Gallery – WWII

The next photo was donated by Trevor Skingle, who’s grandfather is circled in the photo, other Bomb Disposal/EOD photos can be found at http://www.flickr.com/
Contributed by kenneth1920

People in story: 15 Bomb Disposal Company RE Location of story: 
North West London
Background to story: Army
Article ID: A2790560
Contributed on: 28 June 2004

In 1942 I was a sapper with 15 Bomb Disposal Company RE and we had dug down to an unexploded bomb in North-West London and, having exposed the fuse, were waiting for our officer, Lieut. Rumsey, to come and de-fuse it. 

While we were eating our sandwich lunch, at a distance from the bomb, a man came up and spoke to the sergeant. Is there really a bomb down there? Yes, the officer is coming to take the fuse out, then we will lift the bomb out and take it away.Well be very careful with it, I have got a very valuable piano in the flat over there.

www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/60/a27905 60.shtml 

1941 – Soon after it was decided that for greater efficiency, control and command, those companies which were covering a specific area together should form a Group. Probably the equivalent of a Regiment or Battalion in other branches of the Army.
No 1 B D Group was in London, with its H Q at Princes Gate, Kensington and was commanded by Lt Col E Stanton RE. The companies under his command were; No 2 at Balham, No 5 at Acton, No 15 at Mill Hill, No 21 at South Woodford, No 24 at Chiswick and No 25 at Eltham. Two years later this group was looking after No 28, commanded by Major G H Bradbury RE, with eight sections, which was based at Chelsea prior to it being posted out to the Middle East to join No 18, which had been out there for almost two years

In 1942, Nos 8, 15 and 17 B D Companies joined the task force for the invasion of North Africa (Algeria).

Roll of Honour.

1943 June 10th – L/Cpl George Ferguson, Spr Stanley Genty, Spr Jesse Keen, Spr Thomas W. Littler, Sgt George H. Sim, L/Cpl John Sinclair, of 15 Bomb Disposal Company and Priv Richard Whitfield ACC. In Tunisia, many hand grenades and mines had been recovered. This were transported by two three ton lorry’s, to a safe place for disposal. The bomb load exploded, killing all bar Les Stokes, who had gone to the cab to get a hat.

1943 December 13th: Spr F.G. Hawkins, of 15 Bomb Disposal Company

1944 September 8th: Cpl C. Cooper, of 15 Bomb Disposal Company, Rome War Cemetery, Italy.

1945 April 17th: Cpl H. Bell, of 15 Bomb Disposal Company. Ravenna War Cemetery, Italy.

1945 May 1st: Cpl L.E. Barnhurst, of 15 Bomb Disposal Company. Padua War Cemetery, Italy.

All the above details supplied from Trevor Skingles pages on FLICKR

Sent by Peter Markham