TUNSTALL, Francis Barnard

Rank: 
Private
Unit / Base: 
50ME Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Sussex Regiment
Service: 
Army
Number: 
6400012
Died : 
Friday, February 28, 1941
Killed in action or died of wounds
Age: 
21
Cemetery/Memorial: 
Private Francis Tunstall was reported missing presumed drowned attempting to escape the enemy during operations on the enemy occupied Greek island of Kastellorizo. He has no known grave. Son of Sydney Charles and Alice Louise Tunstall; grandson of Alice Short, of Plymouth.
Report by Trooper Weston
"During operations on the island of Casterosa on or about 28-2-41, I was on a patrol in a section consisting of Cpl. Bate (Section Commander), Tpr. Pollard, Tpr Blackburn, Pte. Tunstall, myself and two others, when owing to a large party of the enemy landing between us and our lines we were forced to stay as we were.  
We tried for 2 days to return to our own lines. When our forces withdrew we were left behind. The following night Cpl. Bate and Pte Tunstall volunteered to swim to the Turkish shore and get a boat for the remaindeer of the section as two of us were poor swimmers. We never saw them again.
One night later the remainder of us set out for the Turkish shore. I entered the water with Tpr. Pollard  and Tpr Blackburn but in the dark we lost contact.  They never reached the other side. I never saw anything of Tpr. Robinson."   
 
Sources
CWGC.
Casualty Lists / National Archives files WO417/23 and WO417/35.
50 Me Cdo Casualty List 25th-28th Feb. 1941 in Crete - Ref. GRO2E/1188/69C / National Archives WO361/124.

Report by 323119 Tpr J. Weston, ME Depot Cdo. Ref. National Archives /WO361/124.
 
Primary Roll of Honour: 

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