Private Joseph Lucas

Private Joseph Lucas, son of Charles and Sarah Lucas, served with 7th (Airborne) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.

In early 1944, numerous training exercises were being undertaken in preparation for the Allied invasion of north-west Europe that year. On 4 April 1944, 1 HGSU, Horsa I LG999 took part in a large glider exercise (codenamed Exercise Dreme) towed by Stirling IV LJ842 of No 196 Squadron. The glider occupants were two glider pilots and members of No 3 Platoon 'A' Company, 7th (Airborne) Battalion, The King's Own Scottish Borderers.

As the towing aircraft descended through cloud, it hit a tree and 15 minutes later stalled, possibly due a failure of the port outer engine, and crashed. All 27 men onboard Horsa LG999 were killed, including Private Joseph Lucas, a glider troop passenger.

Private Lucas died on 4 April 1944, aged 27 years old. He is now buried at Durrington Cemetery, Wiltshire.

Headstone photograph courtesy of Major James Brudenell.