DEMS gunner losses

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Steve49, Jul 5, 2021.

  1. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Hi Steve,
    This took a little research on my part to find him. Note spelling of surname is SAPERIA.

    Private Hyman Saperia was a Lewis gunner killed in the air attack on ATHELTEMPLAR 1 March 1941. I found some leads to a death in Leith and obtained the death cert.

    Convoy EN 79 was attacked off the Aberdeenshire coast by Heinkel He 111 bombers from Luftwaffe KG26, a combat group based in Denmark. Atheltemplar bore the brunt of the attack and was struck on the navigation bridge superstructure by two 250 kg bombs; at least five members of the crew were killed instantly (12 crew died during the incident), and a fire swept the vessel forcing the survivors to abandon ship. One of the He 111s was hit by defensive fire from SS Tewkesbury, and subsequently ditched off the Banffshire coast; the crew was captured. Atheltemplar’s survivors were taken aboard the Halcyon-class minesweeper HMS Leda. Another Halcyon-class minesweeper, HMS Speedwell, fought the blaze and then took Atheltemplar in tow. Taken initially to the Imperial Dock at Leith, Atheltemplar later returned to Smith's Dock for extensive repairs; she resumed trading in June 1941. The remains of five unidentified members of her crew ("Known only unto God"), killed during the 1 March 1941 air attack, lie within a marked Commonwealth War Grave towards the south-east corner of New Calton Burial Ground in Edinburgh, about 2 miles (3 km) south of Port Leith. MV Atheltemplar

    saperia.PNG
    Regards
    Hugh
     
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  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

  3. Steve49

    Steve49 Boycott P&O...

    Hi Hugh,

    Thanks for that, once again the depth of your research is remarkable!

    Regarding the casualties from Atheltemplar, does the 12 killed include Gnr Saperia? I had identified 11 MN losses related to the attack, as follows;

    Master Arthur H.C. Waterson (37)
    Steward George W. Martindale (18)
    Fireman John H. Danton (26)
    Apprentice George Furness (17)
    Fireman Joseph Morton (26)
    Able Seaman Lawrence Mahon (58)
    Third Officer Samuel J. Caldwell (22)
    Second Radio Officer Dermot P. McMahon (20)
    Third Radio Officer David G. Jack (22)
    Second Officer Peter D. Jarvis (24)
    Cabin Boy Joseph A. Harding (16)

    Regards,

    Steve
     
  4. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Thank you Steve.
    Chief Engineer Valentine T.B. Godfrey [Awarded MBE(Civ) and Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea after this action] in his report stated: "the number of crew, including the Master, was 44, of whom 12 are missing and 5 were injured". Checking primary sources including the CWGC and The Deaths at Sea Register shows as you state 11 merchant seamen. I found gunner Saperia in the DAS index listed separately from the MN crew and followed this up with a check of 'Scotland'sPeople' for signs of a death certificate. Sadly, sometimes to find the gunners, we have to trawl through a few sources and as we have seen so far even that cannot be guaranteed.

    edited to add - Lloyd's War Losses V2 states 11 crew and 1 gunner lost.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2021
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  5. Steve49

    Steve49 Boycott P&O...

    12th or 14th March 1941

    LONERGAN, Lawrence, Private, Army, 5341699 (2nd Btn, Lincolnshire Regiment), killed [BM]

    WO166/3387 says killed by enemy action on 14th, CWGC lists his date of death as 12th.

    With air raids on Liverpool and the Clyde and numerous ship losses difficult to identify an associated incident.

    Lloyd's mentions a missing gunner from Ullapool on the 13th, but this seems in error. They say '15 lost, inc 1 gunner', but CWGC records15 MN deaths.

    On the 14th,

    Artemsia
    is listed as being lost with 1 crew and 1 gunner. CWGC identifies 1 crew, so possibly Pte Lonergan was the gunner.

    Stanleigh
    is listed as being lost with 16 crew and 1 gunner. CWGC records 16 crew, but I have identified 2 RN gunners (AB's ARMSTRONG and POPE).

    To add to the confusion I have an additional two Army gunners also lost on the 14th.

    HALE, Ernest W, Private, Army, 5187924, (Gloucestershire Regt) killed [PlyM]
    WORBY, William, Private, Army, 5187992, (Gloucestershire Regt) killed [PlyM]

    Any ideas?

    Regards,

    Steve
     
  6. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945
    Name: Lawrence Lonergan
    Given Initials: L
    Rank: Private
    Death Date: 12 Mar 1941
    Number: 5341699
    Birth Place: Eire
    Residence: Berkshire
    Branch at Enlistment: Infantry
    Theatre of War: At sea
    Regiment at Death: Lincolnshire Regiment
    Branch at Death: Infantry


    UK and Ireland, Find a Grave Index, 1300s-Current
    Name: Pvt Lawrence Lonergan
    Death Date: 12 Mar 1941
    Cemetery: Brookwood Military Cemetery
    Burial or Cremation Place: Brookwood, Woking Borough, Surrey, England
    Has Bio?: Y
     
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  7. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    kia.PNG

    I will check in detail later as he is not listed in any of my files.

    Just to rule out some of your observations which will hopefully narrow things down.
    Lloyd's is in fact correct here. 15 MN + gunner - true losses were the 15 MN crew that you have found on CWGC but the gunner that was lost was Sergeant George Henry Percival Wenlock, PLY/21836, Royal Marines, HMS President II. So I think we can rule out ULLAPOOL.

    Captain Anderson in his report states: The crew which included 2 naval gunners and 4 soldiers with myself numbered 52 of whom 1 soldier was killed and one member of my crew is missing - that would be Andrew Hanlin Canadian MN. So we still need to find the gunner on ARTEMISIA. Official number, 144904 - BT 381/1408 at Kew may help.

    I know we discussed STANLEIGH earlier but I offer up a little more after trawling more of my resources.
    Chief Officer Crawford in his report stated: "The crew including the captain, numbered 26, of whom 20 are missing, including 2 naval and 2 military gunners - I already have WORBY on my database as being lost from the STANLEIGH but no mention of Hale. However, now that we know there were 2 naval gunners lost - we already have their names and 2 soldiers lost. Given that Worby in my database was with the Gloucester Regt I would suggest it is highly likely that Hale was with him. Just my opinion in the absence of the absolute proof. Official number, 144904, BT 381/1408 at Kew may help [can't remember if you have checked that one already]

    Regards
    Hugh
     
    Last edited: Nov 20, 2021
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  8. Steve49

    Steve49 Boycott P&O...

    Hi Hugh,

    Thanks for that, I had noted Sgt Wenlock, but hadn't associated him with a loss.

    Agree with Mr Hanlin as the crew loss. I guess Gnr Lonergan would be a strong possibility for the missing gunner, except for the difference in dates.

    Yes that would make a strong possibility that both HALE and WORBY were lost in the same sinking and with you placing WORBY on Stanleigh, it would follow that HALE was the second military gunner.

    Regards,

    Steve
     
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  9. Steve49

    Steve49 Boycott P&O...

    Sunday 27th April 1941

    HEATH, Frank W, Gunner, RA, 15594436 (5/3 Maritime Regt), killed [ChM]

    Listed by WO166/3387 as killed by enemy action. This date already has Sgt Ayre (2/1 Maritime Regt), who I suspect, but have yet to confirm, was lost with the sinking of Dutch ship Slamat (11636t) off Nauplia. Maybe Gnr Heath was lost with this sinking, even though he and Sgt Ayre were from different Batteries. Any ideas?

    Regards,

    Steve
     
  10. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Hi Steve,
    The date was 27 May 1941 and the number is 1559436.

    HEATH, Gunner, FRANK WILLIAM, 1559436, 5/3 Maritime Regt., Royal Artillery. (SS Royksund) 27 May 1941. Age 25. Son of William and Rose Heath, of Bowes Park, Middlesex. 50, 3.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
    Last edited: Nov 20, 2021
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  11. Steve49

    Steve49 Boycott P&O...

    Monday 5th May 1941

    WILSON, Herbert J, Fusilier, Army (Royal Irish Fusiliers), 7044690, killed [HENGOED (ST. BARNABAS) CHURCHYARD]

    WO166/3387 says killed by enemy action. Heavy air raids on both Liverpool and Belfast on this date, with a number of ships being hit and MN losses onboard Fair Head and Shepperton Ferry. Any ideas if Fus Wilson was related to these or just had the misfortune to be killed ashore?

    Regards,

    Steve
     
  12. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Hi Steve,
    Nothing in my files but he was lost at sea. As you see from below he was attached to A.A. D.M.S. Nothing I can see in the list of ships lost or damaged on that date though.

    wilson.PNG
    Regards
    Hugh
     
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  13. Steve49

    Steve49 Boycott P&O...

    Hi Hugh,

    Looking again at the ships attacked around the 5th, I see one possibility. Royston was attacked by aircraft during the night 4th May and sank on the 5th. Lloyd's says all 22 crew and 6 gunners saved, but I wonder if Fus Wilson could have been fatally wounded in this attack? I don't suppose you have the refence for the crew agreement for Royston?

    Regards,

    Steve
     
  14. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Hi Steve,
    I had ruled out ROYSTON on the basis that Captain Landreth in his report stated: "The number of crew including 4 Army and 2 Naval gunners and myself was 28 and there were no casualties".
    However, it is always worth checking these things - look for official number 149488/BT 381/1499.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
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  15. Steve49

    Steve49 Boycott P&O...

    Hi Hugh,

    Thanks, I'll add it to my Kew list to see, but yes as you say, if the Captain's report says no casualties, it's very unlikely he would have over looked a seriously wounded gunner.

    Regards,

    Steve
     
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  16. Steve49

    Steve49 Boycott P&O...

    Wednesday 14th May 1941

    JEFFRIES, William T, Private, Army, 4919950 (1st Btn, South Staffordshire Regiment), killed [AM]

    WO166/3387 says killed by enemy action (though gives his name as Jefferies). He is remembered on the Alamein Memorial. M.V. Cape Horn was badly damaged in an air raid at Port Said (4 crew killed), so I wonder if Pte Jefferies was lost in this attack. Any ideas?

    Regards,

    Steve
     
  17. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Hi Steve,
    You were correct - he was wounded in the air attack and died of his wounds and shock 8 hours after the attack.

    JEFFRIES, William T, Private, Army, 4919950, age 24, 1st Btn, South Staffordshire Regiment, killed 14 May 1941, (CAPE HORN).

    Regards
    Hugh
     
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  18. Steve49

    Steve49 Boycott P&O...

    27th or 29th March 1941

    WO166/3387 says on 27th, CWGC lists his death on 29th

    .CAVANAGH, K, Private, Army, 4348843 (East Yorkshire Regt), killed [HULL WESTERN CEMETERY] [WO166/3387 says 4348943, CWGC says 4348443]

    WO166/3387 says killed by enemy action. If on the 29th he was possibly killed when Grenaa was mined on the 29th. Any ideas?

    Regards,

    Steve
     
  19. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Hi Steve,
    This was another difficult one.
    Firstly - we can rule out GRENAA as the captain in his report states there were four killed and 3 injured - all 4 lost can be identified.

    The first clue for gunner Cavanagh is that he was aboard a Dutch ship see below:

    KIA.PNG


    Checking Lloyd's for damaged ships on the 27th March 1941, I discoverd the Dutch m.v. OUD BEIJERLAND.
    He died on 29th March from his wounds. cav.PNG



    Dutch coaster OUD BEIJERLAND, NV Scheep Maats. 398 tons. Built in 1938. Straffed by enemy aircraft and damaged. Survived the war.

    London Gazette 16 June 1941 - for continuing to fire his Lewis gun though wounded.
    CAVANAUGH, Kenneth 4348443 Private, East Yorks Regiment - Posthumous Commendation.
    (Seedies List of Awards to the Merchant Navy For WWII)

    Ungazetted award by Lloyd's
    CAVANAUGH, Kenneth 4348443 Private, East Yorks Regiment - Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea.

    His citation below (Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea by George A. Brown).

    cav1.jpg

    Regards
    Hugh
     
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  20. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
    Name: Kenneth Cavanaugh
    Death Age: 25
    Birth Date: abt 1916
    Registration Date: Jan 1941
    [Feb 1941]
    [Mar 1941]
    Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar
    Registration District: Haverfordwest
    Inferred County: Pembrokeshire
    Volume: 11a
    Page: 2875

    Would the location be about right??
     
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