Bid to trace family of fallen Stratford soldier

Buy photos » A Halifax Bomber, the type of plane Henry Harrison and the rest of the crew went down in on a training mission (s)

A WAR researcher is trying to trace the relatives of a young Stratford soldier killed in the Second World War in a bid to unravel the mystery surrounding his death.

Ken Rimell contacted the Observer in a desperate attempt to find out more about Stratford airman Henry Harrison who was killed during a training mission on January 21, 1944.

Mr Rimell has been trying to work out what happened on the mission after he became interested because a friend's father was also killed on the mission which took off from RAF Faldingworth in Lincolnshire.

But nothing else is known about what the men were doing on the mission or where their Halifax Bomber went down.

It is believed it may have come down in the sea but all of the men are marked on war memorials and have no known grave.

Henry was the son of Frank and Florence Harrison, and Mr Rimell believes there may be some relatives still left in the area.

He said: "I'd just like to piece things together really but I would also be able to fill any family members in with some more information if they don't know anything about the mission.

"From my research I understand the pilot and navigator were very secretive and as such we know nothing about this mission, there aren't even any pictures of the crew I have been able to find.

"But there is an element of mystery. I have found the crew did go on a mission the previous year in which we believe they dropped off agents in France, which is rather unusual given the fact they were trainees.

"If any relatives or anyone who knows anything would like to share information we might be able to put in place the final piece of the jigsaw."

Anyone with any information should contact us on editor@stratfordobserver.co.uk or 01926 451 900.