I am currently attempting to have a memorial erected in Newtownards to the Young Soldiers who were killed during a German Air Raid on Newtownards Airfield on 15th / 16th April 1941. I am presently aware of the deaths of 13 soldiers of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers however I was told today that there may have been 2 Royal Artillery personel who were gunners at the Airfield and who were also killed. This is an important issue for me to clarify and any information anyone can provide regarding Royal Artillery personel caught in the Newtownards Air Raid would be very much appreciated.
CWGC Results of search for all RA personnel who died on those 2 days (using Geoff's search engine) 001 BOAST JH 806108 - 16/04/1941 ROYAL ARTILLERY 002 BROWN JE 1065795 - 16/04/1941 ROYAL ARTILLERY 003 CHINN CJ 3958213 452 BTY 67 6TH BN THE WELCH REGT SEARCHLIGHT REGT 15/04/1941 ROYAL ARTILLERY 004 COOK AE 1430360 162 BTY, 54 HAA REGT 16/04/1941 ROYAL ARTILLERY 005 COOPER AE 1660901 59 MEDIUM REGT 15/04/1941 ROYAL ARTILLERY 006 FARWELL CW 858495 522 COAST REGT 15/04/1941 ROYAL ARTILLERY 007 HARKNESS R 766863 74 FIELD REGT 15/04/1941 ROYAL ARTILLERY 008 LEE A 4527769 395 BTY, 49 6TH BN THE WEST YORKSHIRE REGT SEARCHLIGHT REGT 16/04/1941 ROYAL ARTILLERY 009 LEOPOLD A 1601396 509 BTY, 81 SEARCHLIGHT REGT 16/04/1941 ROYAL ARTILLERY 010 PEPPER AP 995927 9 DEFENCE REGT 16/04/1941 ROYAL ARTILLERY 011 PINNOCK RRJ 999962 150 FIELD REGT 16/04/1941 ROYAL ARTILLERY *012 RIDDLE JS 327169 102 THE NORTHUMBERLAND HUSSARS LT AA/ANTI TANK REGT 15/04/1941 ROYAL ARTILLERY 013 ROGERS PSC 159102 - 16/04/1941 ROYAL ARTILLERY 014 SMITH J 1692572 237 BTY, 76 HAA REGT 16/04/1941 ROYAL ARTILLERY 015 SUTCLIFFE RD 49705 CDG 69 10TH BN THE ROYAL FUSILIERS [CITY OF LONDON REGT] SEARCHLIGHT REGT 16/04/1941 ROYAL ARTILLERY 016 WELLS AW 1650862 475 BTY, 2 SEARCHLIGHT REGT 15/04/1941 ROYAL ARTILLERY 017 WYLIE R 144995 955 INDEPT DEFENCE BTY 15/04/1941 ROYAL ARTILLERY *Athens Memorial
Cracking. I will make some approaches to the individual units to try and find if they were operating in Newtownards. Things appear to be moving in the right direction!! Thanks
both show casualties between 16/17 although a day later possibly a red herring Bombardier HERBERT CHARLES PENNY (photo attached) 2084882, Royal Artillery who died age 28 between 16 April 1941 and 17 April 1941 Son of Mary Ann Penny and stepson of Thomas Percy Roberts. Remembered with honour ST. PANCRAS CEMETERY plus Bombardier GEORGE A. STUTTARD 779205, Royal Artillery who died age 30 between 16 April 1941 and 17 April 1941 Son of James and Frances Stuttard, of Liverpool. Remembered with honour LIVERPOOL (ANFIELD) CEMETERY
hello Sam see information below BombardierBOAST, JAMES HENRY Service Number 806108 Died 16/04/1941 Royal Artillery Casualty Official link to apply for his service records Get a copy of military service records - GOV.UK My photo from Brookwood Memorial
Oh wow, that is amazing. I think that is him. I don't understand why he was in Belfast and have found some records which suggest he was in the 31st Rgmt - signals but that doesn't match. My father was a baby when he died and never knew his Father. We were told he died on a train traveling home, but my Grandmother remarried and I am not sure it was a welcome topic of discussion. I'll apply for his records as you suggest. Thank you so much, Samantha
Samantha do you have more detail, if your not sure forum members might be able to confirm he was your Grandfather regards Clive
UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 Name: James Boast Given Initials: J H Rank: Bombardier Death Date: 16 Apr 1941 Number: 806108 Birth Place: London E Residence: London E Regiment at Enlistment: Royal Artillery Branch at Enlistment: Royal Artillery Theatre of War: United Kingdom Regiment at Death: Royal Artillery Branch at Death: Royal Artillery England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: James H Boast Death Age: 29 Birth Date: abt 1912 Registration Date: Jun 1941 Registration district: Camberwell Inferred County: London Volume: 1d Page: 972 I would suggest from the above he died somewhere near Camberwell England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 Name: James H Boast Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1938 Registration district: Camberwell Inferred County: Surrey Spouse: Ruby F Groves Volume Number: 1d Page Number: 1901 Does a grandmother called Ruby ring any bells?? TD
I would suggest children from this marriage are: Helen F Boast Oct-Nov-Dec 1938 Lambeth London Alan J Boast Jan-Feb-Mar 1940 Colchester Essex, Suffolk TD edited to add: England and Wales, Death Index, 2007-2015 Name: Mr Alan James Boast Gender: Male Age: 70 Birth Date: 16 Jan 1940 Death Date: 1 May 2010 Residence Place at Death: Bromley, England Postal Code District: Br2
806108 BOAST James Henry Bdr. 31st Signal Training Regiment Born : 1912 Stepney Residing : Hackney Enlisted in the Royal Artillery in 1930 Transferred to the Army Reserve 23.4.1937 Died 16.4.1941 As TD posted, his death was registered in Camberwell
Hi Thanks for the information, my grandmother was Ruby. I was told that he died on a train on the way home so was uncertain about the Belfast connection. I'll apply for his service records I think but I assume that the memorial is sorry is probably for him still. The slight problem is that the birth certificate I found was was a Henry James 2 years earlier, but all the boast men are a tad vain and fib about their age! And I do think he used James as his name.. I's really like to understand the circumstances of his death. Thanks for your help Samantha
He would be listed on Brookwood Memorial if his body was not found after his confirmed death. You really need to get more detail from the family to make sure it is the right person. There isnt a Belfast connection the list is of Royal Artillery persons that died on those 2 days. If it is him then you could apply for his death certificate which would give reasons on death BOAST, JAMES HENRY 29 GRO Reference: 1941 J Quarter in CAMBERWELL Volume 01D Page 972 for info Boast casualties during WW2 001 BOAST GH 14707616 7TH BN 07/09/1944 SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS VI. A. 19. 002 BOAST AJ 3856285 2ND BN 09/06/1943 THE LOYAL REGIMENT (NORTH LANCASHIRE) 7. D. 7. 003 BOAST WJ - STEAM TRAWLER CHARMOUTH MILFORD HAVEN 14/11/1946 FISHING FLEET PANEL 124. 004 BOAST RTV - - 06/11/1940 CIVILIAN WAR DEAD 005 BOAST JH 806108 - 16/04/1941 ROYAL ARTILLERY PANEL 2. COLUMN 3. 006 BOAST HF 11430027 99 BTY, 18 LT AA REGT 03/04/1944 ROYAL ARTILLERY VIII. E. 7. 007 BOAST WEH 749598 99 SQDN 18/12/1940 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE SEC. N. GRAVE 113.
Searching this database - All UK, WWII Civilian Deaths, 1939-1945 Results - specifically for the date 16th April 1941 in London alone results in 492 hits, so there was some fairly large incident happening that day. TD
I checked the names from DBF's list in #2. They all have Royal Artillery casualty cards, not one records a place or cause of death.
Hi there is nobody in the family with information. My Dad had only one true sibling and she is not alive, My Dad, Alan James Boast, has also passed but he was told nothing as my Grandmother entered into a new relationship quickly, so it was explained. I'll follow your recommendations and get the death certificate and service records. It would simply be nice to know, I am one of three and we know nothing of the Boast element of our history but I'm learning more and more with all of your help, so thank you. I'm not that informed about military history but learning more every day and would love to know something about him. Thank you all so much. Samantha
Yes I saw that also but I am not so confident about my searching skills, learning as I go! Thank you for hour efforts Samantha
