Holford, David William
Personal Information
Rank | W/C |
Forename(s) | David William |
Surname | Holford |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | DSO, DFC, Twice MiD |
Date of Death | 16-12-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of William and Henrietta Louisa Watson Holford. Husband of Joan Audrey Holford (Nee Munro), of Leigh-On-Sea, Essex. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | JB560 |
Markings | HW-N |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Cambridge City Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Grave 14750. |
Epitaph | PASS NOT THIS STONE IN SORROW BUT IN PRIDE AND STRIVE TO LIVE AS NOBLY AS HE DIED |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 50 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 41704 |
Service | Royal Air Force |
Group | 1 |
Squadron | 100 |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Waithe Farm, Waithe, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Stone & Inscribed Brass Plaques |
Memorial Text | Remembering the crew of Lancaster HW-N JB560 crashed in this area on the 16th December 1943 returning from a raid on Berlin |
Location | Off the A16, Holton le Clay, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Pillar & Information Boards |
Memorial Text | Do not attack the Hornets nest, 100 Squadron Royal Air Force Waltham Grimsby, December 1942 April 1945, Honour the brave |
Miscellaneous Information
Mentioned in Depatches January 1941 and January 1944 |
His DSO was promulgated without citation in the London Gazette on 11 August 1942. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/796/20 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/796/19 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 16-12-1943 |
End Date | 17-12-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Grimsby |
Day/Night Raid | Night (76% moon) |
Operation | Berlin |
Reason for Loss | The Lancaster had been damaged in a battle with a night fighter but W/Cmd Holford insisted on letting others land first before his aircraft hit high ground near Kelstern. He died from exposure after being thrown from the cockpit and landing in a snow drift |