El Alamein, Operation Supercharge - USA involvement

Discussion in 'North Africa & the Med' started by Steve Mac, Jun 12, 2016.

  1. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    I first read 'The Gateshead Gurkhas, A History Of The 9th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry 1859-1967' (Harry Moses), many years ago now, but have often wondered if I should post a few lines of a little known or unknown US involvement at the Second Battle of El Alamein.

    The Medical Officer (MO) attached to the 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division, was a citizen of the USA serving in the British Army.

    The 151st Infantry Brigade were one of two brigades that took part in Operation Supercharge, which commenced on 2 November 1942, the action that finally broke the Axis defences at El Alamein and started their rout by the British 8th Army.

    Unfortunately, Captain Edward Raymond Stone was to lose his life on this date.

    STONE, EDWARD RAYMOND
    Rank: Captain
    Service No: 211095
    Date of Death: 02/11/1942
    Age: 29
    Regiment/Service: Royal Army Medical Corps attd. 9th Bn. Durham Light Infantry
    Grave Reference: IX. B. 19.
    Cemetery: EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of Edward Raymond and Margaret Castle Stone; husband of Elmina Bernice Stone, of Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. M.D. (Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.).

    Quotes from The Gateshead Gurkhas:

    "Pte J Everett... described: We were helping, going out of our dugout, carrying badly wounded [tank and infantry] to our field ambulance...Captain Stone, he was American and he was walking about as if he hadn't a care in the world. I don't think he had a tin hat on and he was just moving about. To me, I've always maintained, if anybody should have been decorated, he should have been. The bravest man I've ever seen.

    Private Kerens also saw Captain Stone go about his dangerous duties: The American MO and his Sergeant, Bill Ryle from Gateshead were killed by a shell. The MO, Captain Stone, had done wonders for the wounded from a hastily dug trench. When it was suggested that he take some cover he said, 'When is this darn war going to start anyway?' The same shell that killed him also killed his sergeant."

    RYLE, WILLIAM NEWTON
    Rank: Serjeant
    Service No: 4450815
    Date of Death: 02/11/1942
    Age: 22
    Regiment/Service: Durham Light Infantry 9th Bn.
    Panel Reference: Column 67. Memorial: ALAMEIN MEMORIAL
    Additional Information: Son of William and Laura Ryle, of Gateshead, Co. Durham.
     
    Dave55 likes this.
  2. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Interesting footnote to the battle - thanks.

    I presume from your quotation that Pte J Everett was a 9th Bn DLI soldier?
     
  3. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Not something you see everyday:

    Edward Raymond Stone in the England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966

    Name: Edward Raymond Stone
    Probate Date: 16 Feb 1946
    Registry: Llandudno
    Death Date: 2 Nov 1942
    Death Place: USA

    32858_635001_2107-00295.jpg


    Edward Stone in the UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945

    Name: Edward Stone
    Given Initials: E R
    Rank: Captain
    Death Date: 2 Nov 1942
    Number: 211095
    Birth Place: U.S.A
    Residence: U.S.A
    Branch at Enlistment: Other Corps
    Theatre of War: Middle East
    Regiment at Death: Royal Army Medical Corps
    Branch at Death: Other Corps

    TD
     
    Karen D McIntyre and Dave55 like this.
  4. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    From an Ancestry family tree:

    1940 United States Federal Census
    Name Edward Stone
    Age 27
    Estimated Birth Year abt 1913
    Gender Male
    Race White
    Birthplace Washington
    Marital Status Married
    Relation to Head of House Head
    Home in 1940 Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia
    Street O 28 NW
    House Number 2512
    Farm No
    Inferred Residence in 1935 Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia
    Residence in 1935 Same Place
    Resident on farm in 1935 No
    Sheet Number 61B
    Number of Household in Order of Visitation 367
    House Owned or Rented Rented
    Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented 40
    Attended School or College No
    Highest Grade Completed College, 5th or subsequent year
    Weeks Worked in 1939 0
    Income 0
    Income Other Sources Yes
    Household Members
    Name Age
    Edward Stone 27
    Bernice Stone 26

    TD
     
    Karen D McIntyre and alieneyes like this.
  5. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 31, 2019
    dbf, Karen D McIntyre and Owen like this.
  6. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    *Correct. He's quoted three times around the time of El Alamein!

    *
    I am aware that US citizens served in the British Forces, as did other nationalities. However, it was surprising to see one still doing so after the US belatedly entered the war and the El Alamein link...

    I found Asperon Thorn's postings in your first link gripping. His grandfather's writings about how Greece functioned in 1945 resonate as true today.

    Thanks for posting these!
     
  7. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    There have been several J EVERETTs in my family -- and my grandfather T. J. Everett was at El Alamein with 1/4th Essex.

    Just checking, but I don't think we have any near relatives from the north-east.
     
  8. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    From the Missoulian (Missoula, Montana) 11 November 1942

    stone a.png stone b.png stone c.png stone d.png stone e.png
     
  9. redtop

    redtop Well-Known Member

    Americans mentioned by my Father on being Casevac'ed at El Agelia (1942) no mention of what organisation they belonged to

    "I about came too being put
    in a small van two chaps strapped either side ,this was driven by
    American Volunteer drivers".
     
    Karen D McIntyre likes this.
  10. This is golden! Thank you!
     
  11. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Evening Karen,

    It mentions in the Newspaper article that a Corporal was also killed in the same incident, but I have not yet tracked his name. I can’t find a 9th Bn Durham Light Infantry Corporal as killed that day, a Lance Corporal and a Lance Sergeant, but not a Corporal. The Newspaper article could be wrong about this, but I will check it out further...

    Best,

    Steve.
     
    Karen D McIntyre likes this.
  12. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad


    Just to clarify a point ,regarding the witness Pte Everett. He was not a North East man he was Welsh originally from Holyhead and had previously served pre-war with the 6th RWF. 1935-1940.
    4194513 Pte John Alfred Everett
    Transferred to the newly formed 17th DLI in Edinburgh in 1940
    Volunteered for a draft in the Middle East
    Joined the 9th Durham Light Infantry in August 1942 at Heliopolis . Fought at El Alamein but was later captured during the Mareth campaign(9DLI) He was a prisoner of the Italians at both Campo PG 66 and Campo PG 53 but escaped. He spent time on the run staying with at one time with a Facist farmer, Working on farms at one stage he was given civilian clothes by local workers ,meeting up with local partisans. Eventually meeting up with advancing British forces in Italy.
    Returned to the UK after debriefing at Salerno and Naples.
    Arrived Liverpool and posted to 13th Holding Battalion Durham light Infantry at Hartlepool from his return in late 1943.
    Applied to rejoin Royal Welch Fusiliers 1944 but was posted to The South Wales Borderers instead demobbed 1946.

    (all info DLI 1920-46)


    Kyle
     
    Charley Fortnum likes this.
  13. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Interesting. My grandfather was born in Wales...

    I do have a folder full of genealogical research passed to me by my father, but I've not been through it at all.

    Thanks for the additional information; I've made a copy of it just in case.
     
  14. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    No problem. A little more about him

    "4194513 Pte Everett together with a Pte Barnes were left behind on the battlefield after `Supercharge` he busied himself bringing in the wounded both infantry and tank crews but when it was obvious that they had been left behind and that the 9th DLI had had pulled back the pair hitched a lift on a passing truck which took them to Alexandria !
    Fearing he would be classed as a deserter Pte Everett set off to find his battalion . Pte Barnes had no such intention and remained in Alexandria. Two days later he made it back to the 9th DLI and was put before a field court martial found guilty he was given 56 days field punishment in a Military prison ! Released early and promoted to Corporal he rejoined the 9th DLI just prior to the Mareth offensive"

    Kyle
     
    Last edited: Apr 13, 2020

Share This Page