Harry Cast

Harry Cast joined the Sherwood Foresters in 1942 before transferring to The Parachute Regiment which he first served with in Italy.

He was killed in action on 18 September 1944, the day after the airborne landings in support of 'Operation Market Garden', and is buried in Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Netherlands (grave ref. 1C1).

CWGC: History of Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery (extract): 'Following the Normandy landings of June 1944, the Allied advance through northern Europe was extraordinarily rapid and on 11 September 1944, the Second Army entered the Netherlands just south of Eindhoven ... Their next aim was to cross the Rhine before the Germans had time to reorganise after their recent setbacks, securing crossings over the rivers and canals that stood in their path at Grave, Nijmegen and Arnhem. 'Operation Market Garden' would involve the United States 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, the Commonwealth 1st Airborne Division and the Polish Parachute Brigade. On 17 September 1944, the 1st Airborne Division began landing west of Arnhem, but German resistance, bad weather and problems with supplies and reinforcements led to heavy losses, and their objectives were not taken. They were forced to form a perimeter at Oosterbeek which they held stubbornly until 25 September, when it was decided to withdraw the remnants of the division across the lower Rhine. Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery contains the graves of most of those killed during the September landings, and many of those killed in later fighting in the area.' (www.cwgc.org)

Harry's father, Henry John Cast, served in the Great War along with at least three of his four brothers; James, who served in the Tank Corps (304885 Private), and Herbert (82805 Private) and Albert who both served in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Albert served with the 8th Battalion (203904 Private) and was killed in action on 8 June 1917 (see WW1 record on this Roll of Honour).

Henry John served in the 8th Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps (11889), enlisting on 15 April 1915. He embarked for BEF France on 2 September 1915 and joined his Battalion the following day. He suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder on 2 July 1916, was treated at No. 42 Field Ambulance but was able to rejoin his Battalion on 8 July. Henry was again wounded (GSW left buttock) on 15 September the same year, was medically evacuated to the UK and admitted to the 3rd Western General, Cardiff, on 28 September. Henry was discharged from hospital on 23 March 1917 (177 days) then embarked at Southampton for Havre on 8 May, landing in France the following day. Initially posted to the 18th Battalion but then to the 16th Battalion, he joined his unit on 3 June 1917. However, on 26 September the same year he suffered a gunshot wound to his thigh (assessed as 'severe') at Ypres,was treated at No. 10 Casualty Clearing Station and then transferred to the General Hospital. Henry returned to England onboard SS Newhaven and was admitted to Queen Mary's Military Hospital, Whalley, Lancashire, on 5 October. He was not discharged from hospital until 26 March 1918 when he transferred to a Military Convalescent Hospital in Blackpool. After being discharged on 2 May, Henry rejoined at Perham Down Camp, Andover, (5th Bn KRRC), on 21 May and remained on Home Service until he was demobilised to Army Reserve Class 'Z' on 14 January 1919. His home address was given as 8 Morris Street, Redhill, Arnold.

Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 19 October 1944: ‘Cost. Harry, 21 years, Parachute Regiment, killed in action North-West Europe in September. Beloved and only son of Elizabeth and Harry Cast, 19 Broomhill-road, Bulwell, formerly of Arnold. ‘For all those who have lost their loved ones we spare a thought.,’ Mam, dad and sister Betty.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)

CWGC: 'Son of Henry John and Elizabeth Cast, of Bulwell, Nottingham.'

CWGC headstone, personal inscription: 'In th' ear of man the mother saith, 'There is no God, O son, if thou be none!'' (William Shakespeare, 'The Tempest', the spirit Ariel to Caliban.)

Harry's cousin, Herbert Cast (b. 3 April 1920), the son of Herbert Cast (b. 1899) and his wife Elsie (née Craven m. 1919), served during the Second World War in the Royal Navy (P/JX 217298 Able Seaman). He was lost in MV King Malcolm on 31 October 1941. The merchant ship was a straggler from convoy SC-50 and was hit by one of two torpedoes from U-106 and sank within three minutes southeast of St. Johns [Canada]. Herbert's body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. (See record on this Roll of Honour)