Arthur Westbury 7th Bn Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Died 19/8/44 aged 19.

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by Ray Westbury, Dec 9, 2016.

  1. Ray Westbury

    Ray Westbury Member

    I'm trying to research the movements of my uncle in Normandy before his death in Bayeux.
    He was wounded on 16/8/44 and died three days later.
    He rests in Douvres la Deliverande cemetery.
    My dad (also a Normandy veteran) always told me that he was wounded in Caen. According to the dates the battle of Caen was over by then and I suspect that he was wounded trying to close the Falaise pocket.
    I have photos of my uncle and artefacts (including his dog tags), but the Normandy history remains a mystery to me.
    Is there anyone who can shed some light please?
     
  2. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    I think that 7th Argyll's and the rest of 51HD were engaged in the advance LISIEUX, which I think was taken about 22nd August. At the time of his wounding your man would have been somewhere in the vicinity of St Pierre-sur-Dives to St Julien. They were involved at the time in operation 'Totalise'.
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2016
  3. amberdog45

    amberdog45 Senior Member

    Hi Ray, best place to start is obtaining the service record. Costs £30 but worth it. All you will need is his date of birth and the forms are easy to fill out. His service number on findmypasts Casualty Lists was given as 14649370 and gave him a middle initial of 'J'.

    Get a copy of military service records - GOV.UK
     
  4. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    If you use the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour website, not only does it give the details about him, but also links to Concentration documents which show he Died of Wounds on 19 August but also that he was buried in La Deliverande Temporary Cemetery, the position of which will be on Map 7E/5 1/5000 (scale?) Ref 024.805. Dying of Wounds implies a Casualty Treatment site, which would likely have been close by.
    It may be possible for someone with access to that map to pinpoint more precisely than La Deliverande.
    He was then reburied (presumably in a more ordered plot) on 11th December 1944 where he now rests.
    His headstone carries a lovely message "If Love could have saved him, he would not have died. Sadly missed. Mum and Dad."

    WESTBURY, ARTHUR JAMES. Rank: Private. Service No: 14649370. Date of Death: 19/08/1944. Age: 19.
    Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 7th Bn.
    Grave Reference: IV. B. 9. Cemetery: LA DELIVRANDE WAR CEMETERY, DOUVRES.
    Additional Information: Son of Alfred William and Ada Lilian Westbury, of Willesden, Middlesex.

    You know he was wounded on 16th, but these are shown as being killed on 15th, was that a separate action?
    BALMFORTH, HARRY. Rank: Private. Service No: 14706509. Date of Death: 15/08/1944. Age: 34.
    Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 7th Bn.
    Grave Reference: XVIII. C. 24. Cemetery: BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY.
    Additional Information: Son of Harry and Maud Balmforth, of Grimsby, Lincolnshire; husband of Ivy Balmforth, of Grimsby.

    HERD, GLADSTONE FAULKNER. Rank: Private. Service No: 14437457. Date of Death: 15/08/1944. Age: 18.
    Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 7th Bn.
    Grave Reference: VIII. C. 9. Cemetery: RYES WAR CEMETERY, BAZENVILLE.
    Additional Information: Son of Alexander George and Edith Maud Herd, of Chelmsford, Essex.

    This chap Died of Wounds, possibly sustained at the same time as Arthur....
    JONES, RONALD. Rank: Serjeant. Service No: 3058952. Date of Death: 18/08/1944. Age: 25.
    Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 7th Bn.
    Grave Reference: IV. J. 10. Cemetery: LA DELIVRANDE WAR CEMETERY, DOUVRES.
    Additional Information: Son of Edwin and Edith Annie Jones, of Sheffield; husband of Vera Jones, of Sheffield.
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2016
    bamboo43 likes this.
  5. Ray Westbury

    Ray Westbury Member

    Kevin,
    Thanks very much for your insight. The inscription on his stone was chosen by my Nan & Grandad who were devastated by his death.
    No one in our family know about the re burial in December until you told me today!
    I believe that he was in Bayeux hospital dying of his wounds for three days. At the same time my dad (3rtr) heard the Argylls had been in a tough fight, and was looking for his brother in vain, not realising he was dying in hospital. He found out some months later when he was liberating Brussels via a letter from home!
    I'm also interested in everything about the unit actions in Normandy prior and the action that caused his wounds.
    I also have a good photo of my uncle with his platoon before going to France. This might raise interest with his comrades family members.
     
  6. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  7. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Between 1st and 19th August, 7 A&SH lost 61 men killed, so pretty tough fighting for a unit that seems to have been bulked out by recent recruits drawn from all over England and for whom this may have been their first (and for some unfortunates, their last) taste of action.
    Have you been able to track down their War Diary for August?
     
  8. Ray Westbury

    Ray Westbury Member

    To be honest Kevin I have just begun to start this quest as Uncle Arthur's record of movement has been a mystery to our family. I do have a newspaper cutting from the day of an action he was involved in. I have all his artefacts but know little of his movements.
     
  9. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    From the battalions war diary. Reading between the lines I think he may have died from wounds sustained on a earlier day.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    Rich Payne, Owen and 4jonboy like this.
  10. ritsonvaljos

    ritsonvaljos Senior Member

    Hello Ray,

    If you can manage to get a copy of your uncle's service record you should be able to match it up with the details in the war diary. The service record is likely to give the CCS / Field Hospital where your uncle was evacuated to after being wounded.

    If you don't mind me asking, where does the information come from that your uncle died in Bayeux? If he had died in or near Bayeux I would have thought he would have been buried in Bayeux War Cemetery or perhaps Ryes (Bazenville).

    I hope you manage to find out the relevant information you seek.
     
  11. Ray Westbury

    Ray Westbury Member

    Dear ritsonvaljos,
    The belief that uncle Arthur died in Bayeux came verbally fom my dad. How he came by this conclusion I have no idea. It could be an assumption.
     
  12. Ray Westbury

    Ray Westbury Member

    Drew.
    I can't thank you enough for this invaluable information.
    I now have to look up where exactly this as I know Normandy well.
    My second step is to find out if he was one of the casualties from the action or the German bombing.
     
  13. Ray Westbury

    Ray Westbury Member

    Just another thought.
    Is it possible to find out what company he was in?
     
  14. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Possibly! (both questions) That's why getting his Service Record is so important.
    It will answer many of your questions, more accurately than our "best guesses"!
    We don't just suggest his Service records for no good reason, nor do we get a "rake off" from every £30 spent!

    You'll also have more questions, mainly on acronyms and Army "shorthand" where we can help, but try Googling forWW2 British Army acronyms to give yourself an idea of how to crack the code!
    You may even find some WE don't know!
     
  15. ritsonvaljos

    ritsonvaljos Senior Member

    I think you may have got about as far as you are likely to without the service record. As Kevin has already mentioned this avoids "best guesses".
     
  16. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Another consideration would be the regimental missing men file for NW Europe. A long shot but it may contain the circumstances of his death or his Company.
     
  17. Ray Westbury

    Ray Westbury Member

    I have sent away today for his military records. Thanks for your help.
     
  18. Ray Westbury

    Ray Westbury Member

    My uncle Arthur's platoon. he is 4th from the left, middle row. This was taken just before they left for Normandy. I wonder how many survived? Arthurs platoon.jpg
     
    Craig Cuthbertson and Owen like this.
  19. Ray Westbury

    Ray Westbury Member

    This was taken from a local paper in London (Willesden Chronicle) during the battle of Normandy. It mentioned my uncle. Date unknown.


    paper cutting 1.jpg
     
    Owen likes this.
  20. Ray Westbury

    Ray Westbury Member

    A newspaper cutting (paper unknown) taken circa 1945/6. Saved by my grandparents in an effort to connect on what happened to their son.


    paper cutting 2.jpg
     
    ritsonvaljos, Drew5233 and 4jonboy like this.

Share This Page