99689 Captain William Henry BONSOR, Royal Army Ordnance Corps: 30/07/1942

Discussion in 'REME/RAOC' started by La-de-da-Gunner Graham, Jul 30, 2012.

  1. La-de-da-Gunner Graham

    La-de-da-Gunner Graham Senior Member

    Remembering today:

    Casualty Details | CWGC
    William Henry Bonsor
    Captain 99689
    Royal Army Ordnance Corps
    Died: 30/7/1942
    Buried or commemorated at HELIOPOLIS WAR CEMETERY
    Grave Reference: 2. E. 9.
    Location: Egypt
    Additional Info: Son of Andrew Henry Bonsor and of Helen Bonsor (nee Nelson); husband of Andrewina Soutar Bonsor, of Craiglockhart, Edinburgh.
    Personal Inscription:"MY BILL"

    :poppy: Remembered with honour.
    Casualty
     
  2. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi

    Lt William Henry Bonsor was in charge of 33rd Recovery Section, part of the 11th Army Field workshops and went to France on board the SS Contractor on 10th July 1940, arriving the next day. My father, Pte Jim Myles was one of his drivers.

    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=262&pictureid=2250

    He is the officer seated at the front.

    Gus
     
  3. La-de-da-Gunner Graham

    La-de-da-Gunner Graham Senior Member

    Gus,

    That is fantastic. Thank you. I never thought someone would have had a photo of him.

    Keith
     
  4. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi Keith

    To be honest I didn't even realise that he had been killed. They parted company just after their evacuation from Dunkirk in June 1940.

    Gus
     
  5. La-de-da-Gunner Graham

    La-de-da-Gunner Graham Senior Member

    This is one of the reasons I spend so much time on this forum!

    Keith
     
  6. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Do you know what happened to him?
     
  7. La-de-da-Gunner Graham

    La-de-da-Gunner Graham Senior Member

    Unfortunately no. His name is included on the Newtongrange Memorial in Midlothian, which is my home town. I've not long added him to my list so I havent had any real time to research him.

    Keith
     
  8. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Keith

    Do you have a pic of the gravestone?

    Gus
     
  9. La-de-da-Gunner Graham

    La-de-da-Gunner Graham Senior Member

    No, thats all I have at the moment, Gus. Not very much, I know.

    Keith
     
  10. John Duncan

    John Duncan Junior Member

    Very nice photograph. I think the connection with Newtongrange is his Uncle David stayed in number 4 St Davids post WW1. He had been a Cpl with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and a 2nd Lt in the Cameron Highlanders. Everything else points to Edinburgh.

    Gus, Would you have any objections to me using the picture with credit on my website please?

    John
     
  11. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi John

    No problems at all. Glad it can be of some use. I have all of the names if you want them but the majority are from Dundee and Forfar.

    Regards

    Gus
     
  12. John Duncan

    John Duncan Junior Member

    Hi John

    No problems at all. Glad it can be of some use. I have all of the names if you want them but the majority are from Dundee and Forfar.

    Regards

    Gus

    Hi Gus, that would be nice please, I would also be interested in hearing your Dad's experiences in France with Captain Bonsor.

    John
     
  13. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    John

    PM me your email and I'll send you what I have.

    Gus
     
  14. John Duncan

    John Duncan Junior Member

  15. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi John

    More info for you. Privates Easson and Crighton were killed on the Killarney, Private Dorward was another 11 AFW casualty but isn't on the photo.

    As Killarney sped out of Dunkirk with decks full with evacuees, it spent an agonising 45 mins under fire from a German coastal battery at Gravelines. Despite zigzagging and laying smoke, the Killarney took a hit on the aft boat deck, killing 8 and wounding 30. The ship eventually got out of range of the guns only to be spotted by the Luftwaffe. But as a bomber lined up for a straffing run, a spitfire shot its tail off. The Killarney was finally escorted to Dover by three RAF Bombers. The ships captain (Capt R Hughes) reflecting upon his lucky escape (she missed a mine that sank the SS Mona's Queen sailing alongside her earlier that morning), decided NOT to return to Dunkirk.

    Regards

    Gus
     
  16. Graham White 83

    Graham White 83 New Member

    Hello - I'm from the Nelson line of the family of William. My Grandfather Robert Garrett had visited Williams grave and kept the attached photo
     

    Attached Files:

  17. Graham White 83

    Graham White 83 New Member

    Here's the photo from my Grandfathers collection
     

    Attached Files:

  18. Graham White 83

    Graham White 83 New Member

    Zoomed in version here
     

    Attached Files:

  19. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi

    From Army Cas List 1939-1945 on FMP.

    upload_2021-3-29_10-4-9.png

    Edinburgh Evening News 08 August 1942 found on FMP

    upload_2021-3-29_10-9-38.png

    Hope this helps

    Gus
     
  20. Graham White 83

    Graham White 83 New Member

    Excellent thank you Gus
     

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