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8th March 1945On this day:
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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Remembering those who died this day.
- Corbett William David. F/Lt. (d.8th Mar 1945)
- OHara John Henry. WO2 (d.8th Mar 1945)
- Pearce Raymond Bertram. Pte. (d.8th Mar 1945)
- Sinclair James. Sgt. (d.8th Mar 1945)
- Surtees Ronald. Cpl. (d.8th Mar 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 March 1945? There are:27 items tagged 8th of March 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 March 1945
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Sgt. James Sinclair. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 61 Squadron. (d.8th Mar 1945) James Sinclair was the son of Mrs M A Sinclair of Hebburn, he is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial and is commemorated on the WW2 Roll of Honour Plaque in the entrance of Jarrow Town Hall.Vin Mullen
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Cpl. Ronald Surtees. British Army, 7th Battalion Scottish Rifles. (d.8th Mar 1945) Ronald Surtees served with the 7th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), he was aged 22 when he died on 8th March 1945.
Born in Chester le Street, County Durham in 1923 he was the son of George Surtees (MM) and Ann B. W. Surtees (nee Lowerson) of Hebburn
His older brother John was also one of the fallen. Ronald is buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery and he is also commemorated on the WW2 Roll of Honour in the entrance to Jarrow Town Hall.
Vin Mullen
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F/Lt. William David Corbett. DFC. Royal Canadian Air Force, 425 Squadron. (d.8th Mar 1945) One night in February, 1945, Pilot Officer William Corbett piloted an aircraft detailed to attack Mainz. On the outward journey the port outer engine became unserviceable. Undeterred, Pilot Officer Corbett continued to the target and executed a successful attack. On the return flight the starboard inner engine showed signs of over-heating. Nevertheless, skilfully using the defective engine, Pilot Officer Corbett flew the aircraft safely to an airfield in England. This officer had proved himself to be an excellent captain and has set a fine example to all.
Supplement To The London Gazette, 6 April, 1945
On the night of the 7th/8th of March 1945,
99 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, 429, and 432 Squadrons were ordered to attack the oil refinery at Hemmingstedt. The crews were over the target at between 8,000 and 13,000 feet, releasing 594,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing missed the target.
P/O W. Corbett RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-815 coded KW-C, failed to return from this operation. The crew were all were lost without a trace.
- P/O G. Forsyth RAF
- P/O J. Hickson RCAF
- F/O V. McAllister RCAF
- P/O G. Ware RCAF
- P/O J. Morin RCAF
- P/O L. Parent RCAF
David Bliss
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WO2 John Henry "Jack" OHara. British Army, 1st Btn Royal Berkshire Regiment. (d.8th Mar 1945) Jack OHara was my grandmother's brother.
He was a pre war regular and was with the Regiment in France in 1940.
There is a brief glimpse of him on a Pathe News reel alighting from a boat at Margate on return from Dunkirk, wearing only a great coat, the narrative had not long said the men of the rearguard.
This was pointed out to my mother by her mother and then to me.
He was sent to India with the rest of 2nd Division where they saw some action in 1943 before being called upon to lift the siege at Kohima and Imphal in 1944.
Fighting all the way to the gates of Mandalay, our Jack died of wounds two weeks before the Berkshires were withdrawn from the line for good.
My Nan Mary bore the loss of her brother for the rest of her life Geoff Belson
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