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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945



Remembering those who died this day.

  • Bolt William Frederick Donald. Sgt. (d.20th February 1944)
  • Bows Ronald. Squadron Leader (d.20th February 1944)
  • Bradley William Leslie. Sgt. (d.20th Feb 1944)
  • Briggs Lloyd. Pte. (d.20th Feb 1944)
  • Cragg Kenneth Leonard. Sgt. (d.20th February 1944)
  • Duckworth Herbert. Flt.Sgt. (d.20th Feb 1944)
  • Hackbart Alfred Harvey. Sgt (d.20th Feb 1944)
  • Hamilton Ernest William. Sgt. (d.20th Feb 1944)
  • Heath Michael Godfrey. Mjr. (d.20th February 1944)
  • Howes Cyril. (d.20th Feb 1944)
  • Jackson David. Able Sea. (d.20th Feb 1944)
  • Johnson T. F.. Flt Sgt. (d.20th Feb 1944)
  • Kelly John. Spr. (d.20th Feb 1944)
  • Kenny Douglas. (d.20th Feb 1944)
  • Laurens John. P/O. (d.20th February 1944)
  • Luck Jack. Flt Sgt. (d.20th Feb 1944)
  • Mavleod Douglas Kenneth. F/Sgt (d.20th Feb 1944)
  • McKenna J A . Sgt (d.20th Jan 1944)
  • Nelson. James . Sgt (d. 28th Sep 1943)
  • Nixon Thomas Reginald. (d.20th Feb 1944)
  • Osborne Frederick George Francis. Sgt. (d.20th Feb 1944)
  • Porter E J C. Sgt (d.20th Jan 1944)
  • Stevens Arthur. F/O (d.20th Feb 1944)
  • Taylor Francis James. Sgt. (d.20th Feb 1944)
  • Waight Cassian Henry. PO. (d.20th February 1944)

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 February 1944?


There are:25 items tagged 20th of February 1944 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 February 1944





K.G. Holmes. British Navy, H.M.S. Warwick.

These are memories of Ord Telegraphist K.G.Holmes, D/JX 340570, aged 20 years, on board H.M.S.Warwick on Sunday 20th February 1944. I was in my mess at about 11:45 am when an explosion shook the ship violently and a cloud of dust fell from the overhead pipes that ran through the mess. My first thoughts were to get my lifebelt and head for the upper deck. My lifebelt, which was the type that had to be blown up like a car innertube, was rolled up and hung on a hammock hook near the door. I grabbed the lifebelt and headed for the door. The mess was on the starboard side of the ship. The only access to it was by a ladder that led upwards to a hatch which opened out onto the upperdeck aft of the forward superstructure. This ladder also served the ERA's mess which was on the port side of the ship. I was first to the doorway of my mess but was beaten to the ladder by one of the ERA's. On looking up I could see some burning wreckage across the hatch top. The ERA.(I don't know his name) went ahead of me and either he or someone on the upperdeck cleared the wreckage away. I proceeded on to the upperdeck to find oil, some of it burning, on the deck and seemingly spurting up somewhere near the funnel.The wireless office was at the rear of the forward superstructure. As I came on to the upperdeck I saw the P.O.Tel,who was my boss,shouting for people to go to their action stations. My action station was in the HF/DF office in the stern of the ship,and when I looked in that direction I could see that the stern was no longer there. I was actually standing on the port side of the ship by the whaler and efforts were being made to lower it. Unfortunately burning oil had dropped into it, and it was obvious that it would not float when it got into the water. I had by this time donned my lifebelt and was in the process of blowing it up when seeing that the whaler was useless, I moved over to the starboard side where efforts were being made to lower the motor-boat. This was also proving to be fruitless as it appeared that the lowering gear was jammed. I was standing next to a P.O. who said, if I remember correctly, that it was the third time this had happened to him! As he said this the ship heeled over to port and I grabbed for the wire handrail that went round the ship. I was fortunate as I got hold of it but some of the others waiting by the rail didn't, and they slid down the oily deck out of my sight. I climbed over the rail and onto the side of the ship which was now almost level,slid down it, and jumped off the the bottom of the ship into the water. I was fully dressed in overalls and boots, but my lifebelt was inflated. I remembered that during my training I had been told that if such an emergency happened to me, I should hold my lifebelt down to prevent it striking me under the chin as I hit the water. This I did and I arrived in the water amid a flurry of arms and legs belonging to the others who had jumped with me. The water was icy cold and came as a bit of a shock, but my first thoughts were to swim away from the ship before she sank and pulled me down with the suction. There was a heavy swell on the sea. I found that I would go up on one rise and then down, but I didn't come up quick enough before the next rise and consequently that one came over my head. So half the time I was in the water, I seemed to be underwater as well. The oil which covered the top of the water was also a problem because I had to make sure that it didn't get into my eyes. At first I could hear men shouting, but from the time I jumped into the water I never saw another soul. For all I knew I could have been the only survivor. Having swam away from the ship as far as I thought safe, I turned to look behind me. The bows of the Warwick were still above water and I could see a man sitting on the capstan on the forecastle. Who he was I didn't know. I was treading water or doing a bit of breast stroke whilst I looked around to see if any help was in view, and I saw a destroyer heading our way. I began swimming towards it and I could see some of the crew lowering scrambling nets down the side. Then, just when I thought I was going to be saved, the destroyer sped away from me. To make matters worse, a few minutes later she started dropping depth charges. Although I was a good distance from her, as each one exploded, it was like being punched in the stomach. I swam away to increase my distance from the explosions. After some time(I don't know how long),still not having seen any other person in the water or the Carley floats which I later found had been launched, I sighted, on one of my upliftings on the swell, what appeared to be three boats heading in my direction. I started to swim towards them. At first I thought I had done too well as it appeared that I was going to be run down by one of them, but I adjusted my direction and found myself alongside one of them. I raised myself up in the water and shouted. There seemed to be no one on deck, but as I shouted, a man came out of the deckhouse. How he saw me I don't know as the water was covered with oil and so was I. He did see me though and he threw me a rope. I grabbed it gratefully and was dismayed to find that because of the oil it was sliding out of my hands. I promptly took a turn around my wrists and hung on. My saviour must have been a very strong man because he hauled me up the side of the ship with no help from me and threw me on to the deck. He said something to me in a language that I didn't understand and for a few moments I thought I was going to end up in a prison camp! He realised that I didn't understand and then in English told me to go down below.I went down into a cabin with a roaring stove blazing in it and began stripping of my clothes.I couldn't do anything with my boots which were of course wet through, so a man came down and cut them off for me. At that time there was no one else in the cabin and I stood over the blazing stove and was unable to feel the heat.I felt so exhausted that I got into a bunk and must have blacked out because I don't remember anything more until I was awakened by another survivor getting into the bunk still in his wet and cold clothes! This was quite a shock as I was in the nude and had just started to get warm. I looked around and saw that there were a number of the Warwick's crew aboard but they were unrecognisable to me as they were covered in oil. I understand that by this time we were on our way to Padstow, but I had lost all track of time and I have no idea how long it took us. On arriving at Padstow a member of the fishing vessel's crew gave me a pair of old trousers and an old blanket to go ashore in. I climbed up the ladder onto dry land and then realised how lucky I had been to still be alive. I owed grateful thanks to the man who had hauled me up the side of his ship. It appeared that most of the survivors had been landed by this time,and we were directed to get into a lorry which was standing by and were transported to the R.N.A.S. at St.Merryn. We were greeted by a P.O. with a basin full of navy rum and given a cup full! It was only after that when I began to feel human again! We were fed, kitted out in battledress, and given a bed for the night before being transported to the R.N.B. at Plymouth. There we went through the joining routine,were issued with a new kit and eventually sent on survivors leave.

K.G. Holmes



Douglas Kenny. , 514 Squadron Royal Air Force. (d.20th Feb 1944)

Doug Kenny was a rear gunner on Lancasters and was killed on 20th Feb 1944. He was my great uncle. I recently went to the Imperial War Museum and they have a database which told me the date he was killed. It prompted me to find out more about his service. I was born on 20th Feb 1964, and as my grandmother always told me I was very much like him, it compels me to learn more about him and his time in the RAF. If anyone has any information I would be really interested and grateful to hear about him and the squadron.

Andrew Heaton



Squadron Leader Ronald Bows. RAF, 166 Squadron. (d.20th February 1944)

I have just started looking into my uncle's history and have come upon your website. He was Squadron Leader Ronald Bows, Squadron 166 at Kirmington. He died on 20th February 1944. He never returned from his mission and was never found.

If anyone knows any details or photos of him I would be delighted to receive them. His widow Thelma Bows never remarried and died several years ago. He lived at Chapel Lane, Nettleham, near Lincoln. He flew Lancasters I believe.

Karen Smith



Sgt. Frederick George Francis Osborne. RAFVR, air gunner 103 Squadron. (d.20th Feb 1944)

Freddie Osbourne was a member of Sgt.W.L.Bradley's crew, Lancaster 111, JB745 PM-1,shot down en route to Leipzig. He was only 19, whereas his other gunner colleague was 37. Sadly, I have no photograph of him or his aircraft. As a young lad, I used to go out with his Father, Fred Osborne, helping him with his flower deliveries on a Saturday morning, but neither he, nor my Aunt Grace, would ever talk of him, and it has taken a lifetime to find details of him via a good friend with splendid connections, who handed me many details. It appears that both Aunt and Uncle were too grief stricken to ever mention their only child to anyone, even family..If anyone surviving 103 squadron could give me some idea what Freddie was like as a lad of 19 doing a man's job, and what he was like at the tail end of a gun, and how many German planes did he shoot down? I would love to know, as I am immensly proud of him. If anybody knows of a picture of him, I will gladly pay for a copy and all expenses. He died on the 20th.February, 1944 and I consider it my duty to pay his grave a visit in Hanover, as a mark of respect to him and the other members of the crew.

  • Sgt W.L.Bradley
  • Sgt F.J.Taylor
  • F/S T.F.Johnston
  • F/S J.Luck RCAF
  • Sgt E.W.Hamilton
  • Sgt F.G.F.Osborne
  • P/O A.Stevens
Sadly, bad health has held me back for some time, but I will get there somehow. Thank you in anticipation.

Terence Osborne



Cyril Howes. Royal air Force, 83 Sqd.. (d.20th Feb 1944)

Cyril Howes flew 33 missions as a flight engineer. If only he'd stopped at 32! Like so many he was only 22 when he died. We recently found his grave in Charlottenburg just before my Mum, his sister died. The war grave was beautiful and peaceful.

Vera Blandy



Thomas Reginald Nixon. Royal Air Force, 7 Sqdn. (d.20th Feb 1944)

Thomas Reginald Nixon, was killed on 20th February 1944. We wonder if he is our cousin, Reg who was from Smallthorne in Stoke on Trent? Can anyone help?

Isabel Wood



Sgt Alfred Harvey Hackbart. Royal Canadian Air Force, 419 Moose Squadron. (d.20th Feb 1944)

February 19/20, 1944 31 Lancaster from 408 and 426 Squadrons were joined by 98 Halifaxes from 419, 420, 424, 425, 427, 428, 429, 431, 433, and 434 Squadrons on an attack at Leipzig. The crews were over the target at between 19,000 and 25,000 feet, releasing 112,000 lbs of high explosives and 422,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the target was cloud covered and the attack was scattered. The crews were met by strong winds and fierce fighter attacks. 18 crews, or 128 men failed to return from operations. P/O D. MacLeod, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax II JD-114 coded VR-V, failed to return from this operation. Sgt. M. Leboldus, RCAF F/O J. Piper, RCAF W/O2 J. Beattie, RCAF Sgt. T. Gettings, RAF P/O D. Lewthwaite, RCAF Sgt. A. Hackbart, RCAF All were killed.

Ryan Kroetsch



Sgt. Kenneth Leonard Cragg. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 514 Sqdn.. (d.20th February 1944)

My great uncle, Sgt Cragg, was killed on 20th February 1944 while serving with 514 Squadron at Waterbeach. His aircraft was shot down in the Leipzig area. He is commemorated on panel 227 at Runnymede.




Flt.Sgt. Herbert Duckworth. , 640 Squdron. (d.20th Feb 1944)

Herbert Duckworth served as a Flt Engineer with 640 Sqd

Carol Armer



Able Sea. David Jackson. Royal Navy, HMS Convolvulus. (d.20th Feb 1944)

Able Seaman Jackson was theson of Benjamin and Rachel Jackson, of Hillington, Glasgow. He was 22 when he died and is buried in the Gibraltar (North Front) Jewish Cemetery in Gibraltar.

s flynn



Pte. Lloyd Briggs. South Caribbean Force, Windward Islands Btn. . (d.20th Feb 1944)

Lloyd Briggs was the son of Lloyd F.H. and Elaine Briggs of St George's, Grenada. He was 17 when he died and is buried in the Roseau Public Cemetery in the Dominican Republic.

S Flynn



F/Sgt Douglas Kenneth Mavleod. RCAF, 419 (Moose) Squadron. (d.20th Feb 1944)

F/Sgt Douglas Kenneth Macleod J19971 was a pilot based at Middleton St George now Teeside airport and flew Halifax's from this base for 419 RCAF Moose Squadron which included VR JD 114 V and was KIA aged 22 on 19/20th February 1944.




Spr. John Kelly. British Army, 170th Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers. (d.20th Feb 1944)

I have always known of my grand mother's brother who died on this day in this war. John Kelly was over 6 feet tall and had blonde hair and was known for knocking the gas mantle off each time he went his granny's home. It cost him each time to replace it. John was a quiet spoken handsome young man. That's how he is remembered.

Andrea Blake



Sgt. William Frederick Donald Bolt. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 101 Squadron. (d.20th February 1944)

Sergeant (Air Gunner) Wiliam Bolt was the Son of William James Bolt and Elsie May Bolt of Plympton, Devon. He was 22 when he died and is buried in the Leek (Tolbert) Protestant Cemetery, Groningen, Netherlands.

S Flynn



P/O. John Laurens. DFM Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 101 Squadron . (d.20th February 1944)

Pilot Officer (Pilot) John Laurens was the son of Jan Gerhardus Laurens and Maria Elizabeth Laurens, husband of Margaret Johnson Laurens of Ferryhill, Co. Durham. He was 26 when he died and is buried in the Leek (Tolbert) Protestant Cemetery, Groningen, Netherlands.

S Flynn



PO. Cassian Henry Waight. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 101 Squadron . (d.20th February 1944)

Pilot Officer (Wireless Op./Air Gunner) Cassian Waight was the son of John Woods Waight and Lottie Evelyn Gladys Waight of Belize, British Honduras. He is buried in the Marum (Noordwijk) Protestant Churchyard, Groningen, Netherlands.

S Flynn



Mjr. Michael Godfrey Heath. Royal Engineers , 60th Special Coy. . (d.20th February 1944)

Major Michael Heath was commanding the 60th Special Company Royal Engineers in Italy and was killed in action. My father L/Cpl Thomas Eli Jordan was in his unit and said he was a very good officer and his men had a great deal of respect for him, he was sadly missed.

Richard Jordan










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