Hi, I am new to the forum and am trying to gather as much information about my 2nd cousin as possible. This is the information I have so far:- James Johnson Sharrock - Glider Pilot - Died during Operation Market Garden Jim flew in No 6 Flight of 'C' Squadron. Chalk No.320 320 was a Hamilcar glider which was amongst a batch assigned to carry 'D' & 'P' Troops of the 1st Air-landing Anti-Tank Batteries. Flew from Tarrant Rushton towed by Halifaxes of either 298 or 644 Squadrons. Troops of these batteries were equipped with 17-pounder guns & Morris Tow Trucks. A heavy load for a 21 year old. We know Jim is mentioned in the Roll of honour but he doesn't have any burial details. My mother remembers being told that he was shot down and I am hoping to establish if that is correct and if so when and where. This may seem a bit of a challenge I know but as the Glider Pilots Motto says Nothing is Impossible. I just hope that with your help that that will be true. Regards, JJS. I am not sure that I have posted this in the correct place! If not apologies and could you please redirect me UPDATE From the 298 Squadron Records at the National Archives the Glider Raid report in the ORB shows that Jim and S/Sgt Waring were in a Hamilcar (Chalk 320) which landed safely on LZ Z. They were towed by a Halifax piloted by Squadron Leader Imber and their load was a 17 pounder gun. S.Sgt Waring is reported as having survived Arnhem. Jim was reported missing on the 22nd September 1944, five day after landing. I am now hoping to trace anyone who may have and be willing or able to share any personal memory of Jim. I have been given some lovely snippets from someone who interviewed a man that was billeted with Jim and I have been able to share those with my mother and her cousins who remember Jim as a young boy. I would particularly like to find out if anyone has any memory of Jim on the ground after landing to try to establish when and where he may have died in the hope that one day we may be able to find out where he may be buried - The impossible dream, maybe! - But, He who dares wins and Nothing Is Impossible! My sincere thanks to all those that have given their time, energy and expertise to date and I am still hopeful that with your help we could uncover more information and give Jim the place in our family history that he deserves. Those within the family that knew him and that have learned about his story through my research are immensely proud and humbled that he was one of our own. We want to do our utmost to ensure that his memory lives on in the younger generations of the family and those yet to come. JJS.
There maybe some info on him in one of the missing men files at Kew.I've just had a look at whats available file wise and there is a AT file and a few Glider Pilot files. Steve (GPR) will hopefully be able to help you further. Good luck Andy
Welcome from the Netherlands, I have checked my Missing Arnhem soldiers file, but have no information about him, sorry
Hi JJS, Your right of course, but I wanted you to see this Greosbeek wall for The Missing... JJS Jim's Army number was 3606728 and took off from Tarrant Rushton... Cheers Tom
Welcome to the forum JJS Just checking if you or another family member have already got a copy of his service records?
Thanks Drew 5233 I tried searching that site and couldn't get any information! I obviously have a lot to learn! Thanks again, JJS.
Trackfrower, Look at the photo Sergeant The photo is showing the rank of a Corporal, unless you mean the memorial wall? The CWGC link I posted earlier lists him as a Sergeant
The photo is showing the rank of a Corporal. The CWGC link I posted lists him as a Sergeant Does this make me a airborne expert now? I have looked on Peggy, Memorial Grove and another Airborne site.... and all list him as Sgt and yes I thought the pic showed Cpl stripes, Tom what do you see we dont
This is fantastic, I don't know who to thank first! This is just so much information I had no idea how to find. We do not have his service records. All I have at the moment is his roll of honour details from the forces genealogy site and the information I posted earlier which was given to me by the Pegasus Archive Web site. The wall image is just brilliant - thank you for that TomTAS I am sure to miss thanking someone with all this information coming in at once so please be assured that all your comments are very much appreciated. Regards, JJS
Hi, I am a bit confused now! Forgive my ignorance, but what are the stripes on his sleeve? Sergeant or corporal? JJS.
Drew5233 Thank you for that. I have followed the link for a quick look and will visit to site again to see if I can get hold of Jims records. No idea that existed! Thanks again, JJS.
Oh! That's a bit odd, is it not? that he's listed on all the official stuff as sergeant! JJS Not really, just means the picture was taken before he became Sgt.
Just wanted to upload this to see if it was any help, I had managed to find this but couldn't find much else! :-
