6976983 Sgt Frank McALEER, DCM, 6 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers: 08/05/1943

Hi Dick, I've just been speaking to my mum, Frank's niece, I've sent you a message

 

I found some of the stuff I researched about 10 years ago about Frank McAleer. I attach a copy of his Death Certificate (very brief, but there was a war on!) and also a picture of his headstone at the Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery in Tunisia. (Fortunately at the time I had a good friend who worked for the War Graves Commission, and he organised the picture!)

 

Thank you. I did get a picture of his and Ernies grave Ernies back in the 1980s. They arnt too far apart in that Cemetery though there was about thirty years in between me getting Franks grave. Strange thing is I studied Inniskilling graves way back then and would have read Franks name and just didn’t know then about his report and that he was he man I eventually would be looking for! I would never have known about Frank if it hadn’t been for my gran keeping Ernies memory going - from me being a child to researching for gran as she never knew. We still dnt know exactly what Frank found when he went out to find his comrades. Certainly it looks like Ernie was shot but of course gran well she never knew how I came across far too late Franks name and subsequently his family. She would have been so pleased. It put a mystery I guess finally to rest since 1943. Great friends who will not be forgotten and now the families linked again it is amazing!
Would I be able to get Ernies death cert I wonder because I never thought of doing that or As he died in action if it woUld exist?

 

Great to see that info, very sad that he was only 31 years old

 

Yes and he had a son who I would love to find but can’t. There was a marriage problem but I know where his wife and child lived but not what happened to them after Gran left Derry. I know Ernies brother visited them as I have a photo but that is all. She was called Lillian.

 

Alison

you should be able to get Ernie's death certificate from the GRO (General Record Office). But as you can see from Frank's (and other wartime ones I've seen) there isn't much information on them. Just date, a (very) rough area, and would probably just say "Died in Action". But as you have his name, Regimental number and date of death you have all the information you need.

 

I ordered it ten mins ago! I then will apply for his service record I guess it will give me other detail I’d like to record on our tree about his wounds when in Dunkirk. Thank you for your help

 

The official In Memoriam certificate from the War Graves Commission gives Frank's parents as as Frank and Elizabeth, and his wife as Grace.

The McAleers were (I think) from the Dungannon area (certainly Tyrone), but Grace was recorded as living in Aldershot, presumably where the "Skins" barracks were.

Here's the certificate.

 

The Service Records are great to read. From initial joining it gives height, weight, eye colour etc. Really brings them to life......

 

Yes I have several records for family but I didn’t get Ernies so I will start that now but I guess I have researched so many others From the family in both wars I actually overlooked it. I think for me finding Frank and his family who were great was tops!

 

I Catherine,so glad to hear from you.
Sgt Frank McAleer was also my Dads Uncle.
My late Grandad Patrick,Frank and your Grandmother must of been the three siblings mentioned in the Records.
So your Mum and my Dad are Cousins.
Wow!!xx

 

Hi Alison. I know you were in touch with my Family a while back. My Sister lost your number unfortunately,when her Phone broke. Hope you and your Family are well.xx

 

All well many thanks - I still smile at all this and finding Frank who was a mystery man for so long! I have to thank everyone who pointed the way so very much it has been amazing truly

 

Same photo as above = better quality:

Sgt. McAleer of Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland, who took part in the exercise, won the DCM at Bou Arada for Bravery. The action for which this NCO was decorated was .... "Early one morning he set out alone armed only with the revolver and returned with two German prisoners and their two machine guns".

BATTLE EXERCISES in TUNISIA

 

Heart breaking that he likely brought back the two Germans who killed Ernie and the others very sad.

 

Hi Ray, that's right, my mum is Betty in Scotland and Bob (dad of Robert, Brian and Rose) is her brother. I met your mum and dad most recently when they came up last year for a visit, although I remember you from Manchester many years ago

 

Thanks, that's a great photo, I showed it to my mum, she was very happy to see it

 

Alison, did you manage to get Ernie's service record and death certificate yet?

 

Yes the death cert as expected just said Kia but will send for service later - watching the pennies right now xxx take care

 

A reminder of the exploits of Frank McAleer, 79 years ago last week in Tunisia - there is that dated photo (taken on 2nd March 1943) of Sgt McAleer on the IWM site:



And a link here to another set of of descriptions:
Sergeant Frank McAleer D.C.M. - Dungannon War Dead