[Verrieres]

Hi,
I was posting this under the thread Heroes at Rest but I think it would be lost in that thread because at the moment that thread is covering the air war. So I`m starting it in a new thread,
During May/June last year (2008) I visited the area around Normandy my priority was to visit my uncles grave at Bayeux,however one of the other cemeteries we visited was Jerusalem where young Jackie Banks lies.Amongst the well kept graves were two Padres attatched to the DLI no one seemed to know their story although someone did mention that they may have died as a result of the same incident.Today whilst looking through some of the photographs my son took on that day I came across the two padre`s once more and decided to dig a little in the hope that I could reveal what had truely happened to the pair.

The Rev. CECIL JAMES HAWKSWORTH,
Initials:C J
Nationality:United Kingdom
Rank:Chaplain 4th Class
Regiment/Service:Royal Army Chaplains' Department
Age:35 Date of Death:07/07/1944
Service No:90874
Awards:Mentioned in Despatches
Additional information:Husband of Diana Hawksworth, of Kingsclere, Hampshire. A.K.C.
Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:Row B. 2.Cemetery:JERUSALEM WAR CEMETERY, CHOUAIN
His appointment to the armed forces is contained in the London Gazette dated the 30th June 1939

The Rev. GERARD NESBITT
Initials:G
Nationality:United Kingdom
Rank:Chaplain 4th Class
Regiment/Service:Royal Army Chaplains' Department
Secondary Regiment Durham Light Infantry
Secondary Unit Text:attd. 8th Bn.
Age:33 Date of Death:05/07/1944
Service No:163330
Additional information:Croix de Guerre (France)Mentioned in Dispatches. Son of Stephen and Jane Nesbitt, of Felling-on-Tyne, Co. Durham. D. Phil.
Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:Row B. 1.Cemetery:JERUSALEM WAR CEMETERY, CHOUAIN
His appointment to the armed forces is dated the 30th December 1940 and appeared in the London Gazette on the 10th January 1941 Mentioned in Dispatches London Gazette 12th January 1944 Pg 12

This extract was taken from 8th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry by Major Lewis and Major English;-
Padre Nesbitt was killed today he was killed by a stray shell whilst burying the dead just behind the 9 th DLI positions. Padre Nesbitt had been with the 8th DLI since the end of 1940 and was well loved by all ranks whether of Roman Catholic faith or not his quiet manner yet very strong personality impressed all those who came in contact with him. Always cheerful and willing to help anyone in trouble, he was regarded as a personal friend by many. He was a great example of courage and fortitude and his death deeply affected all members of the Battalion. All the old officers of the 8th DLI headed by the CO went back to attend the funeral at 149 Field Ambulance…

Extract from the Faithful Sixth(DLI) by Harry Moses;-
On the 6th July the 6th Battalion the DLI suffered a real loss with the tragic death of Padre Hawksworth,the Church of England padre.He was seriously injured whilst riding a motorcycle.He was taken to 149 Field Ambulance but later died of his injuries.He had been with the Battalion since theend of the Sicilian Campaign and his loss was felt deeply by all officers and other ranks.his funeral was held later in the 50th Divisional cemetery....

So the story that they had been injured in the same incident was unfounded but both died in 149 Field Ambulance and just to add a little irony to the tale Padre G Markham (Cannon Markham)who joined 8DLI at this time stated `My first job with the DLI was to bury my predessor Padre Nesbitt who was killed by a shell whilst conducting the funeral service of another Padre who had been accidentally killed a day or so before!` they now lie together in Jerusalem Cemetery.
Regards
Verrieres