Leading Stoker Christian Albert Renatus Gerner

Leading Stoker Christian Albert Renatus Gerner , Royal Navy. He was lost at sea from H.M. Landing Craft (Tank) No. 7015 on 18th October 1944 aged 33. He had been born in Tynemouth and was the son of George and Ellen Gerner and Husband of Olive Gerner of Alnwick and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Memorial. On that day 6 LCTs were lost in stormy weather off Lands End.  They were part of  convoy OS92/KM566 bound for the Mediterranean en route to the Far East . 50 men were lost. He had seen a great deal of action already having landed tanks during the ill fated Dieppe raid in 1942.  He had also landed tanks in Nort Africa, Sicily and Italy. On D Day 6th June 1944 he had been landing tanks onto the beach when his vessel was torpedoed and blown in two. He spent one and one half hours in the water before being rescued by a launch. Before the War he had worked as a Motor Lorry driver for L.N.E.R at Coldstream station. He is also remembered on a plaque in Coldstream Parish Church.  The photograph is of an L.C.T. at sea. (Check out this website for more information on the Convoy.http://www.combinedops.com/9th%20LCT%20Flotilla.htm).