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Research by Den Budden 2007

Leading Cook’s Mate RICHARD WILLIAM PAYNE, R.N. PO/366105, Leading Cook’s Mate, Royal Navy, HMS Onslow.  Age 27 Died 8.6.1916

Leading Cook’s Mate RICHARD WILLIAM PAYNE, Royal Navy, came from Gosport. His parents lived at No. 8 King Street, Gosport. He was serving on HMS Onslow, of the 13th Destroyer Flotilla, part of the British Grand Fleet. On the 31st of May 1916, The Grand Fleet sighted the German High Seas Fleet, off of the Jutland Peninsular. Early in the engagement, Admiral Beatty ordered HMS Onslow and HMS Moresby, to go to the aid of HMS Engadine, and stand by her until repairs could be implemented. At 5.00pm, with this done, both destroyers rejoined the battle, but were driven off by the German ships Frankfurt and Pillau, who had superior gun range. When the Lutzow also joined in the destroyers attempted to withdraw out of range, during this time the Lutzow, straddled both ships with successive salvos, but did not score a hit luckily.

HMS Onslow then took up a position on the starboard bow of HMS Lion. At 6.05pm, Onslow sighted the Wiesbaden, which was closing Admiral Beatty’s Fleet. Onslow steamed at full speed to intercept her. She fired 58 rounds of 4-inch shells, which made the German ship think again about attacking. Immediately after this, HMS Onslow noted that German battle cruisers were also closing in to attack the Fleet. Once again Onslow changed course to attack them. She fired a torpedo on the run-in, but this missed its target. In retaliation, Lutzow sent two 5.9-inch shells at Onslow, which exploded in her engine-room. This reduced her available speed, but she continued the fight. She fired three torpedoes, on of which hit the Wiesbaden, the other two were fired at the Kronprinz, both narrowly missed her. Virtually becoming surrounded, HMS Onslow made a break for it, she managed to escape, but was hit twice by two 4.1-inch shells fired by the Rostock, and although briefly engaged by the Konig. HMS Onslow took no further part in the battle; she was towed to port by HMS Defender, arriving in the Humber on the 1st June 1916. HMS Onslow suffered 2 men killed (of which Ldg Cook’s Mate Payne, was one), and 3 men wounded. The effect of the shelling HMS Onslow received was, the 4.1-inch shells hit the galley and the radio room. The 5.9-inch shells all holed the side of the ship, two, burst in the No. 2 boiler room and the third in an aft cabin room, the cabin and boiler room were both flooded. Ldg Cook’s Mate Payne had been in the boiler room helping out, when he was killed.

Leading Cook’s Mate, RICHARD WILLIAM PAYNE’s body, was returned to his hometown of Gosport, and he was buried at Ann’s Hill Cemetery, at the request of a relative (no details of who remain). He was laid to rest, Plot 48 Space 33, and is commemorated by CWG headstone.

Lieutenant WARREN COLCLOUGH PEMBERTON,R.F.C.       2nd Lieutenant, 3rd Canadian Pioneers, attached to the Royal Flying Corps. Age 20  Died 25.4.1916

Lieutenant WARREN COLCLOUGH PEMBERTON,R.F.C., was born on the 1st of December 1895 at Mountjoy, Victoria, British Columbia. He enlisted for service with the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force, on the 18th August 1915, taking his oath of allegiance at Lydd, Kent. On the 31st of that month he joined the 32nd Reserve Battalion, as a Lieutenant, carrying his rank from his service with the Canadian 50th Gordon Highlanders.

Lt. Pemberton was drafted to No.40 Squadron RAF, Fort Grange Aerodrome for instruction in flying. On the 25th of April 1916, Lt. Pemberton took off from the aerodrome at 12.45pm in an Avro 504A, service no 4067. The weather on the day was turbulent, with strong gusting winds. The machine rose rapidly to a height of between 100 and 150 feet where it made a sharp left-hand turn downwind, upon doing so the aeroplane dipped its nose and crashed onto the airfield. Lt. Pemberton was taken from the wreckage of the aeroplane, which had caught fire. He was taken to the Royal Naval Hospital at Haslar. Where he was treated for a fractured thigh and extensive burns to arms, legs, face, back and severe shock, he survived the night, but passed away during the following morning. At the inquest the suspected cause of the accident was attributed to the fact that the aeroplane 'got out of the eye of the wind', obtained a certain amount of drift. And it was surmised that Lt. Pemberton attempted to turn the aircraft too sharply, which caused the machine to side slip and nose-dive into the ground. A verdict of accidental death was recorded, the Coroner gave strong recommendation to the Commanding Officer at Fort Grange aerodrome, that a suitably qualified medical officer be available at the airfield during times of flying was conducted.

Lieutenant WARREN COLCLOUGH PEMBERTON, R.F.C., was buried on Wednesday 26th April 1916. He is laid to rest, Plot 50 Space 91, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.

Trooper GEORGE ROBERT PERCY 5053790, Trooper, Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, 8th Armoured Brigade, 79th Armoured Division, XXX Corps.  Age 29  Died 9.6.1944

Trooper GEORGE ROBERT PERCY, Royal Armoured Corps, was the son of William Joseph and Edith Elizabeth Percy. He was the husband of Eileen Eliza Percy, of Fulham, London. He was badly wounded during the fiercest fighting, to take the ‘Gold beach’. Trooper Percy’s Notts. Yeomanry, were due to land on the beaches directly behind the Units of General Hobart’s specialist vehicles. Which were known affectionately as ‘Hobart’s Funnies’. The job, which they achieved, went a large way to prevent high casualties suffered in taking the beaches. Trooper Percy was in a special tank. It was amphibious. A canvas skirt was erected around the sides of the tank, and propulsion was generated by the ‘Duplex Drive’. Basically, it meant that it could operate in water or by changing gear, act as a normal tank.

The weather on the 6th June 1944, (D-Day) meant that the sea was rather choppy, and the idea to launch these special tanks some miles off the beaches could not be implemented. By the time the tanks landed later in the day the mopping up on the beach had been nearly completed. The tanks were immediately sent inland to back up the infantry. Trooper Percy’s tank was hit by anti tank fire from an ambush, whilst it was attempting to clear the southern area of the town of Bayeux. The date, - 7th June. Infantry put up a covering fire, and Trooper Percy, the only member of the tank crew still alive was rescued from the side of his tank. He was badly wounded. Taken to an Emergency Casualty Clearing Station it was decided he should be transferred immediately to a hospital ship for surgery. The extent of his injuries, were such that he died two days later (9th) on the way back this country.

Trooper GEORGE ROBERT PERCY, was buried on Monday 12th June 1944, in the War Graves Section, and is laid to rest, Row 4 Graves 11, his final resting place is commemorated by a CWG headstone.

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