Remember Them
@rememberthem.online
Military history, especially Commonwealth War Graves.
If you spot any errors in my posts please shout - I'm only human!
If you have more information about the casualties I post here then please share.
If you spot any errors in my posts please shout - I'm only human!
If you have more information about the casualties I post here then please share.
Alfred was born 28 Jan 1919 in Leicester to Frederick and Sybil Christmas.
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
Father Christmas served as a gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery during the Great War, spending time on the Salonica front.
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
Father Christmas served as a gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery during the Great War, spending time on the Salonica front.
www.cwgc.org
December 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Alfred was born 28 Jan 1919 in Leicester to Frederick and Sybil Christmas.
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
Father Christmas served as a gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery during the Great War, spending time on the Salonica front.
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
Father Christmas served as a gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery during the Great War, spending time on the Salonica front.
After extensive repairs H.M.S. Candytuft was transferred to the U.S. Navy as U.S.S. Tenacity.
After the war she returned to the Royal Navy but was sold on as a commercial vessel, the Maw Hwa, in 1947. There's some suggestion she later became part of the early fleet of the Chinese Navy.
After the war she returned to the Royal Navy but was sold on as a commercial vessel, the Maw Hwa, in 1947. There's some suggestion she later became part of the early fleet of the Chinese Navy.
December 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM
After extensive repairs H.M.S. Candytuft was transferred to the U.S. Navy as U.S.S. Tenacity.
After the war she returned to the Royal Navy but was sold on as a commercial vessel, the Maw Hwa, in 1947. There's some suggestion she later became part of the early fleet of the Chinese Navy.
After the war she returned to the Royal Navy but was sold on as a commercial vessel, the Maw Hwa, in 1947. There's some suggestion she later became part of the early fleet of the Chinese Navy.
While on convoy duty between Iceland and St John's, Newfoundland, H.M.S. Candytuft - also a Flower class corvette - suffered a boiler explosion that killed 19 of her crew, with others badly scalded. She was towed to St John's where the injured were treated.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Can...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Can...
HMS Candytuft (K09) - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
December 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM
While on convoy duty between Iceland and St John's, Newfoundland, H.M.S. Candytuft - also a Flower class corvette - suffered a boiler explosion that killed 19 of her crew, with others badly scalded. She was towed to St John's where the injured were treated.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Can...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Can...
Leading Telegraphist Alfred Herbert Christmas, C/JX 141902.
H.M.S. Candytuft.
Killed 10 September 1941, age 22.
Panel 46 of the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent, England.
#ww2 #rememberthem #cwgc
H.M.S. Candytuft.
Killed 10 September 1941, age 22.
Panel 46 of the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent, England.
#ww2 #rememberthem #cwgc
December 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Leading Telegraphist Alfred Herbert Christmas, C/JX 141902.
H.M.S. Candytuft.
Killed 10 September 1941, age 22.
Panel 46 of the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent, England.
#ww2 #rememberthem #cwgc
H.M.S. Candytuft.
Killed 10 September 1941, age 22.
Panel 46 of the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent, England.
#ww2 #rememberthem #cwgc
A first cousin once removed, Wheeler Staff Serjeant Peter Last, T/39, Army Service Corps, died on 21 October 1914, and is buried in Woodbridge Cemetery, Suffolk.
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
www.cwgc.org
December 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM
A first cousin once removed, Wheeler Staff Serjeant Peter Last, T/39, Army Service Corps, died on 21 October 1914, and is buried in Woodbridge Cemetery, Suffolk.
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
A first cousin, Private William Mayhew, 16806, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, was killed on 6 September 1915 and is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
www.cwgc.org
December 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM
A first cousin, Private William Mayhew, 16806, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, was killed on 6 September 1915 and is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
On 19 June 1944 Albert Jack Hawke, the husband of John's elder sister Ethel, was a civilian casualty of a V1 flying bomb exploding on Union Street, Southwark, London. The CWGC records at least 45 of the 49 casualties of this event.
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
www.cwgc.org
December 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM
On 19 June 1944 Albert Jack Hawke, the husband of John's elder sister Ethel, was a civilian casualty of a V1 flying bomb exploding on Union Street, Southwark, London. The CWGC records at least 45 of the 49 casualties of this event.
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
Born 1 March 1915, Teston, Kent, England. John was the 8th of 12 children to Charles and Alice Annie Last.
In late 1937 he married Dorothy Clara Osborne in Cranbrook, Kent. They had no children and she did not remarry.
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
In late 1937 he married Dorothy Clara Osborne in Cranbrook, Kent. They had no children and she did not remarry.
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
www.cwgc.org
December 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Born 1 March 1915, Teston, Kent, England. John was the 8th of 12 children to Charles and Alice Annie Last.
In late 1937 he married Dorothy Clara Osborne in Cranbrook, Kent. They had no children and she did not remarry.
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
In late 1937 he married Dorothy Clara Osborne in Cranbrook, Kent. They had no children and she did not remarry.
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
H.M.S. Snapdragon, a Flower class corvette, was sunk by Luftwaffe bombing off the coast of Benghazi, Libya, with the loss of 24 of her crew.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Sna...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Sna...
HMS Snapdragon (K10) - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
December 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM
H.M.S. Snapdragon, a Flower class corvette, was sunk by Luftwaffe bombing off the coast of Benghazi, Libya, with the loss of 24 of her crew.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Sna...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Sna...
Able Seaman John Ronald Last, C/JX 237050.
H.M.S. Snapdragon.
Killed 19 December 1942, age 27.
Panel 55 of the Chatham Naval Memorial
#ww2 #rememberthem #cwgc
H.M.S. Snapdragon.
Killed 19 December 1942, age 27.
Panel 55 of the Chatham Naval Memorial
#ww2 #rememberthem #cwgc
December 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Able Seaman John Ronald Last, C/JX 237050.
H.M.S. Snapdragon.
Killed 19 December 1942, age 27.
Panel 55 of the Chatham Naval Memorial
#ww2 #rememberthem #cwgc
H.M.S. Snapdragon.
Killed 19 December 1942, age 27.
Panel 55 of the Chatham Naval Memorial
#ww2 #rememberthem #cwgc
There is a very comprehensive history of this ship and her wreck here:
maritimearchaeologytrust.org/wp-content/u...
maritimearchaeologytrust.org/wp-content/u...
maritimearchaeologytrust.org
December 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM
There is a very comprehensive history of this ship and her wreck here:
maritimearchaeologytrust.org/wp-content/u...
maritimearchaeologytrust.org/wp-content/u...
The Maritime Fleet Auxiliary Eleanor, out of Immingham and bound for Malta, was carrying un-fused mines when she was torpedoed and sunk around 10 miles off the south west of the Isle of Wight by submarine UB-57, with the loss of all but one of her 35 crew.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM_UB-57
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM_UB-57
SM UB-57 - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
December 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM
The Maritime Fleet Auxiliary Eleanor, out of Immingham and bound for Malta, was carrying un-fused mines when she was torpedoed and sunk around 10 miles off the south west of the Isle of Wight by submarine UB-57, with the loss of all but one of her 35 crew.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM_UB-57
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM_UB-57
Born 4 Dec 1897, Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, Scotland. The youngest of 6 children to Samuel and Bertha Wham.
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
www.cwgc.org
December 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Born 4 Dec 1897, Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, Scotland. The youngest of 6 children to Samuel and Bertha Wham.
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
www.cwgc.org/find-records...
Ordinary Seaman George Ross Wham, J/70396.
M.F.A. Eleanor.
Killed 12 February 1918, age 20.
Panel 28 on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent, England.
#ww1 #rememberthem #cwgc
M.F.A. Eleanor.
Killed 12 February 1918, age 20.
Panel 28 on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent, England.
#ww1 #rememberthem #cwgc
December 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Ordinary Seaman George Ross Wham, J/70396.
M.F.A. Eleanor.
Killed 12 February 1918, age 20.
Panel 28 on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent, England.
#ww1 #rememberthem #cwgc
M.F.A. Eleanor.
Killed 12 February 1918, age 20.
Panel 28 on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent, England.
#ww1 #rememberthem #cwgc
The Chatham Naval Memorial in Kent, England, remembers over 18,600 naval casualties from both wars who have no known grave.
Included among the names are Wham, Last and Christmas.
#ww1 #ww2 #rememberthem #cwgc #royalnavy
Included among the names are Wham, Last and Christmas.
#ww1 #ww2 #rememberthem #cwgc #royalnavy
December 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM
The Chatham Naval Memorial in Kent, England, remembers over 18,600 naval casualties from both wars who have no known grave.
Included among the names are Wham, Last and Christmas.
#ww1 #ww2 #rememberthem #cwgc #royalnavy
Included among the names are Wham, Last and Christmas.
#ww1 #ww2 #rememberthem #cwgc #royalnavy
I managed to get photos of a number of headstones for the CWGC staff buried here, and at some point soon I'll add these here and to Wikipedia.
August 3, 2025 at 6:27 PM
I managed to get photos of a number of headstones for the CWGC staff buried here, and at some point soon I'll add these here and to Wikipedia.
A few weeks ago, on the way back from Italy, I stopped at Longuenesse Souvenir Cemetery before catching the ferry to Dover.
I wasn't intending to visit but it was the first day of the Tour de France! Roads were closed or had diversions, so I couldn't easily get to where I had planned.
I wasn't intending to visit but it was the first day of the Tour de France! Roads were closed or had diversions, so I couldn't easily get to where I had planned.
August 3, 2025 at 6:27 PM
A few weeks ago, on the way back from Italy, I stopped at Longuenesse Souvenir Cemetery before catching the ferry to Dover.
I wasn't intending to visit but it was the first day of the Tour de France! Roads were closed or had diversions, so I couldn't easily get to where I had planned.
I wasn't intending to visit but it was the first day of the Tour de France! Roads were closed or had diversions, so I couldn't easily get to where I had planned.
Sheep pondering life, in the churchyard of St Mary's, Ticehurst, East Sussex.
Both times I've gone half the graves were fenced off. The vegetation is allowed to grow wild over winter. The sheep then feast on it in the spring!
Both times I've gone half the graves were fenced off. The vegetation is allowed to grow wild over winter. The sheep then feast on it in the spring!
July 31, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Sheep pondering life, in the churchyard of St Mary's, Ticehurst, East Sussex.
Both times I've gone half the graves were fenced off. The vegetation is allowed to grow wild over winter. The sheep then feast on it in the spring!
Both times I've gone half the graves were fenced off. The vegetation is allowed to grow wild over winter. The sheep then feast on it in the spring!
It turns out that Frederick and Juliette had 4 daughters:
+ Clara May
+ Juliette Claire
+ Dorris May
+ Daisy
Clara was named after Frederick's mother, not Daisy.
This family tree has more information for the Bellanger side.
gw.geneanet.org/sergeduret?l...
+ Clara May
+ Juliette Claire
+ Dorris May
+ Daisy
Clara was named after Frederick's mother, not Daisy.
This family tree has more information for the Bellanger side.
gw.geneanet.org/sergeduret?l...
Family tree of Frédérik William AMBROSE
Discover the family history of Frédérik William AMBROSE.
gw.geneanet.org
July 28, 2025 at 3:23 PM
It turns out that Frederick and Juliette had 4 daughters:
+ Clara May
+ Juliette Claire
+ Dorris May
+ Daisy
Clara was named after Frederick's mother, not Daisy.
This family tree has more information for the Bellanger side.
gw.geneanet.org/sergeduret?l...
+ Clara May
+ Juliette Claire
+ Dorris May
+ Daisy
Clara was named after Frederick's mother, not Daisy.
This family tree has more information for the Bellanger side.
gw.geneanet.org/sergeduret?l...
A search in the CWGC online archives returns nothing for Frederick Ambrose. He wasn't listed on the Wikipedia page for CWGC gardeners - until just now!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
List of Imperial War Graves staff burials - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
July 28, 2025 at 2:14 PM
A search in the CWGC online archives returns nothing for Frederick Ambrose. He wasn't listed on the Wikipedia page for CWGC gardeners - until just now!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
I can't find out any further information, other than they had a daughter called Daisy, which was his mother's name. Juliette died in 1981. I don't know what happened to this family during WW2.
July 28, 2025 at 2:14 PM
I can't find out any further information, other than they had a daughter called Daisy, which was his mother's name. Juliette died in 1981. I don't know what happened to this family during WW2.
On 8 November 1919 he married Juliette Claire Bellanger in Abbeville, Somme, France. His occupation had reverted to a carpenter and he might have been working with his new father-in-law who had the same profession.
July 28, 2025 at 2:14 PM
On 8 November 1919 he married Juliette Claire Bellanger in Abbeville, Somme, France. His occupation had reverted to a carpenter and he might have been working with his new father-in-law who had the same profession.