The Airmen's Stories - P/O A H H Garrad

Anthony Hugh Hamilton Garrad was born on 16th December 1920 in London, the son of Arthur Garrad (1895-1937) and Sadie Audrey Garrad (nee Hughes, dates not traced).

His father served in the Somerset Light Infantry before at some time transferring to the RAF as a Lieutenant.

He was demobilised in October 1919, a medical report recorded '...he has a gravely enfeebled physical condition, likely due to gassing'.

He took a Royal College of Organists Degree and went on to serve as Organist at St Mary Magdelene, Paddington and elsewhere.

He died from tuberculosis.

His eldest son, S/Ldr. Gordon Keith Fison Garrad, was killed aged 25 on 5th August 1943 whilst flying in Wellington X HE952 'L' of 150 Squadron which was lost without a trace on a mission to attack beaches between Messina and Cape Pellaro.

He is commemorated on the Malta Memorial.

Also lost were:

F/O WG Smith RNZAF
F/O F Williams
F/Sgt. GHB Wilkie RNZAF
Sgt. VTW Sherwood

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AHH Garrad joined the RAF on a short service commission in March 1939. After carrying out his elementary flying training at 10 E&RFTS Yatesbury he was posted to 5 FTS Sealand, after which he joined 248 Squadron at Hendon on 6th November 1939.

In February 1940 the squadron joined Coastal Command. Flying from Sumburgh in the Shetlands, Garrad failed to return from a sortie on 3rd November 1940 in Blenheim IVf L9392 WR-G. He was last seen attacking a He111K over the North Sea. A Blenheim was claimed by Uffz. Woick of 7./JG54.

Sgt. EJ Bayliss and Sgt. HFJ Moynham were also lost.

Garrad was 19 years old. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 8.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner.