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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.