Born in 1980 I can barely remember HMS Invincible returning home from the Falklands war. I live in East London, not far from Victoria Dock (part of the Royal Docks which were bombed extensively) and went to the rebuilt Hallsville Primary school which was hit and destroyed with huge loss of life in the September of 1940. With so much history surrounding me it was only natural to find out more about world war two and as a result British Military history in general.
I've been able to find out very little about my fathers side as the people who would have been able to tell me anything have died, but I have been a little more lucky with my mothers side. My Great-grandfather(on my Grandmothers side) was in the 5th Battalion of The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) which saw service in Tunisia, Sicily and Italy. While in hospital he embroidered a replica of his brothers corps insignia because he found out his brother had been killed in action in Burma.
With a surname name and corps, using The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website I was able to find out a little more:
William Richard Nance
5440213, Lance Serjeant
45th Regt., Reconnaissance Corps, R.A.C.
who died on Tuesday 18 April 1944. Age 26.
I also stumbled across the uncle of William Richard Nance and my Great-grandfather, who had been killed in the first world war and no one knew about:
William Nance
Private, 17731
7th Bn., Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
who died on Friday 30 November 1917. Age 24.