Sapper Robert Carney

Robert Carney was the son of Edward and Annabell Carney, of Logie, Fife. He enlisted in the Royal Engineers and volunteered for Airborne forces. His brother was killed in action on 28 March 1943, age 27, whilst serving with the 2 Battalion Scots Guards.

Sapper Hughes successfully completed glider training and was posted to 9 (Airborne) Field Company, Corps of Royal Engineers, and took part in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).

Just after 10.00 hours on Sunday 17 September 1944 sixteen glider and tug combinations took off from RAF Keevil for Arnhem as part of Operation Market Garden. Horsa Glider RJ113 (Chalk 389) was in this group of aircraft and contained 21 men, including Sapper Carney. The glider was flown by S/Sgt L J Gardner and co-pilot Sgt R A Fraser from D Squadron, The Glider Pilot Regiment. It was towed by a Short Stirling, No. LK 148 of 299 Squadron, 38 Group. The tugs and gliders took a course north-west towards Gloucester to pick up Squadrons from Fairford and then headed out over the Severn and Bristol Channels to form up. Here Stirling LK 148 with Horsa Glider R113 took a turn south-west down the Bristol Channel with other aircraft and gliders and made a turn east over Weston-Super-Mare and headed for Arnhem.

While over the village of Farrington Gurney an explosion occurred in RJ113 splitting the glider in two. With no tail section the glider lost lift, broke its tow line and crashed into the Double Hills meadow near Paulton killing all occupants. The event was witnessed by the Stirling’s rear gunner who recalls watching the glider falling like a rock to earth after the explosion had occurred. As a result of the explosion on board Robert Carney and his comrades became the first casualties of Operation Market Garden.

Spr Carney died on 17 September 1944, aged 23. He is buried in Weston-Super-Mare Cemetery.

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