|
|
|
17th May 1941On this day:
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
|
Remembering those who died this day.
- Evans Edmund. (d.17th May 1941)
- Garlish Reginald James. Flt.Sgt. (d.17th May 1941)
- Garrould John Aubrey Trevor. P/O (d.17th May 1941)
- Harvey Stuart James. P/O. (d.17th May 1941)
- Keymer Robert Sydney Langston. Sgt. (d.17th May 1941)
- Oakes Edward. Sgt. (d.17th May 1941)
- Parish J. N.W.. Sub.Lt. (d.17th May 1941)
- Pashley Lawrence. Gnr. (d.17th May 1941)
- Smith Alexander Plant. Flt.Sgt. (d.17th May 1941)
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
|
|
|
The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
Announcements
- The Wartime Memories Project has been running for 24 years. If you would like to support us, a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting and admin or this site will vanish from the web.
- 10th April 2024 - Please note we currently have a huge backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 263893 your information is still in the queue, please do not resubmit, we are working through them as quickly as possible.
- Looking for help with Family History Research?
Please read our Family History FAQ's
- The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web.
If you enjoy this site
please consider making a donation.
Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the War? Our
Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. |
|
We are now on Facebook. Like this page to receive our updates.
If you have a general question please post it on our Facebook page.
Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to WW2. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to WW2 you may have at home. If you have any unwanted
photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them.
The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted.
World War 1 One ww1 wwII second 1939 1945 battalion
Did you know? We also have a section on The Great War. and a
Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.
|
|
Want to know more about the 17th of May 1941? There are:10 items tagged 17th of May 1941 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. |
|
Stories from 17th May 1941
|
P/O. Stuart James Harvey. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve , 106 Sqn.. (d.17th May 1941) Stuart James Harvey, known as Jimmy was killed, we think as a result of a crash, when his wife, Meryl, was 5 months pregnant with their only child (my father). His grave is at Wittering All Saints Church. Throughout the years, we were led to believe that Stuart had been shot down over Germany, but the revelation that there is a grave (we only found this out in the last couple of years) has led us to think that the more likely scenario was a crash. Rumour has it that the only survivor was the tail gunner, but I am unaware of any further graves at Wittering with the same date as my grandfather's.
Having been with 106 Squadron, I'm sure Jimmy would have flown out of Conningsby, but we have precious few leads. We do know that, before the war broke out, he had been on HMS Repulse, he apparently 'jumped ship' so that he could fly. There is an entry in The Valetta Times proclaiming his bowling prowess, having taken six wickets in a match in 1938. Given what happened to Repulse and his own fate, he jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.
My Dad grew up never having known his father. When I was born my parents named me Stuart James, but I've always been known as Jim and I've always felt a draw towards him and would deeply love to find out more about him. I would be eternally grateful to anyone who has any information about my grandfather. Perhaps he appears in a group photo that's tucked away in someone's WWII artefacts? Jim Harvey
|
Flt.Sgt. Alexander Plant Smith. Royal Air Force, 78 Squadron. (d.17th May 1941) In the month of May 1941 there was little activity in the air. It was the result of the heavy efforts of Bomber Command in the preceding months and the low returns that the bombing resulted. The squadrons needed a rest period. This rest period was in this month of May but in spite of the everything, bombing still took place and crews lost their lives. On 17th of May 1941 there was an attack by ninety-five bombers, including twenty-eight Whitleys. One Whitley was lost. This aircraft, number Z6493 with squadron code EY-V belonged to 78 Squadron, which was stationed at the RAF Middleton St George (Co. Durham).
Pilot F/O John Garrould took off late at night at a quarter to eleven, in a moonless night and set course for the East. The bombardment was very difficult due to the intense activity of the German searchlights. Nevertheless, 82 aircraft claimed good bombardment results. Garrould and his crew were discovered on the return flight in Nachtjagdraum 5 by the experienced Jagerleitoffizier Knickmeier. He led Uffz Pross from 3 / NJG.1 to the unfortunate Whitley and after a few bursts he managed to hit John Garrould's aircraft a deadly blow. For Garrould there was no chance to survive this attack. His plane burned violently and was unmanageable. With an excessive blow the plane crashed about seven hundred meters behind the farm of the Crommentuyn family in the Mariapeel in Sevenum. All crew members died on the spot. Only three could be identified and they were buried at Ehrenfriedhof Venlo. The two others were so mutilated that identification was impossible and they were buried as unknown soldiers in a collective grave. After the war their mortal remains were reburied at Jonkerbos War Cemetery.
Uffz. Pross was also hit during this raid. It is not known when and where he was wounded, but it was so serious that he lost control of the aircraft during the landing at Fliegerhorst Venlo. With a huge blow, the BF 110 went over and crashed. Pross died in the crash and was buried in Dresden. Bordfunker Facius survived the crash and was taken to Lazarett Krefeld. (From the book Mayday Mayday Mayday by Hub Groeneveld.)
Crew of the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk V, Z6493, EY-V of 78 Sqn are buried in Jonkerbos War Cemetery Nijmegen -
Pilot P/O John Aubrey Trevor Garrould, Reg.no. 60818 Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve, Age 19, Son of Arthur Henry Garrould and Jessie Emma Martine Garrould-Davies of Little Hadham Hertfordshire.
-
2nd Pilot Sgt Robert Sydney Langston Keymer, Reg.no. 9448441 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Age 25, Son of Colonel Shirley Langston Keymer, T.D. and Elisabeth Jean Keymer of The Red House, Alderley Edge Cheshire.
-
Observer F/S Reginald James Garlish, Reg.no. 759206, Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve, Age 20, Son of James and Rose Garlish of Stanmore Middlesex.
-
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Sgt Edward Oakes, Reg.no. 975986, Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve. Age 22. Son of Daniel and Lucy Jane Oakes of Garston Liverpool.
-
Wireless Operator/Rear Gunner F/S Alexander Plant Smith, Reg. no. 653803, Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve, Age 20, Son of Alexander Plant Smith and Annie Scott Smith of Largs, Ayrshire.
Piet Snellen
|
Sgt. Edward Oakes. Royal Air Force, 78 Squadron. (d.17th May 1941) In the month of May 1941 there was little activity in the air. It was the result of the heavy efforts of Bomber Command in the preceding months and the low returns that the bombing resulted. The squadrons needed a rest period. This rest period was in this month of May but in spite of the everything, bombing still took place and crews lost their lives. On 17th of May 1941 there was an attack by ninety-five bombers, including twenty-eight Whitleys. One Whitley was lost. This aircraft, number Z6493 with squadron code EY-V belonged to 78 Squadron, which was stationed at the RAF Middleton St George (Co. Durham).
Pilot F/O John Garrould took off late at night at a quarter to eleven, in a moonless night and set course for the East. The bombardment was very difficult due to the intense activity of the German searchlights. Nevertheless, 82 aircraft claimed good bombardment results. Garrould and his crew were discovered on the return flight in Nachtjagdraum 5 by the experienced Jagerleitoffizier Knickmeier. He led Uffz Pross from 3 / NJG.1 to the unfortunate Whitley and after a few bursts he managed to hit John Garrould's aircraft a deadly blow. For Garrould there was no chance to survive this attack. His plane burned violently and was unmanageable. With an excessive blow the plane crashed about seven hundred meters behind the farm of the Crommentuyn family in the Mariapeel in Sevenum. All crew members died on the spot. Only three could be identified and they were buried at Ehrenfriedhof Venlo. The two others were so mutilated that identification was impossible and they were buried as unknown soldiers in a collective grave. After the war their mortal remains were reburied at Jonkerbos War Cemetery.
Uffz. Pross was also hit during this raid. It is not known when and where he was wounded, but it was so serious that he lost control of the aircraft during the landing at Fliegerhorst Venlo. With a huge blow, the BF 110 went over and crashed. Pross died in the crash and was buried in Dresden. Bordfunker Facius survived the crash and was taken to Lazarett Krefeld.
(From the book Mayday Mayday Mayday by Hub Groeneveld.)
The Crew of the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk V, Z6493, EY-V of 78 Squadron are all buried in Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Nijmegen -
Pilot P/O John Aubrey Trevor Garrould, Reg.no. 60818 Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve, Age 19, Son of Arthur Henry Garrould and Jessie Emma Martine Garrould-Davies of Little Hadham Hertfordshire.
-
2nd Pilot Sgt Robert Sydney Langston Keymer, Reg.no. 9448441 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Age 25, Son of Colonel Shirley Langston Keymer, T.D. and Elisabeth Jean Keymer of The Red House, Alderley Edge Cheshire.
-
Observer F/S Reginald James Garlish, Reg.no. 759206, Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve, Age 20, Son of James and Rose Garlish of Stanmore Middlesex.
-
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Sgt Edward Oakes, Reg.no. 975986, Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve. Age 22. Son of Daniel and Lucy Jane Oakes of Garston Liverpool.
-
Wireless Operator/Rear Gunner F/S Alexander Plant Smith, Reg. no. 653803, Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve, Age 20, Son of Alexander Plant Smith and Annie Scott Smith of Largs, Ayrshire.
Piet Snellen
|
Flt.Sgt. Reginald James Garlish. Royal Air Force, 78 Squadron. (d.17th May 1941) In the month of May 1941 there was little activity in the air. It was the result of the heavy efforts of Bomber Command in the preceding months and the low returns that the bombing resulted. The squadrons needed a rest period. This rest period was in this month of May but in spite of the everything, bombing still took place and crews lost their lives. On 17th of May there was an attack by ninety-five bombers, including twenty-eight Whitleys. One Whitley was lost. This aircraft, number Z6493 with squadron code EY-V belonged to 78 Squadron, which was stationed at the RAF Middleton St George (Co. Durham).
Pilot F/O John Garrould took off late at night at a quarter to eleven, in a moonless night and set course for the East. The bombardment was very difficult due to the intense activity of the German searchlights. Nevertheless, 82 aircraft claimed good bombardment results. Garrould and his crew were discovered on the return flight in Nachtjagdraum 5 by the experienced Jagerleitoffizier Knickmeier. He led Uffz Pross from 3 / NJG.1 to the unfortunate Whitley and after a few bursts he managed to hit John Garrould's aircraft a deadly blow. For Garrould there was no chance to survive this attack. His plane burned violently and was unmanageable. With an excessive blow the plane crashed about seven hundred meters behind the farm of the Crommentuyn family in the Mariapeel in Sevenum. All crew members died on the spot. Only three could be identified and they were buried at Ehrenfriedhof Venlo. The two others were so mutilated that identification was impossible and they were buried as unknown soldiers in a collective grave. After the war their mortal remains were reburied at Jonkerbos War Cemetery.
Uffz. Pross was also hit during this raid. It is not known when and where he was wounded, but it was so serious that he lost control of the aircraft during the landing at Fliegerhorst Venlo. With a huge blow, the BF 110 went over and crashed. Pross died in the crash and was buried in Dresden. Bordfunker Facius survived the crash and was taken to Lazarett Krefeld.
Source: Book Mayday Mayday Mayday from Hub Groeneveld.
Crew of the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk V, Z6493, EY-V of 78 Sqn are all buried in Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Nijmegen. -
Pilot P/O John Aubrey Trevor Garrould, Reg.no. 60818 Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve, Age 19, Son of Arthur Henry Garrould and Jessie Emma Martine Garrould-Davies of Little Hadham Hertfordshire.
-
2nd Pilot Sgt Robert Sydney Langston Keymer, Reg.no. 9448441 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Age 25, Son of Colonel Shirley Langston Keymer, T.D. and Elisabeth Jean Keymer of The Red House, Alderley Edge Cheshire.
-
Observer F/S Reginald James Garlish, Reg.no. 759206, Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve, Age 20, Son of James and Rose Garlish of Stanmore Middlesex.
-
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Sgt Edward Oakes, Reg.no. 975986, Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve. Age 22. Son of Daniel and Lucy Jane Oakes of Garston Liverpool.
-
Wireless Operator/Rear Gunner F/S Alexander Plant Smith, Reg. no. 653803, Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve, Age 20, Son of Alexander Plant Smith and Annie Scott Smith of Largs, Ayrshire.
Piet Snellen
|
Sgt. Robert Sydney Langston Keymer. Royal Air Force, 78 Squadron. (d.17th May 1941) In the month of May 1941 there was little activity in the air. It was the result of the heavy efforts of Bomber Command in the preceding months and the low returns that the bombing resulted. The squadrons needed a rest period. This rest period was in this month of May but in spite of the everything, bombing took also place and crews lost their lives.
On May 17 there was an attack by ninety-five bombers, including twenty-eight Whitleys. One Whitley was lost. This aircraft, number Z6493 with squadron code EY-V belonged to 78 Squadron, which was stationed at the RAF Middleton St George (Co. Durham)
Pilot F/O John Garrould took off late at night at a quarter to eleven, in a moonless night and set course for the East. The bombardment was very difficult due to the intense activity of the German searchlights. Nevertheless, 82 aircraft claimed good bombardment results. Garrould and his crew were discovered on the return flight in Nachtjagdraum 5 by the experienced Jagerleitoffizier Knickmeier. He led Uffz Pross from 3 / NJG.1 to the unfortunate Whitley and after a few bursts he managed to hit the John Garrould's aircraft deadly.
For Garrould there was no more change to survive this attack. His plane burned violently and was unmanageable. With an excessive blow the plane crashed about seven hundred meters behind the farm of the Crommentuyn family in the Mariapeel in Sevenum. All crew members died on the spot. Only three could be identified. They were buried at Ehrenfriedhof Venlo.
The two others were so mutilated that identification was impossible. They were buried as unknown soldiers in a collective grave. After the war their mortal remains were reburied at Jonkerbos War Cemetery.
Uffz. Prost was also hit during this raid. It is not known when and where he got wounded, but it was so seriously, that he lost control of the aircraft during the landing at Fliegerhorst Venlo. With a huge blow, the BF 110 went over and crashed. Pross died in the crash. He was buried in Dresden. Bordfunker Facius survived the crash. He was taken to Lazarett Krefeld.
(from the book Mayday Mayday Mayday by Hub Groeneveld.)
Crew of the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk V, Z6493, EY-V of 78 Squadron are all buried in the Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Nijmegen.
- Pilot P/O John Aubrey Trevor Garrould, reg.nr. 60818 Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve, Age19, Son of Arthur Henry Garrould and Jessie Emma Martine Garrould-Davies of Little Hadham Hertfordshire.
- 2nd Pilot Sgt Robert Sydney Langston Keymer Reg.nr. 9448441 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Age 25, Son of Colonel Shirley Langston Keymer, T.D. and Elisabeth Jean Keymer of The Red House, Alderley Edge Cheshire.
- Observer F/S Reginald James Garlish, Reg.nr. 759206, Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve. Age 20, Son of James and Rose Garlish of Stanmore Middlesex.
- Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Sgt Edward. Oakes, Reg.nr. 975986, Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve. Age 22. Son of Daniel and Lucy Jane Oakes of Garston Liverpool.
- Operator/Rear Gunner F/S Alexander Plant Smith, Reg. nr. 653803, Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve. Age 20, Son of Alexander Plant Smith and Annie Scott Smith of Largs, Ayrshire.
Piet Snellen
|
P/O John Aubrey Trevor Garrould. Royal Air Force, 78 Squadron. (d.17th May 1941) In the month of May 1941 there was little activity in the air. It was the result of the heavy efforts of Bomber Command in the preceding months and the low returns that the bombing resulted. The squadrons needed a rest period. This rest period was in this month of May but in spite of the everything, bombing still took place and crews lost their lives. On 17th of May 17 there was an attack by ninety-five bombers, including twenty-eight Whitleys. One Whitley was lost. This aircraft, number Z6493 with squadron code EY-V belonged to 78 Squadron, which was stationed at the RAF Middleton St George (Co. Durham).
Pilot F/O John Garrould took off late at night at a quarter to eleven, in a moonless night and set course for the East. The bombardment was very difficult due to the intense activity of the German searchlights. Nevertheless, 82 aircraft claimed good bombardment results. Garrould and his crew were discovered on the return flight in Nachtjagdraum 5 by the experienced Jagerleitoffizier Knickmeier. He led Uffz Pross from 3 / NJG.1 to the unfortunate Whitley and after a few bursts he managed to hit John Garrould's aircraft a deadly blow. For Garrould there was no chance to survive this attack. His plane burned violently and was unmanageable. With an excessive blow the plane crashed about seven hundred meters behind the farm of the Crommentuyn family in the Mariapeel in Sevenum. All crew members died on the spot. Only three could be identified and they were buried at Ehrenfriedhof Venlo. The two others were so mutilated that identification was impossible and they were buried as unknown soldiers in a collective grave. After the war their mortal remains were reburied at Jonkerbos War Cemetery.
Uffz. Pross was also hit during this raid. It is not known when and where he was wounded, but it was so serious that he lost control of the aircraft during the landing at Fliegerhorst Venlo. With a huge blow, the BF 110 went over and crashed. Pross died in the crash and was buried in Dresden. Bordfunker Facius survived the crash and was taken to Lazarett Krefeld. (Source: Book Mayday Mayday Mayday from Hub Groeneveld.)
Crew of the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk V, Z6493, EY-V of 78 Sqn are all buried in Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Nijmegen. -
Pilot P/O John Aubrey Trevor Garrould, Reg.no. 60818 Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve, Age 19, Son of Arthur Henry Garrould and Jessie Emma Martine Garrould-Davies of Little Hadham Hertfordshire.
-
2nd Pilot Sgt Robert Sydney Langston Keymer, Reg.no. 9448441 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Age 25, Son of Colonel Shirley Langston Keymer, T.D. and Elisabeth Jean Keymer of The Red House, Alderley Edge Cheshire.
-
Observer F/S Reginald James Garlish, Reg.no. 759206, Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve, Age 20, Son of James and Rose Garlish of Stanmore Middlesex.
-
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Sgt Edward Oakes, Reg.no. 975986, Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve. Age 22. Son of Daniel and Lucy Jane Oakes of Garston Liverpool.
-
Wireless Operator/Rear Gunner F/S Alexander Plant Smith, Reg. no. 653803, Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve, Age 20, Son of Alexander Plant Smith and Annie Scott Smith of Largs, Ayrshire.
Piet Snellen
|
Gnr. Lawrence Pashley. British Army, 182nd Bty. 65th H.A.A. Regiment Royal Artillery. (d.17th May 1941) Lawrence Pashley was my Father's cousin. He served with the 182nd Battery,, 65th Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery in WW2. He died 17th of May 1941.
I have been researching our family tree and my Father was interested in finding out more on the circumstances of Lawrence's death, as he was only a boy when it happened. He remembers that it was sad family news but did not know all the details. Now we all do.
Lawrence died following an air attack on the SS Archangel in the North Sea, near Fraserburgh, while being transported from Kirkwall to Aberdeen en route to Birmingham.
|
|
