Charles Harper

[Wheeltapper]

I am trying to trace family and friends of Charles Harper son of William and Christina Harper who resided in Kelloholm at the end of the 2nd World War. Charles was an airman who was sadly killed in a flying accident on 24th September 1944. He was a member of the 85 OTU flying out of Husbands Bosworth Airfield. Northamptonshire.

I would appreciate help with this request as I am writing a Memorial Book to the crew of this aircraft.
Many thanks,
Best regards.
Wheeltapper.

[Donald2177xx]

hi,#Its probably rather late for your book now, but my Dad, Bill Brown who is 93 yrs old used to work with Bill Harper in the caol mine at Kirkconnel/ Kelloholm.
He remebers him well.
Regards
Don

[Wheeltapper]

Hello Donald,
Many thanks for your information. As a result of a visit to Kelloholm I managed to establish that Charles had a surviving brother who had moved away from the village. I eventually was able to track him down living not too far away from me in the same county as I live ! This was just based on a theory that he may have moved down to Corby to join Stewarts & Lloyds steelworks as so many Scots have done and the hunch paid off. The book was published and Charles brother was able to come to the book launch and he was shown the area of the crash site. Since then, all the crews names have been added to the village War Memorial and their names read out at Remembrance Sunday. In November this year a Memorial Picture was placed in Harpole Church. The book is titled Flight LP826 and I am hoping to visit Kelloholm again in the new year and place a copy in your village heritage rooms.
Best Regards
Patricia

[MonicaL]

Patricia and Don

Great story. Thank you Patricia for adding the update 

Monica

[Donald2177xx]

Thank you for your reponse. I was tlaking with Dad last night. Charles also had an adopted brother called Sweeny who he last saw a couple of years ago in a village about ten miles from Kelloholm called Wanlockhead where he had been a lead miner.
Charles Father was also in the village pipeband.
If you are still in touch with Charles brother please pass on my dads regards (Bill Brown Rosedale Kirkconnel) and of course he can be contactde via me on this site.
Best wishes Don