Smith, Dvr Sidney, 4469344. Died 4/7/43, serving with 548 General Transport Company, Royal Army Service Corps, aged 21. Son of Robert and Minnie Smith, of Shildon, Co Durham. Brookwood Memorial, Panel 17, Column 2. Died at Sea.

Stephenson, Pte Harry Powell. 4469350. Originally enlisted DLI, 4 ITC, Brancepeth. Re-enforcement draft to India, 1942. Served with the 142 Commando/13th Bn Kings (Liverpool) Regiment in Burma on first Chindit expedition, 'Operation Longcloth' and successfully regained India, 1943. See this external site:

http://www.chinditslongcloth1943.com/dli-commandos.html

Taylor, Pte Gordon, 4469354. Enlisted DLI, 4 ITC Brancepeth, 12/41, Re-enforcement draft to India, 1942. Served with the 142 Commando/13th Bn Kings (Liverpool) Regiment in Burma on first Chindit expedition, 'Operation Longcloth' and successfully regained India, 1943. See this external site:

http://www.chinditslongcloth1943.com/dli-commandos.html

Thompson, Pte Frederick, 4469358. Died 12/3/43, serving with 16 DLI. Son of Frederick and Janet Thompson, of Sunderland, Co Durham. Medjez-el-Bab War Cemetery, Tunisia, 12 D 20.

Photograph, Sunderland Echo, 26/3/43, p 5: 'Pte F Thompson (21) DLI, 150 St Leonard Street, who has died of wounds in North Africa.'

Todd, Pte J W 4469361, Stalag 344 in early 1945, German POW Number 81337. Previously held in Italy.

Tomlinson, Pte James Frederick, 4469363. Of 19 Haddon St, Middlesbrough. Enlisted 4 ITC, Brancepeth, 12/41. Captured by Japanese, serving with 142 Commando/13th Bn Kings (Liverpool) Regiment in Burma, 28/4/43. Survived captivity. See this external site which features an image of his Japanese POW capture card:

http://www.chinditslongcloth1943.com/dli-commandos.html

And also this page which has a portrait photograph and obituary: http://www.chinditslongcloth1943.com/jim-tomlinson-column-8-commando.html

Tunney, Pte Thomas, 4469365 Enlisted 4 ITC Brancepth, 12/41. Posted C Coy, 16 DLI 4/42. Captured Sedjenane, Tunisia, 2/3/43.

Photograph, Sunderland Echo, 30/3/43, p 4: Pte T Tunney, DLI, Theodore Cottage, Thornley, reported missing in North Africa.'

Hartepool Mail, 26/3/43, p 2: 'Reported missing. Official notification has been received that Private Thomas Tunney, DLI, son of Mr and Mrs Hubert Tunney, of Theodore Cottage, Thornley, has been posted as missing in North Africa. Before joining up in December 1941, Pte Tunney was employed by Easington Rural District Council. Pte Tunney's father is well known in mining circles in the North East. He is at present on the staff of the Ministry of Fuel and Power in Newcastle. Formerly he was a member of the Easington Rural District Council and on the Durham Miners Federation Board. Another son is on the RAF and a third in the Royal Navy. A daughter who as been in HM Forces since before the war broke out, is at present serving in India.'

Previously at Camps PG 66, 17/3/43 to 30/6/43; PG 53, 1/7/43 to 9/43 in Italy; Stalag 4B from 18/9/43 to 14/10/43, POW No 227987; Stalag 4D Bad Schmiedeberg work camp W 603, 15/10/43 to 5/4/45. From Thornley Colliery, Co Durham, Bad Schmiedeberg W603, see group photo.

1995 interview with author held by IWM Sound Archive:

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80019434

Vert [Veart], Pte Dennis, 4469366. On trial as a Salerno 'Mutineer' in 10/43, therefore must have served with 6th, 8th or 9th DLI, prior to being posted to mainland Italy.

Photograph, Hartlepool Mail, 4/10/43: 'Met in Middle East. Two of the sons of Mr and Mrs William Vert, of 11 Princes Street, Middleton, have met while serving in the Middle East. They are Thomas (27) on right and Dennis (22), who are serving respectively in the REs and the DLI. Before joining the Army four years ago, Thomas who was in the Dunkirk evacuation and has been in the Middle East for three years, was a plasterer. Dennis who is married, has been in the forces for just over two years and was formerly a bricklayer. Since going abroad he has been in Libya and Sicily and is at present in hospital with malaria. Both attended St Mary's School Hartlepool. Their father is a foy boatman and their brother William is on a salvage boat.'

Wearmouth, L/Cpl H, 4469370, DLI. Enlisted 4 ITC Brancepth, 12/41. Stalag 4DZ, POW No 226872. D Coy, 16 DLI. Possibly on 1942 D Coy photo:

http://16dli.awardspace.com/page60.html

Captured Sedjenane, Tunisia, circa 2/3/43.

Weedy, Pte Thomas, 4469371. Enlisted DLI, 4 ITC, Brancepeth, 12/41. Died 28/2/43, serving with 13th Bn The King's Regt (Liverpool), 28/2/43, aged 22. Son of Thomas and Ann Eddy Weedy of Gateshead. Rangoon Memorial, Face 6.

Re-enforcement draft to India, 1942. Died serving with 142 Commando/13th Bn Kings (Liverpool) Regiment in Burma on first Chindit expedition, 'Operation Longcloth'. See this external site:

http://www.chinditslongcloth1943.com/dli-commandos.html

Whitfield, John Thomas, Pte, 4469374, 16 DLI. Enlisted 4 ITC Brancepeth, 11/12/41. Captured 27/2/43, Sedjenane.

Photograph Sunderland Echo, 20/4/43: 'Pte J T Whitefield (22) DLI, James Armitage Street, previously reported missing now prisoner of war in Italian hands.'

Possibly A Coy. Camp PG 66 Italy, 3/43 to 6/43; Camp PG 53 6/43 to 9/43. Worked at Falkenburg railway work camp of Stalag 4D in Germany. POW No 226990.