W/86065 Private Grace Mary Potter - ATS: 14/07/1944

Discussion in 'The Women of WW2' started by steven cape, Jul 31, 2020.

  1. steven cape

    steven cape Member

    Hi can anyone help me to find any details regarding the demise of W/86065 Private Grace Mary Potter ATS who is buried within Sevenoaks Cemetery in Kent alongside another member of the ATS Violet Calderwood, both of whom were killed on the same day 14th of July 1944. I cannot find any information at all regarding these two casualties on the internet.
    Many thanks in anticipation,
    Steve
     
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    For record, and anyone searching, headstone photos via this link
    Service women's War Grave Photos for reference (previously entitled FAO Tonym)


    Casualty Details | CWGC
    Name and Rank: PRIVATE GRACE MARY POTTER
    Service Number: W/86065
    Regiment & Unit/Ship: Auxiliary Territorial Service
    Date of Death: Died 14 July 1944
    Buried or commemorated at SEVENOAKS (GREATNESS PARK) CEMETERY
    Grave 17.
    United Kingdom
    Additional Info: Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Edward Ellingford, of Stanford-le-Hope, Essex.
    Personal Inscription: EARTH HATH ONE GENTLE SOUL THE LESS AND HEAVEN ONE ANGEL MORE


    Casualty Details | CWGC
    Name and Rank: PRIVATE VIOLET GERTRUDE CALDERWOOD
    Service Number: W/288344
    Regiment & Unit/Ship: Auxiliary Territorial Service
    Date of Death: Died 14 July 1944
    Age 26 years old
    Buried or commemorated at SEVENOAKS (GREATNESS PARK) CEMETERY
    Grave 16.
    United Kingdom
    Daughter of James and Maud Calderwood, of Sparkhill, Birmingham.
    Personal Inscription
    OUR BELOVED DAUGHTER VIOLET. "HER DUTY DONE"
     
  3. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Casualty lists state they were both killed in action, this may be relevant as a good number of deaths at 'Home' are died or died as a result of accident. On the same list is another ATS, W3462 L/Cpl Mary Elizabeth Wales who was killed 2 days earlier.

    Casualty Details | CWGC

    Death certificates may help:
    First name(s) GRACE M
    Last name POTTER
    Gender Female
    Birth year 1924
    Age 20
    Death quarter 3
    Death year 1944
    District Tonbridge
    County Kent
    Volume 2A
    Page 1074
    Country England
    Record set England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007

    First name(s) VIOLET G
    Last name CALDERWOOD
    Gender Female
    Birth year 1918
    Age 26
    Death quarter 3
    Death year 1944
    District Tonbridge
    County Kent
    Volume 2A
    Page 1074
    Country England
    Record set England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007
     
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  4. hutt

    hutt Member

    It would need quite a bit more digging but there is a possibility that they may have been of a searchlight regiment. The attached suggests a list of those regiments operating as part of the V1 defences in that area. Most would appear to have diaries for 1944. Good luck
     

    Attached Files:

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  5. Ady Mackay

    Ady Mackay Member

    Hi Just noticed you mentioned L Cpl Mary Wales ATS I m a relative and vist her Grave regularly in Canterbury and trying to find out more about her death any information would be greatly appreciated
    Ady Mackay
     
  6. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Ady, afraid that I have no further information, I just noticed her name whilst looking for the other two. Have you got her death certificate, I guess that this is her record:

    First name(s) MARY E
    Last name WALES
    Gender Female
    Birth day -
    Birth month -
    Birth year 1922
    Age 22
    Death quarter 3
    Death year 1944
    District Tonbridge
    County Kent
    Volume 2A
    Page 1073
    Country England
    Record set England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007

    Her service records may be of interest:
    Get a copy of military service records
     
  7. Ady Mackay

    Ady Mackay Member

    Thanks Tony for swift reply just starting on more research for my Great Aunty if your interested her brother Fred Wales died in Holland Jan 1945 age 19 he was a Royal Marine Commando uncovered a fascinating story which none of us knew LCpl Eric Harden from North Leach Kent was awarded VC posthumously trying to save his life but saved two others We ve met Eric's Daughter Julie in the mean time It's amazing what you can find out with good reserch
    Thanks again Ady
     
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  8. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

  9. Ady Mackay

    Ady Mackay Member

    Hello there looking around the internet I ve discovered some information from the area in sevenoaks at the time. The whole area was under the huge threat of V1 rockets doodle bugs being on the path towards London on 12th July Beechwood House was hit this large estate had been commandeered by the military and housed around 80 ATS ranks they had been there before and after Dday driving trucks staff cars etc he says 2 were killed but I think it may be 3 If you search www.memoriesofwar.org.uk and then Ted Prangnell he has a detailed account of the whole war
    Ady Mackay
     
  10. Ady Mackay

    Ady Mackay Member

    Yep I have been to the area twice now on the 75th Anniversary in January a huge gavering assembled at the exact location like most years I did a reading along with other guests Theres a memorial at Brachterbeek where Eric Harden died the barn where the Marines left on patrol that morning still there although a converted house even a gap in the hedge where they ran through.
    His accounts are wrong my Great Uncle Fred Wales was the second Marine Eric went back for after bringing Marine Whelan fireman's lift 100 plus yards under huge German fire first he returned with a stretcher party as Fred was badly wounded on returning he was shot again on the stretcher and died of his wounds They then went back for LT Cory 15 yards from safety of barn Eric Harden was shot back of head probably a sniper and died instantly The stretcher party dragged Cory back Eric Hardens body was recovered that night
    To stand where it all took place was so humbling Fred and Eric are buried in Nederweert Cemetery The Dutch have never forgotten this huge act
     
  11. steven cape

    steven cape Member

    Many thanks for that info Tony, yes I've just seen a report online detailing the V1 explosion on Beechmont House on the 12th of July which killed and injured many ATS girls, and am now assuming maybe that Grace Potter was fatally injured during that incident. I'll keep on searching,
    regards,
    Steven
     

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