大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War Website by Elizabeth Perez of Stockport Libraries on behalf of David Moss and has been added to the site with his permission. He fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

The third of four sons of David and Lily Moss, Roland was born in Hazel Grove, Stockport, and for at least some of his life, lived at 15 Ash Street. He was educated at the Council School in Hazel Grove, Stockport. On leaving there he became a labourer / flagger for Thomas Gosling & Sons, general contractors of London Road, Hazel Grove. On 18th November 1939, when he was 25 years old and living at 20 Clarendon Road, he married Catherine Gill, aged 32, a cotton worker at Stockport Register Office. Catherine's address was given as 10 Rhyl Street, Heaton Norris, and there they set up home together. At some time, he had worked for George Wimpey & Co. then he returned to Gosling's before joining the Armned Forces. He was a keen sportsman.

In 1940, Roland joined the South Lancashire Regiment. During his training, he was posted to Liverpool to help with civilian casualties and repair damage caued by heavy German bombing. With the result that all four of Mr and Mrs Moss's sons were in the army and their only daughter was in the ATS.

In 1942 the Japanese advances in South East Asia were of great concern to the Allies and there was considerable anxiety that they might invade Mdagascar, and obtain control of the large Vichy French port there of Diego Suarez. This could be used as a submarine base by both the Japanese and Germans, thus enabling them to cut the supply lines around the Cape of Good Hope to the Suez Canal, the main route at the time for British troops in the Middle East.

On 5th May 1942, British troops, in Operation Ironclad, covered by the aircraft carriers "Indomitable" and "Illustrious", landed at Ambararata Bay in order to capture the port. The men of the 2nd Battalion, Soth Lancashire Regiment were among the troops sent, and the invasion force included "HMS Karanja", one of the crew of which was Charles Hallworth of Hazel Grove.

Roland, clearly aware that the operations were in the offing, wrote to his wife on the 20th April saying, "Please don't worry, you are more than ever in my thoughts at this time. All my love dearest."

The battalion landed at 06.15 hours on 5th May and marched inland under extremely hot and tedious conditions. At 02.00 hours on the following day, the battalion encountered the enemy in a fierce local battle. Eventually, at about 12.00 hours, they were forced to withdraw as they were very exposed, having had a total of eight men killed, three died of wounds, twenty wounded and twelve captured. One of those who died of his wounds was Roland Moss.

The first Catherine knew of her husband's death was when she received a letter dated 24th May 1942 from Lt. Col. West - "This is just a short letter to say how terribly sorry for you we all are, in the loss of your husband. I hope it will help you to know that he died a fine brave soldier, fighting for his country. I do know a little how you must feel about it."

Official notification came a short time later in a typewritten letter dated 27th May, from Regimental HQ at Preston - "It is with deep regret that I have to inform you that your husband was killed in action in the Middle East. The date of death is not yet available - you will be informed. please accept my deepest sympathy in your sad loss."

In a letter dated 16th June, the date of death was given as "between 5th and 7th May 1942 inclusive", although official records now give the date as the 6th.

On 14th September, Catherine was told that "no articles of personal property have been recovered." It was not until a lettter of 4th November 1942 from Lt Col. West that she obtained more information about her husband's death - "I have talked to L/Corpl. Lord who was with your husband at the time, and he tells me that your husband asked someone to take from his pocket the photo of the baby. He then held this photo in his hand until he died. He also asked L/Corpl. Lord to come and see you when he returned to England. I hope all goes well with you and the new baby."

Roland's eldest son also named Roland was two years old a few weeks after his father's death, and another son David was born a few weeks later on the 22nd July 1942.

The town of Antsiranana lies on the western shore of Diego Suarez Bay on the north-east coast of Madagascar. The War Cemetery is adjacent to the civil cemetey on Oronjia Road 3 kilometres south-east of the town.

In 1944 Roland's body was moved from its isolated grave and reburied in Diego Suarez War cemetery in Plot 4, Row D, Grave 76. He is one of the 311 British and Commonwealth Servicemen buried in Madagascar. The town has now been renamed and is called Antsiranana. Roland Moss is also commemorated on the Memorials at Norbury Church, Hazel Grove Memorial Park and Stockport Art Gallery. His wife never remarried and died in 1978. Both names are inscribed on a memorial stone in Stockport Borough Cemetery's Garden of Remembrance.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.