Showing 169 results

People & Organisations
Second World War (1939-1945)

Northcott, Richard Henry, 1910-1944

  • GB-2014-WSA-13104
  • Person
  • 1910-1944

Northcott, Richard Henry, son of Walter Wynne Northcott of Edinburgh and Maude Elsie, d. of Maj.-Gen. Arthur Hill; b. 26 Apr. 1910; adm. Sept. 1923 (R); left Dec. 1927; 2nd Lieut. The Welsh Regt Jan. 1932, Lieut. Jan. 1935, Capt. Jan. 1940, temp. Maj.; m. 7 Apr. 1941 Elizabeth Hope, d. of George Douglas Budge and sister-in-law of George Edric Nee (qv); killed in action (Nor­mandy) July 1944.

Richard Henry Northcott was born at Paddington, London on the 26th of April 1910 the only son of Walter Wynne Northcott and Maude Elsie (nee Hill) Northcott of 27, Craven Road, Paddington, later of Rochester House School, Edinburgh. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1923 to December 1927. He was a member of the 1st Rowing VIII in 1927 where he rowed at stroke. The Elizabethan wrote the following on his 1927 season: - “Rather short in the swing, but otherwise an excellent stroke, showing good judgement and an ability to rally his crew.” He served as a member of the Officer Training Corps and was promoted to Lance Corporal in September 1927.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 8th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment in the Territorial Army on the 29th of March 1930 before being commissioned with the same rank in the 1st Battalion, Welch Regiment in the regular army on 30th of January 1932. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 30th of January 1935 and to Captain in January 1940. He was married at Kensington on the 7th of April 1941 to Elizabeth Hope (nee Budge).
He was promoted to temporary Major on the 5th of February 1943 and joined the 1/5th Battalion of his Regiment as a company commander on the 29th of July 1943.
On the 16th of June 1944, an advance party from the Battalion left their base at Herne Bay and travelled by road to Canning Town. They were joined there by the main party and entrained for their marshalling area at Lingfield in Surrey. The main group began embarking at Newhaven at 2pm on the 24th of June and landed at the Jig Beach section of Gold Beach in Normandy at 1.30pm on the 26th of June 1944.
By the morning of the 21st of July 1944, the 1/5th Battalion, Welch Regiment was at the town of Baron. At 3pm that afternoon, enemy smoke and high explosive shells began landing in the Battalion positions with A Company, on the right of the line, soon reporting that they were under attack by four tanks accompanied by infantry. At 4pm a Platoon from B Company, which was positioned on the left of the Battalion and was on a line which ran along the Croie de Filandriers to Le Bon Repos road, was overrun by four enemy tanks supported by infantry. At 7pm two Squadrons of British tanks moved along the Battalion’s left flank in an attempt to bring the Germans under enfilade fire but this failed. At 8pm, A Company reported that the enemy tanks were now within 50 yards of their positions and by 9.30pm they were reported to be within 10 yards, after which there was no further communication from them. At 9.30pm C Company reported that the enemy force attacking them consisted of four Mk IV tanks with infantry and that they had knocked out two of the tanks, one with a PIAT and one with a six pounder anti tank gun. The Company was engaged in heavy fighting throughout the night, during which they were cut off and, with the enemy force within 50 yards of their position, they were ordered to withdraw at 6.30am the following morning.
C Company had suffered casualties of 25 men during the fighting while A Company was assumed to have been wiped out. Richard Northcott was among the dead.
He is commemorated on the Bayeux Memorial Panel 15, Column 3.

Newman, John Windrush, 1901-1945

  • GB-2014-WSA-12972
  • Person
  • 1901-1945

Newman, John Windrush, son of Frederick John Newman, of the Temple, barrister-at-law, by Margaret Levonia, daughter of William Stewart Mackenzie, of Killiecrankie, Perthshire: b. Oct. 23, 1901; adm. Sept. 23, 1915 (A); left March 1918; served in the R.A.F. in Great War I; in the employment of Harrisons and Crosfield, East India Merchants, Quilon, South India; Lieut. Royal Army Ordnance Corps Dec. 21, 1939; Major; served in France to the evacuation of Dunkirk, and in Egypt and Syria; mentioned in despatches (France and Flanders) L.G. Dec. 20, 1940; m. Sept. 1, 1941, Ethel Joan, daughter of Capt. James Mould, D.S.O., M.C., of Dudley, Worcestershire; d. while awaiting demobilisation July 23, 1945.

John Windrush Newman was born in London on the 23rd of October 1900 the son of Frederick John Newman KC, a merchant and barrister at law, and Margaret Levonia (nee Mackenzie) Newman of The Bungalow, Harlow in Essex. He was christened at St Andrew’s Church, Hammersmith on the 27th of July 1902. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from the 23rd of September 1915 to March 1918.
On leaving school he enlisted in the Royal Air Force at a Cadet Distribution Depot on the 2nd of May 1918. On leaving the Royal Air Force he joined the firm of Harrisons & Crosfield, East India Merchants of Quilon in South India. He became a company director and lived at 1, Harcourt Buildings, Temple in London and later at 2, Temple Gardens, in London. He was granted a Patent (No. 349,617) on the 1st of March 1930 for “Improvements in the signs and the like”.
He gained a Royal Aero Club Certificate (No. 18075) at Brooklands Flying Club on the 6th of May 1936 while flying a Tiger Moth aircraft.
Following the outbreak of war he was mobilised and was appointed as a Lieutenant in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps on the 21st of December 1939. He served during the Battle of France in 1940 from where he was evacuated from Dunkirk. He also served in Egypt and Syria during his service.
He was married at Westminster on the 1st of September 1941 to Ethel Joan (nee Mould) of Kensington.
On the 22nd of July 1945, John Newman asked his commanding officer, Major Wilfred Sinclair, if he could borrow a Sten gun from the armoury. He was last seen on the following day by Warrant Officer Fenly Curtis, walking along a footpath towards Sileby, Leicestershire. He did not return to to his barracks and when his room was searched his suitcase was found to have been packed as he was due to be demobilised a short time later. Also found were three letters, one of which was addressed to Major Sinclair. A search party was formed which searched the area until 4am but returned without finding him. His body was later found in a field at Sileby with the Sten gun next to it and with two empty cartridges on the ground beside him.
An iquiry into his death was convened at Loughborough where the Coroner called several witnesses who testified that John Newman had been suffering from deafness which had led to him suffering from poor mental health for some time. The Coroner recorded a vedict of: - “Death from a self inflicted gunshot wound while the balance of his mind was disturbed.”
He was Mentioned in Despatches.
He is commemorated at Mortlake Crematorium, Panel 9.

Newman, Charles Edward, 1921-1941

  • GB-2014-WSA-12968
  • Person
  • 1921-1941

Newman, Charles Edward, son of Kenneth Edward Newman (qv); b. 7 Sept. 1921; adm. Sept. 1935 (G); left July 1938; Sgt RAFVR, killed in action (Libya) 7 Dec. 1941.

Charles Edward Newman was born at Shanghai, China on the 7th of September 1921 the son of Kenneth Edward Newman, a solicitor, and Phyllis Louise (nee Budd) Newman of 593-11, Amherst Avenue, Shanghai, China and of 9, Maxwell Road, Northwood in Middlesex. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from September 1935 to July 1938.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as a wireless operator/air gunner and rose to the rank of Sergeant.
Charles Newman and his crew took off from Kabrit on the 9th of December 1941 in Wellington Mk II Z8333 to bomb enemy motor transport at Derna Landing Ground in Libya. The aircraft failed to return from the raid.
The crew was: -
Sergeant Hyman Freeman (Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Derek Lahee Skinner DFC (Pilot)
Sergeant Norman Maddox (Observer)
Sergeant James Marsland (2nd Pilot)
Sergeant Charles Edward Newman (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Richard Malcolm Douglas McLeod (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Hyman Freeman’s body was found on a beach between Derna and Mrassa Wells, some seven miles from Tobruk in February 1942. He was buried there but the grave site was subsequently lost.
He is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial Column 243.

Neal, Kenneth Guthrie, 1919-1944

  • GB-2014-WSA-12884
  • Person
  • 1919-1944

Neal, Kenneth Guthrie, son of Lawrence Edward Neal, chairman and man. dir. Daniel Neal & Sons, and Jean Frances Guthrie-Smith, poetess, d. of John Guthrie-Smith, solicitor, of Kelvinside, Glasgow; b. 13 Nov. 1919; adm. Sept. 1932 (H); left July 1938; Magd. Coll. Oxf., matric. 1938; RA in WW2 (Lieut.); killed in action (France) Aug. 1944.

Kenneth Guthrie Neal was born at Glasgow on the 13th of November 1919 the elder son of Lawrence Edgar Neal, chairman and managing director of Daniel Neal & Sons, and Jean Frances (nee Guthrie-Smith) Neal, a poet, of 5, Holland Villas Road, Kensington in London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from September 1932 to July 1938. He boxed for the school in 1933. He was a member of the Cricket XI and of the Football XI in 1936, 1937 and 1938 where he played at half back. He was appointed as Captain of the Football XI in 1937. He won the Neale History Prize in June 1938. While at the school he was a keen sportsman, enjoying cricket and middle distance running and was a keen fly fisherman.
On leaving school he and four friends bought an old Sunbeam limousine and drove to Yugoslavia for the summer. He matriculated for Magdalen College, Oxford in 1938 where he was a member of the College Football XI and passed exams for History and Constitutional Law in 1939 and in English in 1940. He did not graduate as he left the College for military service after six terms. He was a poet and a book of his poems, “Poems of This War by Younger Poets” edited by P. Leward was published in 1942.
He attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on the 2nd of August 1941. He joined 68 Anti Tank Regiment on the 8th of October 1941 and was promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st of October 1942. The Regiment trained in Northern Ireland until the spring of 1944 when it moved to England in preparation for the invasion of France.
On the 24th of June 1944 68 Anti Tank Regiment embarked on board the MT7 “Samuel” at the Royal Prince Albert Dock and disembarked at Le Hamel in Normandy on the 28th of June. They were soon involved in heavy fighting in the Caen area and took part in Operation Charnwood and Operation Pomegranate.
On the 25th of July, the Regiment arrived at Les Saullets where they were to support on an attack towards Landelle and Noyers-Bocage and were then to support the crossing of the River Orne by 176 Brigade, codenamed Operation Bluecoat. A bridgehead was established across the Orne on the 6th of August 1944 with Kenneth Neal and E Troop, 270 Battery crossing the river into it. 271 Battery was positioned on the western slope of the near bank with support from 269 Battery covering their flank. A German counterattack later in the day caused E Troop to fall back to the bridge and further counterattacks over the next two days prevented their comrades from joining them. On the 7th of August E Troop reported that they were making a reconnaissance to find suitable positions for the other two batteries and there was no contact from them on the 8th of August. Kenneth Neal’s commanding officer ordered him, a Sergeant and two other ranks to take a carrier and to see if they could capture an enemy prisoner for interrogation and on the 9th of August 1944 E Troop reported that Kenneth Neal had been captured by the enemy. The following day the Regiment advanced to Ronde Fontaine where they found his body and those of three of his men. His carrier had received a direct hit from a German tank.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Magdalen College, Oxford.
He is buried at Bayeux War Cemetery Plot XXII, Row D, Grave 11.

Nares, Geoffrey Owen, 1917-1942

  • 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.

Namias, Richard Henry, 1921-1941

  • 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.

Nadin, Richard Eric Doming, 1914-1942

  • 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.

Myers, Julian Gilbert Keydell, 1914-1940

  • 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.

Murray, John Alan Colin, 1920-1942

  • 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.

Montefiore, Langton, 1904-1941

  • GB-2014-WSA-12462
  • Person
  • 1904-1941

Montefiore, Langton, brother of Leslie Montefiore (q.v.); b. April 6, 1904; adm. Sept. 26 1918 (A); left Easter 1922; admitted a member of the London Stock Exchange 1927; 2nd Lieut. R.A.S.C. March 30, 1940; Capt.; m. June 2, 1927, Millicent, daughter of S. Lazarus, of St. Marylebone; killed on active service in Greece 27 April 1941.

Langton Montefiore was born at Chartridge, Buckinghamshire on the 6th of April 1904 the second son of Harry John Montefiore, a stockbroker and member of the London Stock Exchange, and Harriet (nee Montefiore) Montefiore of Chartridge Grange, near Chesham, later of “Fingest”, near Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from the 26th of September 1918 and Easter 1922. He was a member of the Debating Society in 1921. He was a member of the Officer Training Corps and was promoted to Corporal in September 1921. On leaving school he went to work as a stockbroker and was admitted as a Member of the London Stock Exchange in 1927. He was married at Marylebone on the 2nd of June 1927 to Millicent (nee Lazarus) and they lived at 80, Eaton Place in London and at “Valley Holme”, Horsted Keynes in Sussex. They had a son, born on the 6th of May 1928. Following the outbreak of war he was appointed as a Deputy Area Officer for Air Raid Precautions. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Army Service Corps on the 30th of March 1940.
At 7pm on the 24th of April 1941, a convoy of trucks of the 308th Reserve Motor Transport Company, Royal Army Service Corps left Argos, Greece to head for Kalamata where they were to be evacuated to Egypt following the collapse of the Allied resistance to the German invasion of Greece. Driver T/199458 F.G. Lee reported that Major James Garrard Black, 2nd Lieutenant J.M. Carroll Lieutenant Mansfield, Langton Montefiore and about 100 men were among those who remained at Argos from where they made their way to the beaches in Nauplia Bay to await evacuation to Crete. They boarded the 11, 636 ton passenger liner SS Slamat, under the command of Master Tjalling Luidinga, on the night of the 26th/27th of April and set sail at 4.15am on the 27th of April. SS Slamat sailed south as part of a convoy and was in the Argolic Gulf when the convoy was attacked firstly by Messerschmitt Bf109 fighters and then by Junkers 87, Junkers 88 and Dornier 17 bombers at 7.15am. During the attack SS Slamat was struck between the bridge and the forward funnel by a 550lb bomb and was set on fire. As she listed to starboard, she was hit by a second bomb and the order was given to abandon the ship. With many of life boats and life rafts having been destroyed in the bombing, most of the survivors swam clear of the sinking ship with two overcrowded life boats capsizing. Some of the survivors were machine gunned in the water by enemy fighters. The destroyer HMS Diamond began taking survivors on board but was forced to stop and speed away when she too came under attack from enemy aircraft. HMS Diamond returned at 8.15am to rescue more survivors and at 9.16am the destroyer HMS Wryneck was ordered to join her in the rescue of the men in the water. At 9.25am HMS Diamond reported that she had picked up most of the survivors and was heading for Souda Bay but, when HMS Wryneck joined HMS Diamond at 11am both of the destroyers returned to SS Slamat where they found two more lifeboats and rescued their occupants. With SS Slamat on fire from stem to stern, she was scuttled by HMS Diamond with a single torpedo before the destroyer left the area with around 600 survivors on board. It is believed that Langton Montefiore was among those who were rescued from the water by the two destroyers.
At 1.15pm, a formation of Junkers 87 “Stuka” dive bombers attacked the two destroyers from out of the sun,with two bombs landing on HMS Diamond destroying her lifeboats and she sank eight minutes later. HMS Wryneck was hit by three bombs and sank ten to fifteen minutes later.
About 1,000 men were lost in the bombing of the three ships with only eight from the five hundred evacuees on board SS Slamat surviving the sinkings.
He is commemorated on the Athens Memorial Face 8.

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