Tunisia, 1942-1943
1 Rowland Farthing
Rank: Sergeant Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6981482
Date: 08.12.1942 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Sergeant Farthing was the son of Fred and Annie Farthing of Grimsby. His death is recorded on a date when the battalion was travelling by road at night from Bone to Souq el-Khamis in Tunisia. The journey started at 11pm on 7 December and was completed at 5am on 8 December. The diaries record that a carrier operated by 14 platoon drove off the road and fell 50 feet down a mountain side and there were 14 casualties but no deaths. This information may have been outdated if Farthing had died of his injuries later in the day without the knowledge of the author of the diaries.
2 Ronald Childs
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7016720
Date: 10.12.1942 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Childs, a 22-year old member of the high-spirited carrier platoon, was killed when he slipped and fell on the Number 75 Hawkins anti-tank grenade he was carrying which was designed to be detonated when a vehicle drove over it. The grenade contained about 1lb of high explosives. He was the son of Herbert and Edith Alice Childs of Kenton in Harrow.
3 Charles Brady
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7022243
Date: 11.12.1942 Age: 19 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Brady was in F Company. He was accidentally killed in an unexplained incident that involved one other unnamed casualty.
4 Richard Clutterbuck
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6981938
Date: 11.12.1942 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Clutterbuck was the son of Harry and Winifred May of Portskewett, Monmouthshire in Wales.
5 James Purdy
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7045512
Date: 21.12.1942 Age: 28 Place of burial: Massicault
The Irish Brigade website has no information about Rifleman Purdy.
6 Harold Kershaw
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 14209861
Date: 26.12.1942 Age: 34 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Kershaw was the son of Nicholson and Alice Kershaw
7 Desmond Bernard Moore
Rank: Lieutenant Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers, attached from Worcestershire Regiment Service number: 124194
Date 27.12.1942 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Lieutenant Moore of B Company was ambushed and killed with 3 of his men in the Goubellat area while leading a patrol on the night of 27 December. He was the son of Albert Victor and Avice Machell Moore of Stamford Lincolnshire. He was a graduate of University College Oxford. Moore was posted to the Faughs from the Worcestershire Regiment in October 1942.
8 Leonard Charles Thoroughgood
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6982677
Date: 27.12.1942 Age: 30 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Thoroughgood, a member of B Company, was killed in the Goubellat area along with Lt Moore.
9 Thomas Williams
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6982382
Date: 27.12.1942 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Williams, a member of B Company, was killed in the Goubellat area with Lt Moore.
10 Daniel Downing
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7043103
Date: 27.12.1942 Age: 25 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Downing, a member of B Company, was killed in the Goubellat area with Lt Moore.
11 Joseph Roche
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7043683
Date: 28.12.1942 Age: 26 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Roche was a member of D Company in the Faughs and was wounded in the groin during a company operation across the Goubellat valley. He died almost instantly. Roche was the husband of Katie Roche of Horsham Sussex and the son of Mr and Mrs John Roche.
12 Jack Rodin
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6982648
Date: 28.12.1942 Age: 25 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
13 Samuel Kane
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6977922
Date: 28.12.1942 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Lance Corporal Kane was married to Emma Kane of Portadown County Armagh. He was the son of Samuel and Elizabeth Kane.
14 James Peden Montgomery
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6979320
Date: 28.12.1942 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Montgomery was the husband of Margaret Montgomery of Belfast. His mother was Jean Montgomery
15 Alfred Robinson
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7044953
Date: 28.12.1942 Age: 26 Place of burial: Thibar Seminary, Tunisia
Fusilier Robinson was the husband of Myra Robinson of Clun in Shropshire.
16 Albert Deakin
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7046225
Date: 29.12.1942 Age: 33 Place of burial: Massicault
Fusilier Deakin was killed during the Faughs’ operations around Goubellat on 27-29 December 1943. He was the son of Henry and Lizzie Deakin of Normacott, Stoke-on-Trent.
17 Norman Kyle
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7043678
Date: 29.12.1942 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Kyle was killed during the Faughs’ operations around Goubellat on 27-29 December 1943. He was the son of Annie Kyle of Carnmoney in County Antrim.
18 Richard Eales
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7047601
Date: 29.12.1942 Age: 19 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Eales was killed during the Faughs’ operations around Goubellat on 27-29 December 1943.
19 Arthur Cross
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7046597
Date: 29.12.1942 Age: 29 Place of burial: Thibar Seminary, Tunisia
Fusilier Cross was killed during the Faughs’ operations around Goubellat on 27-29 December 1943. He was the son of Henry and Selina Cross of Tamworth, Staffordshire.
20 William Farnan
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7012407
Date: 31.12.1942 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Farnan was the son of William and Jean Farnan of Higher Broughton, Salford.
21 Frank Lunn
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6475959
Date: 03.01.1943 Age: 31 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Lunn was killed during a patrol commanded by Lieutenant McCaldin which started on the night of 2 January when the battalion was based in around Goubellat. The patrol was ordered to probe west and to harass, ambush and inflict casualties on German Forces. It was spotted and attacked at around 230am on 4 January. Lunn was shot and died.
22 Robert Carruthers
Rank: Lieutenant Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 180162
Date: 04.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Dely Ibrahim, Algeria
Lt Carruthers, who was 6 Innisks’ Adjutant and intelligence officer, was hit in the head in a ME 109 attack on the car he was travelling in with the Skins’ commanding officer Lieutenant Terence Macartney-Filgate on the road between El-Aroussa and Bou Arada at 830am on 20 December 1942. He died of his wounds 15 days later at the Thibar dressing station. Macartney-Filgate recovered from his wounds, occupied staff positions and was awarded an OBE in 1945. Carruthers lived in Katesbridge County Down with his wife Doris. His parents were Lieutenant-Commander Robert Carruthers of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve and Rose Carruthers of Blindley Heath Surrey.
23 Charles McKee
Rank: Lieutenant Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 235692
Date: 04.01.1943 Age: Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Lieutenant McKee led a patrol dispatched at the same time as that led by Lieutenant McCaldin on the night of 2 January. He was reported overdue at 7am on 5 January. The war diaries record that he and his whole patrol including 20 other ranks “must be considered captured”. McKee had been in fact killed on the night of 4 January in one of the incidents that night. He was the son of Phineas and Helen McKee.
24 Charles Sutcliffe
Rank: Lieutenant Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 201012
Date: 05.01.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Massicault
Commander of 18 Platoon in D Company of the Faughs which was at the time led by John Coldwell-Horsfall. Lt Sutcliffe was accidentally killed by pickets during a night patrol. His parents were William and Charlotte Sutcliffe of Raglan Monmouthshire. He joined the Faughs at the end of 1941.
25 Joseph Wilfred Francis Green
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6983562
Daate: 06.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
A member of A Company and a bren-gunner, Lance Corporal Joseph (Dodger) Green had used up all his ammunition in a patrol action around Goubellat on 6 January. According to a wounded survivor of the action, Green stood with grenades in both hands “hurling abuse at his assailants in between pulling the pins of the grenades with his teeth. Still defiant, Green inevitably to enemy fire.” Page 23, Chapter 2, Clear the Way by Richard Doherty, 1993. He was the son of Francis and Lydia Green of Burton-on-Trent.
26 Alfred Moore
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7020719
Date: 07.01.1943 Age: Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
27 John Varty
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6986135
Date: 09.01.1943 Age: 31 Place of burial: Thibar Seminary, Tunisia
28 John Andrews
Rank: Lieutenant Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 140028
Date: 10.01.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Lieutenant Andrews of C Company was killed at around 1000 when a truck exploded, presumably as a result of bombing. Corporal Christie was injured in the eye in the same incident. Andrews was the son of Sydney and Jessie Andrews of Kettering Northamptonshire.
29 George Beggs
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6979800
Date: 10.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Beggs was buried on 10 January at 1500. He was killed in the same incident as Lieutenant Andrews (above).
30 John Michael Hogan
Rank: Lance Sergeant Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 2716183
Date: 11.01.1943 Age: 39 Place of burial: Massicault
H Company Sergeant Hogan, who came from Croydon, was killed during an operation in the Goubellat plain to recover tanks that were immobilised in mud. Platoon sergeants up to this point wore wireless sets carrying an aerial that could be seen by snipers. This was the 2nd Battalion’s first significant action during which four men were killed and twelve wounded. Hogan, a former Irish guardsman, was the son of Ignatius and Mary Hogan.
32 James McLoughlin
Rank: Lance Sergeant Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7014578
Date: 11.01.1943 Age: Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Lance Sergeant McLoughlin, a citizen of the Irish Free State, was killed in the tank recovery action in the Goubellat Valley.
33 John Griffin
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7022287
Date: 11.01.1943 Age: 32 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Rifleman Griffin was killed in the Goubellat Valley operation.
34 John Hogan
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7047572
Date: 11.01.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Rifleman Hogan was killed in the Goubellat Valley operation.
35 Donald Fraser
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7014465
Date: 12.01.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Thibar Seminary
36 Desmond Warren
Rank: Lieutenant Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 233251
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: Place of burial: Massicault
Lt Warren was killed in the first and failed attack on Two Tree Hill. Other casualties suffered in the attack included Captain Ferris wounded, Lieutenants Buck, George, Strickland and Power also wounded. A total of 11 other ranks were killed (see below) and 55 wounded. The diaries reported 16 missing (and possibly killed). Company sergeant major Stevenson was among the wounded. This suggests the battalion suffered 88-89 casualties during the attack. The Commonwealth War Cemetery records suggest the final toll was 31 dead. This brought its losses since being deployed at the end of December to almost 200.
37 William Higgins
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7045064
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 29 Place of burial: Massicault
Fusilier Higgins was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
38 George Sipson
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6985816
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Massicault
Fusilier Simpson was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
39 Arthur Holbeche
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7047659
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: Place of burial: Massicault
Fusilier Holbeche was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
40 Patrick Quinn
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6984667
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 36 Place of burial: Massicault
41 Edward Pusey
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6210786
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 24 Place of burial: Massicault
42 William Ellis
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3137691
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 19 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Ellis was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
43 Harry Birds
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6981574
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Birds was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill. His parents were John and Sarah Birds of Youlgreave in Derbyshire.
44 Harry Marlow
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6985793
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Marlow was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
45 Joseph Boyle
Rank: Lance Sergeant Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7044999
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
L/Sgt Boyle was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
46 Edward Alcock
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7044543
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Alcock was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
47 Derrick Murphy
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6984481
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 31 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Murphy was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
48 Bruce Ponton
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7044630
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 26 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Ponton was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
49 Wilson Pidcock
Rank: Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6981985
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Corporal Pidcock was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
50 John Handley
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6981851
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Handley was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
51 John Skinner
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7044486
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Skinner was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
52 Frederick Ager
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7044987
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Ager was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
53 James Battersby
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3137720
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Battersby was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
54 George Brownlee
Rank: Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6979999
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Corporal Brownlee was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
55 Francis English
Rank: Sergeant Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 4459986
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 24 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Sgt English was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
56 William Hadden
Rank: Lance Sergeant Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6984636
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
L/Sgt Hadden was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
57 Daniel McAteer
Rank: Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6982565
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Corporal McAteer was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
58 George Osborn
Rank: Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7045115
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Corporal Osborn was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
59 Kenneth Dumelow
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6981946
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Dumelow was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
60 Patrick Fray
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6148430
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 31 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Fray was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
61 William King
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 5734148
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier King was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
62 Joseph Martin
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6982452
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 26 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Martin was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
63 William Siviter
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7046348
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 30 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Siviter was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
64 William Twells
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 4986539
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Twells was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
65 George Tyler
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 4398652
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Tyler was killed in the first attack on Two Tree Hill.
66 William McNamara
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 3860470
Date: 13.01.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Massicault
67 Michael McLaughlin
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6985698
Date: 15.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
68 Frederick Woodley
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6982392
Date: 15.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
69 Ronald Pinchin
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 14201669
Date: 17.01.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
70 Frederick Taylor
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3608303
Date: 17.01.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
71 James Voss
Rank: Lance Sergeant Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6981044
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 25 Place of burial: Massicault
L/Sgt Voss was killed in the German attack on Grandstand. He was the son of Charles and Nelly Voss of Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire. He was married to Norah and lived in Cleethorpes.
72 Herbert Sullivan
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 13086982
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 33 Place of burial: Massicault
Fusilier Sullivan was killed in the German attack on Grandstand.
73 Walter Chambers
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6981833
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Massicault
Fusilier Chambers was killed in the German attack on Grandstand.
74 Raymond Jeffery
Rank: Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7045071
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 29 Place of burial: Massicault
Corporal Jeffrey was killed in the German attack on Grandstand.
75 Robert Patterson
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7046820
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Massicault
76 Percy Welbourn
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6982526
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 30 Place of burial: Massicault
77 John Kitchen
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6981404
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Kitchen was killed in the German attack on Grandstand.
78 Eryl Lloyd
Rank: Sergeant Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 4459898
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 25 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Sergeant Lloyd was killed in the German attack on Grandstand. He was the son of Hugh and Sarah Lloyd of Abersoch, Caernarvonshire.
79 William Slater
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6981088
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 26 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
80 James Shortt
Rank: Corporal Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6979698
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
81 Alex Webb
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7046765
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 29 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
82 James McCarthy
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6405646
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
83 Thomas Rooney
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6982319
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
84 Joseph Wood
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7044664
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Described as a promising NCO by his company commander John Coldwell-Horsfall, Fusilier Wood was killed during defensive fighting around Grandstand Hill.
85 James White
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6985942
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Described as a promising NCO by his company commander John Coldwell-Horsfall, L/Cpl White was killed during defensive fighting around Grandstand Hill.
86 Peter Casella Murphy
Rank: Major Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 53706
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 30 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Major Murphy was commander of the Faughs’ A Company during a counterattack on Grandstand in the Bou Arada area on the afternoon of 18 January 1943. He was leading a charge against German positions when he was killed. Murphy was born in 1912, the son of Major Frank and Marguerite Murphy who lived at Dunsland Court in Jacobstowe. Major Frank Murphy moved with his family to Jacobstowe in Devon in 1921. Peter was one of nine children. He was educated at Beaumont College and Sandhurst, before being commissioned into the East Yorks Regiment and being sent to India. There he served on the North West Frontier and was also caught up in the 1936 Quetta Earthquake. Later he also served in Palestine. At the outbreak of the Second World War; he was a captain in the Royal Irish Fusiliers. While on a training assignment in Catterick he met Kathleen Margaret Sharpe and in early 1940 they were married. On the 2 October 1939, Murphy left for France in command of A Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, to join the BEF. The battalion acted as rearguard to the bulk of the BEF in their retreat towards the River Escaut. During this withdrawal Peter Murphy was severely wounded having been hit through the lung. Nevertheless, he kept command and marched with his of his company for several days, before he collapsed and was evacuated back to England via Dunkirk in a critical condition. While in hospital, he received a visit from the Queen. For this rearguard action Murphy was awarded the Military Cross. He recovered from his wounds and was posted to Northern Ireland, where his son, Patrick was born. Murphy arrived in Algeria on the 19 December 1942. Murphy left a wife who he married in 1939 and a son Patrick with another, Peter, soon to be born.
87 Richard Cousins
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7045383
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
88 Robert Crawford
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 3774708
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 25 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
89 Jack Casswell
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6985767
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Casswell was killed in the German attack on Grandstand.
90 Thomas Dangerfield
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3771594
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 24 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Dangerfield was killed in the German attack on Grandstand.
91 Kenneth Hodson
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7045607
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 30 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Hodson was killed in the German attack on Grandstand.
92 Harry Haywood
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7046918
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 34 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
93 Edward Spencer
Rank: Captain Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 235694
Date: 18.01.1943 Age: 35 Place of burial: Massicault
Captain Spencer was killed by a mortar shell at 0845 during an attack on Irish Brigade positions around Grandstand hill by the 1st and 3rd battalions of the Hermann Goering Regiment and IInd Marsh battalion. The war diaries record the Inniskillings suffered nine dead (including Spencer) and 31 wounded. He was the son of Mr and Mrs Charles Spencer and wad married to Sybil Spencer of Kingsbury Middlesex.
94 Timothy Casey
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3777369
Date: 19.01.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Massicault
Fusilier Casey was one of five Skins killed during the second day of German attack on Grandstand (four others listed below)
95 Kenneth Whalley
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 5124206
Date: 19.01.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
96 John Parry
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers s Service number: 3780995
Date: 19.01.1943 Age: 32 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
97 David Connery
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7019085
Date: 19.01.1943 Age: 24 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
David Connery was killed my mortar fire as the London Irish marched from Bou Arada to an area around Stuka Farm in preparation for the attack on Hills 279 and 286 early next morning.
98 Albert Webster
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6985831
Date: 19.01.1943 Age: 24 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
99 William Tweed
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6979743
Date: 19.01.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
100 Leonard Boot
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6985761
Date: 19.01.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
101 William Harrison
Rank: L/Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6983411
Date: 19.01.1943 Age: 31 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
102 Edmond Hall
Rank: Corporal Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7015279
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Massicault
Corporal Hall was killed on Hill 286.
103 John Livingstone
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6984125
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
104 Victor Pottinger
Rank: Lieutenant Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 217804
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Lt Pottinger of F Company was killed during fighting for Hill 286 in the Bou Arada area on the morning of 20 January (see London Irish War Diary for details). He was married to Vivien Pottinger of Reading. His parents were from the town.
105 Themistolles Sinodorou
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7016695
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Sinodorou was killed on Hill 286. Themistolles lived in Auchinleck Ayrshire with his Jeanette. His parents were George and Kalliopi.
106 Stanley Meager
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7015737
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Lance Corporal Stanley Meager was fatally wounded by mortar fire as the London Irish marched from Bou Arada to an area around Stuka Farm on 19 January in preparation for the attack on Hills 279 and 286 early next morning.
107 John Baxter
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 6472465
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Baxter was killed on Hill 286.
108 Robert Wallace
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7019499
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Wallace was killed on Hill 286.
109 Walter Viney
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 6472132
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Viney was killed on Hill 286. He was from Canning Town. His parents were John and Emma Viney.
110 George Rock
Rank: Sergeant Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 3675683
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 37 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Sergeant Rock was killed during fighting for Hill 286 in the Bou Arada area. He was from Bray County Wicklow and his parents were Alfred and Elizabeth.
111 Robert Norland
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7022330
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
L/Cpl Norland was killed on Hill 286.
112 Joseph Smyth
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7020056
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Smyth was killed on Hill 286.
113 Eugene Murphy
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7022323
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Murphy was killed on Hill 286.
114 Dennis Griffin
Rank: Sergeant Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7016181
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 26 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
A boxing champion, Sergeant Griffin was killed during fighting for Hill 286 in the Bou Arada area.
115 Herbert Deards
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 5954799
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Deards was killed on Hill 286.
116 Dennis Connolly
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7015973
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Connolly was killed on Hill 286.
117 James Michael McGranahan
Rank: Lieutenant Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 219911
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Lt McGranahan of F Company was killed leading his platoon during the attack on Hill 286 on the morning of 20 January (see London Irish War Diary for details of the battle). He was the son of Dr John McGranahan and his wife was Louisa of Carlton Yorkshire.
118 William Duncombe
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7015859
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 24 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Duncombe was killed on Hill 286.
119 William McDowell
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7011302
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman McDowell was killed on Hill 286.
120 William Bakewell
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7045190
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
121 William Paddock
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 4867691
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 19 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
122 Harry Robinson
Rank: Corporal Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7015092
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Corporal Robinson was killed on Hill 286.
123 George Atkinson
Rank: Sergeant Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 1012459
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Sergeant Atkinson was killed on Hill 286.
124 Joseph Carrigan
Rank: Captain Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 156813
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 31 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Captain Carrigan, second in command of E Company, was killed instantly by a mortar bomb on Hill 279 during an Orders (‘O’) Group. His parents were Francis and Mary Carrigan of Harrow, Middlesex.
125 Patrick Crouchman
Rank: Lance Sergeant Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 5824219
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 33 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
L/Sgt Crouchman was killed on Hill 286.
126 Joseph Whelan
Rank: Lance Sergeant Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7010955
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 32 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
L/Sgt Whelan was killed on Hill 286.
Link to a photograph of Joseph Whelan.
127 Ernest Cooling
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 6460602
Date 20.01.1943 Age: Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Rifleman Cooling was killed on Hill 286.
128 Thomas Cram
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7015983
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 24 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
L/Cpl Cram was killed on Hill 286.
129 William Fourt
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7014550
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Rifleman Fourt was killed on Hill 286.
130 John Hamilton
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 6466849
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Rifleman Hamilton was killed on Hill 286.
131 Alfred Harris
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 6466851
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Rifleman Harris was killed on Hill 286.
132 Joseph Loughbridge
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7019600
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 24 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
L/Cpl Loughbridge was killed on Hill 286.
133 Robert McCracken
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7019059
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 29 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Rifleman McCracken was killed on Hill 286.
134 James Mills
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7019573
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Rifleman Mills was killed on Hill 286.
135 Gordon Trivett
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7022374
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Rifleman Trivett was killed on Hill 286.
136 Frederick Waller
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 6470584
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Rifleman Waller was killed on Hill 286.
137 Philip Williams
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 6089737
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Rifleman Williams was killed on Hill 286.
138 Edward Gant
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 6471812
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Thibar Seminary, Tunisia
Rifleman Gant was fatally wounded by mortar fire as the London Irish marched from Bou Arada to an area around Stuka Farm on 19 January in preparation for the attack on Hills 279 and 286 early next morning.
139 Harold Hooper
MiDRank: Captain Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 152217
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 33 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Captain Hooper was from Loughton in Essex and was married to Edith Hooper. His parents were Frank and Lena Hooper.
140 Robert Turkington
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6980809
Date: 20.01.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
141 Michael McInerney
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7022307
Date: 21.01.1943 Age: 32 Place of burial: Massicault
Rifleman McInerney was killed on Hill 286.
142 Raymond Turner
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7047643
Date: 21.01.1943 Age: 19 Place of burial: Massicault
143 Maurice Rickard
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 6471992
Date: 21.01.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
L/Cpl Rickard was killed on Hill 286.
144 Sydney Ekin
Rank: Captain Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 89200
Date: 21.01.1943 Age: 32 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Captain Ekin of F Company was killed on Hill 286 in the morning of 20 January (see London Irish War Diary for details). He was a graduate of Cambridge University and lived with his wife Beatrice in Knebworth Hertfordshire.
145 Harold Mangan
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 3783498
Date: 21.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Mangan was killed on Hill 286.
146 George Wyman
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 6475014
Date: 21.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Wyman was killed on Hill 286.
147 Herbert Crofts
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7014748
Date: 21.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Crofts was killed on Hill 286.
148 Ernest King
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7019585
Date: 21.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman King was killed on Hill 286.
149 Reginald McKenna
Rank: Lieutenant Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 233305
Date: 21.01.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Lt McKenna of G Company was killed on Hill 286.
150 Edward Beechey
Rank: Lieutenant Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 193855
Date: 21.01.1943 Age: 32 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Lt Beechey of G Company was killed on Hill 286. He was on secondment from the Royal Ulster Rifles. Beechey was the son of the Reverend JW Beechey and his wife Emily. He was married to Eleanor Beechey from Hove.
151 Charles Booker
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7018526
Date: 21.01.1943 Age: 25 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
L/Cpl Booker was killed on Hill 286.
152 Hubert Henderson
Rank: Captain Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 137933
Date: 21.01.1943 Age: 34 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Captain Henderson was Second-in-Command of “H” Company when he was killed during fighting on Hill 286.
153 Henry Dunham
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7016157
Date: 21.01.1943 Age: 25 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Rifleman Dunham was killed on Hill 286.
154 Ronald Figg
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7015019
Date: 21.01.1943 Age: 25 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Rifleman Figg was killed on Hill 286.
155 James Craddock
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6978889
Date: 22.01.1943 Age: 30 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
156 Patrick Ward
Rank: Lance Sergeant Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7016161
Date: 24.01.1943 Age: 24 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
157 Albert Sills
Rank: Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7045147
Date: 25.01.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Corporal Sills was killed in a shelling attack at 335am. Two royal engineers were also killed in the attack.
158 George Slocombe
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7040786
Date: 25.01.1943 Age: 36 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
159 Alexander Trotter
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6210233
Date: 26.01.1943 Age: 24 Place of burial: Massicault
160 Roy Thorpe
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 4998510
Date: 28.01.1943 Age: Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
161 William Swan
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6984041
Date: 29.01.1943 Age: 34 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
162 Frank Ware
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7017670
Date: 29.01.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
163 Desmond O’Halloran
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 5507388
Date: 31.01.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
164 William Kelly
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6976921
Date: 03.02.1943 Age: 30 Place of burial: Bone
165 Wiliam Ross
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7043461
Date: 09.02.1943 Age: 29 Place of burial: Massicault
166 William McCartney
Rank: Corporal Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6975296
Date: 09.02.1943 Age: 36 Place of burial: Massicault
167 James McIntyre
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 3247959
Date: 09.02.1943 Age: 24 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
168 Denis Flanagan
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 3774271
Date: 09.02.1943 Age: 24 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
169 Arthur Barrett
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 6461655
Date: 11.02.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Dely Ibrahim, Algeria
170 Edward Cunningham
Rank: Corporal Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7010552
Date: 11.02.1943 Age: 35 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
171 Joseph Mansfield
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3775823
Date: 11.02.1943 Age: 26 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
172 Peter Black
Rank: Captain Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Original Unit: RUR Service number: 162687
Date: 18.02.1943 Age: Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Captain Black joined the Faughs just before it left for Algeria in November 1942. He was initially second in command of A Company. It was decided to select 10-15 of the best night patrollers from each rifle company to be used exclusively for night patrolling. Black was made commander of the unit which was named Nighthawks. He was killed in its first operation on the night of 18/19 January.
173 David Davies
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7046611
Date: 20.02.1943 Age: 29 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
174 William Parker
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6985686
Date: 20.02.1943 Age: 19 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
175 Raymond Page
Rank: Lieutenant Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 166008
Date: 21.02.1943 Age: 25 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Lieutenant Page led a 20-person night patrol in the area of the Mahmoud Gap in the winter of 1942. After resting in a wadi, the patrol was ambushed. The patrol fought off the German attackers, but a new attack came after day-break. Page divided his men into two groups and ordered them to withdraw to the battalion lines, but Page’s own group was spotted by German armoured cars and attacked. Only one of them escaped. Three days later, however, French Spahis (local troops) brought Page in. He had been wounded but hidden by a French farmer. Page was recommended for a Military Cross for his leadership and valour in a battle in which it is estimated about two dozen enemy soldiers were killed or wounded. Page died later of his wounds. He was recommended for the MC. Page was the son of Charles and Hilda May of Tottenham.
176 Michael McDermott
Rank: Sergeant Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7042903
Date: 21.02.1943 Age: 35 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
177 Albert Fitzgibbon
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7022276
Date: 22.02.1943 Age: 26 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Albert Fitzgibbon was a member of cookhouse team which was preparing breakfast for 8 Platoon of E Company on Mosque Hill west of Stuka Ridge between 8 and 9am on 22 February 1943. He was working with rifleman Maher. The area was hit by heavy shelling. Fitzgibbon and Maher took cover in a slit trench. As soon as the shelling stopped, they returned to their cooking duties. The cookhouse then took a direct hit. Fitzgibbon died from his wounds and Maher was evacuated with a bad head wound. E Company Colour Sergeant Edmund O’Sullivan said Fitzgibbon was a very popular member of E Company. He was a bricklayer by trade and a harmonica player which he took with him into the army.
178 John Murphy
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 3773041
Date: 22.02.1943 Age: 25 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
179 Ernest Reid
Rank: Sergeant Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6979641
Date: 24.02.1943 Age: 31 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
180 Anthony Maguire
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6984981
Date: 25.02.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
181 William Crocker
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6976088
Date: 25.02.1943 Age: 32 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
182 Michael De Courcey
Rank: Corporal Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7046911
Date: 25.02.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
183 Max Blundell
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7045180
Date: 25.02.1943 Age: 30 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
184 Barney Needlestein
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7022717
Date: 25.02.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Cassino Memorial
Barney was the son of Abraham and Lottie Needlestein. He was Jewish. Both his parents are buried in Rainham Cemetery in Kent.
185 Archie Kawalsky
Rank: Corporal Unit: London Irish Rifles (Royal Ulster Rifles) Service number: 6471376
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Massicault
Corporal Kawalsky was killed in the German attack in the Djebel Rihane area west of the Bou Arada-Goubellat road. He was married to Frances Kawalsky and came from Stoke Newington in London.
186 Anthony Boyle
Rank: Captain Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 174285
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Captain Boyle was killed around 430pm in the Skins’ counterattack on Stuka Ridge during fighting on the afternoon of 26 February. He was the son of Alexander and Eileen Boyle of Portnoo, County Donegal.
187 William Ruddock
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7014282
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Ruddock was killed in the German attack in the Djebel Rihane area west of the Bou Arada – Goubellet road.
188 Frederick Brooks
Rank: Company Quarter Master Sergeant Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7014506
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Colour Sergeant Brooks, who lived in Haverfordwest with his wife Madge, was killed at Stuka Farm during a German attack. His parents were Stanley and Ella Brooks.
189 David Scott
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7018891
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Scott was killed in the German attack in the Djebel Rihane area west of the Bou Arada-Goubellet road.
190 Reginald Brooks
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 6470891
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Brooks was killed in the German attack in the Djebel Rihane area west of the Bou Arada-Goubellet road.
191 Stanley Roberts
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 3784030
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Roberts was killed in the German attack in the Djebel Rihane area west of the Bou Arada-Goubellet road.
192 Charles Hamilton
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 019478
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 16 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Hamilton was killed in the German attack in the Djebel Rihane area west of the Bou Arada-Goubellet road.
193 William Dunsmuir
Rank: Corporal Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 14211405
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Corporal Dunsmuir was killed in the German attack in the Djebel Rihane area west of the Bou Arada-Goubellet road.
194 Charles Mill
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7022714
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
L/Cpl Mills was killed in the German attack in the Djebel Rihane area west of the Bou Arada-Goubellet road.
195 James Turner
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7048087
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 19 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Turner was killed in the German attack in the Djebel Rihane area west of the Bou Arada-Goubellet road.
196 John Tryers
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 778549
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 32 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
L/Cpl Tryers was killed in the German attack in the Djebel Rihane area west of the Bou Arada-Goubellet road.
197 Stanley Metcalfe
Rank: Corporal Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7016046
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 25 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Corporal Metcalfe was killed in the German attack in the Djebel Rihane area west of the Bou Arada-Goubellet road.
198 George Watts
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 6020287
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 25 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Watts was killed in the German attack in the Djebel Rihane area west of the Bou Arada-Goubellet road.
199 John Carey
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7022250
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 32 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Carey was killed in the German attack in the Djebel Rihane area west of the Bou Arada-Goubellet road.
200 Thomas Booth
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7022242
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Booth was killed in the German attack in the Djebel Rihane area west of the Bou Arada-Goubellet road.
201 Dennis Flaherty
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7015958
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 24 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Flaherty was killed in the German attack in the Djebel Rihane area west of the Bou Arada-Goubellet road.
202 Robert Henderson
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 14202595
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Henderson was killed in the German attack in the Djebel Rihane area west of the Bou Arada-Goubellet road.
203 Martin McGrath
Rank: Corporal Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7017549
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Corporal McGrath was killed in the German attack in the Djebel Rihane area west of the Bou Arada-Goubellet road.
204 Alfred Crush
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7016727
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Crush was killed in the German attack in the Djebel Rihane area west of the Bou Arada-Goubellet road.
205 James McCabe
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7043299
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 19 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
To read Fusilier McCabe’s story, please click here. He had lied about his age in February 1939 together with his friend Fusilier Andrew Gardiner who was killed fighting with the 2nd Battalion of the London Irish Rifles in the Simeto battle in August 1943. McCabe was from Dublin and his parents were John and Mary McCabe.
206 Ernest Graves
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6985895
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
207 Robert Reid
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6979136
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Lance-corporal Reid from B company was killed in counterattack along Stuka ridge at around 430pm on 26 February.
208 Robert Church
Rank: Corporal Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7014641
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Corporal Church was killed in the German attack in the Djebel Rihane area west of the Bou Arada-Goubellet road.
209 James Smith
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 4206358
Date: 26.02.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Rifleman Smith was killed in the German attack in the Djebel Rihane area west of the Bou Arada-Goubellet road.
210 James Taylor
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7018840
Date: 27.02.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Taylor was killed in the German attack in the Djebel Rihane area west of the Bou Arada-Goubellet road.
211 Angus Gardiner
Rank: Sergeant Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7011718
Date: 01.03.1943 Age: 30 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
212 William Daly
Rank: Captain Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 174288
Date: 02.03.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Captain Daly was killed in a Skins attack on Stop Farm north of Grandstand to the east of the Medjez el-Bab to Goubellat road at 8pm 0n 2 March. The farm was occupied by the Germans and was believed to be the site of munitions including teller mines and used as a forward observation post for checking Grandstand Hill about two miles to the south. Daly led a fighting patrol drawn from the Skin’s career platoon. The attack on the farm started at 8pm. At least four German machine guns opened fire. Daly was hit but continued to direct the patrol until he realised the Germans were too strong and ordered a withdrawal. Attempts were made to move Daly, but he was too badly wounded. Daly died of his wounds at the farm. His body was retrieved by a Skins patrol on 9 March. Daly was married to Olive Daly of Belfast. His parents were Christopher and Alicia Daly.
213 Cubitt Black
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 4274785
Date: 02.03.1943 Age: 25 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Lance Corporal Black was killed in the Skins attack on Stop Farm north of Grandstand to the east of the Medjez el-Bab to Goubellat road on the evening of 2 March. He was the son of Robert and Adelaide Black of Hebburn County Durham
214 Ernest Towle
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6981289
Date: 02.03.1943 Age: 26 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Towle was killed in the Skins attack on Stop Farm north of Grandstand to the east of the Medjez el-Bab to Goubellat road on the evening of 2 March. Towle was from Spilsby in Lincolnshire. He was married to Agnes Towle and his parents were Thomas and Sarah.
215 Douglas Smart
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 4457039
Date: 03.03.1943 Age: 24 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
216 Robert Dougan
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6982028
Date: 04.03.1943 Age: 36 Place of burial: Le Petit Lac, Algeria
217 James Thompson
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6976611
Date: 05.03.1943 Age: 30 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
218 Alfred Daniels
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 2188386
Date: 07.03.1943 Age: Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Daniels was killed while part of a 10-man fighting patrol led by Sergeant O’Driscoll which was sent out from the Skins’ base on and around Grandstand Hill to Carrier Farm, which lay west of the Goubellat-Bou Arada road. As Sergeant O’Donnell of the patrol approached the farm at around 9pm, he saw a sentry and opened fire with a machine gun. Several German machine guns replied, including from the west of the road. German soldiers advanced towards the patrol and it withdrew. Daniels was found to be missing and was later found to have died in the skirmish.
219 John Baggs
Rank: Lieutenant Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 2010007
Date: 07.03.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Lieutenant Baggs joined the Faughs from the Royal Ulster Rifles on 7 February 1943. He died of wounds in an accident, which occurred during his return from patrol when the Faughs were based around Beja during a rest period. He was pulling an NCO up the 12 foot wall of a gully by his Tommy Gun, when it discharged, wounding him in the left shoulder and in the abdomen.
220 William Cahill
Rank: Sergeant Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7043184
Date: 07.03.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
220a Armand Lortie
Rank: Sergeant Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers attached from Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal, Canada Service number: D/61768
Date: 11.03.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Sergeant Lortie was killed during a B Company fighting patrol mission of 20 other ranks and one officer back to Stop Farm to blow up a Teller Mine dump. When about 200 yards from the farm, they were challenged in English and did not fire straightaway. The patrol commander decided that the people before him were a German patrol, so he opened fire. One of the enemy came in and threw a grenade. In the darkness, the commander could not get everyone together, and after firing most of his ammunition, decided to withdraw. Two men were wounded. All struggled to the battalion area, with the exception of Lortie, a French-Canadian NCO attached to the unit. His body was found near the scene of the action on the following night. One other patrol member was missing and believed to have been taken prisoner. Lortie’s mother was Angelina Lortie of Quebec.
221 James Forbes
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3130829
Date: 15.03.1943 Age: 24 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
222 Sidney Dobson
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7022820
Date: 15.03.1943 Age: 35 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
223 George Porter
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 3774655
Date: 21.03.1943. Age: 24 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
223a Kenneth Beeching
Rank: Captain Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers attached from Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment Service number: 156654
Date: 3.04.1943 Age: 26 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Captain Beeching, a Downing College Cambridge University graduate who was educated at Maidstone Grammar School, led a fighting patrol sent to test German defence positions on Djebel Mahdi on the night of 4 April 1943. He was killed with one other member of the patrol (below) when a booby-trap Teller anti-tank mine exploded. He was the son of Hubert Josiah and Anne Beeching; husband of Betty Vera Beeching, of Solihull, Warwickshire. Beeching was the younger brother of Baron Beeching, who was chairman of British Rail in 1961-45.
224 John Rose
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3654324
Date: 04.04.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
War diaries suggest that Lance Corporal Rose was killed on the night of 4 April during a fighting patrol comprising 16 other ranks and led by Lieutenant Beeching that was sent to test German positions on Djebel Mahdi ahead of the planned Skins’ assault on the mountain.
225 Joseph Quirk
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 3774392
Date: 04.04.1943 Age: 24 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
226 Ernest Brookes
Rank: Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7044883
Date: 06.04.1943 Age: 29 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
227 Charles Allen
Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, attached from Royal Ulster Rifles Service number: 36245
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 37 Place of burial: Beja
Lieutenant Colonel ‘Heaver’ Allen, the CO of the 6th Inniskillings, was killed during the initial assault on Djebel el Mahdi. The battalion attack started in darkness at 4am following an artillery barrage. It reached its objective around 5am. A German machine gun was spotted on the reverse slope that was causing problems for C company. Allen directed a bren gunner who was unable to follow his instructions. He called the gunner to him but before he arrived, Allen looked up and was shot through the head. Allen had been promoted to command the Skins in December 1942 following the wounding of its original commanding officer Terence Macartney-Filgate who was seriously wounded in a strafing attack near Bou Arada. The death of Allen, the Skins’ first fatality on 7 April, was followed by increased enemy mortar fire and casualties. Major John McCann took over command. Allen was the first of 18 fatalities that the Skins suffered on 7 April (others are listed below). They were withdrawn and put under the command of TN Grazebrook. Allen was married to Elizabeth Allen of Barnby Dunn Yorkshire. His parents were Major Henry George Allen and his wife Rosamunde.
228 James McCarthy
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7606610
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Beja
Fusilier McCarthy was killed in the assault on Djebel el Mahdi.
229 Albert Heath
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7022562
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: Place of burial: Beja
Fusilier Heath was killed in the assault on Djebel el Mahdi.
230 Wilfred Jones
Rank: Lance Sergeant Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3775355
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
L/Sgt Jones was killed in the assault on Djebel el Mahdi.
231 Joseph Hunt
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6983418
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 33 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Hunt was killed in the assault on Djebel el Mahdi.
232 Clarence Wootton
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7044508
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Wootton was killed in the assault on Djebel el Mahdi.
233 Albert Tinman
Rank: Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6983317
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Corporal Tinman was killed in the assault on Djebel el Mahdi. He was the son of Robert and Fanny Tinman of Portadown County Armagh.
234 Leslie Gidney
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 4752524
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Gidney was killed in the assault on Djebel el Mahdi.
235 Ronald Clough
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3783400
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Clough was killed in the assault on Djebel el Mahdi.
236 Sidney Milton
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7022866
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 35 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Milton was killed in the assault on Djebel el Mahdi.
237 Harry Rice
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6985807
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Rice was killed in the assault on Djebel el Mahdi.
238 William Kerr
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6980804
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Kerr was killed in the assault on Djebel el Mahdi.
239 James Fraser
Rank: Sergeant Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7044362
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 26 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Sgt Fraser was killed in the assault on Djebel el Mahdi.
240 Walter Gibson
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7047680
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Gibson was killed in the assault on Djebel el Mahdi.
241 Francis Ford
Rank: Sergeant Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7044307
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Platoon Sergeant Ford of A Company was killed in the first attack on Jebel el-Mahdi on 7 April. He was replaced by Sergeant Walls.
242 Kenneth Davis
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6984825
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 30 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
243 Arthur Gower
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6982166
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 29 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Gower was killed in the assault on Djebel el Mahdi.
244 William Trimble
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7044343
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 29 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Trimble was killed in the assault on Djebel el Mahdi.
245 Mathew Coffey
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6985242
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 30 Place of burial: Oued Zarga
Fusilier Coffey was killed in the assault on Djebel el Mahdi.
246 George Evans
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3137727
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Oued Zarga
Fusilier Evans was killed in the assault on Djebel el Mahdi.
247 Herbert Owen
Rank: Sergeant Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3527077
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Oued Zarga
Sgt Owen was killed in the assault on Djebel el Mahdi.
248 Joseph Robinson
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6984687
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 19 Place of burial: Oued Zarga
Fusilier Robinson was killed in the assault on Djebel el Mahdi.
249 Edward Pickford
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6986045
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 26 Place of burial: Oued Zarga
Fusilier Pickford was killed in the assault on Djebel el Mahdi.
250 Samuel Megarity
Rank: Corporal Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7043743
Date: 07.04.1943 Age: 24 Place of burial: Oued Zarga
Corporal Megarity was killed in the assault on Djebel el Mahdi.
251 Harold Ward
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6982298
Date: 08.04.1943 Age: 29 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
252 Walter Lake
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7045240
Date: 08.04.1943 Age: 29 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
253 Wilfred Winston
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7044660
Date: 08.04.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
A member of 17 Platoon in the Faughs’ D Company, Fusilier Winston was badly wounded in the leg in the early part of the attack on Jebel Mahdi and died later on the same day.
254 Harold Walls
Rank: Lance Sergeant Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6982295
Date: 09.04.1943 Age: Place of burial: Beja
Lance Sergeant Walls was killed when he stepped on a mine during the second Skin’s attack on Jebel Mahdi which started with a barrage at 1pm and ended at 6pm when the battalion was again withdrawn after failing to reach all objectives. The Skins suffered two fatalities and 12 wounded on the day. Some happened when three of the companies entered a minefield.
255 Edwin Nicholls
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7849189
Date: 09.04.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Lance Corporal Nicholls was killed during the second Skin’s attack on Jebel Mahdi which started with a barrage at 1pm and ended at 6pm when the battalion was again withdrawn after failing to reach all objectives. The Skins suffered to fatalities and 12 wounded on the day. Some happened when three of the companies entered a minefield.
256 Fred Nash
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7047619
Date: 10.04.1943 Age: 19 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
257 Frank Westerman
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 14206941
Date: 11.04.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Beja
The Skins’ battalion area was bombed on 11 April. One member of the battalion was killed (probably Fusilier Westerman) and two wounded.
258 Walter Corless
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 3774575
Date: 12.04.1943 Age: 25 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
259 Ronald Tickell
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 3608183
Date: 14.04.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Beja
260 Henry Wise
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7022164
Date: 15.04.1943 Age: 36 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
261 Philip Slattery
Rank: Lieutenant Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 172413
Date: 15.04.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Lt Slattery was killed instantly by enemy together with three other Faughs by defensive fire on Kef el Tior on the night of 15 April. The Faughs were heard to scream “Faugh a Ballagh” in their assault. Slattery had been wounded during the Faughs’ counterattack during fighting to the east of Grandstand Hill on 18 January 1943. Slattery went to Stoneyhurst School and then spent several years goldmining in South Africa. He returned to the UK at the start of the war and enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers. Slattery was commissioned in February 1941 and joined the Faughs in July that year. He was wounded in January 1943 and returned to the battalion on 12 April. Slattery was in A Company of the Faughs during his entire period of service.
262 David Nicholas Jefferies MC
Rank: Captain Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 117829
Date: 16.04.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Beja
Captain Jefferies joined D Company of the Faughs and served as second-in-command of the company under Major John Coldwell-Horsfall. He emerged as one of the bravest officers in the battalion who specialised in night reconnaissance patrols. His exploits included leading a patrol on 29 December into enemy territory. Jefferies spotted and then joined a German patrol, taking one of them prisoner. For these and other actions, Jefferies was awarded the MC and was appointed commander of A Company. He was badly wounded by shell fire in the Faughs’ attack on Kef El Tior mountain on the night of 15 April. It took many hours to carry him off the mountain and he died of his wounds at the casualty clearing station in Beja where he is buried. Jefferies, who spoke German, famously captured the lagging member of a German patrol during a one-man operation in the Goubellat area of Tunisia on the night of 29 December. For his actions, Jefferies was awarded the first MC to a member of the Irish Brigade. His parents were the Reverend Canon Arthur Jefferies and his wife Frances of Berkhamstead. He went to Marlborough School and joined the Faughs from officer training in February 1940.
263 Henry Mandy
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6982514
Date: 16.04.1943 Age: 30 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
The Skins participated in the Irish Brigade attack on high ground north of the road to Medjez el-Bab which began in bright moonlight at 1 minute after midnight on 16 April. The battalion’s lead companies immediately suffer 12 casualties including Captain McCaldin and Lieutenant Lambert Porter as a result of British shells falling short of the target. The Skin’s objective was Jebel Tanngoucha but the battalion had not taken the objectives 430am and it was decided their position was untenable during daylight hours. It was withdrawn. The Skins’ war diaries say it suffered four fatalities among other ranks and a total of 36 wounded officers and other ranks. Fusilier Mandy, Sergeant Fenton and Fusiliers Picker and Curzon were killed in the attack.
264 Thomas Picker
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6981423
Date: 16.04.1943 Age: 26 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
The Skins participated in the Irish Brigade attack on high ground north of the road to Medjez el-Bab which began in bright moonlight at 1 minute after midnight on 16 April. The battalion’s lead companies immediately suffer 12 casualties including Captain McCaldin and Lieutenant Lambert Porter as a result of British shells falling short of the target. The Skin’s objective was Jebel Tanngoucha but the battalion had not taken the objectives 430am and it was decided their position was untenable during daylight hours. It was withdrawn. The Skins’ war diaries say it suffered four fatalities among other ranks and a total of 36 wounded officers and other ranks. Fusilier Picker, Sergeant Fenton and Fusiliers Mandy and Curzon were killed in the attack.
265 Arthur Fenton
Rank: Sergeant Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6981949
Date: 16.04.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
The Skins participated in the Irish Brigade attack on high ground north of the road to Medjez el-Bab which began in bright moonlight at 1 minute after midnight on 16 April. The battalion’s lead companies immediately suffer 12 casualties including Captain McCaldin and Lieutenant Lambert Porter as a result of British shells falling short of the target. The Skin’s objective was Jebel Tanngoucha but the battalion had not taken the objectives 430am and it was decided their position was untenable during daylight hours. It was withdrawn. The Skins’ war diaries say it suffered four fatalities among other ranks and a total of 36 wounded officers and other ranks. Sergeant Fenton and Fusiliers Mandy, Picker and Curzon were killed in the attack.
266 William Carrig
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7017516
Date: 16.04.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
267 Hyman Casper Reuben
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 4205977
Date: 16.04.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Reuben was the son of Maurice and Ann Reuben of Moss Side in Manchester.
268 Thomas Addey
Rank: Corporal Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7045176
Date: 16.04.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
269 George Flowers
Rank: Corporal Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7045795
Date: 16.04.1943 Age: 31 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
270 Robert Curzon
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6983374
Date: 16.04.1943 Age: 31 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
The Skins participated in the Irish Brigade attack on high ground north of the road to Medjez el-Bab which began in bright moonlight at 1 minute after midnight on 16 April. The battalion’s lead companies immediately suffer 12 casualties including Captain McCaldin and Lieutenant Lambert Porter as a result of British shells falling short of the target. The Skin’s objective was Jebel Tanngoucha but the battalion had not taken the objectives 430am and it was decided their position was untenable during daylight hours. It was withdrawn. The Skins’ war diaries say it suffered four fatalities among other ranks and a total of 36 wounded officers and other ranks. Fusilier Curzon, Sergeant Fenton and Fusiliers Picker and Mandy were killed in the attack.
271 Albert Grice
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7047546
Date: 16.04.1943 Age: 26 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
272 Isaac Henry
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7047221
Date: 16.04.1943 Age: 32 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
273 James Grant
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3196442
Date: 17.04.1943 Age: 31 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
274 James McKane
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6985820
Date: 17.04.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
275 David Crawford
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7043624
Date: 17.04.1943 Age: 34 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
276 James Wild
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6985708
Date: 17.04.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
277 George Rabone
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6981991
Date: 17.04.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
278 George Mason
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7044792
Date: 17.04.1943 Age: 30 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
279 James Given
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6976278
Date: 17.04.1943 Age: 33 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
A Faughs’ regular, L/Cpl Given was in 17 Platoon in D Company during the Tunisian campaign. He was in a trench on Kef El Tior when suffered a shrapnel wound to his head, and was then sent for medical treatment and, according to John Coldwell-Horsfall (The Wild Geese Are Flighting), “he found and consumed medical rum supplies.”…he headed back to the battle and the Inniskillings found him a week later, lying dead in the German positions on the col of Tanngoucha.
280 Wilfred Dicken
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7047670
Date: 17.04.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
281 Albert Smith
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7047634
Date: 17.04.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
282 Leslie Bishop
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7045941
Date: 18.04.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
283 James Jewels
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 3603156
Date: 18.04.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
284 Charles Mizon
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7015170
Date: 20.04.1943 Age: 33 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
285 Albert Sanders
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7044812
Date: 21.04.1943 Age: 29 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
286 Henry Thomas Emmins
Rank: Lieutenant Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 201008
Date: 21.04.1943 Age: Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Lieutenant Emmins joined the Faughs in early April from the 7th Battalion of the Royal Ulster Rifles. He was initially a platoon commander but was made battalion signals officer. He was killed on 21 April when the Faughs’ battalion headquarters was mortared during operations around Heidous.
287 Albert Mallen
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7046311
Date: 21.04.1943 Age: 32 Place of burial: Medjez el-Bab Memorial
288 William Kellett
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 3608618
Date: 22.04.1943 Age: 19 Place of burial: La Reunion, Algeria
289 Samuel Millard
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7860798
Date: 22.04.1943 Age: 29 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
L/Cpl Millard was killed in the assault on Tanngoucha.
290 Clarence Horsfield
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 4511678
Date: 22.04.1943 Age: 33 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Horsfield was killed in the assault on Tanngoucha.
291 Henry Vann
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6983509
Date: 22.04.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Vann was killed in the second Skins’ attack on Jebel Tanngoucha which started at 9pm on the night of April. He was the son of Frederick and Ada Vann of Warsop Vale, Nottinghamshire.
292 Ronald Graham
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3783861
Date: 22.04.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
L/Cpl Graham was killed in the second assault on Jebel Tanngoucha.
293 Addie Poole
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 4546237
Date: 22.04.1943 Age: 18 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Poole was killed in the second assault on Jebel Tanngoucha. He was the son of Frederick and Sarah Poole of Bolton Lancashire.
294 Thomas Ross
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7022993
Date: 22.04.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Ross was killed in the assault on Heidous.
295 Wilfred Palmer
Rank: Corporal Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7019513
Date: 22.04.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Corporal Palmer was killed by machine-gun fire in the attack on Heidous.
296 Bertie Watkins
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 3250861
Date: 22.04.1943 Age: 26 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Watkins was killed in the assault on Heidous.
297 Frederick McDonald
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7019231
Date: 22.04.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
L/Cpl McDonald was killed in the assault on Heidous.
298 Joseph Hobbs
Rank: Sergeant Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7044982
Date: 22.04.1943 Age: 31 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Sgt Hobbs was killed in the assault on Hill 622 and Butler’s Hill.
299 James Irwin
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6984357
Date: 22.04.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Irwin was killed in the second assault on Jebel Tanngoucha.
300 John Hamilton
Rank: Corporal Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 3251027
Date: 22.04.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Corporal Hamilton was killed in the assault on Heidous.
301 Arthur Doherty
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7018574
Date: 22.04.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
L/Cpl Doherty was killed in the assault on Heidous.
302 Richard Linihan
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 6341336
Date: 22.04.1943 Age: 32 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Rifleman Linihan was killed in the assault on Heidous.
303 Walter Pasby
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7045500
Date: 22.04.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Rifleman Pasby was killed in the assault on Heidous.
304 Thomas Hesketh
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7022075
Date: 22.04.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
305 Robert Mannall
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7012003
Date: 22.04.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
306 Richard Bride
Rank: Lance Sergeant Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7045000
Date: 23.04.1943 Age: Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
The Skins had advanced 1,000 yards from its start point in the early hours of 23 April in the second attack on Tanngoucha. After attempting to capture a German strongpoint on a rocky outcrop, B and C came under heavy fire from both flanks and were counterattacked. They withdrew but three out of four of their officers were killed. By daylight, D Company was pinned down. The war diaries record that the battalion lost four officers and 43 other ranks as casualties in the 24 hours after the start of the attack. Lance Sergeant Bride was one of those that died in this period.
307 Harold Hilton
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3195825
Date: 23.04.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
The Skins had advanced 1,000 yards from its start point in the early hours of 23 April in the second attack on Tanngoucha. After attempting to capture a German strongpoint on a rocky outcrop, B and C came under heavy fire from both flanks and were counterattacked. They withdrew but three out of four of their officers were killed. By daylight, D Company was pinned down. The war diaries record that the battalion lost four officers and 43 other ranks as casualties in the 24 hours after the start of the attack. Fusilier Hilton was one of those that died in this period.
308 John Williamson
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 14206949
Date: 23.04.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
The Skins had advanced 1,000 yards from its start point in the early hours of 23 April in the second attack on Tanngoucha. After attempting to capture a German strongpoint on a rocky outcrop, B and C came under heavy fire from both flanks and were counterattacked. They withdrew but three out of four of their officers were killed. By daylight, D Company was pinned down. The war diaries record that the battalion lost four officers and 43 other ranks as casualties in the 24 hours after the start of the attack. Fusilier Williamson was one of those that died in this period.
309 Edwin Hill
Rank: Captain Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 103025
Date: 23.04.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
The Skins had advanced 1,000 yards from its start point in the early hours of 23 April in the second attack on Tanngoucha. After attempting to capture a German strongpoint on a rocky outcrop, B and C came under heavy fire from both flanks and were counterattacked. They withdrew but three out of four of their officers were killed. By daylight, D Company was pinned down. The war diaries record that the battalion lost four officers and 43 other ranks as casualties in the 24 hours after the start of the attack. Captain Hill was one of two captains killed in the attack. Edwin Hill was the son of Charles and Ethel Hill. He was married to Joyce Hill and lived in New Malden in Surrey.
310 Patrick Dunne
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7047022
Date: 23.04.1943 Age: 30 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
The Skins had advanced 1,000 yards from its start point in the early hours of 23 April in the second attack on Tanngoucha. After attempting to capture a German strongpoint on a rocky outcrop, B and C came under heavy fire from both flanks and were counterattacked. They withdrew but three out of four of their officers were killed. By daylight, D Company was pinned down. The war diaries record that the battalion lost four officers and 43 other ranks as casualties in the 24 hours after the start of the attack. Fusilier Dunne was one of those that died in this period.
311 Ian Megginson
Rank: Captain Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 121597
Date: 23.04.1943 Age: 24 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
The Skins had advanced 1,000 yards from its start point in the early hours of 23 April in the second attack on Tanngoucha. After attempting to capture a German strongpoint on a rocky outcrop, B and C came under heavy fire from both flanks and were counterattacked. They withdrew but three out of four of their officers were killed. By daylight, D Company was pinned down. The war diaries record that the battalion lost four officers and 43 other ranks as casualties in the 24 hours after the start of the attack. Captain Megginson was one of two Skins’ captains killed in this period. He was the son of Robert Frederick and Gertrude Megginson, of Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire.
312 James Hand
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6209554
Date: 23.04.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
313 Ronald Potter
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 3531711
Date: 23.04.1943 Age: Place of burial: Oued Zarga
314 Pierce Mahony
Rank: Lieutenant Unit: Royal Ulster Rifles, attached to Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 201006
Date: 23.04.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Pierce Mahony was the son of Michael and Marie Mahony and was married to Christina Mahony. He lived in Selkirk in Scotland.
315 Frederick Notley
Rank: Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7045495
Date: 23.04.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Notley was one of the Skins killed on the second day of its second attack on Jebel Tanngoucha on 23/24 April. The battalion suffered eight casualties (all other ranks) on 24 April.
316 Maurice Schofield
Rank: L/Corporal Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6982490
Date: 23.04.1943 Age: 31 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
317 Eric Jennings
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 14201861
Date: 24.04.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Lance Corporal Jennings was one of the Skins killed on the second day of its second attack on Jebel Tanngoucha on 23/24 April. The battalion suffered eight casualties (all other ranks) on 24 April.
To read L/Cpl Jennings’ story, please click here.
318 Francis Bygrave
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7045007
Date: 24.04.1943 Age: 25 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Bygrave was one of the Skins killed on the second day of its second attack on Jebel Tanngoucha on 23/24 April. The battalion suffered eight casualties (all other ranks) on 24 April.
319 John Hall
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3607851
Date: 24.04.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Hall was one of the Skins killed on the second day of its second attack on Jebel Tanngoucha on 23/24 April. The battalion suffered eight casualties (all other ranks) on 24 April.
320 Frederick Hall
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3778804
Date: 24.04.1943 Age: 26 Place of burial: Oued Zarga
Lance Corporal Hall was one of the Skins killed on the second day of its second attack on Jebel Tanngoucha on 23/24 April. The battalion suffered eight casualties (all other ranks) on 24 April.
321 Henry Boyd
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6980470
Date: 25.04.1943 Age: 33 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Boyd was one of the casualties suffered by the Skins on the third day of its second attack on Jebel Tanngoucha. The battalion suffered 16 casualties, all other ranks, on 25 April.
322 Hugh Blair
Rank: Lance Sergeant Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6975441
Date: 25.04.1943 Age: Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
323 William Ball
Rank: Corporal Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7045312
Date: 25.04.1943 Age: 30 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
324 Peter Sillem
Rank: Lieutenant Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers, attached from Welch Regiment Service number: 219879
Date: 25.04.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Lt Sillem joined D Company of the Faughs in February 1943 on transfer from the Welch Regiment. In the Faughs’ spirited but unsuccessful attack on Point 622 on the night of 22 April, Sillem commanded 18 Platoon. A and D companies attacked Butler’s Hill in the same area on 25 April and Sillem, who was then commander of D company, was killed. His company commander John Coldwell-Horsfall described him in The Wild Geese Are Flighting thus: “Peter was a swashbuckler. He had a heart of gold and he dressed like a pirate. He was a delight to serve with and he made his mark in our little history.” Sillem had been mentioned in dispatches. He was the son of Charles and Muriel Sillem of Surbiton and had attended the Catholic Wimbledon College.
325 James Tilson
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7047828
Date: 25.04.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
326 Douglas Constable
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7047861
Date: 25.04.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
327 Michael Rogan
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7046925
Date: 25.04.1943 Age: 26 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Lance-Corporal Rogan was killed in the Faughs’ final attack on Hill 622 on Kef El Tior mountain.
328 Cyril Willis
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7044662
Date: 25.04.1943 Age: Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Willis was killed in the final attack on Hill 622 on Kef El Tior mountain.
329 John Duval
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7044575
Date: 25.04.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
330 James Clarke
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7043641
Date: 25.04.1943 Age: 29 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
331 Leonard Keating
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7043583
Date: 25.04.1943 Age: 26 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
332 Anthony Young
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7022743
Date: 25.04.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
333 William Alcock
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7047851
Date: 26.04.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
334 Thomas McMullan
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6983769
Date: 27.04.1943 Age: Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
The Skins’ third attack on high points north of the road to Medjez el-Bab started with an artillery barrage on Kef el-Senach at 1130am on 27 April. Kef el-Senech which is about 1,200 feet above sea level. It consisted of four separate high points, all of which were held by the Germans. The battalion took two of the four by midday. It suffered a total of 13 fatalities on 27 April including Lance Corporal McMullan.
335 Harold Brown
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3718747
Fusilier Brown was killed in the Skins’ attack on Kef el-Senach.
Date: 27.04.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
336 John Campbell
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3132834
Date: 27.04.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Campbell was killed in the Skins’ attack on Kef el-Senach
337 William Heron
Rank: Sergeant Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6978607
Date: 27.04.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Sergeant Heron was killed in the Skins’ attack on Kef el-Senach. Heron was the son of John and Annie Heron of Coagh Country Tyrone
338 Norman Shimwell
Rank: Lance Sergeant Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6981648
Date: 27.04.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Lance Sergeant Shimwell was killed in the Skins’ attack on Kef el-Senach. Shimwell was born and raised in Bakewell in Derbyshire.
339 Joseph Connell
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3135708
Date: 27.04.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Connell was killed during the Skins’ attack on Kef el-Senach. He was from Glasgow and was married to Mary Connell.
340 John Evans
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3784010
Date: 27.04.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Evans was killed during the Skins’ attack on Kef el-Senach. He was the son of John and Ruth Evans.
341 Robert McLaughlan
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3607860
Date: 27.04.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier McLaughlan was killed during the Skins’ attack on Kef el-Senach. He was from Carlisle and his parents were John and Grace McLaughlan.
342 Frederick Newman
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3607649
Date: 27.04.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Newman was killed during the Skins’ attack on Kef el-Senach. His parents were Joseph and Florence Newman.
343 Ronald Parkinson
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3607688
Date: 27.04.1943 Age: 19 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Parkinson was killed during the Skins’ attack on Kef el-Senach. He was the son of Mr and Mrs James Parkinson of Blackburn Lancashire.
344 Frank Persechino
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 14206442
Date: 27.04.1943 Age: 20 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Persechino was killed during the Skins’ attack on Kef el-Senach.
345 Kevin Gabriel Rice
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 5436998
Date: 27.04.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Rice was killed during the Skins’ attack on Kef el-Senach. He was the son of John and Rose Rice of Belfast.
346 George Swanson
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 3195335
Date: 27.04.1943 Age: 31 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Fusilier Rice was killed during the Skins’ attack on Kef el-Senach. He was the son of George and Marion Swanson of Peebles.
347 Reginald Grosse
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6983555
Date: 28.04.1943 Age: 22 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Fusilier Rice was the son of Christopher and Ivy Grosse of Newark Nottinghamshire.
349 Harry McRory
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7014470
Date: 28.04.1943 Age: 36 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman McRory was acting as driver for Irish Brigade commander Nelson Russell when he was killed by shelling in an incident witnessed by London Irish E Company Colour Sergeant Edmund O’Sullivan. He was married to Rosemary McRory of Hornsey, London. His parents were John and Mary McRory.
350 John Linton
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 3608619
Date: 28.04.1943 Age: 19 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
351 Arthur Henry Norman
Rank: Sergeant Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7045494
Date: 28.04.1943 Age: 28 Place of burial: Oued Zarga
Sergeant Norman of F Company died from wounds sustained during the second attack on Heidous on the night of 22 February 1943. He was found by the London Irish Rifles when they captured Heidous in the second attack on the village on the night of 25 April. Norman was married to Evelyn Mary Norman. His parents were Henry and Ann Norman of Whitton Park, Middlesex.
352 Archibald Potton
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 2722770
Date: 30.04.1943 Age: 32 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
Rifleman Potton was married to Hilda Potton of Berkhamsted Hertfordshire. His parents were William and Priscilla Potton.
353 Edward Green
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6980546
Date: 30.04.1943 Age: 30 Place of burial: Oued Zarga
Fusilier Green was married to Ellen Green of Londonderry. His parents were George and Mary Green.
354 Frederick Fincham
Rank: Company Sergeant Major (D Company) Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7043002
Date: 01.05.1943 Age: 35 Place of burial: Oued Zarga
CSM Fincham was Colour Sergeant in B Company at the start of the Tunisian campaign, and was promoted Company Sergeant Major of D Company to replace “Tug” Wilson on 28 January 1943. He was married to Norah Eileen Fincham of Tiverton in Devon. His parents were Frederick and Kathleen Fincham.
355 Frederick Herbert
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 13081936
Date: 06.05.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: El Alia, Algeria
356 Charles Smart
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7019390
Date: 06.05.1943 Age: 32 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab Memorial
357 Frank McAleer
Rank: Sergeant Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 6976983
Date: 08.05.1943 Age: 32 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Sergeant McAleer achieved notoriety during the Skins’ operations in the Goubellat plain on the morning of 24 January 1943 when he unilaterally and single-handedly went out from his position south of Hill 286 in revenge for the loss of a patrol the previous night. His military mission was information, but his own object was to obtain revenge for the loss of a patrol on night 23/24 Feb 43. He spotted machine gun post, went to the flank of it, surprised the crew of two, collected the gun and disabled the two prisoners. McAleer was awarded a DCM for this action. He was the husband of Grace McAleer of Aldershot. His parents were Frank and Elizabeth McAleer.
358 William Stewart
Rank: Corporal Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6975608
Date: 13.05.1943 Age: 33 Place of burial: El Alia, Algeria
359 Maurice Thornton
Rank: Captain Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 124647
Date: 13.05.1943 Age: 36 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Captain Thornton, an Oxford graduate and professional actor, was seriously wounded during the London Irish attack on Heidous, a village in high land north of the road to Medjez el-Bab. The attack was led by F Company under Captain Dunnill with G Company under Thornton in support. The attack started with an artillery barrage on Heidous and Jebel Tangouche at 545pm on 22 April. F Company advanced to Heidous but came under heavy machine gun fire and Dunnill was wounded. G company’s radio connection with F company failed and Thornton went forward to Heidous to find out what was happening. He was hit in the legs by machine gun fire and taken prisoner. The fighting in Heidous continued until the village was taken by the evening of 23 April. Thornton died of his wounds on 13 May. Thornton was born in Frome in Somerset, the only son of the Reverend Robert Thornton, vicar of Corringham, and his wife Ethel. They lived at 19 Holdenhurst Avenue, Boscombe in Hampshire. Thornton went to school at Lancing College. He went to Hertford College Oxford in 1925. After, he went to Sudan to work as a cotton planter and then to South Africa where he was a salesman. Thornton married Kathleen Roulston at Cape Town Cathedral in 1932. Their daughter Jill was born in 1934. Thornton and his family returned to the UK and he became an actor with the Oxford Repertory Company. He was conscripted into the army and completed officer training in March 1940, when he was commissioned as second lieutenant in the Royal Fusiliers. Thornton was transferred to the Royal Ulster Rifles and then to the 2nd Battalion of the London Irish Rifles.
360 Michael Laurence O’Gorman
Rank: Lieutenant Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 247963
Date: 13.05.1943 Age: 29 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Lieutenant O’Gorman was the son of Hugh and Catherine O’Gorman. He was examining a grenade which detonated. O’Gorman had served for nine years in the Royal Berkshire regiment before being commissioned into the Faughs.
361 J H Neil Moores
Rank: Lance Corporal Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7044389
Date: 14.05.1943 Age: 26 Place of burial: El Alia, Algeria
362 Daniel O’Brien
Rank: Platoon sergeant Major (PSM) Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 6975298
Date: 23.05.1943 Age: 35 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
PSM O’Brien joined the Faughs in 1925. His father had been regimental sergeant major and two of his elder brothers were already in the Faughs. O’Brien was commander of the pioneer platoon when he was wounded. He died of his wounds on 23 May 1943.
363 Arthur Lane
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7017597
Date: 15.06.1943 Age: 23 Place of burial: Abney Park, UK
364 James Carr
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 14211959
Date: 19.06.1943 Age: 38 Place of burial: El Alia, Algeria
365 Wilfred Thomas
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 3771936
Date: 25.06.1943 Age: 24 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
366 Albert Myatt
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 7047556
Date: 05.07.1943 Age: 27 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
367 George Keepin
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 6350946
Date: 06.07.1943 (grave marker incorrect). Age: 29 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
Rifleman Keepin was from Morriston in Glamorgan and was married to Doris Keepin. His parents were Oliver and Ruth.
368 John Kiely
Rank: Rifleman Unit: London Irish Rifles Service number: 7019209
Date: 06.07.1943 Age: 32 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
370 Raymond Purvis
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 7045513
Date: 14.07.1943 Age: 29 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab
372 Ronald Anthony
Rank: Fusilier Unit: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Service number: 4209641
Date: 19.07.1943 Age: 21 Place of burial: Medjez-el-Bab