Wath, Holy Trinity Methodist Church - Church Street
Harry Ballans - Killed in action
Arthur Beaumont - Killed in action Harry Hancock - Died whilst a prisoner of war Bunny Harding - Killed in action Edward Hudson - Killed in action |
Additional Details
Harry Ballans (D/KX 81863)
Royal Navy - H.M.S. Hunter 10 April 1940, aged 28 Lost when vessel sunk in the Norwegian Sea Plymouth Naval Memorial Arthur Beaumont (1107864) Royal Air Force - 432 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn 22 March 1944 Halifax aircraft lost on a mission to Germany Hanover War Cemetery Harry Hancock (4748143) York and Lancaster Regiment - 2nd Bn. 13 August 1942, aged 21 Died of illness whilst a Japanese PoW Rangoon Memorial Bernard Harding (14819044) East Lancashire Regiment - 1st Bn. 16 April 1945, aged 18 Died in Germany Becklingen War Cemetery Edward Hudson No details known |
Harry Ballans - D/KX 81863
Harry Ballans was the seventh of eight children of William Ballans and Mary Agnes (nee Ambler) of 18 Chapel St Wath Upon Dearne. His birth was registered in Rotherham in the first quarter of 1912.
Harry enlisted in the Royal Navy, service number D/KX 81863. In 1940 he was a Leading Stoker serving on HMS Hunter. Hunter was involved in the First Battle of Narvik on 10 April 1940 as part of the force countering the German invasion of Norway. Hunter and five other H-class boats of the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla attacked the German destroyers that had transported German land forces to occupy Narvik in northern Norway the previous day. The flotilla was engaged by German destroyers in the Ofotfjord at the entrance to the harbour and sank the destroyers Z 21 Wilhelm Heidkamp and Z 22 Anton Schmidt, heavily damaged Z 17 Diether von Roeder and inflicted lesser damage on two others. Seven German or German-seized transport ships were also sunk. As the British flotilla turned to leave, it was engaged by three German destroyers emerging from the Herjangsfjord and then by two more coming from Ballangen Bay. In the ensuing battle, the British flotilla leader HMS Hardy was badly mauled and had to be beached in flames, while Hunter sank after receiving heavy fire and colliding with HMS Hotspur. The ship sank in the centre of the fjord in position 68º20'N, 17º04'E with heavy loss of life. Of the 145 man Hunter crew, 95 died when the vessel went down, while 50 were picked up by the Germans.
Harry Ballans was 28 years old when he was lost and is commemorated on Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Note
The wreck was rediscovered on 5 March 2008 by the Royal Norwegian Navy mine control vessel HNoMS Tyr after being missing for nearly 70 years, and will be marked as a war grave, commemorating her lost crewmembers. A series of coordinated memorial ceremonies were held on board British and Norwegian warships on Saturday 8 March 2008, honouring all those who died during the battles of Narvik. Over a thousand NATO personnel took part, including British and Norwegian sailors, Royal Marines and soldiers. Led by HMS Albion, the UK's Fleet Amphibious Flagship, the five warships involved steamed in line past the spot, marked for the occasion by Tyr, where the ship lies. Hunter's final resting place was marked with wreaths cast into the sea.
Harry enlisted in the Royal Navy, service number D/KX 81863. In 1940 he was a Leading Stoker serving on HMS Hunter. Hunter was involved in the First Battle of Narvik on 10 April 1940 as part of the force countering the German invasion of Norway. Hunter and five other H-class boats of the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla attacked the German destroyers that had transported German land forces to occupy Narvik in northern Norway the previous day. The flotilla was engaged by German destroyers in the Ofotfjord at the entrance to the harbour and sank the destroyers Z 21 Wilhelm Heidkamp and Z 22 Anton Schmidt, heavily damaged Z 17 Diether von Roeder and inflicted lesser damage on two others. Seven German or German-seized transport ships were also sunk. As the British flotilla turned to leave, it was engaged by three German destroyers emerging from the Herjangsfjord and then by two more coming from Ballangen Bay. In the ensuing battle, the British flotilla leader HMS Hardy was badly mauled and had to be beached in flames, while Hunter sank after receiving heavy fire and colliding with HMS Hotspur. The ship sank in the centre of the fjord in position 68º20'N, 17º04'E with heavy loss of life. Of the 145 man Hunter crew, 95 died when the vessel went down, while 50 were picked up by the Germans.
Harry Ballans was 28 years old when he was lost and is commemorated on Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Note
The wreck was rediscovered on 5 March 2008 by the Royal Norwegian Navy mine control vessel HNoMS Tyr after being missing for nearly 70 years, and will be marked as a war grave, commemorating her lost crewmembers. A series of coordinated memorial ceremonies were held on board British and Norwegian warships on Saturday 8 March 2008, honouring all those who died during the battles of Narvik. Over a thousand NATO personnel took part, including British and Norwegian sailors, Royal Marines and soldiers. Led by HMS Albion, the UK's Fleet Amphibious Flagship, the five warships involved steamed in line past the spot, marked for the occasion by Tyr, where the ship lies. Hunter's final resting place was marked with wreaths cast into the sea.
Arthur Beaumont - 1107864
Handley Page Halifax
Arthur Beaumont was the son of Harry and Florence May Beaumont. He was married in the Rother Valley Registration District in mid 1943.
Arthur enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 1107864 and was Flight Sergeant (Wireless Operator). He served with 432 Squadron, No 6 Group, Royal Canadian Air Force which was operated by Bomber Command from airfields in Yorkshire. In 1944 the squadron was based as East Moor, about 7 miles north of York, and converted to the Handley Page Halifax heavy bomber in February 1944. On 22 March 1944 a major raid on Frankfurt with 816 aircraft - 620 Lancasters, 184 Halifaxes and 12 Mosquitos was carried out as a follow up to a raid four days previously. An indirect route was employed, time crossing the Dutch coast north of the Zuider Zee and then flying almost due south to Frankfurt. This, and the
Kiel minelaying diversion, confused the Germans for some time; Hannover was forecast as the main target. Arthur’s aircraft that night was Halifax serial number LK779 with squadron markings of QO-W, and was airborne at 18:55. The aircraft was thought to have been attacked by a night fighter, one of only a few fighters that eventually found the bomber stream. The Halifax crashed at 22:00 about 20 miles north of Frankfurt in a position 1 mile north of Philippstein and 8 miles south west of Wetzlar. It was one of 33 aircraft - 26 Lancasters and 7 Halifaxes which failed to return.
Arthur Beaumont was killed, one of five of the crew of seven who died, he now rests in Hanover War Cemetery.
Note
Other crew were:
F/L Douglas Earl Cawker RCAF J/8759 - KIA
Sgt Harold Victor John Thorne 2202529 - KIA
F/O F. R. Storen RCAF - PoW
Sgt A. K. McNeill RCAF - PoW
Sgt Harvey Albert Frizzell RCAF J/90080 - KIA
Sgt James Campbell 1821979 - KIA
Arthur enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 1107864 and was Flight Sergeant (Wireless Operator). He served with 432 Squadron, No 6 Group, Royal Canadian Air Force which was operated by Bomber Command from airfields in Yorkshire. In 1944 the squadron was based as East Moor, about 7 miles north of York, and converted to the Handley Page Halifax heavy bomber in February 1944. On 22 March 1944 a major raid on Frankfurt with 816 aircraft - 620 Lancasters, 184 Halifaxes and 12 Mosquitos was carried out as a follow up to a raid four days previously. An indirect route was employed, time crossing the Dutch coast north of the Zuider Zee and then flying almost due south to Frankfurt. This, and the
Kiel minelaying diversion, confused the Germans for some time; Hannover was forecast as the main target. Arthur’s aircraft that night was Halifax serial number LK779 with squadron markings of QO-W, and was airborne at 18:55. The aircraft was thought to have been attacked by a night fighter, one of only a few fighters that eventually found the bomber stream. The Halifax crashed at 22:00 about 20 miles north of Frankfurt in a position 1 mile north of Philippstein and 8 miles south west of Wetzlar. It was one of 33 aircraft - 26 Lancasters and 7 Halifaxes which failed to return.
Arthur Beaumont was killed, one of five of the crew of seven who died, he now rests in Hanover War Cemetery.
Note
Other crew were:
F/L Douglas Earl Cawker RCAF J/8759 - KIA
Sgt Harold Victor John Thorne 2202529 - KIA
F/O F. R. Storen RCAF - PoW
Sgt A. K. McNeill RCAF - PoW
Sgt Harvey Albert Frizzell RCAF J/90080 - KIA
Sgt James Campbell 1821979 - KIA
Harry Hancock - 4748143
Harry Hancock birth was registered in Doncaster in the fourth quarter of 1920. He was the fourth child of Harry Hancock and Millicent Elizabeth (nee Chappell) of Denaby Main. His mother died shortly after he was born.
Harry enlisted in the Army, service number 4748143, and was a Private in the 2nd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. The 2nd Battalion, part of the 70th Infantry Division’s 14 Infantry Brigade served in North Africa but on 28 February they were shipped to Indiato help stop the rapid advance of the Japanese Army in Burma. Harry is reported to have died of fever whilst a Japanese prisoner of war on 13 August 1942. He was 21 years old and is commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial.
Harry enlisted in the Army, service number 4748143, and was a Private in the 2nd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. The 2nd Battalion, part of the 70th Infantry Division’s 14 Infantry Brigade served in North Africa but on 28 February they were shipped to Indiato help stop the rapid advance of the Japanese Army in Burma. Harry is reported to have died of fever whilst a Japanese prisoner of war on 13 August 1942. He was 21 years old and is commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial.
Bernard Harding - 14819044
Bernard Harding was the first child born to Harold Harding and Ethel (nee Corns), his birth being registered in Rotherham in the second quarter of 1926. The Family lived
at 144 High Street, West Melton. Bernard was known affectionately as Bunny. He joined the army and was a Private in the 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, service number 14819044. The regiment was part of the 53rd Infantry Division. Private Harding died, in Lower Saxony, Germany between Rethem and Soltau, on 16 April 1945, less than a month before the end of the war in Europe. He was just 18 years old and now lies in Becklingen War Cemetery. |