On this day 21/08/1944 – the Battle of the Falaise Pocket ends. Some 50,000 German troops surrender to the Allies after nine days of heavy fighting. The road to Paris was open – Five from NI died in two RN ships which were sunk on the same day.
Representing their comrades who died on this day
1915
On This Day in 1915 the battle of Hill 60 began at Gallipoli. The attack on Hill 60 was the last offensive action by the Allies prior to the evacuation in December 1915. Like many of the actions fought on Gallipoli, the battle was confused and inconclusive.
+BARBOUR, John
6th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Private.19593. Died 21/08/1915. Born Layde, Cushendall. Hill 10 Cemetery, Turkey, including Gallipoli. Ballycastle WM
+KENNEDY, Joseph
1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. 2829, Private. 2829. Died 21/08/ 1915. Aged 20. Born in Ballymena and enlisted in Belfast. Son of Isabella Kennedy, 6 Disraeli Street, Belfast. Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey
1916
+BUSBY (Busby) William
11 A&SH. Private. S/5140. KIA 21/08/1916. Born Craigs, Cullybackey. Thiepval Memorial, Somme. Cuningham Memorial Pres. Church WM.
1917
+ABBOTT, Vivian Hartley Church
D Company, 29th Btn. Canadian Infantry. Private 646187. Died 21/08/1917. Aged 36. Born in Fivemiletown on 05/10/1881. Eldest son of David Charles Abbott and Charlotte Elizabeth Abbott. The 1901 census lists Vivian as age 19, living at Military Barracks at The Curragh, Kildare. Vivian Abbott served for one year with the South African Army and fought in the Boer War. Vivian and his wife Eleanor Abbott emigrated to Canada. On enlisting, his wife was living in Mission City, British Columbia. Vivian Abbott was working as a surveyor’s chainman when he enlisted on 15/06/1916 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Killed in action during the battle for Hill 70 at Lens Vimy Memorial, Arras, Pas de Calais, France. Fivemiletown WM
1918
+BANNISTER, Herbert Stanley
Royal Air Force. 10th Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment). Died 21/08/1918. Age 30. RBAI. Flying accident, Western France. Son of Peter and Jane Bannister, of Belfast. Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. RBAI WM
+ROBERTS, Jack
North Irish Horse. Private. 71027. Died 21/08/1918. Second youngest son of Mrs. Nixon, the Orange Hall, Downpatrick. Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Pas de Calais, France
1944 HMS KITE
The Black Swan-class sloop HMS Kite was escorting a convoy to Russia when it was torpedoed by U-344, Captain Ulrich Pietsch, on 21/08/1944. 183 died. Only nine members of the crew survived as Kite sank almost immediately
+CONROY, William Holt
RN. Ordinary Telegraphist. D/JX 619388. Died 21/08/1944. Age 26. HMS Kite. RBAI. His brother Lieut WT Conroy had served with an Ulster Light AntI-Aircraft battery since the outbreak of the war. His father was assistant cashier at the City Hall, Belfast. Son of Mr & Mrs WH Conroy, Elmwood Ave., Belfast. (Belfast Weekly Telegraph 29/09/1944). Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 88
+CRAIG, John McKee
RN. Engine Room Artificer 5th Class D/MX 511289. HMS Kite. Died 21/08/1944. Son of Mr & Mrs WR Craig, Sunnyside St., Belfast. (Belfast Weekly Telegraph 29/09/1944). Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 89. St Jude’s Church, Ballynafeigh, Belfast WM
+McKEOWN, William
RN. Telegraphist. D/JX344845. Died 21/08/1944. Age 20. Son of William and Martha McKeown, Antrim town. Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 88.
1944 HM MTB 477
+HUNTER, Andrew
RN. AB. D/JX 303818. Died 21/08/1944. Age 20. HM MTB 477. He had been employed in the Belfast Rope Works. A brother and uncle served. Son of the late Andrew and Mrs Martha Hunter, Malcolm St., Belfast. (Belfast Weekly Telegraph 08/09/1944). Ryes War Cemetery, Bazenville, Calvados, France
+HUMPHRIES, William J
RN. Able Seaman. P/JX 421514. Date of Death: 21/08/1944. Age 19. HM MTB 477. Brother served in RUR. Father served in RIR in WW1. Son of William John and Lucinda Benison Humphries, Whitewell Crescent, Greencastle. (Belfast Weekly Telegraph 08/09/1944). Ryes War Cemetery, Bazenville, Calvados, France
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