Remembering Today....Rothwell War Memorial

Hello Peter,

There are 6 further RAF casualties included in the link at Message # 3:

Kenneth Brighton
Derek Charlesworth
Harry Cookman
Thomas Lloyd Portray (possibly 'Portrey')
Ronald Hayward Smith
Willie Ackroyd Wainwright

Do you fancy providing details for these; some information is included in the link.

Best,

Steve.

 

Steve,

I'll add what info I can, but probably I will not have all the losses.

From the link on page 3 of this thread.

Sgt. Derek Charlesworth lost 2-3 Agust 1943

428 Squadron
Halifax V EB212 NA-U
Op. Hamburg

Took off from Middleton St.George at 2234 hrs. Presumed lost over the sea.

Crew.

P/O. V T. Sylvester RCAF +
F/O. H G. Funkhouser RCAF +
Sgt. D. Charlesworth +
Sgt. P J. Forde +
F/S. G K H. Crighton-Kelly +
Sgt. T L. Rose +
Sgt. J W. Lunn +
F/S. E G. Smith RCAF +

Source - RAF Bomber Command Losses' Vol.4 - W R. Chorley

 

I have identified a Christopher Tiffany, he is the father of Thomas Tiffany a WWI casualty commemorated on the Rothwell Memorial. However, the only 'Tiffany' detailed on the CWGC site is from Wallsend, Northumberland and it is not a 'Christopher.

This has got me thinking that there may be (only may be) Civilian War Dead in Rothwell that are not commemorated on the CWGC site.

Andy - do you know if there is a grave for Christopher Tiffany or any of the others named above at the Rothwell Cemetery?

Best,

Steve.

 

From the link on page 3 of this thread.

Sgt. Harry Cookman lost 27-28 January 1944.

149 Squadron
Stirling III EE969 OJ-E
Op. Gardening.

Took from Lakenheath at 1647 hrs and set course for the Kattegat. Lost without trace.

Crew.

P/O. E. Wood +
Sgt. A J. Manthorpe +
F/O. R W. Heal +
F/S. E H. Paton +
Sgt. S. Allan +
Sgt. A F. Brett +
Sgt. H. Cookman +

Source - 'RAF Bomber Command Losses' Vol.5 - W R. Chorley

 

From the link on page 3 of this thread.

Sgt. Thomas Lloyd Portrey. Lost 29-30 May 1943.


218 Squadron
Stirling III BK688 HA-A
Op. Wupperatal.

Took off from Downham Market at 2308 hrs. Shot down by a night-fighter (Lt. Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer. II./NJG1) and crashed 0200 hrs on Schaffen airfield 2km NNE of Diest, Belgium.

Crew.

F/S. W A M. Davis RAAF +
Sgt. G A A. Grant +
Sgt. T W. Dixon +
Sgt. W R. Howes +
Sgt. T L. Portrey +
Sgt. J A. Bramble +
F/L. L W. Abbiss +

Source - 'RAF Bomber Command Losses' Vol.4 - W R. Chorley

 

From the link on page 3 of this thread.

Sgt. Ronald Hayward Smith. Lost 25-26 June 1942.

12 OTU
Wellington IC R1410 KX-M
Op. Bremen

Took off from Chipping Norton and crashed in the North Sea. It is thought off the Dutch Frisian Islands.

Crew.

Sgt. J T. Shapcott +
P/O. P. Morris +
Sgt. R H. Smith +
Sgt. F R. West RNZAF +
Sgt. L R. Elvin +

Source 'RAF Bomber Command Losses' Vol.7 - W R. Chorley

 

Many thanks Peter. I take it you had no luck with Kenneth Brighton or Willie Ackroyd Wainwright?!?

Best,

Steve.

 

Name: WHEELWRIGHT, HAROLD W.
Initials: H W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Service Corps
Unit Text: 25 Tank Bde. Coy.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 21/02/1943
Service No: 229172
Awards: D C M
Additional information: Son of Alfred Pearson Wheelwright and Lily Wheelwright; husband of May Wheelwright, of Rothwell, Yorkshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 10. H. 6.
Cemetery: MEDJEZ-EL-BAB WAR CEMETERY

I had a look in Brown's For Distinguished Conduct in the Field and there is a Harold Wheelwright listed receiving a DCM in 1940 but he's cap badged R. Signals and has a different service number.

 

Many thanks Peter. I take it you had no luck with Kenneth Brighton or Willie Ackroyd Wainwright?!?

Best,

Steve.

Hi Steve,

No luck with Kenneth Brighton but as far as Willie A Wainwright is concerned I found that a Sgt. William M. Wainwright - 272 Squadron was lost along with Sgt. Lancelot H. Schultz flying a Beaufighter while attacking an enemy convoy bound for Bizerta on 17 March 1943.


Casualty details Willie A. Wainwright
CWGC :: Casualty Details

As can be seen, Sgt. Willie A. Wainwright was lost on the same day while flying with 272 Squadron. Could very well be a misprint. No Willie M. Wainwright listed on CWGC.

My source is 'The Armed Rovers' - R C. Nesbit

 

That looks like the right man - thanks Peter!

Best,

Steve.

 

Hello Andy,

Your man's service number is different i.e. 2579803.

However, I found this in Page 1440 in the Supplement to the London Gazette of 31 March 1942 - half way down the right hand column under 'Cadets': http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/35505/supplements/1440/page.pdf

Which looks like the announcement of his Commission. Note he already has the DCM. Could his service number have changed on being Commissioned?!

Best,

Steve.

 

Could his service number have changed on being Commissioned?!

Best,

Steve.

I thought they were.

 

I thought they were.


Pass!

 

The citation was posted by Andy on 24 November 2009, here:

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/royal-signals/19612-royal-corps-signals-9.html2579803

Signalman Harold Wheelwright DCM, Royal Signals

Signalman Harold Wheelwright DCM, 46 Divisional Signals, Royal Signals, TA.

Quote:
On May 22, 1940, during the afternoon, having delivered despatches to 25th Infantry Brigade at Don. Returning he found an enemy unexploded bomb lying on the road near Rly junctiontowards Wavrin. With great coolness and disregard for personal danger he carried the bomb some distance off the road and placed it in a waterlogged ditch. He then proceeded to Armentieres to deliver further despatches to 3 Co[...] at the Rly Bridge entering Armentieres he was subject to very heavy bombing but with his ears and nose bleeding from concussion of the explosions he delivered his despatches.

The Signalman was at all times very cool and quite untiring in his efforts to deliver despatches to formations which were continually moving and a fine example to other signalmen in his detachment. He was frequently under MG fire from enemy aircraft when on the roads delivering despatches.
On May 22, 1940, during the afternoon, having delivered despatches to 25th Infantry Brigade at Don. Returning he found an enemy unexploded bomb lying on the road near Rly junctiontowards Wavrin. With great coolness and disregard for personal danger he carried the bomb some distance off the road and placed it in a waterlogged ditch. He then proceeded to Armentieres to deliver further despatches to 3 Co[...] at the Rly Bridge entering Armentieres he was subject to very heavy bombing but with his ears and nose bleeding from concussion of the explosions he delivered his despatches.

The Signalman was at all times very cool and quite untiring in his efforts to deliver despatches to formations which were continually moving and a fine example to other signalmen in his detachment. He was frequently under MG fire from enemy aircraft when on the roads delivering despatches.

Gazetted 22.10.40

Best,

Steve.

 

I am bumping this thread for two reasons:

1. An interesting connected posting about Denis Hughes (messages # 17 and 39 refer) on another thread by new forum member 'englishchick'; link:

http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/39663-104-beach-sub-area-operation-overlord-gold-beach-report/

This has two photographs of his (and others) funeral service at Message # 16.

2. We have still not found CWGC commemorations for:

William Boulton
Billy Cooper
John Dalton
Christopher Tiffany
Fred Ward
Harry Wilkinson

Andy (Drew5233) and Jonathan (Jonathan Ball) - Have either of you had any further contact from Carol at Wakefield FHS or otherwise regarding the twelve additional finds or the six not found?

Best,

Steve.

 

hi this is my great uncle he is my profile pic.

can anyone tell me any more information
pls

 

Hmmm......

1939 REGISTER TRANSCRIPTION
2a Prospect Place, Rothwell U.D., Yorkshire (West Riding)
NAME DOB OCCUPATION
Christopher Tiffany 19 Mar 1901 Colliery Underground Haulage Engineman, Heavy Worker
Audrey Tiffany 04 Oct 1901 Unpaid Domestic Duties
Donald Tiffany 14 May 1929 At School

NAME: Christopher Tiffany
BIRTH: 19 Mar 1901
DEATH: Dec 1978 - Bridlington, Humberside

 

Welcome to the forum, chocolate. The Far East campaign(s) is not my area at all...

Suggest that you start a thread ‘Far East - looking for information about 122 Field Regiment, RA’ and post your Great Uncles CWGC information in your message above + the fact that your avatar is a photograph of him. See where that get’s you for a start...

We have a few forum members that know a lot about that theatre of the war!

Best,

Steve.

 

There is also this in the WWI section of CWGC:

Private
TIFFANY, THOMAS
Service Number 53463
Died 18/09/1918
Aged 20
9th Bn, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Son of Christopher and Florence Tiffany, of 13 Meynell Avenue, Rothwell, Leeds.

Note that the father is called Christopher!