Anne Patricia Wadia . Auxiliary Territorial Service from Northern Ireland Pat Wadia served with the Auxiliary Territorial Service.
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F Wadman . British Army West Yorkshire Regiment F Wadman served with the West Yorkshire 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.
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Rfm. Arther George Wadner . British Army Kings Royal Rifle Corps from Bristol Unfortunately, I have no further information regarding my late Grandfather but would love to know more. I do know he took place in the Death March. I always thought he was at Stalag 19a but according to prisoners of war records online it states he was at 20b
Editors Note: The POW records only record a single camp, that which the man was in at the time the list was made in 1945. Many men had been held in other camps also.
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Sgt F Wadsworth DFM . RAF 12sqd
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PO. John Edward Wadsworth . Royal Navy from York
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F/Sgt. Joseph Wadsworth . Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 103 Sqdn. from Cheshire (d.24th March 1944) I am researching information pertaining to a raid on Berlin on 24th/25th March 1944. My grandfather, RAFVR Flt Sgt Jo Wadsworth, was lost on this mission. He was in Lancaster Squadron 103.
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L/Cpl. Lewis Arthur Wadsworth . British Army Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers from Birmingham My grandad was Lewis Wadsworth. I've been hunting down his history recently and sent off his information from the MOD. I have letters he wrote to his sister when he served in North Africa and photos of him in his uniform.
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Forelady. Mary Wadsworth . Women's Land Army from Mossley, Manchester My mum Mary Wadsworth was born in 1922 in a small town called Mossley near Manchester. She was a mill worker and joined the Land Army around 1941 & left after the war. She met my father at a dance. Like lots of other people she didn't talk much about the past although I did try a few times She told me the work was very hard and the hours were very long. She said the farmer's wife was very good with them and they mostly lived on "jam butties".
My mum recieved her Land Army badge in October 2008, she had a big party at the residential home where she lived, my grandson & his school came to sing to her. Our mayor & mayoress presented her with the badge. Although she had a good day she did whisper to me "I dug alot of potatoes for that medal". Sadly my Mum died in November 2009. I am now trying to contact anyone who may have been on the farm with her at Bletchley Park, Leighton Buzzard.
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Sgt. Lennaert Waern DFM.. Royal Air Force 103 Squadron Lennaert Frederick Waern, born 1915 in Maidstone (not Dutch as widely thought but of Swedish parents).
I have no details except that he was already in the 103rd Squadron at the beginning of the war and was involved in the decimation in 1940, when the French let us down. Freddy Waern was shot down in his Fairy Battle and escaped back to his squadron.
He had a distinguished career as a Navigator with two known crashes in Wellingtons, both with the same crew, were in Abergavenny in Wales Jan 1941 and with the same crew ditched on the way back from Germany. He was posted to Canada to train aircrew and settled there after the war.
I hope his family will complete the story.
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AB. James Wafer . Merchant Navy S.S. Samaria from Liverpool (d.14th May 1943) James Wafer started service as an Able Seaman during World War 1 and had survived active service as a teenage merchant man on a ship called Romney. He signed up in 1915 at the age of 18.
This is the story of my Grandad, James Wafer and his best friend and shipmate Matty Towers. In May 1943 S.S. Samaria was in West Huskisson dock at my grandfather's home port of Liverpool.
At 5.00 p.m. on Thursday 13th of May 1943, my grandfather Jim reported for duty on troop ship S.S. Samaria to J. Lowe 2nd officer.
At 5.10 p.m. he was assigned A.R.P. duty by S. Pentith 3rd officer.
From 10.00 a.m. 11.00 p.m. he was seen on his rounds attending to blackout by J. Lowe.
1.30 a.m. Friday 14th of May 1943 Jim Wafer was seen apparently asleep in Seaman Gunners Quarters by Able Seaman Stanley Poole. A little after 1.30 a.m. the last person to speak to Grandad was Able Seaman M. Towers.
When he talked to my Grandad he was told that he had a bad headache.
These were to be my grandfather's final words on earth.
At 8.00 a.m. Matty Towers looked in his bunk and then reported Grandad missing to the Bosun, J. Hynes. Shortly after, Samaria set sail for Algiers via the River Clyde, Glasgow. Samaria sailed out of Liverpool on Friday 14th of May 1943 and was on the Clyde Monday 17th of May.
Samaria sailed from Clyde 19th of May to Algiers and arrived 27th of May 1943.
At 6.25 p.m. Wednesday 26th of May 1943 P.C. William Gibb and Sgt Fox found my Grandad's body in the South West corner of the West Huskisson dock. Two days later the Coroner held an inquest into Grandad's death and the verdict was given as unascertainable. Thomas Coakley examined the body and states no violence was used in his death but his body was badly damaged, due to it being trapped for days under the lock gates of the dock. He listed drowning as the probable cause of death.
The funeral for 46 year old Jim Wafer was held on Tuesday 1st of June 1943 at St Dominic's Roman Catholic Church then burial at Ford Cemetery.
On the Samaria crew list and report of character, James Wafer and Matty Towers are consecutive number 59 & 60. For ability and general conduct both men are reported as very good.
By the 26th of June 1943 the crew of the Samaria had heard of the body of Jim Wafer being found in Liverpool. At 7.05 p.m. Matthew Towers A.B. (M.N. Gunner) fell from the gun platform on A deck to B deck, receiving head injuries. On being examined by the ship's surgeon life was found to be extinct.
At 7.45 p.m. the Samaria was about to sail. At this point the body of Matthew Towers A.B. was taken ashore by the military authorities for burial. On 28th of May 1943 he was buried in El Alia Cemetery Algiers.
The official record of these two mens' deaths falls so short of telling the whole story. Against J. Wafer it states "he failed to re-join ship" and for M. Towers it reads "died as result of accident". Strange that we have sworn coroners statements from my grandfather's inquest placing him on the ship and performing his duties, but the official entry in the log claims he failed to re-join the ship. The official records state the purser took possession of his discharge book, his I.D. card and his grey suit jacket.
For Matty Towers the three witness statements into his death are very contradictory. Those giving evidence included J. Cornwall M.N. Gunner, R. W. Orr D.E.M.S. Gunner and T. Moulton Sectionman. One statement indicates he fell forward unhindered over the gun deck another says he staggered, gripped a rail and fell backwards to his death. The third statement, quite surprising, from W. Orr, is missing from the official records although he is listed as giving evidence to the inquiry into Matty Towers death.
Matthew Towers was 48 years old when he lost his life.
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Tpr. LP Wagg . British Army Staffordshire Yeomanry Tpr.LP Wagg served with the Staffordshire Yeomanry 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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WB Waggott . British Army 13th /18th Hussars WB Waggott served with the 13th /18th 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.
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Sgt Bryan Dickson Waghorn . Royal Air Force 129 Squadron (d.28th Oct 1941) Bryan Waghorn was the younger brother of Battle of Britain pilot Sgt Peter Waghorn. He flew the Spitfires of 129 squadron based at Westhampnett but unfortunately was lost over the English Channel on 28 October 1941, six months after his brother was killed flying his Hurricane in the defence of Malta. The brother's father, Harry Waghorn, had enlisted in the army in WW1, was commissioned and after being posted to Mesopotamia was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in Egypt. The photo shows the pilots of 129 Squadron at Westhampnett, possibly in September of 1941, with one of their Spitfires behind them.
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RC Waghorne . British Army RC Waghorne 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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Edward George Wagland . Royal Navy HMS Saker (d.10th Jan 1945)
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Robert Wagner . My grandfather, Robert Wagner, was captured in Spa Belgium by the SS and taken after a considerable journey to Stalag 4B. He was set free by the Russians, taken to Halla and turned over to the Americans a month after they were turned over into Russian custody. I'd love to hear more about the Stalag, to hear what it was like.
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Lt. Col. Harry Tidwell Wagnon . United States Army Air Force 489th Bomb Group from Macon, Georgia Lt Col Wagnon was lead pilot in one of the squadrons. May 30, 1944 was his first mission. He bombed many facilities and was instrumental in the bombing of St Lo to rout the Nazis.
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A. Wagstaff . Royal Air Force RAF Upper Heyford A. Wagstaff was stationed at Upper Heyford during 1943.
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Gnr Stanley Wagstaff . British Army 10th Medium Regiment Royal Artillery
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WA Wagstaff . British Army Royal Armoured Corps WA Wagstaff 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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Pte. William Henry Wagstaff . British Army Worcestershire Regiment from Nottingham
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PO. Cassian Henry Waight . Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 101 Squadron from Belize, British Honduras (d.20th February 1944) Pilot Officer (Wireless Op./Air Gunner) Cassian Waight was the son of John Woods Waight and Lottie Evelyn Gladys Waight of Belize, British Honduras.
He is buried in the Marum (Noordwijk) Protestant Churchyard, Groningen, Netherlands.
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Capt. Dennis Edward "Daddy" Waight MC.. British Army 2nd Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers from London My father, Colonel Dennis Waight, fought in both WW1 and WW2 and went to France with the 12th Northumberland Fusiliers. He served as a Platoon and Coy Comander in the trenches until early 1918. During which he won the Military Cross.
He then became a Bristol Fighter Observer with 22nd Squadron RFC. He became an observer ace having downed 12 German aircraft.
He became a regular officer during his time with the Btn. and after the war left the RAF.
He rejoined the Fusiliers serving in India, Persia, Iraq and at Fenham Barracks in Newcastle, first as adjutant of the Northumberland Fusiliers and DLI depot and later as training major of a TA Btn.
At the outbreak of WW2 he joined a regular battalion at Bordon, Hants went to Palestine with it and served with it in the first battles in the Western Desert, Sidi Barrani as a company commander. He was promoted and joined Cheshire Regiment in Malta and served during the seige. On relief, he was promoted and ran a officers school in Haifa and returned to England to command a wt school near Guildford and then a wosb at St Albans and later near Brussels.
After the war ended he ran a prison for hard core Nazis at Harsewinkel, near Gutersloh as an officer of CCG.
Many felt he deserved greater recognition for his and the Cheshires performance in Malta. His father was a soldier, so was I and my son.
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C Wailes . British Army C Wailes 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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G Wain . British Army Kings Dragoon Guards G Wain served with the Kings Dragoon 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.
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Pte. Leslie Wain . British Army 2nd Btn. Border Regiment from Lancashire (d.3rd Feb 1945) My great uncle, Pte. Leslie Wain, was killed, aged 28, by a Japanese sniper on 3rd February 1945. We knew he had been killed in Burma, but until last week we had no idea where he was buried. Now we do, in the war cemetery in Yangan (Rangoon).
My mum, his niece, remembers him with great affection, but unfortunately has no photo of him, nor do any of the surviving family. My mum is 86 this year and the best present she could have would be a photo of him or his regiment so she can pick him out.
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Capt. Howard Simon Wainberg . Canadian Army Royal Canadian Engineers from Toronto  My Great uncle Howard took part in the liberation of Holland and its transit camps at the end of WW11. During the liberation of the camps (Westerbork?), the Jewish prisoners were tearing the yellow stars off their uniforms. My Uncle Howie approached one of them and asked if he could have it. I suspect they spoke Yiddish, as our family is Jewish, and Yiddish was the universal language of Ashkenazi Jews. The interesting thing about this particular star is that the word for Jew is not 'Jude',
but 'Juis', the French word for Jew. The prisoner obliged, and Uncle Howie brought it back to Canada and gave it to his sister, my Grandmother Lillian. Many decades later after the family moved to Los Angeles, (Uncle Howie included), Grandma gave it to me.
I would very much like to know what regiments took part in the liberation of Holland as I don't know which one my Great uncle served in. I would appreciate any information you could give me on finding his regiment.
I now live in the UK, and have added the star and the story of Uncle Howie in the BBC's online archive of The History of the World in a Hundred Objects.
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Sgt. Waind . Royal Air Force flight eng. 101 Sqd.
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Henry George Owen Wainfur . British Army Welsh Guards from Newport, Gwent Henry Wainfur served with the Welsh Guards
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Pte. Kenneth Wainman . British Army I do not have much information about my father Ken Wainman's service history. I believe he was discharged around 1942 having contracted meningitis.
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