Identity of 3 Soldiers killed

Discussion in 'General' started by Gunner400, Jul 21, 2020.

  1. Gunner400

    Gunner400 Well-Known Member

    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
     
  2. jonheyworth

    jonheyworth Senior Member

    Local authority may have the days civil defense records. Someone with probate access could also narrow the 21 down
     
    Gunner400 likes this.
  3. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    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
     
  4. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    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
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2020
  5. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

  6. Gunner400

    Gunner400 Well-Known Member

    Thank you
     
  7. Gunner400

    Gunner400 Well-Known Member

    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.
     
  8. Gunner400

    Gunner400 Well-Known Member

    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
     
  9. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    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
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2020
  10. Gunner400

    Gunner400 Well-Known Member

    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
     
  11. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    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 .
    obit mem.jpeg
    Manchester Evening News 24 July 1943
    obit2.jpeg
    Kyle
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2020
  12. Gunner400

    Gunner400 Well-Known Member

    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.
     
  13. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    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
     
  14. Gunner400

    Gunner400 Well-Known Member

    Where do I find the casualty list please?
     
  15. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    They are on Findmypast.

    Kyle
     
  16. Gunner400

    Gunner400 Well-Known Member

    Cheers always the same as I have Ancestry lol
     
  17. Gunner400

    Gunner400 Well-Known Member

    Kyle could you please send me a copy of the casualty list for Armstrong just so I can prove he accidentally died?
     
  18. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    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
     
  19. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    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.
    CWGC.jpg
     

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