Edwin Alfred Harry
Builder's clerk.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Edwin Alfred was the only son of Alfred and Winifred Ada Harry (née Gregory).
His father was born in Exeter on 10 March 1892 and his mother was born in 1888. They were married in 1917 (reg. AMJ Exeter) and had three children: Ada W (b. 1919), Alfred Edwin (b. 8 May 1920, reg. 1920 AMJ Exeter) and Enid M. (b. 1923).
The family was living at 58 Widgery Road, Exeter, in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. Edwin's father, who had previously served in the Royal Navy, worked in a hospital, Ada was a shirt and surplice maker, Edwin a builder's clerk and Enid an upholsteress.
Alfred died in 1973 and his widow Winifred in 1979, both deaths registered in Exeter.
408 (RCAF) Squadron, Bomber Command. Edwin was the crew's Wireless Operator and Air Gunner.
Airmen Died in WW2: 'Disappeared into the Western Approaches after becoming lost and misinterpreting a navigational steer returning from a raid on Dusseldorf.'
Hampden AE437 408 Sqn. Take off from 16.40 RAF Syerston to bomb Dusseldorf.
22.29 requested bearings on return from Heston D/F station but crew misinterpreted
directions and were last plotted 270 miles off Brest and 300 off Lands End, 180 degrees off course.
All crew missing:
F/O James Caldwell
Sgt Hudson Marshall
Sgt Edwin Harry
Sgt Roland Cawley
Date of death, 28 November 1941. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial (Panel 44).
408 (B) Squadron For Freedom (‘Goose’). Extract: 'The squadron was the second Canadian bomber squadron to be formed in WWII. It was formed at Lindholme, Yorkshire, UK in June of 1941 as part of Bomber Command No 5 Group, flying Handley Page Hampden Mk I bombers from Syerston, Nottinghamshire, Balderton, Newark and North Luffenham, Rutland. Its squadron code letters were EQ.’ (caspir.warplane.com/personnel/unit-search)
Alfred Harry joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class (J3665) on 10 March 1910 and served to January 1928 (Leading Seaman). He served in HMS Royal Oak at the Battle of Jutland. (Source: RN&RM Battle of Jutland Servicemen)
Note: Several records give Edwin's year of birth as 1919. The registration of his birth and the 'Airmen Died in WW2' and 'Bomber Command Losses' records give the year as 1920.
CWGC: Son of Alfred and Winifred Ada Harry, of Whipton, Exeter.
Photo of Edwin Alfred Harry
Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial (www.cwgc.org)
Photo of Edwin Alfred Harry
Badge 408 Squadron (caspir.warplane.com/personnel/unit-search)