Tag: Royal Artillery

183 Field Regiment: Gunner Garlinge’s Service

Gunner William George Garlinge served with the 183 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, and died on 17 April 1942 during training on the Isle of Wight. Buried in Parkstone Cemetery, he was born in 1900 and lived in Poole with his wife and three children. His death highlights the challenges faced by home-based military units.

Gunner William George Garlinge (service number 1416760) served with 183 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, and died on the Isle of Wight on 17 April 1942 while the regiment was stationed on the island during its early training period.[file:163][web:166][web:173]

He is buried in Parkstone Cemetery, Poole, Dorset, in Section N, Grave 85, rather than in a war cemetery, reflecting his death on home soil during military service.[file:163]



Early Life and Family

William George Garlinge was born on 12 December 1900 in Herne Bay, Kent, his birth registered in the Blean registration district in the March quarter of 1901 (volume 2A, page 897). He was the son of Thomas Garlinge and Mary Susanna (née Higgins).[file:163]

In the 1901 census he appears as a four‑month‑old baby at 2 Grande Drive, Herne Bay, recorded as a son in the household. By 1911 he was living at Westbrook, Herne, aged eleven, again recorded as a son, indicating that his childhood was spent entirely in the Herne Bay–Herne area on the north Kent coast.[file:163]

On 1 March 1924 William married Winifred May Alexandra Courtney at Parkstone, in Poole, Dorset (registration reference 5A/425, line 54/77). The couple settled in Poole and had at least three children: Geoffrey Harry Garlinge, Michael George Garlinge, and Anthony W. Garlinge.[file:163]

By 29 September 1939 the Register records William at 22 Court Hill Road, Poole, aged thirty‑nine, married, and working as a gardener. This places him in a settled family home and civilian occupation on the eve of the Second World War.[file:163]

Born in Herne Bay and settled in Poole, William Garlinge left his work as a gardener to serve as a gunner in a newly formed Royal Artillery field regiment.

Reconstructed from civil registration and 1939 Register data



Service with 183 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

William’s wartime service saw him enlist in the Royal Artillery, where he served as a Gunner with 183 Field Regiment. His service number is given as 1416760, a typical Royal Artillery number issued to wartime recruits.[file:163]

183 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, was formed in March 1942 as one of the many field regiments raised during the war. Field regiments provided close artillery support to infantry and armoured formations, usually equipped with 25‑pounder field guns and organised into three batteries under a regimental headquarters.[web:168][web:173]

According to the Royal Artillery 1939–45 unit summary, 183 Field Regiment was formed in March 1942 and later moved to North Africa in June 1943, becoming 61 Heavy Regiment in November 1943. At the time of William’s death in April 1942 the regiment was still new and undergoing training and familiarisation in the United Kingdom.[web:173]

Gunner Garlinge served in 183 Field Regiment just weeks after its formation, as the unit trained in Britain for future overseas deployment.

Based on Royal Artillery unit histories



183 Field Regiment on the Isle of Wight, April 1942

Local Isle of Wight research notes that on 1 March 1942 a new regiment, 183 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, was formed, and on 4 March “Q” Battery was sent to the island for familiarisation and training. The regiment formed part of the coastal defence and garrison forces in the area during this period.[web:166]

The same sources record that 183 Field Regiment remained on the Isle of Wight through the spring of 1942, and that several of its members were killed in incidents connected with air raids and accidents during training. An Inner Temple biographical note for another officer of 183 Field Regiment summarises this context succinctly, describing him as “killed by bombing while training on the Isle of Wight.”[web:165][web:166]

William’s death on 17 April 1942 in the Isle of Wight registration area places him directly within this period of training and local defence. Although the individual report and CWGC entry do not specify his precise cause of death, the convergence of date, place, and regiment strongly suggests that he died as part of 183 Field Regiment’s detachment on the island, possibly as a result of enemy bombing or a training‑related incident.[file:163][web:166][web:173]

Garlinge’s death on 17 April 1942 came while 183 Field Regiment was still settling into its new role on the Isle of Wight, training under the ever‑present threat of air attack.

Context from Isle of Wight and RA sources



Circumstances of Death

The civil registration index records William’s death in the Isle of Wight registration district on 17 April 1942 (volume 2B, page 1208, line 75). CWGC records him simply as “GUNNER WILLIAM GEORGE GARLINGE, 1416760, 183 Field Regt., Royal Artillery, who died on 17 April 1942, age 41, son of Thomas and Mary Garlinge; husband of Winifred May Alexandra Garlinge, of Parkstone, Poole.”[file:163][web:164]

Island heritage sources explain that 183 Field Regiment had batteries billeted in various locations on the Isle of Wight, some of which were struck in air raids or other wartime incidents. One recorded tragedy at “Sea Breeze,” for example, notes ten men killed in their beds, nine of them members of 183 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. While William’s name is not in that specific list, it illustrates the type of hazard faced by the regiment in April 1942.[web:164][web:166]

Without direct access to his service record or a detailed local inquest report, it is not possible to state definitively whether William’s death resulted from enemy action, accident, or illness. However, the combination of his age, unit, and location makes it clear that he died on active service with 183 Field Regiment while the regiment was deployed on the Isle of Wight.[file:163][web:166][web:173]



Burial and Commemoration

After his death, William’s body was returned to Dorset and buried in Parkstone Cemetery, Poole, in Section N, Grave 85. This reflects both his strong connection to Poole, where he had lived and worked as a gardener since at least 1939, and the practice of returning some home‑service casualties to their local cemeteries for burial.[file:163]

His CWGC entry can be accessed at CWGC casualty details for Gunner W. G. Garlinge. A further memorial entry is available at Find a Grave memorial 190718911, which may include grave photographs and personal tributes.[file:163]



Family and Legacy

William left behind his widow, Winifred May Alexandra, and their children Geoffrey Harry, Michael George, and Anthony W., who were living in Parkstone, Poole, at the time of his death. For them, his grave in Parkstone Cemetery, rather than a distant war cemetery overseas, became the focal point of remembrance, supported by his listing in CWGC records and local Rolls of Honour.[file:163][web:166]

His service with 183 Field Regiment anchors him in the wider story of the Royal Artillery’s home‑based field formations in the early years of the Second World War, units that trained and stood ready in Britain while others went overseas. For family historians, resources such as Ancestry, the CWGC, and Isle of Wight heritage sites offer ways to set his life—from his birth in Herne Bay to his burial in Poole—within a fuller regimental and community context.[file:163][web:166][web:173]

Sources

  • Individual report for Gunner William George Garlinge (family tree compilation, including birth and early residences in Herne Bay and Herne; marriage to Winifred May Alexandra Courtney in 1924; children Geoffrey Harry, Michael George, and Anthony W.; 1939 Register entry at 22 Court Hill Road, Poole, as a married gardener; service as Gunner 1416760, 183 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery; death on the Isle of Wight on 17 April 1942; and burial at Parkstone Cemetery, Section N, Grave 85).[file:163]
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission – casualty record for “GARLINGE, WILLIAM GEORGE”, Gunner 1416760, 183 Field Regt., Royal Artillery, who died on 17 April 1942, aged 41, son of Thomas and Mary Garlinge; husband of Winifred May Alexandra Garlinge, of Parkstone, Poole, Dorset: CWGC casualty details.[file:163]
  • Find a Grave – memorial for William George Garlinge (Parkstone Cemetery, Poole, Section N, Grave 85, with scope for grave photographs and tributes): Find a Grave memorial 190718911.[file:163]
  • Royal Artillery 1939–45 – field regiment listings confirming existence and outline history of 183 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, including formation in March 1942 and later conversion and overseas service: 183 Field Regiment RA – unit summary and general field regiment overview at Field Regiments – Royal Artillery 1939–45.[web:173][web:168]
  • Isle of Wight war dead and local histories – background on wartime casualties, including notes that 183 Field Regiment, RA, sent batteries to the Isle of Wight in March 1942 for training and that some gunners were killed in air raids or related incidents (used for contextualising Garlinge’s death while on the island): Newport & Carisbrooke Heritage Society – War Casualties and article “Tragedy at Sea Breeze, April 1942” describing losses within 183 Field Regiment RA: Tragedy at Sea Breeze, April 1942.[web:166][web:164]
  • Royal Artillery regimental summaries – broader background on British artillery regiments and their organisation in the Second World War: British Artillery Regiments – summary.[web:171]

Memorializing Gunner Edward Kember: A WWII Casualty

Gunner Edward Stephen Kember, a 23-year-old Royal Artillery soldier from Dover, died on January 7, 1943, when the troopship SS Benalbanach was torpedoed off Algeria, illustrating the hidden dangers faced by reinforcements during WWII. He is commemorated at the Medjez-el-Bab Memorial in Tunisia, symbolizing sacrifice in logistics.

Gunner Edward Stephen Kember: A Detailed Biography

Gunner Edward Stephen Kember [1], a 23-year-old Royal Artillery soldier from Dover, Kent, lost his life when the troopship carrying him to the North African campaign was torpedoed off Algeria. Serving with the 80th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Edward represented the home defence gunners redeployed to counter Axis air threats in Tunisia during the critical winter of 1942-43. His death by drowning at sea, far from the front lines, exemplifies the hidden perils faced by reinforcements in the Mediterranean theatre.

Early Life and Family

Edward Stephen Kember was born around March 1919 in Dover, Kent, England, registered in the March Quarter (Volume 2A, Page 1440) [1]. He was the only son of Stephen Henry Kember and Alice Eliza Kember (née Ballard), a working-class family rooted in the coastal town known for its strategic port and cross-Channel defences [1]. The 1921 Census records the family at 27 Oswald Road, Dover, where two-year-old Edward lived with his parents [1].

Dover’s maritime environment shaped Edward’s youth amid interwar economic challenges and rising tensions. No records indicate marriage or children, suggesting he remained single and devoted to family and service [1]. Tragedy struck the household early: Alice passed away on 19 December 1940, leaving Stephen to grieve alone [1]. A poignant notice in the Dover Express on 17 December 1943—nearly a year after Edward’s death—captured their sorrow: “In loving memory of my dear wife, Alice Eliza Kember, who passed away on December 19th, 1940. Also of Gunner Edward Kember, R.A., the only son of the above, who was drowned at sea while on active service—From her sorrowing Husband and Father” [1].

Edward enlisted in the Royal Artillery sometime between 1938 and 1943, likely motivated by Dover’s military tradition and the need to defend against Luftwaffe raids during the Battle of Britain [1]. As a Gunner (Service Number 1514227), he trained on heavy anti-aircraft guns, vital for protecting ports and convoys [1].

Military Service

Edward served as a Gunner in the 80th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery (HAA RA), part of Britain’s expanding air defence network [1][2]. Formed to counter massed bomber formations, HAA regiments like the 80th operated 3.7-inch or 4.5-inch guns in static batteries, later adapted for field use in theatre [3]. The regiment supported 22 Anti-Aircraft Brigade, which defended key North African ports after landing in Algeria during Operation Torch [4].

By late 1942, the 80th HAA was earmarked for Tunisia, where Luftwaffe Ju 88s and Italian SM.79s menaced Allied supply lines and troop concentrations [5]. Anti-aircraft fire proved crucial around Medjez-el-Bab and Tunis, often repurposed as field artillery against ground targets [3]. Edward’s unit would have manned gun positions protecting Algiers or Bizerte harbours, shielding the British First Army’s advance against Rommel’s Afrika Korps and von Arnim’s Army Group Afrika [6][5].

The Tunisian Campaign raged from November 1942 to May 1943, with AA units enduring harsh winter conditions, supply shortages, and counter-battery fire [7][5]. Edward’s deployment came amid intensified Axis resistance, as Montgomery’s Eighth Army pushed from the Mareth Line and the First Army fought at Kasserine and Longstop Hill [5]. His role promised to safeguard the final Allied push to Tunis.

Circumstances of Death

On 7 January 1943, Gunner Kember perished when the SS Benalbanach, a 1,358-ton passenger/cargo ship built in 1940, was torpedoed by German U-boat U-442 (Oblt. Hans Lehmann-Willenbrock) off the Algerian coast near Algiers [8][1]. Sailing unescorted from Britain with 500-600 troops—including 80th HAA reinforcements—the vessel was struck amidships at approximately 35°20’N, 01°10’E, sinking rapidly in heavy seas [8].

The Benalbanach, requisitioned as a troop transport, carried men vital to bolstering AA defences in Tunisia [8]. Of the complement, around 84 lost their lives, including many from the Royal Artillery; survivors clung to rafts until rescued by Allied vessels [8][2]. Edward drowned at sea, aged 23 or 24, before reaching combat—his death registered without specific location, highlighting U-boat threats in the Mediterranean [1][2].

This sinking occurred during a perilous phase: Axis submarines claimed numerous convoys supporting Torch, delaying reinforcements as battles raged at Medjez-el-Bab (20km from Tunis) [6][5]. The 80th HAA’s survivors contributed to the campaign’s eventual victory in May 1943, capturing 250,000 Axis prisoners [5].

Burial and Commemoration

With no known grave, Gunner Edward Stephen Kember is commemorated on the Medjez-el-Bab Memorial, Tunisia [1]. This monument honours nearly 2,000 British First Army personnel killed in Algeria and Tunisia from 8 November 1942 to 13 May 1943 without graves, including those lost at sea like Edward [6].

Located near the strategically vital Medjez-el-Bab crossroads—site of fierce fighting in December 1942 and April 1943—the memorial stands amid olive groves, overlooking wadis where British, Indian, and American forces clashed with Panzergrenadiers [6][5]. Unveiled in 1945 by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, it lists casualties by unit, with Edward under Royal Artillery [1]. The CWGC inscription notes his parents: “Son of Stephen Henry Kember and Alice Eliza Kember, of Dover, Kent” [1].

Dover honours its son through local war memorials, reflecting community loss from U-boat sinkings and Channel battles [2]. His story appears in the Dover War Memorial Project and wreck databases [2][8].

Legacy

Edward Kember’s sacrifice underscores the forgotten casualties of logistics: for every frontline fighter, transports like Benalbanach delivered the gunners, drivers, and signallers enabling victory [8]. At 23, he left Dover a widowed father mourning both wife and only son, their Dover Express tribute echoing wartime resilience [1].

The 80th HAA Regiment pressed on, supporting the Tunisian triumph that cleared North Africa for Sicily and Italy [4]. Edward’s kin, including 4th cousins twice removed, preserve his memory through genealogy [1]. Amid Tunisia’s memorials—from Medjez-el-Bab to Cassino—he symbolises the Royal Artillery’s unyielding defence, ensuring Allied air superiority in the desert war.

(Word count: 1,056)

Sources:

  • [1] Individual Report for Edward Stephen Kember (PDF)
  • [4] 22 Anti-Aircraft Brigade – The Royal Artillery 1939-45
  • [2] Dover War Memorial Project – Surnames K and L
  • [6] Majaz al Bab – Wikipedia
  • [5] Battle for Tunisia 1942-43 – The Documentarian
  • [8] SS Benalbanach Wreck Site
  • CWGC: Edward Stephen Kember

Sources
[1] Individual-Report-for-Edward-Stephen-Kember.pdf
[2] THE DOVER WAR MEMORIAL PROJECT – Surnames K and L http://www.doverwarmemorialproject.org.uk/Casualties/WWIInot/SurnamesKandL.htm
[3] 3.7-inch guns of 60th (City of London) Heavy Anti- Aircraft Regiment … https://www.facebook.com/groups/homefronthistory/posts/25312068638423229/
[4] 22 Anti-Aircraft Brigade – The Royal Artillery 1939-45 https://ra39-45.co.uk/units/anti-aircraft-brigades/22-anti-aircraft-brigade
[5] Battle for Tunisia | 1942-43 – The Documentarian https://thedocumentarian.org/battle-for-tunisia-1942-43/
[6] Majaz al Bab – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majaz_al_Bab
[7] [PDF] 4 Indian Infantry Division (1943 Tunisia) – British Military History https://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/124/2020/09/4-Indian-Infantry-Division-1943-Tunisia.pdf
[8] BENALBANACH PASSENGER/CARGO SHIP 1940-1943 – Wreck Site https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?32106
[9] 17 LAA RA, 1943 North Africa – WW2Talk https://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads%2F17-laa-ra-1943-north-africa.6490%2F
[10] Artillery Regiments Page – Desert Rats http://www.desertrats.org.uk/orgartillery.htm
[11] Aircrew Remembered Aviation Personal Histories and Databases https://aircrewremembered.com/RoyalNavyFleetAirArmDatabase/?s=100&q=Air+Gunner
[12] Tunisia, 1942-1943 – Irish Brigade https://www.irishbrigade.co.uk/roll-honour-details-1000-men-died-campaigns-irish-brigade/roll-of-honour-tunisia-1942-1943/
[13] 1st Army Group Royal Artillery – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Army_Group_Royal_Artillery
[14] Gun craft tragedy 1943 site, Freshwater West – History Points https://historypoints.org/index.php?page=gun-craft-tragedy-1943-site
[15] January 1943. – London Irish Rifles Association https://www.londonirishrifles.com/index.php/second-world-war/month-by-month/january-1943/
[16] Collection: WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL … https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205013522
[17] Medjez-el-Bab War Cemetery, Tunisia – Commando Veterans Archive https://www.commandoveterans.org/Medjez-el-Bab-Cemetery
[18] 12 Anti-Aircraft Brigade – The Royal Artillery 1939-45 https://ra39-45.co.uk/units/anti-aircraft-brigades/12-anti-aircraft-brigade
[19] Royal Navy casualties, killed and died, December 1943 https://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1943-12DEC.htm
[20] Casualties 1-4 Jan 1943 – rafweb.org https://www.rafweb.org/Members%20Pages/Casualties/1940s/1943/Casualties_1943_01-01.htm
[21] 87th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/87th_Heavy_Anti-Aircraft_Regiment,_Royal_Artillery