Cemetery: MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Country: Tunisia

Historical Information: In May 1943, the war in North Africa came to an end in Tunisia with the defeat of the Axis powers by a combined Allied force. The campaign began on 8 November 1942, when Commonwealth and American troops made a series of landings in Algeria and Morocco. The Germans responded immediately by sending a force from Sicily to northern Tunisia, which checked the Allied advance east in early December. Meanwhile, in the south, the Axis forces defeated at El Alamein were withdrawing into Tunisia along the coast through Libya, pursued by the Allied Eighth Army. By mid April 1943, the combined Axis force was hemmed into a small corner of north-eastern Tunisia and the Allies were grouped for their final offensive. Many of those buried at Massicault War Cemetery died in the preparation for the final drive to Tunis in April 1943 and in that advance at the beginning of May. The cemetery contains 1,576 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 130 of them unidentified.

No. of Identified Casualties: 1448

 

Guardsman FREDERIC ARTHUR ALLCOCK 2720817, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 23 on 27 April 1943

Son of Jesse and Jane Allcock; husband of Margaret Allcock, of Castle Northwich, Cheshire.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. C. 19.

See Times article Aug 02, 1943; ORs KILLED IN ACTION

Guardsman ERNEST GILBERT BATTEY 2723087, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 20 on 27 April 1943

Son of Ernest and Mary Battey, of Old Glossop, Derbyshire.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: III. K. 11.

Guardsman RICHARD WILKINSON BLACKBURN 2722335, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 32 on 28 April 1943

Son of William and Mary Ellen Blackburn, of Winmarleigh, Lancashire.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. J. 2.

Guardsman JAMES BRADY 2719497, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died on 29 April 1943

Son of Mr. and Mrs. P. Brady, of Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan, Irish Republic.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. M. 10.

 

Lance Corporal FRANK BUCKLEY 4615494, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 23 on 30 April 1943

Son of William and Mary Buckley.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. K. 5.

Guardsman MICHAEL JAMES DEMPSEY 2721077, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 21 on 30 April 1943

Son of Peter and Esther Dempsey, of Tullamore, King's Co., Irish Republic.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: III. E. 16.

Guardsman SYDNEY ALBERT DRAKE 2719137, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 25 on 27 April 1943

Son of Albert William and Ethel Harriet Drake, of Wimbledon, Surrey.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: III. H. 10.

See Times article Aug 02, 1943; ORs KILLED IN ACTION

Lance Corporal PATRICK JOSEPH DUFFY 2717825, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 34 on 29 April 1943

Son of Joseph and Brigid Duffy.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. C. 12.

 

Guardsman THOMAS DUNNE 3384137, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 30 on 30 April 1943

Son of Edward and Elizabeth Dunne; husband of Edith Dunne, of Chelsea, London.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. G. 6.

Guardsman ROBERT BRUCE EDWARDS 2718368, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 28 on 30 April 1943

Son of Albert Edward and Ellen Edwards; husband of Emily Tryphena Edwards, of Eccleshall, Staffordshire.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. G. 18.

Captain JOHN BRINSLEY FITZGERALD 69552, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 29 on 27 April 1943

Son of Capt. Arthur Fitzgerald, and of Mary Fitzgerald, of Hyde Park, London.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. M. 6.

See Times article May 14, 1943; FALLEN OFFICER, FITZGERALD

See Times article May 14, 1943; JB FITZGERALD, KILLED IN ACTION

See Times article May 17, 1943; JB FITZGERALD, KILLED IN ACTION

Guardsman JOHN HALL 2721781, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 31 on 27 April 1943

Son of George and Dorothy Hall, of Glossop, Derbyshire.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. J. 8.

 

Guardsman CHARLES HANDLEY 2721897, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 23 on 30 April 1943

Son of Ralph and Annie Handley, of Manchester; husband of Violet Handley, of Openshaw, Manchester.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. J. 16.

Guardsman JOHN HARRIS Mentioned in Despatches 2721001, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 28 on 28 April 1943

Son of John and Katherine Harris, of Deptford, London.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. J. 14.

 

Guardsman OWEN ROBERT HARRIS 2717743, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 34 on 30 April 1943

Son of Philip and Catherine Mary Harris, of Brownswood, Co. Wexford, Irish Republic; husband of Mary Jane Harris. of Brownswood.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. J. 3.

Lance Serjeant ROBERT HENDERSON 2722402, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 23 on 29 April 1943

Son of James and Nellie Henderson, of Belfast, Northern Ireland; husband of Elizabeth Henderson.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. J. 10.

 

Guardsman JAMES HENNESSY 2717841, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 28 on 27 April 1943

Son of Thomas and Margaret Hennessy; husband of Winifred Margaret Hennessy, of Doncaster, Yorkshire.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. E. 20.

Guardsman BERT KELLY 2718103, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 29 on 30 April 1943

Husband of Eileen Kelly, of Dulwich, London.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: III. G. 19.

 

Drummer EDMUND CHARLES KELLY 2718550, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 21 on 30 April 1943

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. G. 11.

Lance Serjeant MICHAEL KINANE 2721739, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 30 on 30 April 1943

Son of Patrick and Cathrine Kinane; husband of Jennie Kinane, of Cricklewood, Middlesex.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. J. 12.

Warrant Officer Class II MICHAEL ALBERT KINANE 2718799, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 24 on 27 April 1943

Son of John and Mary Kinane; husband of Mary Ann Kinane.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: III. K. 12.

 

Guardsman ROBERT HENRY KING 2720970, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 29 on 29 April 1943

Son of Robert and Mary King; husband of Isabella King, of Brixton, London.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. G. 2.

 

Lance Serjeant GEORGE CECIL FRANK KITNEY 2721566, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 26 on 30 April 1943

Son of Alfred and Ada Jessie Kitney; husband of Ruth Ellen Kitney, of Eccles, Kent.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. E. 19.

 

Lance Serjeant JAMES LANDERS 2717927, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 29 on 30 April 1943

Son of Joseph Patrick and Margaret Landers; husband of Elizabeth Mary Landers, of Glanamman, Carmarthenshire.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. J. 7.

Lance Corporal RALPH LOCKLEY 2722901, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 21 on 30 April 1943

Son of Victor and Elsie Victoria Lockley, of Liverpool; husband of Agnes Angela Lockley, of Liverpool.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. J. 1.

Lieutenant DENNIS GERALD MADDEN Mentioned in Despatches 156080, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 32 on 30 April 1943

Son of Gerald Hugh Charles and Mabel Lucy Madden; husband of Rosalind Madden. Barrister-at-Law.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. J. 20.

See Times article May 15, 1943; FALLEN OFFICERS, MADDEN

See Times article May 15, 1943; MADDEN, KILLED IN ACTION

See Times article Oct 18, 1943; Lt. MADDEN, PERSONAL TRIBUTE

See Times article Times, Apr 30, 1946; MADDEN, IN MEMORIAM

156080 Lieutenant Dennis Gerald Madden, Mentioned in Despatches

From The Times, Monday, October 18, 1943

“PERSONAL TRIBUTE

Lieutenant D.G. MADDEN

J.S.M. writes:-

It was a great shock to all his friends when the news reached them that Dennis Madden had been killed in North Africa.  From the commencement of the war he had but one wish - to join the Irish Guards.  His father had died of wounds received when commanding the Irish Guards during the last war.  For many months he was unable to satisfy his great wish, for he could not be spared from the responsible work with which he had been charged.  His determination to join up, however, never wavered, and in 1940 he achieved his great ambition and joined his father's regiment as a private, and in due course received his commission.  He accompanied his regiment to North Africa, and died with that supreme heroism which was altogether expected of him by his friends for his whole life, and all his actions were tinged with it. 

A brother officer has written: "Dennis was a tower of strength and worth 10 men.  He was killed while rallying the men, and could not have died more gallantly.  Whenever I shut my eyes I still see him cheering them on."  Another officer wrote: "He did absolutely brilliantly and was leading his men into a counter-attack at a most critical moment when he was hit by a shell ... he was here, there, and everywhere rallying men, leading and encouraging when things looked very black."  So died a very gallant gentleman, and those of us who knew him must assuredly feel he died as he would have wished and at a moment when he was at his happiest.

We mourn a friend we loved and admired; he was a born leader, always thoughtful for others, full of the joy of life. He was educated at Wellington, and took up banking as a profession, where a very successful future appeared sure.  He was called to the Bar in 1939.”

Guardsman HERBERT MAGEE 2719655, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 25 on 27 April 1943

Son of Edward and Agnes Magee, of Newcastle, Co. Down, Northern Ireland.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: III. E. 19.

Lance-Sergeant THOMAS MAGUIRE 2718338, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 26 on 06 May 1943

Son of Bernard and Rose Ann Maguire, of Tullyrosmearn, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: III. H. 20.

See Times article Aug 02, 1943; ORs KILLED IN ACTION

 

Lieutenant FRANCIS ARTHUR MAHAFFY 165051, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 22 on 27 April 1943

Son of Robert Pentland Mahaffy, and of the Hon. Mrs. Mahaffy, of Chislehurst, Kent. Exhibitioner of King's College, Cambridge.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. M. 9.

See Times article Jun 03, 1943; MAHAFFY KILLED IN ACTION

Warrant Officer Class II ROBERT MALONE 2716873, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 34 on 27 April 1943

Son of Henry and Elizabeth Mary Malone; husband of Jeannie Malone, of Little Heath, Potters Bar, Middlesex.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. C. 17.

 

Guardsman JOHN PATRICK MANLEY 2720377, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 23 on 27 April 1943

Son of Patrick and Sarah Anne Manley, of Burnley, Lancashire.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. J. 18.

Serjeant JAMES DOUGLAS MARR 2717958, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 28 on 27 April 1943

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: II. M. 1.

Guardsman LEONARD SYDNEY MELLISH 2719746, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 23 on 27 April 1943

Son of John and Alice Mellish, of Wandsworth, London.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: III. F. 20.

Guardsman JOHN MOLOUGHNEY 2721240, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died on 30 April 1943

Son of James Moloughney, and of Johanna Moloughney (nee Brien), of Thurles, Co. Tipperary, Irish Republic.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. J. 9.

Guardsman JEREMIAH MURPHY 2716837, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 38 on 27 April 1943

Son of James and Mary Murphy, of Bere Island, Co. Cork, Irish Republic.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. C. 16.

Lieutenant JOHN JOSHUA NUNN Mentioned in Despatches 165064, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 22 on 30 April 1943

Son of Joshua L. and Mabel F. Nunn, of Castlebridge, Co. Wexford, Irish Republic.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. G. 13.

See Times article May 19, 1943; FALLEN OFFICERS, NUNN

See Times article May 19, 1943; NUNN, KILLED IN ACTION

See Times article Times, Apr 30, 1946; NUNN, IN MEMORIAM

 

Lance Serjeant DAVID O'CONNOR 2716913, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 35 on 27 April 1943

Son of Thomas and Esther O'Connor; husband of Bridget O'Connor, of Cathair, Co. Tipperary, Irish Republic.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. C. 18.

Lieutenant JOHN GEORGE ALEXANDER PYM 219073, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 20 on 27 April 1943

Son of Maj. Alexander Ruthven Pym, Irish Guards, and Violet Helen Marie Pym, of Charing, Kent.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. G. 5.

See Times article May 19, 1943; FALLEN OFFICERS, PYM

See Times article May 19, 1943; PYM KILLED IN ACTION

Guardsman GERARD MICHAEL REID 2722642, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 29 on 30 April 1943

Son of Michael and Annie Reid, of Kilmessan, Co. Neath, Irish Republic.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: III. K. 10.

 

Guardsman CYRIL LEMAN ROSENDALE 2721292, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 28 on 30 April 1943

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. K. 2.

See Times article Aug 02, 1943; ORs KILLED IN ACTION

Guardsman ROBERT TWEED 2719086, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died on 30 April 1943

Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Tweed, of Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. G. 10.

 

Guardsman REGINALD VARE 2720441, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 23 on 30 April 1943

Son of James and Bertha Vare, of Bollington, Cheshire.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: III. E. 17.

See Henry Hayman’s entry under Gallantry

 

Guardsman CYRIL VAUSE 2720935, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 28 on 30 April 1943

Son of Jesse and Florrie Vause, of Brotherton, Yorkshire.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. G. 17.

Guardsman ISAAC LILLY WALKER 7019405, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 21 on 28 April 1943

Son of Isaac and Annie Walker, of Lurgan, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: III. H. 12.

Guardsman WILLIAM WALSH 2721242, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died on 28 April 1943

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. J. 15.

Guardsman WILLIAM HENRY WHITFIELD 2722912, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 21 on 30 April 1943

Son of Enoch Holford Whitfield, and of Hannah Louisa Whitfield, of Welling, Kent.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: III. K. 14.

Guardsman JOHN WOLFENDALE 2720442, 1st Bn., Irish Guards who died age 23 on 27 April 1943

Son of William and Mary Wolfendale, of Millbrook, Stalybridge, Cheshire.

Remembered with honour MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: V. J. 13.

Quis Separabit

Source: CWGC

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