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Archibald Brookes and a Deadly Minefield

Photo of Cpl. Archibald Brookes from findagrave.com

On 7th June 1944, Corporal A. Brookes (869570), a Balloon Operator of No. 974 R.A.F. Beach Balloon Squadron was killed by a German mine which exploded while he was carrying out his balloon duties. His body could not be recovered immediately as the incident occurred in an extensive minefield.

Archibald Brookes, from Sheffield, was 41 years old and served with No. 52 Beach Balloon Flight (one of the two Flights in No. 974 Beach Balloon Squadron) in the NAN Sector of the JUNO Assault Area in Normandy.

The records on No. 2 R.A.F. Beach Squadron, which had administrative responsibility for 974 Beach Balloon Squadron state that his body was recovered from the minefield and buried on 20th June. However, evidence suggests that it was his body that was recovered by a party from 262nd Field Company, Royal Engineers on 11th June.

262nd Field Company was commanded by Major C.B. Stone. The Company H.Q landed on NAN WHITE beach, at Bernières-sur-Mer, together with No.1 Platoon (commanded by Lt. Roy Gibson) at H+20. on D-Day. Their war diary notes:

11 June 1944. Party consisting of Lt. Gibson, C.S.M. Thomas, Sjt. Dickinson and several Sappers make lane through anti-personnel minefield to reach body of R.A.F. Corporal. On the way back the C.S.M. and Lt. Gibson trod on undetected mines and suffered severe leg injuries. Mine thought to be a wooden Schu-mine.

Lt. Roy Gibson was awarded the M.C (London Gazette, 19 October 1944). His citation states:

From the time he landed during the first hour of D Day until 11 June when he was wounded … On the 11 June he led a small party into an anti-personnel minefield to bring out the body of an RAF Cpl and was wounded by the explosion of an undetected mine; Although in tremendous pain he insisted on remaining in charge and directed the removal of the body and his coolness and cheerfulness were an example to all his men.

Major Stone, the Company C.O. recorded in his diary:

Awful business about 11 June, Roy [Gibson] with CSM [Thomas] and Sjt. Dickinson go into minefield near H.Q. to get out the body of R.A.F. corporal. Roy and CSM both tread on Schu-mine and suffer leg injuries and are sent back to UK.; starting their journey in a DUKW.

It is not likely, and no evidence has come to light, that any R.A.F. Corporal other than Archibald Brookes had their body recovered from a minefield in the JUNO assault area. This means that the Operations Record Book of No. 2 RAF Beach Squadron, has got the date wrong when it states that the body of Cpl. Brookes was recovered from the minefield and buried on 20th June. This is not surprising as these records are often typed up later and prone to mistakes.

No. 974 Beach Balloon Squadron did not have its own H.Q. and was attached for administrative purposes to No. 2 R.A.F. Beach Squadron. Not having the H.Q. personnel to help the Balloon Squadron C.O. keep a separate Operations Record Book, it was left to No. 2 R.A.F. Beach Squadron H.Q. to include information about the Balloon Squadron in their own Operations Record Book. Being more concerned with their own affairs, reference to Balloon Squadron matters was minimal – another factor that may have contributed to what does seem to be an error with the date.

It seems more likely that the body was recovered after 4 days, on 11th June, rather than 13 days later on 20th June. In which case, it is a shame that the O.R.B. of 2 Beach Squadron has not only got the date wrong but fails to mention the bravery and sacrifice of the recovery party from 262nd Field Company, Royal Engineers.

Archie Brookes was the son of Albert and Amy Brookes, of Sheffield. Originally buried in Bernières-sur-Mer, he was re-buried in Bayeux War Cemetery on 26th December 1944. (Plot: V. D. 8).


Many thanks to David Thomas, who has researched the history of 262nd Field Company, Royal Engineers and supplied the information about the recovery of the R.A.F. Corporal’s body.

Other sources:

The Operations Record Book of No. 2 Beach Unit (Later) No. 2 R.A.F. Beach Squadron including Nos. 76 and 77 Beach Units, May 1943 – Sep 1944 – found in, ‘Air Ministry and Ministry of Defence: Operations Record Books, Miscellaneous Units’ AIR 29/438 at The National Archives

Corporal Archibald Brookes | War Casualty Details 2955615 | CWGC

www.findagrave.com/memorial/56273546/archibald-brookes

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New Info About Beach Balloon Photo

© IWM (CNA 1744)
“Personnel of ‘K’ Balloon Unit haul down one of their kite balloons for attention on a landing beach near Salerno, Italy, using a motorised winch in the back of a Bedford QL lorry.” Picture by F/Lt J. H. Daventry, R.A.F. Official Photographer © IWM (CNA 1744)

Information in the Operations Record Book of No. 6 Beach Balloon Detachment sheds new light on this picture.

In an earlier Blog post it was shown that the caption for this photograph on the IWM website was incorrect.

It is now clear that the photograph shows No. 6 Beach Balloon Detachment in the Salerno operation.

The photograph is one of a set of photographs published in “The Aeroplane” magazine on 26th November 1943 showing “Balloons at Salerno” and the Operations Record Book of No. 6 Beach Balloon Detachment, has an entry dated 16th September (when the unit was located in the Salerno beach-head) stating, “We are visited by the public relations officer, who takes a number of photographs of men working with balloons on the beaches.”

A page of pictures published in “The Aeroplane”, 26th November, 1943

Incidentally, the lorry shown is not a Bedford QL, but a CMP (Canadian Military Pattern), 3-tonner. In Tripoli, before the operation, three 3-ton lorries were provided (reluctantly) by the Army for the use of No. 6 Beach Balloon Detachment.

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New Page Tells The Story of “K” Balloon Unit

I’ve just added a page about “K” Balloon Unit (Beach). I chose this unit for my first research into Beach Balloon Units that took part in landings in Italy because it was named in the caption to this photograph. However, when I read the Operations Record Book of “K” Beach Balloon Unit, I was surprised to find that the Unit was not at Salerno but, instead took part in Operation “BAYTOWN” and was at Reggio at the time of the Salerno landings!

So, either they have named the wrong unit in the caption for this picture, or the wrong landing! It is not the only mistake, as the lorry is not a Bedford QL!

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Website Launched

I have created the RAF Beach Balloon Units website today and will be gradually adding content over the weeks to come.

I set up this website for two reasons:

Firstly, RAF Beach Balloon Units deserve a bit more attention in their own right. There is some information about them on the RAF Beach Units website and Facebook page but having a separate website dedicated to Beach Balloon Units will allow more information about them to be presented.

My second reason is to try out a WordPress platform with a view to re-platforming the RAF Beach Units website. Given the size of it, it is going be a major task but it needs to be done!