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8th February 1945On this day:
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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Remembering those who died this day.
- Beall John Foster. Capt. (d.8th February 1945)
- Fullwood T H. Sergeant
- George Paul T. 1st Lt. (d.8th February 1945)
- Hesketh Harold Thomas. Flying Officer (d.8th Feb 1945)
- Hesketh Haronl. Flying Officer (d.8th February 1945)
- Hudson R A. Flying Officer
- MacDonald J L. Flight Sergeant (d.8th February 1945)
- Moyle J F E. Flight Sergeant
- Onions Ronald. Gnr. (d.8th February 1945)
- Sherman Frederick S. Capt. (d.8th February 1945)
- St Leger A C. Sergeant (d.8th February 1945)
- Young Geoffrey Francis. (d.8th Feb 1945)
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
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Want to know more about the 8th of February 1945? There are:27 items tagged 8th of February 1945 available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Stories from 8th February 1945
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Geoffrey Francis Young. Army, 16th Medium Regiment, 107bty. Royal Artillery . (d.8th Feb 1945) Geoffery Francis Young was in a reserved occupation as a driver for a local delivery firm in Wrexham and did not have to join, but as many of his mates where already in the forces and being early 1945 the war seemed in its final stages he decided to see out the last stages of the war in uniform. Enlisting in early 1945 he soon found himself as a gunner in 107 Battery, 16th Med Regt (The South Notts. Hussars), Royal Artillery.
By this stage of the war UK forces were seriously depleted with little reserve left to replace 5 years worth of casualties and so within weeks of joining (and according to his letters only receiving only brief on the job training) Geoff was in Holland preparing for "operation veritable" the big push over the Rhine.
Operation Veritable lasted from Feb 8th to March 10th 1945 and was the northern part of the Second World War pincer movement by Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery's 21st Army Group with the objective to clear the land between the Rhine and Roer rivers. General Eisenhower, the Allied Commander, had decided that the best route into Germany would be across the relatively flat lands of northern Europe. This required that Allied forces should close up to the Rhine along its whole length.
Operation Veritable began at 05:00 with an artillery support of over 1000 artillery pieces (not including bofors and anti-tank guns). The initial barrage lasted for over 5 hours with a mixture of destructive firepower on enemy defences interspersed with a build up of smoke to assist the infantry advance.
107 were in constant action throughout the operation but sometime during the 8th of Feb 1945, Geoff as one of a crew of 10 manning a 5.5" gun was positioned somewhere near Kerzenheim on the German border when a USAAF plane mistook them for an enemy position and dropped bombs on their position. Two 5.5 guns were destroyed, 10 men including Geoff were killed and 8 wounded.
Geoffery Francis Young was buried at Uden war cemetery aged 19. Anthony Owen
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Flying Officer Haronl Hesketh. RAF, 619 Squadron. (d.8th February 1945) I am the widow of F/O/Harold Hesketh, he did not come back from his sortie 8.2.1945 flying with 619 squadron. I came to Australia with his son and I stayed here. It is so sad, so many brave boys. I have been in touch with a relative of 2 of his crew. If anyone knew him I would love to hear from you. Wishing who ever reads this all the best.
His crew was:
* F/O H.T.Hesketh RAAF
* Sgt T.H.Fullwood
* F/O R.A.Hudson
* F/S J.F.E.Moyle RCAF
* Sgt A.C.St.Leger
* F/S J.L.MacDonald RCAF
* F/S M.M.MarshJoan Vlietman
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Flying Officer Harold Thomas Hesketh. , . (d.8th Feb 1945) My husband was F/O Harry Hesketh, he did not come home from a sortie. I worked at Rolls Royce in the payroll, where we met.Joan Vlietman
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1st Lt. Paul T George. , . (d.8th February 1945) Held as a Prisoner in Fukuoka 3b.
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Capt. Frederick S Sherman. , . (d.8th February 1945) Held as a Prisoner in Fukuoka 3b.
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Capt. John Foster Beall. United States Army, 2nd Bt. 200th & 515 C.A.C . (d.8th February 1945) POW Camp Fukuoka 17 in Japan. Died in either Camp #1 or #17. Died in Ship Sinking or Shot Attempting Escape
sflynn
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Gnr. Ronald Onions. British Army, 121st Medium Regiment Royal Artillery. (d.8th February 1945) Ronald Onions served with 121st Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery. Dennis Johns
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