Observer reports first Normandy casualties
Monday, June 6 will be the 78th anniversary of D-day when Allied troops – mainly drawn from Britain, United States and Canada – invaded Germanoccupied France.
No fewer than 425,000 Allied and German troops were killed, wounded or reported missing during the Battle of Normandy which followed the largest land-seaair invasion in history. It was the pivotal moment in World War Two and marked the beginning of the end of the conflict which started in 1939.
The Observer of June 1944 gave no details of the massive military operation which, on the Allied side, involved troops from 13 nations.
However, the pages of the paper are full of pictures of brave soldiers from the Stirling area who gave their lives during the invasion.
Among those killed in action during the invasion was Staff Sergeant James Wingate, Royal Engineers, whose wife lived in Hope Street, Stirling. The 35-yearold’s mother formerly stayed in Barn Road, Stirling, and his father Robert was killed in World War One while serving with the Black Watch. Staff Sergeant Wingate, who had worked as a building trade labourer, was a regular with the Scots Guards before volunteering for service with the Royal Engineers on the first day of the war. He won swimming championships while serving with the Scots Guards and also boxed.
Another who died was Chief Engineer Officer James Davie, Merchant Navy, whose wife lived at Callanish, Torbrex. The 37-year-old was believed to have lost his life at sea during the
Normandy operations. He was educated at the High School of Stirling and after a career in business went to sea as a marine engineer. Seven years later, he returned to Stirling following his father’s death. Chief Engineer Davie was recalled to sea just three months before his death as the country’s need for trained Merchant Navy personnel became acute. He was the son of the late Mr Peter C Davie and of Mrs Davie, Allan Park.
Fighting in Normandy also claimed the life of
Major Henry Telfer, Seaforth
Highlanders, whose parents, Mr and Mrs Alexander Telfer, lived at The Knock, Airthrey, Bridge of Allan. His father was managing director of the Alloa Coal Company and Alloa Glassworks and after qualifying as a banker, he was set to join the family businesses and had been studying mining engineering. As an officer in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Territorials, he was mobilised at the start of the war and been in service since then. In March 1944, he married Miss Agnes Prentice, whose parents lived in Alloa.
News also reached Stirling of the death in action while on service in Normandy of Lt James M Mailer, Royal Artillery, only son of the late Mr John Mailer, solicitor, and Mrs Mailer, Manse Crescent.
He had previously seen action in the Middle East. Before joining the Army, he had graduated in law from Edinburgh University where he was active in politics and was a member of the Officer Training Corp.
The 23-year-old served with the Highland Division in North Africa and Sicily.