HARRY ROSS
HARRY ROSS died when HMS Dasher was destroyed by a mysterious explosion while it was on the River Clyde. You can read more below.
Name: ROSS, HENRY
Initials: H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Painter
Regiment/Service: Naval Auxiliary Personnel (Merchant Navy)
Unit Text: H.M.S. Dasher
Age: 33
Date of Death: 27/03/1943
Service No: 215468
Additional information: Son of Matthew and Margaret Ross, of Ballymena, Co. Antrim.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 11, Column 1.
Memorial: LIVERPOOL NAVAL MEMORIAL
HMS Dasher was an Avenger Class Escort Carrier. She was built at Sun Shipbuilding, Chester. Pennsylvania. USA, as mercantile Rio de Janeiro. She was converted to an aircraft carrier and re-named BAVG-5, being transferred to the Royal Navy on completion and commissioned on the 1st of July 1942.
HMS Dasher saw action in the North African landings, Operation Torch in November 1942, carrying the Sea Hurricanes of 835 squadron. She also saw action in the Russian covoys to Murmansk
On March 27th 1943 HMS Dasher, mysteriously exploded in the Clyde. She sank within eight minutes with the loss of 379 lives, only 149 of those on board survived. Two small coastal vessels Gragsman and Lithium, and the radar training ship, Isle of Sark, along with the French La Capricieuse managed to rescue survivors from the blazing oil covered sea.
In 1993 memorial to the men who lost their lives was dedicated at Ardrossan.
THOMAS LEITH ROSS
THOMAS LEITH ROSS was a flight engineer with the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Name: Thomas Leith Ross
Rank: Sergeant (Flight Engineer)
Unit: 408 (RCAF) Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Date of death: 13/6/1943
Age: 19
Next of kin: Parents James and Alexander Ross of Carclinty, Craigs, Cullybackey.
Interred: Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany. Plot 24, row D, grave 16.
THOMAS EDWARD ROWAN
THOMAS EDWARD ROWAN was serving with 115 Sqdrn RAF when he died aged 20.
Name: ROWAN, THOMAS EDWARD
Initials: T E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 115 Sqdn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 04/06/1942
Service No: 1111475
Additional information: Son of Thomas and Ellen Rowan, of Patrick Place, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 92.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
WILLIAM ERWIN ROWAN
WILLIAM ERWIN ROWAN was a prisoner of the Japanese in the Far East.
Name: ROWAN, WILLIAM ERWIN
Initials: W E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Aircraftman 1st Class
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 23
Date of Death: 05/08/1943
Service No: 993604
Additional information: Son of Thomas and Ellen Rowan, of Patrick Place, Ballymena, Co. Antrim. Northern Ireland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 5. A. 8.
Cemetery: CHUNGKAI WAR CEMETERY
THOMAS RUSSELL
Name: Thomas Russell
Number: 6983747
Rank: Fusilier
Unit: 2nd Btn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Date of death: 21/1/1944
Next of kin: Wife, Agnes Russell; parents Samuel and Emily Russell of Garfield Place, Ballymena.
Interred: Minturno War cemetery, Italy. Plot 6, row E, grave 23
CHRISTOPHER WILLIAM JOFFRE SAUNDERSON
Name: Christopher William Joffre Saunderson
Number: 157140
Rank: Flying Officer (Air Gunner)
Unit: 76th Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Date of death: 13/5/1944
Next of kin: Parents, Captain W. R. Saunderson MC and Mrs. Saunderson of Rosebank, Cushendall Road, Ballymena.
Interred: Schooselhof Cemetery, Antwerp, Belgium. Plot 4A, row E, collective grave 36-42.
WILLIAM JOHN SCOTT
Name: William John Scott
Number: 7011203
Rank: Rifleman
Unit: 2nd Btn. Royal Ulster Rifles
Date of death: 9/6/1944
Interred: Cambes-en-Plaine War Cemetery, France.
Row D, grave 14.
FREDERICK SHAW
Name: Frederick Shaw
Number: 7018861
Rank: Lance corporal
Unit: 1st Btn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
Date of death: 19/7/1944
Age: 22
Next of kin: Mr. John Shaw (father) of Harryville, Ballymena.
Interred: Banneville-La-Campagne War cemetery, France.
Plot 1 Row E Grave 20
SAMUEL SHAW
Name: Samuel Shaw
Number: 2992044
Rank: private
Unit: 1st Btn. Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders
Date of death: 15 May 1944
Age: 23
Next of kin: Wife, Elizabeth Shaw of Tullygarley; parents Andrew and Margaret Shaw
Interred: Cassino War Cemetery, Italy.
Plot 2, Row D, Grave 5.
JOHN JOHNSTON SIMPSON
Name: John Johnston Simpson
Number: 1045724
Rank: Sergeant (Air Bomber)
Unit: 12th Squadron RAF Volunteer Reserve.
Date of death: 15/6/1943
Age: 26
Next of kin: Parents, Thomas and Rachel M Simpson of Grovehill, Bally, Ballymena.
Interred: Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.
Plot 3, row A, grave 18.
JOSEPH SIMPSON
Name: Joseph Simpson
Number: 5773490
Rank: Private
Unit: 7th Btn. Royal Norfolk Regiment
Date of death: 13/4/1943
Age: 22
Interred: Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery, Poland.
Plot 8, row A, grave 1.
JAMES SLOAN
Name: James Sloan
Number: P/JX 189420
Rank: Ordinary seaman
Unit: Royal Navy HMS Gloucester
Date of death: 22/5/1941
Age: 19
Next of kin: Margaret Sloan of Ahoghill
No known grave: comm. on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Panel 51, col. 2
DONALD SMITH
DONALD SMITH was a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy.
Name: SMITH, DONALD HECTOR TRESHAM
Initials: D H T
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: H.M.S. Penn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 09/01/1944
Additional information: Son of Robert Fergus Smith and Anna Dora Amy Smith, of Ballymena, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 6. A. 10.
Cemetery: ALEXANDRIA (HADRA) WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY
WILLIAM JOHN SMYLIE
Name: William John (Jack) Smylie
Number: 7019584
Rank: Lance corporal
Unit: 2nd Btn. London Irish Rifles (f. Royal Ulster Rifles)
Date of death: 4/12/1943
Age: 33
Next of kin: William John and Mary Smylie of Dunclug, Ballymena.
Interred: Sangro River Cemetery, Italy.
Plot 8, row B, grave 25.
ROBERT SMYTH
Name: Robert Smyth
Number: D/JX 419433
Rank: Able Seaman
Unit: Royal Navy HMS Black Prince
Date of death: 25/3/1944
Age: 21
Next of kin: Samuel and Mary Smyth (parents)
Interred: St. Colmanell's Church of Ireland Churchyard, Ahoghill.
ROBERT SMYTH
Name: Robert Smyth
Number: 993020
Rank: Flight Lieutenant (Air Bomber)
Unit: 207 Squadron, RAF Volunteer Reserve
Date of death: 12/9/1944
Age: 26
Next of kin: wife, Joyce Smyth; father, Mr. Tom Smyth of the People's Park, Ballymena.
Interred: Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany. Plot 11 row C grave 13
GEORGE E. A. STEELE
Name: George E. A. Steele
Number: 1021148
Rank: Warrant Officer
Unit: RAF Volunteer Reserve
Date of death: 2/7/1946
Age: 25
Next of kin: wife Margaret Wylie Steele; parents George and Elizabeth Steele (nee Boyle) of 85 Princes Street, Ballymena.
No known grave: (believed drowned) comm. on the Runnymede Memorial at Egham Surrey, Panel 285.
JOSEPH K. STEVENSON
Name: Joseph K. Stevenson
Number: 1450401
Rank: Bombardier
Unit: 81st Heavy AA Battery, Royal Artillery
Date of death: 1/7/1944
Age: 29
Next of kin: Son of Mr. William Stevenson, 28 Railway Street, Ballymena.
Interred: Salerno War Cemetery, Italy. Plot 1, row F, grave 28.
JAMES STEWART
JAMES STEWART was the holder of the Military Medal. He was killed in action just a few weeks before the end of the war. He had escaped from Singapore in an open boat and made his way to Sumatra.
Name: STEWART, JAMES
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Corporal
Regiment/Service: King's Shropshire Light Infantry
Unit Text: 1st Bn. The Herefordshire Regiment
Age: 32
Date of Death: 01/03/1945
Service No: 3854813
Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Stewart, of Slatt, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 46. D. 2.
Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY
The Observer recorded: "Official intimation has been received of the death in action on the Western front of Cpl. James Stewart MM, Herefordshire Regt.
"Cpl. Stewart was a son of Mr. W Stewart and the late Mrs. Stewart of Maine View, Slatt, Ballymena and a brother of Mrs. S. McDowell of Bridge Street, Ballymena.
"He had plenty of action packed into his eight years' service. He was serving in the Far east when war was declared and after the fall of Singapore was reported missing, presumed killed but he turned up a year later and subsequently served in Malaya. He had been on the Western front since D-Day. One of his brothers, Samuel, is serving in the army and another, Gaston, is in the Royal Navy. Cpl. Stewart was unmarried.
FREDERICK ALBERT STINSON
Name: Frederick Albert Stinson
Number: D/JX 153410
Rank: Leading signalman
Unit: Royal Navy HMS Galatea
Date of death: 15/12/1941
Age: 20
Next of kin: Parents Samuel Robert and Daisy Kathleen Stinson of Clonavon Place North, Ballymena.
No known grave: comm. of Plymouth Naval Memorial. Panel 50, col. 1.
WILLIAM JOHN SURGEONER
Name: William John Surgeoner
Number: FX/110964
Rank: Leading Air Mechanic (1st Class)
Unit: Fleet Air Arm HMS Malagas
Date of death: 4/3/1945
Age: 20
Next of kin: parents John and Jeanie Surgeoner of 3, Mount Street, Ballymena.
Interred: Simonstown (Dido Valley) Cemetery, South Africa.
Naval allotment: row E grave 41.
VICTOR ARNOLD THOMPSON
Name: THOMPSON, VICTOR ARNOLD
Initials: V A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flight Sergeant (W. Op. (Air])
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 21
Date of Death: 06/04/1945
Service No: 1076295
Additional information: Son of Robert and Kathleen Thompson, of Elsinore, Dourt Road, Ballymena.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. B. Square 24. Grave 14.
Cemetery: BALLYMENA NEW CEMETERY
WILLIAM THOMPSON
Name: William Thompson
Number: 1067997
Rank: Wireless operator/air gunner
Unit: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Date of death: 16/1/1943
Age: 20
Next of kin: Parents Henry and Rachel Thompson of Ballylesson
Interred: Kells and Connor New Presbyterian Cemetery.
JOHN WALLACE
Name: John Wallace
Number: 1504000
Rank: Corporal
Unit: 241 Squadron RAF Volunteer Reserve
Date of death: 23/8/ 1946
Age: 47
Next of kin: wife Jean Wallace; parents William and Elizabeth Wallace
Interred: Randalstown Presbyterian Old Congregation Church Yard.
WILLIAM JAMES WARREN
WILLIAM JAMES WARREN was one of many men who had joined the Royal Ulster Rifles but were then re-badged to the London Irish Rifles. You can read more below.
Name: WARREN, WILLIAM JAMES
Initials: W J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Rifleman
Regiment/Service: Royal Ulster Rifles
Unit Text: 2nd Bn. The London Irish Rifles
Age: 21
Date of Death: 30/10/1943
Service No: 14217509
Additional information: Son of Alfred and Hessie Warren, of Ballymena, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: VIII, J, 22.
Cemetery: MINTURNO WAR CEMETERY
In early 1942 the 38th (Irish) Brigade was formed: it included The 6th Inniskillings, 1st Irish Fusiliers and 2nd London Irish. As part of First Army the Irish Brigade served in Tunisia and took part in the breakthrough to Tunis in the spring of 1943. It then fought, with Eighth Army, in the brief Sicilian campaign where 6th Inniskillings captured the mountain top town of Centuripe.
The Brigade then moved to Italy and played a vital role in the Allied breaking of the Gustav Line at Cassino in May 1944. It was the cutting of Highway 6 by the Irish Brigade that forced the Germans to abandon the Monte Cassino strong point. Following that success the Brigade went on to Lake Trasimene and distinction in the battles that broke the Albert Line. In early 1945 the Irish Brigade's final actions in Italy included the smashing of the Argenta Gap where the London Irish Rifles fought as mechanised infantry in the Kangaroo Army, an all-arms battle group. 1st London Irish Rifles fought in Sicily and Italy as well and their battle honours include Anzio where 2nd Inniskillings also fought. After the breakout from Anzio and the final Cassino battle, 2nd Inniskillings joined The Irish Brigade to replace 6th Inniskillings who were disbanded.
ROBERT JAMES WATT
ROBERT JAMES WATT served with the Irish Guards during the bitter fighting in Normandy.
Name: WATT, ROBERT JAMES
Initials: R J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Guardsman
Regiment/Service: Irish Guards
Unit Text: 3rd Bn.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 11/08/1944
Service No: 2719513
Additional information: Son of Samuel and Matilda Watt, of Moorfields, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: VIII. B. 6.
Cemetery: TILLY-SUR-SEULLES WAR CEMETERY
The Observer recorded: "Guardsman Robert J Watt, killed in action in Normandy, was the third son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Watt, Cross, Moorfields. He was 22 years of age and single. "He joined up in November 1939 and subsequently served with the Commandos for a period of 16 months before transferring back to his old regiment. Prior to joining up he was in the employment of Mr. George Allen, grocer, Bridge Street, Ballymena."
SAMUEL WEIR
Name: Samuel Weir
Number: 7042868
Rank: Lance Corporal
Unit: Corps of Military Police
Date of death: 29/3/1942
Age: 36
Next of kin: wife Elizabeth Weir, Larne Road, Ballymena; parents, Hugh and Mary Weir of Straid, Ahoghill.
Interred: St. Colmanell's Church of Ireland Churchyard, Ahoghill.
WILLIAM JOHN CROZIER WYLIE
Name: Wiliam John Crozier Wylie
Number: 1670532
Rank: Sergeant (Wireless Operator)
Unit: 103 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
date of death: 29/7/1944
Next of kin: Mother, Mrs. Margaret Wylie of Belfast.
Interred: Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany
Plot 8, row K, collective graves 14-17.
ROBERT REID
Name: Robert Reid
Unit: Royal Ulster Constabulary
Rank: Constable
Date of death: 5/5/1941
Age: 22
Location: Belfast (The Blitz)
Next of kin: Parents, William John and the late Maggie Reid of 32 Springwell Street, Ballymena
Interred: Ballymena Cemetery, Cushendall Road.
