Showing 169 results

People & Organisations
Second World War (1939-1945)

Faulkner, Gilbert Faulkner, 1897-1940

  • GB-2014-WSA-06990
  • Person
  • 1897-1940

Faulkner, Gilbert Faulkner, son of Edmund William Abram, of Hampton, Middlesex, by Lucy, daughter of William Thomas Ashton, of Soulton Hall, Salop; b. June 23, 1897 (R); adm. May 4, 1911; left Easter 1914; 2nd Lieut. unattached July 19, 1916; Indian Army 2nd Lieut. Nov. 12, 1916 (acting Capt. July 2-13, 1917); Lieut. July 19, 1917 (acting Capt. Nov. 9, 1919 - July 18, 1920); Capt. July 19, 1920; served in Mesopotamia 1917, Mahsud 1919-20, and Waziristan 1920-2; Major July 19, 1934; acting Lieut.-Col. 8th Punjab Regt.; assumed the name of Faulkner in lieu of Abram July 12, 1936; m. Nov. 29, 1929, Santa Muriel, daughter of Major Frederick William Lillicrap, of Sutton, Surrey; killed on war service in Waziristan, Dec. 7, 1940; the Faulkner History Prize was founded in his memory by his brother officers.

Gilbert Faulkner Abram (later Faulkner) was born at the Inner Temple, London on the 23rd of June 1897 the son of Edmund William Abram, a journalist and author, and Lucy (nee Ashton) Abram of “Sylvans”, Peaslake in Surrey.
He was educated at Godstone School and at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from the 4th of May 1911 to Easter 1914.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on the Unattached List for the Indian Army on the 19th of July 1916 and was attached to the 42nd Deoli Regiment on the 8th of November 1916. He was promoted to Acting Captain from the 2nd to the 13th of July and to Lieutenant on the 19th of July 1917, while serving in Mesopotamia.
In 1919 and 1920 he served at Mahsud and was promoted to Acting Captain from the 9th of November 1919 to the 19th of July 1920, being promoted to Captain from the latter date. He served in Waziristan from 1920 to 1922 and was promoted to Major on the 19th of July 1934.
He was named in a divorce petition which was filed by Ronald St George Cole on the 24th of August 1923. It was alleged that during the month of June 1923 Gilbert Abram and Mrs. Santa Muriel Cole had committed adultery on several occasions at the Central Hotel, 123, Cromwell Street. Cole was granted a decree nisi on the 15th of April 1929.
He was married on the 29th of November 1929 to Santa Muriel (nee Lillicrap formerly Cole) of Haslemere in Surrey but the marriage ended in divorce. He changed his name by deed poll to Faulkner on the 12th of July 1936. He was later promoted to Acting Lieutenant Colonel and was appointed to the command of the 5th Battalion, 8th Punjab Regiment.
He was killed in action in Waziristan.
His medals were sold at auction on the 5th of March 2020.
The Faulkner History Prize was founded in his memory by his brother officers in 1945.
He is buried at Karachi War Cemetery Plot 12, Row D, Grave 13.

Ferrers-Guy, John Humphrey, 1924-1943

  • GB-2014-WSA-07079
  • Person
  • 1924-1943

Ferrers-Guy, John Humphrey, son of George Norman Ferrers-Guy (qv): b. 21 Mar. 1924; adm. Sept. 1937 (B); left July 1941; Midshipman (A) RNVR; killed on active service 16 Sept. 1943.

John Humphrey Ferrers-Guy was born on the 21st of March 1924 the only son of George Norman Ferrers-Guy OW, a company director, and Madeline Alice (nee Lubbock) Ferrers-Guy of 8, Vicarage Gate, Kensington in London, later of 11, Ship Street, Oxford. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Busby’s from September 1937 to July 1941. He was a member of the Colts Cricket XI in 1938 and of the 1st Cricket XI in 1941.
On leaving school he joined the Royal Navy where he trained as a pilot and was appointed as a Midshipman (A) in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on the 14th of May 1943.
On the 16th of September 1943, John Ferrers-Guy took off from RNAS Yeovilton in Sea Hurricane Mk 1B AE967 for a training exercise. At 1.45pm, he was flying close to Irwerne Minster near Shaftesbury when he attempted a slow roll of the aircraft at a height of 200 feet and it dived into the ground, killing him instantaneously.
His mother received the following letter dated the 17th of September 1943: - “Madam, I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to state that they have been informed that your son Temporary Midshipman (A) John Humphrey Ferrers-Day, RNVR, lost his life on Thursday, 16th September, 1943, as the result of an aircraft accident at Iwerne Minster, near Blandford in Dorset. My Lords desire me to express to you their deep regret at receiving this intelligence and their profound sympathy in the great loss which you have sustained.”
He is buried at Yeovilton Royal Navy Cemetery Row C, Grave 4.

Fevez, David Gronow Eugene, 1919-1940

  • GB-2014-WSA-07084
  • Person
  • 1919-1940

Fevez, David Gronow Eugene, son of Eugene Leon Fevez of Esher and his second wife Ethel Gronow, d. of Frederick William Oliver (qv); half brother of Derek John Fevez (qv); b. 12 Jan. 1919; adm. Sept. 1932 (G); left July 1936; PO RAF, killed in action over France June 1940.

David Gronow Eugene Fevez was born at “Eversleigh”, Addlestone, Chertsey, Surrey on the 12th of January 1919 the elder son of Eugene Leon Fevez OW, a director of a wholesale textile company, and his second wife, Ethel Gronow (nee Oliver) Fevez of “Eversleigh”, Addlestone, Chertsey, later of 24, Woodville Road, Bexhill-on-Sea in Sussex. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s’ from September 1932 to July 1936. He attended the Flying School at Gatwick airfield on the 8th of August 1939 and was commissioned as an Acting Pilot Officer on probation in the Royal Air Force on the 9th of October 1939. He was posted to No. 3 Initial Training Wing at Hastings, Kent on the 9th of October 1939 for pilot training and to No. 3 Service Flying Training School at RAF South Cerney on the 21st of October 1939. He was promoted to Pilot Officer on probation on the 28th of April 1940 and was posted to No. 1 School of Air Cooperation on the same day. He was posted to 26 Squadron on the 29th of May 1940, who had been based at Authie airfield in France before moving to RAF Lympne on the 20th of May 1940.
David Fevez and his Observer/Air Gunner, Sergeant Robert Donald Keiler Cochrane, took off from Boos near Rouen on the morning of 5th of June 1940 in Lysander Mk II N1211 for a reconnaissance of the Somme area. The aircraft was flying to the south west of Abbeville when it was attacked and shot down by Hauptmann Muller of 4./JG3. The aircraft crashed near Ercourt at 12.10pm killing both men.
His mother received the following telegram dated the 6th of June 1940: - “Regret to inform you that your son Pilot Officer David Gronow Fevez is reported missing as the result of air operations on 5th June 1940. Letter follows. Any further information received will be immediately communicated to you. Should information reach you from any source please inform this department.”
One of the bodies of the crew was found by the Germans close to the wreckage of the aircraft and was buried at the crash site. Two months later another body was found in a wood some 200 yards from the crash site and was wearing an unopened parachute. He was buried with his comrade. In 1941 some locals moved them to the village cemetery and marked them both as unknown airmen. In 1946 No. 1 Missing Research and Enquiry Unit, Royal Air Force exhumed the bodies, identified them and reburied them at the same location.
His brother, Captain Robin Louis Gronow Fevez OW, 2/5th Battalion, The Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey) was killed in action on the 10th of September 1943.
He is buried at Ercourt Churchyard Cemetery, France.

Fevez, Robin Lewis Gronow, 1920-1943

  • GB-2014-WSA-07088
  • Person
  • 1920-1943

Fevez, Robin Lewis Gronow, brother of David Grunow Eugene Fevez (qv); b. 7 Nov. 1920; adm. Sept. 1934 (G); left Dec. 1937; King's Coll. Lond. 1938, enlisted Aug. 1939; The Queen's Regt, served Iraq 1942, Eighth Army 1943 (Capt.); killed in action (Italy) Sept. 1943.

Robin Louis Gronow Fevez was born at “Eversleigh”, Addlestone, Chertsey, Surrey on the 7th of November 1920 the younger son of Eugene Leon Fevez OW, a director of a wholesale textile company, and his second wife, Ethel Gronow (nee Oliver) Fevez of Radley Cottage, Church Road, Addlestone, Chertsey, later of 24, Woodville Road, Bexhill-on-Sea in Sussex. He was educated at St George’s College, Weybridge and at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from September 1934 to December 1937. He went on to the Faculty of Science at King’s College, London University from 1938 to 1940 where he was a member of the London University Officer Training Corps. He had planned to become a research chemist but the outbreak of war intervened.
He enlisted as Private 6464127 in The Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey) on the 25th of September 1939 and was posted to No. 162 Officer Cadet Training Unit on the 22nd of November 1940. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Regiment on the 15th of March 1941. He was posted to the 2/5th Battalion of his Regiment and served in Iraq in 1942. He served as Acting Adjutant and as Battalion Itelligence Offier before being appointed to the command of D Company
On the 9th of September 1943, the 2/5th Battalion, The Queen’s Royal Regiment was in the leading wave of the Allied landings at Salerno for the invasion of Italy. The troops were loaded onto assault landing craft just after midnight and they headed for shore under a curtain of supporting fire from the naval guns offshore. The enemy returned fire and as the two leading landing craft approached the shore both were hit and damaged. Although there were a number of casualties in Robin Fevez’s boat, he was unhurt and landed on the beach shortly after 4am. The Battalion’s task was to land on the right of the 4,000 yard stretch of beach, to secure the beachhead and to advance a further 3,000 yards inland by first light. D Company, on the left of the Battalion’s attack, crossed bogs and ditches as they made their way inland where they secured their objective, a large agricultural college at Piccola a mile behind the beach. They had taken the position with few casualties and were in high spirits when a German tank was spotted some 300 yards to their front which heralded a counterattack by the 16th Panzer Division. C Company, which was the lead Company, suffered heavy losses but, with support from the other Companies the enemy attack was eventually driven off. At midnight on the 9th/10th of September the Battalion’s commanding officer received orders to resume the advance in order to attack before the Germans were able to reorganise.
A and D Companies began the advance in darkness with D Company moving up a road on the left. They moved forward for about an hour before they saw what looked in the gloom like an enemy tank in the middle of the road. A PIAT was ordered forward and knocked out what turned out to be an enemy self propelled gun and its half-track. A Platoon was then dispatched to investigate a nearby house on their right when the whole line came under heavy fire. Robin Fevez met Lieutenant Whitfield at a cross roads where the two men had to shout to hear each other due to the noise of the gunfire and of the tracer bullets whipping over their heads. He was ordered to dig in and to hold his position in preparation for an expected counterattack at first light. As daylight came it became clear that the Battalion was sited in the middle of an encampment of enemy tanks and the noise of their engines starting, coupled with heavy fire in all directions added to the confusion. Robin Fevez quickly realized that he and his men were about to find themselves in a desperate position with tanks attacking them from short range. He ordered his men to break out “as best as they could” but they were almost completely cut off from the rest of the Battalion. Only 20 men managed to get back to the Battalion with Robin Fevez being killed during the fighting withdrawal. The Battalion was relived the following day.
His brother, Pilot Officer David Gronow Eugene Fevez OW, 26 Squadron Royal Air Force was killed in action on the 5th of June 1940.
He is commemorated on the London University Roll of Honour
He is buried at Salerno War Cemetery Plot III, Row A, Grave 10.

Fisher, Herbert Paul Greenwood, 1908-1940

  • GB-2014-WSA-07151
  • Person
  • 1908-1940

Fisher, Herbert Paul Greenwood, brother of John Greenwood Fisher (qv); b. 25 June 1908; adm. Sept. 1922 (A); left July 1926; dir. Benhams (Engineering) Ltd; PO RAFVR Apr. 1940; m. 5 Sept. 1931 Joyce Margaret Applin, d. of Frank Edwin Bennett of Streatham; killed in action over Libya 28 July 1940.

Herbert Paul Greenwood Fisher was born at Hampstead, London on the 25th of June 1908 the younger son of Herbert Fisher, an importer of clocks, and Josephine Hilda (nee Williamson) Fisher of 8, King’s Gardens Hampstead in London. He was christened at St James’ Church, West Hampstead on the 22nd of July 1908. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from September 1922 to July 1926. On leaving school he became a director of Benhams (Engineering) Ltd and was later the Company Secretary to Dunbrik & Company Ltd, brick manufacturers.
He was married on the 5th of September 1931 to Margaret Joyce (nee Applin) and the couple lived at 115, Gaywood Road, King’s Lynn in Norfolk.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as an observer and rose to the rank of Sergeant before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 7th of April 1940.
On the 27th of July 1940, Herbert Greewood and his crew were one of eight aircraft from 30 Squadron which flew to from Iningi Maryut to Maaten Bagush where they were to operate under 202 Group in carrying out operations over the Libyan border.
Herbert Fisher and his crew took off from Maaten Bagush at 6.10am on the 28th of July 1940 in Blenheim Mk IF K7178 HY-B with one other aircraft from the Squadron to escort a Blenheim Mk IV aircraft from 113 Squadron which was undertaking a reconnaissance mission at 6.000 feet over the Italian lines at the border between Libya and Egypt. At 6.30am the other escort fighter entered cloud and became separated from Herbert Greenwood’s aircraft and from the Blenheim they were escorting. The two aircraft continued on their mission alone and were flying between Sollum and Bardia when they were intercepted by five Fiat CR42 fighters of 84 and 90 Squadriglia. During the ensuing combat their aircraft was shot down with the loss of the entire crew. The victory was shared by Sergente Scaglioni and Tenete Franco Lucchini of 90 Squadriglia. Franco Luchini’s aircraft had been so badly damaged by the return fire from the Blenheims that it tipped over on landing and was written off; he was killed in action on the 5th of July 1943. The Blenheim from 113 Squadron, although very badly damaged, managed to return to base alone.
The crew was: -
Flight Lieutenant Ian Cheesman Swann (Pilot)
Pilot Officer Herbert Paul Greenwood Fisher (Observer)
Sergeant John Young (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
The crew was buried close to the wreckage of their aircraft but their bodies were exhumed and mover to their present location in 1948.
He is buried at Knightsbridge War Cemetery Collective Grave 8D 8-9.

Fisher, John Malcolm, 1890-1943

  • GB-2014-WSA-07155
  • Person
  • 1890-1943

Fisher, John Malcolm, elder son of the Rev. William Fisher, of Norwood, by Anna Maria Isabella, daughter of John Edward Hunt, of Douglas, Isle of Man; b. June 7, 1890; adm. Sept. 24, 1903 (H); left July 1908; 2nd Lieut. 5th Batt. York and Lancaster Regt. Aug. 14, 1914; temp. Lieut. April 1915; Capt. June 1, 1916; served on the western front April 13, 1915; - Nov. 11, 1918, on the staff Feb. 1, 1917 - Nov. 11, 1918; mentioned in despatches L. G. March 15, 1916; Dec. 11, 1917 and July 5, 1919; M.C. March 15, 1916; D.S.O. June 3, 1919; Major Feb. 16, 1928; Lieut.-Col. Feb. 16, 1933; T. D.; Brevet Col. Feb. 16, 1937; (Middle East) L. G. Dec. 15, 1942 and June 24, 1943; m. Nov. 13, 1919, Alice, youngest daughter of Sir William James Bell, D. L., of Godstone, Surrey; d. on active service in North Africa, May 18, 1943.

John Malcolm Fisher was born at Leeds, Yorkshire on the 7th of June 1890 the elder son of the Reverend William Fisher and Anna Maria Isabella (nee Hunt) Fisher of 24, Lunham Road, Norwood in Surrey, later of Kingham Rectory, Oxford. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from the 24th of September 1903 to July 1908.
Following the outbreak of the Great War he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 5th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment on the 14th of August 1914 and he joined them at their base at Rotherham. The Battalion was designated as the 1/5th Battalion and on the 13th of April 1915 they left York in two trains bound for Folkestone where they embarked later in the day and arrived at Boulogne at 11.30pm that night. They disembarked at 5am the following morning. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 9th of October 1915.
At 5.25am on the 19th of December 1915 the Battalion was in trenches near the canal bank at Ypres when the Germans began shelling their positions with heavy artillery fire. This lasted until 9am and continued intermittently throughout the day. Gas was released on the Battalion’s positions but no enemy infantry attack followed. Those of the enemy who showed themselves were shot by the Battalion snipers. Although the trenches only suffered minor damage from the shelling, three officers and six other ranks were killed by the gas with a further four officers and eighty seven other ranks suffering from the effects of it. Five other ranks were killed by bullets and shell fire with one officer and twenty three other ranks wounded. That night they were relieved by the 1/7th Battalion, The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (West Riding) and they marched to a rest camp.
For his actions that day John Fisher was one of three officers from the Battalion to be awarded the Military Cross, which was announced by the War Office on the 15th of March 1916. The citation for his award read: - “For conspicuous good service. During an enemy attack, when his senior Officer was incapacitated, he assumed command of his battalion, organised the ammunition supply, arranged for the relief for the night, sent in clear reports to Headquarters, and carried on generally in a manner to inspire confidence.”
He was promoted to temporary Captain on the 1st of June 1916 and to Captain on the 26th of June 1917, with precedence from the 1st of June 1916. He was appointed as a General Staff Officer 2nd Grade in early 1918 and served on the Staff of 49th Division.
He was Mentioned in Despatches on three occasions, which were announced in the London Gazette of the 15th of March 1916, the 11th of December 1917 and of the 5th of July 1919. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the King’s Birthday Honours List of the 3rd of June 1919. He applied for his medals on the 5th of January 1920.
He was married at All Souls Church, Marylebone on the 13th of November 1919 to Ailie (nee Bell) of Faygate, Sussex. Following the end of the war he remained in his old Battalion and was promoted to Major on the 16th of February 1928. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on the 16th of February 1933 when he was appointed to the command of his Battalion. He was awarded the Efficiency Decoration of the Territorial Army in February 1934 for his services in training anti-aircraft personnel. He was promoted to Brevet Colonel on the 16th of February 1937 and continued to the command his Battalion when it became the 67th (The York and Lancaster Regiment) Heavy Anti Aircraft Brigade, Royal Artillery. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire (Military Division) in the King’s Birthday Honours List, which was announced by St James’s Palace on the 9th of June 1938.
During the Second World War he was appointed to the command of the 13th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment and went with them to the Middle East in October 1940 where he saw action in Libya and at the siege of Tobruk. He served on the General Staff from April 1943 where he was involved in planning the defence of Egypt and was twice Mentioned in Despatches.
On the 18th of May 1943, John Fisher was at Tripoli and was entering his car when he died suddenly from heart failure.
He was created as a Commander of the British Empire, which was announced by St James’ Palace on the 14th of October 1943. The recommendation for the award read as follows: - “During the period under review Col. Fisher in addition to his normal A.A. defence duties which he has always carried out most efficiently, has had to organise the special precautions connected with the French Fleet. This for various reasons has required clear thinking, and decisions and untiring energy, all of which Col. Fisher has displayed. During the period of Eighth Army operating he maintained an efficient AA cover over Alexandria Harbour for which he received the thanks of and congratulations of RN.”
A friend wrote of him: - “We all knew him very well in Alexandria and were delighted when he came back the other day as our Brigadier. He will be greatly missed as he was not only our Brigade Commander but a warm friend to every one of us.”
He is buried at Tripoli War Cemetery Plot 6, Row G, Grave 12.

Forbes, Peter Fraser Lestock, 1918-1943

  • GB-2014-WSA-07275
  • Person
  • 1918-1943

Forbes, Peter Fraser Lestock, son of Sidney Lestock Forbes of Putney; b. 20 Mar. 1918; adm. May 1932 (G); left Dec. 1934; 2nd Lieut. Rajputana Rifles IA 1942; d. of wounds in Burma Feb. 1943.

Peter Fraser Lestock Forbes was born at Bournemouth, Hampshire on the 20th of March 1918 the younger son of Sidney Lestock Forbes, an engineer, and Edith Lizzie (nee Goodwin) Forbes of Putney, later of “Beggars Roost”, Seven Hills Road, Cobham in Surrey. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from May 1932 to December 1934. He won the Pancake Greaze in 1933.
He enlisted in the army where he rose to the rank of Lance Corporal before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Indian Army on the 28th of May 1942.
His funeral took place on the 27th of February 1943.
He is buried at Kirkee War Cemetery Plot 8, Row K, Grave 15.

Gammon, Frederick David, 1921-1940

  • GB-2014-WSA-07623
  • Person
  • 1921-1940

Gammon, Frederick David, son of Sidney Gammon, HM Penge CS, Kent, and Olive Mary Gam­mon; b. 12 Nov. 1921; adm. May 1935 (G); left Mar. 1940; killed in an air raid Oct. 1940.

Frederick David Gammon was born in Northamptonshire on the 12th of November 1921 the only son of Sidney Gammon MA, Headmaster of Beckenham County School for Boys, and Olive Mary Ulph (nee Woollard) Gammon of 9, Foxgrove Avenue, Beckenham in Kent. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from May 1935 to March 1940.
Following the outbreak of war he served as a member of a First Aid Party in the Civil Defence. He and both of his parents were killed when their home was hit by a high explosive bomb during an enemy air raid.
A memorial service w held in their memory on the 28th of October 1940.
He is buried at Beckenham Cemetery.

Gates, Terence Horatio, 1908-1944

  • GB-2014-WSA-07710
  • Person
  • 1908-1944

Gates, Terence Horatio, brother of Ralph Charles Gates (qv); b. 17 Nov. 1908; adm. Jan. 1923 (A); left. Dec. 1925; Selwyn Coll. Camb., matric. 1928, BA 1931; RA 1940-4 (Lieut.); m. 18 Jan. 1936 Margery Helen, d. of Col. Sir Henry George Lyons RE, Fellow and Treasurer Royal Soci­ety; killed in action (Burma) 1944.

Terence Horatio Gates was born in Italy on the 17th of November 1908 the younger son of Dr Edward Alfred Gates MD OBE OW, Medical Officer at Westminster School, and Mary Elizabeth (nee Fowler) Gates of 9, Cambridge Square, Paddington in London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from January 1923 to December 1925. He matriculated for Selwyn College, Cambridge in 1928 and was awarded a BA in 1931.
He was married on the 18th of January 1936 to Margery Helen (nee Lyons) of York Terrace, Regent’s Park; they lived at Flat 2, 28, Cleveland Square, Lancaster Gate in London. They had two daughters, Christine Mary, born on the 24th of May 1937 and Hester, born on the 3rd of July 1939.
He attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on the 2nd of November 1940. He transferred to the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment and was later appointed as Battalion Intelligence Officer.
In March 1944 the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment formed No. 16 and No. 61 Columns of the Chindit operation code named Operation Thursday. The operation was to penetrate deep behind Japanese lines and was made up of 45 columns, each of 400-450 men and 60 mules. They were to attack Japanese supply lines, cutting roads, bridges and railway lines and to attack their troops at every opportunity. The leading elements of the Chindit force began its long march into enemy territory on the 5th of February 1944 with the last column following on the 22nd of February. They created air strips in the jungle to allow resupply and to evacuate casualties.
Terence Gates left his column on the 18th of June 1944 with two Kachin policemen and headed for Chaungwa where they were to recruit and organise small parties of Kachins to use for scouting. Three days later he was recruiting in a village when he learned from the villagers that there was a large party of Japanese troops in the area. He then set out for the village of Mapyin and, as he was approaching it, he saw two Japanese soldiers sitting on a tree trunk outside the village and opened fire on them. He immediately came under fire from Japanese troops hidden in nearby bushes and was shot in the stomach. He died a short time later.
He is buried at Taukkyan War Cemetery Plot 7, Row D, Grave 23.

Gorman, Harry Fortescue, 1901-1946

  • GB-2014-WSA-08045
  • Person
  • 1901-1946

Gorman, Harry Fortescue, son of Major William Henry Gorman, of Purley, Surrey, by Florence, daughter of Major Robert John Hickman, 60th Rifles, of Hersham, Surrey; b. Sept. 8, 1901; adm. as K.S. Sept. 23, 1915; left July 1920; a member of the firm of Patons and Baldwins, Ltd., Halifax; later engaged in business at Hove, Sussex; 2nd Lieut. R.A. Sept. 7, 1940; Lieut.-Col.; mentioned in despatches (N.W. Europe) L.G. Nov. 8, 1945, and April 4, 1946; m. Sept. 14, 1933, Frances Isabella Patricia, elder daughter of Albert Clifford Robinson, of Brighouse, Yorks; killed in a motor accident in Germany Jan. 20, 1946.

Harry Fortescue Gorman was born at Dover, Kent on the 8th of September 1901 the elder son of Major William Henry Gorman, East Surrey Regiment, and Florence (nee Hickman) Gorman of “Rozel”, Woodcote Valley Road, Purley in Surrey, later of Willow Drive, Halifax. He was educated at Westminster School where he was a King’s Scholar from the 23rd of September 1915 to July 1920. He was a member of the 2nd Football XI in 1917 and of the 1st Football XI in 1917 and 1918. He was a member of the 1st Cricket XI in 1717 and was a member of the Officer Training Corps.
On leaving school he worked for the firm of Patons and Baldwins Ltd, knitting yarn manufacturers of Halifax, and was later in business at Hove in Sussex.
He was married at St Martin’s Church, Brighouse, Yorkshire on the 14th of September 1933 to Frances Isabella Patricia (nee Robinson) and they lived at “Tanaghmore”, Pangbourne in Sussex. They had two daughters, Janet, born on the 18th of August 1934, Sarah, and a son, Charles, born in 1937.
He attended an Officer Cadet Training Battalion before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on the 7th of September 1940.
He was created as a Member of the British Empire and the recommendation for the award read as follows: - ““Major Gorman has been OC 218 Det Mil Gov during the whole of the period 1 Feb 45 – 30 Apr 45 and in the performance of his duties he has shown outstanding zeal and ability. Operating under most trying conditions and often under fire with the leading troops his disregard for danger and devotion to duty have largely contributed to the successful imposition of Mil Gov in 8 Corps area.”
He was twice Mentioned in Despatches for “Gallant and distinguished services in North-West Europe”, which were announced by the War Office on the 8th of November 1945 and on the 4th of April 1946.
He was killed in a motor accident at Hamburg.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Rottingdean, Sussex.
He is buried at Hamburg Cemetery Plot 1A, Row C, Grave 15.

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