Hi I hope someone can help me with the names of three soldiers killed during a bombing raid on Withernsea town on the 24th July 1942. We are wanting to place a plaque on the wall of the war memorial commemorating them. A Dorma bomber flew over and dropped a number of bombs and Strafed the town before flying off. A number of civilians were killed and all identified. 3 soldiers who were protecting the town also died. I can’t find their identity in any newspaper of the time, CWGC records show 21 died that day in the U.K. and does not identify where they died. I have been given three names as below but hit a snag with one and none can be collaborated 1) Pte 4920771 William Birkinshaw South Staffs Reg Died 24/07/1942 2) L/Cpl 147883 William James Armstrong South Staff Reg Died 24/07/1942 3) CQMS 4908725 Walter Fordham South Staffs Reg Died 25/07/1942 *** I have gained his death certificate and shows he died at home in Burton Upon Trent of P TB**** hope you will be able to assist thanks for reading and hopefully thanks for replying Gunner
Local authority may have the days civil defense records. Someone with probate access could also narrow the 21 down
No information I am afraid but some corrections that may assist: Leonard William BIRKENSHAW 4920771 Casualty William James ARMSTRONG 1478883 Casualty Walter FORDHAM 4908725, not reported in casualty lists. Casualty
Liverpool Echo 27 July 1942 Holds a death notice ;- On Active Service Suddenly aged 30, Lce Corporal William James Armstrong beloved husband of Lil Armstrong 11 Waterhouse Street,Liverpool 5 dear daddy of Alicia . Interment at Kirkdale Cemetery Wednesday next at 4pm. (Friends accept this the only intimation) Armstrong`s Casualty lists him as `Accidentally killed` Birkenshaw listed as `Died` (Home) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Two from 1st Mancester Regiment listed as `Killed in Action` (Home) Private STANLEY PHILLIPS, Service Number 3860301 Died 24/07/1942 Aged 26 1st Bn. Manchester Regiment Son of William and Charlotte Phillips, of Pendleton, Salford; husband of Ellen Phillips, of Hazel Grove, Cheshire Manchester Evening News 30 July 1942 Obituary states `As a result of enemy action` Memoriam notice Manchester Evening News 24 July 1946 Killed on Guard duty Withernsea 24/07/1942 ( One of your lads ?) & Private WILLIAM RUSHTON MOSS, Service Number 3532754 Died 24/07/1942 Aged 23 1st Bn. Manchester Regiment Son of William Rushton Moss and Agnes Moss, of Longsight, Manchester ? Kyle
The three names are mentioned here: https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/woman-who-survived-bomb-killed-201432
Thank you for looking . Have seen this but I can’t find any reference to the three anywhere else and Fordham died at home on the 25th of TB on his death certificate. Wonder if someone knew one from S Staffs Reg defiantly died and just assumed the others where from same reg.
Kyle that is great thank you for this, I have BNA and will take a look now. That was quick and I expect the last soldier to be identified by tomorrow morning please. only joking but again thank you Darren
Oh dear it looks from the link Tony posted that the wrong men are going to be commemorated this weekend A new 1st Battalion of the Manchesters was formed in June 1942 by the renumbering of the 6th Territorial Army Battalion to replace the one lost at Singapore. 6th Manchesters (TA) moved in May 1942 to Withernsea. In June 1942 it was as stated reconstituted as the 1st Battalion. Kyle
Hi Kyle The service men will be mentioned with the sacrifice they gave on Friday. The plaque will be ordered when we can find the last of the three identified which hopefully will be soon. I sent an email yesterday to local council asking for permission to get the plaque attached thinking it would take months before permission was given. Received email today saying we could go ahead ( shocked but happy) Thanks for all you’re assistance so far. Darren
Still searching for the third in Post 1 you mentioned 21 possibilities ? On the CWGC I`m only getting 19 (Army) results ? Below are both Manchester Lads featured in The Manchester Evening News 24 July 1947 Roll of Honour . Manchester Evening News 24 July 1943 Kyle
Thanks me too just spent 3 hours so far going through each name on CWGC records on the web and BNA and have about 12 I can eliminate. Most are vehicle accident , exercise accidents and two from live fire training crawling under machine gun fire and several rounds dropped short.
Yes I have been through all 19 and checked them on the casualty lists,those without a casualty entry I assume died of illness,the others are,Died as a Result of an Accident or Died, but only the two Manchester lads are listed as Killed in Action (Home) . Strange Kyle
Kyle could you please send me a copy of the casualty list for Armstrong just so I can prove he accidentally died?
Sorry, Darren if you had asked two day`s ago there would have been no problems but my subscription lapsed yesterday . Findmypast do not allow you to view your previously viewed records after your subscription has lapsed and I didn`t down load it to my computer at the time . Sorry again Kyle
William James Armstrong - Date of burial 29 July 1942, address given as 11 Waterhouse Street, Everton, age 30 years i.e. born c 1912. In the 1939 Register for that address is his wife Elizabeth, dob 12/09/1911, and daughter Alicia, dob 25/10/1935. Can confirm the casualty list states 'Accidentally Killed'. Interestingly there would appear to be only one entry in the GRO death registers that would coincide with these details:- Name: William J Armstrong Death Age: 30 Birth Date: abt 1912 Registration Date: Q3 1942 Registration district: Alton Inferred County: Hampshire Volume: 2c Page: 173 Also Name: Leonard W Birkenshaw Death Age: 22 Birth Date: abt 1920 Registration Date: Q3 1942 Registration district: Oxford Volume: 3a Page: 1383 Both these deaths are not registered in the obvious place. Looking at the others suggested by Kyle Name: Stanley Phillips Death Age: 26 Birth Date: abt 1916 Registration Date: q3 1942 Registration district: Holderness Inferred County: Yorkshire East Riding Volume: 9d Page: 76 Name: William R Moss Death Age: 23 Birth Date: abt 1919 Registration Date: Q3 1942 Registration district: Holderness Inferred County: Yorkshire East Riding Volume: 9d Page: 76 Holderness would be correct for Withernsea. See attached for those in the CWGC who died 24/07/1942 and who are commemorated in the UK, have cross referenced with the casualty lists and indicated the cause of death. Phillips and Moss are the only ones whose death is registered in Holderness, their death certificates may give you the answer.