Good afternoon, I'm researching the Brookwood Memorial listings as part of a project regarding WWII shipping losses. I've come across a listing for 18 deaths suffered by the 1/5th Btn, West Yorkshire Regiment on the 13th February 1942. I believe that the battalion had a Home Defence role at this time, so I was wondering it anybody could shed any light on what resulted in the battalion suffering this many losses on this date. Regards, Steve
1/5th Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own). 1/5th Bn. West Yorks were part of 147th Infantry Brigade. They left the U.K. on 14th May, 1940 and arrived in Iceland on 17th May, 1940. On 13 February 1942, 17 soldiers drowned owing to a sudden wind spiralling up while they were crossing the Hrutafjord in assault boats. 1/5th Bn. West Yorks left Iceland on 18th April, 1942 and arrived in United Kingdom on 26th April, 1942.
Hi David, Many thanks for that information. That explains why I couldn't associate their losses with a shipping loss. The Brookwood names match up with the WD 13/02/1942 Private BAINES ALFRED 31 '4539224' West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 1st/5th Bn. 13/02/1942 Lance Corporal BALDRY ARTHUR CHARLES EDGAR 33 '5946650' West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 1/5th Bn. 13/02/1942 Private BALLANTYNE WILLIAM HENRY 30 '4545836' West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 1/5th Bn. 13/02/1942 Private BANNISTER SYDNEY 39 '4530416' West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 1/5th Bn. 13/02/1942 Private CASEY HARRY 36 '4531153' West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 1/5th Bn. 13/02/1942 Private DUNNING GEORGE 24 '4541078' West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 1/5th Bn. 13/02/1942 Private EVANS GEORGE 27 '4539202' West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 1/5th Bn. 13/02/1942 Lance Corporal GRAHAM RONALD WILLIAM 22 '4539014' West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 1/5th Bn. 13/02/1942 Private HEBBRON RICHARD 23 '4537212' West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 1/5th Bn. 13/02/1942 Private HOPKINS HENRY 27 '3715799' West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 1/5th Bn. 13/02/1942 Private MACKDONALD ARTHUR 28 '4544288' West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 1/5th Bn. 13/02/1942 Lance Corporal MULHOLLAND ARTHUR 33 '4532253' West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 1/5th Bn. 13/02/1942 Serjeant RILEY LESLIE 23 '4537558' West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 1/5th Bn. 13/02/1942 Private SMITH JOHN HERBERT 23 '4539548' West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 1/5th Bn. 13/02/1942 Private SPARLING WALTER 24 '4537057' West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 1/5th Bn. 13/02/1942 Lance Corporal TOPPING KENNETH 22 '4538161' West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 1/5th Bn. 13/02/1942 Private WANNOP HERBERT 23 '3460537' West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 1/5th Bn. 13/02/1942 Private WISE WALTER LEWIS 25 '4543255' West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) 1/5th Bn. Regards, Steve
