Laughton - Panel leftside
Herbert Abrahams - D/JX 135969
Herbert Abrahams was born in Mansfield in the third quarter of 1915. He was the son of William Abrahams and Mary (nee Shipman).
He enlisted in the Royal Navy, service number D/JX 135969, before the war and was awarded the B.E.M. whilst serving on the destroyer HMS Hunter in 1937. The ship struck a mine that killed eight members of the crew. By 1943 he had transferred to the submarine service and was serving on HMS Tigris. The submarine left Malta on 18 February 1943 to patrol off Naples. She was last sighted at 07:30 on 24 February, 39 miles from Capri. On the morning of the 27th, the German submarine chaser UJ-2210, escorting a convoy six miles south east of Capri, made contact with a submarine and carried out three depth charge attacks, the third attack brought oil to the surface and the contact was noted to be stationary. A fourth attack of fifteen depth charges brought a huge bubble of air to the surface. On 6 March, Tigris was ordered to Algiers but there was no reply to this signal. She failed to return to Algiers on 10 March 1943 and was declared overdue on that date. Tigris was most likely the submarine sunk on 27 February by UJ-2210. Herbert Abrahams was 28 years old when the submarine was lost and he is listed on the Plymouth Naval memorial. His date of death is listed as 10 March 1943, the date the submarine became overdue.
He enlisted in the Royal Navy, service number D/JX 135969, before the war and was awarded the B.E.M. whilst serving on the destroyer HMS Hunter in 1937. The ship struck a mine that killed eight members of the crew. By 1943 he had transferred to the submarine service and was serving on HMS Tigris. The submarine left Malta on 18 February 1943 to patrol off Naples. She was last sighted at 07:30 on 24 February, 39 miles from Capri. On the morning of the 27th, the German submarine chaser UJ-2210, escorting a convoy six miles south east of Capri, made contact with a submarine and carried out three depth charge attacks, the third attack brought oil to the surface and the contact was noted to be stationary. A fourth attack of fifteen depth charges brought a huge bubble of air to the surface. On 6 March, Tigris was ordered to Algiers but there was no reply to this signal. She failed to return to Algiers on 10 March 1943 and was declared overdue on that date. Tigris was most likely the submarine sunk on 27 February by UJ-2210. Herbert Abrahams was 28 years old when the submarine was lost and he is listed on the Plymouth Naval memorial. His date of death is listed as 10 March 1943, the date the submarine became overdue.
Note
The London Gazette 12 November 1937 announced the following: The KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the Award of the Medal of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, to the undermentioned for gallant and distinguished services rendered when H.M.S. Hunter was' mined off Almeria on the coast of Spain on the 13th May 1937' For Gallantry. Lieutenant Patrick Noel Humphreys, R.N. James Smail, Petty Officer, O.N. D/J 85547. For Meritorious Service. James Frank Collings, Able Seaman, "O.N. D/JX. 136346 Ernest Thomas, Able Seaman, O.N. D/SSX. 15572 Herbert Abrahams, Able Seaman, O.N. - D/JX. 135969 An explosion caused by the mining occurred underneath the Stoker Petty Officers' and Torpedomen's Mess Decks. To reach the ratings on these mess decks, this party had to jump down 8 feet, the ladder being blown away, into 3 feet of oil fuel and on to a deck which might not have been intact. During this period they remained in imminent risk of falling through the shattered deck into the water and oil fuel. Moreover, they were under the impression that the ship was about to founder. Their exertions to save life consisted in dragging living and dead men from under wreckage and out of the oil fuel and passing them up on deck. This operation lasted from 5 to 10 minutes. The rescued were in very severe danger from having, swallowed oil fuel and had they been left would undoubtedly have died. Others were severely burnt and immersion of their wounds in oil fuel, if prolonged, would undoubtedly have caused death. HMS Hunter Mined The destroyer patrolled Spanish waters during the Spanish Civil War, enforcing the edicts of the Non-Intervention Committee (the ship enforced the arms blockade imposed on both sides by Britain and France). Hunter struck a mine south of Almeria, Spain on the afternoon of 13 May 1937. She suffered severe damage, with a heavy list, her radio wrecked and the bow flooded. Eight of her complement were killed and 24 wounded. The ship was towed clear of the minefield by the Republican destroyer Lázaga. The mine had been laid several weeks earlier by two ex-German Spanish Nationalist E-boats, the Falange and the Requeté. Hunter was towed to Almeria by Hyperion, where she arrived in the early hours of 14 May. The light cruiser Arethusa towed her to Gibraltar, where she was temporarily repaired from 15 May to 18 August. Hunter was towed to Malta for permanent repairs in August 1937, but they were not completed until 10 November 1938. The ship was assigned to the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla once her repairs were finished and she was given a brief overhaul in Malta between 24 June and 4 July 1939. Hunter was sent to Plymouth for a more thorough refit in mid-August 1939 that lasted through 27 August. |
Frank Allcroft - 4747404
Frank Allcroft was born in Rotherham in the third quarter of 1918. His parents John Allcroft and Mary (nee Bell) were married in married in Worksop in 1901 and lived at 22a Carlton Road Worksop, before moving to Rotherham in 1914. John was the fourth son of the couple who later lived at 1 Sawnmoor Avenue, Thurcroft. His mother died in 1925.
Frank enlisted in the Army, service number 4747404, and was originally a member of the York and Lancaster Regiment. He later transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards with the rank of Guardsman. The 2nd Coldstreams went to France as part of the 1st Guards Brigade in September 1939 and occupied a defensive position just to the west of the Belgium frontier. From then until the Spring was the period of the so-called "Phoney War". On 10th May 1940 the German offensive arrived and the Battalion moved forward into Belgium and took up a position to the east of Brussels. On 17 May the Battalion received orders to withdraw and thus began a fortnight of moving back from position to position. Eventually they received orders to move to Dunkirk and take up a position as part of the rearguard to cover the evacuation. The war diary records the latter part of May 1940 as follows:
22 May - This day passed peacefully, and orders were received for a further withdrawal, No.s 1 and 2 Companies were ordered to withdraw from the river line to the line
of the main PECQ - TOURNAI road.
23 May - Heavy ground mist early: visibility not more than 40 yards. At 02:00 hours the withdrawal began in the order: No.s 4, 3, 2, and 1 Companies with the carriers, holding a rearguard position.
The route of withdrawal was Road Junction 881409 - HELVA 859418 - LEERS 8340 -LA BOUISSON 819412.
This time the march was only a short one of 6 miles back to the “prepared” position made by the B.E.F. during the previous Winter.
Our sector was between LEERS and ROUBAIX.
The Battalion Line extended from inclusive the bend in the Canal at 827417.
By the evening the Germans were in contact with No. 2 Company.
24 May - By now the Battalion had dug itself in and Royal Engineers stores were again arriving.
At dawn each Forward Company was ordered to send out a Platoon, about 600 yards to act as a temporary outpost.
No. 4 Company's had no adventures
No. 3 Company’s commander mistook some Germans for a part of his own Patrol was captured, the rest of the Patrol getting back safely.
No. 2 Company’s was, after advancing some 400 yards, got caught in German machine gun cross fire and suffered heavy casualties.
25 May - This day passed quietly. There was a little shelling on our Right Front.
26 May - This was an uneventful day for us.
27 May - Another peaceful day as far as the enemy was concerned, but at 1615 hours it was learned that we were to withdraw again.
28 May - The Battalion was to withdraw to HONDSCHOOTE South East of DUNKERQUE.
For the first stage to MARIEBOURG the Route was Road Junction 808416 - Road Junction 788398 - Crossroads 773408 - CROIX LAROCHE 7239 - Road Junction 723393- Road Junction 703398 - Road Junction 707401 - Crossroads 702399 - Crossroads 683392 - Road Junction 675385 - VERLINGGHAM 6541 - PERENCHIES 6340 - HOUPLINES 5943 - LABIZET 5745 - PLOEGSTEERT 5747 - ROMAIN 5447 - NEUVE EGLISE 5349 -MARIEBOURG 251 - DRANOUTRE WOOD at 5053.
The prospects of rest on reaching MARIEBOURG were so poor that the march was continued to a little wood on the reverse slope of the ridge South of LOCRE.
We lay up in this wood till 14:00 hours and enjoyed an excellent meal from one of the many ration dumps left by the Royal Army Service Corps.
The roads were now choked by the French Army as opposed to Belgian refugees, but whereas it had been possible to direct the Belgian refugees off the road, it was not possible to do anything with the French troops.
The one o’clock news this day told of the submission of the Belgian Army which provided the first explanation of our withdrawal. At 1400 hours the Battalion continued its withdrawal toward DUNKERQUE via DRANOUTRE and LOCRE, where a very heavy thunderstorm broke, whose noise entirely drowned that of the German Artillery, and again soaked the men to the skin.
That evening after POPERINGHE the roads became emptier.
The Battalion was collected North West of POPERINGHE on the PROVEN ROAD at about 447644.
Then towards dusk we embussed in 3-ton lorries and moved off about 21:00 hours for the final stage to HONDSCHOOTE.
29 May - We debussed again at one o’clock on the morning at REXPOEDE 3572 whence the Battalion marched via KILLEM reaching HONDSCHOOTE before daylight.
At dawn the Battalion began to assemble under the Commanding Officer. It now became apparent that about six of our convoy of lorries had been sent on into DUNKIRK instead of to HONDSCHOOTE.
This resulted in the Battalion being without at least 3 rifle Platoons, all the Signallers, mortars, Intelligence and the R.S.M. Subsequently it proved impossible to find any of these men in the confusion of DUNKIRK.
By 13:30 hours the Battalion was in its position, 2200 yards long, facing South-South-East.
In our array No. 1 Company was on the right covering a small bridge 328780, then came No. 3 Company. No. 2 Company and No. 4 Company covering the main bridge
348728. Battalion H.Q. was on the road in rear of No. 4 Company near the windmill at KROMMELHOECK.
“A” and “B” Echelons personnel having destroyed their vehicles was formed into a Company. This Unit was employed directly under Division to hold HOUTHEM Bridge about 392804 (?) away on our Left.
There was appalling confusion on the roads due to the complete lack of control of French columns who were lined up three deep and the lack of organisation on the
perimeter at DUNKERQUE. All day long exhausted British and French troops poured across our bridges and back the remaining 10 miles to the sea, while enemy bombers passed overhead to deal with the situation on the beaches.
30 May - This day passed quite peacefully except for intermittent shelling.
The stream of British and French soldiers grew less.
No vehicles were allowed to cross the line of the LA BASSEE Canal and the far bank appeared to be solid with abandoned motors, all either burning or burnt out.
At 09:00 hours “A” and “B” Echelon had been relieved at their bridge and had withdrawn to Division H.Q. on the beach, but at 1700 hours instead of embarking for England, they were sent back to join the Battalion, which was so very short of men owing to the incident mentioned above, and to the fact that the Battalion front was a
mile long.
The sluice gates were opened and the country flooded from the sea. Many of the roads were under water and it was difficult to find one’s way across the country as the dykes and canals were undistinguishable.
Frank Allcroft was reported ‘killed in action’ on 30 May 1940, aged 21 and is commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial.
Frank enlisted in the Army, service number 4747404, and was originally a member of the York and Lancaster Regiment. He later transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards with the rank of Guardsman. The 2nd Coldstreams went to France as part of the 1st Guards Brigade in September 1939 and occupied a defensive position just to the west of the Belgium frontier. From then until the Spring was the period of the so-called "Phoney War". On 10th May 1940 the German offensive arrived and the Battalion moved forward into Belgium and took up a position to the east of Brussels. On 17 May the Battalion received orders to withdraw and thus began a fortnight of moving back from position to position. Eventually they received orders to move to Dunkirk and take up a position as part of the rearguard to cover the evacuation. The war diary records the latter part of May 1940 as follows:
22 May - This day passed peacefully, and orders were received for a further withdrawal, No.s 1 and 2 Companies were ordered to withdraw from the river line to the line
of the main PECQ - TOURNAI road.
23 May - Heavy ground mist early: visibility not more than 40 yards. At 02:00 hours the withdrawal began in the order: No.s 4, 3, 2, and 1 Companies with the carriers, holding a rearguard position.
The route of withdrawal was Road Junction 881409 - HELVA 859418 - LEERS 8340 -LA BOUISSON 819412.
This time the march was only a short one of 6 miles back to the “prepared” position made by the B.E.F. during the previous Winter.
Our sector was between LEERS and ROUBAIX.
The Battalion Line extended from inclusive the bend in the Canal at 827417.
By the evening the Germans were in contact with No. 2 Company.
24 May - By now the Battalion had dug itself in and Royal Engineers stores were again arriving.
At dawn each Forward Company was ordered to send out a Platoon, about 600 yards to act as a temporary outpost.
No. 4 Company's had no adventures
No. 3 Company’s commander mistook some Germans for a part of his own Patrol was captured, the rest of the Patrol getting back safely.
No. 2 Company’s was, after advancing some 400 yards, got caught in German machine gun cross fire and suffered heavy casualties.
25 May - This day passed quietly. There was a little shelling on our Right Front.
26 May - This was an uneventful day for us.
27 May - Another peaceful day as far as the enemy was concerned, but at 1615 hours it was learned that we were to withdraw again.
28 May - The Battalion was to withdraw to HONDSCHOOTE South East of DUNKERQUE.
For the first stage to MARIEBOURG the Route was Road Junction 808416 - Road Junction 788398 - Crossroads 773408 - CROIX LAROCHE 7239 - Road Junction 723393- Road Junction 703398 - Road Junction 707401 - Crossroads 702399 - Crossroads 683392 - Road Junction 675385 - VERLINGGHAM 6541 - PERENCHIES 6340 - HOUPLINES 5943 - LABIZET 5745 - PLOEGSTEERT 5747 - ROMAIN 5447 - NEUVE EGLISE 5349 -MARIEBOURG 251 - DRANOUTRE WOOD at 5053.
The prospects of rest on reaching MARIEBOURG were so poor that the march was continued to a little wood on the reverse slope of the ridge South of LOCRE.
We lay up in this wood till 14:00 hours and enjoyed an excellent meal from one of the many ration dumps left by the Royal Army Service Corps.
The roads were now choked by the French Army as opposed to Belgian refugees, but whereas it had been possible to direct the Belgian refugees off the road, it was not possible to do anything with the French troops.
The one o’clock news this day told of the submission of the Belgian Army which provided the first explanation of our withdrawal. At 1400 hours the Battalion continued its withdrawal toward DUNKERQUE via DRANOUTRE and LOCRE, where a very heavy thunderstorm broke, whose noise entirely drowned that of the German Artillery, and again soaked the men to the skin.
That evening after POPERINGHE the roads became emptier.
The Battalion was collected North West of POPERINGHE on the PROVEN ROAD at about 447644.
Then towards dusk we embussed in 3-ton lorries and moved off about 21:00 hours for the final stage to HONDSCHOOTE.
29 May - We debussed again at one o’clock on the morning at REXPOEDE 3572 whence the Battalion marched via KILLEM reaching HONDSCHOOTE before daylight.
At dawn the Battalion began to assemble under the Commanding Officer. It now became apparent that about six of our convoy of lorries had been sent on into DUNKIRK instead of to HONDSCHOOTE.
This resulted in the Battalion being without at least 3 rifle Platoons, all the Signallers, mortars, Intelligence and the R.S.M. Subsequently it proved impossible to find any of these men in the confusion of DUNKIRK.
By 13:30 hours the Battalion was in its position, 2200 yards long, facing South-South-East.
In our array No. 1 Company was on the right covering a small bridge 328780, then came No. 3 Company. No. 2 Company and No. 4 Company covering the main bridge
348728. Battalion H.Q. was on the road in rear of No. 4 Company near the windmill at KROMMELHOECK.
“A” and “B” Echelons personnel having destroyed their vehicles was formed into a Company. This Unit was employed directly under Division to hold HOUTHEM Bridge about 392804 (?) away on our Left.
There was appalling confusion on the roads due to the complete lack of control of French columns who were lined up three deep and the lack of organisation on the
perimeter at DUNKERQUE. All day long exhausted British and French troops poured across our bridges and back the remaining 10 miles to the sea, while enemy bombers passed overhead to deal with the situation on the beaches.
30 May - This day passed quite peacefully except for intermittent shelling.
The stream of British and French soldiers grew less.
No vehicles were allowed to cross the line of the LA BASSEE Canal and the far bank appeared to be solid with abandoned motors, all either burning or burnt out.
At 09:00 hours “A” and “B” Echelon had been relieved at their bridge and had withdrawn to Division H.Q. on the beach, but at 1700 hours instead of embarking for England, they were sent back to join the Battalion, which was so very short of men owing to the incident mentioned above, and to the fact that the Battalion front was a
mile long.
The sluice gates were opened and the country flooded from the sea. Many of the roads were under water and it was difficult to find one’s way across the country as the dykes and canals were undistinguishable.
Frank Allcroft was reported ‘killed in action’ on 30 May 1940, aged 21 and is commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial.
Wilfred Archer - 7264819
Wilfred Archer was born in the third quarter of 1920 in Chesterfield. His parents, Wilfred Archer and Elizabeth (nee Swain) had married in 1913, they later moved to
2 Laughton Road, Thurcroft. Wilfred enlisted in the Army and was a Private in the Royal Army Medical Corps, service number 7264819. He went to France and Belgium with the British Expeditionary Force, and was part of 11th Field Ambulance. His death is recorded as being between 31 may and 2 June 1940, during the time of the Dunkirk evacuation. Wilfred was 20 years old and is listed on the Dunkirk Memorial. |
Ernest Barber - 4692798
Ernest Barber was born in Stoke-on-Trent in the first quarter of 1919, youngest child of coal miner Herbert Barber and his wife of sixteen years Martha (nee Paskin).
The couple who originated from Staffordshire lived later at 3 Charles St, Thurcroft.
Ernest enlisted in the Army, service number 4692798, and was a Private in the 1st Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He was killed in an accident in Scotland, his death being registered in Peebles. He was 21 years old and was buried in Thurcroft Cemetery.
The couple who originated from Staffordshire lived later at 3 Charles St, Thurcroft.
Ernest enlisted in the Army, service number 4692798, and was a Private in the 1st Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He was killed in an accident in Scotland, his death being registered in Peebles. He was 21 years old and was buried in Thurcroft Cemetery.
Donald Broddle - 3065715
Donald Broddle was born in the first quarter of 1927, being christened on 6 March 1927 in Laughton. He was the second of four children born to coal worker/labourer Henry Broddle and Lilian (nee Staley). The family then lived at 3 Dalton Row, later moving to 1 St John’s Cottages, Laughton. He attended Laughton School and after leaving became a shop assistant in Dinnington.
Donald enlisted in October 1944 in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and was an Aircraftman 2nd Class with service number 3065715.
Donald died in Lancaster Royal Infirmary on 10 June 1945, aged 18 and was buried Laughton-En-Le-Morthern (All Saints) Churchyard on 15 June 1945
Donald enlisted in October 1944 in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and was an Aircraftman 2nd Class with service number 3065715.
Donald died in Lancaster Royal Infirmary on 10 June 1945, aged 18 and was buried Laughton-En-Le-Morthern (All Saints) Churchyard on 15 June 1945
Arthur Frederick Henry Cherry - 1108689
Arthur Frederick Henry Cherry was born in the second quarter of 1915, to Thomas William Cherry and Sarah Ann (nee Williamson). His parents had married in Mansfield and lived at Willowbridge Lane, Sutton In Ashfield, Nottinghamshire in 1911. His father worked at a colliery and was an underground platelayer. The family moved to 3 Meadow Street, Laughton Common and later to 6 Rotherham Road, Dinnington, which is where they were living when his mother died in 1936. Arthur was married at St
Leonard's Church, Dinnington late in 1939, and lived at 9 Meadow St, Dinnington.
Arthur enlisted in the Army and became a Gunner in the Royal Artillery, service number 1108689. In 1946 he was based at Woolwich Barracks, London and suffered a heart attack. He died on 13 August 1946 at The Royal Herbert hospital, Woolwich and was buried in Throapham (St John the Baptist) Churchyard. He was 31 years old and left a son who was born in 1943.
Leonard's Church, Dinnington late in 1939, and lived at 9 Meadow St, Dinnington.
Arthur enlisted in the Army and became a Gunner in the Royal Artillery, service number 1108689. In 1946 he was based at Woolwich Barracks, London and suffered a heart attack. He died on 13 August 1946 at The Royal Herbert hospital, Woolwich and was buried in Throapham (St John the Baptist) Churchyard. He was 31 years old and left a son who was born in 1943.
Alec Frank Clayton
Alec Frank Clayton was the third of four children born to Amos Clayton and Olive (nee Booth), his birth being registered in Doncaster in the first quarter of 1918.
He was in the Merchant Navy and in early 1944 was a Fireman and Trimmer on the steam ship Caleb Sprague (London). The 1943 built Caleb Sprague was 250ft long and displaced 1,813 tons. On 30 January 1944 it formed part of convoy CW243 sailing from Southend to St Helen’s Roads, a safe anchorage in the Solent. The convoy consisted on 10 merchantmen and 7 escorts. The Caleb Sprague was carrying a cargo of 2,500 tons of steel and timber to Newport. The convoy would be passing through the infamous E-boat alley, a popular hunting ground of German Schnellboot (fast attack boats) out of Calais. The first day passed uneventfully as the convoy steamed at 7 knots along the south coast. Late into the day a Sunderland of coastal command spotted a U-boat on the surface but it soon submerged and nothing more was reported. On into the night the convoy pressed slowly passing Beachy Head. The three Tree class armed trawlers Walnut, Pine and Blackthorn in the front of the convoy on mine-sweeping duties clearing the path for the merchant vessels behind. Leading the port column of vessels was the Fleet Auxiliary HMS Haslemere commanded by the convoy commodore. Tailing the port column of merchant vessels was HMT Lorraine and behind the starboard column HMT Rehearo, finally tailing the convoy was the destroyer HMS Albrighton.
At 0145 a radar operator on the Sussex shore spotted 10 new plots on his screen headed straight for the convoy plodding along at 7 knots. The new blips on his radar were headed for the convoy at 40 knots and it could mean only one thing. A pack of E-boats was hunting and had found the convoy. The civilian radar operator then made a fatal mistake of following procedure to the letter and went to find a senior naval officer to give him permission to make a plain language transmission to warn the convoy. All the time the E-boats closed in on the convoy. The E-boats had lain waiting in the channel with their engines turned off and watching for the lights and listening for the transmission of the convoy proceeding down the channel. When they confirmed their target they started their engines and raced towards the convoy at 40 knots, splitting into two groups they encircled the convoy and began to fire torpedoes at the advancing merchant vessels. One group of E-boats attacked the centre of the convoy and in the ensuing melee the Caleb Sprague was hit and sunk by the S-138 from the 5th S-Boote Flotilla. Another merchantman was sunk and one of the escort ships was also hit and was to sink later. The E-boats seemed content with their 3 ‘kills’ and left as quickly as they had arrived. The convoy stayed on high alert and began to ‘hug the coast’ to try and avoid a further anticipated attack from the E-boats. Alec Clayton died on 31 January 1944, one of 22 men lost from the compliment of 37 on board Caleb Sprague. He was 26 years old and now lies in
Thurcroft Cemetery.
He was in the Merchant Navy and in early 1944 was a Fireman and Trimmer on the steam ship Caleb Sprague (London). The 1943 built Caleb Sprague was 250ft long and displaced 1,813 tons. On 30 January 1944 it formed part of convoy CW243 sailing from Southend to St Helen’s Roads, a safe anchorage in the Solent. The convoy consisted on 10 merchantmen and 7 escorts. The Caleb Sprague was carrying a cargo of 2,500 tons of steel and timber to Newport. The convoy would be passing through the infamous E-boat alley, a popular hunting ground of German Schnellboot (fast attack boats) out of Calais. The first day passed uneventfully as the convoy steamed at 7 knots along the south coast. Late into the day a Sunderland of coastal command spotted a U-boat on the surface but it soon submerged and nothing more was reported. On into the night the convoy pressed slowly passing Beachy Head. The three Tree class armed trawlers Walnut, Pine and Blackthorn in the front of the convoy on mine-sweeping duties clearing the path for the merchant vessels behind. Leading the port column of vessels was the Fleet Auxiliary HMS Haslemere commanded by the convoy commodore. Tailing the port column of merchant vessels was HMT Lorraine and behind the starboard column HMT Rehearo, finally tailing the convoy was the destroyer HMS Albrighton.
At 0145 a radar operator on the Sussex shore spotted 10 new plots on his screen headed straight for the convoy plodding along at 7 knots. The new blips on his radar were headed for the convoy at 40 knots and it could mean only one thing. A pack of E-boats was hunting and had found the convoy. The civilian radar operator then made a fatal mistake of following procedure to the letter and went to find a senior naval officer to give him permission to make a plain language transmission to warn the convoy. All the time the E-boats closed in on the convoy. The E-boats had lain waiting in the channel with their engines turned off and watching for the lights and listening for the transmission of the convoy proceeding down the channel. When they confirmed their target they started their engines and raced towards the convoy at 40 knots, splitting into two groups they encircled the convoy and began to fire torpedoes at the advancing merchant vessels. One group of E-boats attacked the centre of the convoy and in the ensuing melee the Caleb Sprague was hit and sunk by the S-138 from the 5th S-Boote Flotilla. Another merchantman was sunk and one of the escort ships was also hit and was to sink later. The E-boats seemed content with their 3 ‘kills’ and left as quickly as they had arrived. The convoy stayed on high alert and began to ‘hug the coast’ to try and avoid a further anticipated attack from the E-boats. Alec Clayton died on 31 January 1944, one of 22 men lost from the compliment of 37 on board Caleb Sprague. He was 26 years old and now lies in
Thurcroft Cemetery.
Basil Drake - 581325
© IWM (CH 2772) A 42 Squadron Bristol Beaufort Mk I, in this instance N1172 'AW-S'
Basil Drake was the only child of Herbert Harry Drake and Violet (nee Copley), his birth was registered in Rotherham in the second quarter of 1920. The family lived at 1 West St, Thurcroft.
Basil enlisted in the Royal Air Force and became a Sergeant, service number 581325. He served with 42 Squadron of Coastal Command, which from April 1940 operated the Bristol Beaufort I. In June 1940 the squadron moved to Wick, Caithness in northern Scotland. On 22 December 1940 he was on board Beaufort I , L9890 coded AW-L which was sent on practice bombing mission from Wick. Coastal watchers heard a violent explosion at sea 3 miles east of Freswick Bay at 02:25. A motor lifeboat was sent to search at 03:30 but found nothing until coming across an open parachute with harness at 09:00 and it returned to shore at 12:00. A further parachute, clothing scraps, and aircraft pieces were later found strewn along the beach where they had been washed ashore. They were identified as from L9890 and it is presumed that the aircraft suffered a petrol fire soon after take-off which was at 02:20. The crew, including Basil Drake aged 20, were all lost and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Note
Other crew members were:
F/L James Alan Richardson RAF, 37575, aged 29
Sgt Wilfred Richard James Little RAF, 539889, aged 23
Sgt Roy Frederick Henry RAF, 627041, aged 19
Basil enlisted in the Royal Air Force and became a Sergeant, service number 581325. He served with 42 Squadron of Coastal Command, which from April 1940 operated the Bristol Beaufort I. In June 1940 the squadron moved to Wick, Caithness in northern Scotland. On 22 December 1940 he was on board Beaufort I , L9890 coded AW-L which was sent on practice bombing mission from Wick. Coastal watchers heard a violent explosion at sea 3 miles east of Freswick Bay at 02:25. A motor lifeboat was sent to search at 03:30 but found nothing until coming across an open parachute with harness at 09:00 and it returned to shore at 12:00. A further parachute, clothing scraps, and aircraft pieces were later found strewn along the beach where they had been washed ashore. They were identified as from L9890 and it is presumed that the aircraft suffered a petrol fire soon after take-off which was at 02:20. The crew, including Basil Drake aged 20, were all lost and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Note
Other crew members were:
F/L James Alan Richardson RAF, 37575, aged 29
Sgt Wilfred Richard James Little RAF, 539889, aged 23
Sgt Roy Frederick Henry RAF, 627041, aged 19
Jesse Few - 614026
Avro Manchester
Jesse Few was the son of Jesse Few and Mabel E (nee Clay), his birth was registered in Rotherham in the third quarter of 1920. Jesse was the third of six children who lived at 43 School Road, Thurcroft. He was educated at Thurcroft
Council School, and after leaving school worked for Mr Willoughby (butchers) of Thurcroft.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force in 1939, service number 614026. After training he qualified as an air gunner with the rank of Sergeant, and served with 97 Squadron. The squadron had been formed in February 1941 at Waddington and moved to Coningsby the following month, Jesse Few joined the squadron with the rest of his crew some months later. On the night of 15/16 November 1941 Jesse was part of the crew of Avro Manchester bomber serial number L7492 which successfully dropped 5x 1000lb bombs through medium cloud onto the city of Emden. On 24 November 1941 he and the rest of the crew of Manchester mk I serial number R5792 with squadron markings of OF-L were taking part in a
daylight training flight. The aircraft was involved in a mid air collision with a Hurricane mk I from No27 O T U, serial number V6864. Both aircraft crashed to the ground, the Manchester crashed at 1155 hours at Walpole St Andrew, 5 miles WSW of King’s Lynn, killing all the crew. The pilot of the hurricane was also killed. Jesse Few was 21 years old and left a wife who he had married in the last quarter of 1940. His funeral took place on Sunday 30 November 1941 at St Johns Church followed by a buried at Rotherham (Masborough) Cemetery.
Notes
The other crew members of the Manchester were:
F/O Henry Thomas Hill RAFVR (Pilot) Captain – 82677, aged 23
Flt Sgt Arthur Carriss Smith (Flight Engineer) RAFVR – 745479, aged 21
Sgt John Newton RAFVR (Observer) - 994648
Sgt Fred Holt (Wireless Air Gunner) RAFVR – 1007372, aged 21
Sgt Francis Edward Martin RAFVR (Wireless Operator / Air Gunner) - 1198837, aged 19
Sgt Ernest Charles Hutton RAAF (Air Gunner) 407432, aged 23
The Hurricane pilot was Sergeant Pilot George Arthur Johnstone RAFVR - 1212187
Jesse Few may have been on F/O Hill’s Manchester aircraft L7387 when it maked a heavy landing on the afternoon of 10 October 1941, causing the port undercarriage to fracture and collapse. No-one was injured and the caused was an error of judgement.
Council School, and after leaving school worked for Mr Willoughby (butchers) of Thurcroft.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force in 1939, service number 614026. After training he qualified as an air gunner with the rank of Sergeant, and served with 97 Squadron. The squadron had been formed in February 1941 at Waddington and moved to Coningsby the following month, Jesse Few joined the squadron with the rest of his crew some months later. On the night of 15/16 November 1941 Jesse was part of the crew of Avro Manchester bomber serial number L7492 which successfully dropped 5x 1000lb bombs through medium cloud onto the city of Emden. On 24 November 1941 he and the rest of the crew of Manchester mk I serial number R5792 with squadron markings of OF-L were taking part in a
daylight training flight. The aircraft was involved in a mid air collision with a Hurricane mk I from No27 O T U, serial number V6864. Both aircraft crashed to the ground, the Manchester crashed at 1155 hours at Walpole St Andrew, 5 miles WSW of King’s Lynn, killing all the crew. The pilot of the hurricane was also killed. Jesse Few was 21 years old and left a wife who he had married in the last quarter of 1940. His funeral took place on Sunday 30 November 1941 at St Johns Church followed by a buried at Rotherham (Masborough) Cemetery.
Notes
The other crew members of the Manchester were:
F/O Henry Thomas Hill RAFVR (Pilot) Captain – 82677, aged 23
Flt Sgt Arthur Carriss Smith (Flight Engineer) RAFVR – 745479, aged 21
Sgt John Newton RAFVR (Observer) - 994648
Sgt Fred Holt (Wireless Air Gunner) RAFVR – 1007372, aged 21
Sgt Francis Edward Martin RAFVR (Wireless Operator / Air Gunner) - 1198837, aged 19
Sgt Ernest Charles Hutton RAAF (Air Gunner) 407432, aged 23
The Hurricane pilot was Sergeant Pilot George Arthur Johnstone RAFVR - 1212187
Jesse Few may have been on F/O Hill’s Manchester aircraft L7387 when it maked a heavy landing on the afternoon of 10 October 1941, causing the port undercarriage to fracture and collapse. No-one was injured and the caused was an error of judgement.
Percy Fox - 4540501
Percy Fox was born in the third quarter of 1919 to labourer John Fox and his wife of 7 years Rose (nee Court) and lived at 31 Arbour Drive, Thurcroft.
He enlisted in the Army and was a Private in 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own), service number 4540501. The battalion began the war in India and arrived in Rangoon, Burma on 29 January 1942 and were under the command of 17th Indian Division from 5 February 1942. Percy Fox died on 16 January 1944, aged 24 and is buried in Rangoon War Cemetery.
Note
As Rangoon fell to the Japanese in early 1942 and was not recaptured until mid-1945 it would appear that Percy Fox was captured and died as a prisoner of war.
He enlisted in the Army and was a Private in 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own), service number 4540501. The battalion began the war in India and arrived in Rangoon, Burma on 29 January 1942 and were under the command of 17th Indian Division from 5 February 1942. Percy Fox died on 16 January 1944, aged 24 and is buried in Rangoon War Cemetery.
Note
As Rangoon fell to the Japanese in early 1942 and was not recaptured until mid-1945 it would appear that Percy Fox was captured and died as a prisoner of war.
Tom Gale - 6299644
Tom Gale was born on 20 June 1920, and baptised in Laughton on 14 July 1920. His parents were blacksmith Tom Gale and his wife of 11 years Ethel Isabella (nee Brammar) of St Johns Road, Laughton. The couple who after they married initially lived at 92 Middle Lane, Rotherham later lived at Firbeck Road, Laughton.
Tom enlisted in the Army, service number 6299644, and was a Lance Corporal in the 1st Battalion, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment. The Regiment were part of
4th Infantry Division’s 12th Infantry Brigade. After fighting in the Tunisia Campaign the West Kent’s were next in action in Italy. In mid-1944 the 1st Battalion was then involved in the advance on Florence. After reaching the Chianti Hills, a stretch of mountainous country about 12 miles south of Florence, the 1st Battalion was order forward from Monte San Savino. On 24th July and the 26th July they were shelled as they were dismounting from their lorries in the village of Lucolena. Leaving the
lorries at Lucolena, the 1st battalion advance on foot through the tiny village of Dudda. Demolition and snipers made progress very slow. Eventually they climbed the terraces of the hill and occupied the fort, which was nicknamed “Leicester”, which was their objective. The next stage was the capture of Point 706, known as "Conn”. Delayed only by mines, the leading troops were carried forward by tanks on 27th July and reached point 706. From there they were directed to point 770, with Monte Scalari (Point 778) as the ultimate objective. Almost immediately the leading companies were met with fierce mortar and machine gun fire from the hills in the area. The
forward platoons of the battalion got within 400 yards of the mountains summit, but were driven back. After some severe action the objective was finally taken after dark. It was a tough battle in which 32 members of the battalion were killed and 79 wounded.
Tom Gale was killed on 29 July 1944, aged 24, and is buried in Florence War Cemetery.
Tom enlisted in the Army, service number 6299644, and was a Lance Corporal in the 1st Battalion, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment. The Regiment were part of
4th Infantry Division’s 12th Infantry Brigade. After fighting in the Tunisia Campaign the West Kent’s were next in action in Italy. In mid-1944 the 1st Battalion was then involved in the advance on Florence. After reaching the Chianti Hills, a stretch of mountainous country about 12 miles south of Florence, the 1st Battalion was order forward from Monte San Savino. On 24th July and the 26th July they were shelled as they were dismounting from their lorries in the village of Lucolena. Leaving the
lorries at Lucolena, the 1st battalion advance on foot through the tiny village of Dudda. Demolition and snipers made progress very slow. Eventually they climbed the terraces of the hill and occupied the fort, which was nicknamed “Leicester”, which was their objective. The next stage was the capture of Point 706, known as "Conn”. Delayed only by mines, the leading troops were carried forward by tanks on 27th July and reached point 706. From there they were directed to point 770, with Monte Scalari (Point 778) as the ultimate objective. Almost immediately the leading companies were met with fierce mortar and machine gun fire from the hills in the area. The
forward platoons of the battalion got within 400 yards of the mountains summit, but were driven back. After some severe action the objective was finally taken after dark. It was a tough battle in which 32 members of the battalion were killed and 79 wounded.
Tom Gale was killed on 29 July 1944, aged 24, and is buried in Florence War Cemetery.
George Ernest William Gallop
Bomb damage at Standard Steel Works
George Ernest William Gallop was born in the second quarter of 1913 in Neath, Breconshire, Wales to coal miner George William Gallop and and his wife of 5 years Emily Jane (nee Richards). The family later lived at Westfield Bungalow, Carr, Maltby. George was married in the second quarter of 1938 in the Rother valley registration district and lived at Westfield Terrace, Bramley, Rotherham.
He was killed in an air raid whilst working at W. T. Flather Ltd, Standard Steel Works, Sheffield Road, Tinsley on 26 September 1940. He was the only casualty in the city of Sheffield on that night. George was 26 years old and left a wife and daughter who was born in early 1940.
He was killed in an air raid whilst working at W. T. Flather Ltd, Standard Steel Works, Sheffield Road, Tinsley on 26 September 1940. He was the only casualty in the city of Sheffield on that night. George was 26 years old and left a wife and daughter who was born in early 1940.
Horace William Green - D/KX 93946
Horace William Green’s birth was registered in Barnsley in the second quarter of 1919, son of farm labourer Father John Green, and Blanche Atterbury who had married the year before. Horace was living at 7 Wright’s Crescent, Wombwell when he married in Laughton on 6 February 1943.
Horace joined the Royal Navy, service number D/KX 93946, and was a Stoker 1st Class. He was based at HMS Drake, a shore base at Devonport. On 29 July 1944 he was killed in an accident, his death being registered in Totnes, Devon. He was 25 years old and is buried in Plymouth (Weston Hill)
Cemetery.
Horace joined the Royal Navy, service number D/KX 93946, and was a Stoker 1st Class. He was based at HMS Drake, a shore base at Devonport. On 29 July 1944 he was killed in an accident, his death being registered in Totnes, Devon. He was 25 years old and is buried in Plymouth (Weston Hill)
Cemetery.
James Harrison - C/JX 313457
SS Roxby
James Harrison was born in Rotherham on 7 February 1922, son of George Harrison and Mary (nee Tinsley) of 8 Kingswood Avenue, Laughton.
James enlisted in the Royal Navy, service number C/JX 313457, and was an Able Seaman. In late 1942 he was a DEMS gunner on the merchant steamship SS Roxby. The vessel sailed from Cardiff bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia with a cargo 6,400 tons of coal. For it route across the North Atlantic the Roxby joined convoy ON-142 which left Liverpool on 30 October 1942. The vessel became a straggler from the convoy and at 15:40 on 7 November 1942 was hit by one of two torpedoes from U-613 southwest of Cape Clear and sank at 16.05 hours. The master, 28 crew members and five gunners were lost. Eleven crew members and two gunners were picked up by the Irish merchant Irish Beech. James Harrison, aged 20, was one of those lost and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Notes
Defensively Equipped Merchant Ship (DEMS) was a program to arm 5,500 British merchant ships with an adequate defence against enemy submarines and aircraft. DEMS was used to describe the ships carrying the guns, as well as the military personnel manning the guns.
Old naval guns had been stored since 1918 in major seaports for possible use during future hostilities. During the Second World War, the objective was to equip each ship
with a low-angle gun mounted aft as defence against surfaced submarines and a high-angle gun and rifle-calibre machine guns for defence against air attack. By the end of 1940, 3,400 ships had been armed and all ships were armed by 1943.
The low-angle guns were typically in the 3-inch to 6-inch range (75–150 mm) depending on the size of the ship. Rifle-calibre machine guns were augmented or replaced by 20mm Oerlikon as they became available. The High-Angle QF 12 pounder Mk V mount was the most common anti-aircraft gun, and later ships sometimes received 40mm
Bofors guns.
Untrained gunners posed significant risk to friendly aircraft in the absence of efficient communications. DEMS guns were manned by 24,000 Royal Navy personnel and 14,000 men of the Royal Artillery Maritime Regiment.
U-613 was Sunk 23 July, 1943 in the mid-Atlantic south of the Azores, in position 35.32N, 28.36W, by depth charges from the US destroyer USS George E Badger. 48
dead (all hands lost).
James enlisted in the Royal Navy, service number C/JX 313457, and was an Able Seaman. In late 1942 he was a DEMS gunner on the merchant steamship SS Roxby. The vessel sailed from Cardiff bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia with a cargo 6,400 tons of coal. For it route across the North Atlantic the Roxby joined convoy ON-142 which left Liverpool on 30 October 1942. The vessel became a straggler from the convoy and at 15:40 on 7 November 1942 was hit by one of two torpedoes from U-613 southwest of Cape Clear and sank at 16.05 hours. The master, 28 crew members and five gunners were lost. Eleven crew members and two gunners were picked up by the Irish merchant Irish Beech. James Harrison, aged 20, was one of those lost and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Notes
Defensively Equipped Merchant Ship (DEMS) was a program to arm 5,500 British merchant ships with an adequate defence against enemy submarines and aircraft. DEMS was used to describe the ships carrying the guns, as well as the military personnel manning the guns.
Old naval guns had been stored since 1918 in major seaports for possible use during future hostilities. During the Second World War, the objective was to equip each ship
with a low-angle gun mounted aft as defence against surfaced submarines and a high-angle gun and rifle-calibre machine guns for defence against air attack. By the end of 1940, 3,400 ships had been armed and all ships were armed by 1943.
The low-angle guns were typically in the 3-inch to 6-inch range (75–150 mm) depending on the size of the ship. Rifle-calibre machine guns were augmented or replaced by 20mm Oerlikon as they became available. The High-Angle QF 12 pounder Mk V mount was the most common anti-aircraft gun, and later ships sometimes received 40mm
Bofors guns.
Untrained gunners posed significant risk to friendly aircraft in the absence of efficient communications. DEMS guns were manned by 24,000 Royal Navy personnel and 14,000 men of the Royal Artillery Maritime Regiment.
U-613 was Sunk 23 July, 1943 in the mid-Atlantic south of the Azores, in position 35.32N, 28.36W, by depth charges from the US destroyer USS George E Badger. 48
dead (all hands lost).