Dear All, another identification...this time a helmet... A friend of mine has a 2nd Ox & Bucks helmet found on LZ W (Saint Aubin d'Arquenay). This probably means he was a passeger in of of the Operation Mallard gliders A name is wirtten inside: LEE As I don't see any LEE in the 2nd Ox & Bucks in the Roll of Homour. he probably survived the Normandy Campaign. Who could the LEE be? thanks for your help & Regards, Ludo
Hi Ludo, The only Lee I've come across with the 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire L.I. is a L/Cpl. Lee. He flew in on Glider 162, Operation Mallard. Some particulars: Keevil Airfield - 299 Squadron - Pilot F/S Liggins - Stirling Glider - CN 162 - Serial 5 - LZ W Glider Pilots - S/Sgt. Coddington, Sgt. Goodchild - D Squadron Passengers - C.S.M. Williams(KIA), L/Cpl. Lee, Pte. Holmes, Pte. Craig, Cpl. Knox (KIA) Some info on the glider pilots from HQ GPR and No.1 Wing GPR war diaries. "D" Squadron 6143799 - S/Sgt Coddington J. 5119586 - Sgt Goodchild E. "S/Sgt. Coddington and Sgt. Goodchild were also killed on landing." "The bodies of Lt. Martin, S/Sgt. Coddington and Sgt. Goodchild were found and buried by a First Aid Party at ST. AUBYN D'ARQUENAY CHURCH. It was noticeable that they had been stripped of watches, fighting knives and rations." Regards ...
According to the CWGC and Fallen Heroes of Normandy Corporal Knox, also killed on June 6th, was buried at the Benouville Churchyard. Corporal KNOX, HARRY Service Number 5387231 Died 06/06/1944 Aged 25 2nd (Airborne) Bn. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry Son of Richard and Sarah Knox, of West Stanley, Co. Durham. The RoH for the 2nd Ox and Bucks on the Pegasus Archive lists C.S.M. Ernest Edward Williams' death on June 9th, 1944. Regards ...
Hi Chuck, thanks for this information. Being only 5 passengers in the glider, does it mean the load was a jeep and trailer? Ludo
Ludo, More than likely, unfortunately brithm's data sheet has no information on loads. I'm not sure at this point if these men were killed as a result of a crash or enemy fire? Is there any memory of where on LZ W the helmet was found? Regards ...
