Burridge, Harold James
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Harold James |
Surname | Burridge |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 14-07-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of PC Alfred James Burridge and Mrs. May Annie Burridge of Wimborne, Dorset (marriage in Lambeth). Husband of Betty Burridge (née Blackwood) - marriage in Canada whilst training. A daughter was born on 19 April 1943 in Sarnia, Ontario |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | JD108 |
Markings | EY-U |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Gosseliès Communal Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Row 2. Coll. grave 1-3. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 139 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 149497 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 78 |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to Clubhouse, Breighton Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text | Dedicated to all who served at this airfield and gave their lives during World War II |
Location | External, All Saints Church, Bubwith, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial, inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | 78 Sqn 4 Group Bomber Command Yorkshire 1939 - 1945 To All Who Served |
Location | Internal, All Saints Church, Bubwith, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Wooden Board, Memorial Chapel featuring Cross made from Halifax wreckage |
Memorial Text | The 78 Sqn Memorial in the Churchyard was dedicated by the Bishop of Selby on 7th September 1986. RAF Breighton, two miles from this church was the Sqn's home from June 1943 to May 1945 |
Location | Outside "B" Hangar, RAF Benson, Oxfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Slate Plaque |
Memorial Text | In proud memory of all who have lost their lives serving with 78 Sqn Royal Air Force "Nemo Non Paratus - Nobody Unprepared" |
Miscellaneous Information
Born 1922. He went to school in Sturminster Newton (where is father was stationed) and was employed in the ironmongery business of Messrs Barnett. When his father was sent to Colehill he then took up similar employment with Mr Tom F. Coles in Wimborne (his shop is now the Priests House Museum in Wimborne). He had three brothers: Roy G. (born 1925 Dorchester), Dennis W. (born 1929 Wareham) and Maurice A. (born 1934 Beaminster). Harold was was eager to enlist and joined the RAF the day after his 18th birthday. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/660/74 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/660/73 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 13-07-1943 |
End Date | 14-07-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Breighton |
Day/Night Raid | Night (83% moon) |
Operation | Aachen. 374 aircraft, 20 losses (5.3%). A strong tail wind led to the main force arriving early and when PFF marked the target, so many aircraft were waiting that the town appeared to erupt into flames. Almost 3000 buildings were destroyed including apartment blocks, so the number of dwellings destroyed was some 16828. The cathedral, the town hall and many other civic amenities were also classed as severely damaged. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed SE of Beaumont, Belgium |