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In memory of:

Thomas David NEWBERRY, Able Seaman, Merchant Navy

Who died aboard the S.S. Tregenna (St. Ives) at the age of 38 years on 17/09/1940
He was the son of Thomas David Newberry and of Mary Jane Newberry, of Cardiff.

He is commemorated at Tower Hill Memorial
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 110.


Ross Charles Cole who was also aboard that day

Casualty Details
Name: COLE, ROSS CHARLES
Initials: R C
Nationality: Australian
Rank: Able Seaman
Regiment/Service: Royal Australian Naval Reserve
Age: 24
Date of Death: 17/09/1940
Service No: B1597
Additional information: Son of Cyril Charles and Constance Jane Cole, of Kalinga, Queensland, Australia.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 43, Column 3.
Memorial: PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL


Others commemorated at Tower Hill who were lost aboard that day

Apprentice KENNETH ROUNCEFIELD age 16

Cabin Boy Dennis SWALWELL age 15
Son of Mrs. S. Swalwell, of Middlesbrough, Yorkshire.
Remembered with honour

Under the command of Captain William Thomas Care she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-65 off the Rockall in a position 58 22N 15 42W. She was on a return voyage from Philadelphia to Newport, Monmouthshire with Convoy HX71, with a cargo of 8000 tons of steel at the time of her sinking. Captain William Thomas Care and 32 men were lost, four survivors were picked up.




May all who were lost that day, rest in peace.

Paul

Further to my earlier post on this thread re my unknown relation, thanks to Colin who pmd me with info, I now can put a name to E A King.

He was ERNEST ARTHUR KING, my great Uncle, and he is buried in Syracuse War Cemetery in Sicily.

Now that my family know who he was, Remembrance Day will be even more special this year.

Denise x

In memory of a grandfather I never knew who rests in Blighty Valley Cemetery, Nr. Albert.
Pte. G. Wright 19646 York & Lancaster Regiment he died at the Battle of the Somme on 1st July, 1916 leaving a widow and five young children.
May he and all those who have given their lives in all the wars rest in peace and rise in glory.

Sheila

My great Uncle
In memoriam of Sgt Alfred Clay AGE 29

Ist Btn Royal Welsh Fusiliers

Died 16/07/1916 France.

No known grave.

On the Memorial at.
FLATIRON COPSE CEMETERY, MAMETZ

Also My Uncle

Private Hector Herbert V. Nash AGE 24

2nd BTN SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS

DIED 14 JULY 1943

BURIED SYRACUSE WAR CEMETERY, SICILY

My husbands Great uncle

Private Maurice Reuben Ravenhill
2Btn Gloucestershire Regiment. Age30

DIED OF TB CONTRACTED IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR .

Died 1920.

My husbands GG uncle

Private John Amos Tyrrell AGE 29

10 Btn Gloucestershire Regiment

Died Date
22/07/1916
France & Flanders

No known grave Memorial Thiepval.

On Ancestry i found a letter from Alfred Clays mother my G Gran to the army trying to get money to support the five children he left behind .

We will not forget them.

Lorraine x

In Rememberence of my Grand Uncle's

John;Gassed and on his return died 1920 as a result.

Daniel;Killed in Action ;1917

Tom and my Grandfather,Denis.

Let us also remember the Women who worked in the munition's factorie's;The TNT poisoning ,Poor health and in some case's an early death.

In Memory of two uncles I never knew...

Frank Rodney Howard, 24 years

Killed in action 2nd September 1915 on Hill 60 at Gallipoli and "Mentioned in Despatches" He has no known grave but his name is carved on the Lone Pine Memorial.

Ray Septimus Howard , 22 years

Served in France and died of wounds in a London Hospital He is buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery.

Both from Echuca, Victoria, Australia.

Heather

Dear Denise,

I believe I found your relation - the service number is correct as are the initial and surname. May he be remembered with respect.

Name: KING, ERNEST ARTHUR
Initials: E A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: Royal Marines
Unit Text: R.M. Group, M.N. B.D.O. (2)
Age: 33
Date of Death: 04/01/1944
Service No: CH/X 101942
Additional information: Son of John and Edith King, of Barking, Essex.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: VII. A. 15.
Cemetery: SYRACUSE WAR CEMETERY, SICILY

Best wishes,
Rebecca

Remembering my great uncle Edmund Thomas Arthur Renshaw who served with the Fourth Royal Garrison Artillary. Died 1917 aged 40 in Belgium.

He came home on leave and didn't have to go back because of his age, but "couldn't leave the boys there" without feeling guilty. He had five children, and on this leave another was conceived who he never knew about. The child was named Edmund after his father.

I would just like to say what fine and touching words are being said here for so many FINE AND BRAVE YOUNG MEN who never returned from the FAR AWAY BATTLEFIELDS that they FOUGHT so COURAGEOUSLY ON and gave us who have come after them the FREEDOM to do so.

My father who enlisted in WWI, and put his AGE DOWN to do so, was in the 7TH LIGHT HORSE BATTALION and landed at GALLIPOLI with the AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCES. My GREAT UNCLE who enlisted also in WWI, and who put his AGE UP to do so as he was only 16, landed at the same time at GALLIPOLI with the AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCES. They never met whilst there, as my FATHER had not yet married my MOTHER who was my GREAT UNCLE's SISTER.

Whilst my father fared not too badly during the war except for a few small wounds and experiencing the awful DESERT SAND STORMS which later in life caused terrible lung and chest health problems which the DIGGERS referred to as "THE DESERT DISEASE" he did come home alive.

My GREAT UNCLE had his RIGHT ARM SHOT OFF AT THE SHOULDER and serious LEG and BODY WOUNDS and was CRITICAL. But he came home alive too - well half alive. He never really recovered from his WARTIME experience and was, for almost the rest of his life, in a MENTAL HOSPITAL. He died aged 46 exactly 30 years to the day when he had joined up at the age of 16 years !!

My husband was an Officer in the ROYAL NAVY for 23 years but fortunately he was not involved in a WAR.

Our son has been a SOLDIER in the ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARMY now for over 20 years. He has been posted overseas during Military Hostilities and was a UNITED NATIONS PEACE KEEPER and was awarded his PEACE KEEPERS BADGE AND BERET, of which he is very proud. He is home and safe and sound.

SO even though my loved ones have been part of the different MILITARY in very long off years at very different times I feel so thankful that NONE were taken away from us and died in a FOREIGN LAND.

BUT SO VERY MANY DID NOT COME HOME - The country towns all over Australia have their Special Memorials to the young men who never returned and some of our country towns are not very big with sometimes only very small communities but you will see on these Proud Memorials 5 and 6 brothers from the one family ALL "KILLED IN ACTION" - and it is a most SOMBRE MOMENT !!

Here in Australia we have an Association called the R.S.L. (Returned Services League) and there are Clubs for all ex-servicemen, and women, to join. Other members of the public can join but the Ex-Servicemen have their Special Badges. In the evenings at EVERY SINGLE CLUB ALL OVER AUSTRALIA at 6.00pm , the lights dim and everything goes silent, and EVERYBODY STANDS and faces the ETERNAL FLAME that burns, and you can see ALL of the ex-servicemen - no matter how old they are getting , or if they are blind, or only have one leg, or use a walking stick now - they stand erect and at attention and "THE LAST POST" is played over the speakers. Then it is recited :

THEY SHALL GROW NOT OLD
AS WE THAT ARE LEFT GROW OLD
AGE SHALL NOT WEARY THEM
NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN
AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN
AND IN THE MORNING
WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM
LEST WE FORGET

AND THEN EVERY PERSON IN
ALL THOSE RSL CLUBS REPEATS:

"LEST WE FORGET"

It is a wonderful tradition and no matter how many times you are involved at 6.00pm of an evening in one of our RSL Clubs you still feel a chill go through you with the haunting bugle tones and the "ODE" and you just feel PROUD !!

THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN FOGOTTEN AND THEY NEVER EVER WILL BE FORGOTTEN !!

Gilda
Gold Coast
Australia

My Gt Uncle Robert William Francis KIA France 1917.. no known grave
My Uncle Robert William Francis KIA Caen 1944 Military Police.

Lest We Forget

Wear your Poppy with Pride

n

Raymond Steed

In a cool and shaded cemetery by the side of the road from Casablanca to Marrakesh lies the body of a Newport boy, the youngest person in British service to die in the Second World War.

Although the location of Raymond Steed is known to members of his family and, details of the 14-year-old’s untimely sacrifice have never been made public.

Calls for a memorial in Newport to the ex-Scout who went to sea aged just 14 years and two months. Have been backed by a senior member of the Merchant Navy Association.

The short life of Raymond Victor Steed began on October 1, 1928 at Rimberley Terrace, St Mellons. From there the family moved to 20 Christchurch Road, Newport, where he was one of nine children.

His story has been pieced together by ex-merchant seaman and maritime history enthusiast William McGee, of Stockton-on-Tees. “I was researching the history of the ship the Empire Morn, which hit a mine off Casablanca in 1943, when I came across a mention of young Raymond,” Mr McGee, 43, said.

“His ship carrying war material met up with its convoy in the Barry Roads and by April 26, 1943, was off Casablanca. At 9.45 pm an explosion rocked the ship, followed by another in the ship’s stern as the magazine blew up, taking a large part of the crew’s quarters with it.

The captain ordered ‘abandon ship’, and when a count was taken it was seen that 21 crew members were missing. The ship did not sink and was towed to Casablanca. A further search of the wrecked crew accommodation revealed the remains of Raymond and another crew member. The bodies of the other crew men were never found either being blown over board or incinerated.

On April 29 the two bodies were laid to rest in the Ben M’Silk cemetery in the presence of the captain and officers and members of the crew.

The Empire Morn had hit mines laid by the German submarine U-117. She survived the war and was taken to Gibralter where she served as a depot ship before being sold to the Spanish.

Some memorial should be erected to mark the sacrifice of the youngest sailor to give his life in the last war” added Mr McGee.

Mr Bertram Bale, National Vice President and Chairman of the Newport Branch of the Merchant Navy Association, contacted surviving members of the Steed family. Raymond’s father and mother were Mr Wilfred Steed and Olive Steed, whose maiden name was Bright. “It was a fair bet that there would be surviving members in a large family like that. I struck gold with my first call”.

Mr Bale has been active in the local the local campaign to get the historic jolly-boat of the Anglo-Saxon repatriated to Newport.

The jolly-boat of the doomed Anglo-Saxon now in the Imperial War Museum in London is important because of the epic story of the two local men who sailed 1,500 nautical miles to safety in it.

“Young Steed’s story supplements this heroism”.

“At the very least there should be a memorial for the lad, and the Merchant Navy Association would be prepared to set the ball rolling” he said.

MIKE BUCKINGHAM


They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

I didn't know my uncle but I'm extremely proud of him

Lance Corporal HENRY JAMES JOHNCOCKS
died Monte Casino Italy - June 1944 aged 23
was awarded the Military Medal, posthumously for an act of great bravery and selflessness.

Remembering all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice

Christine

I would just like to add my thought,s are today with those that gave the sacrifice of there lives so that they are not forgotten.
Fortunately my grandfather made it through ww1 and my father through ww2.

May those that lost there lives never be forgotten.

A proud grandson & son.

Richard.

GEORGE EDWARD SHERLOCK 1897-27/10/1918 France,
and brother
CHARLES DOUGLAS SHERLOCK 1919-17/01/1944 Italy
Both from Upton, Wirral.
Also ROBERT DARCY 1923-1945 from Upton, Wirral
Cassandra

On Songs of Praise yesterday Robert Hardy read a poem called "The Soldier" or "Soldier" I did not catch the name of the writer,

Does anyone have the words-I thought they were very relevant ..pionting out the various freedoms we enjoy today because of " the soldier."

that is so sad paul....elizaeth i would also like to hear this poem.

gwen,

Remembering with such love.....Arthur Shaw (private)royal fusiliers died 18th may 1918 age 19yrs.
son of the late william henry shaw and agnes shaw.
REMEMBERED WITH HONOUR.

My uncle
Flight Sergeant (Pilot) Augustus Howard
Died 4 March 1945 age 21
Shot down over England
Buried in Marlow Cemetary Buckinghamshire

My great uncle
Private John Richard Field
2nd Batt Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Died 11 September 1918
Memorial Haurincourt France

My 2nd cousin
Derek Arthur Little Flight Sergeant (Navigator)
Died 12 March 1945 age 22 Duisberg Germany
Buried in the British Military Cemetary Reichswald Forest Germany

My great uncle
Roderick Alexander William Pryse Richardes
2nd Lieutenant 1st Batt Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Died of wounds whilst POW in Bulgarian hands
Died 21 June 1918 aged 19 in Salonica
Commemorated on the Doiran Memorial Greece

My 3rd cousin
Douglas M Harwood
Died on HMS Eagle in 1944 age 31

To the men who were shot down with my Uncle Gus
Albert W Darling age 22
Walter J Pullen age 22
Kenneth C Millar age 21
Robert B Wilson age 23
Alexander W Taylor age 20

and to my Dad who came home safely but will not speak of his experiences

You are very much loved and we feel great pride

Is this the one you meant Elizabeth (I missed that bit of Songs of Praise)

The Soldier
Rupert Brooke

If I should die, think only this of me:
That there's some corner of a foreign field
That is forever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam;
A body of England's, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.