And to Record and Commemorate
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and to Record and Commemorate Those Who Served in the Second World War 1939 - 1945 INTRODUCTION It will be advantageous to read the Introduction and Notes for The Great War, parts of which will be common to the Records for The Second World War. The Explanation of Abbreviations is listed with The Great War Notes. When the Introduction and Lists of Names for The Great War was put forward in May 2008 for placing on this web site the School records, as a source of information for compiling those Lists, were nearing exhaustion. That will not be the case with The Second World War, and a different system will have to be used. In 1939 the theoretical capacity of the School was approximately three times that of 1914. However, the entry system with which Old Boys of the post-1944 Education Act era are familiar did not apply pre-1944. Up to the 1944 Act coming into effect boys entered the School mainly in September but throughout the School Year. They left in July, or at Christmas, Easter, Whitsuntide. A boy could enter the School for one or more years. There are many occurrences of a younger boy (8 to 12 years), and not infrequently boys up to 16 years, being in the School for a period before moving to another Grammar School in the local region - Hutton, Kirkham, Arnold, for eg - or further afield to a boarding Grammar School or Public School. There were similar movements in the reverse direction into PGS, with quite a number of 16 and 17-year olds entering the School. Post-1944 a block of around 80 boys entered the School in September and stayed together for the next five years. Using hypothetical numbers, if pre-1944 the School capacity for 1st Year to 5th Year inclusive was 300 with a theoretical entry of 60 a year, in actual fact 60 would enter in September and a further 20 spread over the next few months up to and including the start of the Summer term. The number who left after one, two, or three years produced a greater number of vacancies each year than would be expected from one-fifth of the overall capacity entering and remaining together, as post-1944. The Moor Park Buildings, opened in 1913, had a designed capacity of 250 which it was confidently anticipated would not be reached for many years, but in 1917 there were 240 boys and the following year 270 was attained. By 1923 the numbers approached 350. The original designs had included plans for additional classrooms and generally provided for expansion; the Hall, for example, was much larger than required for 250 pupils to assemble. With comparatively little work and almost visually imperceptible construction changes, the capacity was nearly doubled by 1927. The gradual increase in central government involvement, the creation of Council Education Authorities, and the desire of those bodies to have records, systems, and standardisation has bequeathed to posterity an almost impenetrable mass of paper for each boy. So far as has been ascertained up to date (February 2009) each piece of paper was filed within its own system. A boy did not travel through School with a constantly growing pile of paper travelling with him. Moreover, with the passage of time the pieces of paper are not always where they ought to be! As more work is carried out on the 1914 to 1945 school records it is most fervently hoped that some simplified and more easily accessible records will turn up. At this stage, the number of boys who entered the School and became of military age at some time during, or for the whole of, the Second World War, can only be an informed guess. It is highly unlikely to be under 3,000; but possibly will not exceed 4,000. During the planning stages for the invasion of Normandy, June 1944, the British, more correctly the Imperial, planners had to take into account that Britain and its Empire by then had exhausted its reserves of manpower, apart from school leavers coming up to military age. Only the USA had enough manpower to ensure sufficient numbers. The fact that manpower resources had been exhausted implies that the very great majority of able-bodied males would have been in the Services. With 3,000-plus Old Boys eligible for military service that means 2,000 or more will have been in the Forces. There is a further complication relating to the Merchant Navy. Bomber Command alone lost over 57,000 - about 1/10th of UK and Commonwealth military war dead. We had, subject to later additions, 34 deaths in the RAF. The British Merchant Navy lost over 2,000 ships with nearly 114,000 crew of which 30,000 died. The war began with the British Merchant Navy being the largest in the world with about 6,000 ships and 120,000 men, women and boys from 15 to 75+ years. At this early stage in compiling the records from School sources only four Merchant Navy / Naval Auxiliaries have been found and two others are known to have served. There are two recorded deaths. A comparison between the Merchant Navy and the RAF possibly indicates that a substantial number of Old Boys may well have served in the MN and they remain to be found. There could be around 15 deaths which will be recorded in CWG, but they first have to be identified, and from a much greater spread of years. The total number of men serving in the MN throughout the war will affect any calculations based on dates at School and the resultant numbers of Old Boys who may have served during the war. Similarly likely to affect calculations, the Royal Canadian Navy was the third largest in the world by 1945 with a large Royal Canadian Air Force. There were substantial Australian, New Zealand and South African Army, Navy and Air Force contingents and Units from throughout the Empire. Up to date only one Old Boy has been found in the Empire forces, and young men “going to the Colonies” was a reasonably common occurrence between the Wars. One quite elderly Old Boy has been found in the American Army, and he was only stumbled across by accident - memory switched into gear when a name was seen and, fortunately, the Americans record the date of birth on the Enlistment records so that positive identification was possible. This first List of Those Who Served 1939-1945 (click on the Memorial blue button at the end of these Notes) has about 600 names on it. Records are being worked through to a plan which should see this first List growing month by month and the School sources will not be exhausted until about 2015. The deaths recorded in the Memorial Book for Old Boys in the fighting Army appears to be lower than might be expected. It will be several years before a reasonably complete listing can be compiled of all those who served in the Forces and to record any deaths which are not included in the Memorial Book. Any assistance which family members can provide will be most welcome. The intention is to develop a system of “Additional Lists”, each one being in the stand-alone category. An Old Boy who is in the main List can also be in one or more of the Additional Lists. Each entry will contain new information and normally will not repeat that previously listed. There will be cross-referencing upwards to previous entries but there will not be any return to earlier entries to cross-reference down to later entries. Additional Lists will be added quite possibly at four to six week intervals but the demands on the time of the webmaster will have to be taken into account. It is hoped that access to the Additional Lists will be by scrolling up or down as an uninterrupted continuation of the main List. Periodically, when the number and length of the Additional Lists becomes cumbersome the whole of the 1939-1945 listings will be reconstructed into a single main List and a new set of Additional Lists will begin. An Additional List will shortly be added to The Great War listing, which will help to determine how this method can best be used. Note: With the realisation that this is going to take many years, at the beginning of October 2009 I decided to try to cram as many names onto the List as possible during the following two weeks. Detailed information will be added gradually but in the meanwhile the Lists provide the names of most of the former pupils and staff who took part in the War and who have been recorded in The Hoghtonian.. This gives the surviving Old Boys the opportunity to provide details about themselves and their colleagues, and for family members to supply information on other Old Boys who were in the Services. Another development will be an Appendix to cover all other wars, campaigns, and National Service. In theory Old Boys could have served in Northern Ireland and the Falklands. All those many hundreds of Old Boys who did their National Service post-1945 can now write out the details and let me have them. Plus details of others they knew who now are no longer available to produce their own. That covers their contemporaries at School plus their own fathers, uncles, grandfathers, and any other relatives who attended the School and at any time served in the Forces. In all the records transcribed from original School records there are “Remarks” such as ‘No information obtainable’, sometimes followed by details of occupations or other provided information which appears to contradict the “Remarks”. Mainly by a process of deduction and guesswork which was confirmed when a change in the handwriting, and the School Secretary, brought with it more details, it seems that “Remarks” applies quite specifically to comments related to the date and age of leaving the Grammar School. Apparently some admissions were conditional on remaining in the School for an agreed period of time or until a specific age, sometimes 16 years. Such an agreement appears to be the case with all exemptions from fees or the award of scholarships to be held at the School. If there was an agreement to remain to an age or for a set period and this was not complied with, the parents were contacted for an explanation, which may or may not have been forthcoming. There may have been no explanation forthcoming as to why the boy had left but details were known of his occupation, the former noted under “Remarks” and the latter under “Occupation”, hence numerous apparent contradictions. During the Great War and continuing afterwards, the School Governors, the Borough Education Authority and the Lancashire County Education Authority granted exemptions from fees on quite a wide scale. The occupations of some of the fathers appears to indicate that an ability to pay was not a factor. As exemptions were transferred when a boy moved between schools in different education authority areas the scheme was probably widespread. Prior to the outbreak of war in 1939, the Association set in operation a scheme to maintain contact with Old Boys in the Services, members and non-members of the Association alike. This is outlined in the Great War Introduction. Despite every appearance of being a text book quality scheme it was in trouble before the end of 1940. Appeals were made for information, especially about Old Boys in their 30s and 40s who had started their family lives away from the Preston area, had lost touch with the School, and large numbers must have been in the Services but were not within the scheme. If the number of Old Boys who served in the war tops 2,000 then the details available from School resources will fall far below that number. The early problems with the Association’s scheme puts into perspective the relative success of the scheme run mainly by schoolboys in the Great War. In 1914 there was a fairly new Head Master, Trewby, whose immediate predecessor, Brooks, had been informed on taking up his appointment that his predecessor, Beaven, had not kept records. Most of the male staff had left to join the Forces; the only female teacher, who had known the boys from the Preparatory Department onwards, had left to be a Nurse, so there was limited continuity of personal knowledge of boys who had passed through the School. Matters were not quite as bad in 1939 but the scheme was dependent upon an inflow of information. Efforts to complete the two War Memorials together with the records of those Old Boys who served this nation in the two World Wars are similarly dependent upon an inflow of information. It will have to come from the 1939-1945 Veterans and from the first, second, and third generation descendants of those who served at any time in the Forces. Completion of records is taking place all over the country - War Memorials are notoriously incomplete and inaccurate. The Memorial Book for the Second World War has blank pages to provide for any additional names to be recorded. None have been added in over fifty years. This is the first known attempt to build on the records compiled during and shortly after the Second World War to create a complete and permanent record. I have adopted throughout these records a standard procedure of not going back to delete erroneous information taken from an early notice in The Hoghtonian or other sources which was subsequently corrected or overtaken by events. In the following List of the Old Boys who were in the Services and those who Died, there are references to Membership Books and Index Cards. These relate to notes made on the membership records of members of the Association, but are by no means complete. Only fourteen cards out of three boxes full of index cards have any reference to members’ war service. The records which Mr Dodson kept throughout the War are not amongst the archive material held by the Association, nor known to be held in any other local archives. The best information is that they may have been destroyed not long after the School closed in 1969, when the future of the Association was apparently deemed by some to be short and terminal. Hopefully, however, a sensible Old Boy took them into safe keeping and if they still exist any accurate information which can be passed into the Association will be received with gratitude. This may be read by generations unfamiliar with terms in everyday use during the War, as well as not necessarily being aware of the structure of the Armed Forces. As much detail as possible is being included and if some readers find it irritating to have to read something which is plainly obvious to them, would they please remember that whilst this was being compiled there were two enquiries about the Great War for which the difference between a Regiment and a Battalion had to be explained and that someone who had served in the Loyal North Lancashires had not necessarily served in the Preston Pals Company; to another that a sergeant is not an officer which was why he could not be found in the Army List, and to several the different ways in which some Units entitle their Private soldiers and other Ranks (Bombardier being an Artillery Corporal and not some sort of Brigadier, previously titled Brigadier-General) which led to the details being added to the list of Abbreviations. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS These records began many years ago by compiling details of coats of arms of Guild Burgesses, expanding to include any Preston armigers (bearers of coats of arms). Then moved sideways to list the PGS armigers and further sideways into an index of PGS names in case coats of arms for those families turned up at a later date. The index had to expand with more personal information so that the different generations and different lines of descent of any family could be determined. The information began to include sketchy details of service in the Great War and continued to expand in all directions. There was no question of any of this being published, the best which might happen would be for the records in note books and on index cards to end up in County Archives or the Harris Library. No records were kept of sources of information. Then came personal computers, the internet, and widespread public dissemination by vast numbers of people on every conceivable subject. With the best will in the world it is impossible for sources to be identified which I used prior to mid-2007. An attempt is being made to compile a list of sources which will be placed here as soon as possible. AWARDS HONOURS DECORATIONS In both World Wars and no doubt in due course in other military operations, instances have been found of Old Boys receiving awards for bravery and decorations or other honours for their work in planning, administration, and other activities not necessarily in the face of the enemy, which are not in the School records. Very few citations have been found with none so far traced in School sources. For example, Aidan Harrison, a young Captain in the Loyals in the Great War, was awarded the DSO, nothing further known, and School records do not show that he had one or possibly two Mentioned in Despatches. The DSO is second in precedence after the Victoria Cross. Old Boys with degrees or professional qualifications awarded by Universities have been noted without any information regarding their University. Please will Old Boys and family members provide details of all awards, honours, citations, higher education and qualifications. Alick Hadwen October 2009 Ainsworth, James Walmsley Memorial Book Younger brother of WM. Gunner, H7-1940 Memorial Book: Royal Regiment of Artillery James Walmsley Ainsworth Born May the eighteenth, 1921, entered the School September the thirteenth, 1932 and left May the twenty-eighth, 1937. Served in the Royal Regiment of Artillery, 88th Field Regiment, from September 1939 and subsequently in the First Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Central Mediterranean Force. Captain. Accidentally killed whilst on Active Service in Italy July eleventh 1946 CWG: Ainsworth, J W Captain Royal Artillery, 1st Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment. 25 years. Died 11th July 1946. Service Number 228129. Son of Arthur James Ainsworth and Isabella Ainsworth; husband of Jessie Ainsworth, of Barton, Lancashire. Grave Reference: V . E . 2 Padua War Cemetery. Ainsworth, W M Lance Bombardier, former Territorial, H7-1940. May be Prisoner of War in Malaya. Alley, Eric Edward PGSA No 640, 18th March 1940. 4 Hazlemere Road, Ashton, Preston. Birth 6th September 1923. Entry 10th September 1936, Leaving 31st July 1939. Royal Navy 29th October 1941 Membership Register. Russian convoys, survived a sinking in the Mediterranean. Joined Preston Borough Police Force, H7-1947.
Pilot Officer, in Canada somewhere near Guy Treasure. Ashton, H Captain Army. Ashton, Gunner Harry University Section, under training with exams every fortnight, H4-1940. No news recently from Harry, H7-1940. Promoted to Sergeant , H12-1940. Askew, Robert Memorial Book Memorial Book: Royal Air Force Robert Askew Born July the twenty-sixth, 1918, entered the School September the tenth, 1928, and left July the twenty-second, 1932. Served in the Royal Air Force, Bomber Command, from October 1941. Sergeant Observer. Killed on Active Service whilst on operations, June the tenth, 1943 CWG: Robert Askew Sergeant (Air Bomber) RAFVR. 428 (RCAF) Squadron. Died 11th June 1943. Service Number 1535621. Grave Reference: Row 6 Grave 13 Grimsargh (St Michael) Churchyard. On 27th May 1943 a twin-engined Wellington X from Dalton, Yorkshire, was on a raid to Essen, suffered engine trouble near the target and then on the return was hit by flak. It ditched off Grimsby, one crew member died and Robert Askew and the other crew members survived to fly again, with a new tail gunner, on 11th June with Dusseldorf as the target. The Wellington X crashed immediately after take-off, with one survivor. It was a Royal Canadian Air Force crew apart from Robert Askew. The Canadians were buried together. Aspden, Jack Entry September 1929, Leaving June 1936. PGSA No 672, 23rd August 1940, 66 Raikes Road, Preston. Athletic Section. Gunner, a Regular, letter states they have been mechanised, H7-1940. (Is this Jock?) Aspden, Jock Lance-Corporal. Army Commando. In Operation Chariot, the St Nazaire raid, taken prisoner. Working on a farm in East Prussia, which his mother thinks will make him useful in the garden when he returns, H-Christmas-1942. In Stalag VIII B, L/Cpl Jack Aspden seems to have sorted out the name, H-Midsummer-1943. Astley Merchant Navy Astley, L Third Wireless Officer. This is a Merchant Navy rank, he was on board a ship carrying troops to the Normandy beaches. Atherton, Thomas PGS 1929 - 1933; PGSA No 576, 18th July 1938. 49 Brackenbury Street, Preston. HM Forces. Membership Register. Attwater, William Eric Army, South-East Asia Command. Died, 4th November 1949, aged 25 years, in an accident to a car in which he was being driven, causing fatal injuries. Son of William C Attwater, Past-President, H1-1950. Bagot, Matthew Entry 1925 PGSA No 1056, 16th December 1947. 5 The Crescent, Ashton. Preston. No details - H7-1944. Baines, Second Lieut D W won the MC, H12-1940 This may be erroneous - see Second Lieut Denis W D Barnes, MC. Baines, Frederick Memorial Book Memorial Book: Royal Navy Frederick Baines Born December the tenth, 1923, entered the School September the eleventh, 1935 and left February the tenth, 1939. Served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on Combined Operations from August 1942. Sub-Lieutenant. Wounded in the attack on Walcheren Island November the first 1944 and died the same day. CWG: Frederick Baines Sub-Lieutenant RNVR HMLCH 98 20 years Died 1st November 1944 Son of Richard and Jane Baines of Preston, Lancashire. Grave: Plot 9 Row 6 Grave 10 Oostende New Communal Cemetery. Walcheren Island dominates the River Scheldt approaches to the huge port of Antwerp, then the second largest port of Continental Europe, which the Allies needed as an entry for supplies as they advanced across northern Europe following the Normandy landings. Walcheren was one of the most heavily defended places on earth. In addition, Hitler had declared it a “fortress”, which meant it had to be defended to the very last. The Commanding Generals of “fortresses” were encouraged to do so by the certainty of execution if they didn’t! The attack on Walcheren Island itself was essentially on one day, 1st November 1944. The attacking fighting forces were backed up by Support Squadron East Flank, formed for an essential support role in the Normandy invasion. Small Landing Craft (Tank) had their bow ramps welded up, holds plated over, guns and rocket launchers mounted on deck. The rocket launching craft could only be used once in a short operation - there was no time to reload the hundreds of tubes mounted on the deck. Having fired off their rockets they undertook whatever support tasks they could. The SSEF craft could go right up to the beaches with the assault landing craft. Some were deliberately beached to provide stable platforms for their heavy guns. Two were fitted as HQ craft (LCH) and Download 0.62 Mb. Share with your friends:
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