Mills etc, bombs and accidents

Name: SILK, JOSEPH HENRY
Initials: J H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Somerset Light Infantry
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Age: 27
Date of Death: 04/12/1943
Service No: 5625234
Awards: G C
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 10. K. 22.
Cemetery: TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY
Citation: The following details are given in the London Gazette of June 13th, 1944:- Awarded the George Cross for most conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner. Pte. Silk threw himself upon a live grenade to save the lives of the recruits under training in Burma (now Myanmar).

 

Name: ISLAM-UD-DIN
Nationality: Indian
Rank: Lance Naik
Regiment/Service: 9th Jat Regiment
Unit Text: 6th Bn.
Age: 19
Date of Death: 12/04/1945
Service No: 27103
Awards: G C
Additional information: Son of Muhammad Abbas and Majidan; husband of Akhtari Begum, of Chak No. 90/EB, Montgomery, Pakistan.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Face 38.
Memorial: RANGOON MEMORIAL
Citation: The citation in the London Gazette for 5th October, 1945, states that this N.C.O. was awarded the George Cross "for most conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner" Lance Naik Islam-Ud-Din, at Pyawbwe in Burma (now Myanmar) threw himself upon a live hand-grenade to save the lives of his comrades. He was an exemplary soldier and had displayed high qualities of leadership and courage in previous action on 24th March 1945 near Khanda, North of Meiktila.

 

Name: SUBRAMANIAN
Nationality: Indian
Rank: Subadar
Regiment/Service: Queen Victoria's Own Madras Sappers and Miners
Age: 30
Date of Death: 24/02/1944
Service No: 14069
Awards: G C, I D S M
Additional information: Son of Kannayiram and Thangammal; husband of Shanbagammal, of Keelvodivakkam, Walajabad, Chengalpet, India.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Column I.
Cemetery: SANGRO RIVER CREMATION MEMORIAL
Citation: The citation in the London Gazette for 30th June, 1944, reads: "Awarded the George Cross for most conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner." Subadar Subramanian was killed when he threw himself upon an unexploded mine to save his comrades.

 

Name: OSBORN, JOHN ROBERT
Initials: J R
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Warrant Officer Class II (C.S.M.)
Regiment/Service: Winnipeg Grenadiers, R.C.I.C.
Age: 42
Date of Death: 19/12/1941
Service No: H/6008
Awards: V C
Additional information: Son of John Robert and Harriet Sussana Osborn; husband of Margaret Elizabeth Osborn, of St. Vital, Manitoba, Canada.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Column 25.
Memorial: SAI WAN MEMORIAL
Citation: The citation in the London Gazette of 1st April, 1946, gives the following particulars : At Hong Kong, on 19th December, 1941, a company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers became divided in an attack on Mount Butler. A part of the company led by C.S.M. Osborn captured the hill at bayonet point, but after three hours owing to the superior numbers of the enemy the position became untenable. C.S.M. Osborn and a small group covered the withdrawal and when their turn came to fall back he single-handed engaged the enemy, exposing himself to heavy enemy fire to cover their retirement. Later the Company was cut off and completely surrounded. Several enemy grenades were thrown which C.S.M. Osborn picked up and threw back. When one landed in a position where it was impossible to pick it up, he threw himself upon it and was instantly killed. His self-sacrifice undoubtedly saved the lives of many of his comrades. C.S.M. Osborn was an inspiring example to all throughout the defence, and in his death he displayed the highest qualities of heroism and self-sacrifice.

 

Hello Geoff i don't no if you have read The War Illustrated 1917 but in volume 7 there is a story in it that is of sort of what you are posting but it seems he surrvived.

"A sergeant John Carmichael , V.C.,North Staffordshire Regiment,While excavating a trench he saw an unearthed grenade starting to burn. To have thrown it out would have endangered men working on the top, so yelling a warning, he placed his helmet on the grenade and stood on the helmet. Though badly injured by the explosion, he saved many a life."

I whish i could scan and post the picture but unfortunately my scanner doesn't work sorry.

Just bought a new scanner so here is the picture.

Regards Michael.

 

Deacs,

The complete record of The War Illustrated is now online:

The War Illustrated Archive

Oops, that's only for WW2 - sorry!

 

Deacs,

The complete record of The War Illustrated is now online:

The War Illustrated Archive

Oops, that's only for WW2 - sorry!

Cee you didn't goof i did i should have put WW1 into my post in the first place.

Regards Michael.

 

Hello Michael


WW1 War Illustrated


Link on here already re WW2 http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/research-material/24121-war-illustrated-6.html

regards
Clive

 

HEALY, M
Rank: Serjeant
Service No: 5130
Date of Death: 02/03/1917
Age: 25
Regiment/Service: Royal Munster Fusiliers 2nd Bn.
Awards: A M, D C M, M M and Bar
Grave Reference II. B. 53.
Cemetery BRAY MILITARY CEMETERY

Son of Mrs. Annie Healy, of Ballinamuck, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. A War Office letter (68/Albert/109/A.G.10) records the following:-"On 1st March, 1917, this non-commissioned officer, with a total disregard for his own personal safety and solely prompted by the desire to save his comrades, rushed to pick up a live bomb which had been thrown by a Private and which struck the parapet and rolled back into the trench near Lieutenant Roe and the Private. Sergeant Healy, fearing the party could not escape in time, made a most gallant attempt to seize and hurl the bomb from the trench. It exploded, however, and mortally wounded him. This was the last of Sergeant Healy's many acts of gallantry and devotion to duty. He was previously awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal and later a bar to his Military Medal.".