The Family members who served in the Second World War

The story of the soldiers, sailors and airmen from the family who took up arms in the First World War

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A Second Throw of the Dice

Only twenty one years after the end of the First World War, the nation called upon its population to take arms again, this time against the aggressive Nazi war machine. Many of those who had witnessed the horrors of the first war at first hand, became witnesses to a second period of total war. A few took part in both wars, but generally it was the sons of the Great War veterans who were called upon to serve their country this time.

Recapturing British Somaliland

4460826 Private James Farndale was born in Stockton in late 1916 and enlisted into Second Battalion The West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales Own) Regiment. In March 1941, he deployed to East Africa.

On 9 May 1936 Africa Orientale Italiana was formed from Ethiopia, Italian Eritrea and Italian Somaliland. On 10 June 1940, Italy declared war on Britain and France, with Italian forces in the Africa Orientale Italiana threatening the British and French colonies in East Africa. Italian forces threatened British supply lines along the coast of East Africa, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Egypt, the Suez Canal, French Somaliland and British Somaliland were vulnerable to attack.

On 3 August 1940, the Italians invaded with two colonial brigades, four cavalry squadrons, armoured, artillery and air support. Kassala on the border with Sudan was bombed and attacked and the British garrison was overmatched. The Somaliland Camel Corps skirmished with the advancing Italians as the main British force slowly retired. On 5 August 1940 British Somaliland was cut off from French Somaliland. Surrounded and close to being cut off Major-General Alfred Reade Godwin-Austen was instructed by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Henry Maitland Wilson to withdraw from the colony. The 2nd battalion Black Watch, supported by two companies of the 2nd King's African Rifles and parties of the 1st/2nd Punjab Regiment covered the retreat to Berbera. By 02.00 hours on 18 August 1940 most of the contingent had been evacuated to Aden. Italian forces entered Berbera that evening. British casualties were 38 killed and 222 wounded. The Italians had 2,052 casualties.

Keren was the last Italian stronghold in Eritrea and the scene of the most decisive battle of the war in East Africa in early 1941. Guarding the entrance from the western plains to the Eritrean plateau, the only road passing through a deep gorge with precipitous and well fortified mountains on either side, Keren formed a perfect defensive position. On these heights the Italians concentrated 23,000 riflemen, together with a large number of well sited guns and mortars.

The Battle of Keren took place from 3 February to 27 March 1941. Keren was attacked by the British during the East African Campaign. A force of Italian regular and colonial troops defended the position against British troops (mostly from Sudan and British India) and Free French forces. The town of Keren, in the colony of Italian East Africa, was of tactical importance to both sides. The road and railway through Keren were the main routes to the colonial capital of Italian Eritrea at Asmara and the Red Sea port of Massawa.

A preliminary assault by British and Indian troops was repulsed after a week of bitter fighting, although they gained and held a valuable position on Cameron's Ridge, on the left of the road.

At 07.00 hours on 15 March 1941, the British and Commonwealth troops of 4th Indian Infantry Division attacked from Cameron Ridge making for Sanchil, Brig's Peak, Hog's Back and the three peaks of Mount Sammana. That night, the battle ebbed and flowed with attack and counter-attack inflicting very heavy casualties on both sides. On the right, 5th Indian Infantry Division launched its attack on the Dologorodoc feature at 10.30 hours on 15 March. The 2nd Highland Light Infantry led the attack on the lower features, Pimple and Pinnacle, but made no progress in the daylight because of fire from the overlooking Sanchil peak, where the Italian defenders had defeated the 11th Brigade assault. They were pinned down, suffering casualties and without supply until darkness provided the opportunity to withdraw. By moonlight that evening, the attack on Dologorodoc was taken up by 9th Brigade, now commanded by the recently promoted Brigadier Messervy. Heath and Messervy planned a near two battalion attack on Pimple and Pinnacle, with a third battalion ready to pass through and attack the fort. The capture of Pinnacle that night by the 3/5th Mahratta Light Infantry led by Lieutenant-Colonel Denys Reid, with the 3/12th Frontier Force Regiment less two companies under command to take Pimple, was called one of the outstanding small actions of World War II, decisive in its results and formidable in its achievement.

Next morning Messervy scrambled up Pinnacle to congratulate Reid and his Mahrattas and wondered how they had been able to scramble up with their equipment against fierce opposition, when he was finding it a pretty tough job without either. At the top, when he saw the victors, he was overcome by the splendour of their feat and his combative amber eyes filled with tears.

James died of wounds on 16 March 1941 in Eritrea, aged 24. That is all we know, but we know about the action his Battalion were involved in that day.

In the early hours of 16 March, the defenders of Fort Dologorodoc counter-attacked Pinnacle and Pimple for several hours. The defences at the fort were depleted and during the counter-attack, the 2nd West Yorkshire Regiment made their way over a seemingly impossible knife-edge to surprise the defenders of the fort. The fort was captured after a determined defence by 06.30 hours with 40 prisoners taken. Finally, Platt had the artillery observation point so greatly needed. It must have ben during this action that James Farndale was killed.

The final battle began a month later. After ten days of gruelling combat the Commonwealth troops succeeded in forcing their way through the seemingly impregnable defences on the ridge and finally through the 200 metre long road block which the Italians had blasted at the narrowest point in the pass. Keren was finally taken on 27 March 1941. The defeated Italian force retreated in some disarray to Asmara, which fell to Commonwealth forces on 1 April, and the Italian surrender was taken at the port of Massawa on 8 April.

On 20 March 1941, Hargeysa was captured. The British moved on to re-capture the whole of British Somaliland and on 8 April 1941, Brigadier Arthur Reginald Chater was appointed Military Governor. British forces were now able to advance into eastern Ethiopia, supplied through Berbera. The Somaliland Camel Corps was reformed by mid April and supported British forces over the next few months mopping up Italian led guerrilla forces.

Private James Farndale was buried at Keren War Cemetery, Grave Reference 3.A.3, inscribed Beloved Son of James and the Late Margaret Farndale, God Grant him eternal rest.

The small town of Keren is about 90 kilometres west of Asmara. On the outskirts of the city stands the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Keren War Cemetery. One of the first to be built after the Second World War, it is almost entirely unaltered since it was constructed. The site, on top of the famous Keren pass and overshadowed by Cameron's Ridge on the opposite side of the road, was presented by the Chief and the Community of Ad Hadembas, and an inscription recording this has been built into the cemetery wall. The Keren Cremation Memorial stands within the cemetery and commemorates 285 Sikh and Hindu soldiers from India and Pakistan killed on the Keren battlefield during the Second World War, whose remains were cremated in accordance with their faith. Three East African soldiers are also commemorated on the memorial.

The Lancaster Mission

1824896 Sergeant Bernard Farndale was born into the Loftus 2 Line at Liverton on 18 November 1912. He married Muriel Glenys Picton Swales in 1933 in Merthyr Tydfil and their son, Brian Picton Farndale, was born in 1934.

By 1944, Bernard was a sergeant with No. 115 Squadron RAF, operating from RAF Witchford near Ely.

The Squadron was equipped with the Avro Lancaster Mark 1 and took part in a series of raids over Germany in August 1944. Bernard was a flight engineer.

On the evening of 29 August 1944 nearly six hundred RAF bombers flew over Denmark on bombing raids to Königsberg and Stettin. Bernard was the flight engineer on LAN ME 718.

The aircraft bound for Stettin in particular were attacked by German night fighters, when they were passing the northern part of Jutland and the Kattegat. Bernard’s aircraft, the Avro Lancaster I LAN ME718, was hit over Denmark when it was attacked by a German night fighter and caught fire. At about 1 am, it crashed near Ove northeast of Hobro killing all onboard. The bomb load exploded when the Lancaster hit the ground spreading wreckage and the remains of the crew over a wide area. After being hit the Lancaster flew for a moment through the air before it crashed like a burning torch at Ove, about 400 m west of Rinddalsvej, north of the Mariager Fjord in Denmark. All of the bomb load exploded on impact. All of the crew were killed.

The Germans did not want to collect the remains of the crew and left them in the field. The locals were appalled by this behaviour and collected the remains in wickerwork baskets. The Wehrmacht ordered the Danes to hand the baskets over, and these were thrown in the crater at the crash site and covered. When the Germans had left the area, the locals together with members of the Civil Air Defence opened the crater and placed the remains in a coffin, which was driven to Ove church. On 4 September 1944, unknown to the Wehrmacht, the airmen were laid to rest in Ove cemetery. Vicar A. Bundgård officiated at a graveside ceremony. The coffin was decorated with flowers, but there were only a few mourners. Apparently the German Wehrmacht knew nothing of this funeral

The Crew of ME 718

Bernard Farndale

1912 to 1944

The full story of Bernard Farndale and the fate of flight LAN ME 718 is told here

The US Airman who flew to every continent in World War 2

19199623 James Noel (“Jimmy”) Farndale was the son of Jim Farndale, one of the three brothers who had served in the First World War, in the US Army, by then a US Senator.

Jimmy enlisted into the Army on 15 December 1942 and served with the US Army Air Corps in World War 2 in USA and in Europe. He was from Las Vegas. His height was 6 foot 3 inches, weight 155, with a ruddy complexion, brown eyes, and brown hair. Corporal Farndale entered the army in December 1942. He received his basic training in Fresno, California, and received his radio trading at Scott Field, Illinois. He was assigned to the ferry command last May and has been engaged in delivery of aircraft to various theatres of war ever since. A graduate of Las Vegas high school with the class of 1942, Corporal Farndale was employed at Sears, Roebuck and company store in Las Vegas for a few months before he entered the service.

On 8 August 1944 and 16 October he flew missions for Air Transport Command from Casablanca to La Guardia Airport, New York. He was a Private and 21 years old, but promoted to Corporal by October 1944. On 14 November 1944, he flew a mission from Prestwick in Scotland to New York.

A newspaper reported that he had flown to every continent except Antarctica. Serving as a radio operator aboard planes being delivered to all parts of the world, Corporal James N Farndale of Las Vegas has touched every continent in the globe except Australia in the past six months, and made a forced landing in India. Corporal Farndale has been spending a furlough in Las Vegas with his parents, State Senator and Mrs James Farndale, 922 S 2nd St, and was scheduled to report back for duty today with the 4th Ferry Group at Memphis, Tennessee.

The crash landing occurred on a flight to India some time ago, but the pilot got the ship down safely without injury to any crew member. The landing was made in a small clearing in the jungle, near a native village, Corporal Farndale stated in an interview here. “We camped right in the plane, and natives brought us food, including breadfruit, bananas, coconuts, melons and water. Everything was free except eggs, and we had to pay for them,” he said. A holiday was declared in the village school so the children could see the plane. From daylight to dark the natives crowded about the plane, just standing staring at the big machine. The crew stretched ropes around the plane to hold the crowds back, because they kept inching forwards closer and closer to the big ship. The children behaved well but were very curious he said. “We visited one day in a native home,” Corporal Farndale said. “An old man who had been reared in a missionary school and spoke English very well was our host. He was a landowner and very proud to show us all the things he raised on his land. Almost everything grew bountifully there. The children of the household were very well behaved,” he said. After three days in the grounded plane, the crew was reached by a rescue party composed of American and British soldiers, who led them back to camp. Corporal Farndale reported that he found India to be the dirty place he had heard about before going there. He told of seeing one family leaving its home one morning. The husband and wife and sundry children emerged from the building, driving before them two sacred cattle, several chickens, a couple of pigs and other domestic animals. He had the opportunity to see the famous Taj Mahal by moonlight and was struct struck with its grandeur and unexcelled beauty. By moonlight the squalor of the adjacent area was eliminated, but it seemed completely incompatible with its surroundings in daylight.

Corporal Farndale said that Americans who have been in India for two years or more are particularly anxious to get home again and are envious of the men who come directly from the United States to deliver planes, and then return. But new hope has spread among them with a recently inaugurated rotation plan of the government. “It is only right that those of us who have no permanent overseas duty should relieve those gone so long,” Corporal Farndale said.

Following his furlough here, he expects to be assigned to such duty shortly, he said. He pointed to the advantage of the Americans over the British in this respect, as there is no rotation plan for the English subjects and soldiers. Many of the British have been in India for several years and have no hopes of relief until the war is won. At every stop, where men have been isolated for a long period, the soldiers would rush out to meet the crew as soon as the ship had landed. The crew would be pressed for latest news of happenings at home. “We always try to take as many of the latest magazines and newspapers as we can on the India trips,” Corporal Farndale said, “because the men are so far away and so anxious to know what is happening in the United States.” He told of picking up a broadcast of the World Series by shortwave while his crew was on a long flight. All members of the crew on their headsets to listen to the broadcast. Often they were able to get a broadcast from one of the big stations in New York he said. Corporal Farndale has visited in Egypt and has climbed to the top of one of the pyramids. He saw the sphinx, on a tour conducted by the American Red Cross. In London he saw everything of interest on a similar tour conducted by the Red Cross. Corporal Farndale met K Haycock of Las Vegas in French Morocco when both were aboard planes which had made landings at an airfield. For the few minutes they had together they discussed their hometown and the latest news they had.

In March 1945, his father wrote to his brother, Alf. I don't know whether or not you have heard that Jimmy made one flight to England. He had your address but he said while he was in England they wouldn't let him out of camp long enough to even try to telephone or visit. He came over by way of Brazil, there crossed the Atlantic to the coast of Africa and up north across Portugal and then landed I think in the Land's End area, where they delivered the plane and then went through London and north to Scotland crossing back to the US by plane. He had a great trip but was naturally disappointed in being so close to you and yet not able to see you. But that is the way with war as you both know from our experience in the First World War.

Jimmy made two flights to India, and was wrecked in the jungles near Calcutta I believe, was stranded among natives for two days, and they had to leave the plane. He has visited Cairo twice and has seen many of India's important points.

He now is in the Pacific, but he is still back in the US. They make trips over into the various isles about every two or three weeks. He is sure getting experience and is seeing the world. He is not satisfied when he is not in the air. They are keeping him busy now.

15 April 1945, Taken at the Derby Club, San Francisco 22 April 1945, Taken at the Derby Club, San Francisco

The Tiger Moth accident

521789 Corporal Henry Stuart Farndale was born in Leeds in 1916. In April 1941, he was granted a commission as an Acting Pilot Officer on probation, for the duration of hostilities. He had married Maria Pratchett in 1940 in Bradford, but she died, aged only 27, in late 1942. On 30 July 1943, he was a pilot under training.

By May 1945, Henry’s unit was No 7 Elementary Flying Training School (“7 EFTS”), a Royal Air Force flying training school that operated between 1935 and 1994.

At the outbreak of the Second World War on 3 September 1939, the school at RAF Desford, Leicestershire became the base for 7 EFTS. At its peak there were 120 Tiger Moths based at Desford, in four flights. In mid-1940 some of these were fitted with bomb racks, in case of a German invasion. Apart from the Tiger Moths several other aircraft made landings at Desford. From January 1940 Desford also housed units of the Civilian Repair Organisation, engaged in aircraft repairs and modifications. Vickers-Armstrongs also had a factory at Desford to manufacture undercarriages for Supermarine Spitfires, and also carried out the assembly of aircraft there, with about 1,000 Spitfires rolling out of the Desford factory.

Instructor and pupil in front of a de Havilland Tiger Moth at 7 EFTS, Desford. Both wear 1930 Pattern flying suits

The de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth was a 1930s British biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and built by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. It was operated by the Royal Air Force as a primary trainer aircraft. Some RAF Tiger Moths also operated in other capacities, including maritime surveillance and defensive anti-invasion preparations. Some aircraft were even outfitted to function as armed light bombers.

521789 Corporal Henry Stuart Farndale, a pilot under training, flying Tiger Moth T6910, died on 11 May 1945, aged 28. DH82A Tiger Moth T6910 collided with T5982 and crashed Elmdon 11.5.45 DBF.

He is buried at Leeds Lawnswood Cemetery at Section V Grave 265, Leeds (Lawns Wood) Cemetery, obit non sibi, sed patriae, Not for Self but for Country.

Leeds (Lawns Wood) Cemetery contains 138 burial of the First World War. The sixty seven Second World War burials are scattered throughout the cemetery. A further screen wall bears the names of 105 casualties of both wars buried in Leeds General Cemetery, where their graves could no longer be maintained. In all, there are 222 First World War casualties and 91 from the Second World War commemorated in the cemetery.

The Surrey Airman

519912 Corporal Albert Farndale, Royal Air Force was born in Middlesbrough on 22 December 1914. He was a Corporal in the Royal Air Force in 1940 at Mitcham in Surrey and promoted to Sergeant by 1941.

The New Zealand Medic at the Battle of Sidi Rezegh

Ronald Martin Farndale served in World War 2 in 6th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps (“RAMC”) in Greece and Crete. His military records showed that he was a farmer from Morrinsville, Waikato, New Zealand. 62013 Pte Ronald Martin Farndale of Mastamata, New Zealand, enlisted at Morrinsville, a farmer. His next of kin was Mrs S Farndale, Bells Farm, Thornton in Craven, Skipton, Yorkshire and he appeared on the nominal roll between 1 April to 30 June 1941. He was part of infantry reinforcements and served with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

He was almost certainly captured at Sidi Rezegh in 1941 and was a prisoner of war in Italy for the rest of the war. There is evidence that he was part of the New Zealand 6th Brigade Advanced dressing Station at Belhamed, near Sidi Rezegh, when he was captured with colleagues by German forces, and they all stayed together until they were repatriated.

The Battle of Point 175 was a military engagement of the Western Desert Campaign that took place during Operation Crusader from 29 November to 1 December 1941. Point 175 is a small rise just south of the Trigh Capuzzo, a desert track east of Sidi Rezegh and south of Zaafran. The point was held by Division z.b.V. Afrika, later the 90th Light Afrika Division. The 2nd New Zealand Division and Infantry tanks of the 1st Army Tank Brigade captured Point 175 on 23 November, early in Operation Crusader. The New Zealanders then attacked westwards and made contact with the Tobruk garrison, which had broken out to meet them. From 29 November to 1 December, the New Zealanders defended the point and the area to the west against Axis attempts to sever the link with the Tobruk garrison and regain control of the local roads. The new 132nd Armoured Division Ariete re-captured Point 175 late on 29 November. The defenders mistook Italian tanks and armoured cars for South African reinforcements led by armoured cars. 167 men of the 21st New Zealand Battalion were captured, the Italians apparently being just as surprised. The 6th New Zealand Brigade suffered many casualties around Point 175 and eventually retreated to Zaafran. The 2nd New Zealand Division returned to Egypt to refit, having suffered 4,620 casualties. When the division reassembled, it was sent to Syria to recuperate and was almost returned to Asia to participate in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater after the Japanese invasion of Malaya on 7/8 December 1941.

4th and 6th New Zealand Field Ambulance at overnight camp, North Africa, 1 October 1942

The 2nd New Zealand Division began Operation Crusader with 20,000 men, of whom 879 were killed or died of wounds, 1,699 men were wounded, 2,042 were taken prisoner (103 prisoners died from all causes), total casualties for the division being 4,620 men.

Maurice Muir NZ890 served with NZ 24th Battalion, as Regimental Stretcher Bearer in 24 Battalion and was captured at Sidi Rezegh on 1 December 1941 with Ronald Farndale. Maurice was awarded the Military Medal for protecting his Regimental Aid Post from friendly fire. They were transported by German Ship from Tripoli to Naples, then to Capua (Campo PG 66). In March 1943, the PGN 66 camp in Capua was described as a sorting camp with a capacity of 200 places for senior officers and 6,000 for non-commissioned officers and troops. It was made up partly of barracks and partly of tents. It began operating in April 1941. There is evidence of the ill treatment of prisoners there.

Camp 59, Servigliano

They were transported to Servigliano (Campo PG59), then to Chiavari (Campo PG52).

Camp 52, Chiavari, Italy, 1942. Photograph taken by W A Weakley. Note on back reads All beds and gear out for a search. Note where bed slats have been taken off to provide fuel for brewing tea.

Maurice Muir was later transferred to Lucca Hospital (PG202) in September of 1942, and repatriated to the UK in April 1943 along with 400 or so British and 14 other New Zealanders who had relatives in the UK. Ronald Farndale was with Maurice Muir.

In June 1943, the New Zealand Prisoners of War were repatriated. Left, the Bishop of Walaps, Right Reverend G V Gerard, senior chaplain with the New Zealand Expeditionary force before being taken prisoner, attends the Anzac day service in London. Right: Mr W G Jordan, High Commissioner visits the repatriated party. From left back row: J H Barr, Whakatane; C J Cousins, Ohai; W P Kane, Lyttelton; R M Farndale, Waharoa; P F Griffin, Invercargill; L W Jones, Palmerston; J M Malcolm, Auckland; F Milne, Masterton; Padre L Groves, Dunedin; front row: J McDermott, Wellington; M Muir, Dannevirke; Bishop Gerard, Napier; Mr W J Jordan, High Commissioner; Colonel W Foot; Brigadier R S Park; P W Purcell, Christchurch; A T Ryburn, Eltham; E J White, Otautau.

Prisoners of War of Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, repatriated Medically Unfit

Ronald appears on a War Memorial which seems to have been to those who served in WW2, rather than a list of those killed in action.

Ronald M Farndale, 24, then in the Army, departed from Liverpool on 19 June 1943 for Auckland, New Zealand on the Sydney Star of the Blue Star Line. His address was shown as c/o New Zealand Army HQ, 415 Strand, London WC2.

The Newfoundland Artillery and the D Day Invasion

970929 Private Raymond William Stainthorpe Farndale served in 59th (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment Royal Artillery.

At the outset of the War, the Newfoundland Government had decided to recruit volunteers for all branches of the armed forces. At that time, Newfoundland had no military units operative. The Royal Newfoundland Regiment, which had taken part in World War I from 1914 to 1918 had been disbanded long before. A decision had been made to form a Regiment of Artillery. Two regiments were formed, the 166th and 59th. The Regiment of Artillery became part of the British Army. Similarly, volunteers for Naval duties and for the Air Force became part of the British armed services.

Raymond later recalled that a large number of my friends chose the Army, as I did. The first contingent of volunteers from the West Coast left Corner Brook on May 12, 1940. I was not amongst them, because it seemed unlikely that I would pass the eyesight test. However, within two weeks I managed to pass, with the help of a young Doctor who coached me in the eyesight requirements.

Shortly after the 166^th, then 57^th, Regiment departed for Sussex in 1940, the 59th (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment was formed to accommodate successive drafts of new recruits from Newfoundland and Labrador. Raymond left Halifax on 6 June 1940. He was on the passenger manifest of the Nerissa on a voyage from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Liverpool arriving on 6 July 1940. The list of names was shown as Troops from Newfoundland.

When they arrived in England, the new recruits were welcomed by their commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel John Nelson. Another recruit, Jack Wescott recalled that Nelson told them, You have listened to a lot of nice things being said about you. My message is different. You’ll work so hard that you won’t even hear the sound of the bombers when they fly overhead during the German air raids. The Newfoundlanders are said to have responded with heavy cheering.

Raymond remembered colleagues at that time called Bragg, Seymour, Scott and Sullivan. The Regiment trained in the South of England at Ardingly and Ashford, for 4 years, until 1944. By late June 1941, members of the 59^th Regiment’s four batteries had completed training and assumed an operational role guarding England’s south coast from enemy invasion.

As they waited to be attacked, the men of the 59th built and guarded roadblocks, dug trenches and learned to fire whatever old guns England could come up with at first. They did this work first in Sussex and then along the coastline of Kent. The idea, said Major D.F. Stone, an Englishmen assigned to train and lead one of the regiment’s four batteries of men, was that when the Germans appeared in the neighbourhood of Dover, we were expected to rush and meet them with four old French 75s, artillery guns, the firing levers on which were very reminiscent of lavatory chains, and if we got a pasting, we were then supposed to hare back to Canterbury and fire off two 12 inch howitzers.

As hostilities progressed, the War Office shifted its efforts from defence to offence, and in mid-1942 it slightly reduced the 59th Regiment’s anti-invasion role and ordered it to begin training for offensive warfare.

In 1943, Raymond was chosen by his Commanding Officer J W Nelson to be a candidate for Officer training. He undertook training with 23 Office Cadet Training Unit in Yorkshire for 6 months from March 1943 and was then accepted for a commission and became a second lieutenant in September 1943. On 5 October 1943, the undernoted Cadets to be 2nd Lts, 27th Aug 1943, Raymond William Stainthorpe Farndale (292503).

He was posted to Tonbridge, Kent to join 23rd battery, 59th Newfoundland Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery. 20th and 23rd Heavy Batteries were given 155mm guns and 21st and 22nd Heavy Batteries were given 7.2-inch guns. The Regiment trained in Northumberland but by July 1944 it was at Worthing in Sussex.

59^th during firing practice in Britain

It was not until July 1944 that the Regiment departed from England for France to take part in the Battle of Normandy.

Ray landed at Juno Beach in Normandy on 5 July 1944, one month after D-Day.

Jack Wescott recalled, the 59th hit the beach at Courseulles-sur-Mer, in southwestern France, better known as Juno Beach, on July 5, 1944. Within 24 hours the men were in action, firing their 7.2” howitzers and 155 mm ‘Long Toms’ with their respective 200 lb and 95 lb shells at a concentration of German tanks in a battle for a nearby airport. The men of the 59th would remain in almost continuous action for the rest of the war, often firing 24 hours a day in support of Canadian, British and American troops as the Allies fought their way through blasted out villages and ruins of towns in France, Belgium and Holland on the way to Germany.

The Regiment took part in the battles for Caen, when 23^rd Battery provided counter battery fire during the assault. The 59th took part in the grim action at Caen, in the fierce fighting at Falaise, in the historic battle for the closing of the gap (better known as the Battle of Bulge), at Esquay and Errecy, and its guns also covered the crossing of the river Odon and the crossing of the River Seine, wrote historian Allan M. Fraser. Batteries of the 59th were among the first soldiers to liberate the key supply port of Antwerp, where they were greeted by the city’s mayor who presented each of them with a bottle of wine and a pack of cigars. In many of the places they fought in Holland, the land was flooded and dry places to camp were scarce. The Newfoundlanders made a name for themselves by being able to cobble together the best shelters and for being able to navigate their guns and trucks over the worst of the mud clogged and troop packed roads as they shifted as much as 150 miles at a run to come to the aid of infantrymen fighting pitched battles against the Germans.

His Regiment’s route took him through France, Netherlands, Belgium, reaching Bergerdorf near Hamburg. The artillerymen fought alongside other Allied troops, firing their 7.2-inch howitzers and 155-millimetre guns against German forces. The Regiment suffered its first injuries on 17 July 1944, when enemy fire wounded 12 men, causing one to lose a leg, and destroyed two guns. Following early Allied successes in August 1944, the 59th Regiment pressed east and continued fighting in Belgium and the Netherlands before proceeding on to Germany.

The Regiment took part in the Battle of the Falaise Pocket from 122 to 21 August 1944 and Operation Market Garden in September 1944. During the Battle of the Bulge the four batteries of the 59th Regiment repealed the German drive to the River Meuse. In the Battle of the Bulge, which saw the Germans launch a desperate surprise attack to cut off the British army from its supplies and separate them from the American troops, the men of the 59th reinforced their reputation for accurate firing, devising the best camps in the worst conditions, and for manhandling their big guns and supplies over ice and snow blocked roads, all with “exceptionally high” morale. While some American soldiers froze to death in the harsh winter conditions, the men of the 59th gathered wood from the ruins of bombed out houses to line the floors and walls of their two men tents, jimmied stoves and heaters out of empty milk cans, and even, at times, rigged up electricity to light their camps. Frustrated by their accurate firing – in one instance a battery of the 59th snuffed out seven German observation posts in a row, landing 26 direct hits on one position – the Nazis would order bombing raids over the men of the 59th and their guns.

On 2 May 1945, the Regiment fired all of their batteries at the key Germany city of Hamburg, their last rounds of the war, two days before the city’s German forces surrendered. For the next 8 weeks, the Regiment helped in the administration and rerouting of refugees.

Winston Churchill with the Regiment’s howitzers

Shortly after VE Day on 8 May 1945, the RA took steps to send recruits from Newfoundland and Labrador back home rather than deploy them to the Far East, where the war against Japan was ongoing. On 7 August 1945, the Lady Rodney departed from Liverpool for St. John’s, carrying the first group of 301 artillerymen back home. By mid October, the vast majority of soldiers had returned home.

Lieutenant RWS Farndale RA went back to Canada in September 1945 with the Defence Medal, the 1939-45 Star and War Medal with a Mention in Dispatches.

On 9 August 1945, the King has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in North West Europe, Lieutenant R W S Farndale (292503).

Ray then joined 166th (Newfoundland) Field Regiment RCA (Reserve) and was with them until 1954, retiring as a Major, earning the Canadian Forces decoration. He became an accountant and lived at St Johns, Corner Brook, Toronto and Halifax.

Throughout the war, artillerymen from Newfoundland and Labrador distinguished themselves as hard working and brave soldiers who earned high praise from their commanding officers. Members of both regiments received many awards, including the Military Cross, British Empire Medal, Distinguished Service Order, and Croix-de-Guerre. The years of combat, however, took their toll, and many men returned home injured, while 87 died in service. The 59th (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment officially disbanded in August 1945, and the 166th disbanded in October.

Raymond Farndale, RCA, 1943 Ray in about 1974

Ray continued to strongly support veterans’ affairs. He lived to be the oldest living member of the Farndale family.

In July 2015, 101 year old Veteran, Raymond “Poppy” Farndale, sat with his medals and war scrapbook in front of his portrait at Guelph Public Library to support the Hundred Portraits and Hundred Poppies project. He said I thought it was an important project to remember those who have served in the military or had some association with the military. Not only do I feel strongly about the poppy and what it symbolizes, my 2 grandchildren (Christopher and Emily) call me “Poppy” so it is quite special to me. He added that I was remembering the people I met during World War 2. I am one of the few veterans left from my regiment and I felt I was representing all of the amazing men and women I worked alongside. He advised, While a lot has changed since I was born, 101 years ago, some things have remained the same. One thing I have always lived by, treat others as you would like to be treated. If you do this, you can never go wrong.

He died on 23 May 2016. Ray enjoyed a long and fulfilling life. Beginning Feb 23, 1914, in St John's and then Corner Brook, Newfoundland and living most of his life in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he peacefully passed away on May 23, 2016, in Guelph, Ontario, his new-found home. Ray, a true gentleman, was kind and generous of spirit. He was passionate about inclusion, notably those with special or medical needs and those marginalized by poverty or life circumstances. He adopted many local and international causes, always adapting with the times. He loved his Blue Jays, mystery novels, choir singing, politics, good jokes and live music. A life-long learner, he conquered the computer and worked well into his 90's, as an accountant. He always enjoyed "doing his books", gardening, walking, swimming, skating, ballroom dancing and amateur acting. While a man of few words, he demonstrated deep emotion and always had a twinkle in his eye. Ray was a proud veteran of World War II, serving as Lieutenant in the 23rd Battery of the 59th Regiment of Royal Artillery and was awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration.

The Canadian Air Force Pilot

Wilfred Gordon (“Gordon”) Farndale was born in Sarnia, Peel, Ontario, Canada on 3 October 1915, the grandson of John George Farndale who had fought in the Crimean War. He served as a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War 2 in Europe and later became an accountant.

Gordon Farndale, 1944

The Canadian Sailor

Clarence Edward Farndale was Gordon’s brother, who served with the Royal Canadian Navy. He served from 15 March 1939 to 17 August 1945 and then from 25 February 1947 to 12 August 1966.

He received the 1939-45 Star, the Atlantic Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, War Medal 1939-45, RCNVR Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, and Canadian Forces Decoration.

Clarence Farndale, 1960 Clarence and Gordon Farndale

The Pacific Theatre

36014559 Private Richard William Farndale was born on 6 August 1918 in Prophetstown, Illinois, USA. He attested into the army on 28 March 1941 at Chicago, Illinois, of light complexion, brown hair, and blue eyes. He was a Mechanic with the 43rd Division for 32 months in the Pacific.

The 43rd Division was mobilised for federal service on 24 February 1941. The 43rd was originally sent to Camp Blanding, Florida where it was based prior to participating in the Louisiana Manoeuvres of 1941 and the Carolina Manoeuvres later that same year. The division relocated to Camp Shelby, Mississippi on 14 February 1942. On 19 February 1942, it was reorganized as a triangular division meaning that it had three infantry regiments, rather than four infantry regiments organized into two brigades. The division staged for shipment overseas at Fort Ord, California on 6 September 1942 and departed from San Francisco on 1 October. The division arrived in New Zealand on 23 October 1942, prior to being committed to combat in the South West Pacific Theatre under the command of General Douglas MacArthur. It saw campaigns in New Guinea, Northern Solomons, and Luzon. Rendova was the major staging point for the assault on the island of New Georgia. The assault on New Georgia was met with determined enemy resistance. The Japanese fought fiercely before relinquishing Munda and its airfield on 5 August 1943. Vela Cela and Baanga were taken easily, but the Japanese resisted stubbornly on Arundel Island before withdrawing on 22 September 1943.

Soldiers of 4rd Infantry Division landing on Rendova Island in the Solomon Islands on 30 June 1943

Dick received his discharge from the Army in May 1945.

The Anti Tank Gunner

4272378 Cyril Ernest Farndale enlisted into the Royal Artillery on 30 August 1939 and served in 100 Anti Tank Regiment Royal Artillery.

100 (The Gordon Highlanders) Anti-Tank Regiment RA was re-formed in November 1941 from 8th Battalion The Gordon Highlanders with four batteries at Buckie, Banff when it converted to become an artillery unit. It served with Home Forces and then with 76 Infantry Division in the Britain from January 1942.

Cyril was discharged on 12 July 1942. The Regiment later served in Burma and was re-designated 100 Light Anti-Aircraft and Anti-Tank Regiment in January 1944 and reverted to 100 (The Gordon Highlanders) Anti-Tank Regiment RA (TA) in the September 1944. The Regiment disbanded in January 1947.

Logistics

185589, Private (later Lieutenant) William Arthur James Farndale was the son of the Methodist President, Rev Dr William Edward Farndale. He served with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and was promoted to Second Lieutenant on 15 January 1941. By 1945, he was a Major. He served in Egypt and later gave a lecture on his experiences with bilharzia there.

Bertram George Farndale was the brother of Ray Farndale. He served as a sergeant in the Royal Army Ordinance Corps from 1940 to 1945.

The Yorkshire Dad’s Army

Sergeant William Derrick Farndale was born at Mobberley, Cheshire on 19 September 1914 and by 1939 he had moved to Patrington in Holderness, where he was a motor fitter.

Sergeant William Derrick Farndale, was a tractor driver and patrol member in the Withensea Patrol, on the East Yorkshire Coast from 1942 until 3 December 1944. He had been a patrol member with the Sunk Island Patrol prior to 1942. He was then promoted to Sergeant and moved to run the Withernsea Patrol after John Thompson left. The Patrol's Operational Base was a square type shelter built out of pit props and with a corrugated iron sheet roof. It was built on a hill near Little England Farm to the west of the town. The higher ground gave a good all round view of the coast and inland fields.

View to the South View to the East

The Patrol targets were the landing beaches on the east side of Withernsea. Tunstall beach was an expected German target, along with the road from the coast inland, Spurn Point Coastal Battery, Channel Farm Search Light battery and the land drainage system to the west. The town itself was also a target as it could be used as a German supply centre for the Holderness and Spurn Peninsular. The inland lighthouse which gave commanding views of the whole area's flat landscape was used. The Patrol trained locally on the farmland near the coast. It is thought Sergeant Farndale went to Coleshill House to train. They would also have trained with other Patrols at Middleton on the Wolds, the Area Headquarters and Intelligence Officers base. Weapons issued were .22 sniper rifle with sights, Remington or Winchester rifles along with Colt .45 or Smith & Wesson pistols. Some captured Lugars were issued and were sort after as they used the same 9mm ammunition as the Sten Machine Gun. The patrol were initially formed to watch the coast for German landings and shipping movements and were called an Observation Group. The original Patrol and Observation Unit was Thompson, Joy, Conner, Perry, Woodcock and Grassam.

Brigadier Cecil Farndale Phillips

Brigadier Cecil Farndale Phillips was born on 11 September 1905 at York, the son of Ernest Samuel and Emmie Phillips. His middle name Farndale suggests that he probably had a maternal Farndale ancestor. Anna Farndale (1801 to 1867) married William Phillips in 1841 and may have been an ancestor.

In 1940, Cecil served with the 3rd Battalion, Durham Home Guard. By 12 September 1944, Cecil was an acting Lieutenant Colonel (formerly Captain), Royal Marines. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.

Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips was commanding 47 (Royal Marine) Commando during the assault in the Le Hamel area on 6 June 1944. The task of this Commando unit was to land behind the right assault brigade (231st Brigade) of the Division and after passing through it advance and capture Port En Bessin, a distance of some eight miles. Owing to the high wind and tempestuous seas several of the assault landing craft were swamped and the occupants had to swim for it, Much equipment and many arms were lost. Undismayed by this misfortune Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips soon had his men assembled and re-organised, those without weapon and equipment being made up from captured enemy material, and the advance began.

Soon after passing through the leading elements of 231st Brigade the Commandos ran up against stiff resistance and from then on until the port fell to them the next day they had to fight the whole way. They didn’t hesitate and by the skill, leadership and determination of Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips each successive point of resistance was methodically and relentlessly overpowered. Some 250 prisoners were captured as well as a large number of enemy killed. The defence of the port was stronger than had been anticipated, and included some well armed flak ships. It was defended stubbornly and with great tenacity. This outstanding achievement was largely due to Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips' gallant conduct and resolution, the inspiring example he set and his exceptional qualities as a leader and commander.

After the conclusion of the Normandy campaign, Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips continued to lead 47 Commando until January 1945. He was subsequently promoted to Brigadier and given command of the 116th Infantry Brigade RM. For his service with both of these units in the Netherlands, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of Oranje Nassau with Swords. His citation reads The above named officer commanded 47 (Royal Marine) Commando during the assault landing on Walcheren and later, until January 1945, on River Maas North of Ousterhout, when he returned to the United Kingdom on promotion. He returned the following month in command of 116th Infantry Brigade RM which was deployed on the River Maas between Tilburg and Hertogenbosch. During the months of March and April the Royal Netherlands Brigade served under command and took part in many highly successful raids in strength across the river, notably at Hedel.

After the War he was promoted to Major General and became Chief of Amphibious Warfare.

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