Rotherham Grammar School - Moorgate - Panel 1
James Astle - P/MX 615168
James Astle was born in Rotherham on 31 July 1925, youngest child of James Astle and Zillah (nee Miree) of
46 Dalton Lane, Dalton.
He enlisted in the Roayl Navy and was a Leading Radio Mechanic, service number P/MX 615168 on HMS Kite. The vessel was a modified Black Swan Sloop launched in late 1942. On 20 August 1944 Kite was escorting the aircraft
carriers HMS Vindex and HMS Striker, part of convoy JW-59 to Northern Russia when the convoy was sighted in the Barents Sea by German aircraft. Soon a pack of U-boats attacked the convoy and one U-boat was sunk by Fairey Swordfish aircraft from one of the carriers. Two more were sunk by other destroyers. At 06:30 on 21 August, Kite slowed to 6 knots to untangle her "foxers" (anti acoustic torpedo noise makers, towed astern). The decision to do so, rather than severing the foxers' cables and abandoning them, was made by her temporary commander. At that speed Kite was a sitting duck, and she was hit by two torpedoes from U-344 and sank. Of Kite's crew of 10 officers and 207 ratings, 60 survived the attack, but from the freezing Arctic water only 14 sailors were picked up alive by HMS Keppel. Five of the rescued died on board HMS Keppel leaving only nine to make it to shore.
Note
U-344 was sunk the next day by depth charges from a single Swordfish plane from HMS Vindex.
46 Dalton Lane, Dalton.
He enlisted in the Roayl Navy and was a Leading Radio Mechanic, service number P/MX 615168 on HMS Kite. The vessel was a modified Black Swan Sloop launched in late 1942. On 20 August 1944 Kite was escorting the aircraft
carriers HMS Vindex and HMS Striker, part of convoy JW-59 to Northern Russia when the convoy was sighted in the Barents Sea by German aircraft. Soon a pack of U-boats attacked the convoy and one U-boat was sunk by Fairey Swordfish aircraft from one of the carriers. Two more were sunk by other destroyers. At 06:30 on 21 August, Kite slowed to 6 knots to untangle her "foxers" (anti acoustic torpedo noise makers, towed astern). The decision to do so, rather than severing the foxers' cables and abandoning them, was made by her temporary commander. At that speed Kite was a sitting duck, and she was hit by two torpedoes from U-344 and sank. Of Kite's crew of 10 officers and 207 ratings, 60 survived the attack, but from the freezing Arctic water only 14 sailors were picked up alive by HMS Keppel. Five of the rescued died on board HMS Keppel leaving only nine to make it to shore.
Note
U-344 was sunk the next day by depth charges from a single Swordfish plane from HMS Vindex.
Robert John Aubrey - 6108419
Robert John Aubrey’s birth was register in Ecclesall Bierlow in the final quarter of 1924, he was the only child of Robert George Aubrey and Jean (nee Love) who had married the previous year. Robert was educated at King Edward VII School from 1934 to 1939, and afterwards at Rotherham Grammar School and had spent a year studying architecture at Sheffield University. In 1936 at King Edward VII School he was 2nd in the Junior School beginners race, when the school swimming events for that year were staged at Heeley Baths. He also featured in the swimming at that school when on the 17th March 1939 he was awarded the bronze medallion in the life saving examination. The family had moved to 55 East Bawtry Road, Rotherham, where his father was a bank manager for Barclays Bank, and also an officer of 58th Bn West Riding (Rotherham) Home Guard. Robert enlisted in the Army in August 1943, service number 6108419, and was a Private in the 1/5th Battalion, The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey). Robert was selected for the Officer Cadet Training Unit but preferred to stay with his regiment. Private Aubrey had been serving on the continent since D-day, with the 7th Armoured Division, who had become known as The Desert Rats. He took part in the fighting round Caen, and had been twice wounded, in August 1944 he was hit in arm and left wrist by shrapnel. In early 1945 Operation Blackcock was launched to clear German troops from the Roer Triangle, formed by the towns of Roermond and Sittard in the Netherlands and Heinsberg in Germany. It was conducted by the British Second Army between 14 and 26 January 1945, and the 131st Infantry Brigade of 7th Armoured Brigade were heavily involved. A subsequent report on the battle stated ‘using the Northern route, tps of 22 Armd Bde attempted to enter Aandenburg (Aan De Berg) but were bitterly opposed. Heavy fighting continued in this area all night and on 23 Jan. It was not until 2 Devon had swept through the woods from the north and had linked up with 1/5 Queens that this village was captured early on 24 Jan’.
Private Robert John Aubrey died on 23 January 1945, aged 20 and is buried in Nederweert War Cemetery. |
Leonard Ayres - 1505092
Leonard Ayres was born in 1922 in Rotherham, youngest of three children of Albert Ayres and Ethel May (nee Howard) of 10 South Crescent, East Dene, Rotherham.
He was in the Royal Air Force as a Sergeant (Air Gunner) with 61 Squadron. On 6 December 1944 he was mid-upper gunner on Avro Lancaster ME725 with squadron markings of QR-G. The aircraft was airborne from Skellingthorpe at 16:39 on a No 5 Group attack on Germany to Giessen town centre and railway yards. There were 255 Lancasters and 10 Mosquitos involved in the attack, of which eight Lancasters were lost. Ayres’ aircraft was attacked by a night fighter over the target at about 8,000 feet, receiving cannon fire in the area of the wireless operator and mid-upper gunner positions. It is believed that a Messerschmitt Bf 110 piloted by Dieter Erichsen was responsible for the attack. The Lancaster aircraft crashed north-east of the target area just outside the village of Ilschhausen at 20:35. Five of the crew baled out to become prisoners of war. Sgt Leonard Ayres, aged 22, was one of two fatalities, both of whom were still in the aircraft when it crashed. Their bodied were taken to the local
fire station and buried the next day in the local cemetery at Hachborn. After the war his coffin was moved to the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery and he now
lies in Hanover War Cemetery.
He was in the Royal Air Force as a Sergeant (Air Gunner) with 61 Squadron. On 6 December 1944 he was mid-upper gunner on Avro Lancaster ME725 with squadron markings of QR-G. The aircraft was airborne from Skellingthorpe at 16:39 on a No 5 Group attack on Germany to Giessen town centre and railway yards. There were 255 Lancasters and 10 Mosquitos involved in the attack, of which eight Lancasters were lost. Ayres’ aircraft was attacked by a night fighter over the target at about 8,000 feet, receiving cannon fire in the area of the wireless operator and mid-upper gunner positions. It is believed that a Messerschmitt Bf 110 piloted by Dieter Erichsen was responsible for the attack. The Lancaster aircraft crashed north-east of the target area just outside the village of Ilschhausen at 20:35. Five of the crew baled out to become prisoners of war. Sgt Leonard Ayres, aged 22, was one of two fatalities, both of whom were still in the aircraft when it crashed. Their bodied were taken to the local
fire station and buried the next day in the local cemetery at Hachborn. After the war his coffin was moved to the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery and he now
lies in Hanover War Cemetery.
Note
The other crew were: F/O Clarence Armfield Donnelly RAAF (Pilot) – 421844 – POW F/Lt Jacob Herbert Vincent RAAF (Navigator) – 413696 - POW F/Sgt Ronald Gerald Devereaux Brock (Bombardier) – 1286271 - POW Sgt Albert Henry Steers (Flight Engineer) – 1819122– killed F/Sgt Francis Douglas Green RAAF (Radio Operator) – 432170 - POW Sgt J. Thomas Kerrigan (Tail Gunner) - 1537753 - POW |
Bernard William Bartholomew - 4746018
Paratroop drop during Operation Market Garden
Bernard William Bartholomew was born on 6 December 1915 at 21 Chapel St, Greasbrough to Bernard Bartholomew and Doris Elizabeth (nee Bradshaw). His parents later lived at 52 Lowfield Avenue, Greasbrough. He was education at
Greasbrough National School and Rotherham Grammar School. After leaving school he was employed by Darwins Ltd, Tinsley and Steel Peech & Tozers.
He enlisted in the army at Fitzwilliam Road, Rotherham in 1935 as a career soldier, and given service number 4746018. Initially served in 1st Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment and 1936 saw him in Egypt at Sidi Bishr. Prior to the outbreak of war Bernard’s residence was 26 Atlas St, Brinsworth, Rotherham. He was married in 1935 and a daughter was born the following year. He later saw service in Sicily before he transferred to the Parachute Regiment, the 11th Battalion of the 1st Airborne Division. In 1944 he was involved in the massive airborne drop in the Netherlands for the operation codenamed Market Garden, which is now better know as ‘A Bridge Too Far’. The 11th Battalion, part of the
4th Parachute Brigade arrived in Arnhem, the last and most distant of the three bridges to be captured, on Monday 18 September 1944 the second day of the operation. The 11th Battalion were detached from the Brigade and were ordered to advance into Arnhem to assist the 1st Para Brigade in their attempt to reach the Bridge. When the order came they were skilfully led by some Dutch guides, and with their help they avoided a lot of German opposition and met with the 1st Para Brigade during Monday night, having only suffered light casualties. The Battalion were charged with the capture of some high ground in the area. It was hoped that with this in their hands, the remainder of the 4th Para Brigade would be able to make a successful attack in their direction. The 11th Battalion were engaged in heavy fighting by this time and it took several hours to disengage from the battle, but were able to begin moving away by 14:30. Unfortunately the Germans realised their intention and caught the whole Battalion out in the open and cut them apart with tanks and mortars. Only 150 men managed to get away. Bernard Bartholomew died on Tuesday 19 September 1944 at the age of 28 and now lies in Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery.
Greasbrough National School and Rotherham Grammar School. After leaving school he was employed by Darwins Ltd, Tinsley and Steel Peech & Tozers.
He enlisted in the army at Fitzwilliam Road, Rotherham in 1935 as a career soldier, and given service number 4746018. Initially served in 1st Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment and 1936 saw him in Egypt at Sidi Bishr. Prior to the outbreak of war Bernard’s residence was 26 Atlas St, Brinsworth, Rotherham. He was married in 1935 and a daughter was born the following year. He later saw service in Sicily before he transferred to the Parachute Regiment, the 11th Battalion of the 1st Airborne Division. In 1944 he was involved in the massive airborne drop in the Netherlands for the operation codenamed Market Garden, which is now better know as ‘A Bridge Too Far’. The 11th Battalion, part of the
4th Parachute Brigade arrived in Arnhem, the last and most distant of the three bridges to be captured, on Monday 18 September 1944 the second day of the operation. The 11th Battalion were detached from the Brigade and were ordered to advance into Arnhem to assist the 1st Para Brigade in their attempt to reach the Bridge. When the order came they were skilfully led by some Dutch guides, and with their help they avoided a lot of German opposition and met with the 1st Para Brigade during Monday night, having only suffered light casualties. The Battalion were charged with the capture of some high ground in the area. It was hoped that with this in their hands, the remainder of the 4th Para Brigade would be able to make a successful attack in their direction. The 11th Battalion were engaged in heavy fighting by this time and it took several hours to disengage from the battle, but were able to begin moving away by 14:30. Unfortunately the Germans realised their intention and caught the whole Battalion out in the open and cut them apart with tanks and mortars. Only 150 men managed to get away. Bernard Bartholomew died on Tuesday 19 September 1944 at the age of 28 and now lies in Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery.
Ethelbert Oswald Peter Bell - 657322
Ethelbert Oswald Peter Bell was the first child of Ethelbert George Bell and Rosa (nee Exley), who had married in 1915 in Blackburn. Ethelbert was born in Rotherham in the third quarter of 1917, and second son was born six and a half years later.
He was a Sergeant in the Royal Air Force, service number 657322. In 1942 he was with 10 Operational Training Unit which was operating out of St Eval in Cornwall. Although still technically a training squadron it had been detached to Coastal Command, No. 19 Group. On 30 November 1942, in weather of low cloud with heavy showers, Sgt bell was part of the crew of Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V, serial number AD961 sent out on an anti-submarine patrol in the Western Approaches. The aircraft went missing from the patrol and the crew were all eventually listed as 'previously reported missing, now presumed killed in action’. Ethelbert Oswald Peter Bell, aged 24 is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. He left a wife, who he had married in 1941, the wedding being registered in the Rother Valley District in the third quarter, she was expecting their first son when he died.
Notes
Other casualties were:
Pilot Officer Derrick V Smith - 127009
Flight Sgt William H Mackintosh - 534400
Sgt Gerald Bagshaw - 1383102
Sgt Benjamin Briscoe - 1300474
Sgt William M Knowles - 1434075
He was a Sergeant in the Royal Air Force, service number 657322. In 1942 he was with 10 Operational Training Unit which was operating out of St Eval in Cornwall. Although still technically a training squadron it had been detached to Coastal Command, No. 19 Group. On 30 November 1942, in weather of low cloud with heavy showers, Sgt bell was part of the crew of Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V, serial number AD961 sent out on an anti-submarine patrol in the Western Approaches. The aircraft went missing from the patrol and the crew were all eventually listed as 'previously reported missing, now presumed killed in action’. Ethelbert Oswald Peter Bell, aged 24 is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. He left a wife, who he had married in 1941, the wedding being registered in the Rother Valley District in the third quarter, she was expecting their first son when he died.
Notes
Other casualties were:
Pilot Officer Derrick V Smith - 127009
Flight Sgt William H Mackintosh - 534400
Sgt Gerald Bagshaw - 1383102
Sgt Benjamin Briscoe - 1300474
Sgt William M Knowles - 1434075
Tom Brunyee - 1006973
Tom Brunyee was the son of Tom Brunyee and Kate (nee Palethorpe), born in Rotherham in the third quarter of 1921. Tom resided at “Brunhill” 8 Frazer Road, Rotherham.
He was a Sergeant (Wirless Operator/Air Gunner) in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 1006973. On 12 December he was on board Wellington IC serial number Z1163 of the Overseas Aircraft Delivery Unit which was in Gibraltar. The aircraft was on a delivery flight when it crashed in the sea on night take-off, and exploded killing all on board. The cause of the crash was obscure, but possibly ‘flaps-up’ was selected instead of ‘undercarriage’.
Tom Brunyee was killed in action, aged 20, was buried with the rest of the crew in Gibraltar North Front Cemetery.
Note
The other member of the crew were:
1022891 Sgt (Pilot) Samuel Royden Bottomley
1380537 Sgt (Pilot) Maurice Frank James Boulton
1281399 Sgt (Obs.) Ernest Leslie Harvey
945069 Sgt (W.Op.) Ernest Philip Jackson
He was a Sergeant (Wirless Operator/Air Gunner) in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 1006973. On 12 December he was on board Wellington IC serial number Z1163 of the Overseas Aircraft Delivery Unit which was in Gibraltar. The aircraft was on a delivery flight when it crashed in the sea on night take-off, and exploded killing all on board. The cause of the crash was obscure, but possibly ‘flaps-up’ was selected instead of ‘undercarriage’.
Tom Brunyee was killed in action, aged 20, was buried with the rest of the crew in Gibraltar North Front Cemetery.
Note
The other member of the crew were:
1022891 Sgt (Pilot) Samuel Royden Bottomley
1380537 Sgt (Pilot) Maurice Frank James Boulton
1281399 Sgt (Obs.) Ernest Leslie Harvey
945069 Sgt (W.Op.) Ernest Philip Jackson
David Beeley - 151229
David Beeley was born in Rotherham on 24 October 1920 to Alfred Broadhurst Beeley and Kathleen (nee Cummings), of 11 Mansfield Road, Rotherham. He was
educated at Rotherham Grammar School, Moorgate.
In late 1943 he was in the Royal Air Force, service number 151229, training to be a bomb aimer on four engined heavy bombers. On 18 September 1943 he was stationed at RAF Riccall near Selby, the home of No 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit, where he had been for three weeks. During that early evening Flying Officer David Beeley was one of the six man crew who boarded Handley Page Halifax serial number BB245 for a Night Cross Country flying exercise to Lands End and back to Riccall. The aircraft built by London Aircraft Production in late 1942 was initially delivered to 102 Squadron at Pocklington on 13 October 1942. It also served with 158 and 76 Squadrons
before moving from front line squadron duties to training operations with 1658 HCU. It was about one year old and had completed a total of 534 flying hours, which made it old compared to the average flying time of 30 hours before a Lancaster was lost on a mission. The aircraft took off at 19:00 and after four hours flying they had successfully completed their task of flying to Land’s End and back. They were just about to join the Riccall circuit, the pilot was keeping his eyes peeled for other aircraft in the area as
they were flying through the circuit which covered nearby RAF Snaith. When they were just south of Darrington there was an explosion in the port outer Merlin engine followed by the propeller and reduction gear falling off in flight. With only three engines the Halifax became difficult to control, bearing in mind that an experienced pilot may have been able to keep the aircraft flying, but to Sergeant Wilson, with only three weeks flying experience on this type of aircraft, it was a different matter. The aircraft was losing height and he battled to regain control. In the village of Darrington, three sisters, Mable, Gwyneth and Nona Dean, made their way to bed. It was 10.30pm and they left their mother and elder sister, Ellen downstairs. Their father, Harry, and brother, William, were out at the Darrington Hotel just up the village from their cottage. They heard them come in just after 11pm and they dropped to sleep. Just before midnight they were woken by a large explosion. The struggling Halifax aircraft was heard
coming low over the village. As it approached the Pontefract-Stapleton road its height could not have been more than 20-30 feet as it sliced off the top of some trees in a nearby orchard before hitting an electricity pole and crashing. The aircraft exploded on impact and a sheet of flames engulfed the cottages in Chapel Hill. The three Dean sisters were sleeping at the other end of the house to the rest of the family, they managed to get down another staircase and had to batter down the front door to make their escape. They could see nothing but a mass of flames. Sadly, their 68 year old father, Harry, mother Mable 66, together with their 33 year old brother William and 36 year old sister Ellen, were unable to get out and all died at the scene. Four other people living in the row were also hurt. The National Fire Service at Pontefract received a call for help at about 12.15 am and arrived quickly with two machines. The officer in charge found that more help was needed and sent for four more machines, a foam tender and a hose carrier, which came from various districts and were on the scene within twenty minutes. The wrecked aeroplane, the four houses and the chapel were such a mass of flames that the firemen could only concentrate on preventing the fire from spreading and that they achieved. The officer in charge anticipated that the static water supplies in the immediate vicinity would be insufficient and brought in a relay supply from the fish pond at Stapleton Park, which helped to meet all requirements. All the fires were out shortly before dawn, but it was 11.00am on Sunday before the firemen were able to leave after eleven hours of continuous duty.
David Beeley and the rest of the crew were killed outright, he is buried at Rotherham (Masbrough) Cemetery and was 22 years old.
Note
Other members of the crew were:
Pilot: Sergeant Edward George Wilson
Flt Eng: Sgt Thomas Glyn Roberts 30 years old
Navigator: Sgt John Arthur Cruddington 20 years old
Wireless Op Sgt Edward Cook 20 years old
Air-Gunner: Sgt Thomas Clelland 19 years old
educated at Rotherham Grammar School, Moorgate.
In late 1943 he was in the Royal Air Force, service number 151229, training to be a bomb aimer on four engined heavy bombers. On 18 September 1943 he was stationed at RAF Riccall near Selby, the home of No 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit, where he had been for three weeks. During that early evening Flying Officer David Beeley was one of the six man crew who boarded Handley Page Halifax serial number BB245 for a Night Cross Country flying exercise to Lands End and back to Riccall. The aircraft built by London Aircraft Production in late 1942 was initially delivered to 102 Squadron at Pocklington on 13 October 1942. It also served with 158 and 76 Squadrons
before moving from front line squadron duties to training operations with 1658 HCU. It was about one year old and had completed a total of 534 flying hours, which made it old compared to the average flying time of 30 hours before a Lancaster was lost on a mission. The aircraft took off at 19:00 and after four hours flying they had successfully completed their task of flying to Land’s End and back. They were just about to join the Riccall circuit, the pilot was keeping his eyes peeled for other aircraft in the area as
they were flying through the circuit which covered nearby RAF Snaith. When they were just south of Darrington there was an explosion in the port outer Merlin engine followed by the propeller and reduction gear falling off in flight. With only three engines the Halifax became difficult to control, bearing in mind that an experienced pilot may have been able to keep the aircraft flying, but to Sergeant Wilson, with only three weeks flying experience on this type of aircraft, it was a different matter. The aircraft was losing height and he battled to regain control. In the village of Darrington, three sisters, Mable, Gwyneth and Nona Dean, made their way to bed. It was 10.30pm and they left their mother and elder sister, Ellen downstairs. Their father, Harry, and brother, William, were out at the Darrington Hotel just up the village from their cottage. They heard them come in just after 11pm and they dropped to sleep. Just before midnight they were woken by a large explosion. The struggling Halifax aircraft was heard
coming low over the village. As it approached the Pontefract-Stapleton road its height could not have been more than 20-30 feet as it sliced off the top of some trees in a nearby orchard before hitting an electricity pole and crashing. The aircraft exploded on impact and a sheet of flames engulfed the cottages in Chapel Hill. The three Dean sisters were sleeping at the other end of the house to the rest of the family, they managed to get down another staircase and had to batter down the front door to make their escape. They could see nothing but a mass of flames. Sadly, their 68 year old father, Harry, mother Mable 66, together with their 33 year old brother William and 36 year old sister Ellen, were unable to get out and all died at the scene. Four other people living in the row were also hurt. The National Fire Service at Pontefract received a call for help at about 12.15 am and arrived quickly with two machines. The officer in charge found that more help was needed and sent for four more machines, a foam tender and a hose carrier, which came from various districts and were on the scene within twenty minutes. The wrecked aeroplane, the four houses and the chapel were such a mass of flames that the firemen could only concentrate on preventing the fire from spreading and that they achieved. The officer in charge anticipated that the static water supplies in the immediate vicinity would be insufficient and brought in a relay supply from the fish pond at Stapleton Park, which helped to meet all requirements. All the fires were out shortly before dawn, but it was 11.00am on Sunday before the firemen were able to leave after eleven hours of continuous duty.
David Beeley and the rest of the crew were killed outright, he is buried at Rotherham (Masbrough) Cemetery and was 22 years old.
Note
Other members of the crew were:
Pilot: Sergeant Edward George Wilson
Flt Eng: Sgt Thomas Glyn Roberts 30 years old
Navigator: Sgt John Arthur Cruddington 20 years old
Wireless Op Sgt Edward Cook 20 years old
Air-Gunner: Sgt Thomas Clelland 19 years old
Charles Maurice Barber - 1132589
Charles Maurice Barber was born in Rotherham in the first quarter of 1920, first child of Charles Edward Barber and Sarah A (nee Harris). He was married in Rotherham in the third quarter of 1941, and lived at 5 Godstone Road, Rotherham with his wife and her parents.
Charles enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 1132589. He qualified as a pilot with the rank of Sergeant and flew Spitfires with 65 Squadron. From mid-April 1942 the squadron was based at Great Stampford in Essex where is would incercept German bombers heading for industrial targets in Britain. Charles is recorded as dying of ‘Wounds or Injuries Received on Active Service’, on 7 June 1942, his death being registered in Cambridge. It is believed that he was the pilot of Spitfire serial number EN846 which undershot on landing at Great Sampford. Charles Maurice Barber was 22 years old and was buried in Rotherham (Moorgate) Cemetery.
Charles enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 1132589. He qualified as a pilot with the rank of Sergeant and flew Spitfires with 65 Squadron. From mid-April 1942 the squadron was based at Great Stampford in Essex where is would incercept German bombers heading for industrial targets in Britain. Charles is recorded as dying of ‘Wounds or Injuries Received on Active Service’, on 7 June 1942, his death being registered in Cambridge. It is believed that he was the pilot of Spitfire serial number EN846 which undershot on landing at Great Sampford. Charles Maurice Barber was 22 years old and was buried in Rotherham (Moorgate) Cemetery.