ATHERTON, Eric Leslie


No.T/1069778, Driver, Eric Leslie ATHERTON
Aged 20


believed to be his medal entitlement


18 Water Tank Company, R.A.S.C.
Lost at Sea on Thursday, 7th January 1943


Eric Leslie Atherton was born in Horseheath (Linton Q4-1922 3B:671), son of Jeffrey Albert Augustus [ELY] and Nellie (Ellen) ATHERTON(née REYNOLDS). He appears to have had brothers Victor (1924-2005) and Charles (1924-1998). His father was actually Geoffrey Albert Augustus ELY but did tend to use his stepfathers surname of ATHERTON and by 1911 was living in Hareby Bolinbroke, Lincolnshire, recorded as single. He married ( as ELY) Nellie in 1913 in Yorkshire.
Eric Leslie was registered at birth as ATHERTON.
In the 1939 register only his mother is identified, born 18-2-1886. She is recorded living at Camps Hall Cottages, as married and there are 2 closed records


He was almost certainly aboard the SS Benalbanach which was torpedoed by aircraft when carrying troops and equipment to Tunisia
333 service personnel died. The majority of the Infantry and Royal Artillery men are on the Mdejez-el Bab Memorial (110 names for 7-1-1943), all the support and Corps troops (223 names for 7-1-1943) are on the Brookwood Memorial




Eric Atherton is commemorated on the Brookwood 1939-1945 Memorial, Surrey, panel 16 column 1

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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