Maltby - Panel 2 Right
Peter Horsfield - 952955
Peter Horsfield was born in Rotherham in the first quarter of 1922, second child of Ernest Lockwood Horsfield and Lena Gertrude (nee Waterman). The couple had married on 1 January 1918 in Salisbury, where their first child had been born. Ernest was a teacher although he served over three year with the 12th Battlaion York & Lancaster Regiment during the First World War. After leaving the Army he went back to teaching and by 1919 was living at 200 Rotherham Road, Maltby with his family.
Peter joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1941 and became a Sergeant, service number 952955. He trained as a pilot in Canada with the Empire Air Training
Scheme. After gaining his wings in 1943 he was posted to 172 Squadron which was based at Chivenor in Devon. The squadron operated the Leigh Light equipped Vickers
Wellington in an anti-submarine role patrolling the Western Approaches and the Bay of Biscay. On 30 January 1944 he was second pilot in Wellington mk XIV serial number MP813 with squadron markings of WN-K on a 'Percussion' patrol over the Bay of Biscay. It was airborne at 20:11 from Chivenor and was possibly shot shown by the German Submarine U-608. An attack in the night of 30/31 Jan, 1944 in the Bay of Biscay west of Bordeaux, France, in position 45.25N, 05.15W, by depth charges from a British Wellington aircraft was formerly credited with sinking U-364. This attack was in fact made on the outbound U-608, inflicting no damage. The boat scored hits on the aircraft with Anti-Aircraft fire when it switched on the Leigh Light and escaped by diving. The Wellington did not drop any depth charges, and apparently crashed shortly afterwards, as witnessed by a Polish-crewed Wellington but the crash was misinterpreted at the time as exploding depth charges. The six man crew on MP813 were all killed, and Peter Horsfield, aged 22 is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Peter joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1941 and became a Sergeant, service number 952955. He trained as a pilot in Canada with the Empire Air Training
Scheme. After gaining his wings in 1943 he was posted to 172 Squadron which was based at Chivenor in Devon. The squadron operated the Leigh Light equipped Vickers
Wellington in an anti-submarine role patrolling the Western Approaches and the Bay of Biscay. On 30 January 1944 he was second pilot in Wellington mk XIV serial number MP813 with squadron markings of WN-K on a 'Percussion' patrol over the Bay of Biscay. It was airborne at 20:11 from Chivenor and was possibly shot shown by the German Submarine U-608. An attack in the night of 30/31 Jan, 1944 in the Bay of Biscay west of Bordeaux, France, in position 45.25N, 05.15W, by depth charges from a British Wellington aircraft was formerly credited with sinking U-364. This attack was in fact made on the outbound U-608, inflicting no damage. The boat scored hits on the aircraft with Anti-Aircraft fire when it switched on the Leigh Light and escaped by diving. The Wellington did not drop any depth charges, and apparently crashed shortly afterwards, as witnessed by a Polish-crewed Wellington but the crash was misinterpreted at the time as exploding depth charges. The six man crew on MP813 were all killed, and Peter Horsfield, aged 22 is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Notes
Other crew member of Wellington MP813 were: F/Sgt Leighton Dawkin Richards RAFVR 1315328 (Pilot) Sgt Cyril James Lowther RAFVR 1452590 (Navigator) W/O John Pritchard RAF 638478 (Wireless Op./Air Gunner) Sgt Richard Charles Humphrey Fisher RAFVR 1318518 (Wireless Op./Air Gunner) Sgt Arthur Bernard Porter RAFVR 1287755 (W.Op./Air Gunner) |
The leigh light was a powerful (22 million candle power) searchlight of 24 inches diameter fitted to a number of the Coastal Command patrol aircraft to help them spot surfaced German U-boats at night. It was successfully used from June 1942 onwards to attack U-boats recharging their batteries on the surface at night. Up to then they had been relatively safe from attack at night.
The aircraft would approach the submarine using its ASV (Air to Surface Vessel) radar and only switch on the searchlight beam during the final approach. The U-boat had insufficient time to dive and the bombardier had a clear view of the target. It was so successful that for a time German submarines were forced to switch to charging their batteries during the daytime, when they could at least see aircraft approaching. The aircraft fitted with the Leigh Light required a generator to be installed to provide the power to the light. |
Tom Ford Houldsworth - 1000126
© IWM (CH 991) Hudson of 224 Squadron
Tom Ford Houldsworth was born in Rotherham in the last part of 1919, the second of three children, and only son, born to cashier Tom Houldsworth and his wife Kate (nee Ford). His father was from Maltby and his mother was from Castleford, where they married at All Saints Church on 9 June 1917. The family later lived at Jesmonda Villa, 54 Blyth Road, Maltby. Tom Ford Houldsworth was educated at Rotherham Grammar School.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and became a Sergeant , service number 1000126. He trained as a pilot and was posted to 224 Squadron of Coastal Command. The Squadron starter the war based at Leuchers in Scotland flying the Lockheed Hudson coastal reconnaissance aircraft. They then moved to Limavady in Northern Ireland in April 1941 and then to St. Eval in Cornwall in December 1941. On 24 December 1941 he was on Hudson mk V serial number AM669 with squadron markings og QX-F which went out on a Stepper Patrol. On the 25 December the aircraft was reported missing when it failed to return. Subsequently the crew were posted ‘presumed killed in action’. Tom Ford
Houldsworth was 22 years old and is buried in Bayeux War Cemetery.
Note
Other crew members were:
Sqn Ldr Cecil Rhys Davies – 28147
Flt Lt Joseph Herbert Higgleton - 42968
Sgt Arthur George Gooch - 914261
Sgt Jack Roberts - 646219
Squadron Leader Davies is also buried in the Bayeux WarCemetery and the others are listed on the Runnymede Memorial.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and became a Sergeant , service number 1000126. He trained as a pilot and was posted to 224 Squadron of Coastal Command. The Squadron starter the war based at Leuchers in Scotland flying the Lockheed Hudson coastal reconnaissance aircraft. They then moved to Limavady in Northern Ireland in April 1941 and then to St. Eval in Cornwall in December 1941. On 24 December 1941 he was on Hudson mk V serial number AM669 with squadron markings og QX-F which went out on a Stepper Patrol. On the 25 December the aircraft was reported missing when it failed to return. Subsequently the crew were posted ‘presumed killed in action’. Tom Ford
Houldsworth was 22 years old and is buried in Bayeux War Cemetery.
Note
Other crew members were:
Sqn Ldr Cecil Rhys Davies – 28147
Flt Lt Joseph Herbert Higgleton - 42968
Sgt Arthur George Gooch - 914261
Sgt Jack Roberts - 646219
Squadron Leader Davies is also buried in the Bayeux WarCemetery and the others are listed on the Runnymede Memorial.
Ronald Johnson
John William Longson - FX 86289
© IWM (A 1976) Fairey Fulmar
John William Longson was born in Chorley, Lancashire in 1923, first child of miner Joseph Longson and his wife Emma (nee McAllister). The couple had married in St Stephen’s Church, Chorlton upon Medlock on 18 January 1919. A couple of years after John William was born the family move to Yorkshire and another son was born in 1926 in Doncaster. Later the family moved to Maltby and lived at 18 Alexander Street, John William attended Maltby Hall School and then onto Maltby Grammar School. After leaving school he went to work as a surveyor at Maltby Colliery.
He enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1940, service number FX 86289, and became an Air Mechanic (E) 2nd Class. He served with the Fleet Air Arm at HMS Heron based at Yeovilton. On 19 May 1942 he was severing with 761 Squadron when he was killed in an air crash in Devon. He was second crewman on a Fairey Fulmar serial number BP813 which spun to the ground 3 miles north-west of Torquay killing both occupants. John William Longson's death was registered in Newton Abbott, Devon, he was 19 years old and was buried on 25 February 1942 in Maltby Burial Ground.
Note
The pilot was Sub-Lieutenant John Richard Heyworth Huggan
He enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1940, service number FX 86289, and became an Air Mechanic (E) 2nd Class. He served with the Fleet Air Arm at HMS Heron based at Yeovilton. On 19 May 1942 he was severing with 761 Squadron when he was killed in an air crash in Devon. He was second crewman on a Fairey Fulmar serial number BP813 which spun to the ground 3 miles north-west of Torquay killing both occupants. John William Longson's death was registered in Newton Abbott, Devon, he was 19 years old and was buried on 25 February 1942 in Maltby Burial Ground.
Note
The pilot was Sub-Lieutenant John Richard Heyworth Huggan
Albert William Marshall - P/JX 140520
Albert William Marshall was the first child of John Thomas Marshall and Eva May (nee Johnson) who had married in1917, his birth was registered in Ecclesall Bierlow district in the third quarter of 1918. John moved his family to Maltby and they lived at 93 Victoria Street. Albert was still quite young when they moved, and as a child attended Maltby Crags school.
He enlisted in the Royal Navy, service number P/JX 140520 and became a Leading Seaman serving on the tribal class destroyer HMS Cossack. During the period that has been termed the Phoney War, HMS Cossack was involved in rescuing 300 merchant seamen prisoners, taken by the Admiral Graf Spee, from the supply ship Altmark while it was in the waters of then neutral Norway. Albert Marshall played a key role in the boarding of the German ship on 16 February 1940. For his actions it was announced in the London Gazette of 12 April 1940 that he had been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his actions. Albert continued to serve on the ship and at the same time his medal was being promulgated HMS Cossack was involved in Norwegian waters again at the Second Battle of Narvik. HMS Cossack was involved in protecting a number of convoy during her career, including five during 1941. Then on 22 October 1941 she sailed from Gibraltar as part of the escort, including HM Destroyers Vidette and Duncan and Rochester, HM Corvettes Carnation, Mallow and five other corvettes, for the Liverpool bound convoy HG75. The convoy was attacked by submarines including U-563 which fired one torpedo at a steamer in the convoy which seemed to hit after a running time of 4 minutes 44 seconds. Eight minutes later, a spread of two torpedoes was fired against a turning destroyer which missed, but detonations were heard behind. In fact, HMS Cossack was struck by one torpedo forward of the bridge, when she was at the rear of the convoy. The explosion blew off the bow section and destroyed most of the forward section, killing the commander and 158 members of the crew.
He enlisted in the Royal Navy, service number P/JX 140520 and became a Leading Seaman serving on the tribal class destroyer HMS Cossack. During the period that has been termed the Phoney War, HMS Cossack was involved in rescuing 300 merchant seamen prisoners, taken by the Admiral Graf Spee, from the supply ship Altmark while it was in the waters of then neutral Norway. Albert Marshall played a key role in the boarding of the German ship on 16 February 1940. For his actions it was announced in the London Gazette of 12 April 1940 that he had been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his actions. Albert continued to serve on the ship and at the same time his medal was being promulgated HMS Cossack was involved in Norwegian waters again at the Second Battle of Narvik. HMS Cossack was involved in protecting a number of convoy during her career, including five during 1941. Then on 22 October 1941 she sailed from Gibraltar as part of the escort, including HM Destroyers Vidette and Duncan and Rochester, HM Corvettes Carnation, Mallow and five other corvettes, for the Liverpool bound convoy HG75. The convoy was attacked by submarines including U-563 which fired one torpedo at a steamer in the convoy which seemed to hit after a running time of 4 minutes 44 seconds. Eight minutes later, a spread of two torpedoes was fired against a turning destroyer which missed, but detonations were heard behind. In fact, HMS Cossack was struck by one torpedo forward of the bridge, when she was at the rear of the convoy. The explosion blew off the bow section and destroyed most of the forward section, killing the commander and 158 members of the crew.
Charles Philip Methley - 405375
Charles Philip Methley was born in Rotherham in the first quarter of 1915, the fifth of
seven children to coal miner Henry Methley and his wife of nine years, Florence
Gertrude (nee Christer). Later the family lived at 98 Morrell St, Maltby.
He enlisted in the army and was a Private, service number 405375, with the 6th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He was knocked down by a car on the night of 5 August 1940 and died the following day. He was 25 years old and was buried on 10 August 1940 in Maltby Burial Ground. |
Herbert Randall Mollekin - 14315449
Herbert Randall Mollekin was born in Rotherham in the last quarter of 1923, only child of George Herbert Mollekin and Mary Priscilla (nee Allison). His father was originally from Hull and his mother from Braithwell, Doncaster and had married on 19 September 1922. His father was a builder and the family lived at “Claredale”, Rotherham Rd, Maltby. After leaving school Herbert attended Cambridge University.
He enlisted in the Army and was a Rifleman with 1st Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, service number 14315449. By 1944 the battalion was part of the Allied Armies slogging their way up Italy against a series of German defensive lines. On 7 December 1944 George was 'holed' up in a
house when his Captain was injured in a nearby pathway. George attempted to help but was shot by a sniper and killed, he was 21 years old and is buried in Faenza War Cemetery.
He enlisted in the Army and was a Rifleman with 1st Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, service number 14315449. By 1944 the battalion was part of the Allied Armies slogging their way up Italy against a series of German defensive lines. On 7 December 1944 George was 'holed' up in a
house when his Captain was injured in a nearby pathway. George attempted to help but was shot by a sniper and killed, he was 21 years old and is buried in Faenza War Cemetery.
William Richard Morris - 1430877
William Richard Morris was born in Doncaster on 6 July 1922. His parents William John Morris and Catherine (nee Rowley) lived at 62 Blyth Road, Maltby.
William joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 1430877, and became a Sergeant. He was posted to 156 squadron, which had been reformed at
Alconbury, on 14 February 1942. The squadron was equipped with the Vickers Wellington medium bomber on which Sgt Morris flew as observer. On 11 August 1942 an operation was launched to the city of Mainz in Germany involving 154 aircraft - 68 Wellingtons, 33 Lancasters, 28 Stirlings, 25 Halifaxes, it was the first large raid to this city. William was part of the 5 man crew of Wellington mk III serial number BJ603 which was airborne from Alconbury at 22:39. As the aircraft plummeted to earth it just
missed the house of the Van Heugten family and crashed in the woods at 03:30 on 12 August in Lierop (Noord Brabant), 5 miles south-east of Helmond, Holland. It was one of three Wellingtons lost, although the cause of crash has not been fully established. All the crew were killed, and are now buried in Eindhoven (Woensel) General Cemetery. William Richard Morris was 20 years old.
Notes
Other crew members were:
P/O Charles Frederick Taylor- KIA, aged 32
F/S Robert William Moss - KIA aged 23
Sgt Donald Emslie Murray - KIA, aged 22
Sgt John Alister Pearl - KIA, aged 22
It is possible that BJ603 was show down by Feldwebel Walter Spille of the German night fighter unit 3/NJG 1 and flew in a twin engined Messerschmitt Bf110, stationed
at Venlo airfield in Holland. He claimed a Wellington shot down south of Lierop at 03:29 from an altitude at 9,000 feet. His radio officer that night was Feldwebel Alfred Schöpke.
William joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 1430877, and became a Sergeant. He was posted to 156 squadron, which had been reformed at
Alconbury, on 14 February 1942. The squadron was equipped with the Vickers Wellington medium bomber on which Sgt Morris flew as observer. On 11 August 1942 an operation was launched to the city of Mainz in Germany involving 154 aircraft - 68 Wellingtons, 33 Lancasters, 28 Stirlings, 25 Halifaxes, it was the first large raid to this city. William was part of the 5 man crew of Wellington mk III serial number BJ603 which was airborne from Alconbury at 22:39. As the aircraft plummeted to earth it just
missed the house of the Van Heugten family and crashed in the woods at 03:30 on 12 August in Lierop (Noord Brabant), 5 miles south-east of Helmond, Holland. It was one of three Wellingtons lost, although the cause of crash has not been fully established. All the crew were killed, and are now buried in Eindhoven (Woensel) General Cemetery. William Richard Morris was 20 years old.
Notes
Other crew members were:
P/O Charles Frederick Taylor- KIA, aged 32
F/S Robert William Moss - KIA aged 23
Sgt Donald Emslie Murray - KIA, aged 22
Sgt John Alister Pearl - KIA, aged 22
It is possible that BJ603 was show down by Feldwebel Walter Spille of the German night fighter unit 3/NJG 1 and flew in a twin engined Messerschmitt Bf110, stationed
at Venlo airfield in Holland. He claimed a Wellington shot down south of Lierop at 03:29 from an altitude at 9,000 feet. His radio officer that night was Feldwebel Alfred Schöpke.