The Wartime Memories Project - The Second World War

Those who Served - Surnames beginning with D.

Surnames Index


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

Pte. George D'Arcy .     British Army 2nd Btn. South Lancashire Regiment   from Liverpool

George D'Arcy (my father) joined the regiment in 1937. He was underage at the time and didn't tell his mother. His father had died 10 years earlier and his mother was a hardworking women with 7 children. After basic training at Peninsula barracks, Marsh House Lane, Warrington he was sent to join the 2nd battalion in India. As a poor boy from Wavertree it was the trip of a lifetime. Gibraltar, the med, Malta, the Suez canal, the pyramids and food all thrown in. My dad had a few tales to tell of pre-war India, one of which was about one of his comrades walking up and touching a sleeping tiger thinking it was dead. It then awoke and he was killed. We thought this was a tall story until after he died when I found a reference to it in the regimental museum. The soldiers name was Gallagher and he is buried in the military cemetery in Doellalli.

The Battalion was in Bombay at the start of the war and was sent back home in 1940 to become part of the south coast defences. When Japan entered the war he was sent back to India via South Africa and later took part in the invasion of Madagascar . During his time in South Africa he said he was well looked after by a local family named Godfrey. The battalion then went on to fight during the whole of the Burma campaign. He fought in all of the major engagements. He took part in the crossing of the Irrawaddy which was the longest opposed river crossing of the whole war. He was at Impha, Kohima and Letse. The latter is a unique battle honour. He was injured when he took cover from a night air attack and ending up diving on top of the embers of a fire. He said some Japanese aircraft followed friendly ones coming in to land at night and got past the air defences. During his time in Burma he said he was marching along a road through the jungle when the saw an ox cart up ahead. They quickened the pace and caught it up to get a ride. When they jumped on his sisters husband, Jackie Payne was driving it. He didn't even know he was in the army let alone thousands of miles from home. Small world. His mate in the battalion was Jimmy O'Donnell who was in the signals platoon. Dad went on to marry Jim's sister, Sadie and they lived happily together for 42 years. Jim died in 1952 from complications following appendicitis.

After the war dad worked for British Rail at Edge Hill and Lime St in Liverpool until he retired aged 65. He died 4 years later. He was an unassuming man and a proud holder of the Burma Star. I am proud to be named after him.




P/O Gerald D'Arcy-Wright .     Royal Air Force 61 Sqdn. (d.5th Oct 1940)

I am trying to find out about my great-uncle P/O Gerald D'Arcy-Wright No. 40162, (he also used just Wright) who served from RAF Hemswell as a Hampden Pilot. He was a member of 5 group, 61 squadron before his plane crashed into the Yorkshire Moors on 5th October 1940. I am trying to find a picture or squadron picture of that era, or maybe someone knew him, or if he was married.

Update: Your great uncle was the pilot of Hampden X2920 which crashed, as you state, on the Yorkshire Moors near Leeming airfield. The crew were:

  • P/O G.D. D'Arcy-Wright (buried Leeming St John the Baptist Churchyard)
  • Sgt W.A. Cannon (buried South Shoebury Churchyard)
  • Sgt W.B. Rayment (buried Henfield Cemetery)
  • Sgt A. Algar (buried Derby (Nottingham Rd) Cemetery)




  • Ernest Henry "Barney" D'ath-Weston .     Royal New Zealand Air Force 115 Squadron   from New Zealand

    Being awarded Navigators Wings at Portage La Prairie in Canada

    Ernest D'ath-Weston started pilot training at RNZAF Station Bell Block. He was out with his mates in their Tiger Moths when they saw some young ladies in the surf. The young ladies waved at them and had forgotten their bathing suits so some very low flying occurred. A local farmer reported them and Mr D'ath-Weston was then made a navigator.

    Coming back one time they saw Cologne burning but were not involved. They were hit by flack coming back from a raid in Wellington and ditched near Holland I think and were picked up by a German seaplane which tipped them into the water using one of it's floats. He was liberated from the POW Camp by the Russians later.




    Sgt. Horace Melvin D'Sena .     British Indian Army   from Rajahmundry

    My father Horace D'Sena joined the army in Bangalore, India. He was stationed at the North Frontier after volunteering to go to Burma and fought in Kohema.




    CG D-alvarez .     British Army 17/21st Lancers

    CG D-alvarez served with the 17/21st Lancers 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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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.




    WH D-eath .     British Army Coldstream Guards

    WH D-eath served with the Coldstream Guards 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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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. Charles Arthur Dabbs .     Royal Navy HMS Cairo   from Birmingham

    My father has passed away but served on HMS Cairo and many other ships in WW2, in Malta, North Africa and the Med.

    I am in the process of getting his service records. He become Petty Officer but I am unsure whether that was on the Cairo or the other ships he sailed on. If anyone knew my father, please get in touch.




    PO. Charles Dabbs .     Royal Navy HMS Indomitable   from Birmingham, England

    I am researching the ships my father sailed on in the Royal Navy 1939-1945. I am in the process of requesting his service records. I know some of the ships he did sail on. He was in the Med campaign, namely Malta, France and North Africa. I can remember he did talk of the Cairo, Indomitable, and Ariadne, but know there must have been many more. He became petty officer while serving, and loved being at sea. His name was Charlie Dabbs and was born in Birmingham. Like many lads at that time, he lied about his age to get in the services. If anyone has any information, or contacts who may remember my father, I would be very gratefull.




    1Lt. William Rhea Dabney .     US Army E Coy. 310th Infantry Regiment   from Jackson, Tennessee

    (d.28th Dec 1944)

    William Dabney was captured at Kesternich, and was killed in the accidental allied bombing of Stalag 12A.




    PW Daborn .     British Army

    PW Daborn 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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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.




    BD Dacey .     British Army

    BD Dacey 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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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.




    Pte. Thomas Dacey .     British Army 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment   from Birmingham

    (d.25th September 1944)

    Thomas Dacey served with the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment.




    Sgt P R A Dack .     Royal Air Force 434 Bluenose Squadron. (d.20th Jan 1944 )




    SW Dack .     British Army

    SW Dack 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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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.




    HW Dacombe .     British Army Royal Artillery

    HW Dacombe served with the Royal Artillery 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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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.




    Gunner Huntley DaCosta .     Royal Air Force




    Gregory Dadajan .     Soviet Army   from Kafan

    My uncle, Dadajan Gregory, was a Soviet Prisoner of War in Stalag IVB. Just recently found this information on-line. He did not return from the war. If anyone has any information or suggestions how to continue our search, please let me know.




    Pte Hedley Albert Dadd .     Australian Imperial Force 2/1st Btn   from Balmain NSW Australia

    Hedley Dadd served with the Australian Army during WW2.




    N Dadd .     British Army Lincolnshire Regiment

    N Dadd served with the Lincolnshire Regiment 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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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.




    F Dadson .     British Army 43rd Regiment Reconnaissance Corps

    F Dadson served with the 43rd Regiment Reconnaissance 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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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.




    Sgt. Jack Daendels .     Dutch Army




    DJE Daffern .     British Army

    DJE Daffern 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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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.




    Lt. Hargrave John Dafforn MC.     British Army Royal Artillery   from Pinnocks Wood, Burchetts Green, Maidenhead

    Captured in the rear guard action at Dunkirk. Wounded by a Howitzer shell landing some feet away, so in hospital elsewhere for a considerable period before arriving at the camp. His family were not aware he had survived for approximately a year.




    RE Daffurn MiD.     British Army 11th Hussars

    RE Daffurn served with the 11th Hussars 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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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.




    Ronald A. Daffurn .     British Army

    Ronald Daffurn 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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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.




    IR Dagger .     British Army

    IR Dagger 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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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.




    Norman Daggett .     Royal Air Force

    My father, Norman Daggett, joined the RAF from his home town of Chilton, Co Durham. He was stationed in Dyce initially as an air-gunner, but was transferred to the Military Police. He was subsequently stationed in Gravesend and India.




    Norman Daggett .     Royal Air Force

    My father-in-law, Norman Daggett, joined the RAF as a gunner, but was transferred to the RAF Police. I know that he spent some time training in Kent and served in India.




    Spr. Edward Graham Daglish .     British Army 233 Fld Coy. Royal Engineers (d.6th Jun 1944)

    Edward Graham Daglish died aged 23 on teh 6th of June 1944. He was the son of William Richard and Alice Daglish (nee Jones) of Primrose, Jarrow.

    Edwards is buried in the Bayeux War Cemetery.




    R Daglish .     British Army Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

    R Daglish served with the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 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: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch 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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