February 13

remembrance ni

Portstewart War Memorial

Fleet Air Arm’s VC in The Channel DashThe Dover Strait becomes a war zone as the German battleships Gneisenau and Scharnhorst make what becomes known as the "Channel Dash." The Royal Navy deploy nine warships, 32 torpedo boats and 450 aircraft to target the Nazi vessels.

The Channel Dash was the occasion when the Fleet Air Arm’s No. 825 Naval Air Squadron’s six Fairey Swordfish torpedo-bombers took off from RAF Manston in Kent to attack the three German capital ships (Priz Eugen was the third; the operation was codenamed CERBERUS by the Kriegsmarine).

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Led by Lt Cdr Eugene Esmonde DSO MiD, the squadron made its attack in broad daylight and all six aircraft were shot down. His aircraft already damaged by enemy fighters, Esmonde pushed home his attack on Prinz Eugen but was killed by a Luftwaffe fighter as he dropped his torpedo. The German ship escaped damage.

The Swordfish were to have been escorted by 72 Spitfires but only 12 had caught up by the time of the attack and it was the recommendation of an RAF officer that led to the posthumous award of the VC to Esmonde.

The Cross was presented to Eugene’s elderly mother, who had been flown over from Ireland via Belfast, on 17 March by King George VI who considered that date most appropriate. It was one of the most outstanding VCs of WW2.

In the early hours of the morning, the Scharnhorst put into Wilhelmshaven, while the Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen reached Kiel a short while later.

Allied Air raids on Dresden 13 - 15 Feb. 1945

This day in 1945, American and British air forces begin the bombing of Dresden, spread over three days between 13–15 February. The city contained hardly any military targets. Some 25,000–35,000 civilians were killed. Dresden, the capital of the German state of Saxony was bombed In four raids on 13th to 15th February 1945 - 722 heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force (Lancasters and Halifaxs with de Havilland Mosquito medium bombers

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dropping the target indicators to guide them) and 527 B-17 Flying Fortresses of the United States Army Air Force (with 784 American P-51 Mustangs accompanying as fighter escort) dropped more than 3,900 tons of high-explosive bombs and incendiary devices on the city. The bombing and the resulting firestorm destroyed over 1,600 acres (6.5 km2) of the city centre. An estimated 25,000 people were killed, although much larger casualty figures have been claimed, and may well exceeded 50,000. Bomber Command loss included 6 Lancasters.

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On this Day - February 13

1940 Soviets break through Finnish defenses on the Karelian Isthmus.

Britain cracks down on unauthorized slaughterhouses (“steakeasies”) trying to circumvent rationing.

1941 German authorities order all gentiles to leave Amsterdam’s Jewish Quarter.

The British minister to Sofia says in a statement that “If the Germans occupy Bulgaria and make it a base against our ally, obviously we shall have to break off relations with

Bulgaria and take whatever measures the situation requires.”

German submarine U-557 was commissioned.

1942 The Dover Strait becomes a war zone as the German battleships Gneisenau and Scharnhorst make what becomes known as the "Channel Dash." In the early hours

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of the morning, the Scharnhorst puts into Wilhelmshaven, while the Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen reach Kiel a short while later.

The Russians advance in to White Russia, but meet strong German resistance.

Vidkun Quisling visits Berlin.

US, Dutch, and British ships fail to stop Japanese ships bound for Palembang, Sumatra.

The final ships, including small craft, leave Singapore; Japanese aircraft sink several ships carrying refugees.

The Battle of Palembang begins near Palembang on Sumatra.

The Battle of Pasir Panjang begins in the battle for Singapore.The British submarine Tempest is depth charged and sunk in the Gulf of Taranto by the Italian torpedo boat Circe.

1943 Tunisian Jews ordered to pay 10 million francs to Germans.US Marine Corps Women’s Reserve officially established.

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1944 The allies halt the German attack around Cassino. The Italians in Cassino Monastery are warned that it will be bombed.

Allied Combined Chiefs of Staff issue Combined Bomber Offensive directive: 1) aircraft production and ball bearings, 2) “Crossbow” (V-weapon) targets, 3) Berlin and industrial targets when weather bad.

Another British counter-offensive begins in Arakan, Burma.

1945 Corvette HMS Denbigh Castle was torpedoed in the Kola Inlet by German submarine U-992 while on Arctic convoy escort duty. 11 seamen were killed in the attack. Beaching was attempted but the ship capsized and sankSoviets take Budapest, Hungary, opening the Danube Valley for the drive to Vienna; 110,000 POWs taken.In Manila, US troops capture Nichols Field and Cavite naval base. US ships enter Manila Bay for first time since 1942..

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Roll of Honour - February 13 Representing their comrades who died on this day

1917

+McKEAGUE, William Royal Irish Rifles, 12th Btn. 'D' Coy. Rifleman. 650. Died 13/02/1917. Aged 24. Born Dunluce. Resided Bushmills. Enlisted Ballymoney. Son of Thomas and Mary McKeague of Bushmills. St. Quentin Cabaret Military Cemetery, Wulvergem, Belgium. Dunluce Parish Church RH

1919

+CLARK, Andrew Joshua Royal Irish Fusiliers, Depot. Lance Corporal. 49759. Died 13/02/1919. Aged 21. Son of William and Jane Clark, of Bockets, Ballygawley. Upper Clonaneese Presbyterian Churchyard, outside Dungannon. Ballygawley War Dead Book

+JONES, William Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 9th Btn. Private. 28179. Died 13/02/1919. Age 19. Son of James Jones, of 29, Bann St., Belfast, and the late Elizabeth Jones. Birmingham (Lodge Hill) Cemetery.

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Chatham Naval Memorial - the Grade I listed memorial has over 18,000 names of Naval casualties from both world wars who have no known grave.

1941

+CARSON, William Thomas Royal Engineers, 1st Company Inland Water Transport. Lance Corporal. Died 13/02/1941. Aged 49. He was crossing Market Street, Lurgan when struck by a military lorry in blackout conditions. Witnesses reported the Lance Corporal calling out to his Alsation dog Pat before the incident. Some newspaper reports from the time, list Carson as a young, unmarried soldier.

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Coroner Dr. Dougan and Lieutenant Neville of the army attended an inquest. There, Sergeant Somerville of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, Lurgan, gave evidence. He stated that at 2135hrs on Thursday 13/02/1941, he found a crowd gathered around a military vehicle in Market Street, Lurgan. About 9 feet from the front of the lorry lay the body of Lance Corporal Carson with his uninjured dog sat beside him.

Dr. WM Darling – House Surgeon at Lurgan and Portadown District Hospital stated cause of death to be a fracture at the base of the skull and resulting trauma to the brain. Sapper HW Dundas had identified the remains as those of his stepfather. Further evidence came from a Mr. Alexander of Ballynabraggett and Sapper Albert Bradshaw who was with the driver of the lorry. Miss Kathleen McCarroll of Taylor’s Yard, Lurgan, Co. Armagh gave evidence that she encountered a soldier lying in the street at 2050hrs. He was unsteady on his feet and there was a smell of alcohol. He refused help from passers-by as he called out for his dog Pat.The inquest found the death to be the result of an accident due in part to the blackout. No blame was placed on the driver of the British Army lorry.

He was the son of Thomas Elliott Carson and the late Louisa Carson of Coleraine, and husband to Martha Matilda Carson of Enniskillen. Lurgan Cemetery, Lurgan.

+GIBSON, Walter Harper

Royal Artillery, 66th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, 175 Battery. Battery Quartermaster Sergeant. 1523903. Died

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13/02/1941 in a hospital in Belfast. Aged 40. Before the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Walter served in the Ulster Special Constabulary. He was also involved with the Boys’ Brigade, in particular, Belfast’s 37th Company.Born in 1900, he was the son of Robert Gibson and Margaret Gibson of 69 Sandhurst Drive, Belfast. He married Elizabeth Niblock of Belfast and the couple had a daughter Helen Elizabeth Gibson born on 15/08/1929. At the time of his death, Walter, Elizabeth, and their daughter lived at 2 Castleton Gardens, Belfast. Carnmoney Cemetery

1943 +HACKETT, JamesCambridgeshire Regiment, 2nd Btn. Private. 5833440. Died 13/02/1943. Son of Patrick and Mary Ann Hackett, of

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Fivemiletown, Co. Tyrone. Chungkai War Cemetery, Kanchanaburi, Thailand. Fivemiletown WM

+NICHOLLS, James Ernest RAFVR. Sergeant. 927758. Died 13/02/1943. Age 21. 15 Sqdn. Son of James Ernest and Hilda Nicholls; Husband to Mary E. Nicholls, of Newtownards. Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium

1944 +ADAIR, Thomas RAFVR. Sergeant. 1531154. Died 13/02/1944. Aged 20. 458 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Son of James Sinclair Adair, and of Jane Elizabeth Adair, of Donaghadee. Malta Memorial, Panel 14

+COCKAYNE, Robert Alfred RNPS. Telegraphist. LT/JX 251462. HM Trawler Cap D'Antifer. Died 13/02/1944. Age 24. Son of George and Gertrude Cockayne, Burton - upon -Trent. Husband to Mary Josephine Cockayne, Clough. Burton - upon -Trent Cemetery

+EBERY, Dennis Harcourt Royal Artillery. Gunner.1683043. Died 13/02/1944. 21 Bty., 8 H.A.A. (Belfast) Regt. Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar. Regimental WM and RH, St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast

+MORRISON, John

Pioneer Corps. Private. 13037828. Died 13/02/1944 at Armagh Sanatorium, Armagh. Aged 45. Son of Joseph Morrison and Elizabeth Morrison of Derrinraw Road, Tartaraghan, Portadown, and husband toMargaret H

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Morrison of Portadown. Drumcree Church of Ireland churchyard, Portadown, Co. Armagh

1945

+MAGINLEY, George Albert RAFVR. Flight Sergeant. 1565120. Died 13/02/1945. Age 25. 550 Sqd. Son of Herbert Frederick And Mary Louisa Maginley, of Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh. Runnymede Memorial, Panel 272.

+PATTERSON, Aubrey RN. Coder. D/JX 293539. Died 13/02/1945. Age: 21. HMS Denbigh Castle was attacked 13/02 by U-992. Son of Thomas and Jane Patterson, Lisburn. (Lisburn Standard 25/02/1945, 15/06/1945). Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 94. Lisburn WM

VETERAN

+DORNAN, MatthewRoyal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 1st Btn. Lance-Corporal. 8956. Died 13/02/1919. Age 30. On 07/02/1907 Matthew, then aged 18, enlisted for full-time service in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers having previously served in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion. He served in Malta, China and India where he spent part of his service working as a hospital orderly and in June 1914, he re-enlisted for another 2 years. Matthew went to Gallipoli with the 1st Battalion in March 1915 and in August 1915 was sent to hospital with dysentery from which he suffered with continually off and on over the next year. In

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1916 the Battalion went to France but Matthew continued to suffer bouts of ill health. In November 1917 he was finally discharged due to his health, his discharge papers recording that his discharge was due to "Disability caused by military service... attributable to... climate, stress of campaign, dysentery enteric and trench foot; Disability melancholia." He is recorded as a Lance-Corporal on his discharge papers.

Born in Beech Street, Belfast, on 11/09/1889. He was the son of Joseph Dornan, a brick burner, and his wife Mary Dornan (nee McGreavey) and was the third of their four children. The family lived at various addresses in Belfast: Taggarts Houses, Lower Ballysillan, Lawnview Street in the 1901 census; and Mayo Street in the 1911 census and later. Matthew worked in the Blackstaff Flax Spinning and Weaving Co. on the Springfield Road prior to his army service. On being discharged went to live with his aunt Mrs Brown who lived in Ruby Street, Bangor. It was there that Matthew died on the 13/02/1919 aged 28 of septic pneumonia and cardiac failure. CWGC headstone, Bangor Cemetery

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February 13

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