Found this re an exercise in 1943 involving Para jump. Secret WW2 exercise that killed UK soldiers revealed
Searching this database for Army Air Corps that died 13 June 1943 in United Kingdom Name: Thomas Ambler Given Initials: T D Rank: Lieutenant Death Date: 13 Jun 1943 Number: 94809 Birth Place: Yorkshire Residence: Yorkshire Regiment at Enlistment: West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales' Own) Branch at Enlistment: Army Air Corps Theatre of War: United Kingdom Regiment at Death: Parachute Regiment (not otherwise specified) Branch at Death: Army Air Corps Name: Herbert Brownrigg Given Initials: H R Rank: Private Death Date: 13 Jun 1943 Number: 5125520 Birth Place: Rotherham Residence: Sheffield Branch at Enlistment: Army Air Corps Theatre of War: United Kingdom Regiment at Death: Parachute Regiment (not otherwise specified) Branch at Death: Army Air Corps Name: Reginald Elwell Given Initials: R Rank: Lance Serjeant Death Date: 13 Jun 1943 Number: 5120812 Birth Place: Wolverhampton Residence: Wolverhampton Branch at Enlistment: Army Air Corps Theatre of War: United Kingdom Regiment at Death: Parachute Regiment (not otherwise specified) Branch at Death: Army Air Corps Name: John Gibbs Given Initials: J N MC Rank: Major Death Date: 13 Jun 1943 Number: 35487 Birth Place: Birmingham Residence: Bedford Regiment at Enlistment: Royal Warwickshire Regiment Branch at Enlistment: Army Air Corps Theatre of War: United Kingdom Regiment at Death: Parachute Regiment (not otherwise specified) Branch at Death: Army Air Corps Name: James McGeever Given Initials: J O Rank: Private Death Date: 13 Jun 1943 Number: 101151 Birth Place: Durham (County) Residence: Durham (County) Branch at Enlistment: Army Air Corps Theatre of War: United Kingdom Regiment at Death: Parachute Regiment (not otherwise specified) Branch at Death: Army Air Corps Name: John Moulds Given Initials: J A Rank: Corporal Death Date: 13 Jun 1943 Number: 5121043 Birth Place: Nottingham Residence: Warwickshire Branch at Enlistment: Army Air Corps Theatre of War: United Kingdom Regiment at Death: Parachute Regiment (not otherwise specified) Branch at Death: Army Air Corps Name: Paul Oneill Given Initials: P Rank: Lance Corporal Death Date: 13 Jun 1943 Number: 5121054 Birth Place: Manchester Residence: Birmingham Branch at Enlistment: Army Air Corps Theatre of War: United Kingdom Regiment at Death: Parachute Regiment (not otherwise specified) Branch at Death: Army Air Corps Name: Horace Robinson - (Confirmed by timuk below post 11 - Horace Robinson | ParaData) Given Initials: H Rank: Private Death Date: 13 Jun 1943 Number: 4624867 Birth Place: Yorkshire Residence: Yorkshire Branch at Enlistment: Army Air Corps Theatre of War: United Kingdom Regiment at Death: Parachute Regiment (not otherwise specified) Branch at Death: Army Air Corps If my maths is correct that 8 men listed but there is no guarantee that any of them were involved in the incident TD
Anyone have access to Scottish records, all the above deaths probably registered at same place. From the article: "The cover-up was deemed vital to prevent the Nazis getting intelligence through which they could try to glean any details about D-Day." Can't see that, there were hundreds of Paras training. (and probably all Nazi spies were rounded up). Bad news generally not reported in press.
Private BROWNRIGG, HERBERT RONALD Service Number 5125520 Died 13/06/1943 Aged 19 8th Bn. The Parachute Regiment, A.A.C. Son of Robert and Margaret Brownrigg. Commemorated at BROOKWOOD 1939-1945 MEMORIAL Location: Surrey, United Kingdom Number of casualties: 3416 Cemetery/memorial reference: Panel 15. Column 1. panel from my photo collection
Lieutenant AMBLER, THOMAS DENISON Service Number 94809 Died 13/06/1943 Aged 22 8th Bn. The Parachute Regiment, A.A.C. Son of Thomas Ingle Ambler and Constance Margaret Ambler; husband of Margaret Priscilla Ambler, of Coventry. Commemorated at BROOKWOOD 1939-1945 MEMORIAL Location: Surrey, United Kingdom Number of casualties: 3416 Cemetery/memorial reference: Panel 15. Column 1. panel from my photo collection
Poor reporting trying to make a sensation out of a tragedy. To my mind this tragedy occurred on a reasonably routine exercise, had nothing to do with the weather, Alanbrooke or anything else. Due entirely to pilot/navigation error in missing the DZ by 10 miles. Agree with Geoff - Bad news not reported. Tim
Of course there are some cover ups (I've found a couple). But another interesting story trashed by sensationalist reporting.
Andy Brown, a member of the 8th Parachute Battalion, who participated in Exercise Bluebell mentions the incident on the BBC People's War site. BBC - WW2 People's War - Operation Bluebell Regards ...
Those poor chaps, 8th Parachute Battalion would suffer another accident later in the year on the 21st December for Exercise "Try Again". The attached is from 8th Parachute Bn's history by Dr R.A. "Tony" Leake regarding Exercise "Bluebell" sorry it doesn't offer more detailed info.
I think the general principle in news control was to suppress any adverse news that the enemy could not ascertain for themselves and I see nothing unusual at the time in seeking to conceal a tragic training accident occurring during a secret exercise. Also, how much did Alanbrooke have to do with this? According to War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke, p.420: 10 June [1943] As soon as the COS was over I returned to flat, changed, and motored to Hendon with Barney. We took off at 1.30 pm and flew to Acklington in Northumberland where we arrived at 3.30. On the way we had a very good lunch of gulls’ eggs and crab sandwiches. Luckily the air was not rough! Spent most of the afternoon inspecting searchlight tanks [CDLs presumably]. Finally fetched up for the night with the Allendales. Dined with the Strachans and fished for trout after dinner, without success owing to thunderstorm. 11 June Left 9 am for Seahouses, where Admiral met us with a ship to proceed to Farne Islands. Practically the same naval party as last year with bird watchers. Ronnie Stanyforth also turned up. We had a delightful day and I took many photographs of elder duck, fulmar petrel, kittiwakes, guillemots, razor bills, puffins and shags. Weather held up well. Finally returned to Blythe with 2 hours sea trip through heavy storms. 12 June Flew back to Odiham and was home by 12 noon. 13 and 14 June Quiet Whitsun weekend at home with a heavy cold. Photographed fly catcher. 15 June Motored back to London, still streaming with cold. ... So nowhere near the Tay! So who were the VIPs? This could of course be an elaborate part of the cover-up asserted but it should be relatively easy to establish whether Alanbrooke was actually in Scotland instead. Even had he been present it seems unlikely to me that he would have been exercising any executive control. P.S. Just noticed that Andy Brown is mistaken: 13th June 1943 was a Sunday not a Friday.
At the time the 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade was based at Leven in Fife with HQ at the Largo House (now a ruin). So probably there would be high ranking Polish Airborne Officers present, perhaps even General Stanisław Sosabowski. The Sky News article claims Polish Paras were also dropped at the same time or were the Poles on the ground acting in a defensive capacity? Regards ..
Deaths should be recorded here Advanced Search"category":"statutory","record":"statutory-deaths"} Indexes are free to view, but credits needed to view the official death register. There are 3 deaths recorded on each page. So assume they should be grouped together over 3 pages.
Had a look using the names Tricky provided. Deaths registered in Balmerino District James McGeever (27) Ref. 409/5 Thomas Ambler (23) Ref. 409/8 Herbert Ronald Brownrigg (21) Ref 409/9 Registered in Dunbarney & Dron District Reginald Elwell (32) Ref 347/22 Registered in Ferry Port on Craig District John Alfred Moulds (32) Ref 429/26 Paul O'Neill (24) Ref 429/27 Registered in Brought Ferry District Horace Robinson (30) 282/5 60 Couldn't see any entry for John Gibbs. Is his death registered in GRO perhaps? Edit: can't see death entry for Major John Neill Gibbs on GRO either. I can understand the bodies being found in all the locations apart from Reginald Elwell. Could he possibly have drifted up the River Earn?
Well 7 was the number that died and its 7 you have found above - so perhaps ....................... TD "Sadly they jumped and in all I think 7 drowned, including the officer in charge. The RSM Mr Parsons was saved because he was fortunate enough to land on a sandbank." "Seven drowned, while one refused to jump and was court-martialled."
According to the Sky article an eighth man was killed on the drop zone: "An eighth was killed at Tents Muir when he was struck during the jump by an ammunition box." Perhaps the same man mentioned by Andy Brown? "Running over to collect the kit from the container, we found it lying on top of a sergeant, blood spewing everywhere." Possibly Reginald Elwell whose rank is given as Lance Serjeant in TD's list above. This is confirmed in a post (14) by Lynntony a relative of Elwell on a RootsChat thread. "I've just been contacted via email by Bernard and Fay Robins in France, who collate Para records, and who picked up my search via this board. They learned, from an ExPara who knew Reg, that he was hit by a falling container which fractured his skull. He died that night from his injuries...." Regards ...
British Pathe claims the video below was shot in England. A commenter describes it as "Joint Maneuvers with British and Polish Paratroopers in Scotland." It could possibly be the Bluebell Exercise the 8 Parachute Battalion took part in during June 1943. Regards ...
I came across this site when I put the name of Pte. James Owen McGeever (no. 101151) 5 Bn. Parachute Regiment into a search engine. I am currently researching those who are laid to rest in Ryhope Cemetery, Sunderland who served in WW1 & WW2. After reading the above messages concerning the tragedy and "Exercise Bluebell" do you think it would be safe to assume that James was taking part in this exercise when he lost his life. Tried the link from 51 highland (Secret WW2 Exercise) but it is no longer there. Also would it be OK to use the information you have found in my research, once complete I give copies to the North East War Memorial Project, Sunderland Local History Library & Sunderland Antiquarians. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Derek
Other links still work Mystery of WW2 tragedy that killed seven UK soldiers solved Secret WW2 exercise that killed UK soldiers revealed TD
Hello, Nothing is ever gone. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/mystery-ww2-tragedy-killed-seven-uk-soldiers-solved-021700314.html Regards, Dave