Oban war memorial - 1942 casualties

Private John Currie MacLean, s/n 2982022, 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was born on September 20, 1919 to Sarah MacLean of Lorn Terrace, who was originally from Mull. His twin sister, Sarah, was born in the early hours of the following day. Their mother died two weeks later from complications during childbirth. John was raised by his grandmother, Flora MacLean with help from his aunt, Mary Anderson, who lived latterly at Roseburn, Soroba Road.

 

John died during the Japanese advance through Malaya on February 13, 1942, aged 22. He is memorialised on Column 82 of the Singapore Memorial.

 

"attachment_956671" "" "200"] Chief Officer Taws

 

Chief Officer Stephen Corner Stephenson Taws, Merchant Navy, was born on December 29, 1896, in North Shields, Northumberland and he joined the Royal Navy as a young man. By 1914, he was second mate of SS City of Lahore and served throughout the First War as a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. On October 30, 1927, he received the Bronze Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea when he saved the lives of the crew of the Newfoundland schooner, Selma Creaser.

 

He moved to Oban and in 1919 Stephen married Annie Hind Cumming, who lived at 106 George Street and whose family lived at Ferguslea, Ardconnel Road. By then, Stephen had risen to the rank of Master Mariner. Their son David was born in Florentine Villa, Ardconnel Road later that year and by 1925 the family home was at the North Pier house. A daughter, Jessie, was born four years later when the family lived at Burnbank Terrace.

 

Before the outbreak of war, Stephen joined the Merchant Navy and rose to Chief Officer on SS City of Manchester. After evacuating 700 Australian servicemen to Batavia (Jakarta) in the Dutch East Indies, the ship was diverted to Java and embarked the military. Leaving Java she was hit by two torpedoes 55km west of Jakarta and was finally sunk with gunfire by the Japanese submarine I-53. Three sailors died, six were taken captive by the Japanese and the remaining 156 were rescued by the USS Tulsa and USS Whipoorwill. Forty-six year old Chief Officer Taws died from wounds received and was buried at sea. He is commemorated at Tower Hill Memorial, Panel 29, London.

 

Corporal John (Jackie) Quinn, s/n2979751, 1st Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) was born on December 14, 1918 in Maryhill Road, Glasgow to John, a boiler fireman from County Down and his wife, Christina Jane Thomson. He had two older brothers, Alexander and William, and a younger brother, Neil, was born two years later. The family had moved to Oban by 1921 and lived at 4 Millpark Terrace. Jackie joined the 1st Cameronians and was sent with the regiment to the Far East. He was killed in action during the fall of Rangoon, Burma on March 7, 1942 and is commemorated on Rangoon Memorial, Face 10. Corporal Quinn was 23 years old.

 

Corporal Arthur Ross, s/n 2978768, 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was born on May 3, 1918 at 12 Alma Crescent and adopted by John Cameron, a railway signal fitter and his wife, Mary. They had five other children and lived at 5 Glenshellach Terrace. Arthur joined the 2nd Battalion of the Argylls, which was stationed in Malaya at the start of the Second World War and he attained the rank of Corporal. The Battalion fought the Japanese over the full length of Malaya and was ordered to surrender after the final battles of Singapore.  Corporal Arthur Ross died of enteritis and starvation while a prisoner of the Japanese. He was 23 years old and is buried at Kuala Lumpur (Cheras Road) Civil Cemetery. Grave 826, Malaysia.

 

 Seaman John Barnard Norton Whyte, s/n LT/JX203668, Royal Naval Patrol Service, was born on December 31, 1909 at Elmbank, Oban to Duncan MacGregor Whyte, an artist, and his wife, Mary Baylis Barnard. His brother, Tearlach (Charles) had been born five years previously when the family lived in Glasgow. By 1921 the family home was at 2 Battery Terrace. John was himself an artist and, during the war, served as a seaman on board HMS Sir William Hillary, a fast, powered lifeboat, requisitioned in 1940 and used as an RAF Air Sea Rescue launch based at Culver on the Isle of Wight. John died on April 18, 1942 and was buried at Pennyfuir, Oban. He was 33 years of age.

 

Sergeant John Munro, s/n 1325058, Royal Air Force, was born on July 13, 1916 at Glenelg, Benvoullin Road to Duncan Whyte Munro, an ironmonger and his wife, Jane MacNab. He had an older sister and a brother was born four years after John. He joined 156 Squadron RAF as a Volunteer Reserve, the unit then operating Vickers Wellington 1C aircraft, and attained the rank of Sergeant (aircrew). Operating from RAF Alconbury, his aircraft was shot down over Germany on April 19, 1942, with the loss of all crew. Sergeant Munro was 25 years old and is commemorated on the RAF  Memorial, Panel 90, at Cooper’s Hill, Runnymede.

 

Bombardier Peter John MacDonald, s/n 862438, 2nd (Oban) Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery, Royal Artillery, was born on November 30, 1911 at Hollymount, Dalriach Road to Angus, a fishmonger, and his wife, Jane Harvey MacTavish. He was the youngest of four sons and two daughters. When he left school he worked as a shop assistant, and in 1939 just after the outbreak of war he married Helen MacGregor. The Oban unit was to take part in the Italy landings at Taranto and Bombardier Macdonald died in action on October 20, 1942 aged 30. He is buried at Pennyfuir Cemetery, Oban, Sec. C. Grave 123.

 

Corporal John (Iain) Boyd, s/n 2993142, 7/10th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was born at 2 Glenshellach Terrace on February 13, 1922 to Alexander, a carrier and his wife, Mary Ann MacNaughton. He had one older brother and two further sons were born after Iain. His grandparents were Mr and Mrs John MacNaughton, Sinclair Drive, and his parents by then lived at Ardlonan, Soroba Road. Iain joined the 7/10th Argylls and served with the Battalion in many theatres of war, including North Africa. Corporal Boyd was killed in action at El Alamein on October 29, 1942, aged 20, and is buried there within Grave III. D.10, Egypt.

 

Battery Sergeant Major (W.O.2) Dugald MacCorquodale M.M., s/n 837501, “C” Battery, 4 Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, was born on August 7, 1916 at Burnside, Connel to Donald, a Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery and his wife Flora MacCorquodale. The couple lived at the West Highland Rest, Dalintart and at 18 Mossfield Drive, Oban. Dugald had two sisters and a brother. He joined the Royal Horse Artillery and rose to the rank of Battery Sergeant-Major of ‘C’ Battery. For outstanding leadership, B.S.M. MacCorquodale was mentioned in Despatches and subsequently awarded the Military Medal. He was killed in action at El Alamein on October 29, 1942 and is commemorated on Column 3 of the Alamein Memorial, Egypt. He was 26 years old.

 

Lieutenant Atholl MacLean, s/n 145580, 84th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery, was born in April 1920 in Berwick on Tweed to Hector Henry MacLean, a soldier in the British Army, and his wife, Daisy Miriam. He had one younger brother who became head postmaster in Cromarty. In 1921, the family was living in Inverness where Atholl’s father worked as a sorting clerk and telegraphist. The family had moved to Oban four years later and remained there, living at Longsdale Cottages, until at least 1935. His father was head postmaster in the town during that time. Atholl attended Oban High School and spent his formative years in the town. When war broke out, he joined the Royal Artillery where he rose to Lieutenant in the 84th Anti-Tank Regiment. Lieutenant Maclean died of wounds in Alexandria, Egypt on the 5th November 1942 aged 22 and is buried within Alexandra (Haddra) War Memorial Cemetery Grave 4.B.II. Egypt.

 

Steward Sydney Herbert Barnes, Merchant Navy, was born in England in 1896 to Frederick and his wife, Alice. He met and married Flora (Flossie) MacPhail of Lorn Buildings, Stevenson Street, Oban and he initially worked as a draper’s assistant to Forbes the Draper’s. He joined the Royal Navy and worked as a steward and, on the outbreak of war, served in the Merchant Navy also as a steward. He was on board SS City of Cairo, which had been requisitioned during the Second World War to bring supplies to the UK and her last voyage was to take her from Bombay via Durban, Cape Town and Pernambuco, Brazil. The ship left Cape Town on November 1, 1942 carrying more than 100 passengers and 7,422 tons of general cargo, including pig iron, timber, wool, cotton, manganese ore and 2,000 boxes of silver coin. She was torpedoed twice by U68, the second time sinking one of the lifeboats. Many passengers and crew took to the remaining lifeboats, making for St Helena over 500 miles away. Most perished as food and water ran out. Sydney died in the lifeboat on the November 14 in the South Atlantic aged 46 and was buried at sea. He is commemorated on Panel 29 Tower Hill Memorial, London.

 

Lance Corporal Neil MacLennan, s/n 2992029, 7th/10th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was born on the August 16, 1906 at 17 Airds Crescent to Kenneth, a labourer, and his wife Mary Johnston. He had two older brothers, an older sister and three further sons were born in 1907, 1909 and 1916. By 1921 the family was living in Hill Street where Neil was a shop messenger boy for J. MacKerchar the grocer. By the outbreak of war, Neil had married Annie MacDonald and lived at Glencruitten Drive. He was a plumber’s labourer at the time of his marriage and the couple had three daughters and two sons. On the outbreak of war, he joined the 7th/10th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Lance Corporal Maclennan died, aged 36, on November 19, 1942 at El Alamein in Egypt and is buried within the El Alamein War Cemetery, Grave V.F. 20, Egypt.

 

Chief Petty Officer Patrick Browne, s/n  P/214076, HMS Vernon, Royal Navy, was born around 1893 to Thomas, a farmer and his wife, Ellen Hegarty. He married Margaret Elizabeth Hendry, a book-keeper of Claremont Place, Oban in 1918 when he served with the Royal Navy on board HMS Speedwell as a Petty Officer and telegraphist. From 1919 to 1925, the family lived in Campbell Street where their first daughter and a son were born. A second daughter, Jennie, was born when the family moved to Burnbank Terrace and a further girl arrived the following year, by which time Patrick was a postman. At the outbreak of war, he rejoined the Royal Navy as a chief petty officer and telegraphist at the shore-based Admiralty Torpedo and Electrical Training Establishment known as HMS Vernon. Due to the intensive German bombing of Portmouth, HMS Vernon was dispersed to various sites, including Dartmouth, West Leigh, Brighton, Roedean, Brixham, Edinburgh and Helensburgh. Chief Petty Officer Browne died on November 26, 1942, aged 49. He is buried at Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery, Grave A.26.1, Gosport.

 

"attachment_956677" "" "300"] Sergeant Archie Bell with his wife Elizabeth Jamieson.

 

Lance Sergeant Archibald MacIntyre Bell, s/n 2989212, 1st Battery, 1 Maritime Regiment, Royal Artillery, was born on September 30, 1912 at 6 Glenshellach Terrace to Hugh, a railwayman, and his wife Mary MacIntyre. In adulthood, he trained as a motor engineer and married Elizabeth Jamieson of Edina Villa, Soroba Road in August 1942. He served with the   Maritime Regiment of the Royal Artillery and was mentioned in despatches. Archibald gained the rank of Lance Sergeant but was fatally injured in an accident on December 13, 1942 in Algiers and is buried at Dely Ibrahim War Cemetery, Grave 3.J.10. He was 30 years old.

 

Able Seaman John MacDonald, Merchant Navy, was born in Portree on  December 25, 1900 to Archibald, a fireman, and his wife Kate Robertson. By 1901 John was the youngest of two sons and two daughters, and a further daughter was born a few years later. Ten years later, John worked as a seaman in the service of Messrs George Dodd and Company. He served on board Merchant Steam Ship Orfor as an Able Seaman. While on passage between Calcutta and South America, the ship was torpedoed by U105 north-east of Barbados. Members of the crew were questioned for five hours by the Kriegsmarine officers and, when the Orfor sank, were cast adrift on lifeboats to the mercy of the sea. The master and 21 crew were lost, including John, and the remainder landed at Guadalupe, having sailed in the lifeboat for 600 miles in 11 days. John was 42 when he died on December 14, 1942 and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, Panel 76, London.

 

Lieutenant John Withers McKinnon, Royal Marines, was born in Oban on July 15, 1921 to James McKinnon, a labourer, and his wife Nellie Ogilvie Withers. The family lived at 79 George Street and John attended Rockfield Primary School before the family moved to Maryhill, Glasgow.  After the outbreak of war, John joined the Royal Marines and was soon promoted to corporal, subsequently being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.  On November 30, 1942, the Royal Navy submarine HMS Tuna sailed from the Holy Loch, the destination being the River Gironde estuary on the French coast, which led upstream to the vital port of Bordeaux. On board the submarine were 12 Royal Marine Commandos, including McKinnon, and six collapsible canoes. The highly dangerous mission was to use the canoes to paddle 44 miles to the harbour and attack shipping with limpet mines. This feat of endurance required extreme physical exertion, with only a five-minute break in every hour of paddling against the river flow. One canoe was lost in the heavy seas initially encountered, but the other five entered the river mouth and met strong cross-currents, capsizing another of the frail craft. Of the remainder, the canoe containing McKinnon and Marine Conway went aground after becoming separated from the main group. The pair evaded German patrols for four days without being discovered but McKinnon was injured and compelled to seek medical attention, putting his trust in apparently sympathetic French civilians. The marines were betrayed to the local Gendarmerie who quickly delivered them to the mercy of the infamous Gestapo. After interrogation and torture, the pair were subsequently executed by a Kriegsmarine (German Navy) firing squad on or about December 11, the exact date being unknown as is the whereabouts of their remains.

 

The raid, known as Operation Frankton, was nevertheless regarded as a significant success, with five major ships badly damaged by mines, but at a terrible cost. Six of the Royal Marines were captured and murdered under Hitler's directive that all captured British commandos were to be executed, known as the "Commando Order".

 

Lieutenant John McKinnon is commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 93, Southsea, England.