A descendant of one of six brave men who were killed attempting to defuse an unexploded bomb during the Second World War has come forward.
Cheshire East Council is searching for family members of Royal Engineers Sergeant Edward Greengrass, Sapper Harold Thompson, Sapper Michael Lambert, Sapper George Lucas and Sapper John Perrins, who died when a German bomb exploded in a field between Crewe and Nantwich in August 1940.
Sapper Albert Edward Fearon, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was also killed in the incident and his nephew, George Horton, has now contacted the Council and will be invited to the unveiling of a memorial, which Cheshire East will host next year.
Mr Horton, 76, now of Sutton-on-Sea, Lincolnshire, himself served in the army for 26 years, nine of those as a bomb disposal engineer.
He said: “I am delighted that Cheshire East Council is going to remember my uncle Albert. We were never entirely sure where he had died, so it is nice to see that he is going to be recognised in the area in which the incident took place.
“Unfortunately, my uncle and his colleagues were not capable of carrying out the work required because they and other bomb disposal teams of the time were only given very basic training.
“There was very little knowledge of how to perform the work as the responsibility was passed to the Royal Engineers from the Civil Defence Force.”
Despite their limited training, Sapper Fearon and the rest of the team successfully defused three bombs which had fallen in the field, near Alvaston Hall. But, as they worked on the final bomb, it exploded, killing all six men.
According to the War Graves Commission, Thompson, Lambert, Fearon and Lucas were killed instantly and Sergeant Greengrass died two days later in hospital.
In September, the Council’s Cabinet accepted a motion, put forward by councillors Dorothy Flude and Chris Thorley, to erect a small memorial near Alvaston Hall.
Meanwhile, the search for descendants of Sapper Perrins, whose details could not be traced initially, has also taken a step forward.
The Council was originally given the name John Percival but a member of the public has come forward with the correct name of John Perrins. This has been confirmed by Commonwealth War Graves Commission records.
He is buried at Stand (All Saints) Churchyard, in Whitefield, Manchester and died on August 18, suggesting he also died later in hospital.
Councillor Wesley Fitzgerald, Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “We are making progress in our search to trace family members of these heroic men, who died in the name of their country.
“It is of the utmost importance that we recognise the six men who sacrificed themselves for the local population. I would urge anyone with any knowledge of these people to keep coming forward so that we can provide a fitting memorial to them.”
Sgt Greengrass is buried at Wandsworth, London; Sapper Thompson at Hornchurch, London; Sapper Lambert at Kensal Green, London; Sapper Fearon at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Sapper Lucas in Manchester.
An unveiling ceremony, involving families, the Royal Engineers Association and Army and Council representatives will be held some time in 2012 – the 100th anniversary of the association.
Cheshire East would like anyone who may have information regarding these men to contact the Council on 01270 686012.
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