D-Day 80th Anniversary Commemorations
To mark the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings a service of commemoration was led by Rev Les Wells on Sunday 9th June in the Memorial Grounds at Horley Recreation Ground. The event was attended by representatives from the Royal British Legion, Redhill Corps of Drums, Oakwood School, Local Scout Groups and residents.
During the ensuing Battle of Normandy a total of 73,000 Allied forces were killed and 153,000 were wounded together with around 20,000 French civilians being killed. The German forces suffered 290,000 casualties with 23,000 being killed and 200,000 captured or missing..
It is almost certain that other men from Horley took part in the D-Day landings and survived or perhaps returned home wounded but we will never know how many or who they were. However, there are five servicemen that we do know about and whose names are commemorated on the Horley War Memorial:
Corporal Kenneth Francis of the Hampshire Regiment who lived with his family in Lee Street, Horley. Although he survived the beach landings he was killed by intense machine gun fire in a small village called Pleciere near Bayeux two months later on 6th August 1944 aged 23. He is buried in a British war cemetery just south of Bayeux.
Gunner Walter Stilby of the Anti-Aircraft Regiment (RA) whose family lived in the Grove, Horley. He spent the first night of D-Day on board ship lying just off the coast of Arromanches (Gold Beach). The regiment landed the following day and after several other moves made in the ensuing weeks finally found themselves in an anti-tank role whilst the major assault on Caen was underway. On the evening of 25th July 1944 his unit found themselves under mortar fire and it was during this attack that Gunner Stilby was seriously wounded and died aged 28 the following day. He is buried in Ranville War Cemetery.
Private Phillip Stoner – the Gloucester Regiment who also lived with his family in Lee Street. Private Stoner came ashore with his regiment on Gold Beach on D-Day. The Gloucester Regiment subsequently too part in numerous minor engagements whilst advancing through Belgium and into the Netherlands. On 25th November 1944 he was killed during one of these engagements near the German border aged 18. He is buried in Venray War Cemetery in the Netherlands.
Flight Sergeant Norman Wilson – was an Air Gunner with 228 Squadron the Royal Air Force who lived with his wife Betty in Limes Avenue, Horley. Sgt. Wilson and his crew were killed in action on 10th June 1944 aged 27 whilst guarding the eastern approaches to Normandy. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the RAF Memorial at Runnymede.
Finally:-
Trooper Frederick Tyrell – served with the Inns of Court Regiment (RAC) and lived with his family in Queens Road, Horley. A unit of his regiment landed in support of Canadian Troops on D-Day. On 18th July 1944 during an engagement near Caen Trooper Tyrell was wounded and subsequently died aged 35 on 21st July. He is buried in Ryes War Cemetery near Bayeaux.
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