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Abbott, James Alexander, 1909-1944
GB-2014-WSA-01894 · Person · 1909-1944

Abbott, James Alexander, son of Albert Abbott CBE, Chief Inspector Technological branch, Board of Education, and Nancy, d. of Edwin Hargreaves of Chorley, Lancs; b. 25 April, 1909; adm. Sept. 1922 (R); left July 1927; Ch. Ch. Oxf., matric. 1927, BA 1931; adm. a solicitor Dec. 1934; practised in London and Burton-on-Trent; RAFVR (FO Oct. 1942), invalided Nov. 1943; m. 15 Sept. 1939 Eleanor Dorothy, d. of Ernest Hastings Nicolls of Stevenage, Herts; d. 20 May 1944 of illness contracted on active service in North Africa.

James Alexander Abbott was born at Wolverhampton, Staffordshire on the 25th of April 1909 the only son of Albert Abbott CBE MA, Chief Inspector for the Technological Branch of the Board of Education, and Nancy (nee Hargreaves) Abbott of 130, Tettenhall Road, Wolverhampton, later of Sampford Brett, Williton in Somerset. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1922 to July 1927. He matriculated for Christ Church, Oxford in 1927 where he achieved a BA in 1931. He qualified as a solicitor in December 1934 and worked at London, where he lived with his parents and sister at 5, Templars Avenue, Golders Green in Middlesex. He later worked in Burton-on-Trent where he was a junior partner in Talbot & Co. with Harold Victor Argyle (OW GG 1902-1904)
He was married at Hitchin, Hertfordshire on the 15th of September 1939 to Eleanor Dorothy (nee Nicolls) of Stevenage, Hertfordshire and the couple lived in Repton. They had a son, Roger, born on the 15th of June 1940.
He was commissioned as an Acting Pilot Officer on probation in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on the 17th of October 1941 and was confirmed in his rank on the 17th of December 1941. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 1st of October 1942.
He served in North Africa and later returned to England where he resigned his commission on the grounds of ill health on the 24th of November 1943.
He died at Cambridge from TB which he had contracted while on overseas service.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Christ Church, Oxford.
His ashes are buried at St George’s Church, Sampford Brett.
Abrahams, Arthur Charles Lionel, 1898-1918
Abrahams, Arthur Charles Lionel, 1898-1918
GB-2014-WSA-01903 · Person · 1898-1918

Abrahams, Arthur Charles Lionel, only son of Sir Lionel Abrahams, K.C. B., of Bayswater, sometime Assistant Under-Secretary of State, India Office, by Lucy, daughter of Nathan Solomon Joseph, of Bayswater, architect; b. Jan. 22, 1898; adm. as a non-resident K.S. Sept. 28, 1911 (G); elected to Ch. Ch. Oxon. July 1916; 2nd Lieut. Coldstream Guards Aug. 24, 1916; went out to the western front in Feb. 1917, and joined the 3rd Batt. of his regiment there; Lieut. Dec. 1, 1917; killed in action at Merville April 13, 1918; unm.
Addis, Thomas Henry Liddon, 1897-1918
Addis, Thomas Henry Liddon, 1897-1918
GB-2014-WSA-01950 · Person · 1897-1918

Addis, Thomas Henry Liddon, son of the Rev. William Edward Addis, Vicar of All Saints, with Holy Trinity, Knightsbridge, by Mary Rachel, daughter of Robert Flood, of Sydenham, Kent; b. Aug. 24, 1897; adm. Sept. 28, 1911 (H); left July 1915; 2nd Lieut. 4th Batt. (extra Reserve) Royal Dublin Fusiliers July 9, 1915; Lieut. July 1, 1917; was wounded in the Dublin insurrection April 27, 1916; went out to the western front July 12, 1916, and was wounded at Lelonguet July 24; killed in action near Peronne March 21, 1918; unm.
Aglionby, Arthur Hugh, 1885-1918
GB-2014-WSA-01987 · Person · 1885-1918

Aglionby, Arthur Hugh, brother of John Orfeur Aglionby (q.v.); b. Nov. 4, 1885; adm. Sept. 28, 1899 (A); left July 1905; Corpus Coll. Oxon., matric. Michaelmas 1905; 1st Cl. Lit. Hum. 1908; B.A. 1908; M.A. 1912; an assistant master at preparatory schools at St. Andrews and at Bournemouth, and subsequently at Trinity College School, Port Hope, Ontario, Canada; 2nd Lieut. Dorsetshire R.G.A., No. 1 Co., April 4, 1912; returned home from Canada in July 1914; Lieut. R.G.A. Dec. 1, 1914, Capt. (acting) Aug. 26, 1917; Major (acting) May 29, 1918; went out to the western front in Sept. 1916 and served with the 174th, 244th, and 219th Siege Batteries, being in command of the last at the time of his death; M.C. Jan. 1, 1919; d. at the second Canadian C. C. S. at Roubaix Nov. 7, 1918, of wounds received in action at Moen, near the Scheidt, on the same day; unm.
Alderson, John, 1915-1945
Alderson, John, 1915-1945
GB-2014-WSA-02018 · Person · 1915-1945

Alderson, John, son of John Henry Alderson (qv); b. 24 Dec. 1915; adm. Sept. 1928 (KS); left July 1933; member Lloyds underwriting firm; Seaforth Highlanders 1940-5 (Capt.); attached Spe­cial Service troops; MC (Normandy) Aug. 1944; m. 21 Sept. 1939 Diana Mary, d. of Rt Hon. Edward Leslie Burgin MP LLD, Minister of Supply; killed in action in Western Europe Apr. 1945.

John Alderson was born in India on the 24th of December 1915 the only son of John Henry Alderson OW, a schoolmaster, and Dorothy Mogg (nee Stockwell) Alderson of Bruton in Somerset. He was educated at Westminster School, where he was admitted as a King’s Scholar and was up College from September 1928 to July 1934. He placed second for the Ireland Prize for Greek Verse in 1934. He was a member of the Colts Cricket XI from 1929 to 1931, winning his Colts Cap in 1929. He was a member of the 1st Cricket XI in 1932, 1933 and 1934, where he opened the batting in the latter year and of the Football XI in 1932, 1933 and 1934 where he played at inside left. The Elizabethan wrote the following on his 1932/33 season: - “With Symons constituted the brains of the attack. These two made many fine openings and played cleverly with each other and the other wing half backs. Alderson is a beautiful dribbler and strong with both feet, and a most indefatigable worker. If he is here next year, as it is hoped he will be, he should become an extremely dangerous inside-forward.” He was appointed as a School Monitor in 1933 and served as Hon. Secretary of the Elizabethan in the same year. The Elizabethan wrote the following on his 1933 cricket season: - “An attractive batsman, hooks and cuts splendidly, but his defence needs improving. Apt to get careless when well set and consequently did not make any large scores. A very safe fieldsman who, despite the smallness of his hands, catches nearly everything that comes his way.” He was appointed to the Monitorial Council in September 1932 and was a member of the Officer Training Corps where he was promoted to Sergeant in September 1933.
On leaving school he worked for a firm of Lloyd’s insurance brokers.
He was married at St Botolph’s Without, Aldersgate, London on the 21st of September 1939 to Diana Mary (nee Burgin); they had two sons, one of which was born on the 18th of September 1940, Christopher J., born on the 10th of August 1942 and a daughter, Philippa J., born on the 12th of December 1944.
He attended the 164th Officer Cadet Training Unit at Barmouth from the 24th of September 1939 before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Seaforth Highlanders on the 14th of January 1940. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 14th of July 1941 and was later attached to No. 3 Commando where he was appointed to the command of No.6 Troop. He was promoted to temporary Captain on the 13th of March 1944 and was appointed as Regimental Intelligence Officer on the 30th of March 1944.
At 9.05am on the 6th of June 1944, No. 6 Troop, No. 3 Commando landed on Sword beach in LCI 290, which was already sinking as it touched down. The Troop had suffered some casualties on the run in to the beach and suffered more when they moved across it under shell fire. By the evening they were inland at Ranville and by the evening of the 7th of June they were based at the chateau at Amfreville.
At 10.13am on the morning of the 8th of June, No.6 Troop reported that enemy infantry was advancing astride the Le Plein - Languemare Road and they engaged them at close range at 11am with support from artillery and fire from the destroyer HMS Hunter which was offshore. At 11.30am No. 6 Troop counterattacked and drove the Germans back half a mile, “destroying” an enemy company and capturing thirty six prisoners. During this engagement John Alderton was wounded in the knee.
For his actions that day he was awarded the Military Cross, which was announced in the London Gazette of the 31st of August 1944; the citation read: -
“On the morning of 8th June 1944, this Officer was holding a position astride the Le Plein - Languemare Road with one Officer and forty-seven men. The Troop was attacked by a company of German Infantry which established itself in front of the position. Captain Alderson attacked with great determination leading the assault with a T.S.M.G. He himself accounted for a number of the enemy and his men were so inspired by his leadership that they carried on after he was wounded and cleared the entire wood which remains in our hands. Besides approximately 15 enemy killed there were 36 prisoners. Owing to Captain Alderson's skill and courage our own losses were no more than one killed and nine wounded. This success was largely due to Captain Alderson's fine leadership.”
He re-joined his unit as a Troop Officer in billets at Smakt in Holland on the 18th of March 1945. At 3am on the morning of the 7th of April 1945, No. 3 Commando received orders to cross the River Weser in order to support No. 45 Commando as part of a flanking movement to the north of the town of Leese. They moved to Stolzenau at 3.30am and crossed the River Weser in Goatley boats at 4.30am. By 6am they were established in farm buildings where they were under occasional shell fire. Five other ranks were wounded in this area. At 7pm they received orders to join No. 1 Commando Brigade for a night march to Leese. Their objective was the capture of factory which was producing V-2 rockets and they were to be supported by a squadron of tanks for the task. At 8am they began moving towards the northern edge of the Leese and at 8.05am three tanks moved forward to assist them in clearing the town which they entered at 8.15am. At 8.30am the tanks engaged enemy positions in the factory and in woods to the north east of Leese. At 8.45am John Alderson was badly wounded by a sniper and was evacuated to the rear in a captured ambulance at 10am. He died from his wounds later in the day.
When the factory was captured, at around 4pm, a number of rockets were found and around one hundred scientists and support workers were captured.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Harpenden and on the memorials at Bruton and at Lloyd’s of London.
He is buried at Rheinburg War Cemetery Plot 13 Row B Grave 1
Anderson, Laurence, 1874-1915
GB-2014-WSA-02138 · Person · 1874-1915

Anderson, Laurence, eldest son of William Anderson, F.R.C.S., of St. Marylebone; b. July 25, 1874; adm. Jan. 18, 1888 (H); left. July 1892; Ch. Ch. Oxon., matric. Oct. 14, 1892; B.A. 1895; went into business in Eastern Asia, but returned home on the outbreak of the war; 2nd Lieut. 4th Batt. Lincolnshire Regt. Sept. 19, 1914, attached 1st Batt.; served on the western front; killed in action in France Oct. 11, 1915; unm.
Antrobus, George Pollock, 1892-1940
GB-2014-WSA-02207 · Person · 1892-1940

Antrobus, George Pollock, son of Edward Gream Antrobus, C.M.G., of Westminster, Chief Accountant, office of the Crown Agent for the Colonies, by Agnes Minnie, eldest daughter of James Edward Pollock, M. D., F.R.C.P., of London; b. Oct. 12, 1892; adm. Sept. 22, 1904 (H); Exhibitioner 1905; K.S. (non-resident) 1906; elected to an exhibition at Ch. Ch. Oxon. July 1911, matric. Michaelmas 1911; B.A. 1914; appointed a temp. clerk in the Foreign Office Sept. 20, 1915; a King's Messenger in the Foreign Office Oct. 4, 1919; O.B.E. March 30, 1920; killed in an air raid on London Nov. 1940.

George Pollock Antrobus was born at West Kensington, London on the 12th of October 1892 the only son of Edward Greason Antrobus CMG, an Accountant Officer of the Crown Agents of the Colonies, and Agnes Minnie (nee Pollock) Antrobus of 91, George Square, Westminster, later of 15, York Road, Leamington Spa in Warwickshire. He was christened at St Andrew’s Church, Kensington on the 14th of November 1982.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from the 22nd of September 1904 to July 1911 and was awarded an Exhibition in 1905. He was a non resident King’s Scholar from 1906 and was a member of the Debating Society in 1910 and 1911. He matriculated for Christ Church, Oxford in 1911 where he read History and achieved a Second Class BA in 1914. He was appointed as a temporary clerk at the Foreign Office on the 20th of September 1915 and was appointed as a King’s Messenger on the 4th of October 1919. He was awarded the OBE for - “services in Parliamentary Department, Foreign Office” which was announced by St James’s Palace on the 30th of March 1920.
He wrote the book, “King’s Messenger 1918-1940: Memoirs of a Silver Greyhound”, which was published by H, Jenkins in 1941. He retired from the civil service and went to live with his father at 15, York Road, Leamington Spa.
On the night of the 13th/14th of November 1940, the Luftwaffe launched a major attack on the city of Coventry, dispatching some 515 bombers which dropped 500 tons of high explosive bombs, 30,000 incendiaries and 50 landmines on the city. During the raid, one enemy aircraft passed over Leamington Spa which dropped a stick of seven bombs across the town. That night Edward Antrobus had been attending a party at the home of Mr and Mrs Millett at 32, Portland Place and had just returned home, on what was his 80th birthday, when a single high explosive bomb hit the house at 10.58pm, killing him and his son George. There were four others killed in the town that night.
Their funerals took place at All Saints Church, Leamington Spa
He is commemorated on the Leamington Memorial to civilians lost in air raids.
He is buried at Leamington Cemetery, Brunswick Street.
Aris, Jack Biddulph, 1915-1943
GB-2014-WSA-02236 · Person · 1915-1943

Aris, Jack Biddulph, brother of George Biddulph Aris (qv); b. 27 June 1915; adm. Apr. 1929 (A); left Mar. 1933; RAFVR 1942-3 (FO); m.; killed in action 1943.

Jack Biddulph Aris was born at Edenbridge, Kent on the 27th of June 1915 the younger son of Thomas Biddulph Aris, an Executive Advertising Assistant for the London Passenger Transport Board, and Janet Elsie (nee King) Aris of 21, Purley Rise, Purley in Surrey. He was the twin of his sister Mary Biddulph.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from April 1929 to March 1933. On leaving school he went to work as a buyer’s assistant for a biscuit manufacturers.
He was married at St John’s Church, Shirley, Surrey on the 27th of April 1940 to Joan Elizabeth “Joey” (nee Potter, later Aston), a member of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he rose to the rank of Sergeant before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 7th of March 1942. He and his crew attended No. 10 Operational Training Unit before becoming operational when they were posted to 158 Squadron based at RAF East Moor on the 9th of July 1942, and flew on their first operation together to Nantes on the 21st of July 1942. They took off from RAF East Moor on the night of the 31st of July/1st of August 1942 in Halifax Mk II W7777 for an operation on Dusseldorf. While over the target their aircraft was hit by anti aircraft fire which put aircraft into a loop and caused a loss of control. The pilot, Charles Sparke, put the aircraft into a dive at 330 mph before he managed to regain control and return to East Moor where they landed safely in the early hours of the morning with no injuries to the crew reported.
He was promoted to Flying officer on the 1st of October 1942.
On the night of the 10th/11th of December 1942 Bomber Command dispatched 48 Halifaxes, 20 Lancasters, 8 Stirlings and 6 Wellingtons for an operation on Turin. More than half the force was forced to turn back before they reached the Alps due to severe icing conditions but twenty eight crews went on and claimed to have bombed the target. The city reported that only three high explosive bombs had landed on the city of which two had failed to explode.
Jack Aris and his crew took off from RAF Rufforth at 4.45pm on the 10th of December 1942 in Halifax Mk II DT579 NP-V for the operation. The aircraft came down at 8.45am the following morning near the village of Villeneuve-en-Montagne, eight kilometers to the east of Le Creusot, just thirty meters from a farm building owned by Monsieur Monneret, with the loss of the entire crew.
The crew was: -
Flying Officer Jack Biddulph Aris (Navigator)
Pilot Officer Denis Ralph Collyer (Rear Gunner)
Sergeant Ronald Edlington (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant John William Furniss (Mid Upper Gunner)
Flying Officer Harry Middleton (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant Charles Lionel Sparke (Pilot)
Flying Officer Rayden Frederic Watson RCAF (Air Bomber)
Thiers was one of 4 aircraft which failed to return from the mission.
The crew was buried in the local cemetery in a ceremony which was led by the Mayor, Monsieur Bourogoyne, and was attended by all of the people of the town, in spite of the presence of the Germans.
A stone memorial was placed at the crash site in 1992.
He is buried at Villeneuve-en-Montagne Communal Cemetery, Collective Grave
Armstrong, Lindsay Crawford, 1912-1944
GB-2014-WSA-02254 · Person · 1912-1944

Armstrong, Lindsay Crawford, son of Hugh Clayton Armstrong, solicitor, of Bromley, Kent, and Norah MacMahon, d. of William Henry Cortland Mahon of Dulwich; b. 21 June 1912; adm. April 1926 (A); left July 1929; a timber merchant; Roy. Sussex Regt 1940-4 (Lieut.); m.; d. of smallpox on active service in India 10 Apr. 1944.

Lindsay Crawford Armstrong was born at Bromley, Kent on the 21st of June 1912 the youngest son of Hugh Clayton Armstrong, a solicitor, and Nora Macmahon (nee Mahon) Armstrong of 7, Sanford Road, Bromley. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from April 1926 to July 1929 after which he went to work as a timber merchant. He was married at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1933 to Leonore “Nordie” Mary (nee Langton) of Chidham in Sussex.
Following the outbreak of war he attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Sussex Regiment on the 21st of September 1940. He was later attached to the 1st Battalion, Sierra Leone Regiment.
On the 1st of February 1944, the 1st Battalion, Sierra Leone Regiment was advancing down the banks of the Kaladan River in Burma in pursuit of the retreating Japanese, who had placed a number of ambush parties in their path. D Company was patrolling in advance of the rest of the Battalion when Lindsay Armstrong singlehandedly killed an entire seven man Japanese patrol.
He was later contracted smallpox from which he died.
He is buried at Chittagong War Cemetery Plot 7, Row D Grave 8
Ash, William Claudius Casson, 1870-1916
GB-2014-WSA-02292 · Person · 1870-1916

Ash, William Claudius Casson, elder son of William Henry Ash, of Heathfield, Sussex, by Mary Esther, daughter of Joseph Wellington Casson, of Dublin; b. Feb. 6, 1870; adm. Sept. 28, 1883 (D); migrated up Rigaud's; left July 1888; entered the Militia; 2nd Lieut. 2nd Batt. The Duke of Cambridge's Own (The Middlesex Regt.) Sept. 28, 1892; Lieut. July 31, 1895; Capt. March 14, 1900; served in the South African War 1902; Adjutant 5th Batt. Jan. 13, 1902- Jan. 12, 1907; Major April 1, 1909; temp. Lieut.-Col. Dec. 30, 1914 - Feb. 7, 1915; temp. Lieut.-Col. commanding 23rd (Service) Batt. of his Regt. Oct. 30, 1915; went out to the western front Nov. 4, 1914, was wounded at Loos Sept. 25, 1915, and invalided home; returned to the front May 3, 1916; mentioned in despatches L. G. Jan. 1, 1916, and Jan. 4, 1917; D.S.O. Jan. 1, 1916; m. March 1, 1894, Edith Learoyd, second daughter of Edward Wright Barnett, of Selly Oak; d. at Etaples Sept. 29, 1916, of wounds received at Fiers Sept. 15.