DEMS gunner losses

I envy you - I will have a field day at Kew, if I ever make it down.
Regards
Hugh

 

Thursday 20th November 1941

EVANS, William G, Gunner, RA (3/2 Maritime Regt), 3970659, killed [PoM]
SMITH, Douglas A, Gunner, RA (3/2 Maritime Regt), 2049759, killed [PoM]

It seems one gunner each, was lost onboard Aruba and Waldinge when both ships were sunk by S-Boot attacks. Any ideas which?

Regards,

Steve

 

Hi Steve,
As I can't at this stage identify the gunners supposedly lost on ARUBA and WALDINGE, I am going to suggest the crew agreement route at the moment.

WALDINGE/145649 for 1941 held at Kew in piece BT 381/1419.
ARUBA/161043 for 1941 held at Kew in piece BT 381/1544.

I will say that I do have both gunners lost aboard a completely different ship between 20-22 Nov and I would rather not post the name in case it is completely incorrect and I want to be sure of my source.

Regards
Hugh

 

Hi Hugh,

I've added them to the Kew list. Looking at my future work/travel plans, I might be able to pop in to TNA at the end of April.

Regards,

Steve

 

Saturday 29th November 1941

CAROLAN, Joseph H, Gunner, RA (4/2 Maritime Regt), 3772884, killed [PoM]
TYRER, William, Gunner, RA (4/2 Maritime Regt), 3775848, killed [PoM]

Both missing and remembered on the Portsmouth Memorial, so presumably lost with a ship.

The only losses I can see on this date are Aspirity (10 crew lost and 2 crew and 2 gunners survived), Cormarah (all survived) and Thornliebank (70 crew and 10 gunners lost, even if Lloyd's says 66 crew and 9 gunners). I have identified the four RN and six Army gunners lost with Thornliebank, so can not see where Gunner's Carolan and Tyrer were lost. Any ideas?

Regards

Steve

 

Hi Steve,
I have them among a total of 8 British Army gunners lost on THORNLIEBANK. However my other sources, including my copy of the Deaths at Sea Register do not account for Carolan or Tyrer which is strange but not unusual. All the other sources I have, and have seen, don't mention them either but I would suggest they were probably aboard. Maybe need to keep an open mind but try if you have time - BT 381/1649 - last crew agreement for THORNLIEBANK/165963 for 1941.
Regards
Hugh

 

Tuesday 2nd December 1941

JENKINS, Sydney, Gunner, RA (6/3 Maritime Regt), 5189673 [ELERCH (ST. PETER) CHURCHYARD]

No obvious shipping incident and a shore burial, so I believe an accidental/illness related death. Any ideas?

Regards,

Steve

 

Concur, Steve, I have no other information on him.
Regards
Hugh

 

Tuesday 13th January 1942

STEWART, Andrew, Gunner, RA (1/1 Maritime Regt), 1784443 [HADDINGTON (ST. MARTIN'S) NEW BURIAL GROUND]
QUINTIN, Cecil, Lance Bombardier, RA (3/2 Maritime Regt), 13032298 [BATH (HAYCOMBE) CEMETERY]

S.S. Empire Masefield was damaged after being attacked by a German He111 in the North Sea on this date. Book 'Coastal Convoys' says the attack killed three gunners. CWGC lists AB George Shanks as being lost onboard, so were the above gunners the other two casualties?

Any ideas?

Regards,

Steve

 

Hi Steve.
QUINTIN, Lance Bombardier, CECIL, 13032298, 3 Bty., 2 Maritime Regt., Royal Artillery. (Empire Masefield) 13 January 1942. Age 24. Son of Edwin and Esther Amelia Quintin, of Bath. Grave Ref. Plot 52. Sec. F. Row R, Grave 266.

STEWART, Gunner, ANDREW, 1784443, 1. Bty., 1Maritime Regt, Royal Artillery. (Empire Masefield) 13 January 1942. Age 37. Son of William Polwarth Stewart and Agnes Thomson Stewart, of Haddington. Grave Ref. Sec. H. Grave 1538.

I also concur with the third gunner being AB George Shanks.

Regards
Hugh

 

Saturday 16th January 1942

BROWN, Sydney, Gunner, RA (5/3 Maritime Regt), 4623371, killed [ChM]
CLARKIN, John, Gunner, RA (5/3 Maritime Regt), 4626437, killed [ChM]

The available records have a confusing few days between the 14th and 17th, with many gunners and Merchant Navy personnel losses listed by CWGC on days that don't match the actual dates of sinking. With the exception of the above gunners I've managed to the identify losses with ships.

As far a I can see the only loss on the 16th is the Dutch ship Senang. So were these gunners lost in this sinking or is there another loss on different date I've overlooked? Any ideas?

Regards,

Steve

 

Unfortunately, both of those gunners are in my lists without a ship being named. I have done some research over time and suggest the SENANG is certainly a possibility. Some communication with Dutch archives however came up with nothing. Still on the case.
Regards
Hugh

 

Sunday 17th January 1942

SHERWIN, William A, Gunner, RA (2/1 Maritime Regt), 1809165 [MANCHESTER SOUTHERN CEMETERY]

This gunner killed today. No obvious shipping incident and a shore burial, so probably a non-hostile cause. Any ideas?

Regards,

Steve

 

Hi Steve,

SHERWIN, Gunner, WILLIAM ARTHUR, 1809165, 2 bty., 1 Maritime A.A. Regt., Royal Artillery. 17 January 1942. Age 35. Son of James and Jane Sherwin, of Manchester; husband of Annie Sherwin, of Manchester. Grave Ref. Sec. S. C. of E. Grave 6881. Died of heart failure at Altnacraig, Oban.

Regards
Hugh

 

Wednesday 20th January 1942

BAILESS, John W, Gunner, RA (1/1 Maritime Regt), 2059723, [ST. PANCRAS CEMETERY]

HIGGINS, Thomas, Gunner, RA (3/2 Maritime Regt), 4622349, killed [PoM]

Two gunner losses on this date. No obvious shipping losses. Presumably Gnr Bailess died in the UK, so maybe a non-hostile related death. Any ideas?

Regards,

Steve

 

Hi Steve,
Both were noted as accidentally killed. I have them in my database with ship names but I cannot confirm at this stage with another source so I will attempt to find out more.

Regards
Hugh

 

Hi Hugh,

Thanks as always for the information.

Regards,

Steve

 

Monday 25th January 1942

??
THOMSON, Sidney E, Gunner, RA (3/2 Maritime Regt), 4755417 [PETERHEAD OLD CHURCHYARD]
GAWTHORPE, William, Gunner, RA (3/2 Maritime Regt), 4695915 [PETERHEAD OLD CHURCHYARD]

??
CALVERT, Robert, Gunner, RA (6/3 Maritime Regt), 1455069, killed [ChM]
HANSON, Arthur, Lance Bombardier, RA (6/3 Maritime Regt), 4808429, killed [ChM]

Struggling to identify ship losses for these two teams of gunners. Greek ship Mount Kitheron and Giang Sen lost on this date, but no apparent associated gunner losses. Any ideas?

Regards,

Steve

 

Hi Steve,

THOMSON, Gunner, SIDNEY EDWARD, 4755417, 3 Bty., 2 Maritime A.A. Regt., Royal Artillery. (SS Saltwick) 25 January 1942. Age 27. Son of James Sidney and Susan Thomson, of Shepherd's Bush, London. Grave Ref. Row E. 26. Coll. grave 512.

GAWTHORPE, Gunner, WILLIAM, 4695915, 3 Bty., 2 Maritime A.A. Regt., Royal Artillery. (SS Saltwick) 25 January 1942. Grave Ref. Row E. 26. Coll. grave 512.

Both gunners died from exposure after capsizing of lifeboat. I presume it is from this incident in 1942.

R.N.L.I.

Gold Medal awarded to Coxswain John B McLean, Silver Medal to Mechanic David Wiseman and Bronze Medals to Alexander Hepburn, William Strachan, Alexander Strachan, William Summers, Alexander Gowans and George Cordiner, when on 23-26 January the lifeboat rescued the crew of 44 of the ss Runswick, 26 crew of the ss Fidra and 36 crew of the ss Saltwick. During the whole of this period south-south-easterly gales were blowing, with blinding snow storms and tempestuous seas. In intense darkness the crew, in a series of arduous and exhausting services, and at great personal risk displayed high courage, splendid seamanship, great determination and endurance having in 75 hours less than 12 hours rest.

Regards
Hugh

 

Hi Steve, I can confirm gunner Calvert lost on the Greek Mount Kitheron but gunner Hanson is most likely a probable from same ship as there were 12 crew lost but only 10 identified.

CALVERT, Gunner, ROBERT, 1455069, 6/3 Maritime Regt., Royal Artillery. (SS Mount Kitheron) 25 January 1942. Age 29. 67, 1.

HANSON, Lance Bombardier, ARTHUR, 4808429, 6/3 Maritime Regt, Royal Artillery. 25 January 1942. 67, 1. probably lost on the Greek Mount Kitheron

Regards
Hugh