Rotherham Grammar School - Moorgate - Panel 6
John McGinlay - 998505
John McGinlay was born on 25 December 1919 in
Middlesborough, the second child of James McGinlay and Elizebeth R. Mills. The
family moved to Rotherham in the next couple of years and later lived at 50 Lindley St, Rotherham. He was educated at Alma
Road Council
School and Rotherham Grammar, and also
Rotherham Technical College.
After leaving school he was employed by Hatfields Ltd. John was a keen
sportsman, and played football for Rotherham Boys Club.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1940, service number 998505, receiving his wings in December of that year. After his first operational tour he spent two and a half years as an instructor before returning to an operational Squadron. He was posted to 7 Squadron of Bomber Command, which at the start of 1944 was based at Oakington in Cambridgeshire. On the night of 5th/6th January 1944 the RAF sent a force of 348 Lancasters and 10 Halifaxes in the first large raid on Stettin since September 1941. John McGinlay by then had the rank of Warrant Officer and on that night was pilot of Avro Lancaster mk III serial number JB651, which had been allocated to 7 Squadron on 29 November 1943. Lancaster JB651, which had squadron markings of MG-K was airborne at 23:18, but was lost without trace complete with its crew of seven. There was a Mosquito diversionary force to Berlin which successfully kept most of the German fighters away from the main force of bombers, but 16 aircraft - 14 Lancasters and 2 Halifaxes were lost, 4.5 per cent of the force. John McGinlay was 24 years old when he was lost, he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. |
William Gershom Noble - 565284
© IWM (CH 17300) Avro Manchester - 207 Squadron
William Gershom Noble was born on 17 July 1914 in Darfield, his birth being registered in Barnsley. His parents Frank Noble and Catherine Emma (nee Dickinson) were married at Elsecar Parish Church on 21 May 1913, and
then lived at 20 Doncaster Road, Darfield. His father who was a pipe fitter joined the army in the First World War in 1916. The family moved to live on Maltby, where his father was a draper before his death in 1926. William was educated at Rotherham Grammar School. William was married in the last quarter of 1939, his marriage was registered in the Rother Valley district and lived at 204 Rotherham Road, Maltby with his wife’s family.
William enlisted in the Royal Air Force in January 1931 when he joined the 23rd entry of apprentices at RAF Cranwell to train as Instrument Makers or Wireless Operator Mechanics. His service number was 565284, although he later trained as a pilot and attained the rank of Sergeant. On 1 May 1941 he was promoted to the rank of Pilot Officer and as a consequence his service number changed to 45723. He was stationed with 207
squadron at Waddington just south of Lincoln, when on 17 September 1941 he was posted to 97 Squadron at Coningsby. The squadron flew the two engined Avro Manchester bomber. On 20 October 1941 he was pilot of one of eight aircraft of B Flight briefed in early afternoon for operations with an early take-off, this was to be his first mission with the Squadron. Their target was a railway junction at Bremen, and the weather was good except for low cloud and haze over target area. Three aircraft carried 4,000lb bombs and 4 x 500lb, the remainder carried 6 x 1,000lb. P/O Noble’s aircraft that night was a Manchester serial number L7462 with squadron markings of OF-Z, and was airborne at 18:30. All aircraft were reported as having bombed successfully. At 00:30 a message was received indicating that the wireless equipment was causing problems, this was the last that was heard of the aircraft and it’s crew was posted missing. On 4 November 1941, news came from Coltishall that the body of Sgt Hunt had been recovered from the sea, and a similar message was received from Martlesham Heath in respect of Sgt Redwood. Clearly the aircraft had crashed into the sea fairly close to the coast. William Gershom Noble was 27 years old and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Note
The other members of the crew were:
Pilot: Flt/Sgt 402184 Lester Louis Harrison RNZAF, aged 26
Observer: Sgt 1185406 Arthur Francis George Redwood RAFVR, aged 21
Wireless Operator: Sgt 923092 Nigel Frederick Hunt RAFVR
Sgt 929438 Charles Caesar Kolar RAFVR, aged 21
F/O 79190 Lionel Abel John Mills DFC RAFVR, aged 24
Sgt 1056815 Robert Muirhead Colin Worthington RAFVR, aged 21
then lived at 20 Doncaster Road, Darfield. His father who was a pipe fitter joined the army in the First World War in 1916. The family moved to live on Maltby, where his father was a draper before his death in 1926. William was educated at Rotherham Grammar School. William was married in the last quarter of 1939, his marriage was registered in the Rother Valley district and lived at 204 Rotherham Road, Maltby with his wife’s family.
William enlisted in the Royal Air Force in January 1931 when he joined the 23rd entry of apprentices at RAF Cranwell to train as Instrument Makers or Wireless Operator Mechanics. His service number was 565284, although he later trained as a pilot and attained the rank of Sergeant. On 1 May 1941 he was promoted to the rank of Pilot Officer and as a consequence his service number changed to 45723. He was stationed with 207
squadron at Waddington just south of Lincoln, when on 17 September 1941 he was posted to 97 Squadron at Coningsby. The squadron flew the two engined Avro Manchester bomber. On 20 October 1941 he was pilot of one of eight aircraft of B Flight briefed in early afternoon for operations with an early take-off, this was to be his first mission with the Squadron. Their target was a railway junction at Bremen, and the weather was good except for low cloud and haze over target area. Three aircraft carried 4,000lb bombs and 4 x 500lb, the remainder carried 6 x 1,000lb. P/O Noble’s aircraft that night was a Manchester serial number L7462 with squadron markings of OF-Z, and was airborne at 18:30. All aircraft were reported as having bombed successfully. At 00:30 a message was received indicating that the wireless equipment was causing problems, this was the last that was heard of the aircraft and it’s crew was posted missing. On 4 November 1941, news came from Coltishall that the body of Sgt Hunt had been recovered from the sea, and a similar message was received from Martlesham Heath in respect of Sgt Redwood. Clearly the aircraft had crashed into the sea fairly close to the coast. William Gershom Noble was 27 years old and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Note
The other members of the crew were:
Pilot: Flt/Sgt 402184 Lester Louis Harrison RNZAF, aged 26
Observer: Sgt 1185406 Arthur Francis George Redwood RAFVR, aged 21
Wireless Operator: Sgt 923092 Nigel Frederick Hunt RAFVR
Sgt 929438 Charles Caesar Kolar RAFVR, aged 21
F/O 79190 Lionel Abel John Mills DFC RAFVR, aged 24
Sgt 1056815 Robert Muirhead Colin Worthington RAFVR, aged 21
Norman Parker - 14776140
Norman Parker was born in Bolton, the son of Walter and M. H. Parker. Later the family moved to Rotherham.
He joined the army, service number 14776140, and was a Fusilier with 6th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. The battalion was part of 15th (Scottish) Division and in March 1945 was to take part in Operation Plunder, crossing of the River Rhine. At 02:00 on 24 March, the Division landed between Wesel and Rees. Initially there was no opposition, but later they ran into determined resistance, although later in the afternoon they managed to link up with the airborne troops.Norman Parker was killed on 26 March 1945, aged 18, and is now buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
He joined the army, service number 14776140, and was a Fusilier with 6th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. The battalion was part of 15th (Scottish) Division and in March 1945 was to take part in Operation Plunder, crossing of the River Rhine. At 02:00 on 24 March, the Division landed between Wesel and Rees. Initially there was no opposition, but later they ran into determined resistance, although later in the afternoon they managed to link up with the airborne troops.Norman Parker was killed on 26 March 1945, aged 18, and is now buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Harry Pattison - 1493895
Harry Pattison was born in Sheffield
in the third quarter of 1918, first child of Harold H D Pattison and Margaret E
(nee Raw) who had married two years previously. The family lived at 217 Wellgate,
Rotherham and Harold’s occupation was a
turner, although he died in 1936.
Harry enlisted in 1939 and served in the Merchant Navy and helped in the evacuation from Dunkirk, he also served in the RAF and gained his wings. He joined the Army and served in the Royal Artillery with 68 Anti-Tank Regiment, service number 1493895, and gained the rank of Lance Serjeant. The 68 Anti-Tank Regiment were one of the support units of the 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division, the division were sent to Normandy around the 26 June 1944. The allied forces were continuing their slow advance towards taking the vital city of Caen. On 8 July Operation Charnwood was a launched on a broad front with the 59th advancing from the north. The 68th Anti-Tank took considerable casualties on the first day of the attack, including Harry Pattison. He was 26 years old and now lies in Hermanville War Cemetery. |
Kenneth Peat - 623243
Kenneth Peat was born in Doncaster in the second quarter of 1916, he was the youngest child of Alfred Peat and Eliza (nee Boot), who had been married 20 years. Alfred Peat, who was a chargeman at Wath Colliery, and his family lived in Brampton Bierlow. Later on the family lived at 138 Muglet Lane, Maltby.
Kenneth enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 623243, and became a Sergeant with 242 Squadron. In December 1941 the squadron moved to Singapore arriving in January 1942. The situation was desperate and it had to move to Java where the squadron collapsed through lack of spares. Kenneth was taken prisoner following the Japanese expansionist invasions in south-east Asia. He died on 19 June 1943, aged 26 years old and was buried in Ambon War Cemetery, Indonesia.
Kenneth enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 623243, and became a Sergeant with 242 Squadron. In December 1941 the squadron moved to Singapore arriving in January 1942. The situation was desperate and it had to move to Java where the squadron collapsed through lack of spares. Kenneth was taken prisoner following the Japanese expansionist invasions in south-east Asia. He died on 19 June 1943, aged 26 years old and was buried in Ambon War Cemetery, Indonesia.
Edgar Richardson - 179944
Edgar Richardson was born in Rotherham on 26 August 1923 at 7 Carrington St, Clifton, the second child to Edgar Richardson and Mabeth Hunter, who had married three years previously. He was educated at St Ann’s Road School and Rotherham Grammar School, and then employed by the Yorkshire Electricity Board. He was marriage was registered in the Rother Valley district in the third quarter of 1943, and a son was born a year later.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 179944, and trained to be a pilot. After training he was posted to 514 Squadron of Bomber Command which flew the Avro Lancaster heavy bomber from RAF Waterbeach in Cambridgeshire. On the night of 12th/13th August 1944 he was scheduled for a mission to Germany, part of a 297 aircraft - 191 Lancasters, 96 Halifaxes, 10 Mosquitos – raid on Rüsselsheim. The target for this raid was the Opel motor factory and normal Pathfinder marking methods were used. Pilot Officer Richardson was in command of Lancaster serial number LM265 carrying the squadron code of JI-E, the aircraft was airborne at 21:45. This particular mk I Lancaster was new to the squadron having been delivered to them on 10 August 1944. It had been with 75 Squadron for a month, having flown no key operations it only had 39 hours on the airframe from new. Despite the newness of the aircraft it is presumed that the crew were experienced as in addition to the normal crew of seven an eighth member, a second pilot who had been posted to the squadron just two days before. The motor factory was only slightly damaged; the local report states that the tyre and dispatch departments and the powerhouse were hit but most of the bombs fell in open countryside south of the target. There were 13 Lancasters and 7 Halifaxes lost, which equated to 6.7 per cent of the force, LM265 crashed near Engelstadt, about 10 miles south-west of Mainz, Germany. It was believed shot down by a nightfighter flown by Lt Otto Tescher of 11/NJG1 who claimed a four engined aircraft at 00:30 in the Bad Kreuznach area. Of the crew of eight there was just one survivor. Edgar Richardson was just 20 years old when he died on 13 August 1944, and is now buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. |
Rex Geldard Russum
Rex Geldard Russum was born in Rotherham in the second quarter of 1918 second child of Roger Frederick Russum and Constance (nee Ferguson), who had married in Tynemouth three years previously.
Rex joined the Merchant Navy and became a Third Officer on the motor vessel Harpa of London. It was an oil tanker belonging to the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company and built Hawthorn, Leslie & Co ltd in Hebburn. The Harpa was sunk by a British seamine in Main Strait, Singapore en route to Batavia with a full cargo of aviation spirit on the 27 January 1942 with the loss of 7 British officers, 2 Royal Navy DEMS gunners and 25 Chinese crew. Rex Russum was 24 (although shown as 23 by CWGC) when he died and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial. |
Corri William Rusling - 657101
Corri William Rusling’s birth was recorded in the first quarter of 1911 in the Ecclesall Bierlow District as William C Rusling. He was the third child of John William Rusling and his wife of ten years Louisa (nee Littlewood), who at the time were living at 242 Crookesmoor Road, Sheffield. In 1911 John William was an assistant superintendant working at an insurance company. Later the family moved to Rotherham, and were living at Home Lodge, Lord Street when John William died in 1925 at that time Corri William was just 11 years old. Corri was educated at South Grove Central School and Rotherham Grammar School, and later was employed by H B Motors (1938) Ltd, Rotherham. The family later moved to 34 Broomfield Grove, Rotherham.
Initially Corri enlisted in the Army and served one year with the Royal Army Service Corps before transferring to the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 657101.He trained as a pilot gaining his wings in early 1942. On 2 March 1943 he was pilot of Avro Anson serial number EF936 of No. 3 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit which took off from RAF Halfpenny Green for a training flight. The aircraft flew into the ground in Kites Wood, near Grafton Flyford, Worcestershire. Sergeant Corri William Rusling was 32 years old when he died, and was buried in Rotherham (Moorgate) Cemetery on 6 March 1943. |
Thomas George Stephenson - 76365
Thomas George Stephenson was the son of Thomas George Stephenson and his wife of 8 years Annie Gertrude (nee Coy). His birth was registered in Basford District, Derbyshire in the first quarter of 1916. In 1911 his father was employed as a cooper and lived with his young family at 501 Mansfield Road, Sherwood, Nottingham. The family moved to Rotherham about 1924 and lived at 26 Tooker Road, Rotherham. After being educated at Rotherham Grammar School and Rotherham College of Technical & Art Thomas was employed at Metropolitan Vickers Electrical Co Ltd. Married in India to Penelope Yolande Mary Cahill.
Thomas enlisted in the Army in 1938, service number 76365 and was appointed to the Supplementary Reserve as a 2nd Lieutenant on 13 July 1938 in the Royal Corps of Signals. He was posted to India in September 1939 and in May 1941 to Malaya, where he was serving with 12th Indian Brigade Signals Section. The brigade was among the first troops to face the Japanese when they landed on 8 December 1941. While the rest of the British and Indian forces were thrown in disarray by the rapid encircling and flanking attacks of the Japanese, the 12th Brigade was able to inflict casualties and slow down the Japanese forces during the fighting in Northern Malaya.
Thomas George Stephenson was recorded as killed on 17 December 1941, aged 26 years old and is listed on the Singapore Memorial.
Thomas enlisted in the Army in 1938, service number 76365 and was appointed to the Supplementary Reserve as a 2nd Lieutenant on 13 July 1938 in the Royal Corps of Signals. He was posted to India in September 1939 and in May 1941 to Malaya, where he was serving with 12th Indian Brigade Signals Section. The brigade was among the first troops to face the Japanese when they landed on 8 December 1941. While the rest of the British and Indian forces were thrown in disarray by the rapid encircling and flanking attacks of the Japanese, the 12th Brigade was able to inflict casualties and slow down the Japanese forces during the fighting in Northern Malaya.
Thomas George Stephenson was recorded as killed on 17 December 1941, aged 26 years old and is listed on the Singapore Memorial.