Bit of an educated guess going on Purls Aden/SAS history.

Big Gerry's son Gregor has kindly said no problem to show this here, although for the time being the family would not like to disclose the location. A very nice memorial.

Photo: Roy Booth

Bernard Laurence Hieatt's grave in Reading Cemetery, Cemetery Junction, Reading. Killed on 3rd May 1930 when leading a sidecar race at Brooklands.

I was just looking around the forums and discovered that I have information that is not listed here and even some photographs.

W Williams, who is discussed above, does not have a grave but I am satisfied that he was executed in Sachsenshausen concentration in the Spring of 1945. This is the evidence to back that up:

“I saw them for the last time round about March 15-18,” Schroter told SOE investigator Vera Atkins. “They were transported by ambulance car to the Industriehof, where they were most certainly executed by either hanging, shooting or lethal chamber. I was not an eyewitness of the execution but we knew only too well from the usual procedure that they were done to death. After the execution I assisted Petzke, the Head Camp Orderly, in packing their effects, and taking them to the Kommandatur, from where it was said they were despatched to the Gestapo HQ at Columbia Haus in Berlin.”
Shroter collected up the papers belonging to the prisoners and with the help of the boiler room attendant burned them all.
“Their prison garb was handed back to us by mistake,” remembered
Schroter. “We sent it to the quartermaster stores, where it ought to have gone in the first place.”
The other four saboteurs disappeared in similar fashion three weeks later. No-one will ever know for certain how Willy Grover and Suttill met their deaths. After the war many of the SS who had been at Sachsenhausen disappeared without trace. The Russians spared no-one wearing the hated SS uniform. If SS men were captured they were immediately shot. Some fought to the death in the ruins of Berlin, others slipped away, disguised themselves as regular soldiers
318- The Grand Prix Saboteurs
or changed into civilian clothing and disappeared in the chaos into which Germany descended.
SOE investigators were never able to find any trace of the two men. The Industriehof was where Sachsenhausen prisoners were executed. The SS jokingly nicknamed it “Station Z” because it was the end of the journey. Prisoners arrived at Sachsenhausen by way of Building A. They exited at Station Z. There was never any doubt as to the fate of Willy Grover and Francis Suttill and in the end the British concluded that they died - at least for official purposes - on March 18 1945, the last date on which they were seen alive." (Extract from The Grand Prix Saboteurs)

The usual procedure in these places was to execute "Nacht und Nebel" prisoners and then immediately cremate the bodies so that no trace remained.

The same happened to Robert Benoist in Buchenwald, although there were witnesses in that case to confirm the murder as there was a group of other secret agents with him. They were executed by slow strangulation in the cellar beneath the crematorium.

There is however a monument to Robert Benoist, attached to the family grave at Auffargis, just south of Paris. In the same graveyard is the grave of Ferenc Szisz, the winner of the first Grand Prix, who lived in the same village as Benoist. I have photographs of both if I can work out how to post them.

Here is the Benoist memorial



This is the memorial to the missing officers of the SOE at Brookwood Cemetery, Woking. Note the names Benoist and Grover-Williams ("W Williams" of Monaco 1929 fame)



This is the Szisz Family grave in Auffargis

Fascinating stuff Joe, I've just sourced a copy of the book to read on my holiday in May.

Do you know if these individuals raced at the Grand Prix D'Antibes in the 30's.??

David

One of the mysteries connected with Grover-Williams is the variety of names he went by and a Google search brings up these -

Charles Frederick William Grover-Williams
W.C.F Grover-Williams
W.Williams
"Williams"
Willy Grover

My biggest concern are the first two. Exactly what order were his three christians names in?

Joe
With your permission I shall add Robert Benoist's memorial photo to his memorial page. Paul.

I'm currently looking for the last resting place for Rene Dreyfus who died in New York on 16 August 1993. All the usual sources have so far failed. His obituary appeared in the New York Times -

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html...75BC0A965958260

Sad News:
Wolfgang Kalauch died on February 15th. He was passenger with Helmut Fath and others.

R.I.P. Wolfgang

That's sad. He not only passengered for Helmut Fath in 1968 and Klaus Enders in 1970 when they won the World Sidecar Championships, he was also in the chair for Siegfried Schauzu and Rolf Steinhausen. I don't think any other man partnered so many top flight sidecar drivers. Kalauch was due to be appearing at this years Centeniary Isle of Man TT races.

The latest addition of racing drivers are -
Ian Raby, Baron Emmanuel de Graffenreid, Giuseppe Campari, Ludovico Scarfiotti and Louis Chevrolet.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?p...csr&GSvcid=4821

...and the latest addition of motorcycle racers are -
Georg 'Schorsch' Meier, Omobono Tenni, Karl Recktenwald, Jack Middelburg, Umberto Masetti, Libero Liberati, Bernard Laurence Hieatt, Henk Vink, Ricardo Tormo and Wolfgang Kalauch.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?p...csr&GSvcid=4823

Photo: Roger Lund

The grave of SF (Selwyn Francis) Edge in Tilford Churchyard, near Farnham, Surrey.

Photo: Bernd Bouillon

The grave of Helmut Fath (1960 & 1968 World Sidecar Champion) in Ursenbach Cemetery, Ursenbach nr Mannheim, Germany.

With regard to the various names of "W Williams":

He was registered at birth as William Charles Frederick Grover. He was known as Willy Grover. When he started racing he used the name "W Williams". When he became more famous he adopted the name William Grover-Williams. When it came to the Special Operations Executive things changed. He trained under the name Vladimir Gatacre. When he was parachuted into France his cover name was Charles Lelong. He is sometimes referred to in SOE files as Charles Grover-Williams as a result of that. His codename was Sebastien.

I believe that Rene Dreyfus is buried in Forest Hills, New York. There are a lot of cemeteries there but that is where he was when he died. His brother is also buried there so it might be easier to trace. It would probably be best to start looking in the Jewish cemeteries first.

Hope this helps

Joe S

Joe

I have been informed that there was a cremation and his ashes were given to his brother Maurice. But if should come across his grave........

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?p...&GRid=18000766&

I was under the impression that his brother died first but I may be wrong on that.

Further to Post 303 regarding the Grand Prix d'Antibes. I am pretty sure that Williams did but I have nothing to suggest that Benoist did.

Joe

Rene Dreyfus died on 16 August 1993; his brother Maurice J Dreyfus died on 17 February 1995.

Photo: Bernd Bouillon

The grave of Florian Camathias, runner up 1958 & 1959 World Sidecar Championship, at Clarens Cemetery, Montreaux, Switzerland.

Photo: Bernd Bouillon

The grave of Hilmar Cecco, passenger of Florian Camathias, and killed at Modena, Italy. Also at the Clarens Cemetery, Montreaux, Switzerland.

Photo: Herman Looman

The grave of Carel de Beaufort in the Maarsbergen Family Estate, Netherlands.

Photo: Herman Looman

Herman has sent me this image showing the funeral of Carel de Beaufort on the Meersbergen Family Estate. I can name Graham Hill and Bob Anderson and I should know the man on the left, so can anyone name the others?

The man on the left is Baron Huschke von Hanstein and the place is called Maarsbergen.

Von Hanstein
Graham Hill
Bob Anderson
Herbert Linge
Wolfgang Seidel
Ben Pon
Gerhard Mitter
Gerhard Koch
Richard Stoop
mechanics Arie Anssems and Jan Dijkstra

Photo: Chris van de Wiele

The grave of Moises Solano in the Panteon Espanol, Distrito Federal, Mexico City, Mexico.

PS Of course, my 'version' of Maarsbergen what typed in haste. Excellent Arjan!

Oh, and it's Moises Solana ;-)

Paul, Thanks for posting Camathias/ Cecco ,two of my all time heroes.

This is the bust of Prince Bira which is part of a huge memorial shrine to Bira mounted at the entrance to the Pattaya race circuit in the south of Thailand.

There was a memorial to Ray Amm at the corner of a housing estate near to the old Coronation Park racing circuit in Salisbury (now Harare) in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) but the last time I saw it it was a pile of rubble rather unfortunatly similar to the country now. He and Gary Hocking were boyhood heros of mine, probably responsible for my interest in the TT races.

Gary, Ray´s memorial has been removed due to the fact that it was vandalised.
A wall of rememberance is to be errected at the ZMf headquarters to honour all past Rhodesian/Zim riders and drivers no longer with us, and Ray´s memorial plaque will be placed there. I will obtain a photo when it has been completed which I have promised to forward to Paul Rochdale, and I believe it will then be posted on here.
BTW, a finer pair of boyhood heros is hard to imagine.

Than you Graham, I have taken the liberty of adding this image to his memorial page, and if you click on the image, your accreditation is there.

There are even more turbulent times in Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) and I look forward to hearing more about Ray Amm's memorial/grave. I had relatives in what was then Southern Rhodesia, my late uncle was in the Royal Rhodesian Air Force, so they were there when it was 'Africa's Jewel in the Crown'. His family left the country and now live in South Africa. What a dreadfully sad state of affairs. Anyone remember Ian Smith, Harold Wilson and HMS Tiger? Sold down the river.

My latest memorial pages are as follows -

Racing drivers - Dudley Benjafield, Rene Dreyfus, Briggs Cunningham, Sam Collier, Gerry Marshall
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?p...csr&GSvcid=4821

Motorcycle racers - Joe Craig, Santiago Herrero, Ramon Torras, Tarquinio Provini, Hilmar Cecco, Eric Oliver
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?p...csr&GSvcid=4823

Thanks for the usual help I've received with this research.

Please let me know of the final resting places for any drivers/riders not listed. Thanks.

You seem to be a fund of knowledge of Rhodesian racers so another question for you.
Des Wolff killed 1958 TT in the Isle of Man and I belive buried in the cemetry at Bray Hill. I have searched for a year or two now but have not yet found his grave. I am afraid, another boyhood hero, especially on the Coro' Park dirt track.

Gary. Other than the fact he was killed in the 1958 senior event, I don´t have any other details. It is more than likely he would have been buried in the IOM (considering the logistics involved in returning his body in 1958), but where, I have no idea. Bray hill would be the most logical place I would say. I am sure a few enquiries to the IOM authorities would reveal the exact location.

Gary

There is no cemetery on Bray Hill, the nearest being the Douglas Borough Cemetery in Glencrutchery Road, Douglas, opposite the TT course start/finish line. I have telephoned the Bereavement Services Manager there and and can confirm that Desmond D Wolff (born in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia), age 31yrs, was buried there on 10 June 1958, and lies in grave NQ70.

I shall be visiting the island in the first week of June - the IoM Centenary TT Races - and will take a photo of the grave, and will post it here.

Paul

Thank you Paul for your reply. Sorry about the confusion with Bray Hill and Glencrutchery Road to us its all Bray Hill. I too will be in the IoM for the TT races so I shall have another search now I know the location. I shall be with Raymond Porter so look me up.

Who?

After the diversions, I would still like to find out the final resting place of one Ray Amm.
Thanks for any information.
Gary

Sorry Gary but I don't know who Raymond Porter is.

As for Ray Amm, another board member has his feelers out and I hope to have than information soon. Almost certainly there was a cremation, but whether the ashes stayed on the Island or were returned to Southern Rhodesia, we've yet to discover.

As for Des Wolff, 1958 was also Jim Redman's first year on the Island and I'm surprised that the death of his fellow countryman was not mentioned in his autobiography.

Paul, Ray Amm was killed in an accident at Imola on Easter Monday 1955, His first ride on an MV after riding Nortons for so long. I am unsure if he was not buried in Italy or his body flown home. His wife remarried and I am not sure if she is still alive and living in Rhodesia (sorry, Zimbabwe!!)
As for Raymond Porter, have a look at 2006 and 2005 TT Superbike results.
Be pleased to meet you.
Gary

Gary

Of course, Imola, I could blame the red wine or the urgency of getting back to my Friday night gardening programs.

I know nothing of the Superbike Championship, maybe I should. God willing, I will be in the Island during the first week of June, so I hope we can meet.

Paul (Honda Pan European ST1100)

Elizabeth and Vincenc Junek:


http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?p...&GRid=18748376&

Photo: Dave Butler

Bob Gerard's grave in St.John-the-Baptist churchyard, South Croxton, Leicestershire.

Photo: Dave Butler

John Taylor's grave in All Saints Cemetery, Newton Linford, Leicester, Leicestershire.

Robin Montgomerie-Charrington's funeral details: here

Does anyone know the last resting place of A T G Goldie Gardner? I Know that he died in Eastbourne in 1959, and knew his widow very well, and she was once mayor of Eastbourne, but I have never been told, nor located it.

Here is his obituary from The Times but no mention of his funeral details. A memorial service was held in London though. He died not in 1959 but 25 August 1958.

http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/infomark...169696028&dyn=4!xrn_33_0_CS169696028&hst_1?sw_aep=kccl

Cheers Paul

Link didn't work, but his widow, Goldie, (tradition to take on the name as it was her husbands mother's maiden name, some Scottish tradition, which is why he used it!!), said he died after being hit on the head by a marker post at Bonneville. She said he never recoverd, but it was never generally reported, as he didn't want to do anything that might detract from MG cars. I think he's buried in the cementry off Eldon Road, Eastbourne, if I find it, pictures will follow.

Yes Steve, I'm sorry that link didn't work. I've searched The Times around that date and there is no mention of his funeral, only his memorial service. That's an interesting story about the head injury. Did you get that from his wife, Una? Can that be corroborated by anyone else?

Both Una and Rosilind told me that, as did a guy from MG. Una's house was like a museum, absolutely fantastic. I have written to Goldie ( I never have called her Una) a couple of times since I moved from Eastbourne, but there has been no response. She also told me about the death of someone else from MG, of how the official, and real cause were different, but I cannot remember the name of the chap, but if I say it was in a railway tunnel, someoen will now who it was.

As for Goldie (Major Gardner) Una said he returned from Bonneville very unwell after the marker post incident, and never truely recovered. I'm in the UK at present, and all my stuff is at home, but I will look for you.