Maltby - Panel 1 Right
Richard Frederick Davidson - 2754982
Richard Frederick Davidson was the son of Benjamin Davidson and Sarah (nee Grant), originally of Sheffield and by 1911 of 9 New Boston Square, Newton-In-Makerfield, Haydock, Lancashire. Richard’s birth was registered in Warrington in early 1914. His mother died in Lancashire in 1921, when Richard was just 7 years old. Known as “Dick”, he worked at Maltby Main Colliery and in his spare time was a keen sportsman, goalkeeper for Maltby Main FC and a member Edlington Cycling Club. His home was 71 Salisbury Road, Maltby.
Dick enlisted in October 1937 as a Private in the 2nd Battalion the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) Regiment, along with Alec McKnight from Bramley. In November 1941
the Black Watch were in North Africa part of 70th Infantry Division besieged in the city of Tobruk by Rommel’s Afrika Korps. Operation Crusader began on 18th November, the third and ultimately successful attempt to break the siege. On 21st November the Black Watch began their action to break out of the city to meet the relieving force from 7th Armoured. By mid afternoon they had advanced some three and a half miles, when they paused as it became clear that 7th Armoured would not link up that day. On that first day the Battalion's casualties were 6 Officers and 58 men killed with 16 Officers and 196 men wounded of whom 15 died of their wounds. Richard Davidson was one of the casualties of 21 November 1941, aged 27, and tragically his friend Alec McKnight also lost his life that day. Dick is buried in Knightsbridge War Cemetery in
Libya, which is 15 miles west of Tobruk.
Note
Richard Frederick Davidson is listed on St.Thomas’s War Memorial, Ashton in Makerfield.
Dick enlisted in October 1937 as a Private in the 2nd Battalion the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) Regiment, along with Alec McKnight from Bramley. In November 1941
the Black Watch were in North Africa part of 70th Infantry Division besieged in the city of Tobruk by Rommel’s Afrika Korps. Operation Crusader began on 18th November, the third and ultimately successful attempt to break the siege. On 21st November the Black Watch began their action to break out of the city to meet the relieving force from 7th Armoured. By mid afternoon they had advanced some three and a half miles, when they paused as it became clear that 7th Armoured would not link up that day. On that first day the Battalion's casualties were 6 Officers and 58 men killed with 16 Officers and 196 men wounded of whom 15 died of their wounds. Richard Davidson was one of the casualties of 21 November 1941, aged 27, and tragically his friend Alec McKnight also lost his life that day. Dick is buried in Knightsbridge War Cemetery in
Libya, which is 15 miles west of Tobruk.
Note
Richard Frederick Davidson is listed on St.Thomas’s War Memorial, Ashton in Makerfield.
Harold Dawes - 4857329
John William Edwards - 1052838
John William Edwards was born in Rotherham on 5 May 1920, first child of John Edwards and May (nee Sawyer) of 3 Rosston Road, Maltby. John was known by the name of Jack.
Jack enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and served as a Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner. His service number was 1052838 and was posted to 103 Squadron of Bomber Command. He was based at Elsham Wolds in the north of Lincolnshire, and flew on operations in the Vickers Wellington medium bomber. On the night of 2 July Sergeant Edwards was part of the crew of Wellington DV611 which was airborne at 23:21 on a mission to Bremen in Germany.
It was one of 325 aircraft - 175 Wellingtons, 53 Lancasters, 35 Halifaxes, 34 Stirlings, 28 Hampdens sent to the city. DV611 was one of two 103 Squadron Wellingtons lost on this operation, although the cause of loss and crash site
have not been established. Four of the five man crew were killed and those killed were initially buried in the Neuer Friedhof at Lingen-Ems. They have been subsequently, re- interred in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Note
Other crew members were:
P/O A T Little, RAAF 402821 (Captain - Pilot) - Killed
P/O D H Davidner, RCAF (Observer) - PoW
Sgt Thomas Alfred Elliott, RAFVR 1325341 (1st Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner) - Killed
Flt Sgt J V Chicoine, RCAF R/56204 (Rear Gunner) - Killed
Jack enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and served as a Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner. His service number was 1052838 and was posted to 103 Squadron of Bomber Command. He was based at Elsham Wolds in the north of Lincolnshire, and flew on operations in the Vickers Wellington medium bomber. On the night of 2 July Sergeant Edwards was part of the crew of Wellington DV611 which was airborne at 23:21 on a mission to Bremen in Germany.
It was one of 325 aircraft - 175 Wellingtons, 53 Lancasters, 35 Halifaxes, 34 Stirlings, 28 Hampdens sent to the city. DV611 was one of two 103 Squadron Wellingtons lost on this operation, although the cause of loss and crash site
have not been established. Four of the five man crew were killed and those killed were initially buried in the Neuer Friedhof at Lingen-Ems. They have been subsequently, re- interred in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Note
Other crew members were:
P/O A T Little, RAAF 402821 (Captain - Pilot) - Killed
P/O D H Davidner, RCAF (Observer) - PoW
Sgt Thomas Alfred Elliott, RAFVR 1325341 (1st Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner) - Killed
Flt Sgt J V Chicoine, RCAF R/56204 (Rear Gunner) - Killed