Brian Martin 1921-1945, age 24

Barnsley Chronicle 7th April 1945
Thanks to Barnsley Archives

Born: 1921 Q1 Barnsley

Son of: James and Bertha Martin nee Toyne. They married in Catherine's Church in Sheffield in 1916. James (1885-1963, died age 78) enlisted in the R.F.A. in 1915. Bertha, born in 1891 in Sheffield, died at the age of 46 in 1937. The couple had 5 children and three of their sons served in WW2. Brian was the second son and was unmarried. At the time of Brian's death the family lived at 2 Harvey Street, off Racecommon Road in Barnsley. 

Military Service: Brian was a Trooper in the Royal Armoured Corps, 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards), Service number 4697017.  

Death: 15th March 1945 in Burma.

Buried: Taukkyan War cemetery, Myanmar, Burma in grave ref 19.A.9. Brian had been originally buried at Mandalay War Cemetery. 

Commonwealth War Graves Commission link: here  
Remembered: Holy Rood Church WW2 book of remembrance, and the Co-operative war memorial, Barnsley 

The Barnsley Chronicle on 7th April 1945 reported:

Killed in Burma

Promising Barnsley Swimmer

A feeling of deep regret will be felt in Barnsley at the news that Brian Martin (24), second son of Mr James Martin, 2 Harvey Street, Barnsley has been killed in action during March in Burma. Brian joined the Army at the outbreak of war in the "Under 20's". Enlisting in the K.O.Y.L.I. he soon rose to the rank of Corporal. On transfer to the R.A.C. he was offered, but refused, a commission, as he wished to get on an overseas draft and resigned his rank. 
A well-known scholar of Holy Rood and Longcar Central he will best be remembered as a swimmer of promise. Captain of Longcar Central he helped to win many trophies for that school. Brain swam Squadron for Barnsley Swimming Club and assisted in many polo matches. Employed at Cundy Cross Branch he had held the Co-op Championship Trophy since 1936. He has two brothers, Denis and James D. Martin, serving with the R.A.F. and is a nephew of Mr W. Martin, President of the B.B.C.S. Ltd.

Personal memories:  Brian's youngest sister Pat and brother Don remember their brother with love and great pride.

" I know Brian was promoted first to Lance Corporal and then to Corporal and once or twice after that when he transferred to the RAC he was again promoted to Lance corporal and then demoted again.  Brian was a rebel and I'm sure he preferred being one of the lads. I remember being taken before the war to watch him play in a Co-op water polo match against Wakefield Police at Barnsley Baths. Brian had fouled the Police a few times and kept being sent out of the pool to sit on the side. It was at the end of the match when both teams were swimming to the sides that the Police made a concerted attack on Brian, ducking him several times. Brian broke surface grinning from ear to ear and called out "Help. Police!" The spectators roared with laughter. I have the silver Championship trophy cup that you mention." 

Brian's father received a letter from the wife of the second in command of the Regiment who was responsible for next of kin welfare and it is produced in part below, with thanks to Pat. 

"At Kadojeik, 2 tanks of no. 6 Troop were ambushed by Japanese infantry. Tpr Martin was driving the leading tank. It's armour was penetrated by an anti tank grenade fired at very close range, and the tank caught fire; all the crew evacuated. Meanwhile Lt Lothian, who commanded the other tank tried to manoeuvre in to a position from which he could cover them. But in doing so, his own tank was penetrated by a second grenade and he himself severely wounded. Ammunition in the evacuated tank started to explode and the crew, including Tpr Martin ran for our own lines. Some were killed immediately but Tpr Martin, fatally wounded managed to reach the forward infantry. He died in the F.A.P."  (our note: F.A.P. = First Aid Post)

Pat also says;

"The account differs from what I was told at the time. Sometime after Brian's death I remember being told that a soldier who had been in the same unit as Brian visited my Dad and told him that Brian was driving a tank with the 'lid' up. This was strictly against the rules but in the jungle the inside of a tank became like a pressure cooker and leaving the 'lid' up was common practice. He said that a Japanese soldier who was hiding up a tree threw a hand grenade into the tank and the rest of his story agreed with the official statement. I can't see why the soldier would have made the story up but I can see that the official statement would have been more politically correct."

Brian is remembered on the family gravestone in Barnsley cemetery which is inscribed with the words, 

 MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS

HAVE MERCY ON THE SOULS OF

SHEILA MARY MARTIN

DIED JANUARY 18TH 1926

BERTHA MARTIN

DIED MAY 19TH 1937

BRIAN MARTIN

KILLED IN ACTION 1939-1945

JAMES MARTIN 

DIED MARCH 31ST 1963

R.I.P.

Leslie Walter James 1924-1945, age 20

Barnsley Chronicle 5th August 1944
Thanks to Barnsley Archives

Born: 1924 Q2 in the Barnsley registration area. 

Son of: Walter and Adelaide May James nee Barnett. Walter (1898-1978, died age 80) married Adelaide May at Gawber Church on 17th November 1923. Leslie was the eldest of their 5 children and his parents lived at Cross Street in Barugh Green.  

Husband of: Hannah Agnes James nee Corker.  Agnes and Leslie married at St Mary's Church, Barnsley in 1944, Q1. They had no children. 

After Leslie's death in 1945, Agnes married Wilfred R Birch in 1948.  

Military Service: Leslie was a Trooper in the Reconnaissance Corps of the Royal Armoured Corps, 15th Regiment, Service number 14333225. 

He was wounded in 1944. The Barnsley Chronicle on 5th August 1944 reported:

Wounded Barnsley Trooper Progressing Favourably.

Visiting him in hospital at Driffield last week, Mrs L. W. James, 57 Shaw Street, Barnsley found her husband, Trooper Leslie W. James (20) Reconnaisance Corps, progressing favourably after sustaining burns on the face and hands while on active service in Normandy. He joined the Army in November 1942 and arrived in France on June 28th. 

It appears that he was on an armoured car moving along a village road when a German sniper lobbed a hand grenade in the car. Trooper James was severely burned and he says he never saw the accompanying officer again. 

Formerly a clerk at the Abattoir, Pontefract Road, he was married only 18 weeks ago at St Mary's Church, his bride being Miss A. Corker, daughter of Mr and Mrs W. Corker, 7 Shambles street. The son of Mr and Mrs Walter James, 3 Cross Street, Barugh Green, Leslie attended Higham Methodist Chapel and was a Lance Corporal in the Home Guard. His father served in the last war. 

Death: 27th March 1945 in Germany.  

Buried: Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany in grave 58.C.11. Leslie was previously buried in Hamminkeln, Germany but moved to Reichswald Cemetery on 17th April 1947. His grave bears the following inscription

"He will receive us

With outstretched arms." 

Find a grave link: here 
Commonwealth War Graves Commission link: here  
Remembered: St Thomas Church War memorial, Gawber. 

Frank Thornhill Lawrence 1912-1944, age 32

Barnsley Chronicle 24th June 1944
Thanks to Barnsley Archives

Born: 1912 Q1 in Barnsley

Son of: William and Grace Lawrence nee Thornhill. William and Grace married in 1894.  William (1867-1943, died age 76) was a barman, and became an underground labourer in 1911 when the family moved from Wright's Terrace to a house with 3 rooms at Craick's Court, Old Mill, Barnsley. William was born in Kensington in London, and Grace (1875-1957, died age 82) was born in Birdwell.The couple had at least 7 children, and by 1911, one of them had died. 

• John Arthur 1895 Q3, born Birdwell
• Alfred 1897 Q3, born Barnsley
• Thomas William 1900 Q1, born Barnsley
• Lily Ann 1906 Q3, born Smithies, Barnsley
• Alice 1909 Q2 born Old Mill, Barnsley 
• Frank Thornhill 1912 Q1
• Albert 1916 Q3

Husband of: Doris Ellen Lawrence nee Linsley. Frank and Doris's marriage was registered in 1939 Q1, Barnsley.  

Military Service: Frank was a Private in the York and Lancaster Regiment, 9th Battalion, Service number 4756402.

Death: 31st May 1944 from malaria in Burma.   

Buried: Taukkyan War cemetery in Myanmar, Burma, grave reference II. F. 7. His grave bears the following inscription

"Treasured memories of my dear husband"

Commonwealth War Graves Commission link: here  

The Barnsley Chronicle of 24th June 1944 reported

Barnsley Soldier dies from Malaria

News has been received by Mrs Lawrence, 3 Blenheim Avenue, Barnsley, that her husband Pte. Frank Thornhill Lawrence (32) died during May from malaria in the Indian theatre of war. Joining the Forces in 1940 after working as a case maker at the glass bottle works of Redfearn Bros., he had been overseas two years. He was the son of Mrs and the late Mr W. Lawrence, 3 Wharfe Street, Barnsley, and he leaves a wife but no children. 

John William Brown Greaves 1921-1943, age 21

Barnsley Chronicle 24th April 1943
Thanks to Barnsley Archives

Born: 1921 Q3 in Chester-Le-Street Registration District, Durham. 

Son of: John and Agnes Greaves of 20 Racecommon Road, Barnsley.

Military Service: William was a Lance Corporal in the 6th Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment, Service number 4748444.

Death: 21st March 1943 'by accident' in North Africa.

Buried: William is buried in Tabarka Ras Rajel War cemetery in Tunisia, Grave number 4, C, 20. He was originally buried on the road at Dbl. Abd, but was reburied at Ras Rji on 25th June 1943. His grave bears the inscription 

"Ever in my Memory" 

Commonwealth War Graves Commission link: here  

The Barnsley Chronicle on 24th April 1943 reported

Barnsley Soldiers Death in North Africa

Mr and Mrs J. W. Greaves of 20, Racecommon Road, Barnsley have received news of the death by accident in North Africa of their son Lce Cpl J. William B. Greaves (22) who was well known and popular, particularly in the Worsbro' Bridge area, where he had worked and lived. He attended Worsbro' Dale School and became a member of St James' Church Lads Brigade, Worsbro' Bridge. He worked at Barrow Collieries and was a Territorial, first with the Hallamshires and then the York and Lancasters. 

He went to North Africa in January this year and has a brother, sister and two brothers-in-law in the Forces. His father served in the R.A.S.C. practically throughout the last war, in which two of his brothers were killed. A memorial service for Lce-Cpl Greaves will be held in St James' Church, Worsbro' Bridge on Easter Sunday evening. 

A pathetic feature is that since the official information of death, the parents received a letter from their son, also a letter from the Corporal's brother-in-law, Signaller R. Jessop, who referred to his burial observing that "the place where he lies buried, marked with a cross, will always be remembered by me." "The day before," the letter continues, "we were discussing life after the war, settling down, and of the good times that will never be realised by him."