Showing 393 results

People & Organisations
GB-2014-WSA-12656 · Person · 1896-1917

Morrison, Kenneth Rae, son of William Rae Morrison, of Hampton, Middlesex, by Lily Dawtry, of Petworth, Sussex; b. Dec. 16, 1896; adm. Jan. 18, 1912 (A); left Dec. 1912; enlisted in H.A.C. Aug. 1914; 2nd Lieut. Middlesex Regt. Dec. 18, 1914, 5th Batt. King's Royal Rifle Corps April 26, 1917; went out to the western front 1916; treacherously killed at Tower Hamlets, France, Sept. 21, 1917, by a German who had previously surrendered.

GB-2014-WSA-12719 · Person · 1893-1916

Moxon, Gerald John Mortimer, only son of J. P. Moxon, by a daughter of Major Francis Drake, Northumberland Fusiliers; b. Nov. 22, 1893; adm. Sept. 24, 1908 (A); left July 1911; 2nd Lieut. 7th Batt. Royal Fusiliers Oct. 1, 1913, attached 4th Batt. Sept. 1, 1914; temp. Lieut. Feb. 11, 1915 - April 30, 1915; Lieut. May l, 1915; temp. Capt. July 9, 1915; went out to the western front Sept. 1914 and was wounded Oct. 20, 1914, and invalided home; rejoined 7th Batt. Royal Fusiliers and returned to the front in March 1915; killed in action at St. Eloi, France, March 27, 1916.

GB-2014-WSA-12766 · Person · 1877-1915

Muriel, Sidney Herbert Foster, only son of the Rev. William Carter Muriel, Vicar of Fulham, by Lucie, daughter of Edmond Foster, of Cambridge; b. Sept. 9, 1877; adm. May 8, 1891 (H); left Dec. 1894; R.M.C. Sandhurst Sept. 1896; 2nd Lieut. Border Regt. Feb. 16, 1898; Lieut. Aug. 27, 1901; Adjt. Oct. 1, 1904 - Sept. 30, 1907; Capt. April 13, 1909; Adjt. (T.F.) April 13, 1909 - April 12, 1912; served in South Africa 1899-1902; mentioned in despatches L.G. July 29, 1902; served in Great War I; killed in action at Sed-el-Bahr, in the Dardanelles, April 30, 1915; unm.

GB-2014-WSA-12793 · Person · 1920-1942

Murray, John Alan Colin, son of Capt. George Shirley Kilby and Gladys Grace, d. of Keith Wil­liam Murray, Portcullis Poursuivant, and grand-daughter of William Powell Murray (qv); b. 19 Apr. 1920; assumed the name of Murray in lieu of Kilby 1932; adm. Jan. 1933 (R); left Dec. 1934; HLI 1940-2 (Lieut.), attd Army Film Unit; killed in action (Middle East) June 1942.

John Alan Colin Kilby was born at Kensington, London on the 19th of April 1920 the only son of Captain George Shirley Kilby, 11th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Finsbury Rifles), and Gladys Grace (nee Murray) Kilby of 1, Winchester Court, Kensington in London. He assumed his mother’s maiden name of Murray in 1932, presumably because of his parent’s divorce in 1927. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from January 1933 to December 1934.
He attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry on the 20th of April 1940. He was later attached to the Army Film and Photographic Unit where he served with No. 1 Section.
On the 27th of May 1942, the Afrika Corps launched an attack on the left flank of the British held Gazala Line at Bir Hacheim. This was the first time the Army Film and Photographic Unit had found the opportunity to film a major battle. On the 30th of May, John Murray visited the Headquarters of 50th Division and when he returned to the unit he wrote the following: - “It is indeed most depressing to make every effort to take good filmic photographs and to go into places where it is by no means healthy, and know that with a “dual” camera the efforts may be worthless. Sgts. Travis and Berman both seemed in good spirits, though sorry that they could not be in the attack.”
By the 8th of June, he and his men were with the South African Division where they were taking both still photographs and cine film. On the 9th of June 1942, John Murray and Lieutenant Graham had been filming during heavy fighting in the area of the Knightsbridge Box when they returned to their jeep. While travelling in the rear area of the British lines they entered an unmarked minefield and their jeep ran over a mine. Lieutenant Graham was unhurt but John Murray had received a wound to his neck and was bleeding profusely. Graham tried to stem the bleeding but the wound was too deep and John Murray died a few minutes later from loss of blood.
He is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial Column 69.

GB-2014-WSA-12799 · Person · 1892-1915

Murray, Kenneth Desmond, brother of Robert Howson Murray (q.v.); b. June 30, 1892; adm. as K.S. Sept. 28, 1905; Mure Scholar 1908; Captain of the School 1909; elected head to Ch. Ch. Oxon. July 1911, matric. Michaelmas 1911; 1st class Classics (Mods.) 1912; 2nd Lieut. 9th (Serv.) Batt. East Surrey Regt. Dec. 22, 1914; went out to the western front Aug. 1915; killed in action at Loos Sept. 25, 1915.

GB-2014-WSA-12827 · Person · 1914-1940

Myers, Julian Gilbert Keydell, son of Gilbert Percival Louis Myers (qv); b. 26 Nov. 1914; adm. Sept. 1928 (B); left Dec. 1931; apprentice Furniss Withy Line 1932-5, later asst master Moffats Sch. Hatfield, Herts; Sgt Pilot RAFVR, killed in action 9 Dec 1940.

Julian Gilbert Keydell Myers was born in Capetown, South Africa on the 26th of November 1914 the eldest son of Major Gilbert Percival Louis Myers OW, Army Service Corps, and, Ada Sallie (nee Hutchins) Myers of 83, Vernon Road, Feltham in Middlesex. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Busby’s from September 1928 to December 1931. He was a member of the 1st Football XI in 1930 and 1931 where he played as goalkeeper. On leaving school he was accepted as an apprentice with the Furniss Withy Line and worked for them from 1932 to 1935. He later became an assistant schoolmaster at Moffat’s School, Hatfield in Hertfordshire. He was married at Maldon, Essex in 1938 to Frances Ellison (nee Fletcher) of Witham, Essex.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as a pilot and rose to the rank of Sergeant.
On the 9th of December 1940 nine aircraft from 115 Squadron were detailed to attack enemy shipping in the harbours of Bordeaux and L’Orient.
Julian Myers and his crew took off from RAF Marham at 5.25pm on the 9th of December 1940 in Wellington Mk IC L7895 KO-G for the operation. Eight tons of bombs were dropped on the target “with good effect”.
The crew was: -
Pilot Officer Peter Bois (Pilot)
Sergeant Julian Gilbert Keydell Myers (2nd Pilot)
Pilot Officer Macdonald (Navigator)
Sergeant Livingstone (Wireless Operator)
Sergeant Longden (Front Gunner)
Sergeant Pryor (Rear Gunner)
Three aircraft from the Squadron were lost during the operation.
Having completed its mission the aircraft landed safely back at RAF Marham where the crew disembarked and made their way to a van which was to transport them back to the station buildings. While they were doing this a sharp crack was heard and a few moments later a member of the ground crew found the body of Julian Myers who had been hit by the port propeller. His body was taken to the station mortuary.
His funeral took place on the 14th of December 1940.
He is buried at Holy Trinity Church, Marham Grave 56.

GB-2014-WSA-12828 · Person · 1884-1916

Myers, Wilfrid Hermann, brother of Gilbert Percival Louis Myers (q.v.); b. May 23, 1884; adm. as (non-resident) Q.S. Jan. 21, 1897 (R); left July 1900; R.M.A. Woolwich 1900; 2nd Lieut. R.A. Dec. 21, 1901; Lieut. Nov. 23, 1904; retired 1907; a journalist on the staffs of the Standard and the Globe newspapers; rejoined as Lieut. 12th (Serv.) Batt. the King's (Liverpool) Regt. Oct. 1, 1914; Capt. Dec. 30, 1914; invalided Feb. 1916 on account of wounds received on active service; d. at Millbank Military Hospital from the effects of his wounds April 10, 1916.

GB-2014-WSA-12840 · Person · 1914-1942

Nadin, Richard Eric Dorning, son of Eric Dorning Nadin of Lymm, Cheshire, and Agnes Rob­erts Georgina. d. of John Richard Spaven of Levenshulme, Manchester; b. 7 Sept. 1914; adm. Sept. 1928 (KS); left July 1931; a bank clerk; London Scottish in WW2, transf. Army Air Corps and trained as glider pilot; killed in a flying accident 13 Oct. 1942.

Richard Eric Dorning Nadin was born at Bucklow, Cheshire on the 7th of September 1914 the son of Eric Dorning Nadin and Agnes Roberta Georgina (nee Spaven) Nadin.
He was educated at Stoneygate School, Leicester and at Westminster School where he was a King’s Scholar from September 1928 to July 1931. On leaving school he worked as a bank clerk. His parents were divorced in 1921 and his mother was later remarried to Richard T. Berry. He lived with them at 30, Porchester Road, Bournemouth in Hampshire.
Following the outbreak of war he enlisted as a Private in the London Scottish Regiment before later transferring to the Glider Pilot Regiment. He was posted to No. 21 Elementary Flying School for pilot training.
On the 13th of October 1942, Richard Nadin took off in Tiger Moth Mk II T6444 for a training flight with his flying instructor Sergeant Harold Owen Thomas. During the flight the aircraft struck high tension overhead cables causing the aircraft to crash at Dock Farm, Meadle near Princes Risborough, killing both men. The cause of the accident was attributed to the instructor flying below the authorised height for the exercise.
He is buried at Wimbourne Road Cemetery, Bournemouth Section T.2, Grave 6.5.

GB-2014-WSA-12845 · Person · 1921-1941

Namias, Richard Henry, son of Lea Namias of Streatham and Hilda, d. of Robert Diaz of Paris; b. 29 Oct. 1921; adm. Jan. 1935 (A); left July 1939; RAFVR 1941 (Flt Lieut.); killed in action 20 Sept. 1941.

Mayer Henry Richard “Dickie” Namias was born at Streatham, London on the 29th of October 1921 the only son of Lea Namias, manager of the Argonaut Marine Insurance Company, and Mathilda (nee Diaz) Namias of 27, Woodfield Avenue, Streatham, London SW16. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from January 1935 to July 1939. He was a member of the 1st Rowing VIII in 1939.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as a pilot and rose to the rank of Leading Aircraftman before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 13th of April 1941.
On the 28th of August 1941, 18 aircraft from 21, 88, 110 and 226 Squadrons were dispatched for a low level attack on enemy shipping in the docks at Rotterdam.
Mayer Namias and his crew took off from RAF Wattisham at 5.20pm for the attack. One of the Blenheims from his Squadron crashed on takeoff. Two squadrons of Spitfires joined them a short time after takeoff to act as their fighter escort. The formation crossed the Dutch coast and came under heavy anti aircraft fire as it approached the Nieuwe Waterweg, the canal leaving to the docks at Rotterdam. Having passed through the flak they were attacked by enemy fighters but these were chased away by the fighter escort. The Blenheims reduced their height to between 20 and 50 feet as they approached the docks, flying just above the rooftops in line abreast, all the time under machine gun fire and fire from light flak guns. Mayer Naimias dropped a bomb on a 10,000 tom ship which missed, bounced off the dockside and exploded under its stern, sinking it.
Seven aircraft failed to return from the raid.
On the 20th of September 1941, Bomber Command dispatched 48 Blenheims and 6 Hampdens for a series of daylight sweeps across the sea and for escorted attacks on targets just behind the French coast.
Mayer Namias and his crew took from RAF Wattisham on the 20th of September 1941in Blenheim Mk IV Z7310 with seven other aircraft from the Squadron for an anti shipping patrol. The aircraft was carrying two 500lb bombs and four 25lb incendiaries. During the mission they were flying off the coast of Holland when they spotted an enemy convoy of fourteen merchant ships, flying protective barrage balloons. Mayer Namias was the second aircraft to make its attack, the first having been lost when it was destroyed by the explosion of one of its own bombs. As the aircraft made its run towards one of the enemy ships, and was a quarter of a mile from the vessel, it was hit in the starboard engine by anti aircraft fire and it caught fire. Despite this, he dropped his bombs before ditching the aircraft into the sea. Although the aircraft appeared to make a “good landing” on the sea, and floated for a while, none of the crew or the aircrafts dinghy was seen.
The crew was: -
Sergeant Kenneth Frederick Hood (Observer)
Flight Lieutenant Mayer Richard Henry Namias (Pilot)
Sergeant John Joseph Robson (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
When the six remaining aircraft left the scene four of the merchant ships were seen to be emitting smoke with one having broken its back.
Theirs was one of three aircraft which were lost during these operations.
His father received the following letter dated the 27th of September 1941: - “Sir, I am commanded by the Air Council to express to you their great regret on learning that you son, Acting Flight Lieutenant Mayer Richard Namias, Royal Air Force, is missing as the result of air operations on 20th September, 1941. The only information available is that your son was captain of a Blenheim aircraft which was engaged by the enemy whilst over the sea off the coast of Holland and has failed to return. This does not mean that he is killed or wounded, and if he is a prisoner of war he should be able to communicate with you in due course. Meanwhile enquiries will be made through the International Red Cross Society and as soon as any definite information is received, you will be at once informed. If any information regarding your son is received by you from any source you are requested to be kind enough to communicate it immediately to the Air Ministry. The Air Council desire me to convey to you an expression of their sincere sympathy with you in your present anxiety.”
The bodies of Kenneth Hood and John Robson were recovered from the sea later that day and were buried at Crooswijk Cemetery, Rotterdam.
He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 29.

GB-2014-WSA-12856 · Person · 1917-1942

Nares, Geoffrey Owen, brother of David Owen Nares (qv); b. 10 June 1917; adm. Sept. 1930 (G); left Apr. 1934; an actor and stage designer; first appeared (under his father's management) in The Winning Post at the Globe Theatre Dec. 1934; 2nd Lieut. RASC Oct. 1940, transf. 12 Lancers Aug. 1941; d. on active service 20 Aug. 1942.

Geoffrey Owen Nares was born at Hampstead, London on the 10th of June 1917 the younger son of Owen Ramsey Nares, an actor, and Marie (nee Polini) Nares, an actress, of 35, Hamilton Terrace, Westminster and of Highmoor in Oxfordshire. He was christened at St Augustine’s Church, Paddington on the 17th of November 1917. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from September 1930 to April 1934. He won a Sir Henry Lucy Prize for Art in 1931. On leaving school he became an actor and a theatre designer, his first appearance being in the part of a stable boy in “The Winning Post”, starring Lawrence Olivier at the Adelphi Theatre on the 17th of December 1934. In June 1935 he played Kim Oldham in “Grief Goes Over” at the Globe Theatre and he played Martin Hilton in “Call it a Day” at the Glove Theatre, London in October of the same year which ran for more than a year; his father was also a member of the cast. As well as being an actor he was a designer of scenery for the stage and designed sets for “Candida”, “The Constant Wife”, ”Gaily We Set Out”, and “Blondie White”.
He enlisted as a Driver in the Royal Army Service Corps before being attending an Officer Producing School and being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on the 26th of October 1940. He transferred to the 12th Royal Lancers in August 1941 and was posted to the Middle East where he contracted pappataci (sand fly fever) and died from a brain tumour in hospital at Cairo.
He is buried at Heliopolis War Cemetery Plot 2 Row D grave 14

Nash, Alexander Desmond Michael Flight Lieutenant 102131
258 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 19th of December 1943 aged 21
Alexander Desmond Michael Nash was born on the 22nd of November 1922 the son of Captain Christopher Michael Nash, a rubber planter, and Ethelinda Jarman (nee Clarke) Nash of 17, Mount Avenue, Ealing in Middlesex. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from September 1936 to July 1939.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as a pilot and rose to the rank of Leading Aircraftman before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 23rd of July 1941. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 23rd of July 1942 and to Flight Lieutenant on the 23rd of July 1943. He was posted to 285 Squadron.
Alexander Nash took off at 2.45pm on the 19th of December 1943 in Hurricane Mk IIB BG688 with five other aircraft from his Squadron for a patrol over Dohazari. As they were climbing out after takeoff his aircraft collided with Hurricane Mk IIB PJ785 flown by Pilot Officer Peter Ireland Hickes. Both aircraft crashed and both pilots were killed. The remaining four aircraft completed their mission and returned to base at 4.20pm.
He is buried at Chittagong War Cemetery Plot 6, Row A, Grave 12.