John Hamblin's Research: Surnames W-Z

Wakeford, Bernard 2nd Lieutenant 226993

Royal Army Service Corps
Killed on active service on the 20th of September 1942 aged 26
Bernard Wakeford was born at Cardiff on the 5th of April 1916 the only son of Leonard Ernest Wakeford, Deputy Superintendent, Merchant Marine Office of the Board of Trade, and Sarah Ann (nee Work) Wakeford of 23, Penrhyn Avenue, Rhos-on Sea, Denbighshire. He was educated at Bonnington Academy and at George Watson's College from 1923 to 1925. He went on to The John Roan School, Greenwich when his parents moved to London. He was an outstanding boxer and was runner up in the Schoolboy's Championship of Great Britain in 1932. On leaving school he entered the service of the Union Assurance Society in 1933 and joined the Territorial Army. He was married in 1939 to Elizabeth Mary (nee Green).
He was mobilised on the outbreak of war and crossed to France where he was later evacuated from Dunkirk. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Army Service Corps on the 21st of February 1942 and was posted to Northern Ireland.
On the 19th of September 1942 Bernard Wakeford was attending a dance at Crawfordsburn Country Club. He and his friends had ordered a taxi for 11.45pm but when this didn’t arrive he rang for a military vehicle and when it arrived he told the soldier who had driven it there that he would drive. There were four passengers in the car, 2nd Lieutenant John Ruane, Driver William Thomas Hodges, Miss Lila Millar and Miss Ena Houston. Lila Millar was travelling in the front passenger seat. The car was travelling down Carson’s Road on the Crawfordsburn Road when it skidded, struck a footpath and overturned. All five occupants were pinned under the upturned car and Bernard Wakeford died from his injuries before he reached the local hospital.
An inquest into the accident was held which was chaired by Dr Wallace, the Coroner for North Down.
He buried at Eltham Cemetery Section B Grave 206

Watson, Herbert Ramsey Sapper 2192020

23 Field Company, Royal Engineers
Killed in action on the 10th of February 1944 aged 26
Herbert Ramsey Watson was born at Edinburgh the son of Herbert George Watson and Mary Shiel (nee Hall) Watson of 6, Woodburn Terrace, Edinburgh, later of 54, Morningside Drive, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1922 to 1934 where he played for the Under 15 Rugby XV in 1932/33 and for the 2nd Rugby XV the following season. He held the Bronze Medal of the Royal Life Saving Society and was Prizeman in Engineering Drawing in 1931. He went on to Edinburgh University in 1934 where he studied Engineering.
On the outbreak of war he volunteered for the Royal Engineers and was posted overseas in early 1943. He served through the end of the North African campaign before moving to Italy.
He is commemorated on the Cassino Memorial Panel 3

Watson, Ian William Pilot Officer 62280

18 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 16th of June 1941 aged 24
Ian William Watson was born at Ayr on the 15th of April 1916 the elder son of Harry Watson and Emily M. Watson of 45, Grange Road, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1922 to 1935 where he was a member of the 2nd Rugby XV. He was a prominent golfer and athlete, being runner up in the final of the Torrance Cup in 1935. On leaving school he joined the Scottish Union & National Insurance Company of Edinburgh and was training to be an insurance surveyor when war broke out.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 29th of January 1941. He trained as a pilot, gained his "Wings", and completed his training with No. 13 Operational Training Unit before being posted to 18 Squadron.
At 3.23pm on the 16th of June 1941, Ian Watson and his crew took off from RAF Oulton in Blenheim Mk IV V6512 WV-K as one of seven aircraft from the Squadron detailed for an anti-shipping patrol over "Beat 10" off the north western coast of France. At 4.22pm enemy ships were sighted off the Hook of Holland and at 4.30pm Ian Watson reduced his height to about 40 feet above the surface of the sea to attack an enemy vessel of around 3,000 tons. The ship itself was firing "medium" anti aircraft fire but there was also a Flak ship close by which was also firing at the aircraft. Watson's aircraft was not seen after it went into the attack and it failed to return.
The crew was: -
Pilot Officer Ernest Keith Aires (Observer)
Sergeant Tom Dean (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer Ian William Watson (Pilot)
His father received the following telegram dated the 17th of June 1941: - "Regret to inform you that your son Pilot Officer Ian William Watson is reported missing as the result of air operations on 16th June 1941. Any further information received will be immediately communicated to you. Should news of him reach you from any source please advise this department. Letter confirming this telegram follows."
He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Panel 35

Watson, John Bruce Master OBE

SS Royal Scot, Merchant Navy
Killed in action on the 10th of June 1941 aged 38
John Bruce Watson was born at Leith on the 28th of April 1903 the son of Chief Engineer Daniel Mackenzie Watson, Merchant Navy, and Jane Watson of 16, Stanley Road, Leith.. He was educated at Bennington Academy, Leith and at George Watson's College from 1913 to 1919. On leaving school he became an Apprentice on board the cargo ship SS Port Bowen of the Commonwealth & Dominion Line. He was married to Margaret Fortune of Edinburgh. He gained his Second Mates Certificate on the 1st of November 1923 and his First Mates Certificate on the 24th of June 1925. On gaining his Masters Certificate he joined the Currie Line of Leith and later moved to the London & Edinburgh Shipping Company.
He was given command of the 1,444 ton steam cargo ship SS Royal Scot in 1940 and was awarded the Order of the British Empire in the New Years Honours List of the 1st of January 1941.
The SS Royal Scot set sail from London bound for Leith carrying a general cargo. On the 10th of June 1941, when the convoy was near Buoy 62 on the Outer Dowsing Shoal, some 30 miles off the Humber and 28 nautical miles off Spurn Point, she triggered an acoustic mine and sank. The patrol vessel HMS Pintail (K21) rushed to her aid and to pick up survivors but she too hit an acoustic mine and sank almost immediately.
He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial Panel 89

Watson, John Russell Squadron Leader 29029

115 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 16th of August 1943 aged 34
John Russell Watson was born at Sian, Shensi, North China on the 9th of May 1909 the son of the Reverend James Wilson, a missionary, of 93, Warrender Park Road, Edinburgh. He was educated at Chefoo in China and at George Watson’s College from 1923 to 1927. On leaving school he was articled to a firm of architects in Edinburgh and joined the Territorial Army where he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 57th Medium (Lowland) Brigade, Royal Artillery on the 2nd of April 1929. He decided on a career in the Royal Air Force and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation on the 21st of February 1930 and was confirmed in his rank on the 21st of February 1931. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 21st of August 1931 and was posted to India until 1935 when he returned to the UK. He resigned his commission and passed into the Royal Air Force Reserve of Officers.
On the outbreak of war, he was mobilised with the rank of Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and was posted to Training Command. He was promoted to temporary Squadron Leader on the 1st of September 1941 and was confirmed in his rank on the 7th of August 1942. He transferred to Fighter Command where he served in the North African campaign and later transferred to Bomber Command where he flew on operations over Germany and Italy.
On the night of the 15th/16th of August 1943 Bomber Command dispatched 103 Stirlings, 37 Halifaxes and 14 Lancasters for an operation on Turin. 12 aircraft located the target and dropped their bombs on the green target markers from between 8,000 and 18,000 feet. Returning crews reported good results with the bombing being concentrated and with damage caused to the Fiat works. Casualties on the ground were 3 dead and 36 injured.
John Watson and his crew took off from RAF Little Snoring at 8.25pm on the 15th of August 1943 in Lancaster Mk II DS684 KO-M for the operation. While returning from the raid the aircraft crashed near Alencon in France with the loss of the entire crew.
The crew was: -
Squadron Leader John Russell Watson (Pilot)
Sergeant Adrian Bernard Heyes (Flight Engineer)
Flight Sergeant Robert Ashworth Crawshaw RNZAF (Navigator)
Sergeant Charles Edward Brook (Air Bomber)
Sergeant Walter Bell Pettet (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Richard Clifford (Mid Upper Gunner)
Sergeant Stanley Eastwood (Rear Gunner)
Theirs was one of four aircraft which were lost on the raid.
He is buried at Le Mans West Cemetery Plot 38 1939-45 Row A Grave 6

Watt, Stuart Cameron 2nd Lieutenant 220553

100 (8th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
Killed on active service on the 25th of March 1942 aged 20
Stuart Cameron Watt was born at Edinburgh in 1921 the younger son of James Watt and Emily Meikleham Watt of 2, Gordon Terrace, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1927 to 1939 where he was a first rate scholar and was appointed as School Captain in 1938. He was one of three Scottish members of the Public Schools Exploring Society's Expedition to Newfoundland in 1938 and in 1939 he represented the school at the King's Camp at Balmoral. He was destined for the church and gained a Simpson Bursary.
Although he was exempt from service he chose a combative role by joining the army and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on the 20th of December 1941. He was posted to 100 (8th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders) Anti-Tank Regiment based at Norwich.
On the 25th of March 1942, C and D Batteries of the 100 Anti-Tank Regiment were sent to Winterton ranges for a live firing exercise. During the shoot a tracer bullet set fire to some dry grass on the range and Stuart Watt was placed in charge of a party to extinguish the fire. Minefields were known to be in the vicinity of the fire and he had been warned not to venture into the areas where they had been laid which had been fenced off. When they got to the area which was on fire they found that it was in the middle of a minefield but Stuart Watt decided to lead his party in to deal with it anyway. While dealing with the fire he stepped on a mine and was killed. The remainder of his party was unhurt and, under the leadership of Sergeant Roberts, they picked their way safely back to the fence line.
His funeral was held on the 27th of March 1942 and was conducted by the Vicar of All Saints Church. It was attended by the commanding officer of the Regiment and by the officers from his Battery.
The Regimental war diary recorded that: - "2/Lt Watt was the first Gunner Officer to be posted to this Regiment after its conversion and was regarded by his superiors as an extremely able and promising young officer. His death is a real loss to the Regiment"
On the 11th of November 1942, his parents presented a Hammond organ to the school in his memory. He is commemorated on the war memorial at Craigmillar Park Church, Edinburgh.
He is buried at West Linton Cemetery Section A Class I Grave 23

Waugh, John Arthur Peter Lieutenant 114108

6th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment
Died of wounds on the 21st of March 1943 aged 22
John Arthur Peter Waugh was born in West London on the 29th of January 1921 the son of Colonel Frederick Arthur Waugh OBE MC, Sudan Police Force, and Zara Nathalie (nee Daniell) Waugh of 13, Ophir Road, Worthing in Sussex.
He was educated at Rosary Priory, Bushey, Hertfordshire and at George Watson's College from 1930 to 1939.
On leaving school he entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst from where he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Lincolnshire Regiment on the 31st of December 1939. In 1940 he was appointed as Aide de Camp to General Montgomery and was promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st of July 1941. He was married in London in 1942 to Barbara Cecilia Mary (nee Emerson later Stansfield) a nurse. He joined the 6th Battalion of his Regiment on the 1st of September 1942 at Sunningdale in Berkshire where they were preparing to go overseas. He took part in Operation Torch, the Allied landings in North Africa, in November 1942.
On the 20th of March 1943, the 6th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment was in positions to the south of Djebel Bou Lahia when John Waugh went out on a reconnaissance with the second in command of the Battalion. During their mission they entered an Arab village which had a number of British wounded sheltering in it. The village was under heavy enemy shelling at the time and it was during this bombardment that Waugh decided to run across to the wounded to see how he could help them. As he did so, a shell burst near to him and he was badly wounded. His comrades carried him to their vehicle where he was bandaged and then left there while the other wounded were loaded on board. All were then driven to an Advanced Dressing Station where his wounds were dressed by a doctor before he was taken further back to a Field Hospital. At the hospital he was given morphine and operated on the following morning but he died from his wounds later that afternoon.
He is buried at Medjez-el-Bab War Cemetery Plot 12 Row H Grave 8

Whelahan, Michael Joseph Bombardier 1464575

292 Battery, 94 (City of Edinburgh) Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
Killed in action on the 23rd of December 1941 aged 30
Michael Joseph Whelahan was born at 16, Chapel Street, Edinburgh on the 11th of July 1911 the only son of Patrick John Whelahan, a civil servant, and Margaret (nee McGinness) Whelahan of 49, West Nicholson Street, Edinburgh. He was educated at St Columba's School, Blackhall and at George Watson's College from 1923 to 1929. On leaving school he entered the offices of the Edinburgh Education Authority. He went on to Edinburgh University and graduated B.Com in 1933. On leaving university he went to work as an accountant's clerk.
He enlisted in the Territorial Army in March 1939 and was mobilised on the outbreak of war. He was married at St Mary's Roman Catholic Chapel, Bathgate on the 3rd of February 1941 to Margaret Ash "Daisy" (nee McKeon), a lecturer in nursing, of Bathgate, West Lothian.
He embarked with his Battery at Gourock for service in the Middle East on board the passenger ship SS Aronda at 11am on the 22nd of April 1941 and disembarked at Port Tewfik in Egypt at 10.45am on the 14th of June 1941.
In December 1941, Michael Whelahan and two members of his Battery boarded the 3,059 ton steam passenger ship SS Shuntien at Tobruk for the journey to Alexandria. Also on board were 770 Italian prisoners, of which 44 were wounded and 81 German prisoners of which 58 were wounded. These were escorted by an officer and 45 other ranks of the 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. In addition there were 2 Polish officers and two other ranks, with 6 other ranks from the Royal Artillery, including Michael Whelahan and his comrades. A medical party was also on board in the form of 1 officer and 8 other ranks of the 1st Australian General Hospital.
The SS Shuntien set sail at 3.30pm on the 23rd of December, under the command of Master William Lawrence Shinn, in convoy with mostly empty merchantmen and their escorts, the destroyer HMS Heythrop (L85) and the corvette HMS Salvia (K97) to form Convoy TA-5. They were joined by two other escorts, the destroyers HMS Hotspur and HMS Hasty while they were at sea.
At 7.02pm she was sailing some 8 miles to the north of Marsa Lucch, off the coast of Cyrenaica, when she was hit by a torpedo which had been fired by the U Boat U-559, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hans Heidtmann. The torpedo blew off her stern and orders were given to abandon ship. Unable to launch the lifeboats in time, many of the passengers and crew jumped over the side into the sea before she sank 5 minutes later.
While Convoy TA-5 continued its passage, escorted by HMS Hotspur and HMS Hasty, HMS Salvia remained with the stricken ship to try to rescue as many of its passengers and crew as they could.
Some of these were picked up by HMS Salvia, which was nearby and circled the area for some time picking up as many men as she could. Some two hours later HMS Heythrop arrived on the scene.
Ordinary Seaman Bob Parfitt of the HMS Heythrop later remembered: -
"On arrival at the scene we found the corvette HMS Salvia with her sea boat away and already picking up survivors. The sea was one huge mass of floating heads and bodies immersed in an awful lot of oil. Unfortunately for them, Heythrop picked up a very strong Asdic signal showing a U-Boat lurking right below these men in the water. Lt Comdr. Stafford, not wanting to endanger his ship, did not put a boat away, but continued to hold the contact, while cruising at nine knots around the perimeter of the survivors."
HMS Heythrop picked up another 8 survivors before leaving the area and proceeding to Alexandria. An unknown number of survivors were killed when HMS Salvia was sunk by a torpedo fired by the U-Boat U-568 at 1.35am the following morning and was lost with all hands.
He is commemorated on the 94th (City of Edinburgh) Heavy Artillery Regiment memorial at St Giles’ Church, Edinburgh.
He is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial Column 32

White, Stephen Moncrieff Cadet

MV Lochkatrine, Merchant Navy
Killed in action on the 3rd of August 1942 aged 16
Stephen Moncrieff White was born at Edinburgh on the 17th of November 1925 the only child of Moncrieff White and Elizabeth Duthie White of 35, Redford Drive, Colinton, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1930 to 1940 after which he entered Leith Nautical College where he gained a First Class Certificate of Merit and a Bronze Medal and Certificate for swimming and life saving.
On leaving he was immediately accepted as Cadet by the Royal Mail Line and left home to join his ship, the 9,419 ton motor merchant MV Lochkatrine, under the command of Master Percy Cooper, at Liverpool on the 16th of July 1942.
On the 24th of July 1942, MV Lochkatrine set sail from Liverpool with a load of ballast as part of Convoy ON-115 bound for New York. She was one of forty three merchant ships in the convoy, escorted by twelve naval vessels.
At 3.05am on the morning of the 3rd of August 1942, the U-Boat U-552, under the command of Korvettenkapitän Erich Topp, was off Cape Race when she fired two torpedoes at the convoy. She observed hits on the aft of a tanker and on the bow section of a freighter. Both vessels stopped. The tanker, the SS G.S Walden, was damaged but the freighter, the MV Lochkatrine, was sunk with the loss of eight of her crew and one passenger. The Master, fifty five crewmen, eight gunners and seventeen passengers were picked up by Canadian destroyer HMCS Hamilton (I24) and the corvette HMCS Agassiz (K129) and were landed at Halifax.
He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial Panel 65

Williamson, Henry Rochead Sergeant 1365974

83 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 14th of May 1943 aged 22
Henry Rochead Williamson was born at Edinburgh on the 27th of November 1920 the second son of Henry Rochead Williamson, an architect, and his first wife, Ann Veronica (nee Haddon) Williamson of 14, Greenbank Crescent, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1926 to July 1939 where he was a keen swimmer, gaining both the Bronze and Silver Medallions and the Award of Merit from the Royal Life Saving Society. He was a member of the Officer Training Corps where he rose to the rank of Sergeant. On leaving school he took up farming and was a student at a farm in the Lauderdale Valley in Berwickshire. Although farming was a reserved occupation, he volunteered for the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve at an Aircrew Candidate Selection Board in Edinburgh on the 28th of October 1940. He was selected for air crew training and received his call up papers at the end of March 1941. In July 1941 he sailed for Halifax, Canada and then travelled on to Arcadia in Florida for pilot training. He was among the first airmen to be sent for training in the United States and Canada. Much to his disappointment he failed his pilot training and returned to Canada where he served at a number of different airfields and received training in wireless, navigation and other general skills. He returned to the UK in December 1941 and spent time at Bournemouth and Hastings before being posted to 106 Squadron based at RAF Syerston on the 2nd of February 1943. He took part in 14 operations with 106 Squadron before he transferred to 83 Squadron on the 30th of March 1943. By mid May 1943 he had completed a further 10 operations.
On the night of the 13th/14th of May 1943, Bomber Command dispatched 156 Lancasters and 12 Halifaxes for an attack on the Skoda armaments works at Pilsen. The target proved hard to locate with the result that nearly all of the bombs dropped on open country to the north of the target.
Henry Williamson and his crew took off from RAF Wyton at 9.54pm on the 14th of May 1943 in Lancaster Mk 1 W4981 OL-A for the operation and flew at 22,000 feet on the outward leg of the journey. The aircraft was shot down by Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4 G9+CZ flown by Oberleutnant Lothar Linke of 12./NJG 1. It crashed near the village of Eesterga near Lemmer in north Holland at 11.22pm with the loss of all but one of the crew. The victory was the 25th of an eventual 27 for Lothar Linke before he was killed in action later the same night.
The crew was: -
Sergeant Anthony Steven Renshaw (Pilot)
Sergeant Henry Rochead Williamson (Air Bomber)
Sergeant Joseph Edward Lecomber (Navigator)
Flying Officer Stanley Wilfred Gould (Wireless Operator) (POW No. 1325 Stalag Luft III)
Sergeant Frederick Arthur Worsnop (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant James McGhee Hargreaves (Mid Upper Gunner)
Sergeant Jake Richard Stone (Rear Gunner)
Theirs was one of nine aircraft lost during the operation.
He is buried at Lemsterland (Lemmer) General Cemetery Plot C Row 9 Grave 241

Williamson, James Vaughan Flying Officer 148444

No. 1664 Heavy Conversion Unit, Royal Air Force
Killed on active service on the 22nd of November 1943 aged 22
James Vaughan Williamson was born at Edinburgh on the 17th of September 1921 the elder son of Robert James Williamson and Eva Dora Williamson of 4, Ventnor Terrace, Edinburgh. He was educated at Victoria College, Westbury, Wiltshire and at George Watson’s College from 1933 to 1939.
On leaving school he joined a firm of chartered accountants. As soon as he was old enough he enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1940, trained as a pilot and gained his "Wings". He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation on the 3rd of May 1943 and was promoted to Flying Officer on the 3rd of November 1943.
After a period of service in the Middle East he returned to the UK where he was "rested" as a flying instructor with No. 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit. He returned to operations with 158 Squadron on the 19th of February 1943 and served a full tour of operations before being posted to No. 1664 Heavy Conversion Unit as an instructor. He had 296 hours of total solo flying time, of which 193 hours were on Halifax aircraft.
On the 22nd of November 1943, James Williamson and his crew took off from RAF Croft in Halifax Mk V EB150 DH-O for a night circuit training exercise to familiarise the crew with night flying. Having successfully completed four circuits and landings they took off for the fifth at 7.16pm. Ten minutes after taking off, the aircraft had climbed to about 500 feet when it crashed into rising ground in a line with the end of the runway. It caught fire on impact close to Blue Anchor Farm at Scotch Corner with the loss of all but one of the crew.
The crew was: -
Sergeant Neil James Collins RCAF (Rear Gunner)
Warrant Officer Second Class Sydney Robert Doney RCAF (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Stephen William Litynesky RCAF (Air Bomber)
Sergeant Robert Bryson Sellars (Air Gunner)
Sergeant Maurice Noel Graham Swindle (Flight Engineer)
Flying Officer James Vaughan Williamson (Pilot Instructor)
Flight Sergeant John Neil Millroy RCAF (Pupil Pilot) (Injured)
The crew was buried with full military honours on the 26th of November 1943 in a service which was conducted by the station Chaplain, Squadron Leader Jennings RCAF.
John Millroy, the sole survivor of the crash, recalled that the aircraft was flying at 500 feet when he saw a flash and the next thing he remembered was lying on the grass.
He is buried at Stonefall Cemetery, Harrogate Section C Row E Grave 6

Wilson, Thomas Fowler Rorie Lieutenant Colonel 128944

Royal Engineers
Died on the 25th of May 1945 aged 29
Thomas Fowler Rorie Wilson was born at Rangoon, Burma on the 18th of November 1905 the son of Alexander Turner Wilson and Agnes Gertrude (nee Gray) Wilson of 96, Spottiswood Street, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1913 to 1922. He began training as an engineer at the offices of the London North East Railway Company and was later elected as an Associate Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers. After a few months working in the Inverness offices of the London Midland & Scottish Railway Company he returned to Edinburgh where he rejoined the staff of the London North East Railway in November 1927. He was engaged with them in work in connection with the permanent way. He was married to Mary Purves (nee Miller) of Edinburgh.
Following the outbreak of war he volunteered for service in the Royal Engineers and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on the 4th of May 1940. In the autumn of that year he was posted to Iraq and later to India. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st of March 1941 and to temporary Captain on the 11th of January 1942. He was promoted to Captain on the 12th of September 1942 and to temporary Major on the same date. Based at Bombay, he worked in co-ordinating the technical military service in the three major railway systems, with the result that he was later posted to General Headquarters at Delhi as Assistant Director of Transport.
He is buried at Delhi War Cemetery Plot 2 Row J Grave 9

Winton, Thomas Stanley Lieutenant RNVR

HMS Harvester, Royal Navy
Killed in action on the 11th of March 1943 aged 27
Thomas Stanley Winton was born at Stockport on the 19th of September 1915 the younger son of William Whitehead Winton, a wine and spirit representative, and Eleanor Buchanan (nee White) Winton of "Torwood", Mayfield Terrace, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1923 to 1929 and went on to Canford School where he was in Court House from 1933 to 1935. He entered Downing College, Cambridge in 1935 where he was awarded a "Blue" for Golf.
On leaving university he returned to Edinburgh where he joined his father's firm of Messrs. A & A Crawford, whisky bottlers; he was appointed as a director of the company on the 31st of January 1942. He was married at Derry on the 2nd of December 1942 to Olive Margaret Lawrence (nee Young later Mills) of Culdaff, County Donegal, Eire; they had a son, Robin Stanley, born at Derry on the 15th of September 1943.
He was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on the 15th of February 1939 and was posted to HMS Cumberland. He saw action during the Battle of the River Plate on the 13th of December 1939. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 19th of September 1940 and served on convoy duty with HMS Watchman before being posted to the destroyer HMS Harvester.
HMS Harvester (H19) was refitted in Liverpool between the 12th of December 1942 and the 11th of February 1943 before joining the escort for Convoy HX228. Convoy HX 228 set sail from New York on the 28th of February 1943, bound for Liverpool. HMS Harvester, under the command of Commander Arthur Andre "Harry" Tait DSO RN, was acting as flagship for the convoy. The convoy was made up of sixty merchant ships with an escort of five Royal Navy warships and three Free French corvettes. These were supported by the escort carrier, USS Bogue, and two American destroyers, which set sail from Newfoundland on the 5th of March to join the convoy. Between Convoy HX-228 and Liverpool was the German Wolfpack "Neuland '', made up of thirteen U Boats. The Wolfpack was alerted to the presence of HX-228 by German intelligence services on the 8th of March and they made their first contact with it on the night of the 10th/11th of March when two merchant vessels were attacked and sunk. One of the merchant ships which were sunk was the 7,197 ton American steam merchant, William C. Gorgas which was hit by a torpedo at 2.42am on the morning of the 11th of March. Fifty one of her crew had survived the attack and were picked up by HMS Harvester after five hours in their lifeboats. Having picked up the merchantmen, HMS Harvester was returning to join the convoy when she sighted the U Boat U-444, under the command of Oberleutnant Albert Langfeld, which promptly dived. HMS Harvester went over to the area they had last seen the submarine, dropping depth charges as she went which forced U-444 to the surface where the destroyer rammed her at full speed. The impact of the collision locked the two vessels together and both ships were unable to manoeuvre for a while. In spite of damage to her propeller shaft, U-444 managed to limp away but was sighted by the French corvette, FFL Ancoit, which also rammed her and, unable to submerge, U-444 finally sank with only four of her forty five man crew escaping.
Meanwhile, HMS Harvester had managed to restart one of her engines and tried to catch up with the convoy but her engines failed once again and she came to a halt in the water. A few minutes later she was hit by a single torpedo fired by U-432, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hermann Eckhardt, which was quickly followed by a second. HMS Harvester broke in half and sank with the loss of eight officers and one hundred and thirty six ratings. A short time later, U-432 was depth charged, rammed and sunk by FFL Ancoit, which then picked up sixty survivors from HMS Harvester, four from U-444 and twenty from U-432.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Downing College, Cambridge, on the memorial at Canford School and on his parent's grave at Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh. He is also remembered on his son's grave at St Buadan's Church, Culdaff.
He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial 73,3.

Younger, James William Captain 160037

1st Lothians and Border Horse, Royal Armoured Corps attached to C Squadron, 9th Royal Deccan Horse, Indian Armoured Corps
Killed in action on the 18th of March 1945 aged 25
James William Younger was born at Edinburgh on the 19th of October 1919 the son of Captain James Younger, Senior Captain for the Burmah Oil Company's tanker fleet, and Margaret Reid (nee Aitken) Younger of Rangoon, later of 16, Westhall Gardens, Edinburgh and of 7, Ethel Terrace, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1924 to 1937. He enlisted in the Territorial Army and was mobilised on the outbreak of war before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Lothians and Border Horse, Royal Armoured Corps on the 30th of November 1940. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 30th of May 1942 and was posted to India in the same year where he was attached to the 9th Royal Deccan Horse as a Troop Commander in August 1944.
In the early morning of the 18th of March 1945, C Squadron, 9th Royal Deccan Horse received orders to support the infantry of 99 Brigade in an attack to clear Japanese troops from the villages of Kandaingbauk and Shawbyugan and other villages in the area of Kungyangon. At 8.15am the infantry reported that Kondaung was clear of the enemy and that they were moving to the south and were following a creek bed towards the village of Nyaungdon. At 11.45am an artillery barrage and airstrikes began on Kungyangon and at 12.10pm C Squadron moved to the eastern side of the village in preparation for an attack. During the fighting to clear the village one tank was hit by an enemy shell and was abandoned, but by 12.50pm the village was burning fiercely and was reported to have been cleared of the enemy.
At 1.30pm, a report was received that an attack by the 1st Sikh Light Infantry on the village of Kandaingbauk had failed, with heavy casualties among the Sikhs. C Squadron was ordered to move to the north of the village and to attack it from north to south. As they began their attack one of their tanks was quickly knocked out but the advance continued as far as a dry river bed which the tanks were unable to cross. While they were negotiating the river bed two more tanks were hit and knocked out by enemy anti-tank guns with the remaining tanks turning to the east to renew their attack. At 4.30pm C Squadron was ordered to withdraw to Nyaungdon via Kungyangon where three tanks carrying their casualties arrived at 5.30pm.
Casualties during the day’s fighting were James Younger, an Indian officer and one other rank killed and one British officer, two Indian officers and thirteen other ranks wounded. Japanese losses were estimated at 40 dead with the capture of a 75mm field gun and a 47mm anti tank gun destroyed.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records the date of his death as having taken place on the 17th of March 1945 but the Regimental war diary records it as the 18th of March 1945.
He is buried at Taukkyan War Cemetery Plot 20 Row A Grave 5

Yule, James Sergeant 1343026

218 (Gold Coast) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 22nd of September 1943 aged 21
James Yule was born at Edinburgh on the 25th of December 1921 the only child of James Yule and Janet Yule of 46, Cowan Road, Edinburgh, Later of 27, Kingsknowe Avenue, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1927 to 1937. In 1938 he joined the staff of Messrs. Dalgleish & Murray, Chartered Accountants of Edinburgh.
He volunteered for the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1941 and trained in the UK, the United States and Canada after which he was posted to Bomber Command. He attended No. 47 Course at No. 12 Operational Training Unit where he was in A Flight at Chipping Warden, and transferred to D Flight based at Turweston on the 24th of February 1943. He completed his training at No. 1651 Conversion Unit and was posted to 218 Squadron for operations on the 13th of June 1943.
On the night of the 22nd/23rd of September 1943, Bomber Command dispatched 322 Lancasters, 226 Halifaxes, 137 Stirlings and 26 Wellingtons for an operation on Hanover. 5 B-17s from the US 8th Air Force also took part. This was to be the first of four consecutive raids on the city. Although visibility over the target was good with the flak over the target reported as "moderate", a large number of night fighters were operating in the clear conditions. There were stronger winds than was expected over the city which meant that the target marking and the bombing were concentrated some 2-5 miles to the south, south east of the city centre.
James Yule and his crew took off from RAF Downham Market at 6.50pm on the 22nd of September 1943 in Stirling Mk III BK700 HA-L for the raid. This was to be his 15th operation. Theirs was one of fifteen aircraft from the Squadron which were to form part of the second wave of bombers for the attack. Having dropped their bombs, they were leaving the target area when the aircraft was coned by searchlights and hit by anti aircraft fire. It crashed at Neustadt am Rübenberge, Niedersachsen, 9 kilometres to the north, north east of Wunstorf with the loss of the entire crew.
The crew was: -
Pilot Officer Carman Mackenzie Colquhoun RCAF (Pilot)
Sergeant Edward William David Parry (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant James Yule (Air Bomber)
Sergeant William Arthur Hart (Navigator)
Sergeant James Berkley Malcolm (Air Gunner)
Sergeant Philip Smythe Raddall (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Kenneth Hewitson (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Theirs was one of two aircraft from the Squadron and one of twenty six overall which failed to return from the mission.
The crew was buried at Wunsdorf Cemetery near Neustadt on the 25th of September 1943. Their bodies were later exhumed and re-interred at their present location.
He is buried at Hanover War Cemetery Plot 12 Row D Grave 3