Downs Row Chapel
D BEELEY R.A.F.
E HEATHCOTE R.A.F.
J H MARSDEN R.C.S.
T M PRENTICE C.GDS.
E HEATHCOTE R.A.F.
J H MARSDEN R.C.S.
T M PRENTICE C.GDS.
Additional Details
David Beeley (151229)
Royal Air Force - 1658 HCU
18 September 1943, aged 22
Halifax aircraft crashed on a training flight in Yorkshire
Rotherham (Masbrough) Cemetery
Eric Heathcote (1059833)
Royal Air Force
8 September 1944, aged 22
Died in an accident in the Middle East
Bara War Cemetery
John Horace Marsden (2385537)
Royal Corps of Signals - SOE Force 133
15 October 1943, aged 26
Died of illness in Greece whilst a PoW
Phaleron War Cemetery
Thomas Malcolm Prentice (2662256)
Coldstream Guards - 3rd Battalion
16-17 March 1943, aged 23
KIA during the North African Campaign
Enfidaville War Cemetery
Royal Air Force - 1658 HCU
18 September 1943, aged 22
Halifax aircraft crashed on a training flight in Yorkshire
Rotherham (Masbrough) Cemetery
Eric Heathcote (1059833)
Royal Air Force
8 September 1944, aged 22
Died in an accident in the Middle East
Bara War Cemetery
John Horace Marsden (2385537)
Royal Corps of Signals - SOE Force 133
15 October 1943, aged 26
Died of illness in Greece whilst a PoW
Phaleron War Cemetery
Thomas Malcolm Prentice (2662256)
Coldstream Guards - 3rd Battalion
16-17 March 1943, aged 23
KIA during the North African Campaign
Enfidaville War Cemetery
David Beeley - 151229
David Beeley was born in Rotherham on 24 October 1920 to Alfred Broadhurst Beeley and Kathleen (nee Cummings), of 11 Mansfield Road, Rotherham. He was known to his family as Dave and was educated at Rotherham Grammar School, Moorgate.
In late 1943 he was in the Royal Air Force, service number 151229, training to be a bomb aimer on four engined heavy bombers. On 18 September 1943 he was stationed at RAF Riccall near Selby, the home of No 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit, where he had been for three weeks. During that early evening Flying Officer David Beeley was one of the six man crew who boarded Handley Page Halifax serial number BB245 for a Night Cross Country flying exercise to Lands End and back to Riccall. The aircraft built by London Aircraft Production in late 1942 was initially delivered to 102 Squadron at Pocklington on 13 October 1942. It also served with 158 and 76 Squadrons before moving from front line squadron duties to training operations with 1658 HCU. It was about one year old and had completed a total of 534 flying hours, which made it old compared to the average flying time of 30 hours before a Lancaster was lost on a mission. The aircraft took off at 19:00 and after four hours flying they had successfully completed their task of flying to Land’s End and back. They were just about to join the Riccall circuit, the pilot was keeping his eyes peeled for other aircraft in the area as they were flying through the circuit which covered nearby RAF Snaith. When they were just south of Darrington there was an explosion in the port outer Merlin engine followed by the propeller and reduction gear falling off in flight. With only three engines the Halifax became difficult to control, bearing in mind that an experienced pilot may have been able to keep the aircraft flying, but to Sergeant Wilson, with only three weeks flying experience on this type of aircraft, it was a different matter. The aircraft was losing height and he battled to regain control.
In the village of Darrington, three sisters, Mable, Gwyneth and Nona Dean, made their way to bed. It was 10.30pm and they left their mother and elder sister, Ellen downstairs. Their father, Harry, and brother, William, were out at the Darrington Hotel just up the village from their cottage. They heard them come in just after 11pm and they dropped to sleep. Just before midnight they were woken by a large explosion. The struggling Halifax aircraft was heard coming low over the village. As it approached the Pontefract-Stapleton road its height could not have been more than 20-30 feet as it sliced off the top of some trees in a nearby orchard before hitting an electricity pole and crashing. The aircraft exploded on impact and a sheet of flames engulfed the cottages in Chapel Hill. The three Dean sisters were sleeping at the other end of the house to the rest of the family, they managed to get down another staircase and had to batter down the front door to make their escape. They could see nothing but a mass of flames. Sadly, their 68 year old father, Harry, mother Mable 66, together with their 33 year old brother William and 36 year old sister Ellen, were unable to get out and all died at the scene. Four other people living in the row were also hurt. The National Fire Service at Pontefract received a call for help at about 12.15 am and arrived
quickly with two machines. The officer in charge found that more help was needed and sent for four more machines, a foam tender and a hose carrier, which came from various districts and were on the scene within twenty minutes. The wrecked aeroplane, the four houses and the chapel were such a mass of flames that the firemen could only concentrate on preventing the fire from spreading and that they achieved. The officer in charge anticipated that the static water supplies in the immediate vicinity would be insufficient and brought in a relay supply from the fish pond at Stapleton Park, which helped to meet all requirements. All the fires were out shortly before dawn, but it was 11.00am on Sunday before the firemen were able to leave after eleven hours of continuous duty.
David Beeley and the rest of the crew were killed outright, he is buried at Rotherham (Masbrough) Cemetery and was 22 years old.
old
In late 1943 he was in the Royal Air Force, service number 151229, training to be a bomb aimer on four engined heavy bombers. On 18 September 1943 he was stationed at RAF Riccall near Selby, the home of No 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit, where he had been for three weeks. During that early evening Flying Officer David Beeley was one of the six man crew who boarded Handley Page Halifax serial number BB245 for a Night Cross Country flying exercise to Lands End and back to Riccall. The aircraft built by London Aircraft Production in late 1942 was initially delivered to 102 Squadron at Pocklington on 13 October 1942. It also served with 158 and 76 Squadrons before moving from front line squadron duties to training operations with 1658 HCU. It was about one year old and had completed a total of 534 flying hours, which made it old compared to the average flying time of 30 hours before a Lancaster was lost on a mission. The aircraft took off at 19:00 and after four hours flying they had successfully completed their task of flying to Land’s End and back. They were just about to join the Riccall circuit, the pilot was keeping his eyes peeled for other aircraft in the area as they were flying through the circuit which covered nearby RAF Snaith. When they were just south of Darrington there was an explosion in the port outer Merlin engine followed by the propeller and reduction gear falling off in flight. With only three engines the Halifax became difficult to control, bearing in mind that an experienced pilot may have been able to keep the aircraft flying, but to Sergeant Wilson, with only three weeks flying experience on this type of aircraft, it was a different matter. The aircraft was losing height and he battled to regain control.
In the village of Darrington, three sisters, Mable, Gwyneth and Nona Dean, made their way to bed. It was 10.30pm and they left their mother and elder sister, Ellen downstairs. Their father, Harry, and brother, William, were out at the Darrington Hotel just up the village from their cottage. They heard them come in just after 11pm and they dropped to sleep. Just before midnight they were woken by a large explosion. The struggling Halifax aircraft was heard coming low over the village. As it approached the Pontefract-Stapleton road its height could not have been more than 20-30 feet as it sliced off the top of some trees in a nearby orchard before hitting an electricity pole and crashing. The aircraft exploded on impact and a sheet of flames engulfed the cottages in Chapel Hill. The three Dean sisters were sleeping at the other end of the house to the rest of the family, they managed to get down another staircase and had to batter down the front door to make their escape. They could see nothing but a mass of flames. Sadly, their 68 year old father, Harry, mother Mable 66, together with their 33 year old brother William and 36 year old sister Ellen, were unable to get out and all died at the scene. Four other people living in the row were also hurt. The National Fire Service at Pontefract received a call for help at about 12.15 am and arrived
quickly with two machines. The officer in charge found that more help was needed and sent for four more machines, a foam tender and a hose carrier, which came from various districts and were on the scene within twenty minutes. The wrecked aeroplane, the four houses and the chapel were such a mass of flames that the firemen could only concentrate on preventing the fire from spreading and that they achieved. The officer in charge anticipated that the static water supplies in the immediate vicinity would be insufficient and brought in a relay supply from the fish pond at Stapleton Park, which helped to meet all requirements. All the fires were out shortly before dawn, but it was 11.00am on Sunday before the firemen were able to leave after eleven hours of continuous duty.
David Beeley and the rest of the crew were killed outright, he is buried at Rotherham (Masbrough) Cemetery and was 22 years old.
old
Note
Other members of the crew were: Pilot: Sergeant Edward George Wilson - 1320727 Flt Eng: Sgt Thomas Glyn Roberts - 1677382 - 30 years old Navigator: Sgt John Arthur Crudgington - 1318163 - 20 years old Wireless Op Sgt Edward Cook - 1338457 - 20 years old Air-Gunner: Sgt Thomas Clelland - 1569956 - 19 years |
Eric Heathcote - 1059833
Eric Heathcote was the son of George Holmes Heathcote and Grace Nicholson Heathcote, of 11 Warwick St, Rotherham. He was educated at Wellgate Council School &
Rotherham Grammar School and was later employed by British Wagon & Co. He was also a member of Rotherham YMCA.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in August 1940 and was drafted abroad May 1942. In 1944 he was a Warrant Officer in serving as an Air Gunner, service number 1059833. He died on 8 September 1944, aged 22 and is buried in Iraq in the Basra War Cemetery, section 8 grave G3.
Rotherham Grammar School and was later employed by British Wagon & Co. He was also a member of Rotherham YMCA.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in August 1940 and was drafted abroad May 1942. In 1944 he was a Warrant Officer in serving as an Air Gunner, service number 1059833. He died on 8 September 1944, aged 22 and is buried in Iraq in the Basra War Cemetery, section 8 grave G3.
John Horace Marsden - 2385537
John Horace Marsden was born on 19 March 1917, son of Arthur Marsden and Emily (nee Watson) of 28 Whybourne Grove, Rotherham. Prior to enlisting in the Army in February 1942 he was employed as a plumber. He was married in 1939 and a daughter was born the following year.
He was a signalman, service number 2385537, in Royal Corps of Signals and has served abroad since June 1942 and by late 1943 he was in the Middle East. He served with the Special Operations Executive’s Force 133 in Greece. On 15 October 1943 he died of Black Water Fever at the age of 26 years. He now lies in the Phaleron War
Cemetery which is a few miles to the south-east of Athens, Greece.
He was a signalman, service number 2385537, in Royal Corps of Signals and has served abroad since June 1942 and by late 1943 he was in the Middle East. He served with the Special Operations Executive’s Force 133 in Greece. On 15 October 1943 he died of Black Water Fever at the age of 26 years. He now lies in the Phaleron War
Cemetery which is a few miles to the south-east of Athens, Greece.
Thomas Malcolm Prentice - 2662256
Thomas Malcolm Prentice was born in 1920 in Rotherham, the son of Malcolm Prentice and Mabel (nee Griffiths) of 10 Wordsworth Drive, Herringthorpe, Rotherham. Malcolm, as he was known, was educated at Spurley Hey Central School and then went on to work for J J Habershon & Sons Ltd, and later at Rotherham Power Station.
Guardsman Prentice, service number 2662256, had been in the 3rd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards for about three years and had served overseas for two years. His last duties before going overseas were in London at Buckingham Palace. By early 1943 3rd battalion of the Coldstream Guards had fought extensively in the North African campaign as part of the Montgomery’s Eighth Army. In March 1943 the German’s in Tunisia were in retreat. The 3rd battalion’s chain of command was part of 201st Guards Motor Brigade and XXX Corps. Montgomery’s planned objective for Operation Pugilist, commencing on 16 March, was to destroy the enemy now opposing the Eighth Army in the Mareth position, and to advance and capture the town of Sfax. On the 16th March 1943 the 3rd Battalion, together with the 6th Battalion Grenadier Guards, were ordered to attack by night the "Horseshoe" ridge, an advanced position of the Mareth Line. This was thought to be a lightly held outpost, but was afterwards found to be defended by the greater part of the 90th Light Division and a Panzer Grenadier Battalion. Unexpected minefields, extensive wire, and very heavy fire brought the night attack to a standstill, and it was with great difficulty and many casualties that the remaining men of the forward companies were withdrawn. Only nine men returned from No 1 Company, which had advanced through a minefield incurring heavy casualties, to capture one of the enemy forward positions. It was the only success in an otherwise disastrous attack.
Thomas Malcolm Prentice, aged 23 was killed between 16 and 17 March 1943. He is buried in Enfidaville War Cemetery, Tunisia. A memorial service was held at the guards chapel on 7 April 1943 and also at the Church of Our Father in Moorgate, Rotherham.
Guardsman Prentice, service number 2662256, had been in the 3rd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards for about three years and had served overseas for two years. His last duties before going overseas were in London at Buckingham Palace. By early 1943 3rd battalion of the Coldstream Guards had fought extensively in the North African campaign as part of the Montgomery’s Eighth Army. In March 1943 the German’s in Tunisia were in retreat. The 3rd battalion’s chain of command was part of 201st Guards Motor Brigade and XXX Corps. Montgomery’s planned objective for Operation Pugilist, commencing on 16 March, was to destroy the enemy now opposing the Eighth Army in the Mareth position, and to advance and capture the town of Sfax. On the 16th March 1943 the 3rd Battalion, together with the 6th Battalion Grenadier Guards, were ordered to attack by night the "Horseshoe" ridge, an advanced position of the Mareth Line. This was thought to be a lightly held outpost, but was afterwards found to be defended by the greater part of the 90th Light Division and a Panzer Grenadier Battalion. Unexpected minefields, extensive wire, and very heavy fire brought the night attack to a standstill, and it was with great difficulty and many casualties that the remaining men of the forward companies were withdrawn. Only nine men returned from No 1 Company, which had advanced through a minefield incurring heavy casualties, to capture one of the enemy forward positions. It was the only success in an otherwise disastrous attack.
Thomas Malcolm Prentice, aged 23 was killed between 16 and 17 March 1943. He is buried in Enfidaville War Cemetery, Tunisia. A memorial service was held at the guards chapel on 7 April 1943 and also at the Church of Our Father in Moorgate, Rotherham.