Theatre of War - UK - Royal Artillery.

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Mavis Williams, Apr 23, 2018.

  1. Mavis Williams

    Mavis Williams Well-Known Member

    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
     
  2. CL1

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

  3. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    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
     
  4. harkness

    harkness Well-Known Member

    RA attestations:
    Edwards_ra.jpg

    Casualties:
    Edwards_dow.jpg

    Edwards_cas.jpg

    Not many clues there, I'm afraid.
     
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  5. Mavis Williams

    Mavis Williams Well-Known Member

    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,
     
  6. harkness

    harkness Well-Known Member

    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
     
  7. Mavis Williams

    Mavis Williams Well-Known Member

    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
     
  8. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    He may have been wounded in France,evacuated and died from those wounds?

    Kyle
     
  9. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    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
     
  10. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    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
     
  11. Mavis Williams

    Mavis Williams Well-Known Member

    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
     
  12. CL1

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

    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
     
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2018
  13. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    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
     
  14. Mavis Williams

    Mavis Williams Well-Known Member

    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
     
  15. Mavis Williams

    Mavis Williams Well-Known Member

    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
     
  16. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    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
     
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  17. Mavis Williams

    Mavis Williams Well-Known Member

    Thank you again TD, that is invaluable, I had no idea! I am really obliged for this information. Kindest regards, Mavis
     

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