I am seeking relatives or anyone who can provide information about Sergeant Roy Henry Allen, Royal Engineers, born 1913 in the Brighton area, the son of James and Edith Allen.
He met his wife Winifred Allen nee Preece, of Llandudno, Monmouth, when stationed in that area.
Sgt Allen and 20 other men of 9 (Airborne) Field Company, Royal Engineers, and two glider pilots were the first fatalities in the Battle for Arnhem Bridge.
On Sunday morning, September 17, 1944, whilst they were being towed in a Horsa glider over Somerset towards Arnhem, the tail of the glider broke away from the fuselage, breaking the tow rope.
There were no survivors when the two parts of the glider crashed in a field at Double Hills on the outskirts of Paulton village, ten miles south of Bristol. The victims are buried side-by-side in war graves at Weston Super Mare Cemetery.
Each year in September, a service is held at the Double Hills Arnhem Memorial at the crash site.
It is attended by several hundred local people, veterans, and serving military personnel including detachments from 9 (Airborne) Company RE and the Army Air Corps who organise a fly-past of historic aircraft. Some relatives still attend as honoured guests but our memorial committee would like to trace or renew contact with others, including those of Sergeant Allen.
If anyone has any information, please contact me at the addresses below.
Bob Williams, 30 Meadway, Temple Cloud, Bristol BS39 5BD
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