Graves of three comrades killed in Normandy rededicated

Nearly 80 years after their deaths, Trooper (Tpr) David Louis Morris, Corporal (Cpl) Allan Edwin Griffiths and Lance Corporal (LCpl) Neville Charles Skilton, who all served with 4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), part of The Royal Armoured Corps, have been identified near Bayeux in Normandy.

 The rededication service for Corporal Allan Edwin Griffith's was attended by his son-in-law and 4 of his grandchildren.

Three rededication services were held on 21 September 2023 at their gravesides. The services, organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) were held at CWGC Tilly-sur-Seulles War Cemetery.

The graves of Cpl Griffiths and LCpl Skilton were identified after a researcher submitted evidence to CWGC hoping to have located their final resting places. Further research was carried out by the National Army Museum and JCCC and the identification of the graves was confirmed. During the course of this further research the grave of Tpr Morris was also identified.

Rosie Barron, JCCC case lead said:
“It has been a privilege to organise these rededication services and to be able to bring some closure to the families of Tpr Morris, Cpl Griffiths and LCpl Skilton. Although their family members present at the services today did not have the chance to know these men personally, memories of them are a cherished part of their family histories and their family members grew up surrounded by those who knew and loved them. It is important that the stories of these men live on and that we learn from their example and honour the sacrifice that they made for our freedom.”

The services were attended by members of Cpl Griffiths and LCpl Skilton’s families as well as serving soldiers of The Royal Armoured Corps and The Coldstream Guards. The services were conducted by the Reverend Martin Robbins, Chaplain to 1st Battalion The Coldstream Guards.

 Bill Whight and his wife Jude, stand at the graveside of his uncle, Lance Corporal Neville Charles Skilton

Bill Whight, the nephew of LCpl Skilton who attended the services said:
“It was such a surprise to receive news identifying the final resting place of Neville, my mother's younger brother. We had accounts of Neville from my mother and from a distant cousin who knew him well, before the war. But this news suddenly brought his life into focus for us, assisted by photographs from various family albums and the circumstances of his final battle researched by the JCCC. We were unaware of the splendid compassionate casework service carried out by the JCCC. We are so grateful to them for their research and organising, what is for us, for a very moving service of rededication of Neville's grave.”

Cpl Griffiths’ granddaughter, Alison Kelly, attended the rededication services along with other family members:

Alison Kelly said:
“Allan Griffiths' surviving family and descendants are grateful to the JCCC and CWGC for their work in identifying and rededicating his grave almost eighty years after he was so sadly lost in action. Those of us who are able to attend the memorial service at Tilly-sur-Seulles War Cemetery will have the honour of representing all generations of the family, past and present, in particular Allan's late widow, Millie, and his three late daughters, Shirley, Stella and Pamela, for all of whom his loss was a source of profound and lasting sorrow. The commemoration of Allan at his final resting place will help bring closure for all the family.”

The services were conducted by the Rev Martin Robbins CF, Chaplain to 1st Battalion The Coldstream Guards.

The Reverend Robbins said:
 “This week it has been a tremendous privilege to have the opportunity to reflect upon the sacrifice and service offered by those young men and women in the Normandy campaign almost 80 years ago. This morning was no exception. Sharing with families of the service men from the Royal Armoured Corps, whose graves we rededicated, their memories and thoughts, and focusing upon the tremendous bravery of these individuals has been both humbling and enlightening in equal measure. May we never forget the cost they paid to purchase for us the liberty we enjoy today.”

As Tpr Morris, Cpl Griffiths and LCpl Skilton were all listed as missing, their names were commemorated on the Bayeux Memorial to the missing in Normandy. Their graves will now be cared for in perpetuity by CWGC.

Xavier Puppinck, Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Director of France said: 
"We are deeply honoured to rededicate the graves of Trooper David Louis Morris, Corporal Allan Edwin Griffiths, and Lance Corporal Neville Charles Skilton. The memory of these servicemen will now be preserved in perpetuity, and their families can find solace in knowing that their loved ones’ final resting places have been properly recognized and will cared for by CWGC forever." 

Trooper David Louis Morris

Tpr David Louis Morris was born on 4 April 1923 in London borough of St Pancras. He was the only child of Louis Jervis Morris and his wife Olive Muriel. Before the war he worked as a civil servant. He enlisted into The Royal Armoured Corps on 23 April 1942 and was posted to 54th Training Regiment. On 9 November 1942, Tpr Morris was posted to 52nd Training Regiment. He embarked for the Middle East on 19 December 1942 and saw service with the First Army in North Africa. On 5 May 1943 he transferred to 4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) and on 23 July 1943 qualified as a Gunner Operator.

Corporal Allan Edwin Griffiths

Corporal Allan Edwin Griffiths was born in Hereford on 13 October 1909. He was one of three children born to Charles Sandford Griffiths and his wife Florence Mary. Private Charles Sandford Griffiths was killed in Belgium on 25 May 1915 during the Second Battle of Ypres whilst serving with 2nd Battalion The King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and is commemorated on the Menin Gate.

Before enlisting, Allan was employed as a rates clerk and worked for Hereford Rural District Council. On 28 December 1933, Allan married Millie Frances Langford in Hereford. They had three daughters, Shirley Anne, born on 1 June 1935, Stella Margaret, born on 1 April 1938 and Pamela Mary, born on 10 September 1941.

On 16 July 1941, he enlisted into The Royal Armoured Corps and was posted to 6th Training Regiment. He arrived in the Middle East on 19 April 1942 and was posted to 4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) on 21 June 1942. On 18 December 1942 he qualified as a Driver Operator and was promoted to lance corporal. On 9 September 1943, he was promoted again to corporal. Having seen action with the Eighth Army in North Africa, on 21 November 1943 4th County of London Yeomanry entered Italy. On 6 January 1944, they disembarked in the United Kingdom. Cpl Griffiths was sent to the Army School of Chemical Warfare in Glenridding, in the Lake District.

Lance Corporal Neville Charles Skilton

LCpl Neville Charles Skilton was born on 11 December 1915 in Tonbridge, Kent. He was the youngest of three children born to William Skilton and his wife Nellie. Before the outbreak of the World War 2 he worked as a clerk. On 16 May 1940, Neville enlisted and was posted to 6th Battalion The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment.) On 8 March 1941, he married Esme Gertrude Heller at Edmonton Register Office in London.

On 27 March 1941, Neville transferred to The Royal Armoured Corps and qualified as a Driver Operator. He was initially posted to 54th Training Regiment, before being posted to 4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) on 11 August 1941. On 15 August 1941, he embarked for the Middle East and saw service in North Africa with the Eighth Army. On 21 November 1943, 4th County of London Yeomanry entered Italy. On 5 January 1944 he was promoted to lance corporal and the battalion disembarked in the United Kingdom the following day.

Battle of Normandy – Operation Overlord

Having previously seen service in North Africa and Italy, on 6 June 1944, D Day, 4th County of London Yeomanry landed at Gold Beach as part of Operation Overlord. Having reached their assembly area, they began their advance inland on 10 June. At first light on 11 June, they advanced to bridges held by the enemy north of Tilly-sur-Seulles, operating in support of 2nd Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment. With the bridges secured, two patrols from the Recce Squadron and C Squadron headed towards Tilly-sur-Seulles. C Squadron withdrew to outflank the town to the right and encountered ‘close country’. One troop was sent down a narrow lane and was ambushed with the loss of every tank. At the end of the day 18 members of the battalion were missing including LCpl Skilton and Tpr Morris.

Having seen action at Tilly-sur-Seulles on 11 June 1944, at first light on 13 June, 4th County of London Yeomanry moved towards Villers-Bocage and attacked. At 10:00 hours A Squadron was surrounded and attacked by the enemy. Their position became untenable, but withdrawal was impossible. B Squadron was ordered to hold the town at all costs. By 16:00 hours, after a six hour street battle, the village was still held by B Squadron but enemy infantry remained in the area.

1/7th Battalion The Queen’s attacked but could not clear the opposition. B Squadron was ordered to withdraw with C Squadron covering the withdrawal. 4th County of London Yeomanry suffered casualties of 88 missing, eight wounded in action and four killed in action that day. Cpl Griffiths was last seen being treated for wounds in the vicinity of Point 213 on the northern edge of Villers-Bocage.