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Introduction

I am submitting this article on behalf of the family of Robert and Joseph Casson, two brothers who died during the Normandy campaign in June 1944. It supplements previous articles submitted to the ´óĎó´ŤĂ˝ “People’s War” website about Robert and Joseph, with additional information about them.

Robert and Joseph came from Whitehaven, Cumberland (now Cumbria). At the beginning of World War Two Robert and Joseph were two of the children of David and Mary Ellen Casson. Robert and Joseph’s other brothers and sisters living at the outbreak of the war: George, John, David, Stanley, Mary, Evelyn and Alice.

Robert was a member of No 45 Royal Marine Commandos and was killed on D-Day 6 June 1944. Joseph was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry and died on 27 June 1944. They are buried in adjacent graves at Ryes War Cemetery (Bazenville), a short distance to the east of Bayeux, Calvados, France.

Over the years, some of the original wartime documents pertaining to Robert and Joseph’s wartime service that the family may have had, have been accidentally mislaid, lost or perhaps thrown out when their parents passed away. Unfortunately, the ‘missing’ documents include the telegrams and any letters that Mr and Mrs Casson would have received informing them that Robert and Joseph had died. Nevertheless, Robert and Joseph have always been remembered. This article records some of the ways they have been remembered since 1944.

Died on active service

As referred to in one of the previous articles submitted about Robert and Joseph, their parents received a telegram informing them that they had been killed. When the telegrams were received, word was passed round to relatives and friends. The newspaper from their home area, 'The Whitehaven News', reported each of their deaths a short time later.

From what I have heard, when someone who was in the Forces died during the war a reporter often visited the family home to find out a little about them, and sometimes borrow a family photograph that was then printed in the newspaper to go with the story. As far as I can tell, this is what happened in Robert and Joseph’s case.

As referred to above, Robert was killed on D-Day, 6 June 1944. His parents were informed about 3 weeks later. With not having seen the original telegram I cannot give the exact date it was received. The ‘Whitehaven News’ article reporting Robert’s death (29 June 1944, page 3) uses the same photograph of Robert that I have used to go with this article. The newspaper article is headed: ‘WHITEHAVEN MARINE - Killed on D-Day’. It goes on to mention that Robert joined the Royal Marines about four years earlier. Immediately before this, the article states Robert had been employed by Rowntree’s Factory at York (a chocolate manufacturer) and earlier in the war he had seen service in Africa and Gibraltar.

The ‘News’ article mentions that Robert was one of five brothers in the Forces at that time. His eldest brother Private John Casson, then aged 33 and serving with the Durham Light Infantry, was back in the UK after being overseas. Lance Corporal George Casson, then aged 29 was with the Military Police in India. Gunner David Casson, then aged 23, was at that time in the Middle East. Finally, the article mentions Private Joseph Casson, then aged 18 and also serving with the Durham Light Infantry, and that Joseph was known to be in Normandy. Unfortunately, and unknown to the family, by the time the article appeared in the ‘News’ on 29 June, Joseph had already died two days earlier.

On Thursday 20 July 1944, the ‘News’ printed a short article saying that Joseph’s parents had been notified of his death, 3 weeks after being notified about Robert. It mentions that Joseph had “… died of wounds as a result of the fighting…” This is probably how it was worded in the official telegram, indicating Joseph had been wounded, although it doesn’t give a specific location. The newspaper article goes on to say that Joseph had joined the Durham Light Infantry a mere 6 months before, which would have made it December 1943 or January 1944. It goes on to say that Joseph worked at Ladysmith Chemical Works, Whitehaven before he went into the Army.

Although there is no photograph of Joseph in the local newspaper article of 20 July, the week afterwards, there is a photograph of Joseph that must have been loaned by the family. This was a photograph showing Joseph proudly wearing his uniform with his D.L.I. cap badge in his beret. I used this same photograph to go with a previous article I have written about Joseph (Article Reference ID A3879804). I understand the photograph of Joseph selected to go with this article was taken just after he joined the Army a few months earlier.

Seeking information

During the war, specific information as to how, or even where, a casualty died was not always released to a family. Later on, the Commanding Officer of someone who had been killed was sometimes able to write to the family and perhaps give further details. From personal experience in writing about the war in recent years, I have found that very often families prefer to know these details about a loved one. Sometimes, it is possible to obtain the information, such as from a Regimental ‘War Diary’. Unfortunately, in Robert and Joseph’s cases, none of their relatives or friends have been able to find out anything more specific.

What is known is that Robert died on D-Day 6 June 1944 and he is buried at Ryes War Cemetery. Without being able to check what the official telegram or any subsequent letters said about Robert, it is difficult to say whether he died during the landing operation on the Normandy Beaches, or somewhere further inland. I obtained a copy of a map showing the route taken by No 45 Commando on 6 June 1944, but so far none of his relatives or friends have been able to find out exactly where Robert died.

In Joseph’s case, because he ‘died of wounds’, it is probable he was wounded at one location, and then taken to a Field Ambulance Post or a hospital away from the Front Line and died there. Again, without more specific information as to what happened, it is not easy to give precise details. What makes it a more difficult is that it is not known how long after Joseph was wounded that he died. Possibly, he was wounded in the River Odon area, then moved to somewhere near Ryes, and he died there. That possible course of event might explain why Joseph is buried at Ryes War Cemetery. There may be more information available from the Durham Light Infantry ‘War Diary’.

Robert and Joseph are buried side by side. From what I have heard, a short while after they died, the War Graves Commission wrote to Robert and Joseph’s parents asking if they wished them to buried together, which they agreed to. According to the family, this happened within a few months of their deaths. Although Robert and Joseph’s parents were never able to visit them, they were never forgotten.

Comforts Fund donations

During World War Two many people on the Home Front showed their practical support for relatives and friends in the Armed Forces by making a donation to the local newspaper ‘Comforts Fund’. ‘The Whitehaven News’, whose main circulation area was West Cumberland, published a section each week that listed the sum of money donated by each person or organisation. It also gave information if the donation was dedicated to the memory of someone killed in the war, or if the dedication was for a person who had died at home, or for someone’s birthday or wedding anniversary.

After Robert and Joseph died, a number of donations were made to the local newspaper ‘Comforts Fund’ dedicated to their memory. Two examples of these donations are given here, of these donations are listed here. The first example is one made by Joseph Casson’s former work colleagues. On Thursday 27 July 1944 the ‘News’ lists the following donation:

“In memory of Pte. Joseph Casson, D.L.I., died of wounds while serving in Normandy, from the employees of Ladysmith Chemical Works - £2”

The second donation is one that was handed in to ‘The Whitehaven News’ office by a 2-year old niece of Robert and Joseph. It appeared in the newspaper on Thursday 12 October 1944:

“In remembrance of my Uncle Robert and Uncle Joseph (Casson), killed in France. From Evelyn Ritson, Scilly Banks, 120 ‘Ship’ halfpennies — 5s.”

Before the British currency was decimalised, the halfpenny coin had a sailing ship on the tail side. It took 120 halfpennies to make 5 shillings in the ÂŁ-s-d currency used in Britain in those days. Many people used to put odd halfpennies out of their change into a jar or collection box, and then make a donation when a certain sum was reached, in this case 5 shillings.

In August 2005 I showed Evelyn and her mother Mary, respectively the niece and sister of Robert and Joseph, a copy of this 1944 article. Unfortunately, neither of them could remember making this particular donation!

Nevertheless, I have thought of one possible course of events that may explain how Evelyn made this donation in 1944 in remembrance of her uncles. It is possible that Evelyn’s parents, Mary and Tom, gave her the halfpennies to put into a collection box at their home, saying each time it was for her Uncle Robert and Uncle Joseph.

Then, when the sum of 5 shillings was collected (i.e. 120 halfpennies), Evelyn may have been taken to ‘The Whitehaven News’ office by one or both of her parents, and the 5 shillings handed over. I feel it must have been Evelyn who handed the money over the counter at the newspaper office. The newspaper article about the donation does not mention Evelyn's parents or her younger twin sisters, Georgina and Josephine, who had been born earlier that year. Whatever the actual truth of what happened, I feel this touching gesture shows how important the relatives of Robert and Joseph felt it was to do something positive, and ensure they were remembered by the younger generations.

Always remembered

For 60 years, from 1945 to 2005, another way relatives of Robert and Joseph have honoured their memory is by writing a few words and inserting them in the ‘Roll of Honour’ section of ‘The Whitehaven News’ each June. Reading these memorials, it is evident how well they were loved and how important it is that they are remembered. Below are three of these articles. Two were written out in June 1945 and one was written out in June 2005 (included with the permission of ‘The Whitehaven News’).

1. Edition of 7 June 1945:

ROLL OF HONOUR
Casson — In loving memory of our dear sons, R.M. Commando Robert Casson, killed on Normandy Beaches, June 6 1944 aged 25 years; also Private Joseph Casson. 9th D.L.I., died of wounds in North West Europe, June 27 1944, aged 18 years.

“No verse can say, no wealth repay,
For the two we lost one year ago.
On whose souls, Sweet Jesus, have mercy, R.I.P.
Our Lady of Lourdes pray for them”.

Sadly missed by their Mam, Dad, Sisters and Brothers at home, George in England, John and David overseas.

2. Edition of 28 June 1945:

ROLL OF HONOUR
Casson — In proud and loving memory of my two brothers, Marine Commando Robert Casson, killed in action in Normandy June 6 1944; Private Joseph Casson 9th D.L.I., died of wounds in NW Europe, June 27 1944.

“Sleep on, my two dear brothers,
Side by side in foreign graves you lie,
You went without a last ‘Goodbye’,
And now, in God’s keeping, safely lie
St Theresa, pray for them”.

Always in the thoughts of their loving sister, Evelyn.

3. Edition of 2 June 2005:

ROLL OF HONOUR
Casson — Loving memories of my dear brothers, killed in action, Robert, aged 25 years Marine Commando 6th June 1944; Joseph aged 18 years, Durham Light Infantry 27th June 1944.
Worthy of Remembrance.
Loving sister, Mary.

Conclusion

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission will commemorate Robert and Joseph Casson in perpetuity. In addition, their relatives and friends have always felt it important their memory should live on and that their sacrifice should be honoured. Hopefully, this article contributes a little towards those aims.

If anyone has any further information about Robert or Joseph, it would be interesting to hear from them. They are just two of the many people who paid the ultimate sacrifice during the war, and lie at rest far from the home they knew. I would like to acknowledge the assistance of Robert and Joseph’s relatives and the staff at the Cumbria Archives Office, Scotch Street, Whitehaven, enabling me to write this article.

Dedicated to Robert Casson and Joseph Casson:

“Worthy of Remembrance.
Two brothers who lie side by side in a foreign land”.

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