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Archiver > GREATWAR > 2007-01 > 1169004025


From: Forrest Anderson <>
Subject: Re: [GREATWAR] Soldiers Died in the Second World War CD-RO
Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2007 03:20:25 +0000
References: <E1H6uI7-00018j-9F@fenris.runbox.com>
In-Reply-To: <E1H6uI7-00018j-9F@fenris.runbox.com>


On Tue, 16 Jan 2007 19:48:19 +0000 (UTC), "Peter Metcalfe"
<> wrote:

>Would some kind person do a look up for me please in the Soldiers Died in the Second World War CD-ROM.
>
>Major John Royle who was killed at Arnhem in September 1944.

Here you are...

Number66172
RankMajor
NameJ P Royle (John)
Regiment At 1 Sep 1939: No Regiment Recorded
Regiment At Death: Glider Pilot Regt
Place Of Birth: Sussex
Place Of Residence: Wiltshire
Died When 20/09/44
Died Wherein Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45

The Times carried the following obituary for him in the edition of 23
Jan 1945:

-------------
MAJOR J. P. ROYLE
His commanding officer writes:—
The announcement that John Royle had
been killed in action at Arnhem was a bitter
blow to his many friends; few of his age could
have had so many and such a variety. He
had that enviable quality of making friends
wherever he went, both young and old, in
every walk of life. His impressive appear-
ance, charm of manner, and great sense of
humour made a lasting and delightful imprint
on the memory of all those who had the luck
to know him. On the outbreak of war he
enlisted at once and had the distinction of
filling every rank up to that of Major (at one
time acting as regimental-sergeant-major at the
training establishment at Loch Ailort). A born
soldier, he had the experience and enthusiasm
which were so essential for the training of men
in a new arm of the service. The success of the
regiment in ultimate operations was largely
due to his untiring efforts. In everything that
he undertook he displayed great dash and
energy, which was an inspiration to all con-
cerned. It was in this manner, in the face of the
enemy, that he met his untimely end. A true
sportsman in every sense of the word, he lived
to the full every moment of his 29 years; and
died, as he would have wished, leading his
men in a bold and gallant attack on the
enemy.
--------------

It's a very nice eulogy, and I suspect that when the author wrote "he
lived to the full every moment", he may have been thinking of a
certain event that happened before the war started...

After being awarded a Cadetship to Sandhurst, Royle was commissioned
as a Second Lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry in 1935, but was
dismissed the service by General Court Martial! (London Gazette, 10
Mar 1939 refers)

After his career as an officer in the HLI had been cut short, he
enlisted as a ranker, and subsequently served in the Scots Guards, the
Royal Scots and the Recce Corps before transferring to the Glider
Pilot Regiment.

Specifically...

As a Warrant Officer Class 1 in the Scots Guards, was commissioned
into the Royal Scots as a 2Lt with effect from 20 Mar 1941.

As a 2Lt in the Royal Scots, transferred to the Recce Corps with
effect from 21 Mar 1941

As a Lieutenant in the Recce Corps, transferred to the Glider Pilot
Regiment with effect from 17 Aug 1942

To help with the genealogy, here are a few other bits and pieces...

John Popplewell Royle was born on 25 Feb 1918, and was son of Major
John Bedward Royle of the South Wales Borderers. He entered the King's
School, Canterbury through the Junior School in 1922, and his marriage
announcement from The Times of 6 Dec 1939 read as follows:

---------------
MR J P ROYLE AND MRS C D FORBES
The marriage took place recently in London
between John Popplewell, only son of the late
Major J B Royle and of Mrs Royle, and
Christian Dorothy, elder daughter of the late
Major A D Forbes-Gordon, of Rayne and
Greenknowe, and of Mrs Forbes-Gordon.
----------------

Christian Dorothy Royle was born on 9th May 1910, and she re-married
five years after the death of her husband, as per The Times of 19 Sep
1950:

--------------
GRATTAN : ROYLE. On Aug 31, 1950, quietly, in
Gibraltar, LT CMDR JOHN CHARLES GRATTAN, DSC,
RN, younger son of the late Lt Col J Grattan and
the late Mrs Grattan, to Mrs CHRISTIAN DOROTHY
ROYLE, elder daughter of the late Major A. D Forbes-
Gordon, of Rayne and Greenknowe, and Mrs Forbes-
Gordon, and widow of Major J P Royle, the Glider
Pilot Regiment.
---------------

As Major Royle died on 20 Sep 1944 at Arnhem, you may find him
mentioned in some of the many books about Arnhem and Operation Market
Garden. He certainly crammed a lot into his unfortunately short
life...


Forrest

--
Forrest Anderson, Edinburgh, Scotland.
E-mail:
Website: www.military-researcher.com
Forrestdale Research - Military Genealogical Researcher


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