Trooper Robert A McGlew

Robert Arthur McGlew originally enlisted into the Royal Army Pay Corps, before volunteering for Airborne Forces in 1942 and being posted to the 1st Air Landing Company, Reconnaissance Corps.

He was assigned to ‘B’ Troop and with them he sailed to North Africa in May 1943. After several months of training and preparing for airborne operations the Squadron eventually took part in ‘Operation Slapstick’, the landing by the 1st Airborne Division at the port of Taranto in Southern Italy in September 1943.

Late in the evening of the 10 September 1943, ‘B’ Troop were tasked to carry out a reconnaissance in advance of the 2nd Parachute Brigade towards Gioia del Colle and Bari.

Early the next morning the Troop encountered a German motor-cycle combination patrol near the village of Martina Franca where the troop Commander, Captain Robert Jakeman was fatally wounded. Lieut ‘Jimmy’ Pearson decided to carry on with the patrol, but a bit further on they were ambushed outside the village of Locorotondo, and Corporal Wilfred Sloper, Lance Corporal Thomas Quince and Trooper Harry Wood were killed. Taken prisoner were, Lance Corporal Simeon ‘Sammy’ Burgoyne (also wounded), Trooper’s Richardson, Moreton, Brassington and McGlew.

Initially sent to an Italian POW Camp he was then moved north into Germany, where he was sent to Camp L3. He was liberated on the 20 April 1945, but was a very sick man. He was immediately admitted to HQ 2nd US Evacuation Hospital at Naumberg, Kassel District, and died of malnutrition, diphtheria and pneumonia on the next day. He was 29 years old.

He was first buried in the Breuna American Cemetery, 20 km NW of Kassell, Germany.

Robert now lies at rest in Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany. 3 C 3.