Operation: Gladbeck

Date: 24th March 1945 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 158 Squadron (motto: 'Strength in unity '). 4 Group

Type: Halifax III

Serial: MZ759

Code: NP-Q (Wizard of Australia) (1)

Base: RAF Lissett, East Riding of Yorkshire

Location: Marl, Germany

Pilot: W/O. Ernest Yule Yeoman 196095 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. John Rodd Williams 1836168 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Nav: Fl/Sgt. John Dennis Edward Taylor 1581652 RAFVR PoW

Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. James Brown 1559298 RAF Age 24. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: W/O. William Henry Hulme Aus/409708 RAAF Age 32. Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Gordon Davies Lunn 551767 RAFVR PoW

Air/Gnr: F/O. Walter Harold White 172640 RAFVR PoW

Page sponsored by means of a donation by Ruth Knight - sister of Fl/Sgt. James Brown in 2023

REASON FOR LOSS:

0x500 lb TD bombs, 4x500 lb MC bombs. Weather: Clear over target area with good visibility apart from smokes at the base.

A total of 178 aircraft with 24 from 158 squadron were detailed to attack the target. Two from the squadron failed to take off for various reasons. MZ759 took off at 09:05 hrs and was the only aircraft that failed to return.

They were hit by flak over Gladbeck but although in flames they dropped their bomb load. Other crews reported seeing one parachute leaving the rear of the aircraft with three or more also seen.

The aircraft lost height eventually crashing at Marl, killing four of the crew with three others taken Pow.

Above rear L-R: W/O. William Hulme, Fl/Sgt. John Taylor, F/O. Walter White and Sgt. John Williams. Front: Fl/Sgt. James Brown, W/O. Ernest Yule Yeoman and Fl/Sgt. Gordon Lunn (Courtesy Ruth Knight)

These letters clearly show the confusion experienced by relatives, even at the stage of the war:

Letter sent from John Taylor to Rose Hulme on the 11th of June 1945:

'Dear Mrs. Hulme,

I'm terribly sorry I haven't written before this, but it wasn't until Vaughan wrote to me that I was able to get your address.

Mavbe by now, you've had more news of Bill, but if not, I can tell you that he definitely left the aircraft unhurt.

I had to jump first, as I sit on the escape hatch, and Bill was standing ready to go then Gordon the mid-upper gunner actually saw Bill leave.

In case you don't know, I was the navigator, and Bill was coming home on leave with me the week after we were hit.

I'm afraid I was unconscious most of the time but I've picked up the full story from Gordon.

We were bombing Gladbeck at 17,500 at about one o'clock on March (censored) We were first hit underneath and the rear turret was shot off, the gunner, Chalky, getting out

Then we were hit in the engines and while it dropped to earth, the order was given to jump. Gordon was the last to leave and so we know everyone left the aircraft.

I was taken to a German hospital, so didn't see any of the others, but the two gunners met and Gordon is now home.

As I naven't heard from them yet, I'm not very up to date with the news, but I thought you'd be glad to know the little that I do know.

Yours very sincerely
Johnny'.

Another from Jean Brown to Rose Hulme:

59 Poloarth Terrace,
Prestonpans,
East Lothian.
Scotland
4th July; 1945.

'Dear Rose,

many thanks for your very nice letter. I would have answered it sooner; but I had written to Mrs. White, asking her if she had received any more word, regarding her Husband.

I waited for almost a fortnight and what do you think Rose? I received the answer from 'Chalky' himself. He was liberated at Lubec (North Germany). He was taken far enough, anyway.

He says in his letter that, all the lads definitely baled out (of course Gordon had told him) and that none of them had been hit with the flak, (before leaving the plane). Chalky and Gordon, as I mentioned before, landed in the same village. They were the last two to bale out, (Gordon being the very last). If they could be taken as far asLubecke, it's a puzzle how far the rest of the lads could be taken, maybe as far as 'Czechoslovakia', who knows?

Anyhow Rose, we have all good reason to believe the rest of the lads are safe. All the prisoners aren't liberated yet, it says so, in yesterday's paper. Chalky says he has lost weight and colour, but he'll soon make it up, now that he is home.

He was granted a month's leave and then granted an extension of another five weeks. Each letter I receive seems to bring more hope, but the one and only letter, is the one from jimmy himself, which will bring happiness, and everything in the world, to me.

Let's hope we all receive a letter soon free 'Our Loved Ones'. A friend of mine is in Germany and he's hoping to clear wrecked planes. When he was home, the other week, I gave him two photo's of Jimmy and a full description of him, so, he's going to try and find out his whereabouts.

Jimmy has a friend too who is anxious to help in the same way. Should either of them find Jimmy, I can write and ask them to find out about the other Iads, or Jimmy could give them a full description of them himself.

I can't really describe them, because I don't know what they're like but I gave them names, so, Rose, I think we should hear something soon.

Joe, (my friend) has brought happiness to a few people, by going the same for them, as he's doing for me, so, let's hope he finds our husband, for which I'm sure, he will.

It may be a week or two yet, because he's being married in Belgium someday this week but is only allowed 72 hours off, for honeymoon, and he said he wouldn't waste any time after his marriage because he has to report back to Germany when his short honeymoon is up.

Could you send me a description of Bill and I could send It on to Joe and to Jimmy's friend (George) too?

Jimmy is the 'Bomb-Aimer' of the Crew. In the photo, Bill is standing in the back row, well, Jimmy 1st right in front of him, sitting of course.

Please excuse my writing Rose, I hope that you can make it out OK.

Should I hear further news I'll write to you immediately

I remain yours very sincerely,

Jean'.

Fl/Sgt. John Dennis Edward Taylor lived at 32, Stepping Stone Road, Coventry, Warwickshire, England.

(1) This Halifax had been named 'Wizard of Australia' and since its delivery to RAF Lissette on the 16th June 1944, had flown seventy-two operational sorties, an extremely good achievement.

Above: 06th April 1942 in Regebts Park. Fl/Sgt. James Brown rear row, 1st on left (Courtesy Ruth Knight)

Letter from Harold White to Ruth Knight:

29 Bibury Crescent
Henleaze
Bristol

25th January 1995

'Dear Ruth Knight

Thank you for your letter dated 15th January1995 addressed to my brother A.E.G White who unfortunately died some years ago and your letter has been redirected to me hence the delay.

I rather imagine his name was conveyed to you as taken from my old next of kin details held by the squadron. As my mum and dad were well advanced in years and I did not want for them to hear of anything happening to me so I detailed my brother A.EG White as next of kin. I guess you will have gathered now that it was myself who was a crew member of the ill fated aircraft Halifax MZ759. It could be of interest to you that my present age is 81 years and a sizeable bit.

As exactly what occurred on the fatal flight I cannot be sure as I was positioned at the far end of the aircraft. I know we were over the target area and assumed we had been hit by a shell from the ground. This destroyed any communications between the crew members and distorted the framework of the aircraft and I found my legs trapped. I was able to move my feet and assuming the aircraft was bound to crash as our nose had dipped I loosened the zips on my boots and turned the turret door which was open to the side released my parachute and was actually pulled by the chute as it developed.

As I left the aircraft too late for my chute to fully cushion my descent I was fortunate to land in a farmstead 'muck heap' preventing any broken bones. The aircraft carried on out of sight.

After dragging myself out of the mire I was faced by two German soldiers who marched me to a nearby village. I was hoping to see some of the crew members but was unable to make myself understood by my captors.

Later I was marched down a road without boots to a small town police station where I joined up with a group of British paratroop regiment officers and where I learned Germans always separated captured officers from other ranks so there appealed little chance of meeting up with any of my colleagues.

After a couple of days a cobbler was instructed to fit me out with boots. As a group we were all marched out eastwards with a german guard for each of us. Eventually we a larger town where we were interrogated by German SS officers for a few days. Later we moved on again mainly on foot but getting and an occasional lift in trucks. We eventually reached Subeck where we were confined in a PoW Camp.

I feel I have rambled on but hope you understand what most likely occurred on that fatal day. It seems almost without doubt that my colleagues Ernie Yeoman, your brother Jim Brown, Johnny Williams and Bill Hulme must have been killed as a result of the explosion which I mentioned earlier. the other crew members including myself were able to parachute to safety.

I am indeed so glad you wrote to me and were able to locate the graves of my colleagues, unfortunately old age is catching up with me.

Many thanks also for your letter and the one from DFC Bluey Mothers letter. I intend writing to him and will enclose a copy of this which I think may be of interest to him.

Also my wife who is a Scot hailing from Elgin, Morayshire will feel great wearing a large broach.

Yours sincerely Harold White'

Burial details:

Three crew were buried on the 24th of March in Marl. The bodies were exhumed it is thought in 1946 and buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. The body of W/O. William Henry Hulme was recovered by an American army unit from the crash area and due to the war still very much active and amid the confusion, it was not reported to the British. Initially buried in plot F-8-181 Allied cemetery Margraten, Netherlands as unknown - reinterred 05th December 1946 in Venray after identification proved.

W/O. Ernest Yule Yeoman. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Grave 17.D.18. Son of James and Helen Yule Yeoman. of Aberdeen, Scotland. Epitaph: 'Dearly Beloved Son Of James Yeoman, Great Northern Rd, Aberdeen 'Sadly Missed'.

Sgt. John Rodd Williams. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Grave 17.D.16. Son of Arthur and Agnes Williams, of Talybont, Cardiganshire, Wales. Epitaph: 'Duw Cariad Yw (Welsh: God is Love)'.

Fl/Sgt. James Brown. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Grave 17.D.17. Also remembered on the family grave in Saint Michael's Churchyard/ Born on 20th February 1921. Son of Robert (died 27th March 1976, age 80) and Marion Byce Brown (née Rankin - died 23rd January 1979, age 75), of Musselburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. Husband of Jean Brown. Epitaph: 'As Long As Life And Memory Last We Will Remember You'.

W/O. William Henry Hulme. Venray War Cemetery. Grave VII.B.13. Born on the 09th June 1912 in Moonee Pond, Victoria. Enlisted 10th October 1941. Son of Ernest Andrew (died 15th October 1928) and Susan Emily Hulme (née Strong - died 06th August 1963). Husband of Lillian Rose Hulme, of 11 Moore Street, South Caulfield, Glenhuntly, Victoria, Australia. Epitaph: 'Duty Nobly Done. Ever Remembered'. Posthumously commissioned to P/O. His brother 35 tear old, W/O. Ernest George Hulme 4545 RAAF lost his life after the war on the 22nd November 1946, a Fitter Armourer, collapsed and died at Flinders Railway Station, Melbourne.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Ruth Knight - brother of Fl/Sgt. James Brown. Air-27-1050-11/12 National Archives, National Archives Australia NAA,

Other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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