I have a great Uncle who was killed in North Africa but aside from the details I have from the cwgc site and some passing references in obituaries I know nothing about his unit, what job he may have done, how he died or even where he died. I know he's buried in Benghazi war cemetery, Libya and even managed to track down his grave pic but I have an uncle who thinks he was killed at El Alamein. This seems to be quite a distance from Benghazi though. Also I have it from two sources that he was either killed in action or died of wounds. Can anyone help me take my research further? Is there anyone on here who was connected to his unit? I have included all the information I have below. KIRK, JOSEPH United Kingdom Gunner Royal Artillery 140 Bty., 40 Lt. A.A. Regt. 19 06/12/1942 6984413
The 8th Army at EL ALAMEIN, October 1942 51ST (Highland) INFANTRY DIVISION [Major General Wimberley] 51 Recce Battalion 1/7 Bn Middlesex Regiment (machine gun bn) 126 Field Regiment RA 127 Field Regiment RA 128 Field Regiment RA 61 Anti-tank Regiment RA 40 LAA Regiment RA
Salmond History of the 51st Highland Division 1939-1945: When troop carriers finally became available the Division concentrated on Adjedabja, which had been captured by the armoured columns. Thence 152 Brigade was moved forward to hold a position across the main road opposite Mersa Brega, taking over from the Rifle Brigade Battalion of the 7th Armoured Division which was forming an outpost screen, while 153 Brigade were filling the gap to the salt marshes at Abu Suivera. The 154 Brigade relieved 152, and by 8th December the Division was once again in the front line, and 152 preparing to attack. The village of Mersa Brega was reported as having been developed by the enemy into a very strong position. It was a kind of bottleneck with high ground all round which dominated the whole area. No-man's-land was some 5000 yards in width and the enemy had sewn it with thousands of mines, both anti-tank and anti-personnel. Owing to the fact that forward landing-grounds were not yet complete, the Division had no fighter cover, so that German planes were more troublesome than usual. (The 'sewn' is the original spelling. Any other mistakes are probably mine.) On this map to the south of Benghazi: Adjedabja is now Ajdabiya Mersa Brega is now Marsa al Burayqah Al Uqaylah at the bottom of the bay is better known as El Agheila. It's a bit of an if but it's likely that 40 LAA Regt were forward to deal with the fighter threat and quite possibly attacked. The Regimental war diary and the battery war diary would be the best places to look.
Thanks idler. Is there any way of getting the information without going to the National Archives? My problem is location. I'm in Northern Ireland you see.
D Troop of 140 Battery, were machined gunned by JU-88's, resulting in 2 men killed, 2 fatally wounded and 4 injured. The names of the men who died, followed by copies of the Battery and Regimental diary describing the event. Name: KIRK, JOSEPH Rank: Gunner Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery Unit Text: 140 Bty., 40 Lt. A.A. Regt. Age: 19 Date of Death: 06/12/1942 Service No: 6984413 Additional information: Son of Samuel and Thomasena Kirk, of Drumreaney, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Grave/Memorial Reference: 8. D. 1. Cemetery: BENGHAZI WAR CEMETERY Name: CROWTHER, FRANK Rank: Gunner Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery Unit Text: 140 Bty., 40 Lt. A.A. Regt. Age: 36 Date of Death: 06/12/1942 Service No: 1681834 Grave/Memorial Reference: 2. C. 25. Cemetery: BENGHAZI WAR CEMETERY Name: DUNBAR, ALFRED Rank: Gunner Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery Unit Text: 140 Bty., 40 Lt. A.A. Regt. Age: 29 Date of Death: 07/12/1942 Service No: 1703462 Additional information: Son of Alexander and Elizabeth Buchan Dunbar, of Aberdeen. Grave/Memorial Reference: 2. B. 7. Cemetery: BENGHAZI WAR CEMETERY Name: SMITH, HARRY Rank: Gunner Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery Unit Text: 140 Bty., 40 Lt. A.A. Regt. Age: 34 Date of Death: 06/12/1942 Service No: 1824298 Additional information: Son of Charles and Maud Smith, of Bolton, Lancashire; husband of Esther Smith, of Bolton. Grave/Memorial Reference: 2. C. 24. Cemetery: BENGHAZI WAR CEMETERY Battery Diary 40 LAA Regt diary.
I cant thank you enough for this ramacal. You have answered a question that the family has been asking for years and behalf of them and myself I sincerely thank you. Its always sad to know how young Gunner Kirk was when killed and Ive been told that he only joined up because he was sacked from his job as a messenger from a local factory for refusing to cycle to the local town in heavy rain. Youve helped complete a big part of the what happened to him puzzle. Once again thanks
