Swinton - Panel Left
Clifford Donald Airey - FAA/FA 86811
Grumman Avenger
Clifford Donald Airey was born in Rotherham in the second quarter of 1923, first child of Clifford G Airey and Laura (nee Holmes). The family lived at 36 Whitelee Road, Swinton.
He enlisted in the Royal Navy and became a Leading Airman with the Fleet Air Arm 850 Squadron, service number FAA/FX. 86811. In 1944 he was on the HMS Shah, a new aircraft carrier that had been built in the United States and sailed across the Pacific to Australia and onto Ceylon. On April 14th whilst conducting a night anti-submarine exercise off the west coast of Ceylon, the carrier suffered its first operational loss of an 851 Squadron Avenger aircraft. The Grumman Avenger torpedo bomber, serial number FN813 stalled and ditched in the sea, killing all three crew members. Clifford Donald Airey died aged 20 and is commemorated on the Lee-On-Solent Memorial.
Note
Other casualties were:
Sub Lieutenant (A) John Pax C Alcazar, RNVR
Sub Lieutenant (A) Cecil John MacWhirter, SANF
He enlisted in the Royal Navy and became a Leading Airman with the Fleet Air Arm 850 Squadron, service number FAA/FX. 86811. In 1944 he was on the HMS Shah, a new aircraft carrier that had been built in the United States and sailed across the Pacific to Australia and onto Ceylon. On April 14th whilst conducting a night anti-submarine exercise off the west coast of Ceylon, the carrier suffered its first operational loss of an 851 Squadron Avenger aircraft. The Grumman Avenger torpedo bomber, serial number FN813 stalled and ditched in the sea, killing all three crew members. Clifford Donald Airey died aged 20 and is commemorated on the Lee-On-Solent Memorial.
Note
Other casualties were:
Sub Lieutenant (A) John Pax C Alcazar, RNVR
Sub Lieutenant (A) Cecil John MacWhirter, SANF
Harry Bailey - D/JX 214930
Harry Bailey was the son of Harry and Rose Bailey, of Swinton.
He joined the Royal Navy, service number D/JX 214930, and served as an Able Seaman nominally at HMS Hamilcar, which was the name given to the shore establishment for the Combined Operations base at Djedjelli, Algeria. He was on board LCT 108 (Landing Craft Tank) when it was bombed during the operations
to support the campaign on Sicily. Harry Bailey died on 27 July 1943 aged 21, and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
He joined the Royal Navy, service number D/JX 214930, and served as an Able Seaman nominally at HMS Hamilcar, which was the name given to the shore establishment for the Combined Operations base at Djedjelli, Algeria. He was on board LCT 108 (Landing Craft Tank) when it was bombed during the operations
to support the campaign on Sicily. Harry Bailey died on 27 July 1943 aged 21, and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
George Bambridge - 4346320
George Bambridge was born in Rotherham in the second quarter of 1916 to George Bambridge and Susan (nee Smith) who had married the previous year. Latterly George’s address was 3 Wood View, Piccadilly, Swinton.
George enlisted in the Army, service number 4346320, he was a Private with 4th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment. The regiment was part of the 50th Northumbrian Division’s, 150th Infantry Brigade. In mid 1942 the regiment was in North Africa fighting Rommel’s Afrika Corps. When Rommel attacked Gazala the 150th Brigade held out for almost 72 hours (29–31 May 1942) during the battle against Rommel's concentrated attacks, without any support. Eventually they were overrun and destroyed in the
battle than became known as The Cauldron. George Bambridge became a prisoner of war and was held in Italy.
He died on 3 August 1944, aged 28 and is buried in Milan War Cemetery.
George enlisted in the Army, service number 4346320, he was a Private with 4th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment. The regiment was part of the 50th Northumbrian Division’s, 150th Infantry Brigade. In mid 1942 the regiment was in North Africa fighting Rommel’s Afrika Corps. When Rommel attacked Gazala the 150th Brigade held out for almost 72 hours (29–31 May 1942) during the battle against Rommel's concentrated attacks, without any support. Eventually they were overrun and destroyed in the
battle than became known as The Cauldron. George Bambridge became a prisoner of war and was held in Italy.
He died on 3 August 1944, aged 28 and is buried in Milan War Cemetery.
Harry Barnes (6093531)
Harry Barnes was born in Yorkshire, and was married to Doris Barnes of Ramsgate, Kent. Harry was previously employed as a jockey at Swinton Racing Stables by Mrs W
Smallwood.
He enlisted in the Army and was a Private, service number 6093531, with 1/6th Battalion, The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey). On 23 October 1942 Montgomery launched the long awaited attack at El Alamein. Harry died on 27 October 1942, aged 25 and is buried in El Alamein War Cemetery.
Smallwood.
He enlisted in the Army and was a Private, service number 6093531, with 1/6th Battalion, The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey). On 23 October 1942 Montgomery launched the long awaited attack at El Alamein. Harry died on 27 October 1942, aged 25 and is buried in El Alamein War Cemetery.
Frank Bee (4692937)
Frank Bee was born in Rotherham in the third quarter of 1919, son of Thomas Bee and Hilda (nee Thompson) who had married five years before. Frank was married to
Annie Bamford in early 1941, the marriage was registered in 1941. He lived at 35 Church St, Swinton.
Frank enlisted in the Army, and was a Private in 1st Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, service number 4692937. At the start of 1944 the battalion were part of 5th Infantry Division’s 15th Infantry Brigade, these ultimately were under the control of the Mark Clark’s US Fifth Army, but reported at a Corps level were part of the
British X Corps. On 17 January 1944 what became known as the first battle of Cassino was begun. The first assault near the coast was made by British X Corps (56th and
5th Divisions) who forced a crossing of the Garigliano.
Frank Bee was killed in action on 22 January 1944, aged 24, and is buried in Minturno War Cemetery.
Annie Bamford in early 1941, the marriage was registered in 1941. He lived at 35 Church St, Swinton.
Frank enlisted in the Army, and was a Private in 1st Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, service number 4692937. At the start of 1944 the battalion were part of 5th Infantry Division’s 15th Infantry Brigade, these ultimately were under the control of the Mark Clark’s US Fifth Army, but reported at a Corps level were part of the
British X Corps. On 17 January 1944 what became known as the first battle of Cassino was begun. The first assault near the coast was made by British X Corps (56th and
5th Divisions) who forced a crossing of the Garigliano.
Frank Bee was killed in action on 22 January 1944, aged 24, and is buried in Minturno War Cemetery.
Sydney Bell (4747660)
Sydney Bell was the son of Sydney Bell and Ethelwynne Bell, and
the family lived at 39 Crossland
St, Swinton . After leaving school Sydney was employed on
the railways.
He enlisted in the army June 1939, service number 4747660, and was a Private in The Hallamshire Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment. With the rest of the Hallamshire’s Sydney was involved in the ill-fated Norwegian Campaign. They were ashore for twelve days seeing limited action and The Hallamshire's and the rest of 146th Brigade were to leave on the nights of the 1st and 2nd of May. 5,500 British and French troops had to be evacuated from Namsos. It was an operation that could only be done during the hours of darkness which at this time of the year were short. The operation was dogged by fog. Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten in the destroyer Kelly was part of the naval taskforce under Admiral Cunningham who stressed the importance of speed and the minimum of equipment being taken by the men. Most of Maurice Force was evacuated between 9.15 and 1 a.m. on 2nd May. But the York and Lancasters - a total of 780 men were still some way from Namsos. Their job had been to hold the retreat in good order, to deny the Germans transport and protect the embarkation. Admiral Vivian who was ashore at Namsos to superintend the operation called for volunteers from anyone who could drive a car to take any available lorry to fetch them. A convoy of vehicles was assembled and the bulk of the regiment reached the pier by 02:20. But the British destroyer HMS Afridi had to remain. Lieutenant Colonel Robins and 33 men of the Hallamshires who had been detailed to blow away the last rearguard bridge at around midnight and had ten miles of atrocious, snowbound road to cover had not arrived. As hilltops were in view against the morning twilight lorries clattered onto the pier at 3.15 a.m. and disgorged the rearguard. The Afridi cast off. The campaign in Central
Norway had lasted 16 days. Attacks by the Luftwaffe on the convoy started at 8.45 in the morning with high-bombers and JU 88 dive-bombers. The Hallamshire’s endured an attack by 3 Stukas as the Afridi attempted to rejoin the evacuation convoy. One bomb hit her squarely at the foot of her foremast and plunged on down to burst between decks, causing heavy casualties, and starting a furious blaze. Another fell close alongside her forecastle and blew a hole in her hull. The combination was too much for the ship. More than a thousand hungry and cold troops were terrorised. An effort was made to take the Afridi in tow by the stern, but had to be abandoned when it was clear she was foundering. It is understood that some of the Hallamshire’s were trapped below deck and still alive when they were abandoned. Their comrades could hear their cries as they pulled away in the other destroyers. The Arctic waters would have killed a man through exposure in a matter of minutes. Survivors of the crew and the Hallamshire’s were taken aboard the destroyers Griffin and Imperial. Amongst the hundred dead were thirteen soldiers from the rearguard of the York and Lancaster’s who had protected the embarkation.
Sydney Bell was one of the thirteen soldiers who were killed on 3 May 1940, he was 20 years old and is remembered on the Brookwood Memorial.
Note
The other casualties from the York and Lancaster Regiment were:
Private William Pollock Barker 4748873
Private Walter Bruce 4747418
Private Arthur Crooks 4745325
Corporal Albert Goddard 4380826
Private Andrew Lee 4747121
Private Joseph Lockwood 4748367
Private John Martin 4746150
Private Cyril Peacock 4747621
Private Arthur Shaw 4748347
Lance Corporal Sidney Shepherd 4746075
Private Douglas James Starkey 4746559
Private Tom Wade 4748396
He enlisted in the army June 1939, service number 4747660, and was a Private in The Hallamshire Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment. With the rest of the Hallamshire’s Sydney was involved in the ill-fated Norwegian Campaign. They were ashore for twelve days seeing limited action and The Hallamshire's and the rest of 146th Brigade were to leave on the nights of the 1st and 2nd of May. 5,500 British and French troops had to be evacuated from Namsos. It was an operation that could only be done during the hours of darkness which at this time of the year were short. The operation was dogged by fog. Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten in the destroyer Kelly was part of the naval taskforce under Admiral Cunningham who stressed the importance of speed and the minimum of equipment being taken by the men. Most of Maurice Force was evacuated between 9.15 and 1 a.m. on 2nd May. But the York and Lancasters - a total of 780 men were still some way from Namsos. Their job had been to hold the retreat in good order, to deny the Germans transport and protect the embarkation. Admiral Vivian who was ashore at Namsos to superintend the operation called for volunteers from anyone who could drive a car to take any available lorry to fetch them. A convoy of vehicles was assembled and the bulk of the regiment reached the pier by 02:20. But the British destroyer HMS Afridi had to remain. Lieutenant Colonel Robins and 33 men of the Hallamshires who had been detailed to blow away the last rearguard bridge at around midnight and had ten miles of atrocious, snowbound road to cover had not arrived. As hilltops were in view against the morning twilight lorries clattered onto the pier at 3.15 a.m. and disgorged the rearguard. The Afridi cast off. The campaign in Central
Norway had lasted 16 days. Attacks by the Luftwaffe on the convoy started at 8.45 in the morning with high-bombers and JU 88 dive-bombers. The Hallamshire’s endured an attack by 3 Stukas as the Afridi attempted to rejoin the evacuation convoy. One bomb hit her squarely at the foot of her foremast and plunged on down to burst between decks, causing heavy casualties, and starting a furious blaze. Another fell close alongside her forecastle and blew a hole in her hull. The combination was too much for the ship. More than a thousand hungry and cold troops were terrorised. An effort was made to take the Afridi in tow by the stern, but had to be abandoned when it was clear she was foundering. It is understood that some of the Hallamshire’s were trapped below deck and still alive when they were abandoned. Their comrades could hear their cries as they pulled away in the other destroyers. The Arctic waters would have killed a man through exposure in a matter of minutes. Survivors of the crew and the Hallamshire’s were taken aboard the destroyers Griffin and Imperial. Amongst the hundred dead were thirteen soldiers from the rearguard of the York and Lancaster’s who had protected the embarkation.
Sydney Bell was one of the thirteen soldiers who were killed on 3 May 1940, he was 20 years old and is remembered on the Brookwood Memorial.
Note
The other casualties from the York and Lancaster Regiment were:
Private William Pollock Barker 4748873
Private Walter Bruce 4747418
Private Arthur Crooks 4745325
Corporal Albert Goddard 4380826
Private Andrew Lee 4747121
Private Joseph Lockwood 4748367
Private John Martin 4746150
Private Cyril Peacock 4747621
Private Arthur Shaw 4748347
Lance Corporal Sidney Shepherd 4746075
Private Douglas James Starkey 4746559
Private Tom Wade 4748396
Rennie Bradshaw - 14667903
Rennie was born in Rotherham
in the late in 1925, the first child of Cyril Bradshaw and Annie (nee Hulley),
the family lived at 1 Brookfield
Ave, Swinton.
Rennie joined the Army, service number 14667903, he was a Private with the 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. The battalion was part of 227th (Highland) Infantry Brigade reporting to the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division. The division was involved in the Normandy Campaign, and towards the end of July was involved in Operation Bluecoat. The operation was an attack by the British 2nd Army from 30 July 1944 to 7 August 1944. The objectives of the attack were to secure the key road junction of Vire and the high ground of Mont Pinçon. Strategically, the attack was made to support the American exploitation of their breakout on the western flank of the Normandy beachhead.
Rennie Bradshaw was killed on 6 August 1944, aged 18 and is buried in St. Charles De Percy War Cemetery.
Rennie joined the Army, service number 14667903, he was a Private with the 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. The battalion was part of 227th (Highland) Infantry Brigade reporting to the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division. The division was involved in the Normandy Campaign, and towards the end of July was involved in Operation Bluecoat. The operation was an attack by the British 2nd Army from 30 July 1944 to 7 August 1944. The objectives of the attack were to secure the key road junction of Vire and the high ground of Mont Pinçon. Strategically, the attack was made to support the American exploitation of their breakout on the western flank of the Normandy beachhead.
Rennie Bradshaw was killed on 6 August 1944, aged 18 and is buried in St. Charles De Percy War Cemetery.
George Henson Brown - 1451031
George Henson Brown joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve, service number 1451031, he became Sergeant (Pilot) with 51 Squadron of
Bomber Command. On 8 October 1943 George was the pilot of Halifax JN885 coded
MH-A which was airborne at 22:42 from Snaith in Yorkshire on a raid to Hannover. In total 504 aircraft - 282 Lancasters,
188 Halifaxes, 26 Wellingtons, 8 Mosquitos, were sent to the
city. The German controller guessed correctly that Hannover
was the target and many night fighters arrived before the attack was over. A
total of 27 aircraft - 14 Lancasters and 13 Halifaxes - were lost, 5.4 per cent
of the force. Conditions over Hannover were
clear and the Pathfinders were finally able to mark the centre of the city
accurately; a most concentrated attack followed with a creep back of only 2
miles, all within the built-up area. This was probably Hannover's
worst attack of the war. JN885 was one of two 51 Squadron Halifaxes lost on this
operation. It crashed at 01:10 between the communities of Kieselhorst and
Beckeln, 12 km W and 9 km WNW respectively of Bassum, although the cause of
loss has not been established.
George Henson Brown, of 2 Story St, Swinton, died on 9 October 1943 and is buried in the Rheinberg War Cemetery.
George Henson Brown, of 2 Story St, Swinton, died on 9 October 1943 and is buried in the Rheinberg War Cemetery.
Frederick Bullock - 1004505
Frederick Bullock was born in Doncaster
on 2 June 1916 to Mark Bullock and his wife of four years, Annie May (nee
Hubbard). His father served in the Army in the Mediterranean theatre in the First
World War and before that was a clerk. The family lived initially at 2 Foundry Lane,
Mexboro.
Frederick enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 1004505, and had the rank of Leading Aircraftman. He died on 22 November 1942, aged 22, his death was registered in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, and he was laid to rest in Swinton (St Margaret) Churchyard.
Frederick enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 1004505, and had the rank of Leading Aircraftman. He died on 22 November 1942, aged 22, his death was registered in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, and he was laid to rest in Swinton (St Margaret) Churchyard.
James Calderbank - 14589496
James Calderbank was born the third child of James Calderbank and Martha Ann (nee Poulson), his birth being registered in Doncaster in 1910. His father was a grocers assistant and lived with his wife of five years, and their other surviving child at 18 Schofield Street Mexbro. James senior was to die, after a year long illness, in 1915 aged 39 and left his wife with three young children. James was married in the third quarter of 1936 in Rotherham, and lived at 31 Foxland Avenue, Swinton with his wife and son, who was born in 1938.
James enlisted in the Army and was a Sapper in the Royal Engineers, service number 14589496. He died in Richmond, Yorkshire on 25 July 1945, aged 34 years old and is buried Swinton (St Margaret) Churchyard. |
Sidney Frederick Callear - 4615007
Sidney Frederick Callear was born in Rotherham
in the third quarter of 1915, to coal miner Stephen Callear and his wife of
seven years, Lily Whittaker. Sidney
was the fifth child of the couple who lived at 75 Charles Street, Swinton.
Sidney enlisted in the Army, service number 4615007, he was a Private in 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment). The battalion was sent to the Far East, the 2nd Battalion took part in the rear guard action in Burma at the Battle of Sittang Bridge in February 1942. Sidney became a prisoner of war of the Japanese, he died on 14 October 1943, aged 28 and is buried in Rangoon War Cemetery.
Sidney enlisted in the Army, service number 4615007, he was a Private in 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment). The battalion was sent to the Far East, the 2nd Battalion took part in the rear guard action in Burma at the Battle of Sittang Bridge in February 1942. Sidney became a prisoner of war of the Japanese, he died on 14 October 1943, aged 28 and is buried in Rangoon War Cemetery.
Henry Demaine Claydon - D/SSX 24337
Henry Demaine Claydon was born in Rotherham in the first quarter of 1918 to Walter Claydon and Hilda Jemima (Nee Chafer) who had married thirteen years earlier. Latterly the family lived at 4 Temperance St, Swinton
Henry joined the Royal Navy, service number D/SSX 24337, and was an Able Seaman. He is shown as having HMS Wasp as his unit, but this was not a ship, it was however the name to the Coastal Forces Base in Dover. This was the control for vessels such as the Motor Torpedo Boat. Henry served on MTB 220 which was involved in an action in the Channel in mid-May. On 12 May 1942 the German Auxiliary Cruiser Stier sailed from Rotterdam, escorted by four Torpedo Boats, and 16 Motor Minesweepers crept out of the Maas estuary. As this convoy approached the Straits of Dover, radar warning was received to expect attacks from British MTB's. In the middle watch, at 02:00 the sound of motor boat engines was heard both to starboard and astern Although star shell were thrown up, nothing was in sight. At 03:00 as the Straits were entered- the Dover 14 inch batteries opened fire, two or three salvoes fell short, again, MTB engines were heard, and it was apparent that the German convoy would soon be attacked. By 03:25 abreast of Gris-Nez there was ensuing chaos, with all the ships involved firing indiscriminately in all directions. The Stier and her escorts fired starshells, in the light of which two of the MTB’s were hit and set on fire, with one, the M.T.B.220, later going down. Henry Demain Claydon was lost on 13 May 1942, aged 24, and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial |