Sale WW2 - Surnames starting with the letter H. 

Geoffrey William Ardern Higson

Rank:Sergeant (Flight Engineer)Number:1058150
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No:09 Sqn RAFVR
Name of Rgt or Ship:Bomber Command
Died:24/09/1942Age:28
How Died:Killed in Action
Country of burial:DenmarkGrave Photo:Yes
Cemetery or Memorial:Svino Churchyard
Town Memorial:Sale
Extra Information:
Born on the 12th January 1914, the birth registered during the March
quarter 1914 in the Northwich R.D. - ref: 8a/433, the only son of Harold &
Frances Ellen Higson (nee Ardern).

His father died in 1924, aged: 36.

Married Marjorie Kendal Stubbs during the June quarter 1939 in the
Stockport R.D. - ref: 8a/37.

1939 Nationnal Registration - 3 Alcester Road, Cheadle & Gatley.   Geoffrey
W.A. Higson - Married - born: 12th January 1914 - occ: Assistant Clerk
Property.  Marjorie R (should be 'K'). Higson - Married - born: 27th
October 1912 - occ: House Duties.   [Geoffrey and Marjorie are both listed
under the surname: KIGSON].   Charles A. Stubbs Married - born: 13th July
1883 - occ: Letter Press Printer.   Louise Stubbs - Married - born: 12th
February 1879 - occ: Unpaid Domestic Duties.

As a Flight Engineer he was stationed at RAF Honnington, until 9 Sqn moved
to RAF Waddington by road and rail on the 7th August 1942.

Flying with 9 Sqn, he took off from R.A.F. Waddington, Lincolnshire, in a
Lancaster Mk1, No. W4230 WS-P, on a bombing operation over the Port of
Wismar, Germany and the nearby Dornier Factory.  Between 02.15 hrs and
04.00 hrs, the a/c was shot at by several German ships in the Storebaelt
and it crashed in the Baltic Sea at Vejro (Smalandsfarvandet), north of the
Danish Island of Loland.

Sgt Higson's body was washed ashore at Holsteinborg on Zealand and Sgt John
Wallace Henry's body was wahed ashore at Skalo.  They are both buried in
Svino Churchyard, Denmark.   Total losses 7 crew (5 NZ and 2 Brits), the 5
crew whose bodies were not recovered are commemorated at Runnymede.

The first funerals at Svino Cemetery after May 1942 were performed by a
German Army Chaplain, who came down to Svinø from Copenhagen, but at
Easter time 1943 it was decided to let the local Danish vicar perform the
funerals.  After a year about Easter time 1944 the vicar was forbidden to
perform the funerals and the Germans buried the airmen without any clergy.

Although the Germans threatened them the vicar and the congregation every
Sunday after the church service went to the new graves and held a Christian
funeral.   From September 1944 the dead airmen were not even taken to a
churchyard to be buried but was buried where they were found.   Therefore 4
airmen have been buried after the end of the war.


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