergeant, flying as an Air Gunner on Vickers Wellington medium bombers aircraft with 115 Squadron. On the night of 14 August 1941 he took off in Wellington Mk.1C serial number R1500 with squadron markings of KO-K. The raid to Hannover comprised 152 aircraft, including 96 Wellington’s, with the railway stations as the aiming points. Airborne at 21:10 from RAF Marham in Cambridgeshire, the aircraft crashed in the North Sea. The cause of loss and
whether the plane was outbound or homebound was not established. Intially Sgt Duke’s aircraft was reported as missing on 15 August 1941.
His body, and one other from the six man crew, was washed ashore sometime later. He was originally buried on the island of Wangerooge, one of the East Frisian Islands just off the coast of Germany. Later he was re-interred in the Sage War Cemetery in northern Germany.
A memorial service to the 21 years old Ronald Walter Duke was held the following year on Saturday 7 February 1942 at Kimberworth Parish Church. Ronald’s elder brother Sidney was serving with the Royal Corps of Signals and was absent as he was overseas.
Note
Other members of the crew were:
Sgt C.G.Alway 1053017
Sgt D.A.Clabburn-Detrez 930774
Sgt D.H.Allan 904039
Sgt R.W.J Smalldon 649465
Sgt J.G.Park RCAF R/54368
Pilot Cecil George Alway is buried in the Sage War Cemetery, the others are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial
In October 1940 he enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and was given service number 1015615. Ronald was a Sergeant, flying as an Air Gunner on Vickers Wellington medium bombers aircraft with 115 Squadron. On the night of 14 August 1941 he took off in Wellington Mk.1C serial number R1500 with squadron markings of KO-K. The raid to Hannover comprised 152 aircraft, including 96 Wellington’s, with the railway stations as the aiming points. Airborne at 21:10 from RAF Marham in Cambridgeshire, the aircraft crashed in the North Sea. The cause of loss and
whether the plane was outbound or homebound was not established. Intially Sgt Duke’s aircraft was reported as missing on 15 August 1941.
His body, and one other from the six man crew, was washed ashore sometime later. He was originally buried on the island of Wangerooge, one of the East Frisian Islands just off the coast of Germany. Later he was re-interred in the Sage War Cemetery in northern Germany.
A memorial service to the 21 years old Ronald Walter Duke was held the following year on Saturday 7 February 1942 at Kimberworth Parish Church. Ronald’s elder brother Sidney was serving with the Royal Corps of Signals and was absent as he was overseas.
Note
Other members of the crew were:
Sgt C.G.Alway 1053017
Sgt D.A.Clabburn-Detrez 930774
Sgt D.H.Allan 904039
Sgt R.W.J Smalldon 649465
Sgt J.G.Park RCAF R/54368
Pilot Cecil George Alway is buried in the Sage War Cemetery, the others are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial
John Joseph Evans - 2116526
John Joseph Evans was born on 2 June 1920 in Rotherham to Joseph Evans and Lily (nee Jones) who had been married for five years. He was educated at Kimberworth Central School and later employed by Guest & Crimes Ltd. The family lived at 156 Meadowbank Road, Rotherham.
John enlisted in July 1940 and was a Sapper with the Royal Engineers, service number 2116526. His unit was 591 Parachute Squadron and they were involved with initial attack on D-Day 6 June 1944. At 23:34 on 5 June a Royal Air Force Short Stirling aircraft serial number EF295 took off from Fairford in Gloucestershire. It was carrying the commanding officer of 591 Squadron and the HQ party, a total of 17 paratroopers. Their target that night was Drop Zone N around the town of Ranville on the eastern flank of the Normandy beaches. As they crossed the coast the aircraft was hit by flak whilst flying at about 500 feet caught fire and began to lose height rapidly. The Stirling crash landed at Chateau de Grangues near Dives sur Mare, 20 km east of Caen and 13 km east of the intended drop zone. John Joseph Evans was killed in the crash, he was 24 years old and was buried in Ranville War Cemetery. Note See also Geoffrey Copson – Kimberworth St Thomas Although from different units Geoffrey Copson & John Evans both boarded their aircraft at Fairford late on 5 June 1944. Whether they met each other in the days before D-Day, or even knew each other is not know. However their aircraft crashed only a few hundred metres apart, possibly closer than they lived in Kimberworth. (Further details) |
Sidney Keyworth - 14569510
Sidney Keyworth was born on 21 June 1923 in Rotherham to George Keyworth and Elsie (nee Evers) who
had married three years previously. Sidney was educated
at Ferham Road
Council School
and Rotherham Grammer School
before being employed by Owen & Dyson Ltd. He lived with his parents at 24 Garden St,
Masbro prior to his marriage in the second quarter of 1943 when his home became
that of his wife’s family at 38 Deepdale
Road, Kimberworth.
Sidney enlisted in the Army in March 1943, service number 14569510, and was a Sapper with 591 Parachute Squadron, Royal Engineers. He received his parachute training at Ringway on course 77. On 24 March 1945 the allies put together the largest airborne armada of the war for the Rhine crossing operation. The airlift consisted of 541 transport aircraft containing airborne troops, and a further 1,050 troop-carriers towing 1,350 gliders. The 17th Airborne Division consisted of 9,387 personnel, who were transported in 836 C-47 Skytrain transports, 72 C-46 Commando transports, and more than 900 Waco CG-4A gliders. The 6th Airborne Division consisted of 7,220 personnel transported by 42 Douglas C-54 and 752 C-47 Dakota transport aircraft, as well as 420 Airspeed Horsa and General Aircraft Hamilcar gliders. This immense armada stretched more than 200 miles in the sky and took 2 hours and 37 minutes to pass any given point, and was protected by some 2,153 Allied fighters from the U.S. Ninth Air Force and the Royal Air Force. The 591st were to take part in both the parachute drop and glider-borne attack. Sidney Keyworth was killed on 24 March 1945, it is most likely that he was on board one of the six glider that the units personnel were spread over as it was these that suffered most casualties. Sidney was 21 years old and is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. |
John Hawkridge - 1473344
© IWM (CNA 475) Bostons of 114 Squadron
John Hawkridge was born on 18 March 1923 in Masbro, Rotherham, first child of Sydney Hawkridge and Sarah Jane (nee Ruding). He was educated at RotherhamGrammar School on Moorgate and later employed at ‘The Mount’ on Alma Road.
John enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 1473344, at Cardington in 1941. He became a Flight Sergeant and after training as a navigator / air bomber in Southern Rhodesia he joined 114 Squadron. The squadron were in North Africa from late 1942 and then onto Italywhere they moved bases a number of times. By February 1945 they were based at Falconara and were flying the Douglas Boston aircraft. On 24 February 1945 his aircraft, a Boston mk IV serial number BZ552 went missing on a night intruder mission in northern Italy. It is it not known the reason that the aircraft crash in the vicinity of Aquileia. John Hawkridge was 21 years old and now lies in Udine War Cemetery.
Note
Other casualties, who are also buried in the Udine WarCemetery were:
207110V Capt (Pilot) Frederick George Pratt - SAAF
1566738 F/Sgt (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Walter Loynd Whitehead - RAFVR
John enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 1473344, at Cardington in 1941. He became a Flight Sergeant and after training as a navigator / air bomber in Southern Rhodesia he joined 114 Squadron. The squadron were in North Africa from late 1942 and then onto Italywhere they moved bases a number of times. By February 1945 they were based at Falconara and were flying the Douglas Boston aircraft. On 24 February 1945 his aircraft, a Boston mk IV serial number BZ552 went missing on a night intruder mission in northern Italy. It is it not known the reason that the aircraft crash in the vicinity of Aquileia. John Hawkridge was 21 years old and now lies in Udine War Cemetery.
Note
Other casualties, who are also buried in the Udine WarCemetery were:
207110V Capt (Pilot) Frederick George Pratt - SAAF
1566738 F/Sgt (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Walter Loynd Whitehead - RAFVR