ROLL OF HONOUR - FEBRUARY 1941
ROWLEY. KENNETH GEORGE:
Sergeant. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died on February 1, 1941 aged 26. Son of the late Thomas and Annie Rowley. Kenneth lived with his only sister Mrs Wright, of Stanton Road, Burton. He volunteered for service in 1939 and served in Costal Command.
CHILD, RONALD ERNEST:
Trooper, 1st Kings Dragoon Guards, Royal Armoured Corps. Killed in action on February 5, aged 21. Son of Arthur and Alice May Child of Church Road, Stretton. Before he joined the Army, Ron was employed by Lester and Fern as a painter. On February 5, 1941 the Kings Dragoon Guards were part of the force pushing the Italian 10th Army towards defeat having captured Tobruk eight weeks earlier. Trooper Child was a member of “B” squadron which had been detached into a small unit known as ‘Combe Force’ who went into action on the February 5 cutting off the Italian army’s retreat from Cyrenaica.
GEARY, WILLIAM HENRY:
Private, Royal Army Service Corps died on February 10, age 25. Husband of Beatrice
Maud Geary of Main
Street, Rosliston. Died from a sudden illness after being admitted to the Darlington Isolation Hospital, without regaining consciousness. His body was returned home for burial escorted by eight of his soldier friends.
He was well known at Stapenhill as a sportsman being secretary to Stapenhill Juniors FC. He also did a lot of work to help Stapenhill U. M. Cricket Club keep running. He was also a member of the Stapenhill Main Street Methodist Young Men’s class.
MALLETT, RONALD JOHN:
Aircraftman 2nd Class, RAF Volunteer Reserve, died on February 23, age 20. Only son of John and Esther Mallett, of Horninglow Road, Burton. Killed in a flying accident
Employed by Percy Oakley of Sydney Street as a Painter.
GARRATT, THOMAS ARTHUR:
Ordinary Seamnan, HMS Manistee. Killed in action on February 24. Son of Mr and Mrs William Garratt of Bass’s Row, Castle Gresley. HMS Manistee was on convoy escort duty when she was attacked and sunk by U-107. All 141 members of the crew were lost.
FREEMAN, WILLIAM HENRY:
Fusilier, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers died at Sea on February 26, age 27. Recently transferred to the Mercantile Marine and it was while in this section of the services that he lost his life. He was previously employed in the engine sheds at Worthington’s Brewery.