Gnr William Henry Williams (14375372) - 4th Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery RA

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by BerkshireSteel, May 18, 2020.

  1. BerkshireSteel

    BerkshireSteel New Member

    Hello there

    I am a newbie so please bear with me. I am researching a great uncle in law, Gnr William Henry Williams (14375372) who was injured on 6th June,1944 and died of his injuries on the 7th June, 1944. He is buried at Ranville Churchyard.

    He was in the 4th Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery RA. I think he landed "successfully" in LZ N after flying in the 3rd wave of Horsas from Tarrant Rushton. Looking at the Battery War Diary (WO 171/960) it states that one gun (namely the forward ATK) was lost on the 6th June with the loss of a gunner and two glider pilots who I understand would have been gunners at that time. I can only believe that this refers to Gunner Williams as the only loss that day.

    Does anybody know where I might find on what glider (CN) he flew and if there are any other records detailing his landing and subsequent movements until his death later on D- Day +1. I have located the ORBs for 644 and 298 Squadrons who flew the gliders that night but until I know which glider he was in I am stuck.

    I would be extremely grateful for any insights and assistance you may be able to offer.

    Best regards

    Michael Walsh
     
  2. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Details on that you are looking for are in this link:

    3rd and 4th Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery, Royal Artillery. | ParaData

    Please note, ALL the Pilots of the Glider’s were from “The Glider Pilot Regiment”.
    Here’s some additional info on some of the crews:

    The War Diary for No 1 Wing, The Glider Pilot Regiment has reports from each Squadron that took part, at Appendix ‘K’ is that of ‘D’ Squadron, written soon after the events;

    “D-Squadron provided 34 Crews for operation TONGA and took off on 6th June from TARRANT RUSHTON at 01.30 hrs together with 4 Hamilcars which were flown by ‘C’ Squadron. L.Z. was ‘N’.

    All crews had been trained by 4 A/Tk. Bty, R.A. as gun members on 6 pounder A/Tk guns, the plan being that the glider pilots would act as gun members until the arrival of extra gunners in the next days landing.


    I took a quick look through the information, and I did NOT see the name GNR Williams, but I may have missed it.

    Below is another resource you may try.....don’t forget to read the Glider Pilot Regiments reports, they may have info in that may help

    War Diaries

    And a short article on GNR William H Williams, which you may wish to add info to

    William H Williams | ParaData

    Good luck
     
    Last edited: May 21, 2020
  3. Temujin

    Temujin Member

  4. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    4th Air Landing Anti Tank Bty Losses:

    06/06/44 HILL, John Alfred Bdr

    06/06/44 KILBEY, Frank Alan Capt

    06/06/44 LANE, Alfred John Bdr

    06/06/44 LAZAROPOULO, Paul Gnr

    06/06/44 LYONS, Samuel Alfred Lt

    06/06/44 MACHIN, John Henry Gnr

    06/06/44 SIDNEY, William Bdr

    06/06/44 TAYLOR, Raymond Kenneth Gnr

    06/06/44 WOODCOCK, Frederick Lewis L/Sgt

    07/06/44 BYARD, Jospeh Henry Sgt

    07/06/44 GUEST, Albert Lawrence Sgt

    07/06/44 WAINWRIGHT, John Charles L/Bdr

    07/06/44 WILLIAMS, William Henry Gnr

    07/06/44 YATES, John Herbert Bdr


    Info from War Diaries for 7th Jun 1944

    7th June 1944

    Place: Ranville Area

    Sgt Guest and 3 guns killed in action. Gun knocked out by German S.P. which was subsequently knocked out by 17 pdr of 3rd Bty attached to us.


    From the above information, I would suggest that GNR William H Henry was KIA with the gun crew of Sgt Guest, as shown in the War Dairies on the 7th Jun 1944
     
    Last edited: May 22, 2020
  5. BerkshireSteel

    BerkshireSteel New Member

    Many thanks Temujin. You reassure a suspicion of mine especially as Sgt Guest is buried next to William Williams in Ranville Cemetery. Best
     

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