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Petty Officer LEONARD WILLIAM JAMES LEE, R.N. C/NX 2268, Canteen Manager, of L.S.T. No. 305 Age 21 Died 11.5.1944
Petty Officer LEONARD WILLIAM JAMES LEE, R.N., was the son of Richard Frederick and Lily Kathleen Lee, who lived at, No.41, Cobden Street, Gosport. He was the manager of the
Canteen, aboard Landing Ship Tank No. 305. She was American built, and made available through the ‘Lend-Lease’ agreement. Her tonnage was 2,750 tons, 327 feet in length, and powered by two diesel motors,
and had a speed of 10 knots. Armament consisted of a 12-pounder anti aircraft and six 20mm guns. She carried a complement of 86 Officers and ratings.
On Saturday 22nd January 1944, the allied forces made were mounting a large-scale amphibious landing at Anzio, Italy, and were fiercely opposed by the Germans. It would not
be until May 23rd, that allied troops were able to break out from the beachheads. The need for re-supply and bring reinforcements was critical, and it was in this role that His Majesties L.S.T. No. 305
was off Anzio on Sunday 20th February 1944. She was attacked by an E-Boat, badly damaged and drifting, she was taken in tow, and was making for the allied base at Naples. During this voyage, she was
spotted by the German submarine U-230, which torpedoed her. L.S.T. No. 305 quickly took on a list to port, and it was realised she was going to capsize, her crew were taken off, and shortly after the
ship did capsize and sink.
Petty Officer Lee, was amongst the casualties brought back to Bristol Royal Naval Auxiliary Hospital, sadly he passed away on Thursday 11th May 1944, and at the request of
relatives, his body was brought back to Gosport. Petty Officer LEONARD WILLIAM JAMES LEE, R.N., was buried on Wednesday 17th August 1944, he was laid to rest, Plot 7 Space 6, and is commemorated by a CWG
headstone.
Corporal DOUGLAS JOHN LE MASURIER, R.A.F. 512292, Corporal, Royal Air Force. Age 24 Died 23.1.1943
Corporal DOUGLAS JOHN LE MASURIER, Royal Air Force, was 24 years of age when he lost his life, whilst serving aboard a Royal Air Force pinnace, service no. 1289. On Saturday
23rd January 1943, the vessel, one of No. 30 Air Sea Rescue Marine Unit, was patrolling some 15 miles south of the Isle of Wight. Two German fighter aircraft roaming the English Channel spotted the
rescue vessel. Within seconds, the craft was under attack by the fighters, (thought later to be Focke Wulf 190's). During the attack Cpl. Le Masurier, the coxswain, was hit by cannon fire from the
strafing attackers and died shortly after. Other members of the crew were wounded in following attacks. Taking on water through the damage inflicted below the waterline, the vessel was in a serious
situation, stopping up the holes as best they could, they made for land. Finally making landfall after an anxious dash for shore. Records show that the only fatal casualty that day was Cpl Le Masurier,
the others recovered from their wounds.
Corporal DOUGLAS JOHN LE MASURIER, Royal Air Force, was buried on Wednesday 27th January 1943; he was laid to rest in the War Graves section (see plans on the back pages),
Row 4 Grave 6, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.
Mrs DAISY LEWIS 56 Avenue Road, Gosport Age 29 Died 10.3.1941 SEE – Mrs WILLIAM BURRIDGE
Sergeant CHARLES HENRY FREDERICK LEWRY, A.F.M., R.A.F.313806, Sergeant, Air Force Medal, Royal Air Force. Age 26 Died 15.7.1919
Sergeant CHARLES HENRY FREDERICK LEWRY, Air Force Medal, Royal Air Force, was killed when the Airship N.S. 11, caught fire and crashed into the North Sea off the East
Coast on the 15th of July 1919. The airship had taken off from Pulham Airship Base, Norfolk; en route for Kingsnorth Airship Base, near Ashford, Kent, the crash cost the lives of all of the crew.
Sgt. Lewry, joined the Royal Navy as a boy of 16, during 1915 he transferred to the newly formed Royal Naval Air Service, upon the amalgamation of the R.N.A.S. with the
Royal Flying Corps, he was accepted into the new service the Royal Air Force. He saw service with the Grand Fleet on North Sea patrols aboard the early airships. He was awarded the Air Force Medal for
his part in a World record breaking endurance flight in February 1919 of which he was one of the crew, the airship flight being under the command of Major Warneford, and which lasted 100 hours 50
minutes. So far as is known, Sergeant Lewry's body, was the only one to be recovered. He was washed ashore on Cromer Beach, Norfolk, 16 days after the airship crashed. He was believed to have been
Steering the airship in the forepart of the car at the outbreak of the fire, the cause of which was proved by scorching on the clothing of Sgt. Lewry’s body. The cause of which was unknown. He was
serving as 2nd coxswain, and was onboard to qualify for promotion to Warrant Officer. The inquest felt that his body was probably released when the airship broke in two thus splitting the car apart. It
was also surmised that the weight of the engines would have dragged the airship to the seabed, probably trapping the bodies of the remainder of the crew. The inquest recorded a verdict that Sgt. Lewry
was found dead on the beach after being washed ashore from the wrecked airship.
Sergeant CHARLES HENRY FREDERICK LEWRY AFM, RAF, was buried on Tuesday 15th July 1919, and is laid to rest in the old burial ground (same side of the road as the cemetery
office), Plot 15a Space 79 and is commemorated by a Family Memorial.
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