Hello, this comes from a list of British war dead collated by German authorities after Varsity/Plunder and after the war had ended. The man I cannot identify is No. 80 on the list: "Glen E St. John" (or whatever his name could have been). His service number does not yield anything on the CWGC website, it must have been corrupted in the copying process. The list is a real mess, many numbers seem to have been corrupted, the people who typed this did not understand what thy were copying. One cannot even tell for sure what his surname was ... I suppose it was St. John. Can anyone make anything of this? He was found in the Mehrhoog area, outside DZ A (Operation Varsity). So he could have been with 3 Para Bde - or with 5 Bde and landed short of DZ B. Alternatively, he could have been with 44 RTR or a unit of 15th Scottish Division - these advanced through the area on March 25th/26th. The people who contributed to the list wrote down whatever was written (probably embossed on metal strips) on the crosses placed by by the British Graves Registration Unit.
38013526 is a service number issued by The King's Regiment before August 1942 when the General Service Corps numbers came in to use.
Thank you, travers1940 - but does this mean the number does not work when entered in the CWGC database?
Possible UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 Name: John St John Given Initials: J F Rank: Serjeant Death Date: 24 Mar 1945 Number: 14641867 Birth Place: Manchester Residence: Manchester Branch at Enlistment: Infantry Theatre of War: Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45 Regiment at Death: Gordon Highlanders Branch at Death: Infantry The only other John surname in that database that could fit is Name: Evan John Given Initials: E D Rank: Private Death Date: 11 Apr 1945 Number: 3968772 Birth Place: Brecknock Residence: Glamorgan Branch at Enlistment: Infantry Theatre of War: Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45 Regiment at Death: Welch Regiment Branch at Death: Infantry TD Have to say those service numbers look wrong to me - too long Looking at the man above - these 3 are the closest possibles but none of them are shown as Airborne, so it might be a case or problems with the source data Edward E W Tawn Lance Corporal Cambridgeshire 6 Apr 1945 Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45 Richard R Tawn Bombardier Middlesborough 25 Mar 1945 Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45 Richard R G Town Serjeant Berkshire 20 Jun 1945 Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45
Noting again the man above St John UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 Name: Richard Tawn Given Initials: R Rank: Bombardier Death Date: 25 Mar 1945 Number: 14508801 Birth Place: Middlesborough Residence: Middlesborough Branch at Enlistment: Royal Artillery Theatre of War: Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45 Regiment at Death: Royal Artillery Branch at Death: Royal Artillery But is shown as service number 1450 88091 on your list Might help guide to St John TD
Almost all men kept their original number throughout their army career. GSC numbers were issued to new recruits only from July 1942. He should appear at CWGC with his original number.
No its not its too long with 8 numbers. It ought to have 7 if it was The King's Regiment 3757001 - 3846000
38013526 T/Sgt. Olen E. ST JOHN U.S. Army service number, enlisted at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas on 31st October 1941 He originated from Sierra County, New Mexico, born in 1917 Possibly 17th Airborne if he is a Operation Varsity casualty. Sierra County, New Mexico, WW2 Casualties
Has led me to Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Wesel: 5 killed | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (baaa-acro.com)
Guy Hudson - great job! He's American! And thanks to all others, too! T/Sgt Olen E. St John was a Crew Chief on a C-47 of 14 Sq, 61st Troop Carrier Group. His aircraft (serial number 42-93798) was shot down after dropping troops of 3 Para Bde on DZ A.
AB64 - thanks. As you see, I immediately recognized him. I recently made list of US transport aircraft lost in Varsity...
38013526 T/Sgt. Olen E. ST JOHN U.S.A.A.F. Killed when C47A 42-93798 was shot down over Wesel on 24th March 1945
This is what it says in the Missing Air Crew Report: "Transported men and materials of the Canadian 1st Paratroop Regiment to a drop zone at Wesel, Germany on Operation ‘Varsity’ 24Mar45; having dropped the paratroopers, as the plane exited the DZ it was to make a left bank to turn and head back to base. As the aircraft went into the bank, it flew into what looked like a stream of tracer fire and was seen to start puffing smoke from around the left wing. Shortly after, there was smoke seen coming from the cockpit. The plane never came out of the bank and quickly lost altitude. The left wing hit a house as it neared the ground tearing it off and the rest of the aircraft hit the ground and exploded. All aboard the plane were killed." (MACR 13507)
I'd never have got it without Guy Hudson bringing the US into the equation, my quick glance at British records hadn't turned anything up so I was about to move on - it is satisfying when we can all add our little piece to the jigsaw
3602406 Pte. Adam Keddy W.I.A. 18.08.1944 Durham Light Infantry 3602406 Pte. Adam Keddy K.I.A. 27.03.1945 2nd Bn. The Glasgow Highlanders Highland Light Infantry (City Of Glasgow Regiment) 14508801 A/L/Bdr. Richard Tawn K.I.A. 25.03.1945 53rd Worcestershire Yeomanry T10685239 Dvr. A. C. Shelton M.I.A. 24.03.1945 Royal Army Service Corps att. 224th Parachute Field Ambulance
