Monday, December 26, 2011

The Fallen Heroes of Threlkeld, Cumbria






Photographs (Top to bottom):

1. Threlkeld War Memorial, Cumbria
2. Memorial Tablet (detail) of the War Memorial
3. Headstone of WW2 casualty Gunner A. Tangye, R.A.
4. Headstone of WW1 casualty Gunner T.A. Watson, R.A.


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Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Lt. Stanley T. Park: "A cheerful spirit"

1. Badge of the Border Regiment
Lt. S.T. Park served with this regiment (1937 - 1945)
2. Headstone of Lt. Stanley Thompson Park
Wreay (St Mary) Cemetery, Nr. Carlisle, Cumbria
Lieutenant Stanley Thompson Park served in the Border Regiment immediately before and during WW2. He served in France with the 5th Battalion in 1940 and was seriously wounded on the Dunkirk beaches in June 1940 during the evacuation of the B.E.F.

Lieutenant Park died on 3 June 1947 - the 7th anniversary of being evacuated from France. His wartime service was from 3 September 1939 until 30 June 1945.

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Sunday, December 18, 2011

"Peace - Forever in our thoughts"




Photographs:
(Top): Commemoration of George Acton & Billy Acton
WW2 Whitehaven 'Book of Remembrance'.

(Bottom): Acton family headstone (Parents & 2 sons),
Whitehaven Cemetery, Cumbria [Grave Ref. 5/J/44]
John, Evelyn, George and William Henry Acton


Brothers George Acton and William Henry ('Billy') Acton were lost at sea on 2 November 1942. On that day, their vessel, the SS 'Empire Leopard', was sunk by a German U-Boat.

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Lost on operations to Stavanger (April 1940)




Photographs:
Commemorating Corporal James Doran, RAF
[Died 14.04.1940]

(Top): James Doran remembered by his hometown
[The WW2 Whitehaven 'Book of Remembrance'

(Bottom): Cpl james Doran & family headstone
Whitehaven Cemetery, Cumbria


Corporal James Doran from Whitehaven Cumberland (now Cumbria) served in the RAF from 1935 until he lost his life in April 1940. Corporal Doran was reported missing in action and subsequently presumed killed in action while on operational duties to Stavanger, Norway. At the time of his death, Corporal Doran was 22 years old.

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Thursday, December 15, 2011

Season's Greetings to all

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

L’heure passe, l’amitié reste




« L’heure passe, l’amitié reste ».
“The hours pass, friendship remains”
(Sundial motto, Hope Park, Keswick)


The sundial seen in a snow-covered Hope Park, Keswick, Cumbria has a timeless French motto: « L’heure passe, l’amitié reste ». This can be translated into English as: "The hours pass, friendship remains".

Particularly in the bleak midwinter of December and January this is a greeting Keswickians often pass on to family and friends the world over.
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Monday, December 12, 2011

A time of 'happy hunting' for U-Boats


A German U-Boat surfacing
[Courtesy of Mr Jeff Wilson, WW1 & WW2 researcher]

The year 1942 was a time of 'happy hunting' for the German U-Boats in the North Atlantic. In one month alone - November 1942 - Allied losses were the greatest of the whole war: 117 ships by U-Boats alone with further losses from other causes. According to the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill this period was was "The U-Boat Paradise".

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Monday, December 05, 2011

A Father and Son of the Sea






Photographs (Top to Bottom):

1. Old 'Sea salts', Whitehaven harbour (c.1931)
(Believed to include members of the Cradduck family)

[Courtesy of The Beacon Museum, Whitehaven]

2. Tom Cradduck, SS Empire Leopard
Lost at sea due to enemy action (02.11.1942)

[Courtesy of 'The Whitehaven News']

3. Ronnie Cradduck, SS Empire March (Barrow)
Died of illness, Madras, India (21.11.1942)

[Courtesy of 'The Whitehaven News']

4. Sailing ships in Whitehaven harbour
[Home port for Tom and Ronnie Cradduck]

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Saturday, December 03, 2011

Able Seaman William S. Truett, M.N.




(Top): Able Seaman (Gunner) William Scott Truett
SS 'Empire Leopard', Merchant Navy
[Lost at sea by enemy action, 02.11.1942, aged 22]

[Courtesy of 'The Whitehaven News']

(Bottom): Truett family headstone (Whitehaven)
[Commemorating William S. ('Biff') Truett & family]


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