Trying to identify a soldier's unit with his diary (D+1 on Juno Beach, etc...)

Hello everybody,

First of all, please excuse the english mistakes. I'm trying to solve this puzzle, and I hope you can help :

I purchased a grouping of documents from Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant Harold Major (1916-1985), serial 4620764, who served with the 29th Armored Brigade Workshop (REME), 11th Armoured Division in 1944 and 1945. Everything in there belonged to this man, except one thing... A little diary for the year 1944. The writing is different, and the places this man has been are very different from Harold's. However, Harold and this mysterious man both lived in Hull (England), so they might be good friends, or even brothers (which would explain why the documents were together). But there is no name or unit in this diary... except the name of his wife, Nina (or close), and his newborn son, Michael. This is a mixed summary of his writings and my research:

He left Bône (today's Annaba) in Algeria on january 25th 1944 for Algiers, and embarked on RMS Stathmore 3 days later for England. He has already spent 18 months overseas. He joined his unit in Wallsend (near Newcastle) in march, then left for Scotland (North Bewick) for amphibious courses : he trained with discharging DUKWs. His unit was in Biggleswade in may, and left for Purfleet on the 26th, preparing for D-Day. He embarked on "MT5 Samzona" and sailed on june 6th, at noon (convoy ETM1). He witnessed the sinking of MT12 "Sambut", hit by shore batteries in front of Pas-de-Calais.

He arrived on Juno Beach (I'm pretty sure, as this was the destination of this convoy... He just wrote "near Caen") on the 7th. His job was to discharge ships, and his started on D+1 (7th June) at 6pm. He stayed on the beach until the 9th, when they set up in houses in Graye-sur-Mer (20km away from Caen).

He cites many names of ships he worked on during the summer : Samzona, Samaustral, Samarina, Samos, Ocean Swell, Ocean Vigour, Ocean Seaman, Ocean Vengeance, Ocean Vision, Empire Gladstone (29th august), Empire Farmer, Empire Unity, Fort Fork (18th july), Fort Yale, Fort Kaskaskia, Fort Mildred, Fort Fairford, Malayan Prince...

He left Normandy for Dieppe on september 3rd, at 3pm. He said he passed trough Caen and Rouen, so he never actually left the beaches area. His unit arrived in Dieppe on the 4th at 2pm, and stayed in a hotel facing the sea. They spend the next two days repairing the docks, before some shipment arrived.

This is the last entry in the diary, nothing for the rest of the year... The only other clue that might help is a press cutting placed on the august 22nd page, after he mentionned heavy shelling on the beachhead... Maybe one the four was from his unit ?



This is all I know unfortunately... Any idea on who he might be, and his unit ?

Thank you for your help, looking forward to reading you,

Have a nice week-end,

Clément from France

PS : anyone related to Harold Major or having information about him, please send me an email at tillvictory.book@gmail.com

 

Harold Major in the England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
Name: Harold Major
Birth Date: 8 Sep 1916
Date of Registration: Dec 1985
Age at Death: 69
Registration district: Hull
Inferred County: Yorkshire
Volume: 7
Page: 829

Checking his probate gives no information on relatives but does state he lived at
65 St Hilda Street
Hull

Its a start
TD

 

Interesting - there were 2 x Harold Major's born within weeks of each other:

Harold Major in the England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2005
Name: Harold Major
Mother's Maiden Surname: Ramscar
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1916
Registration district: Sculcoates
Inferred County: Yorkshire East Riding
Volume Number: 9d
Page Number: 345

Name: Harold Major
Mother's Maiden Surname: English
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1916
Registration district: Sculcoates
Inferred County: Yorkshire East Riding
Volume Number: 9d
Page Number: 398


Clement - have you applied for his service records?

TD

 

Hello Clement from France.

These are the only soldiers of that name, initial, rank, shown as hailing from Hull on Geoff’s CWGC search engine. They all also died around the same time.

MYERS, Arthur William
Rank: Corporal
Service No: 320444
Date of Death: 12/07/1944
Age: 24
Regiment/Service: Royal Armoured Corps 1st King's Dragoon Guards,
Grave Reference: III. C. 21.
Cemetery: AREZZO WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Arthur and Mary Catherine Myers, of Hull.

THOMAS, Albert Edward
Rank: Private
Service No: 101996
Date of Death: 21/07/1944
Age: 30
Regiment/Service: The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) 1/6th Bn.
Grave Reference: II. B. 27.
Cemetery: RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Walter and Annie Elizabeth Thomas, of Hull; husband of Norah Thomas, of Hull.

PARKER, John William
Rank: Private
Service No: 4347046
Date of Death: 19/07/1944
Age: 23
Regiment/Service: East Yorkshire Regiment 2nd Bn.
Grave Reference: 2. B. 11.
Cemetery: HERMANVILLE WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of James Alfred and Maria Eastwood Parker, of Hull.

Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant Harold Major’s service number is from The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (The West Riding) 4601001 – 4680000 block of numbers, which is a Yorkshire Regiment.

He would have been 27 or 28 years of age when these men died. It’s looking like one or more of the men that died were known to him, or perhaps we should instead be looking into Trooper H Kemp.

Best,

Steve.

 

Assuming the unknown diarist's son is Michael, then it won't be Tpr H Kemp's son/diary - the only Michael Kemp born close to 1944 was:
Name: Michael E Kemp
Mother's Maiden Surname: Barker
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1943
Registration district: Hull
Inferred County: Yorkshire
Volume Number: 9d
Page Number: 290

But then when you check out the marriage of Kemp to Barker the result is:
Name: Ernest S Kemp
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1942
Registration district: Hull
Inferred County: Yorkshire East Riding
Spouse: Marion Barker
Volume Number: 9d
Page Number: 662

Still looking to see if Harold has any brothers

TD

 

So from another angle:

Marriages in Hull 1942 +/- 2 years for a someone with first name Nina:

Nina Coulson
Jul-Aug-Sep 1940 Hull Yorkshire East Riding Alfred Nutbrown

Nina L Marshall
Apr-May-Jun 1940 Hull Yorkshire East Riding Ernest G Robinson


So from the marriage to Mr Nutbrown there was a birth :
Name: Michael Nutbrown
Mother's Maiden Surname: Coulson
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1942
Registration district: Hull
Inferred County: Yorkshire
Volume Number: 9d
Page Number: 312

Between 1940 and 1944 I cannot find a birth for a Michael Robinson.

TD

 

From the Hull Daily Mail dated 17 Aug 44 "Reported missing in March, Tpr. Henry Kemp, of 28 Dingley Close, North Hull Estate, is now known to be a prisoner in Stalag VII Germany. Tpr. Kemp who attended Lime St. School was captured during the fighting at Anzio, and during the three years he had been in the army, two and a half years had been spent abroad. Previously to joining the forces he was employed in the Cleansing Department of the Hull Corporation"

Will keep looking for the others. Can't see that exact photo on line. Shame the article wasn't dated.

 

Although he is not shown as a Tpr - this is the only H Kemp in Stalag VII

H Kemp in the UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945
Name: H Kemp
Rank: Private
Army Number: 6854983
Regiment: King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
POW Number: 132810
Camp Type: Stalag
Camp Number: VII-A
Camp Location: Moosburg an der Isar, Bavaria
Record Office: Infantry and Army Educational Corps Record Office, York
Record Office Number: 20

TD

 

Wow, I'm amazed everytime by how quick you all are ! Thank you for your help !

The diarist son was most likely born in 1943. When he went home in early 1944, it was the first time that he saw him, and he was overseas for 18 months.

It's interesting that Trooper Kemp was from Hull, there might be a connection... But if he was captured in Anzio, then they were not unit mates (probably a friend from school or town), and it won't give us the diarist unit... But well done !

Nobody knows what service unit has done this trip : Juno Beach on D+1, the beachhead all summer, and Dieppe in september ?

Thanks again !

 

Kemp made it home according to Hull Daily Mail edition 6 Jun 45.

Another article of their's from 17 Aug 44 "Cpl. Arthur William Myers aged 24 has died of wounds while serving with the Royal Armoured Corps in the Central Mediterranean theatre of war. Cpl. Myer's is the elder son of Skipper A. Myers R.N.R. and Mrs. Myers of 35 The Paddock, Anlaby Park road, Hull. He was wounded previously in the Libyan campaign. He attended Eastfield Road school and was a member of the local Scout patrol".

 

That still makes Michael Nutbrown a possible son of the diairist
TD

 

The Daily Mail, Thursday, August 17, 1944

Died of Wounds

Mrs Parker, of 104, Waterloo St, Hull, has been notified that her son, Pte John W Parker, has died of wounds sustained in the fighting in France. Pte Parker, who had been in the Army since 1940, attended St Paul’s St. school. He has three brothers overseas.

Mrs Norah Thomas, of 7, Whitby Grove, Liverpool Street, Hull, has received news that her husband, Pte Albert Edward Thomas, has died of wounds while serving in Normandy. Thirty years of age, Pte Thomas joined the Army at the outbreak of war. In civilian life he was employed by Wm Jackson and Son Ltd. He attended Osborne Street school.

Cpl Arthur William Myers, aged 24, has died of wounds while serving with the Royal Armoured Corps in the Central Mediterranean theatre of war. Cpl Myers is the elder son of Skipper A Myers, RNR, and Mrs Myers, of 35, The Paddock, Anlaby Park Road, Hull. He was wounded previously in the Libyan campaign. He attended Eastfield Road school, and was a member of a local Scout patrol.

All the above is in the same article.

 

Again from the 17th Aug edition

Mrs. Norah Thomas of 7 Whitby-grove, Liverpool Street, Hull has received news that her husband, Pte. Edward Thomas he died of wounds in Normandy 30 years of age. Pte. Thomas joined the army at the outbreak of war. In civilian life he was employed by Wm. Jackson and Son ltd. He attended Osborne Street. School.

Mrs. Parker of 104 Waterloo Street, Hull has been notified that her son Pte. John. A. Parker has died of wounds sustained in the fighting in France. Pte. Parker who had been in the Army since 1940 attended St. Pauls Street School. He has three brothers serving overseas.

For some reason there are only 4 pages of the 17th Aug edition on line. Given all four are mentioned in the same edition, I'm assuming the picture came from this paper or its equivalent evening edition perhaps. But then again, there may have been other Hull newspapers around reporting similar details.

 

Sorry for duplication Tony, been typing as you were posting.

 

Probate records

Nutbrown, Nina of Trinity House School Princess Dock Side Hull died 26 October 1977. Administration Leeds 30 November 1977.
From death register her DOB was 17 March 1918

On same page of Probate records
Nutbrown, Flora of 72 Wold Carr Rd Anlaby Rd Hull died 20 March 1977. Administration Leeds 6 May 1977.
Note Anlaby Park Road is where Cpl Myres parents lived. Maybe just a coincidence or relation????

 

1939 Register

57 Rodney Street, Kingston upon Hull
Eveline Coulson, DOB 15 Aug 1887, widow, housewife
Nina Coulson, DOB 17 Mar 1918, single, chemist’s assistant

65 St Hilda Street, Kingston upon Hull
Albert E Major, DOB 11 Dec 1889, married, boot repairer
Elizabeth Major, DOB 11 Oct 1896, married
Harold Major, DOB 8 Sep 1916, single, store clerk

57 Stepney Lane, Kingston upon Hull
James Nutbrown, DOB 20 Apr 1893, married, fish & ice carrier
Rose Nutbrown, DOB 27 Mar 1893, maried
+ another
Alfred (jnr) Nutbrown, DOB 2 Sep 1920, single, porter
Alfred Nutbrown, DOB 16 Dec 1868, widower, retired

Probate record
Major, Harold of 65 St Hilda St Hull died 21 October 1985 Probate Leeds 13 December 1985
From death register his DOB 8 September 1916

That's it for tonight!!

 

Nina Nutbrown (1918) appears in the Kingston Upon Hull area with an Eveline Coulson on the '39 ID Reg. And in the same area Harold Major (1916) living with Albert E. Major (1889) and Elizabeth Major. More tomorrow maybe. Good night.

 

Can't see any death entries for a Michael Nutbrown. Nina and Alfred Nutbrown married Sep 1940. The only Yorkshire marriage I can see apart from one in 1984 for a Michael Nutbrown is in Worth Valley, Yorkshire in 1964. Any trees out there Tricky?

 

This is so interesting, and Alfred Nutbrown used to live a 9 minute-walk away from Harold Major... He definitely was in the right age to serve, but how can we be know that he did ?

BUT, like I said, Nina was what I could decipher, but I have my doubts, as his N's are very close to his W's. I didn't think that "Wina" could be a possibility, but it turns out this is a real first name... and now that I think about it, it really looks like he wrote "Wina". It may change everything, sorry about that... Is Wina a common name in England ?

So, it turns out all of the 4 men that died from wounds were from Hull. Definitely old friends then, great find !

Amazing work, thank you Amber, Tricky, Tony and Steve !

 

*
All we know for certain is that the diary wasn't written by any of the four in newspaper photograph, three were dead by 3 September 1944 and the other was serving in Italy not France before being taken PoW.

I have another thought-line that I'll explore later... [edit: this was a dead-end!].

Best,

Steve.