Glider pilot on local memorial

Discussion in 'Airborne' started by redtop, Jan 7, 2019.

  1. redtop

    redtop Well-Known Member

    A soldier from the Glider Pilot Regiment is named on our local Memorial in Halstead North Essex.
    H King Glider Pilot Regiment.
    Is he mentioned anywhere ?
    Earls Colne airfield is just 5 miles east of Halstead
    Wonder if local boy left from there never to return..
    Will remember him on the 24th.
     
  2. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    hello redtop

    24th of ?

    have you checked CWGC
     
  3. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Not showing a WW2 casualty as H King

    There has been a lot of research on the Halstead War Memorial by a local councillor who truned up additional WW1 Names, so perhaps worth contacting him?
    https://www.halsteadgazette.co.uk/n...mes_of_fallen_WW1_heroes_is_finally_unveiled/

    However, a quick trawl using "Halstead" as a Search parameter on the CWGC site produces 160 Names with links to Halstead or immediate surrounding villages, giving Halstead as their address. Many more WW1 casualties have no Additional Information, so it could be a major task to update the recent work. As a guide I attach an Excel worksheet extracting Halstead WW1 Names and one for the 42 Halstead Essex related WW2 casualties.

    As for WW2 H Kings, only 2 have Date of Death being 24th (Sgt Harold Christopher RAFVR 24/10/41) and Signalman Harold Lewis Charles, RN 24/05/41 and neither appear to have any connection with Halstead or Glider Pilot Regiment.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. redtop

    redtop Well-Known Member

    Sorry, CLI ,Kevin Battle
    24th March Rhine Crossing memorial service at Earls Colne
    Not his date of death which is not given.
    I apologise for not being more precise
    Was not aiming to do in depth research ,just a passing interest.
     
  5. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

  6. redtop

    redtop Well-Known Member

    I have apologised for being imprecise ,
    I now apologise for being a complete PRATT and wasting your time.:surr:
    I somehow took the wrong name from my phone.
    It should have been H J Iron
     

    Attached Files:

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  7. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945
    Name: Hedley Iron
    Given Initials: H J
    Rank: Serjeant
    Death Date: 9 Jul 1943
    Number: 5954103
    Birth Place: Essex
    Residence: Essex
    Branch at Enlistment: Army Air Corps
    Theatre of War: Sicily
    Regiment at Death: Glider Pilot Regt
    Branch at Death: Army Air Corps


    Casualty
    Serjeant
    IRON, HEDLEY JAMES
    Service Number 5954103
    Died 09/07/1943
    Aged 26
    1st
    The Glider Pilot Regiment, A.A.C.
    Son of James and Minnie Iron; husband of May Caroline Emma Iron, of Sible Hedingham, Essex.

    TD
     
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  8. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    LOL, You're forgiven - this once!
    We're all human, I think...
    1939 Register shows the link to Halstead
    Name: Hedley J Iron. Marital Status: Single. Birth Date: 21 Jul 1916
    Address: 8, Bois Field Terrace, Halstead, Essex, England
    Occupation: Assistant Planning Dept Joinery Works
    His sister Barbara (later McCord) was also there.

    Marriage registered 1st Qtr 1942 to Mary Caroiine Emma Cansell.

    With Date of Death being 9 July and No Known Grave, presumably his was one of the 65 gliders cast off too early by novice American tug pilots, too far from the Sicily landing zones, drowning over 250 men.
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2019
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  9. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Not only the Gliders that were lost/cast off early

    Invasion of Sicily and Italy's Surrender
    For example, when Allied C-47 transports carrying airborne troops flew across the invasion fleet, the naval gunners nervously fired their anti-aircraft weapons at the friendly planes in total panic. "Hundreds of men were lost, entire sticks of paratroopers jumping early when their pilots in all the confusion hit the green light, and the heavily laden men came down in the ocean and disappeared."

    TD

    100s Killed In Tragic 'Friendly Fire' Incidents During The Airborne Assault on Sicily in 1943
     
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  10. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    Operation Ladbroke. Waco Chalk 124 carrying men of B Company, Border Regiment. Statements from survivor said that the glider crashed into a cliff. There were only three survivors
     

    Attached Files:

  11. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Good find!
    Tomlinson, Collins and Caldwell are on the Cassino Memorial so although 10 bodies (out of 11 casualties on the glider) it seems they weren't able to be identified.
    Is there a possibility of "Known Unto God" burials of these 10 (or 11) men?
    They weren't lost at sea, as I'd assumed, but must have been buried "somewhere"....

    maybe the CWGC might trace KUG burials, perhaps even if "A soldier of the Border Reg't" and whilst they may not be able to ascertain who is where, at least a cross reference to horspassenger List would help future enquiries by relatives.
     
  12. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    The names of all those listed as 'missing’ appear on the Cassino Memorial. It appears that the glider crashed head on into the cliff and then later fell back into the sea with the bodies of the dead still trapped inside. From the statement made by Sgt Gorbell they waited for over 13 hours before any help arrived and he said that he had personally inspected those on board three times during the daylight period and certified that those killed had almost certainly died on impact or were beyond help.
     
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  13. redtop

    redtop Well-Known Member

    I have checked and the Iron family no longer live in or around Halstead.
    Oldsters remember him and family but have no recollection of his service or how he was killed in action.
    I am writing up an article for the local paper to coincide with the Commemorative Service for the Glider Pilot Regiment and Operation Varsity at Marks Hall ,Earls Colne from where Gliders on the Operation took off..
    This service is on 24 March 2019 The Patrons of Marks Hall Abortorium provide coffee and a snack before and after parade.
     
  14. AndyBaldEagle

    AndyBaldEagle Very Senior Member

    Redtop, Will you be at the service? and are you a member of the GPRS? who will be there also.

    Andy
     
  15. redtop

    redtop Well-Known Member

    Hi Andy
    I will be there.
    I am a member of The Parachute Regiment Association.
    Bryan
     
  16. redtop

    redtop Well-Known Member

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