Donald Edward Garland V.C.

Biography
V.C. Citation (Lond. Gaz. 11th June 1940): "Flying Officer Garland was the pilot and Sergeant Gray was the observer of the leading aircraft of a formation of five aircraft that attacked a bridge over the Albert Canal which had not been destroyed and was allowing the enemy to advance into Belgium. All the aircrews of the squadron concerned volunteered for the operation, and, after five crews had been selected by drawing lots, the attack was delivered at low altitude against this vital target. Orders were issued that this bridge was to be destroyed at all costs. As had been expected, exceptionally intense machine-gun and anti-aircraft fire were encountered. Moreover, the bridge area was heavily protected by enemy fighters. In spite of this, the formation successfully delivered a dive-bombing attack from the lowest practicable altitude. British fighters in the vicinity reported that the target was obscured by the bombs bursting on it and near it. Only one of the five aircraft concerned returned from this mission. The pilot of this aircraft reports that besides being subjected to extremely heavy anti-aircraft fire, through which they dived to attack the objective, our aircraft were also attacked by a large number of enemy fighters after they had released their bombs on the target. Much of the success of this vital operation must be attributed to the formation leader, Flying Officer Garland, and to the coolness and resource of Sergeant Gray, who in most difficult conditions navigated Flying Officer Garland's aircraft in such a manner that the whole formation was able successfully to attack the target in spite of subsequent heavy losses. Flying Officer Garland and Sergeant Gray .. [and LAC L R Reynolds] .. did not return." [inserted] °
Sources &c.
[1] Ireland, Civil Regn. Births Index, 1864-1958
Name: Donald Edward Garland : Birth Date & Place: 1918, Ireland
Birth Regn. Date: Sep 1918 : Birth Regn. Place: Rathdrum, Ireland
Vol.: 2, p. 780 : FHL Film No. 101077
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/7474880:2573
(ii) ↑ "Ireland Civil Registration Indexes, 1845-1958," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FBBY-D38 : 16 March 2020), Birth entry > Donald Edward Garland; citing Rathdrum, Jul - Sep 1918, vol. 2, p. 780, General Registry, Custom House, Dublin; FHL microfilm 101,077 > https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FBBY-D38
(iii) Irish Times, Aug 3 1918 Notice of Birth [Donald Garland] : Ireland Kirkpatrick Biographical Files. FR-HA
[2] R.A.F. Appointments / Promotions :
(i) Rank -Flying Officer [F/O] confirmed -Min. of Defence letter : Historical Rcds. Branch &c. -cc. source
Short Service Commission -Acting Pilot Officer, on probation, General Duties Branch, Royal Air Force, effective, 12.07 1937 : active, 05 09 1937 -Lond. Gaz. Sept. 21 1937, issue No. 34437, ps. 5902-3
(ii) ↑ Confirmed, Pilot Officer [P/O] -active 12 07 1938
(iii) ↑ Air Force Lists [AFL], 1939, page 467 : AFL in N. Library of Scotland
(iv) ↑ F/O : active 12.02.1940 -Lond. Gaz. Feb. 20 1940 Issue 34794, p. 1003
[3] U.K. World War Index -Recds. of Allied Airmen Roll of Honour 1939-45
Name: Donald Edward Garland : Birth Year: abt. 1919 : Rank: F/O
Death Age: 21 : Death Dte. May 12 1940 : Military Base: Amifontaine, France
Service No: 40105 : Unit: 12 Squadron : Bomber Cmnd (Aasf)
Aircraft: Fairey Battle I : No. P2204 : Occupation: Pilot : Casualty: Killed in action : Medal: V.C.
Residence Place: East Finchley, Middlesex : Burial Place: Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium
Notes: Brother of DW, JC & PJ Garland. Shot Down by Flak, Lanaken > Attack on bridge at Veldwezelt, 12.05.1940; awarded V.C. for this mission.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/5616:62274
[4] N.A. Kew, U.K. Air Ministry & Successors : Ops. Recd. Squadrons; Ref.: Piece No. : AIR 27/164 Extracts from operational log[s] and Sq. Orders re.12 Sq., beg. 1938 & Sq.'s relocation to Amifontaine, France; incl. sorties -France & Germany, early 1940, relocation date, billeting & field organisation &c.
[5] LAC L R Reynolds, F/Sgt. T Gray & F/O D. .E Garland ...
N.A. Kew, U.K. Ref. Piece No. AIR 81/293
Ref. Description: L.A.C. L R Reynolds, F/Sgt. T Gray, and F/O D E Garland: reports missing in action &c. May 12 1940
Date: 1940 Jan 1-1951 Dec 31 & associated correspondence incl. Imperial War Graves Commission, forerunner to CWGC
[6] Donald Edward Garland : UK, British Air Force Lists,1938-1945 &c. -as at Jan. -1938
Donald Edward Garland
Rank Acting P/O
Military Date 5 Sep 1937
British Air Force : General Duties Branch.
Distinctions P. [Pilot]
accessed: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/658272:62383
[7] Article, Dutch & English translation, Jean Maenen, Lanaken, describing loss of Battle aircraft, P2204, of which Donald Garland was pilot date &c., final location(s) of P2204, context -German advance into Belgium, bridges & burial of crew by residents of Lanaken, reburial, details of aircraft crew members in attack upon the Bridges near Maastricht, incl. Donald Garland V.C. &c.; supplt. Mr. Maenen's article, map &c. added Sources.
N.A. UK Ref. Piece No. AIR 81/293 -info. re: burial, Lanaken Communal Cemetery & final resting place of the crew at CWGC Cemetery, Heverlee, Belgium. Mr. Maenen's Article refers to Investigation Rept. -Jly 9 1947 > Ft. Lieut G.E. Grosvenor M.R.E. Unit Low Countries to A.M. London in relation to two aircraft which were lost over Lanaken May 12 1940 incl. Battle P2204. The Report located in AIR 81/293 -Source Doc.
[8] Extract, Short History of R.A.F. in The Second World War, Vol. 1 : context & accompanying maps
[9] Guide C.W.G.C. Memorial, Runneymede relating to Donald Garland's brother, Desmond William Garland his name listed on the Memorial & details of Fg. Officer Donald Garland's reburial &c.
[10] V.C. & G.C. Association: https://vcgca.org
Honours & Awards : V.C. 11.06.1940
[11] Newspaper Extracts incl. Melbourne Argus, June 12 1940
(i) News of death of Ft. Lt. Patrick Garland in January 1945 -Guardian Newspaper, Jan. 16 1945, page 3; mention of F/O Officer Donald Garland V.C.
(ii) 'RAF's first V.C of the War' & note of R.A.F. losses upon outbreak of fighting in the spring 1940 -Guardian Mon. 10 Jun 1940 : Posthumous award of V.C., along with F/Sgt. Thomas Gray
(iii) Calgary, Alberta; Press Release: Saturday June 8th 1940 / Canada Citation record -linked to the London Gazette
(iv) Min. of Defence providing details of Donald Garland being lost in action
[12] NRO, Kew:"F/O Officer D.E. Garland & F/Sgt T. Gray" Artist unknown, 1943 Cat. Ref.: INF 3/409
https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20220202033308/htt...
[13] U.K. Archives, Kew : Ref: AIR-27-170_1.ops.1939-1940
[14] Extract -presentation, Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School -Donald Garland V.C. & Desmond Garland pupils; School's Centennial Commemoration
[15] Ashcroft, M. Band of Brothers, Sun.Times Mag. Sept.16 2018
[16] RAF Museum, Hendon : Display re: F/O Donald Edward Garland V.C.
[17] Donald Edward Garland in Canada, Military Honours & Awards Citation Cards, 1900-1961
[18] In Web: UK & Allied Countries, Index of International Bomber Command Losses, 1936-1966
Name Donald Edward Garland : Rank F/O Officer
Death Age 21 : Birth Date abt. 1919 : Place of Origin: U.K.
Service Branch Royal Air Force : Sqn. S. No 40105 : Unit 12
Trade Pilot
Death Date 12 May 1940 : Burial Place Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium
Father Patrick Joseph Garland C.M.G. : Mother Winifred Irene Garland
URL https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/210054/
[19] "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2DN-RBP8 : 17 August 2023), Donald Edward Garland: Burial, Leuven, Arrondissement Leuven, Flemish Brabant Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium, Heverlee War Cemetery; citing record ID 173008853, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com. > https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2DN-RBP8
[20] Gazette: Crown Copyright; https://www.thegazette.co.uk; Gaz. Official Public Record 1665-Present
[21] Extract > email: Sept. 11 2023 fro. Ralph S. Research team, 'Aircrew Remembered' :
"Hello ... 'Thanks for ...... I have sourced some additional information regarding the Garland brothers.
'I have also done some further research .. re: .. Plt. Off. Desmond William Garland 115223 RAFVR (which has been added to the Report*) but additionally you might like to know the following.
'Two of his crew were in the RAAF & their records, in most cases, are available on-line and for free.
'The two RAAF crew were Sgt. John Joseph Nixon 405135 and Sgt. Robert William Ogilvie 402670
'It is possible that a copy of the POW report for Plt. Off. Reginald Thomas Gill 107931 (PoW No. 286, Stalag Luft 3) may be in their Repatriation records, These can be found on N.A. of Australia, for one of the two RAAF airmen who were Sgt. John Jospeh Nixon 405135 and Sgt. Robert William Ogilvie 402670 but unfortunately they are not digitised at this time. -'Just enter Nixon 405135 or Ogilvie 402670 in the Keywords for their record details on the following page:
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScr...
You can request for particular record to be digitised but it will cost a fee and take some time
Best Wishes Ralph S. " ... End e-mail
[*The Report, referred to in the email from Ralph S. : "12.05 1940 Sq. Battle B.I P2332 Flt. Off. Norman M. Thomas" [was] attached [to the email] -in pdf. relating to the mission to the Albert Canal Bridges, on May 12 1940 led by F/O Donald Garland, contains additional information relating to Donald's brothers [a source]
https://aircrewremembered.com/thomas-m-norman.html °
Other
I.B.C.M. Archive: https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/210054/
Information about flying training at Hamble can be found in this listing:
http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/EFTS.html
https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20220202033308/htt...
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ca...
https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-40001-2035716237/donald-...
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GXQ1-366

http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/12_wwII.html

Sgt. Thomas Gray: Thomas Gray
Wiltshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1922
Thomas Gray : Baptism Date 14 Jun 1914
Baptism Place : Urchfont, Wiltshire, England : Parish Urchfont
Father Ernest Arthur Gray Mother Susannah Mary Gray

F/O N.M Thomas POW N. M. Thomas : Battle P2332 May 12 1940
UK, World War II Allied Prisoners of War, 1939-1945
N. M. Thomas : Rank F/L. [?]
Military Date 1939-1945
Description 278: Prisoner of War
N.A. of U.K. Kew, Surrey : AIR 40 Rolls of POWs (Stalag Luft etc) 1939-1945
(ii) in UK, Royal Air Force Operations Record Books, 1911-1963
Name N. M. Thomas
Rank Flying Officer
Military Date 12 May 1940
Service Number 37659
War WWII
Role Pilot : Unit No 12 Squadron
Service Branch Air Force