ROLL OF HONOUR - OPERATION CRUSADER - NOVEMBER 1941

MEN from the Burton area who fought and died in Operation Crusader;

SHEARS, RAYMOND EDWARD: Sergeant/ Pilot, 148 Squadron, RAF Volunteer Reserve, died on November 13, 1941, age 21. Son of Alma Edward and Florence Mary Shears of Stanton Road, Stapenhill. Sergeant Shears was a bomber pilot who joined the RAF at the outbreak of the war and was posted to the Middle East in May 1941.

POCOCK, DOUGLAS: Private, 2nd Battalion King’s Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster), died on November 21, 1941.

MELLOR, DAVID HERBERT: 2nd Lieutenant. 44th Royal Tank Regiment, died on November 22, aged 23. Son of Elsie and the late Herbert Mellor of Scalpcliffe Road, Burton. Husband of Joan Margaret Mellor of Evesham, Worcestershire. He had married his wife in August 1940.

MITCHELL, THOMAS RONALD: 2nd Lieutenant, 6th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment, killed in action on November 21, aged 32. Son of Thomas and Annie Mitchell, husband of Laura Mitchell, of Bretby Park, Burton. CALDWELL, JESSE: Corporal, 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, died on November 25, aged 26. Son of Jesse and Lucie Caldwell, of

Albert Village. Joined the Army at the age of 16 and served for over six years in India before being drafted to Palestine 12 months before the outbreak of the war. He had also served in Crete, Syria and Libya.

SCATTERGOOD, SYDNEY BRIAN: 2nd Lieutenant, 1 st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, died in hospital from diphtheria on November 26, aged 27. Son of Sydney and Edith Scattergood, of Derby Road, Burton. WESSON, CHARLES MORRIS: Sergeant/pilot, 229 Squadron, RAF Volunteer Reserve, died on November 28, aged 25. Son of Walter and Rose Wesson, of Tutbury Road, Burton