Navigator - Sgt Leslie Matthews - POW - 148817

 

Leslie was born in New Southgate, North London on 22 November 1913.  His civilian profession was a company director.  He enlisted on 22 September 1941 aged 28.

Leslie survived the crash and was taken prisoner at Les Sables on the west coast of France near St Nazaire approximately 50 miles west of Nantes.

He was taken to Stalag Luft VI at Heydekrug in East Prussia until July 1944, then moved to Stalag XXA at Thorn in Poland until August 1944, then moved again to Stalag 357 at Fallingbostel in Germany until April 1945 when he was forced along with many other allied POW to march north until eventual liberation in May 1945.

Leslie died in November 1994 in Enfield, North London.

I would love to speak to any relative of Leslie or anybody or knew him.

Wireless Operator - Sgt Reginald Sneesby - 1381732

             

             

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Record of Commemoration ©

I have been very lucky and privileged to be loaned the log-book of Reginald Sneesby by his brother Wilfred and now know more about Reg's service career and also that of my Grandfather;

No. 4 Signals School - July to September 1942

Reg's first posting after joining up was No. 4 Signals School at RAF Madley in Herefordshire. The course lasted from the end of July to 2 September 1942 whereby Reg qualified as a Wireless Operator.

No. 8 Air Gunners School - September to October 1942

The next posting took him to No. 8 Air Gunners School at Evanton, Scotland. The training here began at the beginning of September and ended on the 3 October 1942. Reg had so far amassed 10 hours flying time.

 Reg during training - either No. 4 Signals School
 or No. 8 Air Gunners School

No. 25 Operational Training Unit - November to January 1943

Reg was now posted to No. 25 Operational Training Unit based at RAF Finningley near Doncaster, Yorkshire to start serious flying training first on Airspeed Oxfords (a twin engined advanced trainer) and then Vickers Wellington twin engined bombers.

It was at No. 25 OTU that Reg would have first met my Grandfather. Training started on the 11 November 1942. Reg flew in an Airspeed Oxford 4 times and Wellingtons 57 times including 6 flights all on the 22 November. On the 28 November the pilot for the first time was Sgt Forbes, my Grandfather - I am not sure, but it is likely that the whole initial crew of 5 were now together. By now flying time had increased to 73 hours. I believe 25 OTU closed at this time which would account for the crew moving to another operational training unit. On the 13, 15, 20 and 21 January 1943 Reg and Tom were also involved in Ferry Flights between Finningley and Hixon/Seighford.

No. 30 Operational Training Unit - January to March 1943

Around the 23 January 1943 Reg and the other crew members were posted to No. 30 OTU based at RAF Hixon / RAF Seighford in Staffordshire. This course would last until 23 March 1943 and on ending flying time had increased to a total of 99 hours day flying and 35 hours night flying. Reg partook in 22 Wellington MkIII flights which included Night Flying Tests, Day and Night Cross Countrys, Simulated Bombings, Circuits and Landings, and HLB's (?) - these culminated in a 'Nickel Raid'; flying over enemy held territory at night and dropping propaganda leaflets. This they successfully carried out (over Lille, France) on the 23 March 1943 taking 5 hours.

No. 1656 Conversion Unit - April to May 1943

The only obstacle left before joining an operational squadron was training and conversion to 4 engined heavy bombers. In April 1943 the crew were posted to 1656 Conversion Unit at RAF Lindholme in Yorkshire. Here they flew a total of 26 hours [day] and 8 hours [night] - a mixture of flying Halifaxes (12 times) and Lancasters (9 times). The first Lancaster they flew in was W4328. The training here ended on the 2 May 1943.

No. 12 Squadron (1 Group) - May to June 1943

Flew the first 8 missions with the crew - as mentioned elsewhere - but on 25th June 1943 flew a NFT (Night Flying Test), unofficially 'standing in' for a missing crew member...

[Capt] Sgt H.G. Yeo

[Nav] Sgt M.R. Aston

[W/O] Sgt R. Sneesby

[B/A] Sgt G.A. Hiddleston

[F/E] Sgt C.W. Robinson

[M/U] Sgt P. Soluk RCAF

[R/G] Sgt J.S. Rennick RCAF

This Lancaster - ED968 PH-P, disintegrated and crashed at Steingot, 5 miles SW of Louth, Lincolnshire, all crew lost. According to Wilfred, Reginalds brother, my Grandfather had attempted to stop the flight

Reginald trained with the original crew on Wellingtons at 25 and 30 OTU and Lancasters at 1656 CU

Reginald was 21

Son of Arthur William and Emily Sneesby, of Selby

Wireless Operator - Sgt Lawrence Douglas Mitchell - POW - 1366131

Lawrence was born in Aberdeen, Scotland on the 12 July 1910.  His civilian profession was a commercial traveller. He enlisted on the 1 November 1940 aged 30

Lawrence survived the crash and was taken prisoner at Les Sables on the west coast of France near St Nazaire approximately 50 miles west of Nantes.

He was taken to Stalag Luft VI at Heydekrug in East Prussia until June 1944, then moved to Stalag Luft 3 at Thorn in Poland until August 1944, then moved again to Stalag 357 at Fallingbostel in Germany until April 1945 when he was forced along with many other allied POW to march north until eventual liberation in May 1945.

It appears that Lawrence was in Sgt Scott's crew which ditched in the Channel on 13 May 1943 - see ORB Summaries - and was picked up by a Royal Navy minesweeper (according to an article in the 'Wickenby Register' newsletter it was HMS Minesweeper 79 - a Peterhead drifter - captained by Lt Commander John Collier), taken to hospital in Dover and returned to 12 Squadron three days later.

Lawrence died in 1999.

Bomb Aimer - Sgt William Frank Thomas ('Frankie') - 1217408

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Record of Commemoration ©

Flew all missions with the crew and was tragically killed in the crash

William trained with this crew on Wellingtons at 25 and 30 OTU and Halifaxes and Lancasters in 1656 CU

Out of all of the crew, I know the least about William.  I would love to speak to any relative or anybody who knew him.

Flight Engineer - Sgt Alfred Hales - 937612

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Record of Commemoration ©

Alfred was born in either January, February or March 1911.  His civilian profession was a civil servant.

He flew all missions with the crew and was tragically killed in the crash aged 32 he also trained with the crew on Halifaxes and Lancasters at 1656 CU

Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Hales, of Birmingham; husband of Mildred Hales, of Edgbaston, Birmingham

Alfred married Mildred Bailey (from Gravelly Hill, Erdington) on 25 November 1940 whilst he was training at Newton-On-Ouse.

Mid Upper Gunner - Sgt Ernest Southon - POW - 1622030

     

Ernest was born in Bradford, Lancshire on 19 February 1916.  His civilian profession was a engineers progress and stock clerk.  He enlisted February 1942 aged 26.

Ernest survived the crash and was taken prisoner at Les Sables on the west coast of France near St Nazaire approximately 50 miles west of Nantes.

He was taken to Stalag Luft VI at Heydekrug in East Prussia until 15 June 1944, then moved to Stalag Luft 3 at Thorn in Poland until 16 July 1944, then moved again to Stalag 357 at Fallingbostel in Germany until 8 April 1945 when he was forced along with many other allied POW to march north until eventual liberation on 3 May 1945.

Many thanks to Ernest's granddaughter Nicola and her family for the wonderful photographs above.

Ernest died in 1991.

Rear Gunner - Sgt George Leonard Albert Deasley - 1321244

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Record of Commemoration ©

George was born in Peabody Buildings, Old Pye Street, Westminster, London on 30 November 1921.  

Flew all missions with the crew and was tragically killed in the crash aged 22.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Deasley, of Bromley, Kent.

George married Miss Thelma B Evans at Lewisham in January, February or March 1942.