225685 Major Raymond Arthur Lewis BEENEY, RE: Algeria, 10/02/1943

Hi pals,

One of the chaps I'm researching is Major R A L Beeney (225685), RE. He died 10 Feb 1943 and is the only British and Commonwealth soldier buried in Bougie (Bejaia) cemetery in Algeria. I have his CWGC entry but that's about all.

I'm a bit stuck now, can anyone throw any light on what he and/or the RE were doing in the area?

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/f...-details/2242208/raymond-arthur-lewis-beeney/
MAJOR RAYMOND ARTHUR LEWIS BEENEY
Service Number: 225685
Regiment & Unit: Royal Engineers
Date of Death: 10 February 1943
Age 32 years old
Buried or commemorated at LA REUNION WAR CEMETERY
Grave Reference: 5. A. 14.
Location: Algeria
Additional Info: Son of Capt. Herbert Beeney and Clara Beeney, of Southsea, Hampshire. B.Sc. Eng. (Hons.), A.M.I.C.E.
Personal Inscription: HIS LIFE A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY HIS ABSENCE A SILENT GRIEF

Thanks.

 

Hi Clive,

Not much on him except for this:
British Army Officers 1939-1945X -- B

The CWGC has him as buried in La Reunion War Cemetery which is in the area of Bejaia.

There are a few RE buried there. The next one after Beeney was killed was eight days later.

BEESON, JOHN LESLIE, J L Sapper 1888437 Royal Engineers 18/02/1943 27 1. A. 1. The anniversar of the landing there is remembrance day 11th November.

I also have a couple o RAAF lads in the cemetery.

BROWN, JOHN MAXWELL Flight Sergeant 416321 HQ RAF ME 24/05/1943 TAYLOR, ROY MELDRUM Sergeant 403825 4 PRU 31/12/1942

Allied troops made a series of landings on the Algerian coast in early November 1942. From there, they swept east into Tunisia, where the North African campaign came to an end in May 1943 with the surrender of the Axis forces. Bejaia (formerly Bougie) was the landing place of the 36th Infantry Brigade Group on 11 November 1942. La Reunion War Cemetery contains 211 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.

Cheers

Geoff