This memorial page is dedicated to George Roland Wright, one of more than 725 war victims connected to the municipality of Deurne documented by Stichting Oorlogsslachtoffers. The municipality of Deurne and the surrounding villages of Liessel, Vlierden, Helenaveen, Neerkant and Zeilberg were liberated in the autumn of 1944 during heavy fighting. Victims fell on all sides: Allied soldiers from countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and New Zealand, and German soldiers.
But the archive covers more than just the combat victims on Deurne soil. Residents of Deurne who lost their lives elsewhere are also commemorated: civilians who were murdered in concentration camps, forced labourers who died in Germany, people who were executed or succumbed to the effects of persecution and oppression. In addition, residents of Deurne who entered German military service and were killed elsewhere are also included.
Stichting Oorlogsslachtoffers has been documenting the story of all these people since 1995, without distinction of nationality, side or background. The goal is to give every person a name and a face, and to keep their memory alive.
| Name | : Wright | |
| First names | : George Roland | |
| Nickname | : Roland | |
| Date of birth | : 1908 | |
| Place of birth | : 37 Heath Road, Undercliffe, Bradford | |
| Residence | : 1 Russell Bank Road, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield | |
| Rank / Occupation | : Pilot Officer (Nav./Bomber) / Sales Representative | |
| Identity tag | : 148758 | |
| Unit | : Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 166 Squadron | |
| Date of death | : 21 June 1943 | |
| Place of death | : Neerkant | |
| Cause of death | : Crash of Wellington HE924 | |
| Cemetery | : Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Nijmegen | |
| Memorial site | : Undercliffe Cemetery, Bradford (United Kingdom) | |
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Additional information
Grave location: 3. H. 2.
Aged 35. Son of Thomas Edgar and Ethel Mary Wright. Widow: Mary Wright-Driver, of Willerby, Yorkshire.
On 21 June 1943 at approximately 01:49, the Wellington X (AS-C) with serial number HE924 crashed near the Heesterveld in Neerkant. The aircraft probably exploded in mid-air, as its wreckage was scattered over a large area. The aircraft, which had taken off from Krimington and was bound for Krefeld, was shot down following an aerial engagement in the vicinity of St. Truiden (B) by Hauptmann Siegfried Wandam of the 1st Nachtjagdgeschwader 5, by Hauptmann Wilhelm Herget of the 3rd Nachtjagdgeschwader 1.
George Roland Wright, Arthur Burgess, Eric Jeffs and James Karl Somers were killed in the incident. William Francis Payne has been missing ever since.
’s death notice
Report drawn up by Sergeant Hendrik Draaier and Sergeant Adrianus van den Broek, Eindhoven Military Police District, Deurne Group, Neerkant Station.
Captain Siegfried Wandam
Captain Wilhelm Herget
View all persons in the category: Allied soldiers killed in action