Hello everyone.

[grahamhill]

Hi can any one help find records,stories.convoys or friends . For my granddad Thomas baxendale 1939-1943 dems gunner. 6TH maritime royal artillery from wigan

[Keith at Tregenna]

A site note:

FOR THOSE SEEKING HISTORICAL INFORMATION REGARDING RELATIVES:

Please note that it is important to include full names, date and place of birth and where possible death,
plus any other information you may already have such as discharge book numbers.

Please add all info that you can: Any chance of an American connection ?

LINK: Thomas Baxendale ( - 1943) - Find A Grave Memorial

K.

[grahamhill]

Sorry about the brief information Kieth.Please can you hekp ,all the info I have so far. date of dirth wigan 8/3/1911 and died/killed 26/7/1943..Rank gunner no 4467760 missing lost at sea .Regiment 6th maritime royal artillery. hope to hear from you soon graham sorry again.

[Hugh]

Hello and welcome,
Just to confirm that Keith does have the correct link for Thomas Baxendale. He was a DEMS gunner on ss ATHELDUCHESS who was presumed drowned 26th July 1943 at Bayway New Jersey.
There may be a note in the ship's official logbook as to the circumstances of his death. The ship arrived in New York 23 July 1943 and left on 30th July in convoy HX250 (NYC - Liverpool).

Regards
Hugh

[Keith at Tregenna]

ATHELDUCHESS 1:

GSN 20007781

ON 161088

Built as a molasses tanker

Built 1929 William Hamilton & Co., Port Glasgow

Yard No 406

For United Molasses Co.

Call Sign LNEV

Engines by Mirrlees Bickerton & Day Stockport

2 Oil 4SA each 12cyl 4200bhp

475ft x 63ft 4ins x 35ft Draught: 26 feet 9ins

8940 grt

INFO AND PIC LINK: Acorn Archive - Hearts of Oak - Athel Line - Athelduchess

A Little on the Maritime RA: LINK: http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/maritime/

The 6th Regiment appear to have been based (Severn Area) at Thornbury, Nr. Bristol ?


Firepower may best advise / help you further: LINK: http://www.firepower.org.uk/


Please see also: The D.E.M.s Gunners a tribute.

LINK 1: http://www.merchant-navy.net/forum/p...s-gunners.html

LINK 2: http://joesverse.simplesite.com/160596387


K.

[Ron B Manderson]

welcome to the site Graham
You are sure to get some info here.
Ron the batcave

[DeepSea]

[B]
LINK: Thomas Baxendale ( - 1943) - Find A Grave Memorial

K.

Strange he does not have an official CWGC headstone.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Strange he does not have an official CWGC headstone.

Hopefully more may be found: Long Island National Cemetery is for Veterans and their family only ?

HISTORICAL INFORMATION

FOR INFO LINK: Long Island National Cemetery - National Cemetery Administration

Confirmed by Hugh: He was a DEMS gunner on SS ATHELDUCHESS who was presumed drowned 26th July 1943 at Bayway, New Jersey.

Is it possible that Thomas, missing / lost at sea, just did not fit the CWGC criteria ?

There is a mention here of:

Thomas Baxendale

Great Britain - Commonwealth War Dead, FARMINGDALE, Gunner, LONG ISLAND NATIONAL CEMETERY, Maritime Regt, Royal Artillery ?

LINK: https://pipl.com/directory/name/baxendale/thomas/

K.

[Keith at Tregenna]

I SEE THIS AS A TRIBUTE TO THOMAS:

Lest we Forget.

****

6th Maritime Regt R.A.

HISTORY

****

LONG ISLAND NATIONAL CEMETERY, FARMINGDALE, United States of America.

BAXENDALE, Gunner, THOMAS, 4467760, 6 Maritime Regt., Royal Artillery. 26 July 1943. Grave Ref. Post Sec. Grave 25479.

No known Grave.

K.

LINK: lest we forget register of* 6th Maritime Regt r.A.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Strange he does not have an official CWGC headstone.

I now see that Thomas is CWGC commemorated: Possibly need to contact CWGC HQ, Maidenhead to find more on the headstone etc?

BAXENDALE, THOMAS

LINK: CWGC - Casualty Details

For Graham: You can download his official Tribute /Remembrance / Commemoration certificate from the above link.

K.