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Pte. Patrick Andrew Corrigan . British Army East Kent Regiment from Mt Nugent, County Cavan, Ireland This is Pat Corrigan's account of his surviving the sinking of the Lancastria, from a conversation with my father when I visited him on 20th August 2005 with my daughter, then aged 8. At times he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry telling us this.Pat was an Irish citizen who had signed up to the British Army.
Pat was born 8th December 1917 and died on 18th June 2009, aged 91: 69 years and one day after he could so nearly have lost his life off St Nazaire in 1940. Although he had often referred in passing to his experience this was the first time I had heard him recount the events so clearly, he seemed inspired to tell the story to his grandaughter and I set it down later that evening:
“I was an Irish soldier fighting for the allies in France in the East Kent Regiment, known as ‘the Buffs’. Three weeks after the evacuation from Dunkirk I was still there and I was evacuated on the ‘Lancastria’. About five thousand soldiers and others were put on there.
When I was marching with my platoon across France to get to St Nazaire, where the ship was waiting, we were frequently ordered to ‘Halt and fall out!’ to make way for others to go past. At the time I was really worried that the ship would be full up by the time we got there, and I kept wondering why are they letting them go ahead of us?
However when I got to the ship I was really glad as they had all had to go deep below decks. The sergeant majors were saying things like ‘It’s safer the lower down you go, down you go!’ Nobody believed them. When I boarded a soldier said to me ‘We’re going to sail at four o’clock’. I didn’t believe him, but he said ‘No it’s true – I bet you twenty Players we are!’
I found a space on the deck. Then the German bombers began attacking the ship. One bomb went down the funnel and the ship started listing very quickly – and started sinking. I took off my heavy army boots and some other garments because I knew I would have to jump into the sea. You have to remember the Lancastria was a very big ship, and when a ship like that sinks, so quickly, there is an awful lot of panic and chaos. I took off my tin hat, but then the German planes were gunning the ship as well as the men who were already in the water, so I put it back on. I could hear the bullets ‘zinging’ past me and hitting the metal of the ship.
As the ship was beginning to sink and people were shouting and panicking, me and another soldier noticed that one of the lifeboats was tangled up. But we realised that as the ship listed over the lifeboat would get nearer and nearer the water. So we cut the ropes to release the lifeboat and it dropped into the water. Then we had a problem. Although we had climbed into the boat to cut the ropes and let it fall, when it hit the water there were so many people already in the sea, and they all tried to clamber on board and the thing capsized. Those of us that could climbed on the upturned hull. Then we thought that if it did right itself it would fill with water and sink, so we kept having to move this way and that, all together, to stop the boat turning over again.
While I was on the boat I saw the man who had said the ship was going to sail at four o’clock. He was covered in oil and soot – hardly recognisable, and he was waving at me, shouting across the water, ‘I owe you twenty Players mate!’.
Meanwhile the German planes were shooting machine guns all around. Eventually the lifeboat was towed back to St Nazaire harbour. I was naked and cold and they found me some clothes. I walked along the harbour looking for a boat that could take me back to England. Most of them were full but I found one that had some room. It was an old pleasure steamer commissioned to help with the evacuation. All I remember is going to sit by the engine to warm up. It did set sail, but then went back to join a convoy where it would get some protection from allied airplanes. I was so tired that once I had warmed up I just lay on the deck while the German planes were everywhere. I could see the tracer bullets. But by this stage I almost didn’t care any more and I just lay there and fell asleep. When I woke up it was daytime. Sometimes I think I’m the luckiest man alive.
We got back to England and I went to a camp in Wiltshire. I remember finding some new uniform to wear from piles of clothes. They told us just to help ourselves and I ended up with a pair of RAF trousers, and a big trench coat. Then we went to London to be registered, counted and sent back to where we belonged. I remember they let us sleep to 11 o’clock the next morning which was pretty unusual in the Army.
In London I met up with two other soldiers, one was Welsh and one was Scottish, that’s it, an Irishman, a Welshman and a Scotsman! We all said we were in the Fusiliers, which meant they let us leave, and I went to stay with my sister in Hounslow for one night. Technically I was AWOL but I went back the next day and got sent back to my Regiment.
The sinking was covered up; Churchill didn’t want it coming out.”
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Pvt. Albert Joseph Corsarie . United States Army 454th Ord. Coy. AVN from New York
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Sea. First Class Dominic "Dago" Corsaro . US Navy 53rd Combat CB's from Cleveland, USA Dominic Corsaro, Cleveland, Ohio
When I was just a young boy of 13 I sat in local restaurant on St Clair and 156 St. in Cleveland,Ohio. I heard the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor; I did not even know where it was back then.
A few years later at 16 I wanted to serve as my father did in WWI. I used some creative maths and with my father's blessings, I got in to the Merchant Marines. I started on a Liberty Ship; at the time it was considered an attack ship. With one small gun on the front and the ship made of plywood I think the title they told us “Attack Ship” was more of morale builder for those of us on the ship. We transported German Pilots from Europe back to the U.S. for imprisonment. I guarded one pilot and gave him smokes as I didn't smoke. He said: "you are a good man" and he gave me his belt with the eagle carrying a swastika on the buckle as a souvenir. Even in my 80's I still remember he had metal tips on his boots.
In 1944 I transferred to the Navy and served with the 53rd Combat CBs. I was all over the Pacific Theater finally ended up on Bikini Atoll to take part in the Atomic Bomb test in 1946.
God kept me safe throughout the war and I have taught my son the importance of duty, honor and integrity. He has grown up to make me proud.
On my 80th birthday my son took the time to get all my service awards and decorations sent to him then had them framed. My first resonance was surprise as I had earned many medals and ribbons that I never got at the end of the war. A the time I just wanted to go home and see my family and my sweet heart Angie(to whom I have been married for 66 years in July of 2010). Then I told my family many men made the ultimate sacrifice for us to be here today. God Bless all our Military. I served on two fronts, got to see the world in just a few years and it just confirmed what I already know, I love America....Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.
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Dominic Corsaro . US Navy 53rd Combat CB from Cleveland, Ohio When I was just a young boy I sat in a local restaurant on St.Clair and 156 St., I heard the Japanese attach Pearl Harbor; I did not even know where it was back then.
A few years later at 16, I used some creative math to get in to the Merchant Marines. I started on a liberty ship; at the time it was considered an attack ship. With one small gun on the front, and being made of plywood I think the title 'attack ship' was more of a morale builder for those of us on the ship. We transported German Pilots from Europe back to the U.S. for imprisonment.
In 1944 I transferred to the Navy and served with the 53rd Combat CB and ended up on Bikini Atoll to take part and see the atomic bomb test in 1946.
I got to see the world in just a few years.
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Sqd.Ldr. E. G.M. Corser DFC.. Royal Air Force 460 Sqd.
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Rfn Charles James Corver . British Army Kings Royal Rifle Corps from Ilford Rfn Charles Corver was at Calais 1940, and escaped. Then sent to Western Desert and was taken prisoner near Benghazi in 1941. First a prisoner of the Italians (POW camps P.G. 65 and P.G. 70), then into German captivity, at Stalag 4C then to Stalag 20A from which he was liberated by the Russians in early 1945 and was back in the UK in March 1945.
Whilst at Stalag 4C he was involved in an disagreement with a German Guard (Gefreitan Noack, 3 Ldsch Btl., 379). He was accused of hitting the guard with a punch. At his hearing there were three British soldiers (4457054 Pte. G. Franey DLI, 5954578 Pte. W. Lindsay, The Buffs and another Pinford ?? who gave evidence on Corver's behalf. Corver was sentenced to eight months, but only served six weeks when he was released.
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John Cory . British Army 8 Survey Regiment Royal Artillery This is part of an account my father left for the family:
"We arrived at the RHQ of the 8th, Survey in time for lunch and after this we surveyors, six in all, were collected by the transport of ‘Don’ Troop of the sound ranging battery. Thus, the long journey from the UK. had ended. The Troop was at rest, in Carano village, in front of the Massico Ridge occupied by the enemy. From the top of the church tower the front could be seen including Cassino and Gaida, 7 miles away.
The majority of Surveyors in the troop had been teachers in civvy street, including the three officers and the No. 1 sergeant, by the name of Netley. We six newcomers joined the troop as replacements. We were soon put through our paces to find out what we know. We did observing and computations and dummy HQ work. I was offered the chance to be a draughtsman which meant more work in speeding up.
For a short spell we moved back, to Casaluce, a village south of Naples. A visiting MO. gave us all a Typhus injection and then we went to RHQ for a bath. The latter turned out to be three showers in a tent and a good size boiler outside with a fire underneath, which looked as though it would blow up any minute. We had to take along our water wagon, to give back the amount of water used.
A journey of 80 miles followed, north for awhile, then along the 8th. Army front, over the Apennines and through a pass to Spinete. This village commanded a good view of a range of snow-capped mountains. My billet was a farmhouse, perched on the mountainside.
Mike and I had a look around the village and found a piano and looked forward to a good play. Mike was one of the original members of the regiment and had been a classics and music master at a public school. Very gifted, as a pianist and in languages, but hopeless in Maths. He failed the standard. He begged to be allowed to stay on in the regiment and became a driver. And so he remained, somewhat absent-minded but perfectly happy. He had to be watched, he had the habit of playing a tin whistle whilst driving.
The 7th of April begin Good Friday, a procession took place around the village in the morning, representing Calvary. Headed by a blood-stained cloth held high, then an effigy of Christ on the Cross, followed by that of the Madonna, the locals kicked up a noise, which was supposed to be chanting.
Yesterday we were paid, which was fortunate as most of us were short, in the moving about we had gone without for a fortnight. Allied forces pay was in Military Lire ‘AMGOT’, paper money in various denominations, geared to Sterling for rate of exchange at the time of being paid. It was freely interchangeable with the civilian Lire which was being de-valued almost every two weeks, due to the war situation. We drew what money we wanted for the time, and left the rest in ‘Credits’.
We heard that we would be going into action and I was to be part of the advance party to setup the HQ. So off we went, a 30 mile journey to a mountain village, called Acqua Viva.
The first job was to secure billets for the troop and a suitable place for the HQ. We looked around the village requisitioning the best houses, usually one or two rooms per house. This had to be done in a gentle manner, unlike the Germans who would have thrown all the inhabitants out onto the street. We put up regimental signs on our properties.
We imposed a curfew on the population, 8.30pm and got the local policemen to nail a notice up in the square.
A valley swept below our mountain up to a further range in the hands of the enemy, being part of the Gustav Line. Our village was on the side facing away form the line, Cassino was to our left flank. We had the village to ourselves, but Polish troops were in the area, also an Indian Mule company that carried ammunition and food into the mountains.
Except for the odd shell or two passing over from both sides the front was quiet, perhaps the reason being our Poles were facing Poles on the other side. The latter were officered by Germans and mostly were pressed men. As and when they got the chance many deserted to their fellow countrymen on our side, and I understand, joined the Polish Free Forces eventually. The enemy go fed-up with their Poles and withdrew them from the line.
Survey work was progressing in setting out the base and having some spare time helped the wirers installing one of the Mics and wiring back to HQ. Then it was back to work, as I was to prepare the board. As and when survey results came in and were computed my work began, finishing at 10.00pm.
The base was in action 1 ½ hours later but I had retired to my bed — or I should say my two blankets on the floor, to try and get some sleep.
I was on first shift in the morning, 8.00am to 4.00pm, as draughtsman, then next day 12.00pm to 8.00am, followed by 4.00pm to 12.00pm. This was the pattern, 8 hours duty per day for 3 days, followed by a day off. It was more like a civvy job.
Things started on the slow side but as the days progressed began to hot-up. A new procedure followed. Each evening as darkness settled some of our artillery started up all along the line, drawing fire from the enemy. We managed to get some good plots. This regular bombardment died down after an hour and the front became silent, allowing the enemy to go to bed.
We found out that the billet housing our HQ team had belonged to the Doctor, the local fascist leader. He had died but his widow was very disagreeable, she carried on a war of evil looks and gestures. We had not been lucky in selecting this house and had to look elsewhere to get our washing done.
In our off duty periods we could spend the time as we wished, rambling in the countryside or just lazing about. We could arrange a trip possibly to the sea or a town in the rear where we could go to a forces club or see a film.
During the period I went on trips to Campo-Basso and Isernia, also back to Spinetti for an egg hunting expedition, calling on farms and trading in rations obtained form the cook house.
Eggs were short on our menu, and we came back with enough for the troop, one each, plus a few extra for ourselves and the cook.
A village custom seemed very strange to us, women carrying large copper pitchers of water balanced on their heads. Water was not laid on to the houses.
Our OC assuming the post of ‘town major’ became concerned with the untidy and filthy state of the village, the stench from sewage was becoming unbearable, the mobile collecting tank service had broken down.
He gave the villagers three days to clear the place up, or no rations. A small detachment of RE’s were having similar trouble getting enough men to mend the unsurfaced roads and tracks around the village. Although a paid job some did not turn up and others disappeared after awhile. With the aid of the policeman, they were threatened with prison. It was important that the potholes were filled in, these roads and tracks would get some heavy traffic, later on.
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Pte William Albert John Cory . British Army Royal Army Service Corps Bill Cory joined the Army in July 1939 at Devonport. He served from July 1939 to June 1942. He served with Royal Army Service Corps then the Allied Control Council. He came home in July 1944. Then served with the Allied Control Council in North Western Europe, July to Jan 1946, A C C Home to March 1946 then Aug 1950 to Sept 1950. He was a baker/cook and earned the 39/45 Star, France Germany Star and Defence Medal
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L/Sgt. Eugene Cosgrove . British Army 2nd Btn. Irish Guards from London
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J Cosgrove . British Army J Cosgrove served with the 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.
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Rflmn. John Cosgrove . British Army 1st Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) from Hamilton (d.4th March 1942)
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A/WO2 RQMS Francis Edward Coslett . British Army HQ Company, 1st Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry from Penarth Francis was born 17/12/1914 in Penarth. He enlisted in the South Wales Borderers in 1933. Later transferred to the King's Shropshire Light Infantry and served in India. Returned to the UK in 1939 and served with the BEF and was evacuated from Dunkirk. Later served with 1st Army in North Africa and Italy. Captured in December 1944 and interned at POW Camp, Stalag VIIA at Moosburg. Repatriated in 1945 and left the Army in 1946
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Capt. Duane Leonard Cosper . United States Army Visayah-Mindanao Force Coast Artillery Corps from Walla Walla, WA (d.15th Dec 1944) Duane Cosper was one of 95 service members from Walla Walla County who died in WWII. A monument is being built in their honor. I have been researching information about them.
Duane attended University of Washington 1931-32 and 1934-38 majoring in geology. He worked in Montana and Arizona as a geologist before enlisting in 1941 as a Reserve Officer.
He was in the Philippines in June 1941 and was captured by the Japanese when Corregidor fell. In December 1944 1619 POWs were put on the Brazil Maru bound for Japan. The ship was bombed and sunk in Subic Bay on the 15th killing 942 of the POWs including Duane Cosper. His name is listed on the Tablets of Honor at the Manila American Cemetery.
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Robert Cossar . My father, Robet Cossar, held for a short time at Stalag 4b I have his German dog tags of Stalag 4B with his German number. He was passing through to Lansdorf Stalag VIIIB, next to Auchwitz where he spent most of his captivity years. He was used as forced labour at the synthetic rubber and petrol plant by IK Farben. The plants were bombed by the Americans during daylight raids by B17 bombers. But they missed and hit the Camp instead, a lot of allied prisoners were killed.
He remembers seeing his first jet plane a German fighter bomber; they thought it was powered by compressed air. They knew what was going on; every night was a visit from a reader who read out the BBC news which was received on a clandestine radio receiver. I saw my dad today and he still remembers it all.
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Sgt. Robert Cossar . Royal Canadian Air Force 433 Squadron Sergeant Robert Cossar was rear gunner of a 433 Halifax that was lost during a Berlin-mission on 24/25 March 1944. I`m currently researching this mission and have found out some details and write the story of the crew. The aircraft crashed 2km northwest of Legden, County Ahaus,in the district of north rhine west phalia close to the Dutch Border after all crew baled out. I would love to get in touch to Dave Cossar, son of Robert Cossar.
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Stkr1. George Chapman Cosstick . Royal Navy HMS Ramillies from Chiddingly, Lewes, Sussex George Cosstick was on HMS Ramillies for the entire War. He saw action many times on board this great ship. The longest action of course was D-Day, when Ramillies was involved in the Shelling of the French Coast and targets inland, up to about 20 miles. He spoke in little detail of events, but enough to let one know of the tough time often had by the Ship and the Crew.
He did speak of his mates on board like Sid Horner and Bert Shepard and wondered how they got on, back in civilian life. George died in 1994 aged 86.
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F/O Costain . Royal Air Force 615 Sqdn. Historial Document:
Recorded from Flying Officer F.P.Fahy NZ411980 RNZAF and RAF 615. Fighter Squadron Pilots Log Book
(BAF Personnel Bureau (NZ) Assn.Doc.A1)
On the 10th August 1944, all of our aircraft RAF 615 (County of Surrey) Fighter Squadron were flying from Palel in Assam to Baigachi, Bengal. We where about 80 miles east of Calcutta when we flew into a monsoon storm.
I saw the C.O.'s Section disappear above me and I glanced in the cockpit, my instruments had, had it. There was no visability and none of the plane's controls were working. I made up my mind that it was time I parted company with the aircraft. This wasn't easy, the hook stuck and I had a hell of a job. Finally, it came away and to the right mainplane about three feet from the centre-section. Hell's teeth I thought I had been in a hurry up until then, but I really got going now. In fact I jumped out helmet and all plugged in. I must have swung like a pendulum going around for a few seconds, that seemed like hours, waiting for the thud of the ground, when I felt a jerk.
I looked up and from that moment on I have a passion for mushrooms. There above me was the chute letting me down and the chute began to fold in and spill air. I pulled on the rigging lines, as I had been told and was able to control the rate of descent. It was about 20 seconds before I saw the ground or should I say river. Yes, I landed up to my neck in water. I was helped by natives to shelter. After an hour's rest, I heard news of another pilot who was a few villages away who had been injured. I was able to get to him later that day and a sampan took us to the nearest motorable road. We arrived in Calcutta the following day. Here we received news that the C.O. had been killed and three others. Eight of the other machines got through safely after being sucked right out of the cloud into brilliant sunshine. An L.A.C. at Ops was able to vector them in safely. This airman for his wide awake action received a Mention in Despaches. The C.O.'s body was the only body recovered as it was thought the others were in an area that it would not be possible. So, these were posted missing believed killed.
The C.O. was buried in Calcutta. He was thought so much of by his Squadron, that a letter was sent to his mother asking what she would like as a memorial to him. Funds were raised and a stainless glass window is now installed in the church in his home town in Australia.
He was held responsible for the accident by a court of enquiry, but I still wonder if it was an error on his part. Three pilots bailed out successfully and one force-landed.
Casualty List 10th August 1944
Lost SQD Leader D McCormack DFC & Bar RAAF (Killed)
F/O W S Bond RCAF (Missing believed killed)
F/O M Pain RAAF (Missing believed killed)
W/O Chappell RAAF (Missing believed killed)
Bailed Out
Flying Officer Costain RAF (Broken leg)
F/O Armstrong RCAF (Dislocated knee cap)
F/O F.P.Fahy RNZAF (Twisted knee)
Force landed
F/O Watson RAF (Unhurt)
8 other Squadron aircraft and pilots landed safely.
'LEST WE FORGET'
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Pte. John Joseph Allen Costall . British Army 4th Btn. Cheshire Regiment from Poulton, Wallasey (d.29th May 1940) John Costall was born at Seacombe, Cheshire on 8th of July 1912, his parents were Robert Costall and Margaret Ann Costall (nee Logan.)
He had 5 brothers (3 older, 2 younger), and 3 sisters (all older).
He married Ethel May Adelaide Price in September 1933 in Birkenhead, Cheshire.
He's on the 1939 England and Wales Register with his wife Ethel as a Private in the Regular Army and is living at 16 Erskine Road, Poulton, Seacombe, Cheshire.
John was killed near Dunkirk, France on Wednesday, 29th of May 1940, aged 27. He is buried in Oye-Plage Communal Cemetery.
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Pvt. Attilio C "Tilly" Costantino . US Army 423rd Infantry 106th Division from Collingswood, NJ My grandfather Tilly Costantino served in WW2. He enlisted December 17th 1943. and was sent overseas Dec 1944. He was also part of camp lucky strike and then sent to Fort Dix. When he originally went out he was sent to Camp Croft in S.Carolina and then sent to do his duty at Ardenne Rhineland Germany. He was taken POW in Dec 1944 and released July 1945, held at a camp in Muhlberg Germany. This is most of what I know about my Grandfather, he never talked about his journey in WW2. Please if anyone knows my grandfather, knows about him, has a picture of him ,anything, please let me know. I know he got his POW medal, Good conduct pin, European, African and Middle Eastern service medals.
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Pte. Daniel Costello . British Army Kings Regiment from Liverpool
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Able Sea. John Harold Costello . Royal Navy from Newfoundland
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Joseph E. Costello . United States Navy from Doylestown, PA
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Cpl. Richard James Costello . United States Marine Corps H Co. 2nd Btn 4th Marines from Fiffifield, WI
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Cpl. Frederick Bartholomew Costen . British Army 6th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment from Rochester, Kent
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Dvr. Harry Coster . British Army Royal Engineers from Manchester Harry Coster served as a driver with the Royal Engineers.
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F/Sgt. J. S. Coster . Royal Australian Air Force 97 Squadron
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Ldg. Sea. John William " " Coster . from (d.31st Dec 1942)
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Pte. Ronald Clifford Coster . New Zealand Expeditionary Force from Epsom New Zealand
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Sgt. Robert Wheeler Coston . US Army Company A 423 Infantry Regiment from Mississippi, USA My Grandfather, Sgt. Robert W. Coston, was taken prisoner at the Battle of the Bulge. Like his fellows, he was starved by the Nazis and became ill. A fellow POW, who was African American, saved his life by catching, cooking and feeding him rats. Our family has long been grateful to and wondered who this Angel was. If anyone knows his identity we would appreciate finding out.
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