THE VALE’s young war dead are being immortalised in a new book highlighting their sacrifices.

Billie McGee MNM is a former Merchant Navy & Royal Fleet Auxiliary and is an archivist for the Merchant Navy Association.

In 2010, he published a book called They Shall Not Grow Old which details the loss of more than 500 boys aged 16 and under who died while serving with the Merchant Navy during the Second World War.

Mr McGee said: “Since the book was first published, I have found more detailed information on the losses of those covered in the original publication, as well as a number of new cases of these boys lost, which I have worked on since.”

A number of those new cases have been added to the official war dead by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). Mr McGee had the honour of unveiling those names at the Merchant Navy Memorial at Tower Hill, London in 2019.

With the new information and cases found, Mr McGee has decided to write an updated version of the book.

He said: “Their stories are not meant in any way to devalue the contribution of all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice during wartime, but merely as educational purpose for those unaware of the facts.

"These boys could legally join the Merchant Navy at just 14 years old and fight for their country. This is my way of remembering a lost generation, the likes of will never be seen again.”

Mr McGee would like to find relatives of those who are mentioned below and particularly if there are any photographs of any of them to include in his book.

Barry war dead

Gordon Illtyd Down, M.V. King Malcolm (London) was a galley boy in the Merchant Navy. He was the son of Maggie Down of Barry, Glamorgan and died on October 31, 1941 at the age of 15.

William John George, S.S Henri Mory (Swansea) was an ordinary seaman in the Merchant Navy. He was the son of William and E. George of Barry Dock, Glamorgan and died on May 12, 1942 at the age of 16.

John Brisland Goule, S.S. Magdalena (West Hartlepool) was an ordinary seaman in the Merchant Navy. He was the son of Louie Brisland Goule and Adeline Maud Goule of Barry Dock, Glamorgan and was 16 when he died on September 18, 1940.

Ronald James Harris was a galley boy on the S.S. Empire Osborne. He lived at 11 St. Teilo Ave. Barry, Glamorgan and died at the age of 16 on March 2, 1945. He was buried in Ste Marie Cemetery in section K, Grave 132. Division 67, row L, grave 7. On his headstone his age was marked as 17, but the Deaths at Sea Register and the CWGC records both state his age as 16.

Barrie Higgins was a mess room boy on the S.S. Stornest (Newcastle-on-Tyne). He was the son of Albert Higgins and Alice Maud Higgins of Barry Dock, Glamorgan and died at the age of 16 on October 14, 1942.

Raymond George Hurn was a cabin boy on the S.S. Fort Longueuil (London). The son of Mr and Mrs Robert George Hurn of Cadoxton, Barry, he died between September 20 – October 16, 1943 at the age of 16.

Frederick John was a cabin boy on the S.S. Tunisia (Swansea). He was the son of Frederick Benjamin John and Louise Elizabeth John of Cadoxton, Barry. He died on August 4, 1941 at the age of 15. Frederick John Sr also died.

Terence Lewis was a deck boy on the S.S. Rose Schiaffino (Cardiff). He lived at 44 Thompson Street, Barry and died at the age of 15 on November 3, 1941.

Clifford Maidment was a deck boy on board the S.S. Petrel (London). He was the son of Mr and Mrs T. L. Maidment of Cadoxton, Barry. He died at the age of 15 on September 26, 1941.

Charles Burman Stiff was a mess room boy on the S.S. Rose Schiaffino (Cardiff). He was the son of Ernest John Burman Stiff and Elsie Dehaney Stiff and died at the age of 16 on November 3, 1941.

John White was a galley boy on the M.V, Jedmoor (London). He died at the age of 16 on September 16, 1941. He was the son of Frank and Mary Harriet White who lived at 40 Clive Road, Barry Island.

James Whittaker was a cabin boy on the S.S. Dalblair (Newcastle-on-Tyne). The son of John and Marjorie Whittaker of Barry, he died at the age of 16 on August 28, 1940.

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Vale war dead

Peter William Burns was a deck boy on the M.V. Cornish City (Bideford). The son of Frederick W. and Mary Jane Burns of Llanishen, he died on July 29, 1943 at the age of 16.

Cyril Nathaniel Darlington was a steward on the S.S. Leopold II (Belgium). He was the son of Peter and Miriam Darlington of Port Talbot. He died at the age of 16 on December 23, 1941.

Raymond Leighton Davies was an assistant steward on the M.V. British Dominion (London). The son of Thomas and Jane Davies of Tylorstown, Glamorgan, he died at the age of 16 on January 10, 1943.

Raymond Bassett Evans was a galley boy on the S.S. Henri Mory (Swansea). He was the son of Evan Henry and Ann Evans of Abertridwr and died on April 26, 1941 at the age of 15.

Albert John Lewis was an ordinary seaman on the S.S. Frances Massey (Hull). The son of William Arthur and Mary Lizzie Lewis of Port Talbot, he died on June 6, 1940 at the age of 15.

Vernon Stanley Lewis was an apprentice on the S.S. Holystone (Newcastle-on-Tyne). The son of Stanley and Gertrude Lewis of Abertridwr, he died at the age of 16 on February 15, 1941.

William Arthur Morris was an apprentice on the S.S. Empire Gem (Glasgow). The son of George and Evelyn Morris of Merthyr Tydfil, he died on January 24, 1942 at the age of 16.

Islwyn Charles Rhydderch was an ordinary seaman on the S.S. Empire Hawksbill (London). The son of Charles and Mary Elizabeth Rhydderch of Porth, he died on July 19, 1942 at the age of 16.

Anyone who is a relative of or knows of any information about any of the above is asked to contact Elizabeth.Birt@newsquest.co.uk to be put in touch with Mr McGee.

Mr McGee came up with the idea for the book after he helped research a case in 2005 of 14-year-old Reginald Earnshaw who was killed in July 1941. He was involved in finding an unmarked grave in Edinburgh.

He was able to find documents at the National Archives in Kew and presented them to the CWGC. He was able to lay a wreath on ‘Reggie’s’ grave at a ceremony in 2009, taking place 68-years to the day that he was killed. He also presented Master Earnshaw’s medals to his sister.

He has also appeared on BBC documentary How We Won the War (Scotland edition) which was centred around the Merchant Navy’s contribution to the war, where they used Reggie Earnshaw’s story as a backdrop.