DEMS gunner losses

I am happy to do it Jim - although I think they may be looking at their inbox and saying - "not him again"
Hugh

 

Thank you so much for taking it forward Hugh.

A name recognised can carry things a long way and I thank you for that.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Hi

I’m trying to find out some information concerning George Bertram Jones
Born 30 March 1915
Died 9 September 1943

I know he was a gunner in the 2nd maritime regiment of the royal artillery. We know his ship went down either in the Indian or Pacific Ocean. Would anyone have information about the ship, location and any info about what happened, we believe it was a Japanese submarine.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

 

JONES, Gunner, GEORGE BERTRAM, 4925369, 2 Maritime Regt., Royal Artillery. (SS Larchbank) 9 September 1943. Age 28. Son of George Thomas and Emma Jones; husband of Beatrice Mary Jones, of Bloxwich. Staffordshire. Panel 80, Column 3.

Regards
Hugh

 

Thanks Hugh. Do you know when I can find any information concerning what happened to the SS Larchbank?

 

LARCHBANK GRT 5150 Built 1925

Torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-27 (Fukumura), in the Indian Ocean W of Cape Comorin, India, in position 07.38N 74.00E while sailing independently on a voyage from Baltimore, Suez and Aden to Colombo and Calcutta, with 7394 tons of general cargo and military stores including 4 tanks, 2 MT boats, 8 amphibious craft and railway iron. The Master, Capt. William Arthur McCracken, 36 crew, 6 gunners, 2 DBS and 1 naval petty officer were lost. 16 crew 4 gunners and 3 DBS landed at Katurunda, Ceylon 28.9.43. The 3rd Officer, 1 cadet, 1 naval petty officer and 4 crew were rescued after 23 days on a raft by Anchor Line ship TAHAINIA 7267/42 and landed at Colombo: the 4th Engineer and 2 crew by US ship PANAMAN 5283/13 and landed at Fremantle. The LARCHBANK sank within 2 minutes.

Source: British and Commonwealth Merchant Ship Losses to Axis Submarines 1939 - 1945 by Alan J Tennent.

Also read this: M.V. Larchbank sunk 9/9/43

Regards
Hugh

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to respond

 

Wednesday 11th October 1944

HOLDER, Harry, Gunner, RA (5 Maritime Regt), 5179631 [TOWNSVILLE WAR CEMETERY]

No obvious shipping incident to associate with the loss of Gnr Holder and a shore burial, so I believe his death is to due to an illness/accident, any ideas?

Regards,

Steve

 

Hi Steve,
We have discussed this before on the site:

Gunner Harry HOLDER - 5th Maritime Regiment

Regards
Hugh

 

Hi Hugh,

Thanks, I didn't realise there was already a thread on Gnr Holder.

Regards,

Steve

 

Friday 13th October 1944

WOOD, Ernest, Bombardier, RA (2 Maritime Regt), 1475744 [STE. MARIE CEMETERY, LE HAVRE]

No hostile incident to associate with the death of Bdr Wood, but water tanker Chant 5 did suffer an internal explosion on this date that killed three crew (two of whom are buried in the same cemetery), so there is a possibility that Bdr Wood was lost in this incident, any ideas?

Regards,

Steve

 

To confirm your thoughts Steve.

WOOD, Bombardier, ERNEST, 1475744, 2 Maritime Regt., Royal Artillery. (M.V. Chant 5) 13 October 1944. Age 29. Son of Frederic William and Cissie Wood husband of Mary Wood, of St. Annes-on-Sea, Lancashire. Grave Ref. Divn. 67. Row L. Grave 3.

Regards
Hugh

 

Sunday 15th October 1944

RODDEN, James R, Gunner, RA (3 Maritime Regt), 11422066, MPK [ChM]

Dutch tanker S.S. Petronella was lost after a mine strike off Piraeus with the loss of 14 crew, 4 gunner and 5 service personnel.

Three RN gunners have been identified and I believe Gnr Rodden was the fourth loss, any ideas?

Regards,

Steve

 

Just to confirm Steve

RODDEN, Gunner, JAMES ROBERT, 11422066, 3 Maritime Regt., Royal Artillery. (SS Petronella) 15 October 1944. Age 27. Son of William T. and Seragh J. Rodden, of Mohill, Co. Leitrim, Republic of Ireland. 80, 1.

Regards
Hugh

 

Saturday 21st October 1944


OVENDEN, Richard, Gunner, RA (4 Maritime Regt), 6287819, MPK [NAPLES WAR CEMETERY]
BAKER, Maurice, Gunner, RA (6 Maritime Regt), 984055, MPK [PlyM]

Two gunner losses on this date. Gnr Baker is noted by 6 Maritime Regt website as dying after an accident and Gnr Ovenden has a shore burial with no obvious shipping to associate with his death, so I believe he also died from an accidental/illness cause. Any ideas?

Regards,

Steve

 

Hi Steve,

BAKER, Gunner, MAURICE, 984055, 6 Maritime Regt., Royal Artillery. (SS Glamorgan Coast) 21 October 1944. Age 27. Panel 93, Column 2. (Lost overboard presumed drowned at sea).

OVENDEN, Gunner, RICHARD, 6287819, 4 Maritime Regt., Royal Artillery. 21 October 1944. Age 26. Son of Elias John and Ada Ovenden, of Margate; husband of Margaret Louise Ovenden, of Margate. Grave Ref. III. S. 13. [killed in traffic accident]

Regards
Hugh

 

Friday 27th October 1944

McMAHON, Hugh, Sergeant, RA (2 Maritime Regt), 1461581 [DUMBARTON CEMETERY]

A shore burial and no obvious shipping incident to associate with his death, so I believe Sgt McMahon died from an accidental/illness cause. Any ideas?

Regards,

Steve

 

Hi Steve,
He died in an accident on 27.10.44. Unable to find out anything else about him. I thought they may all have died in the same incident but it appears all those from 349/111 Lt A.A. died at Gt Yarmouth. I think Sgt H. McMahon died seperately.


Regads
Hugh

 

Monday 30th October 1944

TURNER, Robert S, Lance Sergeant, RA (2 Maritime Regt), 3194800 [MARKINCH (ST. DROSTAN'S) CEMETERY]
ELLISON, Richard, Gunner, RA (3 Maritime Regt), 14589339 [SKIPTON (WALTONWRAYS) CEMETERY]

Two gunner losses on this date, there are no obvious shipping incidents to associate with their deaths, so I believe they died from an accidental/illness causes, any ideas?

Regards,

Steve

 

Both listed as died, however the list for L/Sjt Turner subsequently updated to show accident.

TURNER, Lance Serjeant, ROBERT SIBBALD, 3194800, 2 Maritime Regt., Royal Artillery. 30 October 1944. Grave Ref. Compt. C. Grave 36. Died as a result of fracturing his skill in a road accident. Bangour Hospital, Broxburn, Uphall Parish, West Lothian, Scotland.

Regards
Hugh