Plea to find family of bombing victim

Colin Hutton • Published 13 Oct 2009 09:00

Relatives are wanted for 70th anniversary service

TWO soldiers from Dumbarton who were killed by a lone German bomber during the Second World War will be remembered at a special ceremony.

Thomas Buchan Wood and Alexander Keenan, both 19, perished along with 20 other soldiers when their army base was targeted by Hitler's forces.

And as the 70th anniversary of the tragedy approaches, the son of one of the men who was lucky to survive the aerial attack is hoping to track down relatives of the fallen heroes so they can attend the poignant event.

Stuart Gray's father, Andrew, and the rest of the 58th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment were resting at the Penhale Army Camp, near the village of Perranporth, in Cornwall, as they tried to come to terms with the horrific battles they had faced in Calais and Dunkirk.

But as the men lay dozing at the barracks on Sunday July 7 1940 the bomber struck.

Clydebank man Stuart, 58, told the Reporter: "The troops who survived the battles in Calais and Dunkirk had just returned to Penhale and then on a sunny Sunday afternoon a lone bomber went over and dropped four, high explosive, two-hundred-and-twenty pound bombs, although one did not go off.

"This was a terrible tragedy when it happened in Cornwall all those years ago.

"The Perranporth community holds a commemorative service every July, but next year because it is the seventieth anniversary there will be a special remembrance service in the village, as well as one at the army camp.

"I've already been in touch with seven of the victim's families but the two men who were from Dumbarton I have had no luck with yet."

Gunner Wood, who was the youngest son of Thomas and Helen Buchan Wood, of 3 Beechwood Terrace, Dumbarton East, is buried at Dumbarton Cemetery and appears on the town's war memorial.

There are two gravestones for the fallen hero, with one headstone detailing the whole family and the other a tribute from his workmates at Denny's shipyard.

Gunner Keenan was born in Northern Ireland, but was resident in Dumbarton on enlistment and is buried in St Piran's Churchyard, in Cornwall, alongside William Torrance Hamilton, from Helensburgh, and the other 19 soldiers.

The 58th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment formed on the outbreak of war, and was made up of many of the troops from the 9th (Dumbarton) Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

Any relatives of the fallen Dumbarton soldiers, or anyone based at Penhale Camp in 1940, should contact Stuart on 07810450419 or email scotscan@talktalk.net.

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This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 13 Oct 09

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