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December 9 remembrance ni Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery Operation Compass In 1940 Operation Compass, the first large British military operation of the Western Desert Campaign began. The Western Desert Force was 30,000 strong and under the command of Wavell takes to the offensive. Page 1
Transcript of REMNI DECEMBER 9
December 9
remembrance ni
Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery
Operation CompassIn 1940 Operation Compass, the first large British military operation of the Western Desert Campaign began.
The Western Desert Force was 30,000 strong and under the command of Wavell takes to the offensive.
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The 4th Indian division captures the Italian camps at Nibeiwa, Tumar East and West, while the 7th Armoured drives south of the camps at Sofafi and Rabia and turns north towards Buq Buq on the coast road.
A column also advances along the coast road from Mersa Matruh towards Maktila as British warships bombard both Maktila and Sidi Barrani.
Italian troops eating breakfast at Nibeiwa in are interrupted by British and Indian tanks crashing through their camp. The Italian commander ignored a report of approaching tanks given earlier by a scout plane.
Although successful, 500 Commonwealth servicemen were killed in the two month campaign – with over 300 being buried at CWGC’s Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery.
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.
Dungannon link
It was a campaign of manoeuvre and movement, the objectives being the control of Mediterranean, the link with
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the east through the Suez Canal, the Middle East oil supplies and the supply route to Russia through Persia.
Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery, approximately 12 kilometres from the Libyan border, is adjacent to Halfaya Pass, the scene of heavy fighting in 1941 and 1942. All of the graves in the cemetery were brought in from the surrounding area, including military cemeteries at Sidi-Barrani, Buq Buq, Fort Capuzzo, Bardia, Minquar el Zannan, and Camerons Burial Ground at Nibeiwa. The cemetery now contains 2,046 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, of which 238 are unidentified.
Amongst the Northern Irish buried there is Lieutenant Colonel Charles Thomas Milnes-Gaskell of the Coldstream Guards. He was the son of Major Evelyn Milnes-Gaskell and Lady Constance Harriet Stuart Milnes-Gaskell.
Constance was the daughter of the Earl of Ranfurly and the brother of Viscount Northland who died in World War One. She was brought up in Northland House in Dungannon.
Charles Thomas Milnes-Gaskell was born on 05/11/1908 in Knaresborough, Yorkshire. Like his late uncle, Viscount Northland, he joined the Coldstream Guards. Lieutenant Colonel Milnes-Gaskell became part of S.O.E. during WW2. He died on the 5th November 1943. He was killed in an air crash whilst returning from Moscow. It was his 35th birthday. He is remembered on Dungannon WM and St Anne’s C of I WM
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December 9
1917
60th (London) Division in Jerusalem: "We swung all our strength into a drive left of the road to Nablus, Nazareth & Damascus. The Turk had withdrawn from the city during the night & the Mayor of Jerusalem was in contact with patrols of 180 Brigade about 0830."
"Brig-Gen Watson, accompanied by Colonel Bayley commanding the Brigade Artillery, rode into the city with the Mayor and a few other civic dignitaries in order to – in the official phrase – reassure the populace…"
1918
After advancing for several days the Americans reach the Rhine from Brohl to Rolandseck (between Coblenz and Bonn). The French enter Mainz.
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1939 In friendly fire incident near Metz, France, Cpl. Thomas Priday becomes the first British soldier killed in WWII.
1940 The Western Desert Force which is 30,000 strong and under the command of Wavell takes to the offensive ‘Operation Compass’. The 4th Indian division captures the Italian camps at Nibeiwa, Tumar East and West, while the 7th Armoured drives south of the camps at Sofafi and Rabia and turns north towards Buq Buq on the coast road. As column also advances along the coast road from Mersa Matruh towards Maktila as British warships bombard both Maktila and Sidi Barrani. Italian troops eating breakfast at Nibeiwa in are interrupted by British and Indian tanks crashing through their camp. The Italian commander ignored a report of approaching tanks given earlier by a scout plane.
1941 Franklin D. Roosevelt tells Americans to plan for a long war.
The Red Army recaptures Tikhivin. Zhukov issues an order forbidding frontal attacks, in favor of envelopment and outflanking maneuvers, as he says frontal attacks merely allow the Germans to withdraw in good order.
China declares war on Japan, Germany and Italy.Bangkok is occupied by Japanese troops as they to push through Thailand towards the Burmese border. The
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Japanese also continue to land troops along the Kra Isthmus in southern Thailand and at Kota Bharu in north eastern Malaya.
Japanese aircraft attack Alor Star airfield, Malaya. From the two squadron of Blenheims based there, only one aircraft survives; its pilot, Flt Lt A S K Scarf single-handedly overcame strong enemy defences to attack Singora airfield in the North. After recovering to Alor Star, Flt Lt Scarf died from his wounds, and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross five years later when the full facts of his heroism were established.
Japanese troops land on Tarawa and Makin in the Gilbert islands.New England and New York City have first air raid alert; schools and defense plants are evacuated.
1942
Fresh US troops relieve the besieged 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal.
The destroyer HMS Porcupine was torpedoed en route from Gibraltar to Algiers. Seven of the crew were killed and the ship, though a total loss was recovered and cut in two.Both parts were towed back to HMNB Portsmouth and used as accommodation called HMS Pork and HMS Pine.
1943
38 (Irish) Brigade - Brigade HQ at Campobasso in Italy: Chaplain SD Kelleher RAChD posted to this HQ. Father
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Dan, from Rathmore in Co Kerry, provided support to the brigade all the way to Austria and was awarded the Military Cross for his actions in April 1944 at Caira near Cassino.
The establishment of the Council of Freedom in Denmark is announced in Britain.
The Chinese retake Changteh in Hunan.
1944 The Russians reach the Danube north of Budapest.In Formosa Strait, US subs Redfish and Sea Devil damage Japanese carrier Junyo beyond repair.Bulgar and Yugoslav armies drive last German forces from Serbia and Macedonia.
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1945
US General Patton sustained serious injuries to his head and spine when his car collided with an American army truck at low speed. Patton died 12 days later. The 'accident' occurred one day before Patton was to return to the United States.
Roll of Honour - December Representing their comrades who died on this day
1915 +CARSON, Patrick JRoyal Dublin Fusiliers 6th Btn. Private. 21979. Died 09/12/1915. Age 18. Born in Belfast on 23/04/1897, son of
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Robert and Lizzie Carson (nee McElhatton). The census shows that by 1901, Patrick’s mother had died and the family had moved to Orritor Street. Patrick’s father was a baker. By 1911, Patrick was 14 years old and had left school and was working as a linen weaver. Patrick enlisted in Omagh with the Army Service Corps as a baker. He subsequently joined the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. He died during a major offensive in the Balkans. Doiran Memorial, Doiran,Thessaloniki, Greece. Cookstown WM, Gunnings Factory Memorial at Cookstown RBL
+DOHERTY, Charles Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 6th Btn. Private. 22006. Died 09/12/1915. Age 31. Youngest son of Charles and Ellen Doherty. Born Fivemiletown on 28/01/1884. By 1901 the family were living in Belfast. Charles was working as a Machine-Boy in a Linen Mill. His father was a blacksmith. By 1911, Charles was a mill labourer. He married Mary Elizabeth Corr on 16/11/1913 in Belfast and they had a daughter, Mary Jane Doherty. Private Doherty was formerly with the Connaught Rangers before being transferred to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Dorian Memorial, Thessaloniki, Greece. Fivemiletown WM
+McAULEY, HughRoyal Dublin Fusiliers, 6th Btn. Lance Corporal. 22964. Died 09/12/1915. Age 22. Born 17/04/1895. Son of Hugh and Charlotte McAuley, Castle Street, Ballycastle. Dorian Memorial, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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1940
+HARRIS, John Cecil BeresfordRoyal Artillery, 71 Anti-Tank Regiment. Gunner. 989366. Died 09/12/1940. Aged 27. Son of Henry Kingsford and Cecile Blanche Harris of Notting Hill Gate, London. Donaghadee Church of Ireland Churchyard
+MILLS, DavidRAFVR. Sergeant (Pilot). 748521. Died 09/12/1940. Aged 21. 115 Sqdn. Belfast City Cemetery. 502 (Ulster) Squadron WM, St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast
+STEELE, William RAF. Sergeant. 523780. Died 09/12/1940. Aged 24. 224 Sqdn. Son of Hugh and Elizabeth Steele, of Belfast. Runneymeade Memorial, Surrey
1941
+AGNEW, Robert KeithRAFVR. Leading Aircraftman. 1136022. Died 09/12/1941. Aged 18. No. 12 Flying Training School at RAF Grantham, Lincolnshire. Died in a training accident. He was the pilot on board Airspeed Oxford AP467. On a training flight, the plane stalled while recovering from a dive, hitting the ground inverted. The crash site was near Harlaxton, Lincolnshire. He enlisted in 1940. Son of Norman and Annie Isabella Agnew, of Sydenham, Belfast. Family Memorial, Dundonald Cemetery.
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+WILLIS, John Lewis Francis RAF. Flight Sergeant. 527205. Died 09/12/1941. 62 Sqdn. Son of Mr. and Mrs. John F. Willis, Belfast. Singapore Memorial, Singapore
1942
+KENNEDY, IsaacRoyal New Zealand Air Force. Flight Sergeant (Wireless Op./Air Gunner). 403012. Died 09/11/1942. Aged 23. 142 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Son of Robert and Margaret Anne Kennedy, of Ahoghill, Co. Antrim. Hamburg Cemetery, Hamburg, Germany
VETERANS
AIKEN, Henry RMLI. Private.15657. Plymouth Division. Enrolled 16/04/1912. Served in Highflier, Challenger, Argonaut and Vivid. Wounded. PoW Germany 29/04/1917 - 09/12/1918. Born 23/10/1894. Malvern Place Belfast. ADM 159/157/15657
MARTIN, AllanRoyal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 10th Btn (the Derrys). Private. 27598. He was wounded in 1918. He lived on Church Lane, Portstewart. His parents, Mr. William and Mrs. Mary Martin, lived at Carnalbanagh, Portstewart. Allan was living at Coleraine Road when he died on 09/12/1961, aged 78 years. Agherton Cemetery. Portstewart Presbyterian Church's RH, PCI RH
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McIVOR, Thomas Royal Irish Fusiliers, 1st Btn. Lance-Sergeant. 7583. Born Whitehouse 28/09/1884. Son of James and Jane McIvor (nee Finlay). Husband to Maria McIvor (nee Magee). They had six daughters and a son. 96 Canmore Street, Shankill Road, Belfast. Died 09/12/1922 as a result of injuries received during service in WW1. Carnmoney Old Cemetery.
MOORE, Patrick Sir Patrick Alfred Caldwell-Moore CBE HonFRS FRAS was the astronomer at Armagh Observatory. He was an English amateur astronomer who attained prominence in that field as a writer, researcher, radio commentator and television presenter.
During World War II, Moore joined the Home Guard in East Grinstead where his father had been elected platoon commander. Despite recounting in his autobiography that he had lied about his age to join the Royal Air Force in 1940 at age 16, records show that he enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in December 1941 at age 18 and was not called up for service until July 1942 as an Aircraftman, 2nd Class. After basic training at various RAF bases in England, he went to Canada under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and completed training at RAF Moncton in New Brunswick as a navigator and pilot. In his biography, he recalls meeting Albert Einstein and Orville Wright while on leave in New York. Returning to England in June 1944, he was commissioned as a pilot officer and was posted to RAF Millom in Cumberland, where he was a navigator in the crew of a Vickers Wellington bomber, engaged in maritime patrolling and bombing missions to
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mainland Europe. After the end of hostilities, Moore became an adjutant and then an Area Meteorological Officer, demobilising in October 1945 with the rank of flying officer.Born 04/03/1923 – Died 09/12/2012
PRICE, Frederick William RNVR. Lieut. Born 09/12/1905. Died 10/1980. Son of James Price, Cyprus Avenue, Belfast. Campbell College 1597
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