L/Cpl. Francis Aldridge . British Army Royal Army Ordnance Corps from Heskethbank, Lancs
(d.5th Jul 1941)
Frank Aldridge lost his life when the SS Anselm was torpedoed by German U.Boat U96 near Canary Islands on 5th Jul 1941.Frank was one of 254 lost, but over 1200 were saved by escourting R. Navy ships.
Frank was the son of Frank and Ellen (Nellie) Aldridge (nee McGennity) of Hesketh Bank near Preston, Lancs.
Frank was a cousin to my mother Mary (Molly) Lunt deceased of Preston, and formerly of Liverpool.
I discovered this information whilst doing family history research project. I would welcome any other information or photographs of McGennity/Aldridge families.
Flt.Sgt. Norman Hubert Aldridge . Royal Air Force 100 Squadron from Coventry
Norman Aldridge served with 100 Squadron. I think his days of playing football in the Prisoner of War camp must have been instrumental in his signing up for West Bromwich Albion. I have a copy of the Soccer matches played 1943-1945 compiled by the Scotsman. Also photos signed on the back by the England players. They are all wearing England shirts. Where did they come from? He never smoked so exchanged his cigarettes for chocolate etc. I understand that they got extra rations for playing in the team.
Dvr. Frederick Derrick "Stuart" Alecock . British Army Royal Army Service Corps from Mildenhall, Suffolk
(d.15th Dec 1944)
Frederick Derrick Alecock was born in Mildenhall, Suffolk and was baptised on 2nd of Aug 1924 at St Mary’s Church, Mildenhall. He was the son of Marion Evelyn Alecock (later Clark). Derrick never knew his father and lived with his grandparents, aunts and uncles in Mildenhall. He joined the RASC and family legend only knows that he died in a motorcycle accident aged only 20 years in Belgium on the 15th of Dec 1944. He is buried at Brussels Town Cemetery. We think he was a despatch driver. Can any Military Historians give any addition information to this post? I am in the process of applying for his service records which may help more with a given coy and theatre of war details etc etc. I am not very good with military history. I have looked more into family history. Although, I am giving it a go any further information would be appreciated.
Cpl. Aaron "Alec" Alexander . British Army 9th Btn. Devonshire Regiment from Clapton, London
My father Aaron Alexander was called up and went into the 9th Devonshire Regiment on April 2, 1940. After three years he was transferred to the 53rd Welsh Recce Regiment.
He was a radio operator and a Right Recce driver. June 6, 1944 his regiment went over to France and landed in Caen and Biager. They went straight into action and many vehicles and men were lost on the first day.
They went through France and onto Lille (which they liberated). A message came through that a German general wanted to surrender and they were told to make their way across the border into Belgium to Ghent to meet up with the General. Instead of surrendering, the German's took my father and his regiment prisoners.
They ended up in Stalag 4B at Muelberg. Two hundred prisoners in a large hut, food was black bread and a sort of soup. Once they were registered they could get some food via the Red Cross. To get these parcels they had to walk underground for a distance of three miles, and then they only had one parcel between several men.
Lots of things terrible things happened whilst in the camp but he would never tell me. When the war was nearing the end the German guards left the camp, leaving the male villagers to guard the prisoners. They were finally liberated by the Russians, but although many of the prisoners tried to tell the Russians that the men guarding them were not German solders, many of the villagers were killed. My dad did mention that part of the camp was separated by razer wire and seemed to be a concentration camp.
L/Sgt. Benjamin Alexander . British Army 2nd Btn. Welsh Guards from Ystradgynlais
(d.22nd May 1940)
My uncle, L/Sgt Alexander of Ystradgynlais, was killed at Dunkirk about 22nd May 1940, aged 21. Does anyone remember him or others who served with him?
HJ Alexander served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.
Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
P/O. James Michie Alexander CGM.. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 7 Squadron from Muswell Hill, Middlesex
(d.15th Feb 1944)
Pilot Officer (Navigator) James Alexander was the son of James and Thomasina M. Alexander, of Muswell Hill, Middlesex.
He was 23 years old when he died and is buried in the Skaro Cemetery in Denmark.
Lt. Robert Love Alexander DSO, DSC.. Royal Navy HMS Pandora
I have a photo graph of the officers and men (total: 53) of the H.M.S. Pandora taken at the Navy Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, U.S.A. on November 21, 1941. I suspect that this may be the last photograph of the officers and crew taken prior to it's sinking. The handwriting on the back of the photograph reads: "And these are the pirates they lead - wish them more success a(n)d good hunting." There is another photograph of the officers to which i believe this notation refers. I will try to find the other if you have any interest. The photograph was given (and signed) to my father and mother at the time the Pandora was moored there. My father, then a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps at the time and in charge of the Marine detachment at Portsmouth, N.H., which was also a naval prison. This information was related to me by my Mother, who recalled that the officers and crew were subsequently lost at sea.
Stanley John "Alec" Alexander . British Army Corps of Royal Signals from Fulham
I am trying to find out about my father's wartime experiences. His name was Stanley Alexander and he did not talk too much about his war. He was caught twice on the same day by the Japanese and escaped. I feel he had a tale to tell, but I would like to know the army side and any official records there may be. I have a copy of his Service record from joining the Gloucester's of which he was very proud, and then the Royal Signals in Burma and I think North Africa and Germany.
Any Details would be very welcome, both his Regiment and he himself.I also think part of his job was to be sent out and lay quiet and signal any troop movement he saw.
Sgt. Thomas Alexander . British Army 7th Btn. Queens Own Cameron Highlander
Thomas Alexander started his army service on 15th April 1940 at the age of 20 in the 7th Battalion Cameron Highlanders (Signals) which later became 5th batt (Scottish) Parachute Reg (in 1942, I believe). I know that he was made sergeant and that he served in North Africa, Italy and Greece and finally in Palestine until 1946.
I have a little field message book belonging to him from 1946 with details of some of the men. If anyone needs further info about the addresses then I would be happy to supply via email. The book title is "Signal Platoon 5bn (Scottish) Parachute Regiment 1946". I also have some poems that he had written in this book, looking forward to going home to his family and bride to be.
323153 leiut Tweedale (Rochdale)
2935002 sgt Thomas Alexander (Glasgow)
275999 cpl Anderson (Angus, Scotland)
7012154 cpl McGrath (Dublin)
3065817 cpl Finlayson (Edinburgh)
3245981 cpl Marshall (Bellshill, Scotland)
5124904 cpl Arnott (Penpediarheol, Glam)
3454609 cpl Pratt (Co Durham)
14000183 pte Aitchison (upminster, Essex)
4455025 pte Bridge (Newton, Stockton)
2939438 pte Brown (Port Glasgow)
14889788 pte bowen (west-on-tyne Bristol)
2939456 pte Cant (Glasgow)
14857516 pte Cummings (Fulham)
2991379 pte Dickie (Motherwell)
14880762 pte Ford (Huddersfield)
2939474 pte Geddie (Banff)
557916 pte Greaves (Stratford on Avon)
3194191 pte Hume (Ayr)
2934341 pte McIndoe (Glasgow)
2939542 pte McLean (Kilpatrick)
7013444 pte Suiters (Ballymena)
1791196 ptr R Smith (Lincoln)
14354008 pte Wilson (Leicster)
2992700 pte Williamson (Edinburgh)
18010516 pte Zammit (Valetta Malta)
14849423 pte frost (Brixton, London)
14887023 pte Schofield (London)
14908407 Laxton
pte McDonald
pte Angus
pte Penington
pte Hall
I hope that someone out there will recognise a face or two in the photographs
William Alexander was in 458 Squadron. I am trying to find out about my late father's RAF service in WWII. If anyone remembers him please get in touch.
Pte. William John "Alec" Alexander . British Army 6th Btn. South Wales Borderers from Battersea, London
(d.9th November 1944)
My father was Jack Alexander, from Battersea. He enlisted in the 6th Battalion, South Wales Borderers on 17th of July 1940, a few weeks before my brother was born. He spent the next four years in Devon before being sent overseas to India on 18th of July 1944 with the 6th Battalion, arriving on 17th of August.
He was killed in action in Burma on 9th of November 1944 when he was 27 and I was nearly three months old. Obviously he hadn't seen me, but was aware that I'd been born. My brother was four years old and my mother only 24 at the time.
I don't know any details of his time spent serving his country, but I do know that my mother went on to have an extremely hard life, struggling to bring up two children with no support from anywhere except her recently widowed father. Coming from a very respectable family, she had to spend her life scrubbing floors for others, and living hand to mouth from day to day. She never got over losing my father, and was always frail, but put on a brave face to the world while wearing herself out working and looking after others. I looked after her until she died aged 82.
My mother didn't believe in charity, but was persuaded to ask the British Legion for help once when she was at a very low point. However, after being interviewed in a smokey room full of well fed, well dressed club members she was handed a food voucher for £1. She was absolutely humiliated and I'm told that she tore up the voucher there and then.
I am pleased that today's war widows are looked after financially, but feel very bitter that war heroes were not valued at that time and my mother had no help at all. There were no single parent families in those days, we were just poor and it really was a struggle to survive.
Fl/Lt. George Peter Alexandra . Royal Air Force 170 Sqdn. (d.3rd February 1945)
George Alexandra was a pilot of a Lancaster bomber that was shot down over the Gelsenkirchen Railway Station. He is buried with his crew at Reichwald Forest Cemetery.
F/Sgt. Bernard William Alford . Royal Air Force 61 Sqd. from Devon
I have little information, apart from the fact that my father Bernard Alford was based at RAF Skellingthorpe, near Lincoln and flew as crew on Lancasters during the Second World War. He was demobbed in 1948. He and my mother were divorced by then and, as far as I am aware, he had had no contact with either my mother or myself for sometime before that. He emigrated to Canada in 1957.
This is just a long shot that someone might have some information about him which would fill in some gaps for me.
CPO. Horace "Nipper" Alford . Royal Navy HMS. Penelope from Southampton
My Father, Horace Alford, was serving as a C.P.O. on H.M.S. Penelope when she was sunk off the Bay of Naples. He survived and went on to serve until the 1950's with 30 years of service. He often spoke of the brave men on the Penelope. He made a rug with the ships crest on it. This was presented to the crew of the new H.M.S. Penelope in the 1970's having been displayed on my mother's bedroom floor for many years previously. As a child he told me the legend of the godess Penelope. Every Armistice Day he would salute and honour those that went down on the ship.
Jim Alger was my father and I would like to learn more about his wartime service. He passed away in 1993 and my Mum followed ten years later. I know that they were married in June when my father was on a pass of sorts, and that he had to leave for battle the day they were married. I also know that he was in the Black Watch and had something to do with the Commando Memorial in Scotland.
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