ATHERTON, William Temperley
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Known as:
Bill
Rank:
Marine
Unit / Base:
46RM Commando
Regiment/Corps:
Royal Marines
Service:
Royal Navy
Number:
PLY/X 111533
Born:
Friday, March 20, 1925
Birthplace:
Radcliffe, Lancashire
Died :
Friday, June 30, 1944
Killed in action or died of wounds
Age:
19
Cemetery/Memorial:
Operations:
Marine William Atherton, 'B' troop, died during operations at Normandy, France. He was in a patrol that came under heavy mortar fire after being sent to occupy a farm house, La Grande Ferme du Buisson, at Sallenelles [1][2][4].
Son of Samuel and Lydia Dorothy Atherton, of Radcliffe, Lancashire [1].
Educated at Bury Grammar School. Joined the Cadet Corps aged 17 [5].
Sources
[1] CWGC.
[2] Registers of Reports of Deaths - Naval Ratings / National Archives file ADM 104/127.
[3] The Story of 46 Commando Royal Marines by Capt Johnson RM. (published in 1946.)
[4] Accounts of veterans John Harrison and Reg Bettis in Broken Bridges (authors Keith Taylor with Jeff Hewitt).
[5] [Image] John Swain (2nd Cousin).
Notes
The CWGC at [1] above record date of death as 30 June 1944. Sources [2] [3] and Reg Bettis at [4] record the date as 2nd July 1944. The image above was pre commando when he was 17 which is annotated on rear of photo.
Primary Roll of Honour:
Photo of Commando in Gallery:
Yes
Archive pages :
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