Royal Artillery/Royal Horse Artillery - Roll of Honour, 1939-47

LIEUTENANT SAMUEL GEORGE DOUGLAS MASON

Service number: 273997

Royal Artillery, 92 Field Regiment

Died 20 March 1944

Age 28 years old

Buried at BEACH HEAD WAR CEMETERY ANZIO, ITALY

Plot VIII - Row D - Grave no. 5

Son of Samuel George and Margaret Eleanor Mason, of Charlton, London.

Inscription:

"GONE HOME" THEY NEVER FAIL, WHO DIE IN A GREAT CAUSE




(images with kind permission of The War Graves Photographic Project)

War diary entry:



Casualty report:

 

CAPTAIN RALPH DAVID KNOWLES, M.C.

Service number: 76578

Royal Artillery, 368;Battery, 92 Field Regiment

Died 20 March 1944

Age 23 years old

Buried at BEACH HEAD WAR CEMETERY ANZIO, ITALY

Plot VIII - Row D - Grave no. 3

Son of Ralph Geoffrey and Winifred Knowles, of Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire.




(images with kind permission of The War Graves Photographic Project)

(War diary entry as above for Lt. Samuel Mason)

Casualty report:



Recommendation for Military Cross, approved by General Harold Alexander:







Newspaper notices:

 

GUNNER JOSEPH THOMAS AUBREY BOWDITCH

Service number: 801843

Royal Artillery, 92 Field Regiment

Died 18 March1944

Age 30 years old

Buried at BEACH HEAD WAR CEMETERY ANZIO, ITALY

Plot IV - Row E - Grave no. 3

Son of Ted and Ruth Bowditch; husband of Maud Florance Bowditch, of Plumstead, London.


(image with kind permission of The War Graves Photographic Project)

The only casualty recorded in the war diary for 18th March seems to be refer to 91 Field Regt, not 92, so I am not sure if Gunner Bowditch is that casualty.



He could also have been one of the three other ranks who were seriously wounded on 9th March (see also my entry for Gunner Frederick Crook below), or one of the three ORs wounded on 16th March:

 

GUNNER FREDERICK SAMUEL CROOK

Service number: 5391571

Royal Artillery, 92 Field Regiment

Died 10 March1944

Age 22 years old

Buried at BEACH HEAD WAR CEMETERY ANZIO, ITALY

Plot VII - Row D - Grave no. 4

Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. D. Crook, of Totteridge, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

Inscription:

DEEP IN OUR HEARTS HIS IMAGE IS KEPT WE LOVED HIM TOO DEARLY TO EVER FORGET


(image with kind permission of The War Graves Photographic Project)

Possibly one of three ORs who were seriously wounded on 9th March. If so, this would put Gunner Crook in D Troop, 368 Battery:

 

GUNNER THOMAS GEORGE PASCOE

Service number: 1035716

Royal Artillery, 92 Field Regiment

Died 17 March1944

Age 43 years old

Buried at BEACH HEAD WAR CEMETERY ANZIO, ITALY

Plot IV - Row F - Grave no. 6

Son of Thomas G. and Mary Pascoe; husband of Emily Eugenie Pascoe, of Wallington, Surrey.

Inscription:

MANY A HEARTACHE AND TEAR ALWAYS A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY OF HIM WE LOVED SO DEAR. SORROWING WIFE AND DAUGHTER


(image with kind permission of The War Graves Photographic Project)

Thomas was killed on the road by a shell as he was returning to the Regiment from hospital! Incredible bad luck:

 

LANCE BOMBARDIER FREDERICK THOMAS SMITH

Service number: 1079434

Royal Artillery, 92 Field Regiment, A Troop, 365 Battery

Died 5 May 1944

Buried at BEACH HEAD WAR CEMETERY ANZIO, ITALY

Plot XIII - Row F - Grave no. 8


(image with kind permission of The War Graves Photographic Project)

L/Bdr Smith was killed by enemy shell fire, 15cm gun according to the war diary:

 

John's name appeared in my searches for info on the 13th Medium. I cross referenced the diary and found the incident.

 

Presuming Richard died in same incident as previous post.

 

Found another diary entry cross referenced with Roll Of Honour entries. LT Walter Collier. Sadly never made it to England alive.

 

Gunner Rawlins William
RANK: GUNNER
SERVICE NUMBER: 14525006
DATE OF DEATH: 18/01/1945
REGIMENT: ROYAL ARTILLERY, 13 MEDIUM REGIMENT
COUNTRY: NETHERLANDS
COUNTY/DISTRICT: LIMBURG
CEMETERY/MEMORIAL: BRUNSSUM WAR CEMETERY
GRAVE/MEMORIAL REFERENCE: PLOT IV. D. 3.
Son of Thomas and May Rawlins; husband of Helen Kathrine Rawlins, of Charlton, London.
Personal Inscription:IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY BELOVED HUSBAND. FOR EVER IN OUR THOUGHTS. MOTHER, WIFE AND SON

I searched the CWGC to find the fallen soldier from incident dated 18/1/1945 as he wasn't here. There's no headstone photo available.

 

Here you are:



(images with kind permission of The War Graves Photographic Project)

 

GILBERT JONES
RANK: Captain
SERVICE NUMBER: 251355
DATE OF DEATH: 16 July 1944
REGIMENT: ROYAL ARTILLERY, 13 MEDIUM REGIMENT
COUNTRY: France
COUNTY/DISTRICT:Normandy
CEMETERY/MEMORIAL: BAYEUX MEMORIAL
GRAVE/MEMORIAL REFERENCE: Panel 11, Column 1.Husband of Mary Louisa Jones, of Maesteg, Glamorgan.

1. A Heavy Price at Gavrus (16th July):
   
   Artillery needs eyes on the ground to call in accurate targets. Capt. Gilbert Jones (aged 34) moved forward into dangerous territory alongside his signaller, Gunner Eric John Digby (aged 30), and a representative from a Field Regiment to support the 44th Infantry Brigade at Gavrus. Tragically, they disappeared during the assault.
   
   
2. No Known Grave (The Bayeux Memorial):
   
   Commonwealth War Graves Commission records confirm that both Captain Jones and Gunner Digby were killed in action on 16 July 1944. Because their remains were never recovered, both men are commemorated on Panel 11 of the Bayeux Memorial in France alongside thousands of other Allied soldiers with no known grave.
   

 

GUNNER ERIC JOHN DIGBY
Service Number: 14362837
Regiment & Unit/Ship
Royal Artillery, 13 Medium Regt.
Date of Death
Died 16 July 1944

Age 30 years old

Buried or commemorated at
BAYEUX MEMORIAL

Panel 11, Column 2.

France

1. A Heavy Price at Gavrus (16th July):
   
   Artillery needs eyes on the ground to call in accurate targets. Capt. Gilbert Jones (aged 34) moved forward into dangerous territory alongside his signaller, Gunner Eric John Digby (aged 30), and a representative from a Field Regiment to support the 44th Infantry Brigade at Gavrus. Tragically, they disappeared during the assault.
   
   
2. No Known Grave (The Bayeux Memorial):
   
   Commonwealth War Graves Commission records confirm that both Captain Jones and Gunner Digby were killed in action on 16 July 1944. Because their remains were never recovered, both men are commemorated on Panel 11 of the Bayeux Memorial in France alongside thousands of other Allied soldiers with no known grave.
   

 

How does one get the photos? Gunner Eric John Digby and Capt. Gilbert Jones

 

I usually look first on Find a Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records

For example:

Gnr Eric John Digby (unknown-1944) - Find a Grave...

Just fill in the search boxes (you don’t need to fill in the date of birth box, well I never have).

Often there is a photo or, sometimes, more than one - I always look at the profile of whoever posted the photo as sometimes they write that they don’t want anyone to use their photos, or they say they’re happy for you to do so, or to ask permission.

When they don’t say anything at all, like the guy who posted the two you asked about, I feel it’s ok to post the image, but I always give the photographer accreditation for it.

If you’re really not sure whether to post or not, or permission to use the actual image is withheld, then you always have the option to simply post the link to the relevant page, as I did above.

There are also very often volunteers for each cemetery who offer to get you a photo - you will see a “Request a photo” button. Just click on that - I recently got a couple of photos from Minturno that way. As you can see in the images below, there are 8 volunteers for Bayeux:



NB: although you can put in a photo request, there’s no telling if and when you’ll receive it - still, it’s a helpful option.

Alternatively, you can try looking here, the photos are free, but make sure the site owner Mick gives you permission to use the image, tell him what you want it for. Again, if he agrees, and he’s a good egg, I always credit him and his site:

British War Graves – War Grave Photographs Free Of Charge

The other site I sometimes go to is this one:

War Grave and Memorial Photographs supplied by The War Graves Photographic Project

Owner Steve does charge for any images you want, the digital ones I use are currently £4 each, but he has always been agreeable to my posting them here, and again I always give accreditation, it’s just the right thing to do.

If you look at some of my previous posts in this thread you will see that I usually put the credit info underneath the headstone/memorial photos.

 

(image courtesy of Royzee at findagrave)

 

(image courtesy of Royzee at findagrave)

 

Thanks for the info. Find a grave seems to work well.

 

Gunner David McCormick
SERVICE NUMBER: 1710977
DATE OF DEATH: 4 September 1944
REGIMENT: ROYAL ARTILLERY, 13 MEDIUM REGIMENT
COUNTRY: France
COUNTY/DISTRICT:Somme
CEMETERY/MEMORIAL:London Cemetery and Extension, Longueval, Département de la Somme, Picardie, France
GRAVE/MEMORIAL REFERENCE: Plot 13. Row G. Grave 14.
Son of Samuel McCormick, and of Eliza Jane McCormick (nee Carson); husband of Norah McCormick (nee Bethel), of Irongray, Dumfriesshire.
INSCRIPTION: TILL THE DAY BREAK

Photo added by Robert O'Connor


BERNAVILLE | 4 September 1944

• 1400: “Capt O.R. Seligman & Lt P.F. Wookey went with a small party to clear a wood which was reported to contain some enemy who wished to surrender. When the clearing party arrived the enemy opened fire and killed Gnr McCormick & wounded Capt Seligman and Sjt Tucker. Approx twelve prisoners were taken including some wounded.”
  

 

SERJEANT WILLIAM ERETT

Service number: 1058037

Royal Artillery, 17 Medium Regiment

Died 2 September 1944

Age 37 years old

Buried at FLORENCE WAR CEMETERY, ITALY

Plot I - Row G - Grave no. 18

Son of John and Frances Erett, of Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire; husband of Ann Erett, of New Brumby, Scunthorpe.

Inscription:

PRAY FOR THE REPOSE OF THE SOUL OF WILLIAM R.I.P.


(image by Alistair Taylor at findagrave.com)