This month sees the 80th Anniversary of the start of World War 2. We have here a little information on how the War started and we commemorate the first men listed on our Queensferry World 2 Memorial.
The Treaty of Versailles Outcome
In 1919 the leaders of England, France, Italy, and the United States met to determine how to force Germany to pay for the damages resulting from World War 1. Each of the leaders had significantly different goals for the outcome of the treaty. President Wilson of the United States desired a treaty based on his 14-point plan that he believed would result in peace in Europe while France wanted to punish Germany to ensure they could not start a war again. The British people wanted a similar outcome as France, while their leader sought to find compromise between the American and French stance during the discussions. The German leadership expected a treaty based on President Wilson’s 14 points, and were ultimately not happy with the terms dictated in the Treaty of Versailles.
The salient points of the treaty were:
– Germany was forced to pay approximately £6,600 million in reparations for damage caused by the war.
– Germany was forced to accept the blame for starting World War 1.
Land was taken away from Germany and given to others and union with Austria (Anschluss) was forbidden.
– Germany was not allowed to have an air force, submarines, or tanks and only six navy ships and a small army were permitted. The Rhineland also had to be de-militarized.
After the treaty was signed, the Germany populace was not happy with the terms and believed them to be too rough. In the 1920s, the German people and economy were suffering and could not afford the reparation payments. The price of basic goods and food significantly rose, and dissatisfaction with the government grew. This set the stage for Adolf Hitler to rise to power in the country.
The Treaty of Versailles Outcome
In 1919 the leaders of England, France, Italy, and the United States met to determine how to force Germany to pay for the damages resulting from World War 1. Each of the leaders had significantly different goals for the outcome of the treaty. President Wilson of the United States desired a treaty based on his 14-point plan that he believed would result in peace in Europe while France wanted to punish Germany to ensure they could not start a war again. The British people wanted a similar outcome as France, while their leader sought to find compromise between the American and French stance during the discussions. The German leadership expected a treaty based on President Wilson’s 14 points, and were ultimately not happy with the terms dictated in the Treaty of Versailles.
The salient points of the treaty were:
– Germany was forced to pay approximately £6,600 million in reparations for damage caused by the war.
– Germany was forced to accept the blame for starting World War 1.
Land was taken away from Germany and given to others and union with Austria (Anschluss) was forbidden.
– Germany was not allowed to have an air force, submarines, or tanks and only six navy ships and a small army were permitted. The Rhineland also had to be de-militarized.
After the treaty was signed, the Germany populace was not happy with the terms and believed them to be too rough. In the 1920s, the German people and economy were suffering and could not afford the reparation payments. The price of basic goods and food significantly rose, and dissatisfaction with the government grew. This set the stage for Adolf Hitler to rise to power in the country.
The Rise of Adolf Hitler
Hitler rose to the position of Chancellor of Germany in January 1933. In 1934, he started to secretly build warships, create an air force, and increase the size of the army. Compulsory military service was also implemented. Although France and Great Britain became aware of his actions, they believed that a stronger Germany might help stop the spread of Communism to Western Europe. Further testing Western powers, Hitler sent German forces into the Rhineland in 1936; however, neither Great Britain or France was ready to start another war and did nothing to stop Hitler.
During 1936, Hitler created two alliances. The Rome-Berlin Axis Pact created an alliance between Mussolini (Italy) and Germany and the Anti-Comintern Pact with Japan allied the Germans with Japan. After these alliances were created, Hitler began to retake land previously taken from Germany after World War 1.
After Hitler took Austria in March 1938. Austria asked for help from France and Britain but as Hitler said he was not interested in taking any other countries, no action was taken. 6 months later he demanded to have Czechoslovakia. The Munich Agreement was made with Prime Minster Neville Chamberlain . This agreement meant he could take Czechoslovakia as long as he took no other countries, but when Hitler invaded Poland on 1st September, action had to be taken. Britain and France declared war against Germany on 3rd September 1939. The result was six long years of World War II.
There is an excellent website which is the source of most of this information. For more information on World War 2 please click on button below.
Hitler rose to the position of Chancellor of Germany in January 1933. In 1934, he started to secretly build warships, create an air force, and increase the size of the army. Compulsory military service was also implemented. Although France and Great Britain became aware of his actions, they believed that a stronger Germany might help stop the spread of Communism to Western Europe. Further testing Western powers, Hitler sent German forces into the Rhineland in 1936; however, neither Great Britain or France was ready to start another war and did nothing to stop Hitler.
During 1936, Hitler created two alliances. The Rome-Berlin Axis Pact created an alliance between Mussolini (Italy) and Germany and the Anti-Comintern Pact with Japan allied the Germans with Japan. After these alliances were created, Hitler began to retake land previously taken from Germany after World War 1.
After Hitler took Austria in March 1938. Austria asked for help from France and Britain but as Hitler said he was not interested in taking any other countries, no action was taken. 6 months later he demanded to have Czechoslovakia. The Munich Agreement was made with Prime Minster Neville Chamberlain . This agreement meant he could take Czechoslovakia as long as he took no other countries, but when Hitler invaded Poland on 1st September, action had to be taken. Britain and France declared war against Germany on 3rd September 1939. The result was six long years of World War II.
There is an excellent website which is the source of most of this information. For more information on World War 2 please click on button below.
Queensferry's World War 2 Memorial
For the past few months we have been commemorating the men who lost their lives in 1944 and 1945. This month we look at the first Queensferry casualties on our Memorial.
Queensferry's first listed casualty of World War 2 was -
Corporal Adam Spiers Riddell (1918 - 1940)
There is some confusion over the spelling of Adams surname. Commonwealth War Records have him as Adam Riddell, as do his birth and marriage records, the Queensferry War Memorial has him as Adam Riddle.
He was born in 1918, in High Street, Queensferry. His parents were living in Glasgow although his mother was born in Queensferry. When Adam was born, his father was a Grocer but serving as a Private in the Army Ordnance Corps.
Adam served with the 4th Reserve. M.T. (Mechanical Transport) Company, Royal Army Service Corps.
The Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery (but not ammunition and military and technical equipment, which were the responsibility of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps); administration of barracks; the Army Fire Service; and provision of staff clerks to headquarters units.
The ASC Mechanical Transport Depot Companies filled a variety of administrative, recruitment, induction, training and re-supply roles. The Base Depots were based in the United Kingdom or at the port of entry to a theatre of war, such as France where Adam was serving. Advanced Depots were located further up the lines of communication.
Adam died in France on 6th January 1940, age 21. Records show it was caused by a traffic accident.
He is buried in Sainte Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, France. Grave Ref: Divn. 64. Plot 6. Row G. Grave 6 and he was awarded the 1939/45 Star and War medals.
For the past few months we have been commemorating the men who lost their lives in 1944 and 1945. This month we look at the first Queensferry casualties on our Memorial.
Queensferry's first listed casualty of World War 2 was -
Corporal Adam Spiers Riddell (1918 - 1940)
There is some confusion over the spelling of Adams surname. Commonwealth War Records have him as Adam Riddell, as do his birth and marriage records, the Queensferry War Memorial has him as Adam Riddle.
He was born in 1918, in High Street, Queensferry. His parents were living in Glasgow although his mother was born in Queensferry. When Adam was born, his father was a Grocer but serving as a Private in the Army Ordnance Corps.
Adam served with the 4th Reserve. M.T. (Mechanical Transport) Company, Royal Army Service Corps.
The Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery (but not ammunition and military and technical equipment, which were the responsibility of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps); administration of barracks; the Army Fire Service; and provision of staff clerks to headquarters units.
The ASC Mechanical Transport Depot Companies filled a variety of administrative, recruitment, induction, training and re-supply roles. The Base Depots were based in the United Kingdom or at the port of entry to a theatre of war, such as France where Adam was serving. Advanced Depots were located further up the lines of communication.
Adam died in France on 6th January 1940, age 21. Records show it was caused by a traffic accident.
He is buried in Sainte Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, France. Grave Ref: Divn. 64. Plot 6. Row G. Grave 6 and he was awarded the 1939/45 Star and War medals.
Able Seaman Alfred James Newman Case, 1897- 1940
Alfred was born in 1897 in Yarmouth. His father was a Fisherman in Grimsby who died in 1919 while serving as a Mate in the Mercantile Marines on Steam Trawler “Helcia”.
Alfred married in Falkirk in 1919 while living in Grangemouth but had moved to Queensferry by 1928.
Alfred had a long Naval career, first as a ‘Boy’ in the Royal Navy from 1913 – 1914 aged 16 -17, becoming an Ordinary Seaman in November 1915 aged 18, when he signed on for 12 years. He became an Able Seaman in May 1916. His occupation was a ‘Rope Worker’. Between 1914 and 1927 he served HMS Ganges, (a training ship based in Shotley, Suffolk), Pembroke (Shore Barracks), Indomnitable 1914 - 1916, Edgar (training ship), Warspite (1918), Theseus (Depot Ship), Actaeon (Torpedo Training Ship), Vernon (Torpedo Training School), Columbine (Port Edgar).
He was awarded the 1915 Star, Victory and British War Medals for his service during World War 1.
We do know that Alfred was Able Seaman in the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Willamette Valley when he died on 29th June 1940 aged 42.
HMS Willamette Valley, was a Special Service Ship, it was hit by 3 torpedoes from U 51, before it sunk on 29th June, with 25 survivors. The ship U51 was sunk by a torpedo from HMS Cachalot two months later with no survivors.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission has recorded him wrongly as Albert, not Alfred.
He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 35, column 1 and was awarded the 1939/45 Star and War Medals.
Able Seaman Geoffrey Basil Howes, 1903 – 1941
Geoffrey was born in 1903 in Norfolk. He was employed as a Farm Hand, as was his Father.
He married a Queensferry girl, in Dalmeny Manse in 1925. At that time he was serving in Port Edgar, at the Royal Naval Base HMS Columbine, a depot for Torpedo Boat Destroyers of the Grand Fleet.
A ‘Career Sailor’, he served as “Boy” in the Royal Navy from March 1919 and as Able Seaman from May 1921. He was serving on HMS Eglinton at the time of his death.
Geoffrey died on 24th February 1941 aged 37, from accidental drowning, at Harwich Pontoon, while returning on leave.
He is buried in Shotley Royal Navy Cemetery, Grave Ref: 1.D.4.
Geoffrey was awarded the RN Long Service and Good Conduct medal in 1936 and the 1939/45 Star and War Medals.
Gunner Patrick O’Donnell, 1901 - 1941
Patrick was born in 1901 in Dalmeny. His father was a Shale Miner.
He enlisted into the 57th Battery, 14th Light Anti- Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery.
During the 1930s the increasing need for anti-aircraft (AA) defence for Britain's cities was addressed by converting a number of TA infantry battalions into AA units. The 4th/5th Royal Scots was one of the battalions selected, becoming a searchlight (S/L) regiment in 1938. The A Company provided the basis for a new 14th (West Lothian, Royal Scots) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment of the Royal Artillery (RA). 57 LAA Battery was raised at South Queensferry on 17th January 1939. (Wikipedia)
The Western Desert Campaign (Desert War), took place in the deserts of Egypt and Lybia and was the main theatre in the North African Campaign during the Second World War.
In 1941, the 14th Lt. A.A. Reg. was involved in the siege of Tobruk (10th April – 27th November). It seems likely this is where Patrick died on 1st July 1941 aged 39.
Patrick is buried in Grave Ref: 4.F.5. Tobruk War Cemetery, Algeria and was awarded the 1939/45 Star and War medals.
Tobruk is a Mediterranean port with an excellent deep water harbour. During the war it was important to Allied and Axis forces alike, for the reception of supplies and reinforcements. In January 1941, it was taken from the Italians by General Wavell's forces, and after the clearance of the demolitions in the harbour the port was usable and proved invaluable. When Rommel commenced his drive across Cyrenaica towards Suez it was deemed essential that Tobruk be held, and the resulting siege lasted from 11 April to 10 December 1941, when the Axis forces were driven back. Tobruk War Cemetery incorporates the burial ground used during the siege. Many battlefield graves in the desert have been brought into the cemetery. There are now 2,282 Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World War buried or commemorated in Tobruk War Cemetery.
Gunner John Fairley, 1904 – 1941
John was born in 1904 in Ladybank, Collessie, Fife. His father was a Railway Bridge Painter.
John married in Dalmeny Church in 1934 and was living in Queensferry. He enlisted into the 57th Battery, 14th Light Anti- Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery.
During the 1930s the increasing need for anti-aircraft (AA) defence for Britain's cities was addressed by converting a number of TA infantry battalions into AA units. The 4th/5th Royal Scots was one of the battalions selected, becoming a searchlight (S/L) regiment in 1938. The A Company provided the basis for a new 14th (West Lothian, Royal Scots) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment of the Royal Artillery (RA). 57 LAA Battery was raised at South Queensferry on 17th January 1939. (Wikipedia)
The Western Desert Campaign (Desert war), took place in the deserts of Egypt and Lybia and was the main theatre in the North African Campaign during the Second World War.
In 1941, the 14th Lt. A.A. Reg. was involved in the siege of Tobruk (10th April – 27th November).
John died on 5th December 1941 aged 37, listed as missing, presumed killed during action.
He is commemorated on Column 35, Alamein Memorial, Egypt, and was awarded the 1939/45 Star and War medals.
The Alamein Memorial forms the entrance to the El Alamein War Cemetery in Egypt. The memorial commemorates nearly 12,000 servicemen of the British Empire who died in the Western Desert campaigns of the Second World War including the Battle of El Alamein (1942).
© Queensferry History Group 2019