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Research by Den Budden 2007

Chief Petty Officer RICHARD MASSEY, R.N. PO/308838, Chief Petty Officer, Royal Navy, HMS Acasta. Age 35  Died 31.5.1916

Chief Petty Officer Stoker RICHARD MASSEY, Royal Navy, was the husband of Edith Ethel Massey, and they lived at No. 4 Shaftesbury Road, Gosport. He was serving onboard HMS Acasta, which was part of the 4th Destroyer Flotilla. This flotilla was part of the submarine screen for the defence of the British Grand Fleet. On the 31st May 1916, during what became known as the ‘Battle of Jutland’, after the geographical place where the battle took place off of, HMS Acasta, took on the on the German Lutzow during which the G 41 fired a torpedo at her from 500 yards distance, fortunately missing. In taking avoiding action Acasta, was hit by two 5.9-inch shells fired by the Derfflinger, HMS Acasta had just managed to fire a torpedo at the Lutzow from 4,500 yards range but just missed.

The two 5.9 inch shells, hit the engine-room, it was in this incident, that C.P.O. Massey was killed, when the two shells exploded. The resulting fire in the engine-room, resulted in a billowing smoke screen being created. It was under this camouflage, that HMS Acasta managed to break off the engagement and withdraw. She was badly crippled and had to stop for six hours to make emergency repairs. HMS Acasta broke down during the night, on the way back to the nearest port, and had to be taken in tow by HMS Nonsuch, who brought her back into the Humber Estuary, arriving on the 1st June.

During the battle, HMS Acasta suffered six men killed and one wounded. Chief Petty Officer, Stoker, RICHARD MASSEY’s body was returned to Gosport. Where he is buried on the 7th June 1916. He was laid to rest, Plot 48 Space 27, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.

Mr DONALD McLEAN Auxiliary Fireman Age 31 Died 9.3.1941   SEE – Mr WILLIAM BURRIDGE

Leading Aircraftsman GERALD McELREA, R.A.F. 548268, Leading Aircraftsman, No.930 Balloon Barrage Squadron, Royal Air Force. Age 19 Son of Sarah McElrea, of Antrim, Northern Ireland. Died 12.8.1940   SEE – Corporal ARTHUR REGINALD OWEN BARRELL, R.A.F.

Rifleman JOHN JOSEPH McCOOL 14424619, Rifleman, 2nd Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles, 9th Brigade, 3rd Division. Age 19 Died 22.6.1944

Rifleman JOHN JOSEPH McCOOL, was the son of Margaret McCool and stepson of Mathew McBride, of Townparks, Raphoe, County Donegal, Irish Republic. He was one of the many Irish Republic men who volunteered to fight in the war. He joined the Ulster based regiment, which was destined, to be serve in the British 3rd Division, and who were to assault the D-Day beach, code-named ‘Sword’. The landings went fairly well and despite at one time being pinned down by the German defences, on the beach, and with the tide rising. They eventually managed to dislodge the German’s, to make their way inland. The casualties, securing the ‘Sword’ beach, were not as heavy as some that day, but were still considerable.

The limits of the ‘Sword’ beachhead, extended from Lugrune-sur-Mer in the west to Ouistreham in the east. During D-Day they had to forge inland, to meet up with the elements of the 6th Airborne Forces, namely the unit from the Oxford & Bucks Regiment who so daringly, captured the bridges over the River Orne and the Caen Canal, a few minutes after midnight. In gliders, they had landed just yards away from the bridges, and in a short firefight, had secured the western flank of the invasion area. They managed to link up later that afternoon. This was one of the easier objectives that were fulfilled. The plan was that this force would also move on inland and take the major city of Caen. This objective was, without doubt, more than ambitious. It took nearly two months to liberate Caen. By the time this was accomplished, the town had beenreduced to rubble. It was during the bitter fighting to take Caen, that Rifleman J.J. McCool was wounded on Thursday 22nd June, most probably near the village of Herouville St. Clair, where some of the fiercest fighting took place. Rifleman McCool was placed onboard a hospital ship, to be brought back to this country, but died of his injuries on the way.

Rifleman JOHN JOSEPH McCOOL, was buried on Saturday 24th June 1944, and is laid to rest in the War Graves Section, and is laid to rest, Row 4 Grave 9, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.

WERNER MECKLERBECK Soldier, German Army Born 15.3.1925 Died 9.6.1944 Age 19

WERNER MECKLERBECK, was yet another of the servicemen, who lost their lives in the bitter fighting, which took place after the allied landings in Normandy, during the liberation of Europe. Wounded, he was captured by the advancing allied forces, emergency medical aid was promptly given and transfer to a hospital ship to this country. He was also yet another victim of the effects of modern warfare. He died on the voyage here, on Friday 9th June 1944 through ‘war wounds received during war operations, overseas’. That is how all those, buried at Ann’s Hill Cemetery, who lost their lives as a result of the war, have that phrase on their death certificates. WERNER MECKLERBECK, was buried on Monday 12th June 1944, and is laid to rest in the German Plot of the War Graves Section, and is laid to rest, Row 4 Grave 5, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.

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