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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

20th April 1943

On this day:





If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.




Remembering those who died this day.

  • Bailey Shirley Da Costa. Cpl. (d.20th April 1943)
  • Brown Victor. Flying Officer (d.20th April 1943)
  • Brown Victor Gordon. F/O. (d.20th April 1943)
  • Ram Chhelu. CHM. (d.20th April 1943)
  • Shihepo Sheturimba. Pte. (d.20th Apr 1943)
  • Sparrow David Alistair. F/O. (d.20th April 1943)
  • Sparrow David Alistair. F/O. (d.20th April 1943)

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 20th of April 1943?


There are:13 items tagged 20th of April 1943 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 20th April 1943





P/O Thomas Jackson. Royal Canadian Air Force, 419 Sqd..

My great uncle Tom was a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force and flew a Halifax bomber that was shot down around April 21, 1943. He was sent to Stalag Luft 3 where he played a role in the Great Escape. I am looking for any further information anyone can give me in regards to his military history.

Editors Note: Tom Jackson was the pilot of Halifax JB912 VR-B with 419 Squadron flying from Middleton St George. They took off at 21:14 on the 20th of April 1943 and were shot down from 16,000 feet by a night-fighter, crashing an estimated 47 km NW of Stettin.

The crew were:

  • P/O T.E.Jackson
  • Sgt J.F.Westerman
  • Sgt C.J.Sebastian
  • F/S J.M.Carlton
  • P/O J.R.Fry
  • Sgt T.M.Crandell
  • F/S D.A.Watkins DFM
  • Sgt E.Jury

Flight Sgt Watkins was killed and the others were all held as Prisoners of War.

Evelyn Geringswald



CHM. Chhelu Ram. VC. British Indian Army, 4th Battalion 6th Rajputana Rifles. (d.20th April 1943)

Chhelu Ram was 37 years old, and a Company Havildar-Major in the 4/6th Rajputana Rifles when he was awarded the VC.

"On the night of 19/20 April 1943 at Djebel Garci, Tunisia, the advance of a battalion of the 5th Indian Infantry Brigade was held up by machine-gun and mortar fire. Company Havildar-Major Chhelu Ram dashed forward with a tommy-gun and killed the occupants of a post and then went to the aid of his company commander who had become a casualty. While doing so he was himself wounded, but taking command of the company, he led them in hand-to-hand fighting. He was again wounded, but continued rallying his men until he died."

S. Flynn



F/O. David Alistair "Dicky" Sparrow. Royal Air Force, 151 Squadron. (d.20th April 1943)

David Sparrow met my mother just before the War and after he gained his wings they became engaged. He was posted to 151 Squadron in 1941, flying Defiants and later Mosquito NF11. His gunner and later Radar Operator was F/O Victor Brown. Late in 1942 David was sent to De Havilland to be the test pilot for the High Altitude Mosquito. Upon returning to the Squadron in 1943 he became involved with the early Night Ranger missions into enemy territory and sadly was shot down and killed along with Victor Brown on April 20th 1943. The aircraft Mosquito DZ755 crashed close to Smeerling in the Netherlands where the two crew are buried and remembered by the local community every year.

Will Atkinson



Flying Officer Victor Brown. RAF, 151 Squadron. (d.20th April 1943)

FO Victor Brown was gunner and later Radar Operator in 151 NF Squadron. He was shot down and killed along with his pilot David (Dicky) Sparrow on April 20th 1943. The aircraft Mosquito DZ755 crashed close to Smeerling in the Netherlands where the two crew are buried and remembered by the local community every year.

Will Atkinson



Cpl. Shirley Da Costa Bailey. Barbados Volunteer Force, . (d.20th April 1943)

Corporal Bailey is buried in the Gravesend Military Cemetery, Bridgetown, Westbury Cemetery, St. Michael, Barbados

s flynn



Pte. Sheturimba Shihepo. South African Army, Native Military Corps. (d.20th Apr 1943)

Private Shihepo is buried in the Onandjokue Hospital Cemetery, Ondangwa in Namibia.

S Flynn



F/O. Victor Gordon Brown. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 151 Squadron . (d.20th April 1943)

Flying Officer (Navigator/Wireless Op.) Victor Brown was the son of Reginald and Eleanor Brown and nephew of Mr. J. H. Bailey of Friern Barnet, Middlesex. He was aged 21 and is buried in the Onstwedde General Cemetery in Groningen, Netherlands.

S Flynn



F/O. David Alistair Sparrow. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 151 Squadron. (d.20th April 1943)

Flying Office (Pilot) David Sparrow was the Son of Joseph Albert and Janet Marian Sparrow of Gravesend, Kent. He aged 21 he is buried in the Onstwedde General Cemetery, Groningen, Netherlands.

S Flynn










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