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207099

Cpl. Horace Ernest Ayears

British Army 579 Field Coy. Royal Engineers

from:Aldershot, Hampshire

(d.17th Jun 1940)

My father, Cpl H E Ayears of Kent Fortress Royal Engineers TA, died on the Lancastria. He should have returned on the Duchess Of York but he volunteered to return to Honfleur with Captain T Goodwin (who survived) and party to destroy oil storage depot there. When they returned to the docks the Duchess Of York had sailed, so they boarded Lancastria.

I have been told he was asleep in No 1 hold at time of bomb. I have obtained a lot of information from C.C. Brazier's book "XD Operations". It also contains a Roll Of Honour from his party from Kent Fortress Royal Engineers who died with him.

  • Sapper H.W.Blackman.
  • Lance Cpl.E.G.Brown.
  • Sapper.S.J.Owen.
  • Lance Cpl.E.E.Plummer
  • Sapper.S.J.Ruck.
  • Lance Cpl.Shute.

Incidentally my mothers wedding ring fell off at 4 pm on the 17th of June 1940 into a bowl of water.



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