War heroes together in Egypt

United in death . . . the joint war grave of Oldham tank regiment troopers James Cameron and Leslie Baker

A touching discovery of two Oldham Tank Regiment members who were united in death has been made by a one-time Oldham College principal in Egypt.

John Lewis, formerly of Ronald Street, Clarksfield, but now living in Shrewbury, stumbled upon the joint grave at the El Alamein battlefield and Commonwealth War Cemetery.

Troopers James Joseph Cameron and Leslie Baker from Oldham’s 47th Tank Regiment died on the same day — October 27, 1942.

The El Alamein battle was a major turning point in the desert campaign in north Africa.

Mr Lewis, who was the principal of Oldham College from 1988 to 1990, said: “There is this huge cemetery — it contains 7,240 Commonwealth burials from the Second World War — yet I stumbled across these two from Oldham quite by chance.”

War records show that James Cameron (35) was the son of Thomas and Emily, and was married to Rose.

Leslie Baker (31) was the son of William and Mabel Baker of Crafthole, Cornwall.

The 47th Tank Regiment was one of two raised in Oldham in 1938 and 1939, the other was the 41st.

They were raised by Territorial Army volunteers. In the Second World War, both saw action at El-Alamein.

The 41st was also awarded the Freedom of the Borough in March, 1954.