Today's blog post is focusing on the Second World War (1939-1945) and the nine men named on the Comber War Memorial who lost their lives.
The Memorial Gardens in Comber were laid out in 1952 with the names of those from Comber who served during the Second World War, appearing on two gate pillars (pictured below)- there are some 200 names, but only 9 men listed as casualties.
Within the first month following the Outbreak of war in September 1939, Comber had already suffered three casualties.
17th September 1939: Gunner John Sturgeon & Ableseaman William Jordan Cooke
Both Sturgeon and Cooke were stationed on the HMS Courageous which was hit by two torpedoes (from U-29) about 200 miles off the SW coast of Ireland while on anti-submarine patrol. The ship sank relatively quickly with over 500 hands lost.
John was aged 28 and the son of James & Isabella Sturgeon of Mill St. While Jordan was aged 27 and the son of Joseph & Elizabeth Cooke of Ballyloughan. They are both commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial in Devon, England.
27th September 1939: Leading Aircraftman Ritson Petts
Ritson was serving with RAF100 in Singapore, his aircraft came under attack by a Japanese fighter plane and crashed into the sea. Unfortunately, while an eyewitness reported Ritson survived the crash he never made it to shore.
He was presumed drowned and his body was never recovered. Riston was aged 25 and the son of John & Annie Petts of Castle Buildings, Comber.
Ritson is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial in Singapore.
12th April 1940: Cpl. Matthew Wilson
Matthew Wilson joined the RAF in 1936 and trained as a Wireless Operator. By 1940, Matthew was part of no. 233 Squadron operating over the North Sea. His Lockheed Husdon (Mark 1) was shot down by enemy aircraft while the aircraft was shadowing enemy ships. All four crew were lost including Pilot Officer George Yorke of New Zealand and Flight Lieutenant Andrew McLaren DFC & Leading Aircraftman James Milne, both from Scotland.
Earlier that year, Matthew had been mentioned in despatches when the aircraft's wireless apparatus had been damaged. The plane was without a heading and essentially lost, Matthew's quick thinking meant he was able to fix the radio using some silver foil from a cigarette packet- enabling them to contact base to guide them home.
Matthew was aged just 25 and was the son of Matthew & Margaret Wilson of Brownlow St- one of his brother, Thomas was also in the RAF but survived the war. Matthew is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey, England. Many thanks to Jasmin Wilson, who is the great niece of Matthew for the photo and information.
9th April 1942: Leading Cook Thomas Wilson
Thomas was stationed aboard the aircraft carrier, the HMS Hermes. The Hermes was on its way to the Maldives from Trincomlee (Sri Lanka) when it came under attack by Japanese bombers. Over 300 men lost their lives.
Thomas was the son of Samuel & Elizabeth Wilson of Railway Street and was 29 when he died. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find a photograph of Thomas.
2nd October 1942: Signalman Hans Calvert
Signalman Hans Calvert was captured in December 1941 during the Battle of Hong Kong. In October 1942, he was part of the some 1800 POW's being transported aboard the Lisbon Maru along with 700 Japanese Personnel.
The ship was not appropriately marked to say it was transporting Prisoners of War, and so when the USS Grouper chanced upon the vessel in the South China Sea, they torpedoed the ship.
Most of the Japanese personnel were evacuated but they abandoned the POWs indeed they "battened down the hatches" and left them on a sinking ship. After 24 hours, an attempt was made to escape and some POWs managed to release some of the hatches before a ladder failed and the majority remained trapped as it sank. Reports from survivors suggest that Japanese ships opened fire on those that made it out of the Hold, a claim fiercely denied by the Japanese government at the time. Over 800 POWs died.
Hans was 26 and the son of Thomas and Sarah Jane Calvert of Killinchy St. He is commemorated on his parents grave in Comber Cemetery and on the Plymouth Naval Memorial in Devon.
6th November 1942: Sergeant (Observer) Thomas James McCloud
Thomas was the only son of Samuel and Martha McCloud of Brownlow St, Comber.
Thomas was in Bomber Command and while on a training exercise their Bristol Blenheim Mark V aircraft crashed in England due to engine failure. Thomas was only 24 and is buried in Comber Cemetery.
25th May 1944: Sergeant James Shields
Sergeant James Shields was killed along with 7 other crew members when their Halifax III crashed in the Netherlands while in support of a raid on Aachen, Germany.
James was the son of Alexander & Bridget Shields of Cullintra, Comber- he was the youngest of the Comber Casualties- turning 21 on the 6th May 1944. He is buried in Heverlee War Cemetery in Belgium. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a photo of James.
19th February 1945: Pilot Officer Samuel Irwin Taylor
He along with at least 2 crew were lost on an armed reconnaissance flight in Italy when his aircraft was hit by flack over Nervesa della Battiaglia, causing a crash near Suseqana (about 30 miles N of Venice). He was the son of W. J & Elizabeth Taylor of Belfast but had spent most of his childhood in Comber.
He was 26 years old and is buried at the Udine War Cemetery in Italy. Unfortunately I was unable to find a photo of Samuel.
It is said that between the First & Second World War Memorial's in Comber there are a number of names missing or for whatever reason omitted from the initial memorial- a project that the Comber branch of the British Legion seem keen on undertaking- do you know any of any names missing? Or perhaps you have a photo of Thomas Wilson, James Shields or Samuel Taylor, who tragically lost their lives? Get in touch with the society if you have any photos or information to share!
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