Woodsetts - St George Church, Lindrick Road, Woodsetts
COLTON, H PTE DWR
COLTON, J W PTE N STAFFS KING, W PTE INNISKS SPYVE, E TPR SHER RAN YEO WESTBY, H W DFM W/O RAF WHITE, R SPR RE |
Additional Details
Harold Colton (14727369)
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) - 10th Bn. 9 December 1944, aged 18 Died in Newcastle Woodsetts (St George) Churchyard Brother of John William Colton John William Colton (5052581) North Staffordshire Regiment - 6th Bn. 30 July 1944, aged 28 Died in the Normandy Campaign Fontenay-Le-Pesnel War Cemetery, Tessel Brother of Harold Colton William King (6981035) Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers - 2nd Bn. 18 January 1944 Died during the Italian Campaign Minturno War Cemetery |
Eric Spyve (326593)
Royal Armoured Corps - Nottinghamshire Yeomanary 21 September 1941, aged 20 Died in Poland as a PoW after being captured in the Middle East Krakow Rakowicki Cemetery William Henry Westby (524787) Royal Air Force - 205 Sqdn. 1 February 1944, aged 34 Catalina aircraft crashed on take off on a mission to look for survivors from a merchant ship that had been sunk. Singapore Memorial Distinguished Flying Medal Raymond White (4869058) Royal Engineers - 282 Field Coy. 26 September 1944, aged 23 Died during the liberation of Holland Bergen-Op-Zoom War Cemetery |
Harold Colton - 14727369
Harold Colton was born on 2 March 1926, his birth being registered in Worksop. He was baptised on 10 March 1926 in Woodsetts. Harold was the eighth of ten children born to golf professional turned miner, William Colton and his wife Martha Ellen (nee Kipling) of 11 Gildingwells Road, Woodsetts.
Harold joined the 10th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), and was a Private, service number 14727369. His death in Northumberland on 9 December 1944 was registered on Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. He was buried in Woodsetts (St George) Churchyard, aged just 18 years old.
Note
His elder brother, John William Colton, had been killed earlier in the year (see below).
Harold joined the 10th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), and was a Private, service number 14727369. His death in Northumberland on 9 December 1944 was registered on Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. He was buried in Woodsetts (St George) Churchyard, aged just 18 years old.
Note
His elder brother, John William Colton, had been killed earlier in the year (see below).
John William Colton - 5052581
John William Colton was the third child of ten born to William Colton and his wife Martha Ellen (nee Kipling) of Gildingwells. John was born in Worksop Registration District on 18 July 1916, and baptised on 24 August 1916 in Woodsetts. The family lived at 11 Gildingwells Road, Woodsetts.
He was a Private in the 6th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment, and was allocated service number 5052581. The battalion was part of 176th Infantry Brigade from the 59th (Staffordshire) Division, which began landing in Normandy on 29 June 1944. It was involved in the battle for the city of Caen. Private Colton died on 30 July 1944, aged 28 years old and is buried in Fontenay-Le-Pesnel War Cemetery, Tessel which is 16 km west of Caen. His gravestone carries the inscription, 'To a beautiful life Came a sudden end He died, as he lived Everyone's friend'.
Note
His younger brother was killed at the end of 1944. (see above)
He was a Private in the 6th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment, and was allocated service number 5052581. The battalion was part of 176th Infantry Brigade from the 59th (Staffordshire) Division, which began landing in Normandy on 29 June 1944. It was involved in the battle for the city of Caen. Private Colton died on 30 July 1944, aged 28 years old and is buried in Fontenay-Le-Pesnel War Cemetery, Tessel which is 16 km west of Caen. His gravestone carries the inscription, 'To a beautiful life Came a sudden end He died, as he lived Everyone's friend'.
Note
His younger brother was killed at the end of 1944. (see above)
William King - 6981035
William king died on 18 January 1944. He was a Fusilier in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. In early 1944 the Fusiliers were in Italy fighting on the Gustav line. The 10th British Corps had the task of breaking through on the southern flank, from the mouth of the Garigliano to Cassino, on the 17th January, to pave the way for the
Anzio landing on the 22nd January. The plan of the 5th British Division, on the left of 10 Corps, was to assault across the Garigliano River, then advance and seize the high ground on the Tufo feature, with 13th Infantry Brigade. The Garigliano was about 50 yards wide, deep and swift-flowing between high flood banks. The river plain was open, with ditches and drains. The Tufo feature was rocky, covered with olive trees, broken up by stone fences, with small buildings scattered along the slopes. The German 74th Infantry Division had been in position for several weeks. Dugouts, trenches, wire and obstacles had been constructed along the forward slopes of the hills. Mines were plentiful and the line of the river was held by a strong screen. The 2nd Inniskilling Fusiliers on the right of the 2nd Wiltshires, over half a mile up stream, met stronger opposition and were held up. Several of their assault boats drifted down to the Wiltshires, so the divisional Commander postponed H Hour for two hours, to enable the Inniskillings to withdraw, and follow up the Wiltshires. Some companies of the Inniskillings crossed after the Wiltshires, and followed up the tape to their objective on the point 156 ridge, but were counterattacked in the evening and fell back to the eastern end of their ridge.
William King was buried in a battlefield grave and later was buried in Minturno War Cemetery on 24 February 1945.
Anzio landing on the 22nd January. The plan of the 5th British Division, on the left of 10 Corps, was to assault across the Garigliano River, then advance and seize the high ground on the Tufo feature, with 13th Infantry Brigade. The Garigliano was about 50 yards wide, deep and swift-flowing between high flood banks. The river plain was open, with ditches and drains. The Tufo feature was rocky, covered with olive trees, broken up by stone fences, with small buildings scattered along the slopes. The German 74th Infantry Division had been in position for several weeks. Dugouts, trenches, wire and obstacles had been constructed along the forward slopes of the hills. Mines were plentiful and the line of the river was held by a strong screen. The 2nd Inniskilling Fusiliers on the right of the 2nd Wiltshires, over half a mile up stream, met stronger opposition and were held up. Several of their assault boats drifted down to the Wiltshires, so the divisional Commander postponed H Hour for two hours, to enable the Inniskillings to withdraw, and follow up the Wiltshires. Some companies of the Inniskillings crossed after the Wiltshires, and followed up the tape to their objective on the point 156 ridge, but were counterattacked in the evening and fell back to the eastern end of their ridge.
William King was buried in a battlefield grave and later was buried in Minturno War Cemetery on 24 February 1945.
Eric Spyve - 326593
Eric Spyve was born on 9 October 1920, first child of miner George Henry Spyve and his wife Doris (nee Chadburn), the couple had married in Lincoln the previous year. Eric’s birth was registered in Worksop and he was christened in Woodsetts on 7 November 1920. The family lived at Whitehouse Farm, 19 Gildingwells Road, Woodsetts.
Eric was a Trooper in the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps, service number 326593. Eric was believed to have been taken prisoner in the Middle East (possibly during the Crete Campaign of May 1941) and died in captivity in Poland on 21 September 1941. He was 20 years old when he died and was initially buried at Lamsdorf (now called Łambinowice) and after the war was moved on 25 September 1948 to the Commonwealth cemetery at Krakow Rakowicki Cemetery, Poland.
Eric was a Trooper in the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps, service number 326593. Eric was believed to have been taken prisoner in the Middle East (possibly during the Crete Campaign of May 1941) and died in captivity in Poland on 21 September 1941. He was 20 years old when he died and was initially buried at Lamsdorf (now called Łambinowice) and after the war was moved on 25 September 1948 to the Commonwealth cemetery at Krakow Rakowicki Cemetery, Poland.
William Henry Westby - 524787
William Henry Westby was born on 8 October 1910 and baptised in the parish of Woodsetts on 20 November 1910. Third of five children and only son of innkeeper/farmer Henry Westby and Catherine Emily (nee Turner) of the Butcher's Arm's, Woodsetts, his father died in 1934. William Henry was known as Harry and is shown as Harry W on a remembrance on the family grave. He lived at 262 Carlton Road, Worksop.
Harry was a Warrant Officer in the Royal Air Force, service number 524787, serving with 205 Squadron in the Far East. The squadron flew Catalina flying boat aircraft on
anti-submarine and air-sea rescue patrols out of Koggala, in what was then Ceylon. At 20.39 hours on 20 Jan, 1944, the unescorted steam ship Fort Buckingham was hit by two torpedoes from German submarine U-188 northwest of the Maldive Islands and sank within 10 minutes, without sending a distress call. Although 37 crew died
there were survivors on five lift rafts. On Monday 31 January the MV Kongsdal, a Norwegian freighter picked up survivors from one of the rafts and at risk to her own safety and possibly contrary to orders, the Norwegian captain broke radio silence and sent a radio message alerting naval authorities. Within hours of receipt of the radio message from the Kongsdal, two Catalinas from RAF 205 Squadron and one from RCAF 413 Squadron were airborne; on their way from Koggola to Kelai (at the northern end of the Maldive Islands) to commence the rescue operation. The flight time from Koggola to Kelai was a little less than five hours. Refuelling at Kelai was by floating out and man-handling 40-gallon drums of aviation fuel. Soon after dawn on 1 February, one of the aircraft, a Catalina serial number AJ160, took off and encountered difficulties as she failed to gain height, then crashed into the sea, and her entire crew, including Harry was dead.
William Henry Westby is remembered on the Singapore Memorial and was 34 years old when he died. Later that year the London Gazette of 5 December 1944 published details of a Distinguished Flying Medal to W/O W H Westby.
Recommendation For DFM
The above mentioned airman has now flown 1,300 operational hours as Flight Engineer in various types of aircraft during this war. His total flying hours are 1,700 before joining a flying boat squadron, Flight Sergeant Westby was on Whitleys and took part in the first leaflet raids over Berlin, Frankfurt, Kieland Cologne during the winter of 1939/40. He joined a Catalina squadron in April, 1941, and since then has shown great devotion to duty. Since he has been under my personal notice, Flight Sergeant Westby has always been an example to the rest of the crew by reason of his thoroughness, keenness and his unfailing cheerfulness in adverse circumstances. During the
Japanese invasion scare which proceeded the Easter raid on Columbo in 1942, Flight Sergeant Westby worked day and night to keep his aircraft serviceable and it was largely owing to his efforts that "L"*, the aircraft of which he was Flight Engineer, was able to make the large number of sorties which it did. During actual shadowing of the enemy fleet, Flight Sergeant Westby was, on three occasions, the first man to spot the enemy and he called out directions to the pilot until the latter was in a favourable position for observing the ships. In my opinion, his high standard of work in the air and on the ground together with his fine example, make him worthy of special recognition.
* Sgt Westby was serving with No.240 squadron at the time of this incident: During the afternoon (of 5-4-1942), Nagumo Force was again spotted, 450 miles from Ceylon
and heading for Trincomalee, it was seen from a distance of 10 miles by Catalina "L" of 240 Squadron, flown by Flt Lt W Bradshaw. The crew had been warned that
Hurricanes and Fulmars would be in the area and, at first, took a formation of aircraft flying above to be friendly. At the same time, the warships put up a barrage of shells, about a dozen falling some 50 yards behind the wave-hugging Catalina, the resultant splashes and blast almost sending the aircraft into the sea. Nonetheless, the crew shadowed the Japanese force for the remainder of the day, only returning when their fuel began to run low.
Remarks by Station Commander:
This N.C.O. well deserves the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal. He has set a fine example as a Flight Engineer.
Remarks by Group Commander:
Strongly recommended for the award of the D.F.M. He has shown an excellent example of keenness and devotion to duty throughout many sorties of many types of operational work.
Harry was a Warrant Officer in the Royal Air Force, service number 524787, serving with 205 Squadron in the Far East. The squadron flew Catalina flying boat aircraft on
anti-submarine and air-sea rescue patrols out of Koggala, in what was then Ceylon. At 20.39 hours on 20 Jan, 1944, the unescorted steam ship Fort Buckingham was hit by two torpedoes from German submarine U-188 northwest of the Maldive Islands and sank within 10 minutes, without sending a distress call. Although 37 crew died
there were survivors on five lift rafts. On Monday 31 January the MV Kongsdal, a Norwegian freighter picked up survivors from one of the rafts and at risk to her own safety and possibly contrary to orders, the Norwegian captain broke radio silence and sent a radio message alerting naval authorities. Within hours of receipt of the radio message from the Kongsdal, two Catalinas from RAF 205 Squadron and one from RCAF 413 Squadron were airborne; on their way from Koggola to Kelai (at the northern end of the Maldive Islands) to commence the rescue operation. The flight time from Koggola to Kelai was a little less than five hours. Refuelling at Kelai was by floating out and man-handling 40-gallon drums of aviation fuel. Soon after dawn on 1 February, one of the aircraft, a Catalina serial number AJ160, took off and encountered difficulties as she failed to gain height, then crashed into the sea, and her entire crew, including Harry was dead.
William Henry Westby is remembered on the Singapore Memorial and was 34 years old when he died. Later that year the London Gazette of 5 December 1944 published details of a Distinguished Flying Medal to W/O W H Westby.
Recommendation For DFM
The above mentioned airman has now flown 1,300 operational hours as Flight Engineer in various types of aircraft during this war. His total flying hours are 1,700 before joining a flying boat squadron, Flight Sergeant Westby was on Whitleys and took part in the first leaflet raids over Berlin, Frankfurt, Kieland Cologne during the winter of 1939/40. He joined a Catalina squadron in April, 1941, and since then has shown great devotion to duty. Since he has been under my personal notice, Flight Sergeant Westby has always been an example to the rest of the crew by reason of his thoroughness, keenness and his unfailing cheerfulness in adverse circumstances. During the
Japanese invasion scare which proceeded the Easter raid on Columbo in 1942, Flight Sergeant Westby worked day and night to keep his aircraft serviceable and it was largely owing to his efforts that "L"*, the aircraft of which he was Flight Engineer, was able to make the large number of sorties which it did. During actual shadowing of the enemy fleet, Flight Sergeant Westby was, on three occasions, the first man to spot the enemy and he called out directions to the pilot until the latter was in a favourable position for observing the ships. In my opinion, his high standard of work in the air and on the ground together with his fine example, make him worthy of special recognition.
* Sgt Westby was serving with No.240 squadron at the time of this incident: During the afternoon (of 5-4-1942), Nagumo Force was again spotted, 450 miles from Ceylon
and heading for Trincomalee, it was seen from a distance of 10 miles by Catalina "L" of 240 Squadron, flown by Flt Lt W Bradshaw. The crew had been warned that
Hurricanes and Fulmars would be in the area and, at first, took a formation of aircraft flying above to be friendly. At the same time, the warships put up a barrage of shells, about a dozen falling some 50 yards behind the wave-hugging Catalina, the resultant splashes and blast almost sending the aircraft into the sea. Nonetheless, the crew shadowed the Japanese force for the remainder of the day, only returning when their fuel began to run low.
Remarks by Station Commander:
This N.C.O. well deserves the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal. He has set a fine example as a Flight Engineer.
Remarks by Group Commander:
Strongly recommended for the award of the D.F.M. He has shown an excellent example of keenness and devotion to duty throughout many sorties of many types of operational work.
Raymond White - 4869058
Raymond White was born in Belper, Derbyshire in 1921 to Samuel White and Ann (nee Rowe), of Cotterhill Wood Farm, Woodsetts.
Raymond joined the Army, enlisting with the Leicester Regiment on 14 May 1942, and was allotted service number 4869058. He later transferred to the Royal Engineers on 14 August 1942 and was a Sapper with 282 Field Company. 282 Field Company, R.E. were part of the divisional troops of 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division, which began to land in Normandy on the 23rd June 1944. By the end of the month it was ready to take part in combat operations and was placed under command of XII Corps, now defending the Odon Valley position. Following its crossing of the Seine, the 53rd Division advanced across northern France with considerable speed, reaching the Lille area by 5th September and crossing into Belgium on the 7th. The following day, the division arrived at Antwerp, where it remained until mid-September. When Operation Market Garden launched into southern Holland, the 53rd Division to cross the Junction Canal near Lommel, where it then fought hard to expand the salient south of Eindhoven. The division continued to fight against German forces around Eindhoven before it was temporarily moved north to defend the "Island" area between Nijmegen and Arnhem.
Sapper Raymond White died on 26 September 1944, he was 23 years old and was initially buried in an isolated grave near Duizel, Holland. After the war he was buried in a Commonwealth War Grave Commission grave on 15 May 1946 at Bergen-Op-Zoom War Cemetery in the Dutch province of Noord-Brabant. The headstone carries the inscription 'In heavenly love abiding'.
Raymond joined the Army, enlisting with the Leicester Regiment on 14 May 1942, and was allotted service number 4869058. He later transferred to the Royal Engineers on 14 August 1942 and was a Sapper with 282 Field Company. 282 Field Company, R.E. were part of the divisional troops of 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division, which began to land in Normandy on the 23rd June 1944. By the end of the month it was ready to take part in combat operations and was placed under command of XII Corps, now defending the Odon Valley position. Following its crossing of the Seine, the 53rd Division advanced across northern France with considerable speed, reaching the Lille area by 5th September and crossing into Belgium on the 7th. The following day, the division arrived at Antwerp, where it remained until mid-September. When Operation Market Garden launched into southern Holland, the 53rd Division to cross the Junction Canal near Lommel, where it then fought hard to expand the salient south of Eindhoven. The division continued to fight against German forces around Eindhoven before it was temporarily moved north to defend the "Island" area between Nijmegen and Arnhem.
Sapper Raymond White died on 26 September 1944, he was 23 years old and was initially buried in an isolated grave near Duizel, Holland. After the war he was buried in a Commonwealth War Grave Commission grave on 15 May 1946 at Bergen-Op-Zoom War Cemetery in the Dutch province of Noord-Brabant. The headstone carries the inscription 'In heavenly love abiding'.