On Tue, 16 Jan 2007 19:48:19 +0000 (UTC), "Peter Metcalfe" <Peter-redfern@runbox.com> wrote: >Would some kind person do a look up for me please in the Soldiers Died in the Second World War CD-ROM. > >Major John Royle who was killed at Arnhem in September 1944. Here you are... Number 66172 Rank Major Name J P Royle (John) Regiment At 1 Sep 1939: No Regiment Recorded Regiment At Death: Glider Pilot Regt Place Of Birth: Sussex Place Of Residence: Wiltshire Died When 20/09/44 Died Where in Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45 The Times carried the following obituary for him in the edition of 23 Jan 1945: ------------- MAJOR J. P. ROYLE His commanding officer writes:— The announcement that John Royle had been killed in action at Arnhem was a bitter blow to his many friends; few of his age could have had so many and such a variety. He had that enviable quality of making friends wherever he went, both young and old, in every walk of life. His impressive appear- ance, charm of manner, and great sense of humour made a lasting and delightful imprint on the memory of all those who had the luck to know him. On the outbreak of war he enlisted at once and had the distinction of filling every rank up to that of Major (at one time acting as regimental-sergeant-major at the training establishment at Loch Ailort). A born soldier, he had the experience and enthusiasm which were so essential for the training of men in a new arm of the service. The success of the regiment in ultimate operations was largely due to his untiring efforts. In everything that he undertook he displayed great dash and energy, which was an inspiration to all con- cerned. It was in this manner, in the face of the enemy, that he met his untimely end. A true sportsman in every sense of the word, he lived to the full every moment of his 29 years; and died, as he would have wished, leading his men in a bold and gallant attack on the enemy. -------------- It's a very nice eulogy, and I suspect that when the author wrote "he lived to the full every moment", he may have been thinking of a certain event that happened before the war started... After being awarded a Cadetship to Sandhurst, Royle was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry in 1935, but was dismissed the service by General Court Martial! (London Gazette, 10 Mar 1939 refers) After his career as an officer in the HLI had been cut short, he enlisted as a ranker, and subsequently served in the Scots Guards, the Royal Scots and the Recce Corps before transferring to the Glider Pilot Regiment. Specifically... As a Warrant Officer Class 1 in the Scots Guards, was commissioned into the Royal Scots as a 2Lt with effect from 20 Mar 1941. As a 2Lt in the Royal Scots, transferred to the Recce Corps with effect from 21 Mar 1941 As a Lieutenant in the Recce Corps, transferred to the Glider Pilot Regiment with effect from 17 Aug 1942 To help with the genealogy, here are a few other bits and pieces... John Popplewell Royle was born on 25 Feb 1918, and was son of Major John Bedward Royle of the South Wales Borderers. He entered the King's School, Canterbury through the Junior School in 1922, and his marriage announcement from The Times of 6 Dec 1939 read as follows: --------------- MR J P ROYLE AND MRS C D FORBES The marriage took place recently in London between John Popplewell, only son of the late Major J B Royle and of Mrs Royle, and Christian Dorothy, elder daughter of the late Major A D Forbes-Gordon, of Rayne and Greenknowe, and of Mrs Forbes-Gordon. ---------------- Christian Dorothy Royle was born on 9th May 1910, and she re-married five years after the death of her husband, as per The Times of 19 Sep 1950: -------------- GRATTAN : ROYLE. On Aug 31, 1950, quietly, in Gibraltar, LT CMDR JOHN CHARLES GRATTAN, DSC, RN, younger son of the late Lt Col J Grattan and the late Mrs Grattan, to Mrs CHRISTIAN DOROTHY ROYLE, elder daughter of the late Major A. D Forbes- Gordon, of Rayne and Greenknowe, and Mrs Forbes- Gordon, and widow of Major J P Royle, the Glider Pilot Regiment. --------------- As Major Royle died on 20 Sep 1944 at Arnhem, you may find him mentioned in some of the many books about Arnhem and Operation Market Garden. He certainly crammed a lot into his unfortunately short life... Forrest -- Forrest Anderson, Edinburgh, Scotland. E-mail: forrest@military-researcher.com Website: www.military-researcher.com Forrestdale Research - Military Genealogical Researcher