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14th May 1940On this day:
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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Remembering those who died this day.
- Bolger Thomas Joseph. Gdsmn. (d.14th May 1940)
- Bowen Donald Joseph. Sgt. (d.14th May 1940)
- Martin Sydney. AC1 (d.14th May 1940)
- Pyne Thomas Basil George. Sgt. (d.14th May 1940)
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 14th of May 1940? There are:74 items tagged 14th of May 1940 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 14th May 1940
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Private David George Avis. Army, Royal West Kent Regiment. My father, pte David George Avis, no.6347487 of the West Kent Regiment, was wounded at Doullens on 14.5.1940, picked up by the Germans and transported to Cambrai Hospital, then to Aachen. From there he went by train via Bocholt to Thorn over 4 days, 70 men to a cattle truck. He spoke very little about his time as an inmate of Stalag XXA but I do know that they started their 'death march' on 15.1.1945 from Graudenz. They were liberated by the Americans in a small town outside Hanover after walking 850 miles. He was flown home by the RAF on 20.4.1945 to High Wycombe,rekitted,paid and arrived home at Herne Pound, Mereworth, Kent on 21.4.1945. He was recalled after 6 weeks to Wotten Underwood Barracks.
Unfortunately I have only found all this information after he died in 2006 when going through his effects. Patricia Sage
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AC1 Sydney Martin. Royal Air Force, 150 Squadron. (d.14th May 1940) Syd Martin was killed on one of the worst days of the Battle of France. He was the wireless operator/rear gunner (WOP/AG) of Fairey Battle P2182. He had only been married for just over five weeks when he and the other two members of of the crew were shot down whilst taking part in a raid on the Meuse River bridges, Ardennes.Vic Martin
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Sgt. Thomas Basil George "Titch" Pyne. Royal Air Force, 73 Squadron. (d.14th May 1940) Thomas Basil George Pyne (Titch) was a Sergeant Pilot in 73 Squadron, RAF, flying Mk I Hurricanes. He was the second-born child of Flight Lieutenant George Pyne and Mary Delia Pyne of Hitchin. Born 1916, died 14th May 1940 during the Battle of France, he was killed in action near Namur, Belgium, and was later interred at Choloy War Cemetery [CWGC], Meurthe-et-Moselle). Basil Pyne went to St Michael's school, Hitchin and then RAF Cranwell.Christopher Sheard
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Sgt. Donald Joseph Bowen. Royal Air Force, No. 150 Squadron. (d.14th May 1940) My uncle, Donald Bowen (born in 1918), was an observer in Fairey Battle K9483 which was shot down on 14th of May 1940 just south of Bulson in France. They took off from Ecury-sur-Coole at 15:18 on a mission to destroy bridges in Sedan on the river Meuse but were met by a Bf109, piloted by Willi Ghesla. All three crew were lost. The youngest at 18 years old was Norman V. Vano RAF 630788 the gunner, and Pilot Arthur F. Posselt RAF 41319 aged 21.
The other Fairey Battle that took off at the same time on the mission was L4946, and on board was a William J. Nolan RAF 613363 from Rathkeale, Co. Limerick, so I have no doubt that Donald and William knew each other. But telephone books do not exist anymore so I can not call every Nolan in that area to make enquiries. Perhaps there is a photo of the group somewhere?
My research has brought me to the death of Donald, but now I am looking to go back in his life and find any information I can. My dad, his brother, died when I was three years old, so missing in action was all we knew then.
Thomas Bowen
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