大象传媒

Introduction

This article is about two brothers from Woodhouse, Whitehaven, Cumberland (now Cumbria) who died while serving in the British Army during World War Two. It has been written based on information provided by their sister Kathleen Miller (n茅e Mackin) and nephew Edwin Miller, and my personal research about World War Two while in Normandy. The terms of 鈥淭he People鈥檚 War鈥� website have been read and understood.

Andrew Mackin died on 3rd July 1944 during the Battle of Normandy and is buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Bayeux, Calvados, France. Edward Mackin died on 27th March 1945 and is buried in the main Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Germany at Reichswald Forest. As I have previously researched the Battle of Normandy while staying in the area, there is a little more information about Andrew than Edward in this article.

However, I wish to dedicate this article to the memory of Andrew and Edward equally. They were well loved sons, brothers, uncles and friends who came from my own county of Cumbria. In their hometown of Whitehaven, the names of Andrew and Edward Mackin are inscribed on a commemorative plaque for The Fallen of World War Two at St Begh鈥檚 Church, Coach Road. The same plaque also has the following inscription: 鈥淧ray that their sacrifice was not in vain.鈥�

If anyone who served with either Andrew or Edward during the war, or has further information about their units, it would be interesting to hear from them.

Private Andrew Mackin, Commonwealth War Graves citation

When he died, Private Andrew Mackin was serving with the Hallamshire Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment. Andrew is buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery at Bayeux, Normandy, France (Plot VIII B.13). His CWGC citation reads:

鈥淚n Memory of
Private Andrew Mackin
478413, The Hallamshire Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment,
Who died aged 26
On 3 July 1944.
Son of John and Sarah Jane Mackin of Whitehaven, Cumberland.
Remembered with honour,
Bayeux War Cemetery鈥�

Also inscribed on the lower half of Andrew鈥檚 headstone in Bayeux War Cemetery is the following quotation: :

鈥淥f your charity
Pray for the soul of Andrew
On whose soul
Sweet Jesus have mercy.鈥�

The quotation was chosen by Andrew鈥檚 father John after the war. (Mrs Sarah Jane Mackin had passed away before the war). This same quotation can be found inside the little chapel at Quay Street, Whitehaven, which is part of the Whitehaven Catholic parish of St Begh鈥檚. Obviously this prayer will have had a special meaning for Andrew鈥檚 father after the war.

Bayeux War Cemetery

Bayeux War Cemetery is on the southern side of the city, within site of the cathedral spires. There are almost 5000 World War Two graves in the cemetery, including 338 unidentified Commonwealth dead and 504 graves of other nationalities, mostly Germans. In life these young men were in opposing camps, in death they lie together, all of them sons, husbands, brothers, sweethearts or fathers of someone back home.

In June 2004, the 60th Anniversary of D-Day, a group of Normandy Veterans and supporters from Andrew鈥檚 home region of West Cumbria took part in many of the official commemorative services that were held in Normandy. One of the main commemorative events was held on Sunday 6th June 2004 at Bayeux War Cemetery in the presence of HM Queen Elizabeth, HRH Prince Philip, President Jacques Chirac and other world leaders. Private Andrew Mackin was one of those whose sacrifice was remembered at this service by people from his own region, his fellow comrades and these world leaders. It was a remarkable day, one that will be long remembered by those who were there or saw the event on television. It was also a day to pay homage to the victims of the war and to give thanks for their sacrifice.

The Hallamshire Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment

Although Andrew Mackin came from Whitehaven in what is now the county of Cumbria, the majority of the Hallamshire Battalion were believed to have come from the Sheffield area of Yorkshire. However, from what I can gather, after losses incurred during the early years of the war, the Battalion was brought back up to full strength by bringing in soldiers from various parts of the country.

According to Andrew鈥檚 relatives, they believed he spent some time on exercise in Iceland. In fact, I read an article while I was in Normandy that referred to the Hallamshire Battalion having been originally trained in Arctic warfare while posted in Iceland. They then retrained on landing craft in Scotland to take part in the Normandy Landings. The Hallamshire battalion were part of the 49th Division and allocated to take part in the Second Wave of invading troops.

Prior to D-Day, the Hallamshire Battalion were initially based near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, moving down to the south coast on 5th June 1944 to set up camp near Lewes, Sussex. Andrew鈥檚 Battalion landed in Normandy on D-Day +3 (9th June) at Ver-sur-mer (鈥楪old Beach鈥�) a short distance east of the Mulberry Harbour being constructed at Arromanches.

Personal research I undertook in Normandy indicates that on 12th June 1944, the Hallamshires relieved the 7th Green Howards in the Lucelles area. They then took part in fighting south-east of Bayeux near Audrieu. After a bloody victory, later in June the Hallamshires then took part in 鈥橭peration Martlett鈥� to take the village of Fontenay-Le-Pesnel, suffering heavy casualties.

On 25th June one record suggests the Hallamshires experienced over 120 casualties. Shelling and mortar fire from the Germans was so severe ambulances were knocked out so there was nothing to transport the wounded. After the war, Andrew鈥檚 family was told he had volunteered to be a stretcher bearer to evacuate the wounded during the fighting in Normandy and this appears to tie in with this evidence of the battle. The Battalion then took up position in front trenches near the villages of Tessel and Vendes until the middle of July, a total of 33 days. Out of a total strength of 37 officers and 780 men, by 16th July 1944 the Hallamshire Battalion suffered casualties amounting to 33 officers and 460 other ranks. These figures indicate how few from this Unit came through that period of the war unscathed.

Unfortunately, as previously explained, Andrew Mackin was one of the casualties, passing away on 3rd July. According to Andrew鈥檚 family, they believed he was wounded while on stretcher duty, was then taken to a First Aid Post or hospital and it was there he died of his wounds. So the evidence indicates that Andrew received his fatal wound while trying to save his fellow wounded comrades by transporting them to safety.

I have come across 鈥楾he Hallamshire War Diaries鈥� for this period of the war during my research . I can鈥檛 definitely identify exactly where or on which day Andrew was wounded. Nevertheless, the Diary records that on 2nd July 1944 there were 3 Ordinary Ratings killed and 5 wounded and on 3rd July 1944 there were 6 Ordinary Ratings wounded. Andrew was probably one of those referred to on one of those days. No actual names were given in the document I had access to.

Private John Edward Mackin, Commonwealth War Graves Commission citation

When he died, Private Edward Mackin was serving with the 7th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry. Edward is buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery at Reichswald Forest, near Kleve in western Germany (Plot 56. D. 5). His CWGC citation reads:

鈥淚n Memory of
Private John Edward Mackin
981617, 7th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry
Who died age 30
On 27 March 1945
Son of John and Sarah Jane Mackin of Whitehaven, Cumberland.
Remembered with honour,
Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.鈥�

Unfortunately, I have not visited this War Cemetery. Hence, I do not know what quotation was chosen by Edward鈥檚 father to be inscribed on Edward鈥檚 headstone.

The 7th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry

Like his younger brother Andrew, Edward Mackin took part in the Normandy Landings. The Somerset Light Infantry played a role in this as the 4th and 7th Battalions formed part of the 43rd Wessex Division. In Bayeux War Cemetery where Andrew Mackin is buried, there are graves of soldiers who served in Edward鈥檚 Battalion, the 7th Somerset Light Infantry.

In March 1945, the 7th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry took part in 鈥橭peration Plunder鈥� which was the attempt to cross the Rhine into Germany. This took place on 23rd March 1945 and Edward died a few days later on 27th March. However, Edward鈥檚 relatives do not have many details about what happened to him during this period, although his father did try to find out after the war.

The Reichswald Forest War Cemetery

The information in this part of the article is mainly based on content in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. I have not personally visited this cemetery. However, Edward鈥檚 father, sisters and other family members have visited his grave on a number of occasions.

The cemetery is situated 5 kilometres south-west of Kleve and created after the Second World War. It contains 7580 graves of Commonwealth servicemen from World War Two. There are 162 unidentified graves and 79 other nationalities, mainly Polish. As at the Bayeux War Cemetery, young men of different nationalities lie side by side.

Conclusion

Shortly after the war John Mackin, the father of Andrew and Edward visited the final resting places of his sons for the first time, accompanied by his daughter Kathleen. For the first visit to Andrew鈥檚 grave at Bayeux, John and Kathleen could only find a hotel as far away as Rouen and then hire a taxi to take them to Bayeux. At that time, each grave in the cemetery was marked by a wooden cross, rather than the more permanent headstones erected later.

Visits to Normandy or Germany were repeated several times over the years, despite the long journey from West Cumbria. Usually, they would stay at the Union Jack Club on the way through to Europe. After John passed away, Kathleen, her sister Mary and other relatives and family friends have visited the graves of Andrew and Edward and remembered their sacrifice. The family have always commemorated them at Remembrance Services each November either in London, or locally in West Cumbria.

I am honoured that I have also been able to visit Andrew鈥檚 grave at Bayeux. It is also an honour to submit this article to keep alive the memory of Andrew and Edward, two well-loved sons of Whitehaven. They should always be remembered.

鈥楻est in Peace鈥�

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