T/Cpl. David John Longridge "Jock" Orr . Royal Air Force 232 Squadron from 9 East Arthur Place, Edinburgh During my father's time in the Far East he kept a diary of events
through Signapore, Sumatra, Ceylon, India and Burma between November 1941 and September 1945.
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Frank Orr . My grandfather was a prisoner of Stalag 383. His name was Frank Orr. In the attached photograph (he's on the right) but we have little more
information. The back of the photograph
shows the Stalag postmark, his prisoner number (I think) and an
amazingly vague address that despite the lack of detail still found
its way to his wife, Hannah.
Thank you for preserving the memories of such brave individuals whom
we owe so much.
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J. T. Orr . United States Army 358th Rgt, 3rd Btn. 90th Inf. Div. J T Orr was with the 90th Infantry Division, 358th Rgt, 3rd Btn. He was shot and captured on 13th November 1944. He spent 138 days in a German hospital at Bad Kreuznach. He was later sent to Stalag 12A.
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P/O James Orr . RAF 12sqd
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Gnr. James Orr . British Army HQ 21lth Light Anti Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery from Daley, Ayrshire Scotland (d.7th December 1942 ) James Orr is my maternal uncle. He became a prisoner of the Japanese when ordered to lay down arms in March 1942 after the surrender of Java. As far as is known, he was originally destined for the Desert war, but on arrival in Capetown, the Japanese having bombed Pearl harbour etc, they were ordered on to Singapore for the defence there, then on to Batavia in Java.
He was part of a detail of soldiers destined for Hakodate as slave labour, and was transported to Japan in what became known as the Hellships, because of the conditions on board the men suffered. Many died en route, and James was too sick to be moved on, so was placed in the so called military hospital (Kokura Military Hospital Japan) where he died shortly after his arrival. He was 28years old and left behind a wife and two very young children.
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JG Orr . British Army Highland Light Infantry JG Orr served with the Highland 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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John Orr . British Army 1st Btn. Royal Irish Fusiliers (d.27th October 1943)
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Pte. John Orr . British Army 5th Battalion East Kent Regiment (d.20th May 1940)
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P/O Melvin Osborne Orr . Royal Canadian Air Force 103 Sqdn. from Hamilton, Ontario (d.29th November 1944) Uncle Melvin Orr, was aboard 103 Squadron Lancaster I LL964 PM-H "La Belle Dame Sans Merci", the night of Oct 31/Nov 1 1944. The plane was hit by flak. The crew was ordered to bail out. Melvin hurt his ankle upon reaching the ground. Pilot F/S Cooke and F/S McCoubray (who had deployed his parachute inside the aircraft) belly landed the aircraft at St-Gerard, Namur, without causing injury to these two men. The entire crew made it back to England within a month. Unfortunately the crew was aboard the Lancaster III PB465 PM-F "Mudpool Maggie II" the night of Nov 29 1944. The aircraft was involved in a midair collision with a 550 Squadron Lancaster. Damage was so severe that control was lost immediately. Crewmembers who perished: F/S M O Orr RCAF, F/S J C Cooke RCAF, Sgt E W McGrath (Irish), F/S J A Goff RCAF, WO2 F I R B Hill RCAF, F/S J H C McCoubrey RCAF. F/O G T Mortimer survived and became a POW. The men who died are buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery
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F/Sgt. Norris Ellswood "Red" Orr . Royal Canadian Air Force 408 (Goose) Squadron from Canada Norris Orr served with 408 (Goose) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force.
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T Orr . British Army T Orr 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.
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AJO Orrell . British Army Royal Armoured Corps AJO Orrell 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: 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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Cpl. John Winning Orsi . British Army D Coy., 1st Btn. Highland Light Infantry from Glasgow John Orsi served with 16 Platoon, D Coy., 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.
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Pte. Harry William Orsmond . British Army East Kent Regiment from London Bill Orsmond Needed parental consent to join up, but his Dad wouldn't as he didn't want any son of his going through what he experienced during WW1, so Bill took his Dad to the pub and got him to sign the papers when he was drunk.
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Cpl. Arthur Orton . British Army 721 GHQ Car Coy. Royal Army Service Corps (d.16th July 1945)
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Lt. Frank Edward J. F. Orton . US Army from USA I'm trying to trace American Lieutant Frank Orton who was in Wiltshire or
Burnley in 1943-44. He was taken to court by
My grandmother (not married) and court records do
Not show his address, dob or anything else. I would appreciate
any help!
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Spr. Frank Orton . British Army 663 Artisan Works Company Royal Engineers (d.17th Jun 1940) Frank Orton of 663 Artisan Works Company, Royal Engineers lost his life in the sinking of the Lancastria.
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Sgt. Gilbert Joseph Orton . Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 210 Squadron from Ward End, Birmingham. (d.22nd March 1943) Gilbert Orton was the Son of Albert Henry and Germaine Orton, of Ward End, Birmingham.
He was aged 21 when his Catalina crashed in the sea near Sagres.
He is buried in the Sagres Cemetery in Portugal.
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Driver James William Orton . British Army 398 Airborne Comp Coy Royal Army Service Corps (d.13th June 1944) My grandfather James William Orton, was killed in action, aged 32, with the 6th Airborne on 13th June 1944. He is buried at Ranville Cemetery, France, Grave IA.E.6.
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Kenneth Thomas Orton . Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 146 Squadron (d.2nd Oct 1944) My father, Thomas Leone, was an instructor pilot during the years 1941-1942 at Darr Aerotech in Albany Georgia under the "Arnold Scheme". He instructed a pilot by the name of Ken T. Orton Class 42K who had an address of "22 St. Stephens Gardens, East Twickenham, Middlesex". Graduating July 1942, Mr Orton left my father a photo of himself with this aforementioned information on it. I learned from the Arnold Scheme organization, Nicola Bate, that Mr Orton was flying with Sqdn 146 in Burma Flying P-47s. He was killed in action on 2nd October 1944.
I would love to send this photo to any surviving family if they want it. Can anyone help?
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JS Orwin . British Army JS Orwin 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.
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Gunner George William Osborn . British Army My father, George William Osborn, served in WWII. He was a gunner and spent some time in Egypt. He also had two brothers, John and Ernest. Does anyone have any information about them?
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Sgt. Henry Albert Osborn . Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 514 Sqdn. from Plumstead (d.16th June 1944) Sgt. H.A. Osborn was lost after a raid on Valenciennes on 16th June 1944. Six of the crew of Lancaster II DS816 JI-O are buried at Croisilles British War Cemetery (one member survived and evaded capture). The full crew were:
F/Sgt C.F. Prowles, KIA
Sgt. H.A. Osborn, KIA
F/Sgt R.B. Spencer, KIA
Sgt. R. Surtees, KIA
Sgt. J. Porrelli, KIA
Sgt. A.A. Holmes, KIA
F/O A.H. Morrison, evaded capture
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Sgt.Major John Robert Osborn VC. Canadian Infantry Corps 1st Btn Winnipeg Grenadiers from Canada (d.December 19 1941)
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WO. John Robert Osborn VC.. Royal Canadian Infantry Corps Winnipeg Grenadiers from Manitoba, Canada (d.19th Dec 1941) John Osborn is commemorated on the Sai Wan Memorial in Hong Kong.
He was the son of John Robert and Harriet Sussana Osborn and husband of Margaret Elizabeth Osborn of St Vital, Manitoba, Canada.
His citation was published in the London Gazette: "At Hong Kong, on 19th December, 1941, a company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers became divided in an attack on Mount Butler. A part of the company led by C.S.M. Osborn captured the hill at bayonet point, but after three hours owing to the superior numbers of the enemy the position became untenable. C.S.M. Osborn and a small group covered the withdrawal and when their turn came to fall back he single-handed engaged the enemy, exposing himself to heavy enemy fire to cover their retirement. Later the Company was cut off and completely surrounded. Several enemy grenades were thrown which C.S.M. Osborn picked up and threw back. When one landed in a position where it was impossible to pick it up, he threw himself upon it and was instantly killed. His self-sacrifice undoubtedly saved the lives of many of his comrades. C.S.M. Osborn was an inspiring example to all throughout the defence, and in his death he displayed the highest qualities of heroism and self-sacrifice."
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Able Sea. Raymond Arthur Osborn . Royal Navy HMS Howe from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England My father Raymond Osborn, volunteered to join the Royal Navy just before his 18th birthday in September 1941. Prior to this date he had been a member of the Home Guard. His service dates from 17th December 1941, when he was posted to HMS Collingwood for basic training, which he completed in February 1942. After his basic training and after 3 weeks officially attached to HMS Victory, he was posted to the commissioning crew of the new battleship HMS Howe which had been launched in August 1941 and was being fitted out on the river Clyde. He remained with HMS Howe until March 1946, when he returned to the UK from the Far East. After another month or so attached to HMS Victory he was de-mobbed in May 1946.
On the Howe he was an Anti Aircraft Gunner on a bank of Pom-Pom short range anti aircraft guns. After HMS Howe was commissioned she was sent immediately to escort support duties on the Arctic convoys to North Russia and later to Iceland for Atlantic convoy support and more Arctic convoy work. In 1943 the Howe was attached to the Mediterranean fleet and took part in Operation Husky, the Allied landings on Sicily. Where she took part in the bombardment of the island of Favignana (just of the western end of Sicily) and the nearby Italian naval base of Trapani. Following this the Howe and her sister ship HMS King George V escorted two captured Italian battleships to Alexandria.
After a brief trip back to the UK for a refit, the Howe was posted to the Pacific. The voyage to the Far East was via the Suez Canal. At that time the Howe was the largest ship to pass through the canal. The passage was not without excitement, as she went aground in the shallow Bitter Lake. The journey was via the Seychelles and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)to Sidney, Australia. Dad told me a story about Christmas Day 1944, which was spent chasing a Japanese submarine out of Sydney Harbour (I still don't know if that was true or not).
Next stop was Ackland, New Zealand, where the ships company took part in a march past. In 1945 the Howe was attached to the US Pacific Fleet and took part in the American island hopping campaign. Her last action was in the Battle of Okinawa, April to June 1945, where the Howe was one of the ships to lay down the initial naval bombardment and used to bombard the Japanese defenders throughout the battle. It was here that dad received a slight wound due to Kamikaze action.
After Okinawa the Howe started her voyage home. First stop was Singapore, where the ships company marched past at the official signing of the surrender documents by Lord Mountbatten, in September 1945.
The Howe then returned to the UK via he Cape of Good Hope, with stops at Ceylon, Seycheles, Mombassa, Durban and Cape Town then straight back to the UK for February 1946. Dad was de-mobbed on 1st May 1946.
I have all Dad's service documents, photos and medals, including the Russian Arctic convoy medal, the British Arctic Star brooch and (as of 18 October 2013) I am awaiting delivery of his official British award, the Arctic Star, which has been a long time coming.
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Ord.Sea. Raymond Arthur "Ron" Osborn . Royal Navy HMS Howe from Welwyn Garden City, Herts Dad, Ron Osborn volunteered to join the Navy on achieving the age of 18 in September 1941 and was posted for basic training to HMS Collingwood.
On 18th of March 1942 he was posted to the shore establishment of HMS Spartiate at St Enochs in Glasgow. He is officially shown as joining ships company of HMS Howe on 1st June 1942, as part of the commissioning crew and remained with the Howe for the rest of the war until March 1946. Howe battle honours are Arctic 1942-43, Sicily 1943 and Okinawa 1945.
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SE Osborn . British Army Royal Armoured Corps SE Osborn 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: 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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F/O. W Osborn . Royal Canadian Air Force 419 Squadron from Canada F/O Osborn was a pilot based at Middleton St George of 419 Squadron.
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