Personnel Index - Detail

Name
ROXBY
First Names
Henry (always known as 'Harry')
Rank
Sgt
Service
RAF
Service Number
1676062
Crew Position
Air Gunner
Age
23
Date of Death
02/11/1944
Cemetery

 

Photographed by Malcolm Brooke
 

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Harry Roxby with his sister Sadie. Sadie was very close to Harry and the family believed that she died of a broken heart following his death.

Harry was born in 1921 in Sedgefield, County Durham.

2/3 November, 1944; DÜSSELDORF:

Thursday 2 November saw Fulbeck in absolute chaos and pandemonium; the new squadron, 189 was arriving on base, and on top of that, Group was requesting a big effort for the night’s raid on Düsseldorf, plus AGLT training flights were scheduled.
Eventually 13 aircraft from the squadron were airborne shortly after 17.00hrs. A total of 961 Lancasters and Halifaxes, with the aid of 31 Mosquitoes set out on a cold night with heavy frost, to deliver a heavy attack on Düsseldorf. This would be the final major attack of the war on Düsseldorf. Bomber Command lost 19 aircraft, 11 Halifaxes and 8 Lancasters; one of the Lancasters came from 49 Squadron: F/O Peter Harford and crew, flying on only their 2nd operation, were all killed when V-Victor was brought down over Germany; they all now rest together in the Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.

Lancaster PB385 (EA-V)
F/O P.E.G. Harford Pilot (Killed)
Sgt J.B. Mitchell F/E (Killed)
F/S S.C. Bennett NAV (Killed)
F/S W.O. Shaw RAAF W/OP (Killed)
Sgt H. Roxby A/G (Killed)
F/S A.M. Findlay A/B (Killed)
Sgt J.A. Rix A/G (Killed)

Crew on their 2nd operation
 

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Although this was F/O Harford's 2nd operation, Sgt Roxby has previously flown 2 operations as a rear gunner with F/L Leslie Hay (Uncle Will).