Tinsley - St Lawrence Church, St Lawrence Road
Additional Information
Walter Bruce (4747418)
York and Lancaster Regiment - The Hallamshire Bn 3 May 1940, aged 29 Lost at sea during Norway Campaign when warship transporting the battalion was sunk Brookwood Memorial Kenneth Frederick Casby (D/MX 63611) Royal Navy - H.M.S. Prince of Wales 10 December 1941, aged 24 Lost when vessel sunk off Malaya Plymouth Naval Memorial Eric Henry Charles Hardman (1062691) Royal Air Force - 25 O.T.U. - A Flt 16 October 1941, aged 21 Anson aircraft W2626 took off from Balderton for a training flight of circuits and landings, crashed at 21:30 in Claypole village near to the airfield. Tinsley (St Lawrence) Churchyard Reginald Herbert Hookes (926362) Royal Artillery 12 May 1941, aged 30 Died in London Greenwich Cemetery Frederick Dennis Lee (4748803) Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) - 7th Bn. 19 June 1944, aged 25 Died in Normandy Bayeux War Cemetery Frank Mullins (5776228) Royal Norfolk Regiment - 2nd Bn. 25 February 1945, aged 26 Illness as a PoW in Czechoslovakia Prague War Cemetery Jack Palmer (1515657) Royal Air Force - 630 Sqdn. 18 March 1944, aged 22 Lancaster aircraft lost on a mission to Germany Coxyde Military Cemetery Howard Albert Powell (13074782) Pioneer Corps 29 April 1942, aged 34 Died in Yorkshire Tinsley (St Lawrence) Churchyard |
Charles Vincent Rodgers (2655395)
Coldstream Guards - 2nd Bn. 4 January 1943, aged 37 Died in North Africa Medjez-El-Bab Memorial Edward Rodgers (C/JX 214978) Royal Navy - H.M.S. Fiji 23 May 1941, aged 18 Lost when vessel sunk in the Mediterranean Chatham Naval Memorial Arthur Eric Tongue (14374004) Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry - 2nd Bn. 25 February 1944, aged 19 Died in Italy Minturno War Cemetery William Cyril Ward (D/KX 80665) Royal Navy - H.M.S. Glorious 8 June 1940, aged 28 Lost when vessel sunk in the Norwegian Sea Plymouth Naval Memorial possibly Frederick John White (140484) Royal Army Service Corps 27 June 1941, aged 21 Died in the Middle East Ramleh War Cemetery Arthur Wood (T/800567) Royal Army Service Corps 9 November 1943, aged 31 Died in Yorkshire Tinsley (St Lawrence) Churchyard Harry Woodhouse (1543235) Royal Air Force - 62 Sqdn. 13 February 1945, aged 23 Dakota aircraft crashed returning from a supply drop mission Imphal War Cemetery |
Additional Information:
Robert Leslie Littler (2134692) Royal Engineers - 38 Field Coy. 2 August 1943, aged 37 Died during the battle for the island of Sicily Catania War Cemetery, Sicily |
Robert Leslie Littler - 2134692Robert Leslie Littler was born in Manchester in 1906 to core maker Thomas Henry Littler and his wife Sarah Ann. Robert was christened on 24 October 1906 at St Cross church, Clayton when the family were living at 24 Pennell St, Clayton. Robert married Edith Whitham in the last days of 1928, they had a son and two daughters.
Robert enlisted in the Army, service number 2134692, and was a Driver with 38 Field Company, Royal Engineers. His unit were involved in the invasion of Sicily, the step from North Africa to the Italian mainland. For this landing, Operation Husky, the 38 Field Company were part of the 5th Infantry Division, an element in Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey’s XIII Corps. The landings commenced on the night of 9–10 July 1943, and after a relatively short campaign the island was secured on 17 August. Robert Leslie Littler was reported killed in action on 2 August 1943, aged 37, and is buried in Catania War Cemetery, Sicily. |
Walter Bruce - 4747418
Walter Bruce was born in the second quarter of 1911, he was the eighth child of steel worker Walter Bruce and his wife of 12 years Mary Ann Edith (nee
Sheldon) who lived at 13 Campbell Road, Sheffield.
Walter enlisted in the Army and was a Private, service number 4747418 in The Hallamshire Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment. With the rest of the Hallamshire’s Walter 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 2.20. 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. Lieutenant Colonel Hingston who fought with the KOYLI at Namsos wrote: 'The retreat of 146 Infantry Brigade to Namdalseidet is not a bright story in the history of the British army. Indeed it is doubtful whether British troops have ever been forced to retire with so little effort on the part of the enemy. On the other hand it is also doubtful if a British force have ever been asked to do so much with so little.'
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 and in the words of Captain McIntyre 'had endured so much.' Walter Bruce was one of the thirteen soldier who were killed on 3 May 1940, he was 29 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 Sydney Bell 4747660
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
Sheldon) who lived at 13 Campbell Road, Sheffield.
Walter enlisted in the Army and was a Private, service number 4747418 in The Hallamshire Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment. With the rest of the Hallamshire’s Walter 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 2.20. 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. Lieutenant Colonel Hingston who fought with the KOYLI at Namsos wrote: 'The retreat of 146 Infantry Brigade to Namdalseidet is not a bright story in the history of the British army. Indeed it is doubtful whether British troops have ever been forced to retire with so little effort on the part of the enemy. On the other hand it is also doubtful if a British force have ever been asked to do so much with so little.'
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 and in the words of Captain McIntyre 'had endured so much.' Walter Bruce was one of the thirteen soldier who were killed on 3 May 1940, he was 29 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 Sydney Bell 4747660
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
Kenneth Frederick Casby - D/MX 63611
Kenneth Frederick Casby was born in Rotherham in the seond quarter of 1917, the second youngest child of James Frederick Casby and Emma (nee Jepson) who had married in Worksop in 1901. Six years before Kenneth was born coal miner James and his wife Emma were living in Barlborough Common. Kenneth was married in Sheffield in late 1940 to Dora Enid Colbourn.
Kenneth enlisted in the Royal Navy, service number D/MX63611. By late 1941 he was a Leading Supply Assistant serving on 43,000 ton King George V class battleship HMS Prince of Wales. After the Bismarck action in May 1941 the Prince of Wales was sent to the Far East. Japanese troop convoys were sighted on 6 December and Singapore was raided by Japanese aircraft. In response Prince of Wales's anti-aircraft batteries opened fire but scored no hits and had no effect on the Japanese aircraft. A signal was received from the Admiralty in London ordering the British squadron to commence hostilities and that evening, confident that a protective air umbrella would be provided by the RAF presence in the region, Admiral Phillips set sail. Force Z at this time comprised the battleship Prince of Wales, the battlecruiser Repulse, and the destroyers Electra, Express, Tenedos and HMAS Vampire.
The object of the sortie was to attack Japanese transports at Kota Bharu, but in the afternoon of 9 December the Japanese submarine I-56 spotted the British ships and in the evening they were detected by Japanese aerial reconnaissance. By this time it had been made clear that no RAF fighter support would be forthcoming. At midnight a signal was received that Japanese forces were landing at Kuantan in Malaya. Force Z was diverted to investigate. At 02:11 on 10 December the force was again sighted by a Japanese submarine and at 08:00 arrived off Kuantan, only to discover that the reported landings were a diversion. At 11:00 that morning the first Japanese air attack began. Eight "Nell" bombers dropped their bombs close to Repulse, one passing through the hangar roof and exploding on the 1-inch plating of the main deck below. The
second attack force, comprising seventeen "Nells" armed with torpedoes, arrived at 11:30, divided into two attack formations. Despite some reports to the contrary Prince of Wales was struck by only one torpedo, although this was to eventually prove fatal, while Repulse managed to avoid the seven torpedoes aimed at her, as well as bombs dropped minutes later by a further formation of six "Nells". The torpedo struck Prince of Wales on the port side aft, abaft "Y" Turret, wrecking the outer propeller shaft on that side and destroying bulkheads to one degree or another along the shaft all the way to B Engine Room; which in turn caused rapid uncontrollable flooding and put the entire electrical system in the after part of the ship out of action. Lacking effective damage control, she immediately took on a heavy list.
Six aircraft from this wave then attacked Prince of Wales, hitting her with three torpedoes, causing further damage and flooding. Finally, a 500 kilograms (1,100 lb) bomb hit the catapult deck, penetrated through to the main deck and exploded there, causing many casualties in the makeshift aid centre in the Cinema Flat. Several other bombs from this attack were very 'near misses', indenting the hull, popping rivets and causing hull plates to 'split' along the seams and intensifying the flooding. At 13:15 the order to abandon ship was given and at 13:20 Prince of Wales capsized and sank; Vice-Admiral Phillips and Captain Leach were among the 327 fatalities.
Kenneth Frederick Casby was 29 years old when he was lost on 10 December 1941, he is listed on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Kenneth enlisted in the Royal Navy, service number D/MX63611. By late 1941 he was a Leading Supply Assistant serving on 43,000 ton King George V class battleship HMS Prince of Wales. After the Bismarck action in May 1941 the Prince of Wales was sent to the Far East. Japanese troop convoys were sighted on 6 December and Singapore was raided by Japanese aircraft. In response Prince of Wales's anti-aircraft batteries opened fire but scored no hits and had no effect on the Japanese aircraft. A signal was received from the Admiralty in London ordering the British squadron to commence hostilities and that evening, confident that a protective air umbrella would be provided by the RAF presence in the region, Admiral Phillips set sail. Force Z at this time comprised the battleship Prince of Wales, the battlecruiser Repulse, and the destroyers Electra, Express, Tenedos and HMAS Vampire.
The object of the sortie was to attack Japanese transports at Kota Bharu, but in the afternoon of 9 December the Japanese submarine I-56 spotted the British ships and in the evening they were detected by Japanese aerial reconnaissance. By this time it had been made clear that no RAF fighter support would be forthcoming. At midnight a signal was received that Japanese forces were landing at Kuantan in Malaya. Force Z was diverted to investigate. At 02:11 on 10 December the force was again sighted by a Japanese submarine and at 08:00 arrived off Kuantan, only to discover that the reported landings were a diversion. At 11:00 that morning the first Japanese air attack began. Eight "Nell" bombers dropped their bombs close to Repulse, one passing through the hangar roof and exploding on the 1-inch plating of the main deck below. The
second attack force, comprising seventeen "Nells" armed with torpedoes, arrived at 11:30, divided into two attack formations. Despite some reports to the contrary Prince of Wales was struck by only one torpedo, although this was to eventually prove fatal, while Repulse managed to avoid the seven torpedoes aimed at her, as well as bombs dropped minutes later by a further formation of six "Nells". The torpedo struck Prince of Wales on the port side aft, abaft "Y" Turret, wrecking the outer propeller shaft on that side and destroying bulkheads to one degree or another along the shaft all the way to B Engine Room; which in turn caused rapid uncontrollable flooding and put the entire electrical system in the after part of the ship out of action. Lacking effective damage control, she immediately took on a heavy list.
Six aircraft from this wave then attacked Prince of Wales, hitting her with three torpedoes, causing further damage and flooding. Finally, a 500 kilograms (1,100 lb) bomb hit the catapult deck, penetrated through to the main deck and exploded there, causing many casualties in the makeshift aid centre in the Cinema Flat. Several other bombs from this attack were very 'near misses', indenting the hull, popping rivets and causing hull plates to 'split' along the seams and intensifying the flooding. At 13:15 the order to abandon ship was given and at 13:20 Prince of Wales capsized and sank; Vice-Admiral Phillips and Captain Leach were among the 327 fatalities.
Kenneth Frederick Casby was 29 years old when he was lost on 10 December 1941, he is listed on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Eric Henry Charles Hardman - 1062691
Eric Henry Charles Hardman was born in Rotherham in the third quarter of 1920. Eric’s father Thomas, a pattern maker was originally from Malton, but after marrying Beatrice lived at 36 Strafford St, Tinsley Sheffield. Eric was the Table Tennis Champion of the Sheffield Closed Championships in the final two years before the competition was suspended because of the war. In 1938 he was playing for Tinsley Meths and the following year he played for Brown Bayleys.
Eric joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 1062691 and became a Sergeant with the trade of Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner. He was serving with A flight of 25 Operational Training Unit at RAF Balderton, two miles south of Newark-on-Trent. On the eveing of 16 October 1941 he was on board Anson mk I W2626 which had taken off for a training exercise which consisted of night circuits and landings during which the Anson crashed 2130 in Claypole Village, near the airfield.
Eric Henry Charles Hardman was 21 years old when he died and was buried in Tinsley (St Lawrence) Churchyard.
Eric joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 1062691 and became a Sergeant with the trade of Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner. He was serving with A flight of 25 Operational Training Unit at RAF Balderton, two miles south of Newark-on-Trent. On the eveing of 16 October 1941 he was on board Anson mk I W2626 which had taken off for a training exercise which consisted of night circuits and landings during which the Anson crashed 2130 in Claypole Village, near the airfield.
Eric Henry Charles Hardman was 21 years old when he died and was buried in Tinsley (St Lawrence) Churchyard.
Reginald Herbert Hookes - 926362
Reginald Herbert Hookes was born in Sheppey, Kent in the third quarter of 1910, the second child of welshman Edward Samuel Hookes and his Essex born wife of five years Kate Florence (nee Elliston). The couple’s first child was born in Yorkshire but at the time of Reginald’s birth the family were living at 10 Richmond Street, Sheerness. At some time in the early 1920’s the family move to the Tinsley area. Reginald’s mother died suddenly in 1928, when he was 17 years old, and was buried in St Lawrence Churchyard. In the late 1930’s he clearly when through a very difficult period in his life. A
report in April 1937 that he had been sent to prison for the third time for attempting to commit suicide after he was pulled from the river Thames. In November of the same year he was charged with loitering around a military establishment at Ramsgate court. In January 1938 he was charged by Chippenham, Wiltshire court for gathering information at a court, and in August 1938 he was again charged by Ramsgate court, this time for taking pictures at RAF Manston Aerodrome. In July 1939 he was charged for sending threats to blow up an RAF launch. It is clear from Reginald court pleas that he had a drink problem. At this time he was described as being a barman, a waiter and unemployed.
Reginald by 1941 found himself in the services and was a Gunner in the Royal Artillery, service number 926362. His death was recorded in Hammersmith on 12 May 1941 at the aged of 30, and he was buried in Greenwich Cemetery.
report in April 1937 that he had been sent to prison for the third time for attempting to commit suicide after he was pulled from the river Thames. In November of the same year he was charged with loitering around a military establishment at Ramsgate court. In January 1938 he was charged by Chippenham, Wiltshire court for gathering information at a court, and in August 1938 he was again charged by Ramsgate court, this time for taking pictures at RAF Manston Aerodrome. In July 1939 he was charged for sending threats to blow up an RAF launch. It is clear from Reginald court pleas that he had a drink problem. At this time he was described as being a barman, a waiter and unemployed.
Reginald by 1941 found himself in the services and was a Gunner in the Royal Artillery, service number 926362. His death was recorded in Hammersmith on 12 May 1941 at the aged of 30, and he was buried in Greenwich Cemetery.
Frederick Dennis Lee - 4748803
Frederick Dennis Lee’s birth was registered in Ecclesall Bierlow in the second quarter of 1918. He was the second child of Joseph Frederick Lee and Ellen (nee Woolley).
Frederick enlisted in the Army and was a Private, service number 4748803, serving with 7th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment). The battalion was one of five that made up the 147th Infantry Brigade of the “Polar Bears”, the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division. On the 9 June 1944, the 6th and 7th Battalion, along with the 6th Bn Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, also in the 147th, embarked on HMS Cheshire arriving off the Normandy coast on 11 June. By late evening of that day they were 5 miles inland. they were soon into the thick of the action as Operation Perch had been launched on 10th. They fought at Tilly-sur-Seulles, where between 14th and the 19th June, the town changed hands between the British and the Germans more than twenty times in a fierce battle, which saw the battalion lose some 120 men, killed and
wounded.
Frederick Dennis Lee died on 19 June 1944, aged 25 and is buried in Bayeux War Cemetery.
Frederick enlisted in the Army and was a Private, service number 4748803, serving with 7th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment). The battalion was one of five that made up the 147th Infantry Brigade of the “Polar Bears”, the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division. On the 9 June 1944, the 6th and 7th Battalion, along with the 6th Bn Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, also in the 147th, embarked on HMS Cheshire arriving off the Normandy coast on 11 June. By late evening of that day they were 5 miles inland. they were soon into the thick of the action as Operation Perch had been launched on 10th. They fought at Tilly-sur-Seulles, where between 14th and the 19th June, the town changed hands between the British and the Germans more than twenty times in a fierce battle, which saw the battalion lose some 120 men, killed and
wounded.
Frederick Dennis Lee died on 19 June 1944, aged 25 and is buried in Bayeux War Cemetery.
Frank Mullins - 5776228
Frank Mullins was born in Rotherham in the second quarter of 1918. His father Meshach Henry Mullins was a railway spring fitter, who had married Margaret Lister in 1908, and lived at 27 Firbeck Road, Wadsley Bridge. Frank was educated at High Storrs (Sheffield Grammar) School and later employed by the steel firm Hadfield Ltd. Frank’s family later moved to live at 49 Raby Street, Tinsley.
Frank Mullins enlisted in the Army and joined the 2nd Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment where he was a Private, service number 5776228. The regiment went to France and Belgium with the British Expeditionary Force and then made to fall back towards Dunkirk ahead of the German blitzkrieg in May 1940. Frank was captured at Bethune which is about 40 miles south of Dunkirk and became a prisoner of war in Poland. He spent the last three years of his captivity in Stalag 344 in Silesia. Ahead of the advancing Russian forces the German evacuated the PoW’s and sent them on a forced march in the depths of an eastern European winter.
Frank Mullins died of pneumonia on 25 February 1945 at Tischau, Czechoslovakia, and was given a military funeral at Weisskirchlitz Cemetery, Teplitz-Schonau, Sudetenland. He was 26 years old and now lies in Prague War Cemetery.
Note
Frank Mullins battalion was on the receiving end of a war crime massacre at the time he was taken prisoner:
The Le Paradis massacre was a war crime committed by members of the 14th Company, SS Division Totenkopf, under the command of Hauptsturmführer Fritz Knöchlein. It took place on 27 May 1940, during the Battle of France, at a time when the British Expeditionary Force was attempting to retreat through the Pas-de-Calais region during the Battle of Dunkirk. Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Norfolk Regiment, had become isolated from their regiment. They occupied and defended a farmhouse against an attack by Waffen-SS forces in the village of Le Paradis. After running out of ammunition, the defenders surrendered to the German troops. The Germans led them across the road to a wall, and machine-gunned them. Ninety-seven British troops died.
Frank Mullins enlisted in the Army and joined the 2nd Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment where he was a Private, service number 5776228. The regiment went to France and Belgium with the British Expeditionary Force and then made to fall back towards Dunkirk ahead of the German blitzkrieg in May 1940. Frank was captured at Bethune which is about 40 miles south of Dunkirk and became a prisoner of war in Poland. He spent the last three years of his captivity in Stalag 344 in Silesia. Ahead of the advancing Russian forces the German evacuated the PoW’s and sent them on a forced march in the depths of an eastern European winter.
Frank Mullins died of pneumonia on 25 February 1945 at Tischau, Czechoslovakia, and was given a military funeral at Weisskirchlitz Cemetery, Teplitz-Schonau, Sudetenland. He was 26 years old and now lies in Prague War Cemetery.
Note
Frank Mullins battalion was on the receiving end of a war crime massacre at the time he was taken prisoner:
The Le Paradis massacre was a war crime committed by members of the 14th Company, SS Division Totenkopf, under the command of Hauptsturmführer Fritz Knöchlein. It took place on 27 May 1940, during the Battle of France, at a time when the British Expeditionary Force was attempting to retreat through the Pas-de-Calais region during the Battle of Dunkirk. Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Norfolk Regiment, had become isolated from their regiment. They occupied and defended a farmhouse against an attack by Waffen-SS forces in the village of Le Paradis. After running out of ammunition, the defenders surrendered to the German troops. The Germans led them across the road to a wall, and machine-gunned them. Ninety-seven British troops died.
Jack Palmer - 1515657
Jack Palmer was the son of James Palmer and Olive (nee Ward), his birth being registered in Sheffield in the second quarter of 1921, he was the first child of the couple who had married the previous year. Jack was married to Gertrude Kitchen in early 1943.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and served with Bomber Command’s 630 Squadron. He was a Wireless Operator / Air Gunner with the rank of Sergeant, service number 1515657. 630 Squadron were based at East Kirkby in Lincolnshire, now the home of the Lancaster ‘Just Jane’ and the Lincolnshire Aviation Musuem. On 18 March 1944 Jack was part of the crew of Avro Lancaster mk III serial number ND686 and carried the squadron code of LE-M, which was airborne at 19:17. The Lancaster was of 846 aircraft - 620 Lancasters, 209 Halifaxes, 17 Mosquitos on a mission to Frankfurt. The German fighter force was again split. One part was lured north by the diversionary raid of 98 aircraft in a Heligoland mining operation but the second part waited in Germany and met the bomber stream just before the target was reached, although cloud made it difficult for these fighters to achieve much success. 22 aircraft - 12 Halifaxes, 10 Lancasters - were lost, 2.6 per cent of the force. The Pathfinders marked the target accurately and this led to heavy bombing of eastern, central and western districts of Frankfurt. The later phases of the bombing were scattered but this was almost inevitable with such a large force; new crews were usually allocated to the final waves.
Lancaster ND686 crashed near Adinkerke in West-Vlaanderen, 4 km W of Veurne, Belgium and about the same distance from the nearby frontier with France. All on board the aircraft were killed, Jack Palmer was 22 years old and lied buried in Coxyde Military Cemetery, Belgium.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and served with Bomber Command’s 630 Squadron. He was a Wireless Operator / Air Gunner with the rank of Sergeant, service number 1515657. 630 Squadron were based at East Kirkby in Lincolnshire, now the home of the Lancaster ‘Just Jane’ and the Lincolnshire Aviation Musuem. On 18 March 1944 Jack was part of the crew of Avro Lancaster mk III serial number ND686 and carried the squadron code of LE-M, which was airborne at 19:17. The Lancaster was of 846 aircraft - 620 Lancasters, 209 Halifaxes, 17 Mosquitos on a mission to Frankfurt. The German fighter force was again split. One part was lured north by the diversionary raid of 98 aircraft in a Heligoland mining operation but the second part waited in Germany and met the bomber stream just before the target was reached, although cloud made it difficult for these fighters to achieve much success. 22 aircraft - 12 Halifaxes, 10 Lancasters - were lost, 2.6 per cent of the force. The Pathfinders marked the target accurately and this led to heavy bombing of eastern, central and western districts of Frankfurt. The later phases of the bombing were scattered but this was almost inevitable with such a large force; new crews were usually allocated to the final waves.
Lancaster ND686 crashed near Adinkerke in West-Vlaanderen, 4 km W of Veurne, Belgium and about the same distance from the nearby frontier with France. All on board the aircraft were killed, Jack Palmer was 22 years old and lied buried in Coxyde Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Howard Albert Powell - 13074782
Howard Albert Powell born in Wombwell and registered in Barnsley under the name Howard Albert Otley Powell Owen in the third quarter of 1906. He was the son of Albert Arthur Powell and (Ruby) Clara Marion Owen who were living together. In the 1911 Ruby Clara Marion Owen, a professional musician, was shown as being the housekeeper to general labourer Albert Arthur Powell at 9 Angel Yard Chesterfield. In late 1932 Howard was married to Edith Alice Wright, but she died less than a year later. Howard was remarried in late 1934 to Dorothy Wood.
Howard joined the Army, service number 13074782, becoming a Lance Corporal in the Pioneer Corps. Early in the morning of Wednesday, April 29, 1942, York suffered its worst air raid of the war. It wasn’t entirely unexpected. In the previous few days, the Luftwaffe had attacked two other cathedral cities, Norwich and Bath. These were the so-called Baedecker raids. The story had it that Hitler, enraged by the RAF’s attacks on Lubeck and Rostock, picked up a Baedecker guidebook and ordered that every historic place in England marked with three stars be bombed in retaliation. Unopposed for much of the York raid, the German aircrew dive-bombed ordinary streets, strafing them with machine gun fire. The assault had greater aims than to terrorise the civilian population and lower morale, however. The Luftwaffe bombarded strategic targets – the railway line, the station, the Carriage Works, the airfield. York Minster was not touched. More than 70 German planes were involved in the raid: Junkers, Heinkels and Dorniers. Allied planes shot down four enemy aircraft. Beginning at 2.30am and finishing 90 minutes later – although the official all-clear was not given until 4.46am – the raid left 92 people dead and hundreds injured. Howard Albert Powell died in York Military Hospital on 29 April 1942 at the age of 35 and was buried in Tinsley (St Lawrence) Churchyard. Note Only 84 tons of bombs were dropped on York by about 70 aircraft. Later in the war the allies sent out night after night over ten times the number of heavy bombers to attack German cities with much bigger bomb loads. |
Charles Vincent Rodgers - 2655395
Charles Vincent Rodgers was born in the second quarter of 1906, his birth being registered in Wortley. Charles was the seventh child of brickyard labourer John Rodgers and his wife of 12 years, Mary. The family lived at Gate Cottages, Oughtibridge. Charles was married in Sheffield in early 1937 to Emily Trotter (nee Joel).
Charles joined the Army, service number 2655395, and was a Serjeant with 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards. After Dunkirk, the 2nd Battalion remained in the UK until November 1942 when in landed in North Africa as part of the First Army. The Eighth Army had been fighting in the Western Desert for over two years and was finally beginning the make gains against the Germans. Therefore the First Army was landed in Algeria with the aim of attacking the Germans from the rear and link up with the Eighth Army. The Battalion’s first major engagement was the Battle of Longstop Hill. This heavily defended feature was attacked on the night of 22nd December, 1942, and after a hard-fought engagement it was captured. The Coldstream were relieved by the Americans and marched back some 13 miles to their billets. On arrival they heard that the Americans were in trouble and had lost part of the hill, so they immediately marched the 13 miles back to Longstop and assaulted it again on the 24th. Christmas Day was spent fighting on the hill but the Germans counter-attacked in force and the Battalion was forced to withdraw. Losses were very heavy with 10 officers and over 200 men killed or wounded.
Charles Vincent Rodgers died on 4 January 1943, aged 37 and is buried in Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery, which is approximately 60 kilometres west of Tunis.
Charles joined the Army, service number 2655395, and was a Serjeant with 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards. After Dunkirk, the 2nd Battalion remained in the UK until November 1942 when in landed in North Africa as part of the First Army. The Eighth Army had been fighting in the Western Desert for over two years and was finally beginning the make gains against the Germans. Therefore the First Army was landed in Algeria with the aim of attacking the Germans from the rear and link up with the Eighth Army. The Battalion’s first major engagement was the Battle of Longstop Hill. This heavily defended feature was attacked on the night of 22nd December, 1942, and after a hard-fought engagement it was captured. The Coldstream were relieved by the Americans and marched back some 13 miles to their billets. On arrival they heard that the Americans were in trouble and had lost part of the hill, so they immediately marched the 13 miles back to Longstop and assaulted it again on the 24th. Christmas Day was spent fighting on the hill but the Germans counter-attacked in force and the Battalion was forced to withdraw. Losses were very heavy with 10 officers and over 200 men killed or wounded.
Charles Vincent Rodgers died on 4 January 1943, aged 37 and is buried in Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery, which is approximately 60 kilometres west of Tunis.
Edward Rodgers - C/JX 214978
Edward Rodgers was born in late 1921 in Rotherham to Charles Rodgers and his wife of nine years Margaret (nee Mahoney).
Edward enlisted in the Royal Navy, service number C/JX 214978, and was an Ordinary Seaman on HMS Fiji. HMS Fiji was a Crown Colony-class light cruiser, she participated in the Battle of Crete. On 22 May 1941 she was acting in company with the destroyers HMS Kandahar and HMS Kingston shortly after the loss of HMS Gloucester. She had already expended all of her AA ammunition fighting off numerous air attacks that persisted for two hours. She was attacked and hit by several bombs from Messerschmitt Bf 109s before an aircraft of Jagdgeschwader 77 dropped a bomb close alongside to port. This blew in Fiji’s bottom plates and caused a list to port. Fiji lost power and came to a standstill. She was now largely defenceless, having practically exhausted her 4 inch ammunition. She was then hit by three bombs dropped by a Junkers Ju 87. Captain William-Powlett gave the order to abandon ship and at 20:15 Fiji rolled over and sank. The destroyers dropped floats and withdrew to the south. They returned after dark to pick up 523 survivors, however 241 men had gone down with the ship. Edward Rodgers was just 18 years old when he was lost, he is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Edward enlisted in the Royal Navy, service number C/JX 214978, and was an Ordinary Seaman on HMS Fiji. HMS Fiji was a Crown Colony-class light cruiser, she participated in the Battle of Crete. On 22 May 1941 she was acting in company with the destroyers HMS Kandahar and HMS Kingston shortly after the loss of HMS Gloucester. She had already expended all of her AA ammunition fighting off numerous air attacks that persisted for two hours. She was attacked and hit by several bombs from Messerschmitt Bf 109s before an aircraft of Jagdgeschwader 77 dropped a bomb close alongside to port. This blew in Fiji’s bottom plates and caused a list to port. Fiji lost power and came to a standstill. She was now largely defenceless, having practically exhausted her 4 inch ammunition. She was then hit by three bombs dropped by a Junkers Ju 87. Captain William-Powlett gave the order to abandon ship and at 20:15 Fiji rolled over and sank. The destroyers dropped floats and withdrew to the south. They returned after dark to pick up 523 survivors, however 241 men had gone down with the ship. Edward Rodgers was just 18 years old when he was lost, he is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Arthur Eric Tongue - 14374004
Arthur Eric Tongue was born in Chesterfield in the final months of 1924 to Ernest Tongue and Harriet (nee Williams).
Arthur joined the Army, service number 14374004, and he became a Lance Corporal in the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. The unit were part of 4th Infantry Division’s 10th Brigade and was involved in the Italian campaign.
Arthur died on 25 February 1944 aged 19 years old and is buried in Minturno War Cemetery.
Arthur joined the Army, service number 14374004, and he became a Lance Corporal in the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. The unit were part of 4th Infantry Division’s 10th Brigade and was involved in the Italian campaign.
Arthur died on 25 February 1944 aged 19 years old and is buried in Minturno War Cemetery.
William Cyril Ward - D/KX 80665
William Cyril Ward was born in Rotherham in early 1912, first child of Herbert Ward and Mary Emma (nee Ensor) who had married the previous year.
William joined the Royal Navy, service number D/KX 80665, and became a Soker 1st Class on HMS Glorious. Glorious was a Courageous-class cruiser completed in late 1916. After serving in the First World War it was paid off, but was rebuilt as an aircraft carrier during the 1920’s. In WWII she supported operations in Norway in May and June 1940. As part of the withdrawal 20 RAF fighters had flown on for transport to the UK, in addition to her fighters and 5 torpedo bombers of the Fleet Air Arm, HMS Glorious then departed for the UK. On 8 June 1940 she sailed independently with the destroyer escorts, HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent for Scapa Flow. Glorious reduced speed to 17 knots and, in an attempt to confuse enemy submarines, commenced zigzag. By 16:00 Glorious was in the fourth degree of readiness, i.e. at cruising stations, steaming at 17 knots on 12 of her 18 boilers. No aircraft were ranged on deck, nor were any in the air. Ardent and Acasta were disposed two cables (440 meters) on either bow. None of the ships were fitted with radar and the carrier had no lookout in her crow's nest. The sea was calm, with wind force 2-3 (approximately 6.5 knots) from the northwest, sea temperature 34°F (I°C), visibility unlimited. Two strange ships were sighted on the western horizon shortly after 16:00. Ardent was ordered to close and identify them, and a pipe was made for five Swordfish to be ranged on the flight deck. Action Stations sounded about 16:20. The two ships were the German battlecruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst who had sighted smoke on the eastern horizon at 15:46, and altered course to close the enemy. By 16:36 Gneisenau was making 30.5 knots and Scharnhorst was making 29 knots. Scharnhorst initially in the leading position, opened fire on Glorious at 16:32, range 28,600 yards (over 16 miles) and Gneisenau opened fire at 16:46. In accordance with instructions from Glorious, Ardent closed the enemy ships flashing a challenge on her searchlight and was fired on. Ardent withdrew, firing torpedoes, one of which was seen to pass close ahead of the Scharnhorst. Both destroyers made smoke to screen the Glorious. This smoke was effective enough to force the Germans to cease fire from about 16:58 to 17:20. Glorious received her first hit at 16:38 from Scharnhorst's third salvo. The 11 inch shell penetrated the flight deck and burst in the upper hangar starting a large fire. Splinters pierced a boiler casing and smoke entered air intakes. This caused a temporary drop in steam pressure from two boilers, but pressure was built up again as the smoke cleared. Further hits were obtained after 17:20 as the carrier once again became visible through the smoke of the screening destroyers. At 16:56, just before the Germans ceased fire due to screening smoke, a hit on the homing beacon wrecked the bridge, killing the captain and almost all of the bridge personnel. The Executive Officer assumed command of the ship. About 17:20 a hit in the centre engine room shook the whole ship, which thereafter began to lose speed, developed a starboard list, and commence a slow circle to port. The Germans ceased fire at about 17:40, and Glorious sank at about 18:10.
William Cyril Ward was lost on 8 June 1940, aged 28 and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
William joined the Royal Navy, service number D/KX 80665, and became a Soker 1st Class on HMS Glorious. Glorious was a Courageous-class cruiser completed in late 1916. After serving in the First World War it was paid off, but was rebuilt as an aircraft carrier during the 1920’s. In WWII she supported operations in Norway in May and June 1940. As part of the withdrawal 20 RAF fighters had flown on for transport to the UK, in addition to her fighters and 5 torpedo bombers of the Fleet Air Arm, HMS Glorious then departed for the UK. On 8 June 1940 she sailed independently with the destroyer escorts, HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent for Scapa Flow. Glorious reduced speed to 17 knots and, in an attempt to confuse enemy submarines, commenced zigzag. By 16:00 Glorious was in the fourth degree of readiness, i.e. at cruising stations, steaming at 17 knots on 12 of her 18 boilers. No aircraft were ranged on deck, nor were any in the air. Ardent and Acasta were disposed two cables (440 meters) on either bow. None of the ships were fitted with radar and the carrier had no lookout in her crow's nest. The sea was calm, with wind force 2-3 (approximately 6.5 knots) from the northwest, sea temperature 34°F (I°C), visibility unlimited. Two strange ships were sighted on the western horizon shortly after 16:00. Ardent was ordered to close and identify them, and a pipe was made for five Swordfish to be ranged on the flight deck. Action Stations sounded about 16:20. The two ships were the German battlecruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst who had sighted smoke on the eastern horizon at 15:46, and altered course to close the enemy. By 16:36 Gneisenau was making 30.5 knots and Scharnhorst was making 29 knots. Scharnhorst initially in the leading position, opened fire on Glorious at 16:32, range 28,600 yards (over 16 miles) and Gneisenau opened fire at 16:46. In accordance with instructions from Glorious, Ardent closed the enemy ships flashing a challenge on her searchlight and was fired on. Ardent withdrew, firing torpedoes, one of which was seen to pass close ahead of the Scharnhorst. Both destroyers made smoke to screen the Glorious. This smoke was effective enough to force the Germans to cease fire from about 16:58 to 17:20. Glorious received her first hit at 16:38 from Scharnhorst's third salvo. The 11 inch shell penetrated the flight deck and burst in the upper hangar starting a large fire. Splinters pierced a boiler casing and smoke entered air intakes. This caused a temporary drop in steam pressure from two boilers, but pressure was built up again as the smoke cleared. Further hits were obtained after 17:20 as the carrier once again became visible through the smoke of the screening destroyers. At 16:56, just before the Germans ceased fire due to screening smoke, a hit on the homing beacon wrecked the bridge, killing the captain and almost all of the bridge personnel. The Executive Officer assumed command of the ship. About 17:20 a hit in the centre engine room shook the whole ship, which thereafter began to lose speed, developed a starboard list, and commence a slow circle to port. The Germans ceased fire at about 17:40, and Glorious sank at about 18:10.
William Cyril Ward was lost on 8 June 1940, aged 28 and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Frederick John White - 140484
Frederick John White was the son of Henry and Florence May White.
Frederick White died in Palestine on 27 June 1941, aged 21 and is buried in Ramleh War Cemetery.
Frederick White died in Palestine on 27 June 1941, aged 21 and is buried in Ramleh War Cemetery.
Arthur Wood - T/800567
Arthur Wood was born in Rotherham in late 1912, fourth child of Thomas Wood, a foreman platelayer on the railways, and his wife of six years Mary Ellen (nee Ashton). Arthur married Doris Rogers in the second quarter of 1938, and they lived at 25 Bawtry Road, Tinsley.
Arthur joined the Army, service number T/800567 and was a driver with the Royal Army Service Corps. He died on 9 November 1943 at the Ministry of Pensions Hospital, Leeds, aged 31, and is buried in Tinsley (St Lawrence) Churchyard.
Arthur joined the Army, service number T/800567 and was a driver with the Royal Army Service Corps. He died on 9 November 1943 at the Ministry of Pensions Hospital, Leeds, aged 31, and is buried in Tinsley (St Lawrence) Churchyard.
Harry Woodhouse - 1543235
Harry Woodhouse was born in Rotherham in the third quarter of 1921, to saw sharpener John Jenkinson Woodhouse and his wife Florence (nee Lindley) who had married in 1906. Harry lived at 119 St Lawrence Road, Tinsley.
Harry enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 1543235, and had the rank of Flight Sergeant with trades of Navigator / Air Bomber. In 1945 he was serving with 62 Squadron in the India/Burma theatre of operations transporting and dropping supplies to troops. In February 1945 the squadron was based at Comilla in what was then the east of India (now Bangladesh). On 13 February was part of the crew of Douglas Dakota FD928, the aircraft was returning from a supply dropping sortie and had been diverted from its home base because of the poor weather conditions prevailing. It seems the crew did not receive the diversion message and once again the radio frequencies were changed by arrangements with the USAAF authorities but not notified to this crew in their pre-sortie briefing. On reaching the airfield the weather conditions were found to be cloud with a ceiling of 400 feet but despite knowing there were hills in close proximity to the airfield, the pilot descended into the cloud and the aircraft struck the high ground and burst into flames after impact, crashing near Kangla, Assam. Subsequently, it was discovered that the signal notifying the frequency changes had not been received by the parent squadron until 5 hours after the accident. It was commented that the Wing HQ could have passed the frequency change direct to the aircraft on the existing frequency before the change was implemented. Harry Woodhouse was 23 years old when he died and is buried in Imphal War Cemetery. |