Operation: Luxembourg

Date: 10th May 1940 (Friday)

Unit No: 142 Squadron, Advanced Air Striking Force (AASF), Bomber Command

Type: Battle I

Serial: L5231

Code: QT:G

Base: Berry-au-Bac, France

Location: Rodange, Pétange, Luxembourg

Pilot: Fg Off. Michael Heriot Roth 39175 RAF Age 21. PoW No. 333 * (1)

Obs: Sgt. William Fulton Algie 517484 RAF Age 24. PoW No. 13059 ** (2)

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Harold Morris 614000 RAF Age 22. PoW No. 13073 ** (2)

* Stalag Luft 3, Sagan-Silesia, Germany, now Żagań in Poland.

** Stalag 357, Kopernikus at Thorn (Toruń) in Poland.

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 10th May 1940 Battle I L5231 took-off from Berry-au-Bac as one of a force of thirty-two (32) Battles from 12, 103, 105, 142, 150 and 226 Squadrons who were ordered to attack German troops advancing through Luxembourg at noon. As it was impossible to provide fighter escort the bombers were briefed to make a very low approach to target and attack from as little as 250 foot (80 meters) using bombs with a delayed fuse.

L5231 attacked German troop columns heading out of Luxemburg towards Dippach. Shot down in the target area and crashed at Rodange, Pétange, Luxembourg. All three crew survived, were captured and taken as PoWs.

Short video describing the crew and loss of Battle I L5231 QT:G (Courtesy of Tom Bowen, Michael Beckers and Peter Schlebaum).

(1) Fg Off. Roth was captured near Luxembourg. Between the 10th May 1940 and 30th June 1940 Fg Off. Roth was transported through Trier in France to Mainz in Germany and then to Dulag Luft, Oberursel. After the statutory solitary confinement and interrogation he was transferred to Oflag 9A/H, Schloss Spangenberg (Spangenberg Castle) located in the small town of Spangenberg in NE Hesse, Prussia.

On the 10th September 1941 he was transferred to Stalag 2 in Barth-Vogelsang (later renamed to Stalag Luft 1), then to Oflag 10C near Lübeck. In September 1942 he was transferred to Stalag Luft 3 in Sagan-Silesia.

On the night of the 27th January 1945, with Soviet troops only 26 km (16 mls) away, orders were received to evacuate the PoWs to Spremberg which is to the West in Germany. The PoW’s were informed of the evacuation, which was on foot, at about 22:00 hrs the same night and were given 30 mins to pack and prepare everything for the March. The weather conditions were very difficult, with freezing temperatures, and it was snowing accompanied by strong winds. There was 15 cm (6 in) of snow and 2000 PoWs were assigned to clear the road ahead of the main groups.

After a 55 km (34 mls) march, the PoWs arrived in Bad Muskau where they rested for 30 hours. The PoWs were then marched the remaining 26 km (16 mls) to Spremberg where they were housed in empty garages, storerooms and in military barracks. There they were provided with warm soup and bread.

During next days, PoWs were divided up according to Compounds, and they were led to railway sidings and loaded into tightly packed carriages. On the 2nd February he was amongst the the North, East and remaining West compound PoWs who were sent to Marlag und Milag Nord at Westertimke.

Marlag is an acronym for Marinelager (naval prisoner of war camp), Milag is short for Marine-Internierten-Lager(naval internment camp), and Nord is German for ‘north’.

On the 2nd April 1945 the Commandant announced that he had received orders to leave the camp with most of his guards, leaving only a small detachment behind to hand over the camp to Allied forces, who were already in Bremen.

However, that afternoon a detachment of over a hundred SS-Feldgendarmerie entered the camp. He was amongst the over 3,000 men mustered who were marched out of the camp, heading east. The next day, at around at 10:00 hrs the column was strafed by RAF aircraft, and two PoWs were killed.

Over the next few days the column was attacked from the air several times. Finally the Senior British Naval Officer (SBNO), who was later killed in a strafing attack by RAF aircraft, offered the Germans the PoW’s parole, in return for being allowed to rest during the day and march at night. The Germans agreed.

On the 28th April, the column finally arrived at Lübeck on the Baltic coast. They were liberated by the British 11th Armoured Division on the 1st May 1945. The now Flt Lt. Roth was interviewed on the 35rd May 1945.

Michael Heriot Roth was born on the 28th May 1918 in Marylebone, London. He enlisted in the Regular Royal Air Force (RAF) in July 1936.

Above Michael Heriot Roth’s Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificate.

Acting Plt Off. Roth on probation was confirmed in his appointment and graded as a Plt Off. effective 13th July 1937 (London Gazette 14th September 1937). Fg Off. Roth was promoted to Flt Lt. effective 3rd September 1940 (London Gazette 4th February 1941). He was then transferred to the Reserve of Air Force Officers (RAFO) and called up for air force service effective 4th August 1940 (London Gazette 11th January 1944).

Michael passed away on the 13th August 1994 in Toronto, York County, Ontario, Canada.

Above courtesy of The Toronto Star, dated 15th August 1994

His brother, Fg Off. Paul Anthony Harding MiD 75028 RAFVR Age 30, was killed whilst flying in the Navigator seat aboard Mosquito NFII, DD639 PS:? of 264 (Madras Presidency) Sqn.

Note: He changed his name to Harding when he married Clare. Paul A. Harding was granted a commission as a Plt Off. in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch RAFVR effective 5th October 1939 (London Gazette 20th October 1939). His appointed to Plt Off. was confirmed and he was promoted to Fg Off. effective 5th October 1940 (London Gazette 5th November 1940).

Fg Off Harding was Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) which was promulgated in the London Gazette on the 24th September 1941.

Paul Anthony Roth was born on the 28th September 1912. He was fluent in Polish, German, French and Spanish. No further biographical information found.

Above courtesy of the Evening Sentinel, dated 3rd October 1942

At about midday on the 2nd October 1942 whilst the Mosquito was attempting to land, with only the starboard engine running, on the NS runway at RAF Colerne the aircraft crashed into the west end of the fighter hanger. The aircraft burst into flames and was completely destroyed killing both on board.

Fg Off. Paul Leonard Harding is buried in Gerrards Cross (St James) Churchyard. The pilot, Sqn Ldr. Philip Trevor Parsons 90491 AuxAF is buried in Colerne (St. John The Baptist) Churchyard.

(2) Sgt. Algie and Sgt. Morris were captured near Luxembourg. They were transferred to Dulag Luft, Oberursel on the 11th May 1940 for the statutory solitary confinement and interrogation. On the 19th May they were transferred to Stalag Luft 1 in Barth, Vogelsang.

In April 1942, all 800 inmates were transferred to the newly constructed Stalag Luft 3 in Sagan, Silesia. During June 1943 they were transferred to Stalag Luft 6, Heydekrug In was in June 1943 that it became a Stalag Luft for enlisted men, when British and Canadian NCOs (non-commissioned officers) came to the camp.

In early 1944 the Russian Army were advancing into the Baltic States from the North and the East preparation for evacuating the camp was being made. PoWs from Stalag Luft 6, the camp closest to the Russian advance, were in the "northern route" of the force-marches, and were transported to Stalag 20A by train in July 1944, and from there took part in the forced-march.

The march went to Stalag Luft 4 at Groß-Tychow, Pomerania then via Stettin to Stalag 9B and Stalag 357, Kopernikus at Thorn (Toruń) in Poland. The camp moved in September 1944 to Stalag 357 Fallingbostel, however, it was officially designated as Stalag 357 Oerbke.

In early April 1945 the PoWs were informed by the Commandant Oberst Hermann Ostmann that 12,000 British PoWs were being evacuated from the camp in the face of the Allied advance. The men marched from the camp in columns of 2,000.

It appears that the now Warrant Officer (WO) Algie remained at the camp which was liberated on the 16th April 1945 by British troops from B Squadron 11th Hussars and the Reconnaissance Troop of the 8th Hussars. They were met at the main gate of Stalag 357 by a guard of Airborne troops, impeccably attired and led by RSM Lord. WO. Algie was interviewed on the 21st April 1945.

WO. Morris appears to be amongst the PoWs force-marched. After ten (10) days they arrived at Gresse, east of the Elbe. There they were issued with Red Cross parcels, but were then unfortunately strafed by British Typhoonfighter-bombers, mistaking them for German troops. Sixty (60) PoW were killed and many wounded.

WO. ‘Dixie’ Deans confronted OberstOstmann and bluntly gave him a choice, to be captured to the Russians or the British. Ostman provided WO. Deans with a pass and a German guard, and they headed west to contact the advancing British troops. On the 1st May WO. Deans and his guard were sheltering in a house east of Lauenbergwhen they heard over the radio the news of the death of Adolf Hitler. The next morning the house was overrun by troops of the British 6th Airborne. WO. Deans was taken to the commander of VIII Corpsand explained the situation. He was given a captured Mercedes car and drove back to Gresse. Two days later the PoW column marched back across the British lines. WO. Morris was interviewed on the 9th May 1945.

William Fulton Algie was born on the 10th April 1916 in Glasgow, Scotland. He enlisted in the Regular Royal Air Force on the 12th June 1934. No further biographical information found.

Harold Morris was born on the 29th March 1918 in West Derby, Lancashire. He enlisted in the Regular Royal Air Force in June 1938. No further biographical information found.

Burial details:

None – The crew survived

Researched by Ralph Snape from Aircrew Remembered as dedicated to this crew and their families with thanks to Tom Bowen for the link to the video (Aug 2025).

Other sources listed below:

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