Addendum to Officers of The Glider Pilot Regiment - circa 1944

Given the occasion of the 75^thAnniversary of D-Day Operation Overlord, this author thought it highly appropriate to present a pair of photographs which have recently come into my possession. They have been graciously contributed by a lady in Great Britain who happened to read one of this blog’s articles on the WWII Glider Pilot Regiment of the British Army, specifically; http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-officers-of-glider-pilot-regiment.html As followers of this blog already know this author has had a protracted interest in the regiment, not only because of its significant participation in Operation Market Garden, but of its critical and highly successful operations during D-Day. Those who are familiar in detail will be able to tell you that among others the actions capturing the Orne Canal (“Pegasus”) Bridge and the Merville Batteries were absolutely essential in achieving the success of the invasion. Both are official battle honours awarded to the Glider Pilot Regiment.

The ladies’ name is Ms. Gema Young, and her grandfather was S/Sgt Alexander Young. Examination of the black and white photograph shows him apparently wearing the wings of a qualified First Glider Pilot. This author wishes to express both sincere gratitude and acknowledgment for her permission to share the photographs with the readers of this blog. She certainly deserves to be extremely proud of her grandfather. Research has established that S/Sgt Young was in then Lt M.D.K. Duancy’s (later Brigadier Michael D.K. Dauncey DSO DL) section of “G” Squadron 9 Flight of the Glider Pilot Regiment that delivered the elements of the 1st Airlanding Brigade of the 1st Airborne Division on to the landing zone LZs “S”, and “Z” at Arnhem. This narrows it down to his having piloted one of the following 12 Horsa Chalk No. (individual gliders) in the first lift; 506, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 517, or 516 and 517 (both initially aborted from the first lift and flew in the second lift). He survived the battle of Arnhem and the Oosterbeek perimeter, and was successfully evacuated to Nijmegen on 25/26 September 1944. Knowing that S/Sgt Young fought in, and survived the Battle of Arnhem, would establish the extremely high probability that he also had already participated in the Glider Pilot Regiment’s actions on D-Day (double click to enlarge either image).

 Dating the photograph of the entire regiment, in which S/Sgt Young also appears (4^thfrom left in 3^rdRow) is a bit of a challenge, but has to be fairly early in the history of the regiment. Most significant is the fact that there are only fifteen officers shown in the photograph. Compare that number to the photograph taken in mid 1944, shown in the other article. The official formation of the Glider Pilot Regiment with effect from 24 February 1942, was published in Army Order 128/1942.  Given the wearing of the maroon beret, the photo had to have been taken after 29 July 1942, when it was first officially authorized and initially issued. Obviously the RAF Group Captain in the center of the first row is not LCol John Frank Rock, first Commanding Officer of the regiment, or then Maj George James Stewart Chatterton, who had assumed command after the unfortunate death of LCol Rock (27 September 1942). It may be RAF Group Captain L.G. Harvey, but the resolution precludes positive identification, and the face doesn't seem to bear an immediate resemblance. Further information regarding the exact date of the photograph would be greatly appreciated by the author.

The author would also like to acknowledge the monumental research effort of  authors Mike Peters and Luuk Buist, the results of which are documented in their book, GLIDER PILOTS AT ARNHEM, Pen & Sword Military Books, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, 2009, ISBN 978 1 84415 763 1. Without their work none of the information about S/Sgt Young at Arnhem would be in this article.