8th (Midlands) Parachute Battalion COMPLETED

[Lynntony]

While researching some family connections I came across Lance Sergeant Reginald Elwell, my 1st cousin 2x removed. He was killed on the 13 June 1943 "On Active Service". Trying to find out more, I Googled his name and regiment and found that many of his comrades also died on the same day. Nothing strange about that but, what did arouse my curiosity was the fact that, in all cases, the "theatre of war" was given as UK. Does anyone have an idea about the circumstances were that led to so many men from the same Battalion dying on the same day in the UK?

Tony

[sharki]

Tony,
The only info I can find is reference to two accidents during 1943. One was on a night practice drop in Scotland when a stick of eight parachutists were accidentally dropped over the sea and all but one were drowned. The second incident occured when another stick of eight were lost when their aircraft flew into high ground in the south of England. I have not been able to ascertain a specific date for either incident, but this would appear to relate to your enquiry.

[GrahamSimons]

CWGC website http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2712969/ELWELL,%20REGINALD


Son of Thomas and Nellie Elwell, of Heath Town, Wolverhampton; husband of Ada Elwell, of Heath Town.
Buried Heath Town, Staffordshire, so his body was probably brought home for burial.

There are only a handful of 1943 burials there and none that would link with your man.

Running a search for deaths on that specific date brought up a group of men from that unit, all buried as far as I can see in their home churchyard or cemetery. These were a Major, a Lieutenant, the Lance Serjeant, a Corporal, a Lance Corporal and three Privates.

[GrahamSimons]

Looks like this is the tale....http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/68/a8714568.shtml

My nagging doubt is the distribution of ranks in this group....

[Lynntony]

Sharki, I did wonder about a training excercise accident and I think your post does tend to confirm that. I did come across one death on Google that stated that a 19yr old drowned in Scotland whilst on a training exercise but didn't realise that there were two accidents. Thanks for the input.

Graham, I have found out that Reginald's body was returned to his family for burial, which took place at his local church of Holy Trinity, Heath Town. I have also been lucky enough to find a picture of his gravestone on-line. I'm waitng for a reply from the church on another query regarding earlier members of the Elwell family and hope to visit the churchyard and grave sites once they get back to me. It would be interesting to find out the dates of both accidents to identify where Reg. died. Thanks for your info.

Tony

[bleckie]

Hi All

 Thirty years later

http://www.paradata.org.uk/units/15th-battalion-parachute-regiment-15-para-sv

The more we move on the more we stay the same.

Yours Aye
BruceL

[AndyBaldEagle]

Tony

I am due to be visiting the National Archives for a week in January 2013. As my interest is in Airborne Forces I can tell you that the War Diary for 8th Parachute Battalion is under reference WO 169/10350.

I was not intending on this particular visit to copy any war diaries but can put this on my list of things to do if you so wish. I do intend to copy numerous War Diaries in due course but that is a long term project.

I have also had a quick look in 'Though Without Anger' by Colin Cummings but there are no air crashes shown for the 13th June....if I/we can identify which squadron was carrying these troops then the ORB's are available to be downloaded, or I may already have them.

Regards

Andy

[IMBER]

Reginald's death was registered in Scotland under the district of Dunbarney and Dron, near Perth.  The image of the register entry can be viewed on Scotlandspeople and printed off for, I think, about £7 or a certified extract can be ordered from GROS, either direct or through Scotlandspeople, for £12.

[IMBER]

It's possible that the death was registered at Bridge of Earn Emergency Hospital, one of several hospitals established in Scotland at the beginning of WW2.