Erm, we were not so lucky
Grandad's Brothers:
Frank (Submariner) - Died in submarine HMS Sterlet, Norway 8th April 1940 after receiving depth charges from German destroyers following an attack and sinking of German merchantman 'The Brummer'. This is referenced in Geirr Haarr's Two Volume Norwegian campaign book.
The Official History blurb shows
" Depth charged by German anti submarine trawlers UJ125, UJ126 and UJ127 in the Saggererak. HMS Sterlet was sunk On 8th April 1940 HMS Sterlet left for a patrol in the Skagerrak, Norway. Four days later she signalled that she had unsuccessfully attacked a Convoy of 3 Merchant ships and a Destroyer. The following day she was assigned a new patrol area and on the 18th torpedoed the German Gunnery Ship Brummer, causing serious damage.
At once the German escorts counter attacked with repeated depth charge attacks. Their target never resurfaced."
Wikipedia has a feature on that class of submarine here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_S_c...ine_(1931)
and Sterlet here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Sterlet_(2S)
George (Marine): Died on Light Cruiser HMS Aurora a month after Frank in Norway, 7th May 1940 when the gun turret his section were manning received a direct hit from German bombers I believe on the front of the ship (British Marines at this time were assigned on most warships and their seaborne job was usually gunnery).
http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1940-05MAY.htm
This attack is referenced in the book "The Doomed Expedition" (can't remember which page, but somewhere between 30-60)
Peter ( RAF ): Killed 14th October 1944 in Lancaster HK599 during Operation Hurricane (Bombings over Duisburg & Braunschweig). Sadly he was just a 19 year old Flt Engineer. His plane's tale and his photograph are in a book by Marc Hall simply called Operation Hurricane: This book covers the Op itself, losses and where the planes came down etc.
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Bomber-C...0957116337
On Nan's side:
Eddie: (8th Royal Fusiliers City of London Regt): Killed 1943 Anzio campaign, though I don't have the full details of this. They were part of the 167th London Infantry Brigade and involved in quite a few engagements suffering numerous casualties in Italy.
In fact, I don;t think any of our immediate family that joined up actually came back ! Or at least none that come to mind. (I say joined up, but the two Navy lads were already serving when war broke out)
