CHELTENHAM, Gloucestershire, U.K. — A dedication to honour and remember the British and Canadian crew of Halifax III bomber which crashed into Cleeve Hill, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in the early hours of Aug. 26, 1944, is being held in England on Aug. 26 this year.
The seven-member crew all perished in the crash. Two of the airmen being remembered are Hugh Hamilton of North Battleford and Elton Freeman of the Cabri area.
Having successfully laid the sea mines, and subjected to a considerable amount of German anti-aircraft fire, MZ311 set off on their return journey to RAF Breighton, Yorkshire from La Pallice, the commercial deep-water port of La Rochelle
MZ311 crashed on Cleeve Common escarpment above the Cotswold town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. None of the crew survived.
The memorial dedication takes place on the 80th anniversary of the crash. The service will be conducted by Air Vice-Marshal Ron Hesketh CB RAF [Rtd], former chaplain-in-chief to the Royal Air Force.
This service will bring together more than 40 of the relatives found by Judith Wordsworth (Cheltenham GA pilot) and Nick Price (RAFA Cheltenham branch member). Those attending are from Canada, the United States, New Zealand and the UK including: daughter of the Pilot Flight Lieutenant Howes (RCAF); grandson and great-grandson of Flight Sergeant John McArdle (RAF); step-daughters of Wireless Operator Sergeant Harris (RAF); many nephews, nieces, great-nephews and nieces and great-great nephews and nieces and cousins of Flight Lieutenant Howes, Flying Officer George McCartney (RCAF), Air Gunners Flying Officer John Glenn and Pilot Officer Hugh Hamilton (both RCAF).
Joining the relatives will be Colonel Jonathan Bouchard MSM, CD representing The High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom and The Royal Canadian Air Force; The Royal Air Forces Association; MPs for Cheltenham Max Wilkinson and Tewkesbury Cameron Thomas (ex RAF); members of Cleeve Common Trust; Air Marshal Sir Dusty Miller KBE; Royal Air Forces Association, Cheltenham Branch; Constable Edward Stortz, Windsor Police Service, Canada laying a wreath on behalf of the relatives of the crew of MZ311 and Wing Commander Ian Evans, LLB MA RAF Officer Commanding 78 Squadron, Swanwick. A piper from RAF Pipes & Drums and trumpeter from RAF voluntary bands.
RAFA has commissioned a painting of MZ311 by the Guild of Aviation Artists, Michael Daley MBE.
Weather permitting, there will be a flypast by an RAF aircraft and a Royal Canadian Air Force C130 in salute to fallen comrades.
Charles Maurice Howes
Pilot Flight Lieutenant Charles Maurice Howes (J/25977) Royal Canadian Air Force.
Local Cheltenham Link: The Howes family from late 1700s to late 1880s lived in Gloucestershire. Moreton in Marsh and Bourton on the Hill. Paternal grand and great grandparents: Bourton on the Hill/Bourton on the Water. Great x5 grandparents: Moreton in Marsh
Relatives attending memorial dedication from the United States and Nottingham:
Maureen Sullivan (daughter) was born Feb. 23, 1945, living in Phoenix, Ariz. with her husband John Sullivan;
Sally Young (niece) and Cheryl Young (great-niece), Paul Young (nephew), and Lindsey Young (great-niece). The Youngs will be meeting their relation Maureen Sullivan for the first time.
Biographical Information
Flight Lieutenant Charles Maurice Howes: Born Sept. 10, 1921, Folkestone, United Kingdom. His parents were Charles Stephen Thomas Foreman (AKA Howes) and Bertha Winifred Howes.
Charles emigrated to the United States on March 9, 1926, with his maternal grandparents John Thomas and Mary Lee and Uncle Oswald J Lee. They lived in Belltown, Stamford, Conn.
Educated at Belltown and Stamford high schools in Connecticut. Charles completed a four-year electrical construction apprenticeship (1938-42)
He enlisted in the RCAF March 17, 1942, in Montreal, Que.
Charles returned to Stamford after basic training and married Rosemary Ursula (Sept. 15, 1942).
Commissioned on April 30 1943, he joined 78 Squadron at RAF Breighton from 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU), based at RAF Wombleton on April 28, 1944. Charles retained his British citizenship.
Daughter, Maureen is now living in Phoenix, Ariz. with her husband John Sullivan
Charles is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, UK.
Charles’s parents and brother Harold Gordon Howes remained in England. Harold married Elsie Saxby in February 1946 in Nottingham. They had sons Paul and Tony and a daughter Sally. Cheryl Young is Sally’s daughter.
Elton Eugene Freeman
Navigator, Flying Officer Elton Eugene Freeman (J/28223) Royal Canadian Air Force.
Sadly his relatives living in Canada are unable to attend this memorial dedication
Biographical Information
Born April 4, 1915. Parents Eugene Ellis and Bada Christine Freeman of Fosterton, Sask.
Educated Scotia High School. He worked on the family farm and was a grain agent on enlistment in 1942.
Did initial training at No. 7 Initial Training School Saskatoon and was commissioned in July 1943. Joined 78 Squadron at RAF Breighton from 1666 HCU, based at RAF Wombleton, April 28, 1944. His wings, badges, medals and identification disc were donated by his family, and are displayed in the Royal Canadian Legion No 347 Hall in Cabri, Sask.
Elton rests in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey.
George William McCartney
Air Bomber, Flying Officer George William McCartney (J/28883) Royal Canadian Air Force
Twelve Relatives are attending this memorial dedication from the United States, Canada and Australia: Diana Little (niece-in-law); Michael Little (great-nephew) and partner Alison Tucker (great-niece) and partner Michael Jacobson; Sara (great-niece) and husband Russell Emanuel Grace, Zoe and Zachary (great-great-nieces and nephew); Joshua Blain (great-nephew) and partner Ashleigh Grantham.
Biographical Information
Born in 1921 in Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire.
In 1931 he and his twin sister Marion and their father, William Murdoch McCartney, emigrated to New Brunswick, after the death of the twins’ mother Janet.
George enlisted in 1940 and was commissioned in 1943. He joined 78 Squadron at RAF Breighton from 1666 HCU, based at RAF Wombleton, on April 28, 1944.
George rests in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey.
His mother’s family (Gibson) still farm in Dumfriesshire.
John J McArdle
Flight Sergeant John J McArdle (1684019) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve has relatives attending: Paul Halliwell (grandson) and Mrs. Angele Halliwell; Vaughn Lewis Halliwell (great-grandson) Lindsey Rankin.
Sadly Helen Sinnott, nee McArdle, (daughter) is not well enough to attend
Biographical Information
Born Feb. 15, 1921, Liverpool. Before enlisting he was an apprentice plumber.
John J McArdle married Ella Jean Winterbottom in December 1943. Their daughter Helen F McArdle was born in January 1945 and lives in Eccleston.
He joined 78 Squadron at RAF Breighton from 1663 HCU at RAF Rufforth March 27, 1944.
John is buried in Allerton Cemetery, Liverpool.
John Alexander Glenn
Air Gunner Flying Officer John Alexander Glenn (J/36021) Royal Canadian Air Force has 11 relatives attending from Ontario: Joseph (nephew) and his wife Ginette Stortz; Catherine (niece) and husband Gary Anderson; Ed (great-nephew) and his wife Paula Stortz and their daughter Jeana Martin; Stacey Haner (great-niece) and fiancé Eli Fox; Linda (great-niece) and husband Bob Haeger (Staff Sergeant USAF veteran)
Biographical Information:
Born March 11, 1925, at North Bay, Ont.
Attended North Bay Collegiate Institute Vocational School and was a machine operator before enlisting in February 1943. He was commissioned on Sept. 27, 1943.
Buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery 43.
Hugh Brannan Hamilton
Air Gunner Pilot Officer Hugh Brannan Hamilton (J/89908) Royal Canadian Air Force has relatives attending from Saskatchewan: Ian Hamilton (nephew), ex-mayor of North Battleford, and his wife Charlotte along with their daughter Kerilyn Voigt (great-niece) and son Aiden Voigt (great-great nephew)
Biographical Information
Born Dec. 11, 1922, Haywood, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
His parents were James and Janet Hamilton. They emigrated to Canada and lived at Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford in Saskatchewan.
Hugh enlisted Oct. 23, 1942, and trained at Brandon in Saskatchewan and Macdonald in Manitoba. He joined 78 Squadron at RAF Breighton from 61 Base, the RCAF training base at RAF Topcliffe, on April 28, 1944. He was engaged at the time of his demise.
He is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, UK.
Emmanuel Henry Harris
Wireless Operator Sergeant Emmanuel Henry Harris (1423759) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve has relatives attending from Wales:Pauline Fieldhouse (wife’s daughter by second marriage); Sandra Williams (wife’s daughter by second marriage); Pat Gallagher; Megan Banfield (cousin)
Biographical Information
Born Nov. 24, 1923. in Blaenavon, South Wales.
Joined 78 Squadron at RAF Breighton from 41 Base at RAF Marston Moor on April 30, 1944. He and Mary Lloyd married July 1944, a month before his demise. Their daughter Gloria was born on April 30, 1945, but sadly passed away at only 23 hours old.
Emmanuel (Manny) Harris is buried in Blaenavon Cemetery.
A Tale of Bravery
The information below provides the background to this story of wartime bravery
With the end of the Second World War almost in sight, a fact unknowable at the time, these seven young airmen bravely took to the air in Halifax bomber MZ311 in the late evening of Aug. 25, 1944, and into the teeth of enemy flak and night fighters as they had done so very many times in the preceding months. Several of the Royal Canadian Air Force crew trace their roots to England and Scotland.
Britain depended on vital supplies from North America and the Empire in the Second World War. These had to be transported in merchant ships across the Atlantic Ocean, where they could be attacked by German submarines (U-boats) and warships.
The U-boats were based in massive pens that were well-protected by air defences and almost impervious to bombing. Laying mines in coastal areas close to the pens was a vitally important means of destroying U-boats or impeding their transit.
On the night of Friday, Aug. 25, 1944, Bomber Command operated a total of 1,311 sorties — 412 aircraft assigned to attack the Opel Motor Works at Rüsselsheim; 196 aircraft to attack Darmstadt; 334 aircraft to attack Brest; 182 training aircraft on a diversionary sweep across the North Sea; 68 aircraft assigned to Patrol Duties; 47 aircraft on Radio Counter Measures; 36 aircraft to attack Berlin and 22 other targets; six aircraft on resistance work; two aircraft assigned to a preliminary reconnaissance of the various targets and six aircraft laying sea mines (gardening) off La Pallice in the Bay of Biscay, the deep sea port of La Rochelle, of which MZ311 was one.
This gardening area was known as Cinnamon and Young Cinnamon. "Gardening" was the RAF term given to dropping mines from bomber aircraft into the sea. The mines were "sown" near ports and harbours, inland waterways, estuaries and in busy shipping lanes. The goal was to disrupt enemy naval activities and hinder shipping traffic.
Having completed their hazardous mission off the west coast of France they returned towards the safety and comfort of their home base at RAF Breighton in Yorkshire, some unknown occurrence caused them to perish in a crash on the Cleeve Common escarpment, overlooking the Cotswold town of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, during the early hours, approximately 02:20hrs on the morning of the 26th August 1944.
A small fragment of aircraft wreckage was found on Cleeve Common in August 2020 and was identified as being the final remaining part of Halifax MZ311.
Research by Judith Wordsworth (a local General Aviation pilot) and Nick Price (RAFA Cheltenham committee member) over the last year identified and located many of the surviving relatives of MZ311’s seven-man crew.
The simple stone marker with a plaque bearing the names of the lost airmen at the site where the aircraft crashed, was erected by Cleeve Common Trust and unveiled (Dec. 7, 2022) in a short ceremony organized by the Cheltenham Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association.
The courage of these men, alongside their contemporaries, to launch repeatedly into the night knowing full well that the odds against their survival were very high, is simply astonishing by any measure, which makes their loss on their way home and over English soil even more tragic.
The statistics on aircraft and crew losses serve to remind us of the horrendous cost paid by Bomber Command as it sent out its crews night after night.
The tribute Sir Winston Churchill paid to Bomber Command: “All your operations were planned with great care and skill. They were executed in the face of desperate opposition and appalling hazards, they made a decisive contribution to Germany’s final defeat. The conduct of the operations demonstrated the fiery gallant spirit which animated your aircrews, and the high sense of duty of all ranks under your command. I believe that the massive achievements of Bomber Command will long be remembered as an example of duty nobly done”.
We owe our freedom today to the unflinching courage and determination of these men, and a key role of the Royal Air Forces Association is to ensure that we, and others, proudly and thankfully remember them as we do with this Memorial and this dedication on 26 August 2024.
