As part of my research on the Lloyds Banking Group war memorials, I'm currently looking into this man: Lieutenant Colonel RICHARD DOUGLAS SUTCLIFFE D S O, O B E, T D 49705, Cdg. 69 (10th Bn. The Royal Fusiliers [City of London Regt.]) Searchlight Regt., Royal Artillery who died age 50 on 16 April 1941 Son of Dr. Joseph Sutcliffe and Diana Frances Sutcliffe; husband of Lily Louisa Sutcliffe, of Chalfont St. Giles. Remembered with honour AMERSHAM CONSECRATED CEMETERY I've managed to find a fair amount of information about him, but the one thing I've not been able to determine is how he died. I have a note he died on war service, and another staing he was killed in action, but as he is buried in the UK I assume he died here. I've tried searching online newspaper archives but somehow there's nothing at the time of his death at all. Not even a death notice. Does anyone have access to a war diary or a unit history that might give some information on the circumstances of his death?
I can't help with how he died, except to say that as he does not appear to have a death cert in the non military GRO deaths index, he should appear in ARO2 - GRO War Death Army Officers Indices (1939 to 1948), part of the British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials record set on findmy past. This is the Army Roll of Honour 1939-1945 which at least confirms he died in the UK: Name: Richard Sutcliffe Given Initials: R D DSO OBE TD Rank: Lieutenant Colonel Death Date: 16/04/1941 (16 Apr 1941) Number: 49705 Birth Place: London (not otherwise specified) Residence: Sussex Regiment at Enlistment: Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) Branch at Enlistment: Royal Artillery Theatre of War: United Kingdom Regiment at Death: Royal Artillery Branch at Death: Royal Artillery If it helps with the location of 69 Searchlight in 1941, this link is to Charles Leslie Caley of that unit, who died when falling from a truck at Norwich on 8th January 1941. CHARLES LESLIE CALEY - Ipswich War Memorial The unit is also covered by this record set at findmypast. London volunteer soldiers, 1859-1955 London volunteer soldiers, 1859-1955 | findmypast.co.uk There were letters of Administration granted following his death, maybe they show place of death. The index just says "died on war service" which is standard in those records for anyone who died while serving in the forces in WW2, reguardless of how/where they died. Cost is £ 1.50 from here. Find a will | GOV.UK This gives his address as Little Chalfont, near Amersham, and I did wonder if this was where he was billeted, but I now see his wife died in Bucks in 1969. When he received his OBE in 1939 he is still Col of 10th Royal Fusiliers (presumably just before conversion to R.A.), so I would expect the Royal Fusiliers Museum at Tower of London to have some info. If open, maybe they will help answer a brief query about a former CO. Travers
A few photos from my collection of his headstone and Amersham War Memorial This taken 2018 This taken 2010 Also from the Amersham War Memorial
Looks like this is the War Diary you need: Reference: WO 166/3088 Description: ANTI-AIRCRAFT COMMAND: SEARCHLIGHT REGIMENTS: 69 Searchlight Regiment (SL). Date: 1941 Mar.-Dec. Held by: The National Archives, Kew Tim
Later amended on list No. 555 to "Date of death should read 16.4.41", His initials were incorrect, have submitted a correction.
By coincidence there is another thread which may be worth checking, as it refers to Home Guard deaths at Mitcham, Surrey the night of 16-17/4/1941. See: Remembering Today 19/4/41 A.F.White Home Guard 57th Surrey (Mitcham) Bn.
Had another go at a web search for 69th Searchlight & found that in April 1941 although based in London its war station was East Anglia. In this role it was part of 41st (London) AA Brigade. 3rd (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment - Wikipedia 41st_(London)_Anti-Aircraft_Brigade