Able Seaman William Berry, HMS Kite

Trinity Church Gardens, Whitehaven, Cumbria
This is where A.B. William Berry was married (29.08.1942)
His bride was Kitty A. Skelton of Whitehaven

Able Seaman William A. Berry, R.N., made the Supreme Sacrifice on 21 August 1944 when his vessel, HMS Kite, was sunk. He was 27 years old and has no known grave. Almost two years to the day before this fateful day, on 29 August 1942, William Berry had a much happier day. This was the day he married his sweetheart, Miss Kitty Armstrong Skelton, at Holy Trinity Church, Scotch Street, Whitehaven. The church building no longer exists but the above photograph shows the Church Gardens and the place where the church once stood.

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Petty Officer Gordon S. McAully, HMS Esk

Photographs:

(Top): Petty Officer Gordon Simons McAully, R.N.
(K.I.A. 01.09.1940 while serving on 'HMS Esk')

Bottom: Gordon McAully's 'home port' of Whitehaven

Leading Seaman (Petty Officer) Gordon Simons McAully, R.N. was killed in action on 1 September 1940 while serving on 'HMS Esk'. Having been brought up close to the West Cumbrian coastline, Gordon McAully joined the Royal Navy at the age of 16. At the time of his death in 1940 he was 34 years old.

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"Loved in life, mourned in silence"

Baptismal Font at St Begh's R.C. Church, Whitehaven
(Joseph Fox & his siblings were baptised in this font)

Private Joseph (Joe) Fox, The Border Regiment served with the 5th, 7th and 4th Regiments between 1939 and 1942. In 1942 Private Fox, who came originally from Whitehaven, was in India with the 4th Battalion when he contracted an undiagnosed fever. He passed away on 5 July 1942 and was laid to rest in Ranchi War Cemetery.

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Private Frank Beardmore, Border Regiment

WW2 Headstone of Private Frank Beardmore
Grave 5.O.211, Whitehaven Cemetery, Cumberland

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St James' Church War memorial, Whitehaven

Remembering the Fallen of both World Wars:
The St James' Parish, Whitehaven War Memorial

The war memorial in the side chapel at St James' Parish Church, Whitehaven (Church of England) commemorates the Fallen of both World Wars.

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W/O George Davidson Catterick, R.A.

Photographs:

(Top & Middle):
Postcard from the Holy Land (c.1919)

(Bottom):
Medals awarded to W/O George D. Catterick, R.A.:
L-R: 1939-1945 Star,1939-1945 Africa Star, 1939-1945 Defence Medal, 1939-1945 War Medal, Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (Regular Army)

George Davidson Catterick, R.A. 'served with the Colours' between 1919 and 1945, followed by two years on the reserve list. George's time as a regular soldier in the British Army began just weeks after the Armistice of the 1914 - 1918 War and ended just weeks after V.J. Day that marked the end of the 1939 - 1945 War. George's medals represent both his long, exemplary service and his WW2 service.

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Best Love and Thoughts of Home

Photographs:

(Top): A wartime postcard from Egypt
George Davidson Catterick, R.A.:
Thinking of family & home

(Bottom): A special present from Egypt:
A specially embroidered tablecloth

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