An ex-soldier is attempting to right an injustice by putting together a Roll of Honour for the 11th Hussars who fought in the Second World War.

David Eason fought with the Royal Hussars in the Gulf in 1991.

After leaving the army he developed a fascination for the history of his regiment. He began to extensively research the origins of the “Cherrypickers”.

He was horrified to discover that, despite extensive history being written about the regiment’s exploits during the Second World War, no Roll of Honour existed for them.

For two years he has been putting together the list of names and, after speaking to relatives and descendants of the deceased and researching war memorials and church commemorations, it is 80 per cent complete.

Mr Eason still has some way to go and is hoping that Croydon Guardian readers can help him find information about the remaining men.

He said: “I would like to hear from anyone who believes they have a relative or descendant who fell during 1939-1945 while serving in the 11th Hussars.”

Trooper, James Leslie Mooton is one of the fallen soldiers, believed to have relatives in Croydon.

He was born in 1917 in Cheshire to John Henry and Sarah Mooton. He died heroically in Egypt on April 25, 1941 at the age of 24.

He left behind his wife Nellie Sophia who was from Woking.

The B squadron of the 11th Hussars had been sent out in armoured cars, behind enemy lines to harass the Italian and German forward positions on an operation in Egypt.

They were attacked by 11 German Messerschmitt 110’s aircraft at noon on April 25, 1941.

Out of the three armoured cars two were put out of action. The third was captured by the Germans after they tried to run for cover and avoid an air attack.

Trooper Mooton was in one of the cars that was hit by enemy fire. He was killed along with a fellow soldier Lance-corporal P E J Hoppe.

The other two passengers, Lance Corporal Oliver and Sergeant Hoyland, were wounded.

The attacks continued and within 24 hours the regiment had lost seven armoured cars and 16 men. It was the worse loss of life suffered by the Cherrypickers since the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava.

The regiment has a long and distinguished history.

The 11th Hussars was raised in 1715 as Honywood’s Dragoons, and fought in both the First and Second Jacobite Rebellions.

They battled under the Duke of Wellington in the Seven Years War and fought in the Napoleonic War.

It is thought that their nickname comes from an incident in the Peninsular War, in which the 11th Light Dragoons (as the regiment was then named) were attacked while raiding an orchard at San Martin de Trevejo in Spain.

Their signature crimson trousers were inherited in 1840, the regiment escorted Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg from Dover to Canterbury before his marriage to Queen Victoria.

Impressed by their smartness, Prince Albert requested that the regiment should be called the 11th Prince Albert’s Own Hussars, and should wear his crimson livery trousers.

Mr Eason said: “After 60-plus years waiting, none of these men will be commemorated unless they are all together again.”