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Information from Clive Wood, 2008
Craftsman Colin Roderick Penness

14417469 Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers

Son of Mr James & Mrs Winifred Penness

Aged 20 years

Died 3rd September 1944

Commemorated at Montecchio War Cemetery, N. Italy
Grave II. H.9.
Rushden Echo & Argus, 15th September 1944, transcribed by Clive Wood

Rushden Soldiers Fatal Wounds - Family's fine record in two wars

Mr & Mrs James Penness of 71 Newton Road, Rushden, heard on Wednesday that their youngest son, Craftsman Colin Roderick Penness R.E.M.E, attached to a Tank Regiment in the Central Mediterranean, has died of wounds due to enemy action.

Craftsman Penness was 20 years of age, he had been in the Army for 18 months and abroad for 12 which included eight months in North Africa. He was educated at Wellingborough Grammar School and attended the Bible Class and Sunday School at St Mary's Church, later he was employed on the staff of the Tecnic Boot Co.

His elder brother is in the RAF Police and seven cousins are also in the forces. His father in one of five brothers who served in the last War.
Alan Ashford (right) with his
cousin Colin Penness
Photo from the collection
of Mrs Joyce Thornley

Letters (below) that upset the family because they got Colin's middle name wrong.

The entry (bottom left) from the Memorial Book at Wellingborough Grammar School is one of 23 names.

Right is a Xmas Greeting card sent to his brother Aubrey J Penness, in 1943, signed "Bruvver Col".

Extract from the Roll of Honour in "Memories of Wellingborough Grammar School" by D & G Tall
Colin Penness (WGS 1935-40), from Rushden, joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in March 1943. From September 1943 to March 1944 he served in North Africa and then took part in the allied invasion of Italy, where he was killed, aged 20, on 3rd September 1944 in the battle of the Gothic Line. He was buried in the British war cemetery at Montecchio in Northern Italy.

headstone cemetery gate
Colin's headstone and the gates of Montecchio War Cemetery.
I also performed a ceremony on August 22nd 2014, for
our Fallen Canadian Soldiers. Perry Chiappini

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