These are two members of my family who lost their lives in World War II, Able Seaman Leslie Vicor HARRIS (C/JX 186836), aged 23, lost at sea 15th February 1941, in the North Atlantic, he has no grave and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. In 1940 Leslie survived the beaches at Dunkirk when he was one of the naval personnel assigned as crew aboard one of the "little" ships. Segeant Stanley Roy HARRIS (1256507), aged 30, 12 Sqdn. RAFVR, navigator on Lancaster shot down on the night of 3rd/4th February 1945 whilst on a raid to bomb a benzol plant at Bottrop. He is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany. These were the sons of William Henry and Minnie HARRIS of Southall, Middlesex and were two of my father's elder brothers. William, whilst not born there, grew up in Hook Norton from the age of 2, this being the village where his father Henry HARRIS was born. For the sake of completeness the full crew of Stanley's Lancaster were: PILOT : Flying Officer John Llewelyn WALTERS RAAF (Aus/426931) (killed) CREW : Sergeant James Moffatt GIBB (flight engineer) (1825597) (killed) Sergeant Stanley Roy HARRIS (navigator) (1256507) (killed) Flight Sergeant William BLYTH (observer) (1250558) (killed) Pilot Officer Keith Oswald LANGHAM RAAF (Aus/432823) (killed) Flight Sergeant Cyril BUTLER (mid-upper gunner) (1596394) (killed) Sergeant Harry BOULDING (rear-gunner) (1686053) (killed) Regards Colin Harris ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------- For the Fallen With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, England mourns for her dead across the sea. Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, Fallen in the cause of the free. Solemn the drums thrill Death august and royal Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres. There is music in the midst of desolation And a glory that shines upon our tears. They went with songs to the battle, they were young, Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted, They fell with their faces to the foe. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old, Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, We will remember them. They mingle not with their laughing comrades again They sit no more at familiar tables of home They have no lot in our labour of the day-time They sleep beyond England's foam. But where our desires and our hopes profound, Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight, to the innermost heart of their own land they are known As the stars are known to the Night As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain, As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, To the end, to the end, they remain. Laurence Binyon (1914) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------ --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.783 / Virus Database: 529 - Release Date: 25/10/2004