Pte Harold Bills 14431491 - 8th Para Bn AAC - Varsity jumper or not?

I've not long received Pte Harold Bills' Record of Service from TNA and it's left me a bit baffled regarding any Op Varsity involvement.

I was fortunate enough to find Harold's D-Day chalk/stick list and Paradata confirmed Harold qualified on Ringway course 92, 17 Nov - 3 Dec 1943, described as, "Enthusiastic, hard working, average".

There's a small reference to him in Carl Rymen's book, Two Steps Forward, apparently Harold was part of 2 platoon, A Coy, no 4 section sniper.

This all ties in nicely with Harold's Army Record, he suffered from bronchitis and was 'Y' listed wef 20 Jul 1944. Harold was then posted back to 8 Para on 11 Aug 44.

This is where it all gets a bit 'grey'. His record seems to show, on 24 Dec 44, Harold once again back in Europe, and I'm assuming as part of the Ardennes campaign. His record seems to show him returning on the 22 Feb 45, then apparently taking part in Varsity on the 24 Mar 45. However, these dates have been crossed out so it looks like Harold went to the Ardennes on 24 Dec 44, returning to the UK on 20 May 45.

It's possible that Harold remained in Europe as part of a rear party. Sadly, Pegasusarchives don't yet have the Ardennes war diaries on line.

Therefore, can anyone please shed any light, or hazard an educated guess, on Harold's service after the Ardennes? I appreciate chalk/stick lists are rare but does Harold appear on anything Varsity related?

As always, any assistance would be very much appreciated.

Regards.
John.

 

Hi,

Pte. Bills

No info as yet on his possible Op Varsity involvement, but your bit has him returning from presumably Germany on 19/20 May, 1945. But no idea how he got there. There was also an 8th Battalion seatail. It's interesting that he went to India and then Palestine postwar.

Below is data concerning his June 6th, 1944 D-Day aircraft which may not be precise. Not sure about the "Missing" designation ... ?

Airfield - RAF Blakehill Farm
Squadron - No. 575 RAF
Aircraft Serial - KG.339
Chalk Number (CN) - 248
Unit - 8th Para Bn
Sub Unit - "A" Coy 2 Pl. 1 & 2 Secs
Status - Missing ... ?
Brigade - 3rd
Drop Zone (DZ) - 'K'
Aircraft Type - Dakota
Wave - 17
Para or Glider - Para

Passengers - Lt. Nicholls(P/W), Pte. Baker (P/W), Pte. Skinner, Cpl. O’Reilley (P/W), Pte. Atkins, Pte. Bills, Pte. Macintyre (P/W), CQMS. Bowker (P/W), Pte. Butler (P/W), Pte. Stevenson, Pte. Strain (P/W), Pte. Taylor (P/W), L/Cpl. Collins, Pte. Batchelor, Pte. James, Pte. Skeggs (KIA), Pte. Price, Pte. Davies (KIA), Sjt. Davies (KIA)

Regards ...

 

Cee,

Thanks for the reply. I've really struggled to find anything on KG339. I might try and extend my D Day research now, given that there may be some relevant PoW reports to look up.

As for his movement to the Ardennes, on 24 Dec 44, I see what you mean...I've attached a movement record for a 6 AB Div Sigs guy, who was on Varsity and the Ardennes. His embarkation for the Ardennes, from the UK is clearly recorded, and his return, however there's nothing like this for Bills.

I may have to put this down to dodgy records, unless anything is forthcoming to put Harold definitely on Varsity.

Thanks once again.
John.

 

Yo,

Noticed that the D-Day drop location for CN 248 Is marked as missing on the map.



Oddly there are strike throughs for the Ardennes and Varsity on this man's records as well when he obviously took part in both:

Trying To Solve May - Sept 1945 Date Mystery

My Father's service book clearly and properly indicates his comings and goings for the Ardennes and Germany while with 7 Para.

Here are a few locations with varied bits of 8 Parachute Battalion Varsity content. However, no mention of a Pte. Billings. If he did jump he would have most likely been on one the first aircraft to drop on Varsity.

22nd Indep Para Coy / Varsity

Varsity: C47 crash with British paras

A DZ 'A' PDF

DZ 'A' Clips & Photos - Operation Varsity.pdf - Icedrive

Regards ...

 

Yo,

Just a thought on Pte. Bills D-Day aircraft which the one list I have claimed belonged to No. 575 Sqn. RAF. However, there is no mention in their ORB on the Pegasus Archive that any of their aircraft left from RAF Blakehill Farm. Curious ... ?

Regards ...

 

Hi Chuck,

I couldn't find any reference to KG339 flying on the 5/6 Jun 44. There's hits against both Arnhem and Varsity but nothing for Tonga. A typo or last minute a/c change perhaps.

Regards.
John

 

Chuck,

Sorry, I meant to also post this link. Once again, KG339 doesn't appear anywhere.

Operation 'Coup de Main' / Operation Tonga - 5/6 June 1944 [Archive] - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum

Best,
John

 

I am the son-in-law of Harold Bills and have both his paybook and service discharge information.

 

These are from his paybook.

 

His record of service

 

His certificate of service

 

Hi Stephen,

That's very interesting, thanks for posting the pictures. From what I've been able to gather, and now confirmed with your photos, Harold was in NWE from Dec 44 (the Ardennes), returning home in May 45. May have been involved with Varsity but probably not as a 'jumper'.

Kind regards.
John.

 

I can only add that he told us of his experience of Varsity as being dropped in daylight and watching a comrade being shot below him as he descended in his chute. He also maintained that he was on the ground before midnight on D-Day. He was wounded by shrapnel in the days that followed and was evacuated back home via a submarine.

 

Hi John
Can I ask what started this thread?
Kind regards
Steve

 

Hi Stephen,

I've sent you a PM.

Kind regards.
John

 

Hello,

Here's a PDF devoted mainly to documenting camerawork taken during Op Varsity on DZ 'A'. It has some 8 Para content, but is not specifically about them. Otherwise a good general overview of zone with an attempt to sort out a few locations, etc.

Hopefully somewhat relevant.

Regards ...

 

The answer may be due to being No. 575 Sqdn were operating out of RAF Broadwell from 14th February 1944 until 5th August 1945.
During Operation Tonga 575 Squadron dropped members of 5th Para Brigade during the night of June 5th. On 6th June it returned to France towing 21 gliders.
575 Squadron moved to RAF Melbourne on 6 August 1944 then on to RAF Blakehill Farm on 16th November 1945.