• Short Stirling

Service number:

T/186656

Nationality:

British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Clement Sproston was the Air Despatcher in Short Stirling Mk. IV, LK545, 5G-T, No 299 Squadron that crashed West of Nijmegen on September 21st, 1944. The plane had started from RAF Station Keevil on September 21nd, 1944 for a supply dropping near Hotel Hartenstein in Oosterbeek.
The crew consisted of
Pilot Flight Lieutenant Reginald Thomas Frederick Turner (114982),
Flight Engineer Warrant Officer B.H. Harvey,
Navigator Flight Sergeant J.E. Price,
Air Gunner/Wireless Operator Sergeant W. Moss,
Air Gunner/Wireless Operator Flying Officer J.S. Sutton,
Bomb Aimer Flight Sergeant F.H. Sedgwick,
Air Despatcher Driver Brackman en
Air Despatcher Corporal Clemont Burton Sproston (T/186616)
(both latter from 253 Airborne Composite Company).
Over the dropzone, the plane was hit by Flak. The aft gun position caught fire, during which Flying Officer Sutton was forced to abandone the aircraft with his parachute. The rest of the crew managed to make a crash landing and was taken away by civilians. A police car then moved them to the Armoured Corps HQ near Nijmegen, from where they were taken the following day, Sepotember 22nd, towards Eindhoven. the transport got stuck between Uden and Veghel in a fight between the Allies and German tanks. In the events that unfolded, Turner was involved in ground actions. Later the crew was transported in safety to their unit.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Corporal

Unit:

253rd Airborne Composite Company, Headquarters, 1st Airborne Division, British Army

Awarded on:

April 5th, 1945

Awarded for:

Operation Market Garden

On September 22nd, 1944, Corporal Sproston was involved in a ground action with Flight Lieutenant Reginald Thomas Frederick Turner, after their plane was shot down the day before.

Citation:
"On the 21 September 44, Cpl SPROSTON was a member of a despatch crew of two flying in a Stirling Aircraft on a re-supply mision to the 1 Airborne Div at ARNHEM. On approaching the dropping zone the aircraft was hit by AA fire and caught fire. Cpl Sproston was given orders to despatch the load. Although the aircraft was well ablaze and the rear gunner's ammunition was exploding inside the fuselage, Cpl Sproston continued to despatch the load, which consisted of high explosives, at the right moment. It was entirely due to Cpl Sproston's coolness and courage in despatching this extremely dangerous load, that the pilot of the aircaft was able to crash land it without loss of life. After the aircraft had been crash landed Cpl Sproston and the crew of the aircraft eventually reached an Allied HQ from which they were despatched to Brussels in a troop carrying vehicle. On the way, the convoy, in which they were travelling, was attacked by four enemy Tiger tanks and a number of vehicles were knocked out. A small party from the convoy took up their positions in a house and Cpl Sproston was put in charge of a forward observation post from which, although under heavy enemy fire, he directed with great effect the fire of a Bofors gun. Throughout this little action Cpl Sproston's courage and devotion to duty was an example to all."

LG 37015/1810.

• - National Archives WO 373/53/312
  - Supplement to The London Gazette of 3rd April 1945, Issue 37015, dated 5th April 1945