John Bosworth Beresford
John Bosworth Beresford was a lawyer's clerk in 1939.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
He was the son of John Bosworth Berresford and Florence Maud Berresford and the brother of Kenneth and Colin Beresford of 17, Ryelands Crescent, Meadows, Nottingham.
HANOVER WAR CEMETERY 8c 2
John Bosworth Beresford was the Flight Engineer aboard Stirling III EH8 which took off 19.57 27th September 1943 from Mepal near Ely, Cambridgeshire, one of sixteen 75 Sqdn Stirlings taking part in a 678 aircraft raid on Hannover. 5.6% of the force was lost - 17 Halifaxes, 10 Lancasters,111 Stirlings, 1 Wellington and 1 B-17.
75 Sqdn’s ORB claimed the raid had been a huge success (see photo) but other interpretations are more sanguine; ‘RAF photographic evidence,’ according to Middlebrook and Everitt (page 434) ‘showed that most of the bombs fell in open country north of the city.’
Stirling III was one of two 75 Sqdn aircraft lost on the operation. The cause has never been established but 6 men including Beresford paid with their lives.
75 was a New Zealand Squadron. In addition to Beresford, killed on board Stirling III EH8 were the captain Richard Charles Whitmore from Auckland, navigator David Maurice Adamason also from Auckland, rear gunner Thomas Hawaikirange from Hawkes Bay, mid upper gunner Frederick Charles Chesson (nationality unknown), air bomber Hugh Munn from Glasgow. Wireless operator Frederick Charles Cowan (nationality unknown) successfully bailed out and became a pow held at Stalag Luft 3.
Wireless Op Fred Cowan was 23 and from Dagenham Essex. Died in 1991 aged 71. Was a POW at Stalag IVb until liberated 6 May 1945.
Air Gunner Fred Chesson was 21 years old. Birth registered 2nd Quarter 1922 in Sevenoaks, Kent.
Son of John Frederick Chesson and Gladys May Chesson (nee Orman). Gladys died aged 37 in 1935
EH877 was claimed shot down by Leutnant Willi Reisgies of 1./NJG 2 and by Oberfeldwebel Wilhelm Glitz of 5./NJG 2.
Information courtesy of Paul Markham (77 Squadron Association Researcher)
Srirling III bomber
Photo: Public domain
75 Sqdn's attack on Hannover 27th/28th/9/1943
From 75 Sqdn Operations Record Book September 1943 - TNA Air27/646/42
Photo: Courtesy of Paul Markham
Back row L to R: Sgt Hugh Munn (AB) P/O Thomas Waerea (Rear Gunner) Front row L to R: F/O David Adamson (Nav) Sgt Frederick Charles Cowan (WOp) - POW P/O Richard Whitmore (Pilot) Sgt John Beresford (Flight Engineer) Sgt Frederick Chesson (AG)