Photo: Derek Haynes
3323987 Private
J.W. Steel
King's Own Scottish Borderers
Airbourne
4th April 1944 Age 29
Faithful unto Death
Son of James and Eliza Steel, of Southwick, Sunderland.
Derek Haynes has supplied the following:-
John was born 10th July 1914 in Sunderland the youngest child of James and Eliza Steel (nee Sherwood), who married March Q 1893 in Sunderland (possible Register Office marriage). There were ten children from the marriage: Wilhelmina born June Q 1894. In 1898 at 9 Lilburn Street, Southwick Wilhelmina aged 4 years died, she was laid to rest on the 18th September 1898 in Southwick Cemetery; James was born March Q 1896. On the 29th August 1897 aged 19 months James died, he was laid to rest on the 1st September 1897 in Southwick Cemetery; Jennie was born December Q 1897. Only three days after the burial of Wilhelmina on the 21st September 1898 Jennie was laid to rest in Southwick Cemetery, she was 1-year-old; Elizabeth Jane was born June Q 1899; Beatrice May was born December Q 1901; Lilian was born December Q 1904; Annie was born December Q 1906; George Edward was born March Q 1907; Arthur Ernest was born September Q 1911. All the births were registered in Sunderland
The 1911 census shows the family living in 3 rooms at 6 Clarendon Street, Southwick, James is employed as a Quarry Labourer.
1939 finds John now aged 25 years employed as a Builder’s Labourer residing with his parents at 10 Clarendon Street, Southwick, his father James is retired.
It is not known when John enlisted into the King’s Own Scottish Borderers serving with the 7th (Airborne) Battalion, but we do know his service number which was 3323987.
Information from the excellent website Air Crew Remembered gives details of the tragedy which led to the death of John.
On the 4th April 1944 at RAF Keevil in Trowbridge, Wiltshire a Group training exercise code named “Dreme” took place. Horsa LG999 was being towed by Stirling LJ842. This cross country night exercise of various legs was to take 3˝ hours and the gliders were to be released over Brize Norton, low cloud was reported in the Lewis area and on the leg from Lewis to Winchester lower cloud than normal was encountered. The pilot of the Stirling LJ842 decided to fly below the cloud and hit the top of a tree. The glider released immediately and crashed at Warnford, killing all on board. Stirling LJ842 continued in the air for approximately 15 minutes and crashed at 21. 00 hours, one-mile South West of Romsey some 18 miles from the glider accident.
On board the glider including John were 24 men of No. 3 Platoon “A” Company, 7th (Airborne) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers and the two glider pilots
Six crewmen of the Stirling were also killed.
John’s body was returned home to Southwick and he was laid to rest on the 11th April 1944 in Section U, Grave no. 9915 of Southwick Cemetery. A CWGC headstone marks his resting place.
It would only be a year later when John’s mother Eliza, now aged 71 years died in October 1945 and was laid to rest on the 27th October 1945 in Section Q, Grave no. 7547 of Southwick Cemetery. His father James lived to the age of 79 and died at home 43 North Guards, Whitburn in January 1952, his occupation was given as a Lime Burner and he was laid to rest on the 9th January 1952 in the same plot as his wife Eliza.
With thanks to Kelvin Youngs for allowing me to use the information concerning the tragedy from his website.
John William Steel is not remembered on a local War Memorial, he is named in Peter Gibson's Book
