Minter, E.   
Ernest Minter, 1788252, of 14 Wyndham Road, Dover, was in the Royal Artillery, 559 Coast Regiment. He died at the age of 36 on 25 August 1942, at the Chase Farm Hospital, Enfield, Middlesex

He is buried at Charlton, Dover, United Kingdom. Section 2.T, Grave 29. Mourners included his mother, Mr and Mrs G and Mr and Mrs C Minter, brothers and sisters-in-law, and Mrs A Archer, Mr and Mrs J Matticks, Mr and Mrs W Riley, and Mr and Mrs Pittocks, sisters and brothers-in-law.

He was the son of George and Jessie Alice Minter, from Dover, christened at St Bartholomew's church on 1 February 1906.

with thanks to Jean Marsh

Moseling A. H. H.
Alfred Harry Hawkins Moseling, 2094058, served as a Lance Serjeant in the 579 Army Field Company, Royal Engineers. He was the son of Frances Rose Moseling, who, in 1911 was housekeeping at 13 Oswald Place, living with her father Henry, a labourer on a farm, and six of her children; Elsie, Ernest, Minnie, Nellie, Albert and Beatrice. Also there was a lodger, Albert Hawkins, a traction engine driver.

Before he joined the Army, Alfred had been a chorister at Buckland church, and a scout leader. He had six sisters, and is pictured left with his four brothers, all of whom served with distinction, and their mother.

On the far left is Alfred, and next to him is Ben (known as Jim), of the Royal Marines, DSM. Fred, RAMC,  is behind their mother, and beside him is Albert Edward Charles, (known as Ted). He was a corporal in the Royal Marines until 1937, serving on the battleships HMS Valiant and HMS Ramilles and seeing active service in Palestine. He became a firefighter in Dover, and was one of a number who fought the fires on HMS Sandhurst and HMS Codrington in Dover Harbour on 27 June 1940, for which their three senior officers were decorated. On the far right is Ernest, Royal Navy, DSM.

This was the last picture taken before Alfred's death on 7 May, 1943, aged 23. He lies now in Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery, Tunisia. 11 E 17

The inscription at the bottom of Alfred's gravestone reads:

Youngest son of F. R. Moseling, Dover, Kent
  "To the world he was one, to us everything"

Below is Alfred as a young lad; he was apprentice to an undertaker. His mother is remembered as an "absolute sweetie". Her family nearly suffered a triple tragedy, as her eldest son, Ernest, serving on HMS Sikh, was sunk on 14 September 1942 during a raid on Tobruk. Fortunately, he was picked up after three hours in the water, becoming a Prisoner of War. On 1 June 1941, Ben  was serving on HMS Calcutta when it too was sunk. He, with another 254 members of the ship's company, were rescued by HMS Coventry.

In 1969, 25 years after his death, Alfred's brothers and sisters paid for a new Standard for the Dover Branch of the Royal British Legion dedicated to his memory. Jim, the standard bearer for the RBL, was accompanied by his brothers Ernest and Ted at the dedication ceremony in St Mary's church, Dover, conducted by Canon Ewart Roberts. During the ceremony Jim's twin sons, Peter and Jim, sounded the Last Post

After the dedication ceremony members of Jim's family stood with Alderman William Muge, the Mayor of Dover, on the steps of the Town Hall as the Standard was paraded through the town centre from St Mary's church

Unfortunately, more than 40 years on, the Standard is no longer in use but has been laid-up in St Mary's church

with thanks to Bob Moseling
with thanks to Stephen Moseling
with thanks to Richard Moseling
dedication images courtesy Dover Express

 

1944

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On the right is Alf as a Scout with, on his shoulders, his nephew Gordon, the son of his brother Ernest.

Ernest gained his DSM for action during the sinking of two Italian cruisers on 13 December 1941, by three RN destroyers (Sikh, Legion and Maori) and a Dutch destroyer (Isaac Sweers) off the coast of Libya, at Cap Bon.

Left is Ernest after he was taken Prisoner of War. The PoW uniform was standard, no matter to which service the men belonged, so all the Royal Navy men wore their hats sideways to differentiate them from the Army PoWs.

with thanks to Bob Moseling

Jim Moseling joined the Royal Marines before the outbreak of the Second World War and spent the years 1939-45 on active service. This picture shows the medals he was awarded, including the Distinguished Service Medal.

Picture left: facsimiles of Jim's medals, courtesy Pat Adams

Frances Rose Moseling was probably the sister of Edith Agnes Wells

Newington, W
William Newington, 6351777, was a Trooper in the 43rd (2/5th battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, the Reconnaissance Corps, RAC). He died on 24 Jun 1944, aged 28, when the troopship Derry Cunihy hit a mine. He is remembered on the Bayeux Memorial, France. Panel 7

He was the son of Mr and Mrs W Newington of 6 Russell Street, Dover, and had been employed at Tournay's, Snargate Street, before the war. Mrs Newington (n&ecute;e Binfield) sadly died shortly after receiving the telegram announcing the death of her son. Mr and Mrs Newington had already suffered the tragic accidental loss of their grandson, Anthony Sellen.

Oram, W. G. V.
William George Ventrice Oram, 1423791, was a Serjeant in the Royal Artillery, 221 battery 552 Coast Regiment

He was born at the Married Quarters, Western Heights, Dover on 10 February 1907, and signed up at the age of 16 on 1 March 1922, with the rank of Boy. Six feet three inches in height, his military conduct was considered exemplary. He was  discharged owing to deteriorating physical condition, and died on 26 November 1946 at the age of 39, from TB contracted while on active service. He is buried at Guston, Dover. No grave ref

He was the son of William George Edward and Charlotte Eliza Oram, née Ward, and the husband of Gladys L Oram.  William was a Gunner in 46th Company of the RGA, and was killed at the Citadel, Dover, around 1917 while carrying a shell from the gun emplacement. Mrs Oram lost her father, Lc Cpl Mepham  to a sniper in Flanders on 23 June 1916

Each year, as part of their Remembrance service, parishioners of Guston lay a wreath on Serjeant Oram's grave 

Left: Sergeant Oram's twin sons, Alan and John, at a reception following the dedication of a new plaque on Dover Town Memorial on 11 November 1009.  Sergeant Oram was one of the 22 casualties commemorated:. He had also three older children:  Diana, Eileen, and Pete

with thanks to John and Alan Oram
with thanks to Robin Saunders

Pulham, J. D.
John Daniel Pulham. Known as Jack, he was a sergeant in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

With No 19 Operational Training Unit "C" Flight, he took off from RAF Kinloss, Morayshire, on a cross country flight in a Vickers Wellington LP760 at 11.52 on 20 April 1945. Near to Bank Head Farm, Humbie, eight miles to the southwest of Lothian, the Wellington was cruising along at 5,000 feet when eye-witnesses on the ground reported a flash from front to rear. It was just after 12.40. The starboard wing broke away and the aircraft turned over and spun to earth, striking the ground upside down. Debris rained down; there was a wreckage trail of some 2,500 yards, and an opened parachute fell 500 yards beyond this

Jack's name, on an extract from register of deaths in the district of Humbie, East Lothian

The investigator's report concluded that the accident arose through lack of control, perhaps owing to icing or bumpiness. followed by structural failure in the air as the plane emerged from  clouds. The aircraft had "broken up suddenly and violently", with its heavier parts dropping "practically vertically"

The crashed plane

There were no survivors; the six bodies were found in a circle around the aircraft. The crew were:

Flying Officer Aubrey Glyndwr Matthews	Captain (pilot)	aged 26
Flying Officer Edward Rawlinson	Navigator	aged 23
Flying Officer Robert Edward Williams (RCAF)	Navigator	aged 20
Sergeant Vivian Peter Dias	Bomb aimer	aged 20
Sergeant John Daniel Pulham	Wireless operator/Air gunner	aged 19
Sergeant William Gourlay	Air gunner	aged 22

The crash site in 2009

 
debris from the crashed plane - if you can identify the part on the right, above, please let us know

Jack was the son of Edward Stanley and Sarah Louisa Pulham, nee Sisley, of Dover. The picture below is of Jack's family - in the back row are Dorothy, Stanley, mother "Lou" and Jack, and in the front are Joyce, grandmother Ellen Sisley, and Edward

Jack was a cousin of  Walter J S Ealden. The picture, right, shows their mothers, who were sisters, sitting together while sheltering in Winchelsea cave during an air raid; Jack's mother is in the foreground

Jack is buried in St James' Cemetery, Dover, FR 32. His headstone reads:

1896217 Sergeant
J. D. Pulham
Wireless Operator/AirGunner
Royal Air Force
24 April 1945 Age 19

Jack's grave is very close to Cyril Coe's, who was another RAF casualty from Dover

Ward, A.
Alfred Ward, 6284820, was named on the Memorial on 11 November 2009. He was a Corporal in The Buffs, 4th battalion, and, having sailed from Liverpool in September 1940, served in Malta until September 1943 when the battalion left for Alexandria. From there on 23 October two destroyers, HMS Eclipse and HMS Petard, sailed along the Turkish coast bound for Leros. The ships were carrying the 4th Buffs, ammunition and supplies for the garrison at Leros. At 23.45pm HMS Eclipse struck a mine between Kos and Kalymnos, blew up and sank in only two minutes. In addition to the ship's complement of around 200 men, she was carrying another 200 soldiers of the Buffs (HQ and A Companies. Only around 100 men were picked up by an air-sea rescue launch of the RAF dispatched from Leros and boats sent from HMS Petard, after spending over three hours in the water.

Alfred Ward is recorded as having died at the age of 30 on the night of 23/24 October 1943, and is commemorated on the Athens Memorial, Greece, Face 4.

CWGC states he was the son of Alfred Mortimer Ward and Kate Ward. It is possible, however, his father's name was Alfred Partridge Ward. If so, then his parents, Alfred Partridge Ward and Kate Menpes were married on 4 March 1901 at the parish church of Charlton, Dover. Mr Ward was a butcher, born in 1873 at Monks Horton, Kent. They were living at 15 Wood Street at the time of their marriage; they then moved to 1 Dolphin Place with Mr Ward still a butcher. By 1911 the family had moved to 73 St James Street with Mr Ward working as a casual luggage porter. There were then four children in the family; Winifred Agnes, christened on 8 September 1901, Mortimer Cyril, born in 1902, Bert, born 29 October 1906 and christened on 24 October 1907 at St James, and Irene. A fifth child, Hilda, had been born in 1904, christened on 14 September 1904, and had died in 1908. Another girl, Louisa, was born later in 1911, followed by Alfred in early 1913.

Mr Ward died on 19 January 1913 and was buried at St James. His wife. living at 72 St James Street, died on 7 July 1939 and was also buried at St James.

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The surviving Buffs formed part of the Allied forces attempting to hold Leros; after many days of hard fighting the Brigade Commander ordered the surrender of his forces and most of the 4th battalion were captured.

Others lost with HMS Eclipse were Robert Patrick Bean, Percy Macdonnell,and Charles Edward Cock

details of the loss of HMS Eclipse were kindly supplied by Chris Tomlinson

White, G. E.
George Edward White, 14616160, served as a Private in the 5th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). He was killed in action on 11 June 1944, aged 19.

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Private White died during a bitter battle over the village of Bréville (to the north of Caen) as part of the Operation Overlord break out operations, he was one of 49 members of the battalion killed on the 11 June in the attempt to secure the village. The Battle of Bréville was fought by the British units (mainly 6^th Airborne Division) and the German 346^th Infantry Division, between 8 and 13 June 1944. 

Bréville (Bréville-les-Monts) sits on high ground overlooking the river Orne. From this vantage point in 1944, the Germans could observe and attack the positions of the 6^th Airborne Division, defending the River Orne and Caen Canal bridges; and beyond them the British Sword Beach at Ouistreham. After several German attacks on British positions from Bréville, it became clear the capture of the village was essential to secure the 6^th Airborne Division positions and protect the Allied beachhead.

On 11 June 1944 the 5^th Black Watch were earmarked to attack Bréville from the south-west, but before the attack the battalion detached a company to take over the defence of a nearby Château. At 04.30, supported by the guns and mortars of the 6^th Airborne and 51^st Highland Divisions, the Black Watch's attack began. To reach Bréville the battalion had to cross 250 yards of open ground and when they neared the village the British artillery ceased their protective barrage. The Germans then opened fire with their artillery, mortars and machine-guns. One company was almost wiped out by the German machine-gun fire as it advanced over the open ground. Met with such a heavy concentrated fire, the battalion suffered 200 killed and wounded and their attack was repulsed by German defenders. The survivors retreated back to the Château, but were immediately counter-attacked by German infantry, who in turn suffered heavy casualties and retreated back to the village.

In the afternoon tanks from the 13^th/18^th Royal Hussars, were sent forward to reinforce the Black Watch, but they had only just started to move towards the Château when three tanks were destroyed by hidden German self-propelled guns. The other tanks were withdrawn being unable to deploy in the wooded ground around the Château. The rest of the day and night passed without another attack, but the Germans sent out reconnaissance patrols to establish the exact location of the British positions and German armoured vehicles could be heard moving up to the front during the night. It had been a bloody affair for the Black Watch.

The village would eventually fall to the British on 13 June 1944. The battle of Bréville is seen by many military historians as one of the most important battles of the British landings at Normandy. Had the 6^th Airborne Division lost the battle for the village, the Germans would have been in a position to attack the landing beaches. After the battle the Germans never attempted a serious attack on the division again.

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Private White is buried at Hermanville War Cemetery, France, 4 E 14. He was the son of Robert William White, born 6 July 1894 and a labourer, and his wife Mary Elizabeth, née Marsh, born 10 April 1901, of Tower Hamlets, Dover.

Mr and Mrs Marsh married in 1920 and probably had six children. Mary H, died shortly after her birth in 1920. Robert S, born 18 January 1923 and in 1939 an iron moulder labourer, was accidentally drowned on 22 June 1941. Constance M was born on 14 February 1924; she was a laundry worker in 1939 and later became Constance Downie. George was born in 1925 followed by Ellen or Eileen Rose in 1926. She died on 13 August 1939 at the Royal Victoria Hospital and is buried at Charlton. Amongst the flowers sent to her funeral was a tribute from her playmates, Joyce and Gladys Revell. Finally, the Whites' last child, Leslie E, was born on 27 April 1928.

In 1939 the family was living at 82 Beaufoy Road, with Frank L White, a labourer born on 17 September 1914. It was from this address in 1940 that Mr White's Great War service medal, valued then at 9s 6d, was stolen by a 12-year-old lad, who passed it on to his younger brother. The lad, who had offended previously, was sent to approved school.

Mr White died in 1964 in Dover, Mrs White in 1998.

details of the action in which Private White was engaged were kindly supplied by Chris Tomlinson