Hi everyone, I am researching a young lad who died in WW2 and want to tell his story, but I have no idea what he may have gone through and it seems that his Theatre of War was the UK. :- Commonwealth War Graves Commission Gunner EDWARDS, GEORGE HENRY Service Number 1455336 Died 17/10/1940 176 Bty., 63 H.A.A. Regt. Royal Artillery Age 19 years according to CQ. Cemetery records. (Born 1921?) Buried at CONNAH'S QUAY CEMETERY Can anyone tell me any information please, I was told that he died in St. Clair's Hospital, Rotherhithe, but I think they meant St. Olave's Hospital, although I have tried I can find nothing on that either. Any help would be gratefully received. Kind regards, Mavis Williams
Hi, Mavis there`s a casualty card for him on findmypast but my subscriptions lapsed so I cannot access it? They usually have an address and next of kin? Kyle
Thank you CL1 and Kyle, I have the card but it didn't give much information, just Connah's Quay, if that's the same card, but I was wondering as well, what would he be doing, and where in the UK? I know it was Anti-Aircraft but need to find out more. Thanks again,
Marriages Jun 1920 Edwards Sam Lovatt Hawarden 11b 560 Lovatt Annie Edwards Hawarden 11b 560 Births Jun 1921 Edwards George H Lovatt Hawarden 11b 403
Thanks Harkness too, I had just replied when yours came through. I have these, but where were 176 Bty., 63 H.A.A. Regt. Royal Artillery in 1940? Thanks again, Mavis
Ignore my suggestion above .Sorry This is embarrassing 63rd and 64th (Northumbrian) HAA Rgts were defending my home area of Durham and Tyneside they were redesignated HAA in 1940 to distinguish them from the LAA units that were formed on Anti Aircraft duties. The Hq was at Sunderland whilst 176 Bty were at Durham (County) . Kyle
63 (Northumbrian) Heavy AA Regiment RA Sep 39 Home Forces UK Sep 40 30 AA Bde, 7 AA Div UK Batteries Sep 39 176, 177, 178, 269 Jul 42 177, 178, 269 Is it possible he was killed during a bombing raid? died in hospital I have been trying to find the WD's but no luck yet TD
Kyle, I saw the Northumbrian Heavy AA Regiment but was sidetracked as it was up north and I thought that can't be the one he was in, so thank you for confirming what I had, and TD thanks for those timings when and where they were 1939 -1940. Just wish I had some idea what happenned to him, but so glad there is this Forum to ask. Kind regards, Mavis
chap from same reg died on 7/10/40 Harold Hobson (1506131) Royal Artillery - 176 Bty., 63 H.A.A. Regiment 7 October 1940, aged 22 Died in Wales He died of Accident at A.A. Practice Camp on 7 October 1940 in World War Two Swinton (St. Margaret) Churchyard Swinton 001 EDWARDS GH 1455336 176 BTY, 63 HAA REGT 17/10/1940 ROYAL ARTILLERY SEC. Y. GRAVE 14. 002 HOBSON H 1506131 176 BTY, 63 HAA REGT 07/10/1940 ROYAL ARTILLERY SEC. E. ROW J. GRAVE 4
UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 Name: Harold Hobson Given Initials: H Rank: Gunner Death Date: 7 Oct 1940 Number: 1506131 Birth Place: Yorkshire Residence: Yorkshire 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: Harold Hobson Death Age: 22 Birth Date: abt 1918 Registration Date: Dec 1940 Registration district: Merioneth South Inferred County: Merionethshire Volume: 11b Page: 1107 Maybe his death cert could provide some information?? TD
Thanks TD and CL1, that is strange, both dying from the same Regt. more or less at the same time. I wonder what happened. I cannot afford to get his death Certificate anyway as I am researching 83 servicemen and I don't know where George's death was registered. Thanks for this though, it all adds to the story. Regards, Mavis
Can I ask another question regarding the Casualty Lists please? I have noticed on 2 Casualty lists for another soldier that on the top left hand corner there was written "3 At Sea (cont.)" This soldier is remembered on the ALAMEIN MEMORIAL, Egypt. He was:- Trooper EDWARDS, HAROLD Service Number 7936388 Died 14/11/1942 Aged 22 44th Royal Tank Regiment, R.A.C. Son of John and Mary Jane Edwards, of Queen's Ferry, Flintshire. His other 2 Casualty Lists entries give Expeditionary Forces (Cont.) on the top left hand corner, so did he died at sea? He was missing, then was a prisoner of war in Italian hands, then died. The "At Sea" mystifies me. Any help to understand the Casualty Lists would be appreciated. Regards, Mavis
Perhaps you need to read this thread - British Pow Losses On Italian Ship SS Scillin - Wikipedia She sailed on 13 November 1942.[2] A British S-class submarine, HMS Sahib, intercepted Scillin on the night of 14 November off the coast of Tunisia. Sahib first fired two shells at the cargo ship and then launched a single torpedo, which hit Scillin's hold and rapidly sank her. Prisoners in the hold had little chance of survival. Sahib rescued 27 POWs (26 British and one South African), Scillin's captain and 34 Italian crew and soldiers[3] before the arrival of an Italian warship obliged her to leave. Only when Sahib's crew heard survivors speaking English did they realise the ship's purpose.[4] TD
Thank you again TD, that is invaluable, I had no idea! I am really obliged for this information. Kindest regards, Mavis