World War II Veterans

[YoungWillz 21,062]

"Tom McKie was a former soldier and prisoner of war of the Japanese who during the Second World War survived the terror of the Death Railway built between Thailand and Burma at an enormous cost in human life." Died 24 March at 94. http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-tom-mckie-second-world-war-veteran-1-3734612

[maryportfuncity 10,657]

Kent Messenger reporting the death of 97 year old Peter Lennard, former captain in the Royal Artillery and - maybe - the last survivor of the Tobruk campaign. The evidence for the final claim is that the Lennard family contacted the association for Tobruk survivors to inform them, only to find the association defunct because all the former members were dead.

 

I'm suspecting some other Tobruk veterans continue to breathe but ill health and/or painful memories have kept them away from declaring themselves.

[YoungWillz 21,062]

'Allo, 'allo, zees is London calling....French World War II hero Jean-Louis Cremieux-Brilhac, French resistance, has died aged 98. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/world/522547/french-resistance-hero-cremieux-brilhac-dies-aged-98

[YoungWillz 21,062]

David Harvey, who received the French Legion of Honour last Wednesday for helping to liberate France, has died at 90 from cancer. http://www.dailyprogress.com/newsvirginian/news/local/one-last-victory-draft-veteran-dies-day-after-accepting-french/article_4585a858-dfa0-11e4-ae34-2768823acb6d.html

[YoungWillz 21,062]

Doug Gregory, WWII flying ace, recipient of the DFC, killed at 92 by hit and run. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3036994/WW2-pilot-survived-70-missions-Nazi-occupied-Europe-dies-92-knocked-hit-run-buy-newspaper.html

[YoungWillz 21,062]

Donald Cameron, an elite paratrooper involved in Operation Deadstick (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Deadstick) as part of the Allied D-Day Landings, has died at 91. http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/top-stories/d-day-landings-hero-and-highland-shepherd-dies-aged-91-1-3743676

 

He was also involved in the liberation of Belsen Concentration Camp.

[charon 4,943]

 

Don't forget Mr Grass.....

[maryportfuncity 10,657]

Don't forget Mr Grass.....

 

 

There's some dispute over the spelling of his name, I've seen

 

GraSS

 

and

 

Gra$$

[charon 4,943]

 

Don't forget Mr Grass.....

 

 

There's some dispute over the spelling of his name, I've seen

 

GraSS

 

and

 

Gra$$

Either way, the Nazi sumbeech was still a WW2 vet.

[Spade_Cooley 9,538]

Died last year, wasn't posted at the time, only found out he was dead after reading about him elsewhere and googling because "that might be a decent DDP pick":

 

Geoffrey Perry, born Horst Pinschewer, a German who joined the British Army in WW2 and was the man who shot Lord Haw Haw in the arse. He later went on to work in publishing and helped found "Family Circle" magazine.

[time 8,618]

Account here from John Darby, the tank driver who was the first into Bergen-Belsen after its liberation. Chances of an obit must be good purely for that alone; perhaps increased now that the BBC have featured him

[charon 4,943]

That would make him 16 at the time. Kinda young, no?

[time 8,618]

That would make him 16 at the time. Kinda young, no?

That's what I thought. This article from earlier in the year has him at 17 when he first was first sent abroad.

[Sir Creep 7,070]

Francis Stewart died at 91.

"Francis Stewart was a World War II veteran. He died on Thursday, March 26, 2015. He was 91.

He was born on June 10, 1923. He was one of the first African-American men to integrate the (U.S.) Navy."

RIP and thanks for your service

SC

http://m.phillytrib.com/obituaries/francis-stewart-world-war-ii-veteran/article_d9de9926-e441-543f-9ae1-082c6228e605.html?mode=jqm

[gcreptile 10,979]

German submarine commander Alfred Eick died a couple of days ago at 99:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Eick

 

Bland german death notice here:

http://www.nw-trauer.de/Traueranzeige/Alfred-Eick

[Sir Creep 7,070]

I think once a year we can tolerate an uplifting story sans death. Here 'tis.

SC

http://m.ksla.com/ksla/pm_/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=od%3Ao9atwPn2

[maryportfuncity 10,657]

German submarine commander Alfred Eick died a couple of days ago at 99:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Eick

 

Bland german death notice here:

http://www.nw-trauer.de/Traueranzeige/Alfred-Eick

 

 

One of the highest profile former U Boat captains continues to enjoy good health. Reinhard Hardegen was still golfing and driving as he turned 100, and he aint dead yet according to Wikipedia:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinhard_Hardegen#Later_life

[gcreptile 10,979]

The last of the Navajo Code Talkers, Chester Nez, is dead at 93:

 

http://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/last-of-the-navajo-code-talkers-has-died-aged-93.html#.VTzph4-Myno.facebook

 

The Navajo Code was formed out of a Native American Language to safely communicate on the Pacific Front of the World War.

[maryportfuncity 10,657]

Col Peter Jones, kept on fighting despite a neck wound, stab wounds in both legs and the loss of an eye.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11564170/Colonel-Peter-Jones-obituary.html

 

I'd say his obituary should be required reading for anyone featured in Sick Note Skivers Exposed tonight on Channel 5!

[gcreptile 10,979]

Phil Leveque, a war veteran turned doctor has died at 92:

 

http://www.salem-news.com/articles/may032015/leveque-died-bk.php

 

He was also known as 'Pot Doc' because he became a huge supporter of giving war veterans access to medical marijuana. In fact, his 'generousity' made it to the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/09/us/oregon-doctor-stands-out-in-marijuana-prescriptions.html

[gcreptile 10,979]

The top tank ace (nobody destroyed more tanks than him) of the Western Alliance, Canadian "Rad" Sydney Valpy Radley-Waters died last week at 95:

 

http://army.ca/forums/index.php/topic,118787.0.html

[YoungWillz 21,062]

As I posted over at DDP, Col Stuart Archer GC, bomb disposal expert, has died at 100. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11580289/Colonel-Stuart-Archer-GC-obituary.html

[Magere Hein 1,400]

As I posted over at DDP, Col Stuart Archer GC, bomb disposal expert, has died at 100. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11580289/Colonel-Stuart-Archer-GC-obituary.html

He didn't go out with a bang. Could have been different.

[gcreptile 10,979]

The last of the 'Irish pardon' soldiers, Phil Farrington, is dead at 94:

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/last-irish-pardon-soldier-phil-5632045

 

Their pardon was for the desertion from the Irish army to fight with the allied forces.

[Sir Creep 7,070]

Died back on Feb 4, Joseph Langdell, last surviving member of the USS Arizona that lost 1,177 men on the Pearl Harbor attack.

Massive RIP, your crew members are waiting for you.

SC

http://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/goodbye-uss-arizonas-oldest-living-crew-member-joseph-langdell.html