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Lance-Bombardier John E. Lord
Unit : 210th Battery, 53rd (Worcestershire Yeomanry) Airlanding Light Regiment, RA
Army No. : 968249
John "Jack" Lord originally joined the British Army in the mid 1930's after having worked as a printer in Hinckley. He was released from Service in 1938, but was recalled the following year as war broke out. In 1943, he was serving in the 53rd The Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars, Royal Artillery when it was decided to convert it to an airborne role. As such he took part in the Normandy Campaign with the 6th Airborne Division and probably landed as part of the follow-up forces over the beaches between 7th - 8th June 1944. He eventually returned to England in September 1944 and then took part in the Ardennes campaign, December 1944 - February 1945.
On the 24th March 1945, he participated in Operation Varsity, the Rhine Crossing. He took-off from R.A.F. Dunmow in a Horsa Mk II, which also contained Major G. W. Culley, Bombardier H. Dickens, Lance/Bombardier P. H. H. Moore, Gunner E. D. Lay and Gunner A. B. Cox. The main load was a wireless-equipped Jeep, a trailer and two lightweight motorcycles. The glider was hit by anti-aircraft fire as it approached the Landing Zone and crashed 4000 metres to the North of D.Z. "A". All the occupants were killed by machine-gun fire.
A newspaper cutting quoted the following: "L.-Bdr. John E. Lord, son of the late Mr. Fredk. A. Lord, well-known plumber and painter of Barwell, has been reported killed in action with the 6th British Airborne Division in North-West Europe. L.-Bdr. Lord, who was 28 years of age, was married, and his wife resides at Morden, Surrey. He went over with the Division on D-Day and was afterwards in hospital through illness. He fought with the Division against Kesselring's Offensive last December. An old scholar of Barwell Church Schools, L.-Bdr. Lord completed his education at Gateway School, Leicester. On leaving school he joined the printing staff of John Baxter and Sons, Hinckley, and later enlisted in H.M. Forces. He obtained his release in 1938, but was recalled soon after the outbreak of war."
John 'Jack' Lord was 28 years old. He is now buried in the Reichswald Cemetery, 37. F. 4.
My thanks to Bob Hilton for this account.