13. THE FALLEN OF 7th LOYALS / 92nd LAA
29/12/00 18:59
FROM the formation of 7th Loyals on July 4, 1940, to D-Day, at least six men died while on duty in England, although new information received in 2009 suggests this figure could be substantially larger – and I am still researching this aspect.
The unit’s first recorded fatal casualty was Private Albert Stones, killed by German bombing during the Blitz in Liverpool in December 1940. Three more men were killed by mines during training. A further two died in traffic accidents.
A total of 21 officers and men from the regiment, or attached to it, are officially listed as having been killed during the 11 months from D-Day to VE-Day, a casualty rate of around six per cent. Again, this figure may have been larger and is still being researched.
The official casualty list is not comprehensive, especially in respect of men who were wounded. For instance, the wounding of the author’s father, Leo McCarthy, a few days after D-Day is officially unrecorded and I was told by the late Jack Prior that other wounded casualties were also not recorded.
The largest death toll for any one incident was on D-Day, when seven men were killed in the shelling of the liberty ship Sambut in the Channel. An eighth man died three days later of wounds. On July 18, four men were killed in the Orne bridgehead by German bombing, and on July 27 two men died in another bombing attack. Other deaths came singly. Details of casualties listed here are supplied by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Those who have no known grave are honoured on the appropriate war memorial. Names are given in chronological order of death. Where several men died on the same day, the list is in alphabetical order. Numbers refer to positions on memorials or to grave plot numbers.
3863483 Private Albert Edward Stones, no age recorded (C Company, 7th Loyals). Died December 21, 1940. No further personal information.
St Pancras Cemetery, Middlesex, Joint Grave 69.
3863734 Private William Hewitt, aged 28 (7th Loyals, Company unknown) Died April 6, 1941. Son of William and Sarah Ellen Hewitt, of Wavertree, Liverpool.
Scarborough (Manor Road) Cemetery, Section U, Row 4, Grave 18.
3863734 Private Edward Stephen McGreavy, aged 28 (7th Loyals, Company unknown) Died April 6, 1941. No further personal information.
Liverpool (Ford) Roman Catholic Cemetery, Section A.F, Grave 638.
3862219 Private Sydney Taylor, aged 28 (A Company, 7th Loyals) Died September 15, 1941 Son of George and Annie Taylor, of Openshaw, Manchester.
Droylsden Cemetery, Lancashire, Section S, Grave 299.
1836235 Gunner George Harry Albert Dansey, aged 20 (Battery unknown) Died May 20, 1942. Son of Victor George and Florance Lavinia Dansey, of Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.
Hertford Corporation Cemetery, Hertfordshire, Section D, Row D, Grave 45.
3853592 Gunner Frederick Wilson, no age recorded (318 Battery) Died June 21, 1942. No further personal information.
Fulham New Cemetery, Surrey, Section CC, Grave 463.
1506637 Serjeant Frederick Blaker, aged 25 (318 Battery) Died June 6, 1944. Son of Edwin A and Beatrice M Blaker, of Worthing, Sussex.
Bayeux Memorial, Panel 11, column 1.
2343775 Corporal George Challinor, aged 28 (Royal Corps of Signals attached RHQ) Died June 6, 1944. Son of Arthur and Emma Barlow Challinor, of Nantwich, Cheshire.
Dover (St James‘s) Cemetery, Kent.
3863436 Bombardier Sidney William Crane, aged 30 (RHQ) Died June 6, 1944. Son of William George Crane and Hannah Crane (nee Marshall); husband of Ivy Winnifred Crane, of Fulham, London.
Bayeux Memorial, Panel 11, column 1.
3863578 Gunner Herbert Alexander Davies, aged 32 (RHQ) Died June 6, 1944. Son of George and Maud Davies, of Liverpool; husband of Grace Elizabeth Davies, of Liverpool.
Bayeux Memorial, Panel 11 Column 2.
3862770 Gunner Wilfred Stanley Lever, aged 35 (318 Battery). Died June 6, 1944. Son of James Albert and Alice Lever, of Northwich, Cheshire.
Bayeux Memorial, Panel 11, Column 2.
3862773 Serjeant Percy David Ring, aged 32 (318 Battery). Died June 6, 1944. Son of Mr and Mrs John Ring; husband of of Jessie Ring, of Redhill, Surrey.
Bayeux Memorial, Panel 11, Column 1.
3862777 Bombardier John Thomas Wolfe, aged 32 (318 Battery). Died June 6, 1944. Son of John and Elizabeth Wolfe; husband of Amy Wolfe, of Liverpool.
Bayeux Memorial, panel 11, column 1.
3862870 Gunner Walter Hartley, aged 31 (318 Battery). Died June 9, 1944. Son of Joseph and Hannah Hartley, of Bootle.
Bootle Cemetery, Lancashire.
1567317 Serjeant John Hesford, aged 30 (317 Battery). Died June 24, 1944. Son of Albert Thomas and Maud Hesford, of Astley Bridge, Bolton, Lancashire.
La Delivrande War Cemetery, Douvres, VI.J.4.
14305642 Gunner Gordon Raymond Bone, aged 21 (318 Battery). Died July 18, 1944. Son of Mr and Mrs C Bone, of Botley, Hampshire.
Hermanville War Cemetery, 5.D.6.
3862752 Lance Bombardier Cyril Griffiths Guest, aged 31 (318 Battery). Died July 18, 1944 Son of Martha Guest, of Chester.
Hermanville War Cemetery, 5.D.11.
3862678 Gunner Frederick Kemp, aged 32 (318 Battery).Died July 18, 1944. No further personal information.
Hermanville War Cemetery, 5.D.7.
3862765 Serjeant Alfred Ernest Penrose, aged 33 (318 Battery).Died July 18, 1944. Son of Alfred Ernest and Isabella Penrose, of Liverpool; husband of Elsie Penrose, of Liverpool.
Hermanville War Cemetery, 5.D.13.
4123325 Warrant Officer Class II Francis Joseph Connor, aged 32 (318 Battery). Died July 25, 1944. No further personal information.
Ranville War Cemetery, II.B.23.
11403127 Gunner Arthur Greaves, aged 34 (318 Battery). Died July 25, 1944. Son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Greaves, of Nottingham; husband of Louisa Mary Greaves, of Nottingham.
Ranville War Cemetery, II.A.33.
14233428 Signalman John Lewis Henderson, aged 23 (Royal Corps of Signals, attached 317 Battery). Died July 27, 1944. No further personal information.
Ranville War Cemetery, I.E.14.
134363 Major George Leslie Williams, aged 32 (Commanding 318 Battery). Died August 3, 1944. Son of Jesse and Victoria Evelyn Williams; husband of Constance Mary Williams, of Meols, Hoylake, Cheshire.
Bayeux War Cemetery, III.J.2.
233023 Lieutenant Richard George Forbes, no age recorded (319 Battery). Died August 6, 1944. No further personal information.
Bayeux War Cemetery XX.F.27.
3858941 Gunner James Goodman, aged 25 (317 Battery). Died September 4, 1944. Son of Lawrence and Edith Goodman; husband of Mary Goodman, of Horwich, Lancashire.
St Desir War Cemetery, II.C.1.
3858979 Bombardier John Nicholson, aged 26 (Counter–Mortar Unit). Died October 27, 1944. Son of John William and Eliza Nicholson; husband of Ada Nicholson, of Little Hulton, Lancashire.
Overloon War Cemetery, Netherlands, II.E.12.
3863592 Gunner John Lockett Rowland, aged 32 (319 Battery) Died October 31, 1944. Son of Thomas and Mary Rowland, of Runcorn, Cheshire; husband of Monica Rowland, of Runcorn.
Overloon War Cemetery, Netherlands, I.E.13.
Their Name Liveth For Evermore
The unit’s first recorded fatal casualty was Private Albert Stones, killed by German bombing during the Blitz in Liverpool in December 1940. Three more men were killed by mines during training. A further two died in traffic accidents.
A total of 21 officers and men from the regiment, or attached to it, are officially listed as having been killed during the 11 months from D-Day to VE-Day, a casualty rate of around six per cent. Again, this figure may have been larger and is still being researched.
The official casualty list is not comprehensive, especially in respect of men who were wounded. For instance, the wounding of the author’s father, Leo McCarthy, a few days after D-Day is officially unrecorded and I was told by the late Jack Prior that other wounded casualties were also not recorded.
The largest death toll for any one incident was on D-Day, when seven men were killed in the shelling of the liberty ship Sambut in the Channel. An eighth man died three days later of wounds. On July 18, four men were killed in the Orne bridgehead by German bombing, and on July 27 two men died in another bombing attack. Other deaths came singly. Details of casualties listed here are supplied by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Those who have no known grave are honoured on the appropriate war memorial. Names are given in chronological order of death. Where several men died on the same day, the list is in alphabetical order. Numbers refer to positions on memorials or to grave plot numbers.
3863483 Private Albert Edward Stones, no age recorded (C Company, 7th Loyals). Died December 21, 1940. No further personal information.
St Pancras Cemetery, Middlesex, Joint Grave 69.
3863734 Private William Hewitt, aged 28 (7th Loyals, Company unknown) Died April 6, 1941. Son of William and Sarah Ellen Hewitt, of Wavertree, Liverpool.
Scarborough (Manor Road) Cemetery, Section U, Row 4, Grave 18.
3863734 Private Edward Stephen McGreavy, aged 28 (7th Loyals, Company unknown) Died April 6, 1941. No further personal information.
Liverpool (Ford) Roman Catholic Cemetery, Section A.F, Grave 638.
3862219 Private Sydney Taylor, aged 28 (A Company, 7th Loyals) Died September 15, 1941 Son of George and Annie Taylor, of Openshaw, Manchester.
Droylsden Cemetery, Lancashire, Section S, Grave 299.
1836235 Gunner George Harry Albert Dansey, aged 20 (Battery unknown) Died May 20, 1942. Son of Victor George and Florance Lavinia Dansey, of Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.
Hertford Corporation Cemetery, Hertfordshire, Section D, Row D, Grave 45.
3853592 Gunner Frederick Wilson, no age recorded (318 Battery) Died June 21, 1942. No further personal information.
Fulham New Cemetery, Surrey, Section CC, Grave 463.
1506637 Serjeant Frederick Blaker, aged 25 (318 Battery) Died June 6, 1944. Son of Edwin A and Beatrice M Blaker, of Worthing, Sussex.
Bayeux Memorial, Panel 11, column 1.
2343775 Corporal George Challinor, aged 28 (Royal Corps of Signals attached RHQ) Died June 6, 1944. Son of Arthur and Emma Barlow Challinor, of Nantwich, Cheshire.
Dover (St James‘s) Cemetery, Kent.
3863436 Bombardier Sidney William Crane, aged 30 (RHQ) Died June 6, 1944. Son of William George Crane and Hannah Crane (nee Marshall); husband of Ivy Winnifred Crane, of Fulham, London.
Bayeux Memorial, Panel 11, column 1.
3863578 Gunner Herbert Alexander Davies, aged 32 (RHQ) Died June 6, 1944. Son of George and Maud Davies, of Liverpool; husband of Grace Elizabeth Davies, of Liverpool.
Bayeux Memorial, Panel 11 Column 2.
3862770 Gunner Wilfred Stanley Lever, aged 35 (318 Battery). Died June 6, 1944. Son of James Albert and Alice Lever, of Northwich, Cheshire.
Bayeux Memorial, Panel 11, Column 2.
3862773 Serjeant Percy David Ring, aged 32 (318 Battery). Died June 6, 1944. Son of Mr and Mrs John Ring; husband of of Jessie Ring, of Redhill, Surrey.
Bayeux Memorial, Panel 11, Column 1.
3862777 Bombardier John Thomas Wolfe, aged 32 (318 Battery). Died June 6, 1944. Son of John and Elizabeth Wolfe; husband of Amy Wolfe, of Liverpool.
Bayeux Memorial, panel 11, column 1.
3862870 Gunner Walter Hartley, aged 31 (318 Battery). Died June 9, 1944. Son of Joseph and Hannah Hartley, of Bootle.
Bootle Cemetery, Lancashire.
1567317 Serjeant John Hesford, aged 30 (317 Battery). Died June 24, 1944. Son of Albert Thomas and Maud Hesford, of Astley Bridge, Bolton, Lancashire.
La Delivrande War Cemetery, Douvres, VI.J.4.
14305642 Gunner Gordon Raymond Bone, aged 21 (318 Battery). Died July 18, 1944. Son of Mr and Mrs C Bone, of Botley, Hampshire.
Hermanville War Cemetery, 5.D.6.
3862752 Lance Bombardier Cyril Griffiths Guest, aged 31 (318 Battery). Died July 18, 1944 Son of Martha Guest, of Chester.
Hermanville War Cemetery, 5.D.11.
3862678 Gunner Frederick Kemp, aged 32 (318 Battery).Died July 18, 1944. No further personal information.
Hermanville War Cemetery, 5.D.7.
3862765 Serjeant Alfred Ernest Penrose, aged 33 (318 Battery).Died July 18, 1944. Son of Alfred Ernest and Isabella Penrose, of Liverpool; husband of Elsie Penrose, of Liverpool.
Hermanville War Cemetery, 5.D.13.
4123325 Warrant Officer Class II Francis Joseph Connor, aged 32 (318 Battery). Died July 25, 1944. No further personal information.
Ranville War Cemetery, II.B.23.
11403127 Gunner Arthur Greaves, aged 34 (318 Battery). Died July 25, 1944. Son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Greaves, of Nottingham; husband of Louisa Mary Greaves, of Nottingham.
Ranville War Cemetery, II.A.33.
14233428 Signalman John Lewis Henderson, aged 23 (Royal Corps of Signals, attached 317 Battery). Died July 27, 1944. No further personal information.
Ranville War Cemetery, I.E.14.
134363 Major George Leslie Williams, aged 32 (Commanding 318 Battery). Died August 3, 1944. Son of Jesse and Victoria Evelyn Williams; husband of Constance Mary Williams, of Meols, Hoylake, Cheshire.
Bayeux War Cemetery, III.J.2.
233023 Lieutenant Richard George Forbes, no age recorded (319 Battery). Died August 6, 1944. No further personal information.
Bayeux War Cemetery XX.F.27.
3858941 Gunner James Goodman, aged 25 (317 Battery). Died September 4, 1944. Son of Lawrence and Edith Goodman; husband of Mary Goodman, of Horwich, Lancashire.
St Desir War Cemetery, II.C.1.
3858979 Bombardier John Nicholson, aged 26 (Counter–Mortar Unit). Died October 27, 1944. Son of John William and Eliza Nicholson; husband of Ada Nicholson, of Little Hulton, Lancashire.
Overloon War Cemetery, Netherlands, II.E.12.
3863592 Gunner John Lockett Rowland, aged 32 (319 Battery) Died October 31, 1944. Son of Thomas and Mary Rowland, of Runcorn, Cheshire; husband of Monica Rowland, of Runcorn.
Overloon War Cemetery, Netherlands, I.E.13.
Their Name Liveth For Evermore