DETAILS OF SERVICEMEN FROM ECCLES SECONDARY SCHOOL WHO DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY

 

FIRST WORLD WAR

 

ALDRED, FRANK – Able-seaman,  SS Willingtonia. (Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve)

Died 23/07/1918, aged 20, in Deal Hospital

Buried at Peel Green Cemetery, Grave J,NC 13170

Son of Mr W. Aldred, “Oakwood” Brackley Road, Monton Green, Eccles.

 

BRITAIN, CLIFFORD THOMAS – Private, 15th London Reg. (Prince of Wales Own Civil Service Rifled) 1st/5th Bn, (Battle at Cambrai)

Died 23/03/1918 aged 19,

Bay 10, Arras Memorial. No of Identified casualties 34734.

Son of Walter and Marion Britain, Holly Bank Cottage, Station Bridge, Eccles

 

MARTIN, FREDERICK JAMES – Private, Machine Gun Corps (Inf)

Died in Hope Hospital on 16/11/1918, aged 19. No of identified Casualties 93.

Son of Frederick and Minnie Martin, 116 New Brook Rd., Over Hulton, Bolton.

Born at Eccles.

 

FOOTSOY, JAMES ROBERT – Private Cheshire Regt, Training Reserve Battalion.

Died at Battle for Corzeaucourt, on 28/09/1918, aged 19,

Panel 16, Vis-en-Artois Memorial.

No of identified casualties 9820.

Son of Thomas and Margaret Footsoy, 9 Paradise St., Eccles.

 

 

SECOND WORLD WAR

 

AGNEW, KENNETH LEE – Flying Officer (Navy) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 550 Sqdn.

Died 14/01/1944 aged 22,

16.G. 7. Hanover War Cemetery.

Son of James Nuttall Agnew and Doris Agnew of Whitefield, Lancashire.

 

ALLEN, JAMES ERIC – Flying Officer (Pilot) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

Died 7/12/1941 aged 28

Buried St Marks Worsley Grave No 554

Son of William and Sarah Agnes Allen and

Husband of Vera Margaret Allen of Monton Green, Eccles.

 

BANNING, WILLIAM ALBERT LAMBERT – Lieutenant (A) Royal Navy Reserve, HMS Victorious

Died 17/05/1945

Bay 6, Panel 2, Lee-on-Solent Memoral.

Son of William Henry and Emily Banning of Eccles, Lancashire. B. A. Hons.

 

BLEARS, NORMAN – Sub-Lieutenant (A) Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, HMS Victorious

Died 19/11/1944

Bay 6 Panel 2, Lee-on-Solent Memoral

Son of Frederick and Florence Blears of Monton, Lancashire.


BOARDMAN, H - Flight Sergeant – Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 353 Sqdn.

Died 14/04/1944 aged 30

Delhi War Cemetery 2. F. 9.

Son of Fred & Olive Edith Boardman of Manchester, Husband of Marian Boardman of Davyhulme, Manchester.

 

BROWNBILL, ALBERT EDWARD – Sergeant (Pilot) –Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 106 Sqdn.

Died 5/07/1941

17. C. 1 Reichswald Forest War Cemetery

 

BUTTERWORTH, DONALD HOLT – Sub-Lieutenant – Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

Died 28/05/1944

Panel 93, Column 1, Plymouth Naval Memorial

 

COLLIER, WILLIAM – Sergeant - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 428 (RCAF) Sqdn.

Died 29/04/1943

Panel 145, Runnymede Memorial.

Son of John William & Edith Collier of Swinton, Lancashire

 

COOKE, ALFRED – Sergeant (Air Gnr) - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 514  Sqdn.

Died 31/03/1944, aged 19

Coll grave 11. E 11 – 13 Rheinberg War Cemetery

Son of Percy & Ann Jane Cooke of Walkden, Lancashire

 

COOPER, KENNETH JOHN

Not enough information.

 

DAY, GEOFFREY (HAPPY) – Flying Officer (Navy) – Royal Air Force, 418 (RCAF) Sqdn.

Died 13/01/1945, aged 23

Plot B, grave 83, St John’s Pendlebury

Son of Ellen Day and Stepson of James LEE, East Lancashire Road, Swinton.

More: Geoffrey was killed in a flying accident somewhere in the U.K. Before the war he worked at  Lancs. Electric Power Co. Walkden. Believed to be a very good athlete.

 

DICKENSON, PERCY EDWARD – Flying Officer - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

Died 19/06/1944, aged 31

Panel 10, Manchester Crematorium.

 

FARE, ROBERT – Sergeant (Navy) - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

Died 17/08/1944, aged 21

2. C. 6. Nicosia War Cemetery

 

GORICK, NORMAN – Flying Officer - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 428 (RCAF) Sqdn.

Died 31/10/1943, aged 21.

Grave 666, St Mark’s Worsley

Son of William & Edith Rachel Gorick of Eccle, Manchester.


GUNTER, GEOFFREY IAN – Pilot Officer (Naval U/T) - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

Died 31/03/1943, aged 27

Grave 2119, Caernarvon Cemetery.

&

GUNTER, RICHARD IVOR – Sergeant (Air Bomber) - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 44 Sqdn.

Died 20/12/1942

Section H, Grave 242 South Lincoln (Newton) Cemetery

Sons of John Henry & Noah  Gunter of Monton Green, Eccles, Manchester.

On http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/search.aspx  they have spelt Richards last name without the “ r” on the end.

 

HALLSWORTH,  JOHN – Sergeant (W. Op/Air Gnr) - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 47 Sqdn.

Died 15/01/1943, aged 33

7. F. 3. Benghaji War Cemetery

Son of John & Edith Hallsworth of Eccles, Lancashire.

 

HARKER, LESLIE KENDRICK – Lieutenant – Royal Engineers

Died 08/04/1944, aged 37

U.D 12 Caserta war Cemetery

Son of Frank & Edith Ellen Harker, Husband of Mona Longworth Harker of Worsley, Lancashire.

More: He worked as a Mining Engineer & Surveyor.

 

HARRISON, DENNIS HIGHAM – Sergeant - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 218 Sqdn.

Died 21/06/1941, aged 29

Panel 44, Runnymede Memorial.

Son of John & Elsie Harrison of Eccles, Lancashire.

 

HAYNES, LAWRENCE CHARLES – Pilot Officer - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 124 Sqdn.

Died 26/05/1943, aged 20

North Weald Bassell (St Andrew) Church yard.

Son of Charles William & Frances Alice Haynes of Pendlebury, Lancashire.

 

HICKLING, KENNETH RUSHTON – Leading Aircraftman (Cadet Officer) - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Died 08/10/1942, aged 22

Grave 1086, St Mark’s Worsley.

Lived at Hazelhurst Cottage, Hazelhurst Road, Worsley.

More: my information states that he played Lacrosse for Worsley.

 

JACKSON, DARRELL – Flight Sergeant - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 50 Sqdn

Died 05/01/1945, aged 21.

Panel 271 Runnymede Memorial.

Son of Walter & Sarah Elizabeth Jackson of Eccles, Lancashire.

 

JARVEY, CYRIL – Private – The Kings Regiment (Liverpool)

Died 13/11/1944, aged 18

Grave 213 St Augustine of Canterbury, Pendlbury

Son of Fred & Mary Alice Jarvey of Pendlebury

JOHNSON, HARRY – Warrant Officer - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 355 Sqdn

Died 17/05/1945, aged 27, Killed in operations in the Far East.

Column 449, Singapore Memorial

Son of Richard & Maria Johnson, Husband of Florence A Johnson of 11 Harrowby Road, Swinton

More: He left an 18 month old son; his employment before joining up was with the Manchester Oil Refinery and he played football for Hope FC.

KAY, ALBERT HARRY – Petty Officer (Pilot) Royal Navy, HMS Pursuer

Died 09/08/1945, aged 20

Bay 6 Panel 1, Lee-on-Solent Memorial

Son of Percy Harry & Elsie Edith Kay of Eccles Lancashire

 

KELLY, ARNOLD – Flight Sergeant - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 524 Sqdn

Died 26/11/1944, aged 31, report missing 25/11/1944

PANEL 219, Runnymede Memorial

Son of Frederick & Elizabeth Kelly, Husband of Emma Kelly of Flixton, Lancashire

 

KEWLEY, GEORGE DOUGLAS – Flight Officer (Pilot) - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 626 Sqdn.

Died 22/03/1944. Killed in air operations over Germany.

12. G. 7 Hanover War Cemetery

Of Westbrook Drive, Swinton.

More: employment before joining up as a Policeman

 

KING-MEGGOTT, JOHN RICHARD – Flight Sergeant - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve193 Sqdn

Died 04/02/1944

Panel 219 Runnymede Memorial

On http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/search.aspx  they have spelt his surname King-Meggat

 

KINSEY, WILLIAM NOEL – Flight Sergeant – Royal Air Force 7th Sqdn

Missing presumed killed 24/11/1943, aged 28

Panel 137 Runnymede Memorial.

Son of John & Margaret Kinsey of Chorley Road, Swinton. Husband of Doris Eileen Kinsey (Spence) of Brixton, London.

More: He was member of St Peter’s Church Choir. Employment before joining up was with Glover’s Cables Ltd, Trafford Park.

 

MARSHALL, MICHAEL JOHN – Leading Airman – Royal Navy HMS Condor

Died 15/08/1944, aged 20

Bay 5 Panel 2 Lee-on-Solent Memorial

 

MATTHEWS, HAROLD – Second Officer – Merchant Navy SS Hindpool (West Hartlepool)

Died 08/03/1941, aged 22

Panel 57 Tower Hill Memorial

Son of Arthur & Jennie Matthews of Winton, Lancashire

 

OGDEN, RONALD – Leading Aircraftman - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Died 05/08/1945, aged 38. Killed in an accident.

7. B. 16. Ramlem War Cemetery

Son of Charles Frederick & Lucida Ogden and husband of Ruth Mary Ogden of Swinton

More: Played cricket for All Saints and Christ Church teams. Was employed as Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Agent

 

PEARSON, STANLEY – Flying Officer - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 37 Sqdn

Died 06/02/1943, aged 22. Missing after operations in the middle east.

Column 268 Alamein Memorial

Son of Frank and Gladys Pearson of Stafford Road Swinton

More: A cross country runner and Athlete, worked Yates Bros, Chemists, Swinton

 

QUINN, JAMES – Flying Officer (Pilot) - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 165 Sqdn

Died 05/01.1945, aged 23 during air operations.

Plot 23 Row 2 Grave 4 Brugge General Cemetery

Son of William & Dinah Quinn of Eccles, husband of Dorothy Quinn of Monton, Eccles.

 

SAVAGE, WILLIS ARTHUR – Sergeant (WOP/Airgnr) - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 75 Sqdn.

Died 16/12/1945, aged 20, while returning from operational flight.

Plot C, Grave 84, St John’s Pendlebury

Son of Richard Willis & Edith Annie Savage of Swinton

More: before war worked for Chartered Accountants, Walker & Son, Manchester

 

SLATER, HARRY KENNETH – Sub- Lieutenant - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve – HMS Indefatigable

Died 24/06/1944, aged 21.

Bay 5 Panel 6 Lee-on-Solent Memorial.

Son of James Henry and Gertrude Sybil Slater of Monton Eccles.

 

TURNER, FRANK GREENHALGH – Squadron Leader – Royal Air Force (RAFO)

Died 01/05/1944, age 29

4. E. 4 Fajara War Cemetery

Son of Herbert and Hannah Turner, husband of Winifride Turner of Stretford Manchester.

 

WALPOLE, SIDNEY HERBERT – Flying Officer - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 489 Sqdn

Died 09/04/1943. aged 30

Panel 130 Runnymede Memorial

Son of Sidney Robert & Florence Miriam Walpole of Bolton-le-Sand, Lancashire (BA Manchester)

 

WILLIAMS, JOHN THOMAS – Sergeant (W.Op/Airgnr) - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 70 Sqdn

Died 04/12/1942, aged 24.

1. H 3. Torbruk War Cemetery.

Son of John & Florence William of Flixton, Lancashire


 

 

Some of the information on this page can be found in “Remembrance – Recollections of a Wartime Childhood in Swinton” by Dorothy Tildsley

 

 

USEFUL LINKS

http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/search.aspx

Help to identify Squadrons –

http://www.raf.mod.uk/squadrons/h7.html

http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/h37.html

http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/h44.html

http://www.raf.mod.uk/squadrons/h47.html

http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/h50.html

http://www.raf.mod.uk/squadrons/h70.html

http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/h75.html

http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/h106.html

http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/h124.html

http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/h165.html

http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/h193.html

http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/h218.html

http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/h353.html

http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/h355.html

http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn411-420.htm

http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/h428.html

http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn485-490.htm

http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/h514.html

http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/h524.html

http://www.550sqn.theraf.co.uk/

http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn621-650.htm

 


SHIP INFORMATION

 

SS HINDPOOL, 4,897grt. Torpedoed and sunk by U-124 on the 8th March 1941 in Convoy SL-67 sailing from Pepel to Middlesbrough via Freetown with a cargo of iron ore. 28 crew killed

 

HMS VICTORIOUS, She was hit by a Kamikaze on 9 May 1945 - no damage. On July 1945 an 849 Squadron aircraft from HMS Victorious located and scored the first bomb hit on the Japanese escort aircraft carrier Kaiyo (or Kayo), which was seriously damaged by the FAA aircraft in Beppu Bay, Kyushu, on 24 July 1945. HMS Victorious served with the BPF until the end of war on repatriation duties for former POW troops, 1945-47

 

HMS PURSUER remained as a "Fighter Carrier" from 1943-1945, operating in the Atlantic 1943 - 5 and in Norway. She provided fighter cover during Operation "Tungsten" in April 1944.  On 3 April 3 1944, the German battleship Tirpitz lying in a Fjord in Arctic Norway was attacked by a strike force of Fairey Barracuda torpedo-bombers from HMS Furious and HMS Victorious. They were accompanied by escort aircraft of Grumman Wildcats, Hellcats and Vought Corsairs from the escort carriers Searcher, Fencer, Pursuer, and Emperor.

Subsequently, she supported the D-Day Normandy landings in June 1944, as well as operations leading to the invasion of southern France 1944, and Aegean 1944. Later Pursuer joined the British Pacific Fleet and was operational following arrived at Colombo 25 July 45. Assigned RN designation R309 circa 1945 for service in the Pacific, but probably not redesignated.

After the war in the Far East was officially over on 15 August the main activity for both British fleets was to accept the Japanese surrender in the numerous islands and areas of coast were they had been in control. In many cases there was still the risk of continued resistance, particularly in Malaya. On 9 September Operation Zipper, the recapture of Malaya, was put into effect, but without a previously arranged air and sea bombardment. Over 100,000 troops landed at various points escorted by HMS Nelson, Richelieu, Nigeria, Cleopatra, Royalist and Ceylon, with the escort carriers Hunter, Stalker, Archer, Khedive, Emperor, Pursuer and Trumpeter with 15 destroyers.

HMS Pursuer was returned to the USN on 12 February 1946 and scrapped.

H.M.S. INDEFATIGABLE -  http://www.btinternet.com/~t.briggswww/index1.html


HISTORICAL INFORMATION ABOUT WAR GRAVES

Many of the graves in HANOVER WAR CEMETERY were brought in from prisoner of war camp cemeteries, small German cemeteries and from isolated positions in the surrounding country. The cemetery contains 2,403 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 62 of them unidentified. There are also 39 non-war burials and ten war graves of other nationalities, most of them Polish. Hanover War Cemetery adjoins Hanover Military Cemetery, a substantial post war cemetery of more than 3,000 burials.

LEE-ON-SOLENT - During the Second World War the Fleet Air Arm served in almost every theatre. In a reconnaissance role they supported land operations in France, the Netherlands, North Africa, Italy, and the Far East. Operating from aircraft carriers (seven of which were lost during the war), they were one of the chief weapons against the U-boats in the Atlantic and in support of the Russian convoys. In November 1940, Fleet Air Arm Swordfish biplanes carrying torpedoes undertook a night raid on the harbour at Taranto, resulting in disaster for the Italian navy. Aircraft from HMS Victorious and Ark Royal took part in the sinking of the German battleship Bismark in may 1941 and in February 1942, when the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen attempted a daring dash along the English Channel from the Altlantic to the relative safety of the North Sea, they were attacked by Swordfish of the Fleet Air Arm. The principal base of the Fleet Air Arm, Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire, was chosen as the site for the memorial to almost 2,000 men of that service who died during the Second World War and who have no known grave

DELHI WAR CEMETERY was created in 1951 when graves from many cemeteries in northern India were moved into the site to ensure their permanent maintenance. Among them are graves from cantonment cemeteries in Allahabad, Cawnpore, Dehra Dun and Lucknow. There are now 1,022 Commonwealth casualties of the Second World War buried, or commemorated by special memorial, in this cemetery together with a number of war graves of other nationalities, mostly Dutch. In 1966, 99 First World War burials were moved into the cemetery from Nicholson Cemetery, Kashmir Gate, Delhi, so that their permanent maintenance could be assured. A special memorial commemorates one casualty whose grave remains in Nicholson Cemetery. Delhi War Cemetery also contains the DELHI 1914-18 MEMORIAL, commemorating 153 casualties buried in Meerut Cantonment Cemetery where their graves could no longer be maintained. More than 25,000 servicemen of the forces of undivided India died during the Second World War in non-operational zones, for example while serving with regimental depots or with other static units. Their remains were accorded the last rites and disposal required by their various religions and their names are commemorated at memorials in the capital cities of India and Pakistan. The DELHI 1939-45 WAR MEMORIAL forms the entrance to Delhi War Cemetery and an identical memorial stands in Karachi War Cemetery. No names appear on the memorials but a Roll of Honour at each site, one in Hindi, the other in Urdu, record the names of those commemorated.

REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY was created after the Second World War when burials were brought in from all over western Germany and is the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the country. Some of those members of the land forces buried there died in the advance through Reichswald Forest in February 1945. Others died crossing the Rhine, among them members of the airborne forces whose bodies were brought from Hamminkeln, where landings were made by the 6th Airborne Division from bases in England. Some of the airmen buried in the cemetery lost their lives in supporting the advance into Germany, but most died earlier in the war in the intensive air attacks over Germany. Their graves were brought in from cemeteries and isolated sites in the surrounding area. There are now 7,580 Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 162 of the burials are unidentified. There are also 79 war graves of other nationalities, most of them Polish

PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL - After the First World War, an appropriate way had to be found of commemorating those members of the Royal Navy who had no known grave, the majority of deaths having occurred at sea where no permanent memorial could be provided. An Admiralty committee recommended that the three manning ports in Great Britain - Chatham, Plymouth and Portsmouth - should each have an identical memorial of unmistakable naval form, an obelisk, which would serve as a leading mark for shipping. The memorials were designed by Sir Robert Lorimer, who had already carried out a considerable amount of work for the Commission, with sculpture by Henry Poole. After the Second World War it was decided that the naval memorials should be extended to provide space for commemorating the naval dead without graves of that war, but since the three sites were dissimilar, a different architectural treatment was required for each. The architect for the Second World War extension at Plymouth was Sir Edward Maufe (who also designed the Air Forces memorial at Runnymede) and the additional sculpture was by Charles Wheeler and William McMillan. In addition to commemorating seamen of the Royal Navy who sailed from Plymouth, the First World War panels also bears the names of sailors from Australia and South Africa; the governments of the other Commonwealth nations chose to commemorate their dead elsewhere, for the most part on memorials in their home ports. After the Second World War, Canada and New Zealand again chose commemoration at home, but the memorial at Plymouth commemorates sailors from all other parts of the Commonwealth. Plymouth Naval Memorial commemorates more than 7,000 sailors of the First World War and almost 16,000 from the Second World War.

The AIR FORCES MEMORIAL AT RUNNYMEDE commemorates by name over 20,000 airmen who were lost in the Second World War during operations from bases in the United Kingdom and North and Western Europe, and who have no known graves. They served in Bomber, Fighter, Coastal, Transport, Flying Training and Maintenance Commands, and came from all parts of the Commonwealth. Some were from countries in continental Europe which had been overrun but whose airmen continued to fight in the ranks of the Royal Air Force. The memorial was designed by Sir Edward Maufe with sculpture by Vernon Hill. The engraved glass and painted ceilings were designed by John Hutton and the poem engraved on the gallery window was written by Paul H Scott.

NICOSIA WAR CEMETERY was established by the military authorities during the Second World War for the burial of servicemen who died while on duty in Cyprus. A number of graves were also moved here from small civilian cemeteries in villages in different parts of the island. There are now 215 Second World War casualties, two of whom are unidentified and four non-war casualties commemorated in this cemetery. Within the cemetery stands the NICOSIA CREMATION MEMORIAL, which commemorates 73 soldiers of the army of undivided India who died in Cyprus during the Second World War and whose remains were cremated in accordance with their faith. Also in this cemetery is the CYPRUS (NICOSIA) MEMORIAL which commemorates the officers and men of the Cyprus Regiment and the Cyprus Volunteer Force who died in Cyprus during the Second World War and were buried in village cemeteries in various parts of the island. Some lie in family or collective graves where it was not possible to commemorate them with the usual Commission headstone.

BENGHAZI was an important goal for both Allies and Axis forces during the Western Desert campaigns of 1942 and 1943. There are now 1,214 Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World War buried or commemorated in Benghazi War Cemetery. 163 of the burials are unidentified. Special memorials commemorate two casualties buried in Barce War Cemetery, whose graves could not be located

CASERTA WAR CEMETERY - On 3 September 1943 the Allies invaded the Italian mainland, the invasion coinciding with an armistice made with the Italians who then re-entered the war on the Allied side. Allied objectives were to draw German troops from the Russian front and more particularly from France, where an offensive was planned for the following year. The Royal Palace at Caserta served as headquarters for the Allied armies in Italy for the greater part of the duration of the Italian campaign and the 2nd General Hospital was at Caserta from December 1943 until September 1945. Some of those buried here died in the hospital, others as prisoners of war before the Allied invasion. There are also a few burials from the October 1943 fighting on the River Volturno, which lies not far away to the north. Caserta War Cemetery contains 768 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.

SINGAPORE MEMORIAL - Before 1939 the Kranji area was a military camp and at the time of the Japanese invasion of Malaya, it was the site of a large ammunition magazine. On 8 February 1942, the Japanese crossed the Johore Straits in strength, landing at the mouth of the Kranji River within two miles of the place where the war cemetery now stands. On the evening of 9 February, they launched an attack between the river and the causeway. During the next few days fierce fighting ensued, in many cases hand to hand, until their greatly superior numbers and air strength necessitated a withdrawal. After the fall of the island, the Japanese established a prisoner of war camp at Kranji and eventually a hospital was organised nearby at Woodlands. After the reoccupation of Singapore, the small cemetery started by the prisoners at Kranji was developed into a permanent war cemetery by the Army Graves Service when it became evident that a larger cemetery at Changi could not remain undisturbed. Changi had been the site of the main prisoner of war camp in Singapore and a large hospital had been set up there by the Australian Infantry Force. In 1946, the graves were moved from Changi to Kranji, as were those from the Buona Vista prisoner of war camp. Many other graves from all parts of the island were transferred to Kranji together with all Second World War graves from Saigon Military Cemetery in French Indo-China (now Vietnam), another site where permanent maintenance could not be assured. The Commission later brought in graves of both World Wars from Bidadari Christian Cemetery, Singapore, where again permanent maintenance was not possible. There are now 4,458 Commonwealth casualties of the Second World War buried or commemorated at KRANJI WAR CEMETERY. More than 850 of the burials are unidentified. The Chinese Memorial in Plot 44 marks a collective grave for 69 Chinese servicemen, all members of the Commonwealth forces, who were killed by the Japanese during the occupation in February 1942. First World War burials and commemorations number 64, including special memorials to three casualties known to have been buried in civil cemeteries in Saigon and Singapore, but whose graves could not be located. Within Kranji War Cemetery stands the SINGAPORE MEMORIAL, bearing the names of over 24,000 casualties of the Commonwealth land and air forces who have no known grave. Many of these have no known date of death and are accorded within our records the date or period from when they were known to be missing or captured. The land forces commemorated by the memorial died during the campaigns in Malaya and Indonesia or in subsequent captivity, many of them during the construction of the Burma-Thailand railway, or at sea while being transported into imprisonment elsewhere. The memorial also commemorates airmen who died during operations over the whole of southern and eastern Asia and the surrounding seas and oceans.

The SINGAPORE (UNMAINTAINABLE GRAVES) MEMORIAL, which stands at the western end of the Singapore Memorial, commemorates more than 250 casualties who died in campaigns in Singapore and Malaya, whose known graves in civil cemeteries could not be assured maintenance and on religious grounds could not be moved to a war cemetery.

The SINGAPORE CREMATION MEMORIAL, which stands immediately behind the Singapore Memorial, commemorates almost 800 casualties, mostly of the Indian forces, whose remains were cremated in accordance with their religious beliefs.

The SINGAPORE CIVIL HOSPITAL GRAVE MEMORIAL stands at the eastern end of the Singapore Memorial. During the last hours of the Battle of Singapore, wounded civilians and servicemen taken prisoner by the Japanese were brought to the hospital in their hundreds. The number of fatalities was such that burial in the normal manner was impossible. Before the war, an emergency water tank had been dug in the grounds of the hospital and this was used as a grave for more than 400 civilians and Commonwealth servicemen. After the war, it was decided that as individual identification of the dead would be impossible, the grave should be left undisturbed. The grave was suitably enclosed, consecrated by the Bishop of Singapore, and a cross in memory of all of those buried there was erected over it by the military authorities. The 107 Commonwealth casualties buried in the grave are commemorated on the Singapore Civil Hospital Grave Memorial. Kranji War Cemetery and the Singapore Memorial were designed by Colin St Clair Oakes. Adjoining Kranji War Cemetery is KRANJI MILITARY CEMETERY, a substantial non-world war site of 1,378 burials, created in 1975 when it was found necessary to remove the graves of servicemen and their families from Pasir Panjang and Ulu Pandan cemeteries.

RAMLEH WAR CEMETERY - The cemetery dates from the First World War, when Ramleh (now Ramla) was occupied by the 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade on 1 November 1917. Field ambulances, and later casualty clearing stations, were posted at Ramleh and Lydda from December 1917 onwards. The cemetery was begun by the medical units, but some graves were brought in later from the battlefields and from Latron, Sarona and Wilhema Military and Indian Cemeteries. During the Second World War, this cemetery was used by the Ramla Royal Air Force Station and by various Commonwealth hospitals posted in turn to the area for varying periods. This cemetery contains 3,300 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 964 of them unidentified. Second World War burials number 1,168. There are also 891 war graves of other nationalities from both wars, and 525 non-war burials, many from the RAF and garrison stations that were at Ramleh in the inter war years and until the end of the British Mandate in Palestine in 1948.

Within Ramleh War Cemetery will be found:

The RAMLEH 1914-18 MEMORIAL, erected in 1961 to commemorate more than 300 Commonwealth, German and Turkish servicemen of the First World War who lie buried in cemeteries elsewhere in Israel where their graves could no longer be maintained. Only 74 of the casualties are named.

The RAMLEH 1939-45 MEMORIAL, commemorating 28 Jewish and non Arab servicemen of the Second World War, and six non-war casualties of the Palestine Police Force, who lie buried in cemeteries elsewhere in Israel where their graves could not be maintained in perpetuity.

ALAMEIN MEMORIAL - The campaign in the Western Desert was fought between the Commonwealth forces (with, later, the addition of two brigades of Free French and one each of Polish and Greek troops) all based in Egypt, and the Axis forces (German and Italian) based in Libya. The battlefield, across which the fighting surged back and forth between 1940 and 1942, was the 1,000 kilometres of desert between Alexandria in Egypt and Benghazi in Libya. It was a campaign of manoeuvre and movement, the objectives being the control of the Mediterranean, the link with the east through the Suez Canal, the Middle East oil supplies and the supply route to Russia through Persia. The Alamein Memorial forms the entrance to Alamein War Cemetery. The Land Forces panels commemorate more than 8,500 soldiers of the Commonwealth who died in the campaigns in Egypt and Libya, and in the operations of the Eighth Army in Tunisia up to 19 February 1943, who have no known grave. It also commemorates those who served and died in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Persia. The Air Forces panels commemorate more than 3,000 airmen of the Commonwealth who died in the campaigns in Egypt, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Greece, Crete and the Aegean, Ethiopia, Eritrea and the Somalilands, the Sudan, East Africa, Aden and Madagascar, who have no known grave. Those who served with the Rhodesian and South African Air Training Scheme and have no known grave are also commemorated here.

EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY contains the graves of men who died at all stages of the Western Desert campaigns, brought in from a wide area, but especially those who died in the Battle of El Alamein at the end of October 1942 and in the period immediately before that. The cemetery now contains 7,239 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, of which 814 are unidentified. There are also 102 war graves of other nationalities.

The ALAMEIN CREMATION MEMORIAL, which stands in the south-eastern part of El Alamein War Cemetery, commemorates more than 600 men whose remains were cremated in Egypt and Libya during the war, in accordance with their faith.

BRUGGE GENERAL CEMETERY - The British Expeditionary Force was involved in the later stages of the defence of Belgium following the German invasion in May 1940, and suffered many casualties in covering the withdrawal to Dunkirk. Commonwealth forces did not return until September 1944, but in the intervening years, many airmen were shot down or crashed in raids on strategic objectives in Belgium, or while returning from missions over Germany. The Commonwealth plot in Brugge General Cemetery contains 81 Second World War burials and one Dutch war grave. The Belgian military plot contains one Commonwealth burial of the First World War.

FAJARA WAR CEMETERY - During the Second World War the four territories in West Africa - including Gambia - became bases for recruiting and training men for the armed forces and their ports and harbours were of great value to convoys bound for the Middle East, India, South Africa and South America. By the end of 1942, coastal defence artillery had been installed and manned in all the principal West African ports. Bathurst (now Banjul) became a naval base. Fajara War Cemetery contains 200 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, one of which is unidentified. There are also nine non-war service burials and three war graves of other nationalities. The cemetery also contains a Memorial Tablet commemorating 33 of the men of Gambia who served in the Royal West African Frontier Forces who died whilst serving in West Africa and whose graves are not known or cannot be maintained.

TORBRUK WAR CEMETERY - Tobruk is a Mediterranean port with an excellent deep water harbour. During the war it was important to Allied and Axis forces alike, for the reception of supplies and reinforcements. In January 1941, it was taken from the Italians by General Wavell's forces, and after the clearance of the demolitions in the harbour the port was usable and proved invaluable. When Rommel commenced his drive across Cyrenaica towards Suez it was deemed essential that Tobruk be held, and the resulting siege lasted from 11 April to 10 December 1941, when the Axis forces were driven back. They recovered far more quickly than was expected and by early February 1942, it was the Allies turn to fall back towards a line running southwards from Gazala to Bir Hakeim. Again orders were given to hold Tobruk, but it fell to Rommel on 21 June. It was retaken five months later by the Eighth Army in their final sweep along the North African coast into Tunisia. Tobruk War Cemetery incorporates the burial ground used during the siege and the memorial erected there at the time by the Australians has been replaced by a permanent memorial of similar design. Many battlefield graves in the desert have been brought into the cemetery. There are now 2,282 Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World War buried or commemorated in Tobruk War Cemetery. 171 of the burials are unidentified but special memorials commemorate a number of casualties known or believed to be buried among them. The cemetery also contains 171 war graves of other nationalities, most of them Polish.