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Suez Maru
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Sunk 29th November 1943
by USS Bonefish, off Kangean Islands 6º 22' South by 116º 35' East.
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In 1943, the Japanese decided to ship the sick back to Java. A total of 640 men, including a number of Japanese sick patients, were taken on board the 4,645-ton passenger-cargo ship Suez Maru. In two holds, 422 sick British (including 221 RAF servicemen) and 127 sick Dutch prisoners, including up to twenty stretcher cases, were accommodated. The Japanese patients filled the other two holds.
Escorted by a minesweeper W-12, the Suez Maru set sail from Port Amboina but while entering the Java Sea and about 327 kilometers east of Surabaya, Java, Netherlands East Indies, the vessel was torpedoed by the American submarine USS Bonefish commanded by Cdr. Tom Hogan. The ship started to list as water poured into the holds drowning hundreds, many managed to escape the holds and swam away from the sinking ship. The Japanese mine sweeper W-12 picked up the Japanese survivors, leaving between 200 and 250 men in the sea. At 14.50, the minesweeper, W-12, under orders from Captain Kawano, opened fire, using a machine gun and rifles. Rafts and lifeboats were then rammed and sunk by the W-12. The firing did not cease till all the prisoners were killed, the minesweeper then picked up speed and sped off towards Batavia (Jakarta) at 16.30 hours.
Sixty-nine Japanese had died during the attack, 93 Japanese soldiers and 205 Japanese sick patients were rescued by the Japanese. Of the 547 British and Dutch prisoners, there is reported to be one survivor, a British soldier, Kenneth Thomas, who was picked up twenty-four hours later by the Australian minesweeper HMAS Ballarat, this has not been confirmed.
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The roll below is of the British fatalities
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Abbott, Walter James
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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242 Squadron
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Agar, John Robert
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Royal Artillery
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232 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt.
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Alderson, Joseph Batty
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Royal Air Force
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220 Squadron
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Alton, George
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Royal Armoured Corps
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3 Kings Own Hussars
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Andrews, Eric William
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Argust, Thomas John
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Royal Artillery
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241 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt.
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Arnold, William
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Royal Corps of Signals
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77 H.A.A. Regt., R.A. Sig. Sec.
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Ashby, John Thomas
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Royal Artillery
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89 Bty., 35 Lt. A.A. Regt.
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Ashworth, Stanley Glendon
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Badcock, Ingerson Keith Fey
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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242 Squadron
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Bailey, Leonard John Edward
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Royal Artillery
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239 Bty., 79 (The Hertfordshire Yeomanry) H.A.A. Regt. Royal Artillery
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Barber, George John William
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Barson, William James
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Royal Armoured Corps
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3 Kings Own Hussars
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Bartlett, Reginald Walker
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Royal Artillery
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240 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt. Royal Artillery
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Baxter, Nelson Frederick Robert J
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Royal Artillery
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RA 77 HAA Regiment 239 Battery
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Baylis, Peter Henry
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Royal Artillery
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241 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt
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Beard, Kenneth
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Royal Artillery
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RA 77 HAA Regiment 240 Battery
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Beatty, Maurice Alfred Albert
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Royal Air Force
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84 Squadron
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Beesley, Thomas
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Royal Army Service Corps
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attd. 21 Lt. A.A. Regt. Royal Artillery
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Bell, William
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Bennell, William John
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Royal Artillery
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RA 21 LAA Regiment 79 Battery
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Bennett, Alex Henry
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Royal Air Force (Auxiliary Air Force
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Bere, Claude Henry
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Royal Air Force
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62 Squadron
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Bessant, Thomas Edward
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Royal Artillery
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15 Bty., 6 H.A.A. Regt.
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Black, Horace George
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Royal Artillery
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RA 77 HAA Regiment 241 Battery
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Blackwood, David
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Blake, Horace George
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Royal Artillery
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241 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt.
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Blakely, Alfred George
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Royal Air Force
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Bockman, G R H
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Bogie, James Walter
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Royal Artillery
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239 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt.
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Bonner, Ivanhoe Frederick
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Royal Air Force
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Boswell, Arthur
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Royal Artillery
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12 Bty., 6 H.A.A. Regt. Royal Artillery.
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Boulton, Ben
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Bowins, Edwin
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Royal Artillery
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89 Bty., 35 Lt. A.A. Regt.
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Boyton, Sidney Walter
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Royal Artillery
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241 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt.
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Bracegirdle, Phil
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Brant, Joseph Eric
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Brentnall, Alfred Sidney
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Royal Air Force
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84 Squadron
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Broadhurst, James
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Royal Air Force
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Brockman, George Reginald Henry
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Brodie, William Forbes Petrie
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Bromley, Thomas
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Brooker, Donald Archie
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Brookes, Alec
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Royal Air Force
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232 Squadron
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Brooks, Ronald
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Royal Corps of Signals
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RA 77 HAA Sig. Sec.
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Brown, Leslie
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Royal Air Force
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Brown, Robert Aitken
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Brown, Victor Lewis Clarke
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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605 Squadron
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Buck, Edwin Norman
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Royal Armoured Corps
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3 Kings Own Hussars
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Bumpus, Richard
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Royal Army Service Corps
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attd. 77 H.A.A. Regt Royal Artillery
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Burt, Walter
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Burton, George Harold
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Royal Air Force (Auxiliary Air Force)
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211 Squadron
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Butler, Ralph David
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Royal Armoured Corps
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3 Kings Own Hussars
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Butler, William Henry
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Royal Artillery
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239 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt. Royal Artillery
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Buzzacott, Sydney John
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Royal Artillery
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241 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt. Royal Artillery
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Callaghan, Charles
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Royal Armoured Corps
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3 Kings Own Hussars
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Carlin, Joseph Ernest
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Carroll, Robert
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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211 Squadron
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Carter, Sidney Albert
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Royal Armoured Corps
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3 Kings Own Hussars
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Chambers, Sydney John Albert
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Chandler, Henry George Ernest
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Royal Air Force
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84 Squadron
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Chapman, William Laing
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Checketts, Ernest Edward
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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605 Squadron
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Clarke, Albert Stafford
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Royal Artillery
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241 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt.
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Clarke, Arthur Edmund
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Royal Artillery
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89 Bty., 35 Lt. A.A. Regt.
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Clarke, William Arthur
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Royal Corps of Signals
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77 H.A.A. Regt., R.A. Sig. Sec.
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Clegg, Harold Creighton
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Clement, George William
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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99 Squadron
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Coates, Bernard
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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84 Squadron
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Cole, Robert Alex
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Royal Air Force
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Coleman, David Clifford
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Royal Artillery
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241 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt.
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Coleman, George John
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Royal Artillery
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239 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt.
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Collingwood, Richard Anthony
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Royal Air Force
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84 Squadron
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Connett, John Henry
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Cook, John Harold
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Royal Artillery
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79 Bty., 21 Lt. A.A. Regt.
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Cooper, Raymond Hilary
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Royal Army Ordnance Corps attd. Royal Artillery
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attd. 48 Lt. A.A. Regt. Royal Artillery
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Coughlin, Michael
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Royal Artillery
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240 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt.
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Couley, Thomas
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Royal Artillery
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239 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt.
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Cousins, Arthur William Charles
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Royal Air Force
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242 Squadron
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Cowell, Raymond William Frederick
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Royal Artillery
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240 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt.
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Croston, Thomas
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Royal Air Force
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211 Squadron
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Currie, David Robson
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Daft, William
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Darwen, Geoffrey George
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Royal Air Force
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84 Squadron
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Davenport, Richard James
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Royal Artillery
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21 Lt. A.A. Regt.
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Davey, Harold George Aldredge
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General List
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Davies, John Samuel
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Royal Artillery
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239 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt.
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Davies, William Elwyn
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Royal Artillery
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241 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt.
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Davis, Frederick George William
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Royal Artillery
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240 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt.
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Davis, Jack
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Royal Artillery
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126 Bty., 44 Lt. A.A. Regt.
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Dawson, George
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Royal Artillery
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240 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt.
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Dicks, Sydney William
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Dickson, Robert
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Royal Armoured Corps
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3 Kings Own Hussars
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Digsby, John James
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Royal Corps of Signals
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77 H.A.A. Regt., R.A. Sig. Sec.
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Dixon, William
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Dodds, Roy Alexander
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Royal Air Force
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Donaldson, John
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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211 Squadron
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Dring, Edwin
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Royal Artillery
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RA 21 LAA Regiment
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Dron, Charles Phillips
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Dunlop, Ronald Albert
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Royal Air Force
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Dunning, Norman
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Royal Armoured Corps
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3 Kings Own Hussars
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Dunphy, Cyril Thomas
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Earl, Colin Stuart
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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605 Squadron
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Edis, Jim
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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84 Squadron
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Edmondson, Robert
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Royal Corps of Signals
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77 H.A.A. Regt., R.A. Sig. Sec.
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Edwards, Frederick Ernest
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Royal Armoured Corps
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3 Kings Own Hussars
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Elias, Thomas Islwyn
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Ellison, Edward
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Ellwood, Bernard
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Royal Artillery
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241 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt
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Emery, Alfred William John
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Royal Armoured Corps
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3 Kings Own Hussars
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Emms, Douglas Charles
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Royal Artillery
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79 Bty., 21 Lt. A.A. Regt.
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Entwistle, Stanley
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Entwistle, William
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Royal Army Ordnance Corps
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attd. 48 Lt. A.A. Regt. Royal Artillery
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Evans, Thomas John
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Fairhurst, Albert
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Falconer, Herbert King
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Royal Artillery
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78 Bty., 35 Lt. A.A. Regt.
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Farmer, Albert
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Royal Armoured Corps
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3 Kings Own Hussars
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Farnell, Arthur Sidney
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Fawcett, Henry
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Royal Air Force
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Fawcett, John
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Royal Artillery
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241 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt.
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Ferguson, Robert Alfred
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Royal Artillery
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40 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt.
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Files, Frank
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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100 Squadron
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Filmer, Brian
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Fitch, Leslie Ernest
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Royal Artillery
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RA 21 LAA Regiment 79 Battery
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Flavell, John Wilfred
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Foster, Charles Herbert
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Royal Artillery
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79 Bty., 21 Lt. A.A. Regt.
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Foster, Joseph Renton
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Frith, Jack
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Royal Artillery
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239 Bty., 77 H.A.A. Regt.
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Frost, Leslie Alan
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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Fullarton, Alexander Frederick
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Royal Corps of Signals
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77 H.A.A. Regt., R.A. Sig. Sec.
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Fulton, Alan
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Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
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