799 Air Despatch Coy, RASC Casualty

Discussion in 'Airborne' started by englandphil, Oct 17, 2010.

  1. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    One of my local casualties served with the 799 Air Despatch Company, and was KIA on 21st Sept 1944.

    Driver HAROLD WOODWARD
    T/1455222, Royal Army Service Corps
    who died age 30, on 21 September 1944
    Son of Frederick and Martha Ann Woodward, of Widnes, Lancashire; husband of Hilda Woodward, of West Bank, Widnes.
    Remembered with honour, BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY

    I have transcribed his obituary from the archives of the local newspaper, which stated that he was killed whilst supplying troops in France, however France had been liberated by this time, and I have now found reference to the operation he was killed in being an Arnhem Supply drop.

    Report from Widnes Weekly News
    WIDNES DRIVER MISSING
    Driver Harold Woodward of 17 Oakland Street, Widnes has been officially reported as missing whilst engaged in transporting supplies by air (799 Air Despatch Coy ) to the allied troops fighting in France. Aged 30, Driver Woodward is a son of Mrs Woodward, 45 Bridge Street, Widnes and the late Mr Frederick Woodward.

    Driver Woodward is a native of Widnes, was educated at the Widnes National School and is a member of St Mary’s church. Prior to joining the army in march 1939 he was employed at the everite works. He is married, his wife being formerly Miss Hilda Gelling of 47 Irwell Street, Widnes, and they have two children, Barbara aged 5 and Joyce aged 2.

    Frderick Woodward aged 36 and Mark Woodward aged 32, brothers of driver Woodward are serving in the Merchant navy. A Brother in law Lance Corporal Charles Gelling is stationed in England and a sister in law, Pte Mabel gelling is serving with the A.T.S.

    Another brother in law, Arthur Gelling was reported as having died in January of this year (1944) whilst a prisoner of war in Japanese hands.

    I have a list of the other RASC members from 799 Coy killed that day, but no details of the air crash or details of cause.

    799 Air Despatch Coy ROH
    Arnhem
    21st September 1944
    Cpl G.H. Rhodes,
    L/Cpl R.A. Adams,
    Dvr R.J. Claxton,
    Dvr D.F. Tite,
    Dvr H. Woodward.

    Can
    anyone add details of the aircraft and crash.
     
  2. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    HAve now tracked down the aircraft, should have spent more time looking before posting.

    Dakota MkIII KG387 of RCAF 437 Sqn, took off from Blakehill farm, but was shot down by enemy fighters and crashed at 17:30 hours near Sonniushoeve Farm at Son near Eindhoven on the 101st Airborne Division landing Zone. Only three men survived.

    F/Sgt A. McHugh (Navigator)
    F/O J Rechenuc (Wirless Operator)
    L/Cpl O.R. Jones (Air Despatcher)

    The five casualties were buried in the Temp US Military Cemetery at Son in Row C Plots 15-19, but only Drivers Woodward and Yeo could be identified. All casualties were reinterred in the British War Cemetery at bergen-op-Zoom.

    SOURCE : Arnhem Role of Honour.
     
  3. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Phil, I have the following on the loss of Dakota KG387/437 Squadron.
    Crashed. Sonniushoeve Farm, Son near Eindhoven

    The aircraft had not been damaged while dropping its supplies and the pilot climbed to 7000 feet and set course for the UK in the hazy conditions existing at that time. The aircraft was well clear of Arnhem when it was attacked by an enemy fighter which caused serious damage and either fatally wounded of killed the aircrafts captain with its first burst on fire. Three of the dispatchers were also killed at this point and the Co-pilot ordered the aircraft abandoned and the navigator, wireless operator and the surviving dispatchers baled out just before the aircraft went out off control.

    Fatalities.....

    S/L. Robert Wilfred Alexander 24 RCAF. Pilot
    F/O. William Stewart McLintock 22 RCAF. Co-Pilot
    Cpl. Albert E. Hall 32 799 Air Dispatch Coy RASC
    Driver Harold Woodward 30
    Driver Fredrick George William Yeo 19

    Details from 'Though Without Anger' - Colin Cummings
     
  4. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    I have a list of the other RASC members from 799 Coy killed that day, but no details of the air crash or details of cause.


    799 Air Despatch Coy ROH
    Arnhem
    21st September 1944
    Cpl G.H. Rhodes,
    L/Cpl R.A. Adams,
    Dvr R.J. Claxton,
    Dvr D.F. Tite,

    Rhodes, Adams, Claxton and Tite were killed when Dakota KG489/437 Squadron was attacked and shot down while flying low, by two enemy fighters.

    Details From 'Though Without Anger - Colin Cumming
     
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  5. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    Peter, once agin you come up with the goods, Cheers

    Phil
     
  6. Dewi

    Dewi New Member

    My grandfather is L/Cpl OR Jones can't find his service number
     
  7. Dewi

    Dewi New Member

    Yes I know the aircraft he was on but I don't know where I can get his service number .where did he serve befor I know he told me he was in egypt
     
  8. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Dewi

    Can I ask why you need his service number? - do you have anymore details about him, was he a POW, killed, survived etc etc ??

    TD
     
  9. Dewi

    Dewi New Member

    Hi ,I want to know what he done before he was shot down to try and get his service record . He would not talk about the war because he thought he was the only one that got out of kg387 but about five years after his death in 1993 the Canadian navigator traced where he lived and went to my grandparents house
     
  10. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    I presume that you are referring to L/Cpl O R Jones. His service number was T 4201824
     

    Attached Files:

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  11. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Youy do not need his service number as with a copy of his death certificate you can apply for his service records.
    Request records of deceased service personnel - GOV.UK

    Quote"subject to the payment of an administration fee and the provision of a death certificate (except where death was in service)."Unquote

    TD
     
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  12. Dewi

    Dewi New Member

    Thanks for that Tricky Dicky I've being looking for that for about 3years
     

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