LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWII
Private Horace William Corbett
7 Bn The Parachute Regiment
Town Memorial World War II
 King's Shropshire Light Infantry |
 Parachute Regiment |
HORACE WILLIAM CORBETT
Service Number: 14582262
The Parachute Regiment, A.A.C.
7th Bn.
Died 7 April 1945
Age 29 years old
Buried or commemorated at
BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY
15. F. 6.
Germany
Son of James and Alice Corbett; husband of Gladys Corbett, of Bookham, Surrey.
Personal Inscription
"FATHER... NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE, BE DONE"
Surrey Advertiser
Saturday 28 April 1945
"CREDIT TO THE COMPANY”
His wife has received the news that Paratrooper Horace William Corbett, 6th Airborne Division, was killed in action in Germany on April 7th. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Corbett, of 5, Dilston Road, Leatherhead, and joined the Forces two years ago. He was previously employed by the General Cable Manufacturing Company. He married, four years ago, Miss Gladys Ellis, daughter of Mr. S. Ellis. 23, Barnett Close, Leatherhead, a member of Leatherhead Food Control Committee, and Mrs. Corbett has a baby daughter of 18 months.
In a letter from Paratrooper Corbett’s commanding officer, his wife was informed that the company was detailed to attack and capture a very important bridge on the line of the Allied advance, so as to enable them to go forward the next day. It was during this action, and after the bridge had been captured and a bridgehead established, that her husband fell, among many other comrades. The major concluded: “He had always worked hard, and had been a credit to the company.” A letter of sympathy was also written by a chaplain, in which he said: “Your husband was liked by all. He died, as he lived, very valiantly.”
His wife has received the news that Paratrooper Horace William Corbett, 6th Airborne Division, was killed in action in Germany on April 7th. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Corbett, of 5, Dilston Road, Leatherhead, and joined the Forces two years ago. He was previously employed by the General Cable Manufacturing Company. He married, four years ago, Miss Gladys Ellis, daughter of Mr. S. Ellis. 23, Barnett Close, Leatherhead, a member of Leatherhead Food Control Committee, and Mrs. Corbett has a baby daughter of 18 months.
In a letter from Paratrooper Corbett’s commanding officer, his wife was informed that the company was detailed to attack and capture a very important bridge on the line of the Allied advance, so as to enable them to go forward the next day. It was during this action, and after the bridge had been captured and a bridgehead established, that her husband fell, among many other comrades. The major concluded: “He had always worked hard, and had been a credit to the company.” A letter of sympathy was also written by a chaplain, in which he said: “Your husband was liked by all. He died, as he lived, very valiantly.”
7TH BATTALION ROLL OF HONOUR FOR 7/8 APRIL 1945
During the advance eastwards following
Operation Varsity, the 7th Battalion suffered heavy losses on 7 April as
a result of a road mine detonation;the battle to secure Wunstorf
airfield, in which leading elements of B Coy were initially ambushed;
and the German garrison detonating the bridge at Neustadt while B Coy
advanced across it on the night of 7/8 April 1945.
The battalion war diary recorded total casualties for the day of 27 killed, 33 wounded and 6 missing. Some of those injured also died as a result of their wounds.
Horace Corbett was one of those killed on the bridge.
The battalion war diary recorded total casualties for the day of 27 killed, 33 wounded and 6 missing. Some of those injured also died as a result of their wounds.
Horace Corbett was one of those killed on the bridge.
He was part of a contingent of 100 men from the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, who were drafted as reinforcements to 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion on 3 July 1944 in the Normandy campaign. The commanding officer, Lt Col Pine-Coffin, later commented: "They were all first class material and very quickly fitted into the battalion, absorbing the spirit which they found there. It is interesting to note that when the time for a decision came, they were so much part and parcel of the battalion that over 80% of the survivors volunteered for parachuting and so accompanied the battalion to the end of its operations."
Pte Corbett returned to the UK with the battalion in September and qualified as a military parachutist on course 136 which ran at RAF Ringway in the following month.
He went on to fight in the Ardennes and then took part in the final mass allied parachute and glider assault of World War II, Operation Varsity, on 24 March 1945, as a member of 5 Platoon, B Coy.
During the subsequent advance the battalion reached Petershagen, in between Osnabrück and Hanover, by 7 April. They continued to proceed east by motor transport and encountered enemy forces defending Wunstorf airfield at around 14:30 hours, although earlier reconnaissance reports had indicated that it had been abandoned, resulting in the ambush of the leading elements of B Coy.
In the ensuing battle, in which the 13th Battalion was also engaged, the 7th Battalion lost 6 killed, and 21 wounded, most from the initial ambush of the four leading trucks of B Coy.The airfield was captured with 19 ME 109s, 4 FW 109s, 2 JU 88s, 2 JU 52s and much other valuable equipment.
The battalion proceeded on to its main task, to secure Neustadt and the river crossing. Both A and C Coys entered the town without opposition and Bn HQ was soon established in a suitable house. Meanwhile,the men of B Coy had been working up the river to the bridge but were forced to deviate within 400 yds of their objective, which took them onto the main east-west road through Neustadt and left them with both the loop canal bridge and main bridge to cross.
B Coy encountered a civilian soon after coming on to the road and Major Reid, the officer commanding B Coy, questioned him about the bridge and garrison. The civilian said the bridge was prepared for demolition and stressed the need for speed if it was to be captured intact. This confirmed Major Reid's original plan, which was to rush the bridge and trust to getting across in time to prevent it going up.
He ordered his men to charge and the two advance platoons under Lt Gush (5 Pl) and Sgt McIvor (4 Pl), and led by the Coy 2IC Capt Woodman, had crossed both bridges when the first arch of the main bridge was blown behind them at approximately 0015 hrs 8 April. Heavy and severe casualties were suffered by the troops on both sides of the explosion but the small party that got across completely routed the garrison and held their small bridgehead all night. In the morning, men from A Coy traversed the river in boats to relieve the men who had made it across the bridge.
The battalion war diary records the day's casualties as 27 killed, 33 wounded and 6 missing presumed killed; mostly from B Coy. Some of those injured later died of their wounds.
B Coy HQ, No 5 Platoon and No 4 Platoon bore the brunt of the casualties at the bridge, including Pte Corbett who was killed as a result of the bridge detonation.
Pte Corbett died on the night of 7/8 April 1945, aged 29 years, and was given a field burial next to the bridge along with the other members of B Coy who were killed.
He is now buried at Becklingen War
Cemetery overlooking Luneberg Heath, Germany. His headstone in that
cemetery can be seen on his AIRBORNE
ASSAULT PARADATA page
His life
Horace Corbett was born on 21 June 1915 in Ashtead Surrey.His father was James Corbett born December 1884, Ashtead, Surrey a son of James Corbett, Labourer
His mother was Alice Maude Williams born 31 July 1884, Ashtead, Surrey, a daughter of Jesse Williams, Labourer.
They were married on 1 April 1907 at Cobham Parish Church, Surrey.
Horace's siblings were Jesse James Corbett (1907-1925), Henry Reuben Corbett (1910-1989), Frederick G Corbett b1911, Emily J Corbett b1912, Leonard E Corbett b 1917.
Surrey Advertiser
Saturday 19 April 1941
WEDDING AT PARISH CHURCH
Two Leatherhead families were united by the wedding at the Parish Church on Saturday of Mr. Horace Wm. Corbett, third son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Corbett, of 5, Dilston-road, and Miss Gladys Richard Ellis, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. Ellis, of 23, Barnett-close. Mr. S. Ellis, a member of the Leatherhead Food Control Committee, gave away his daughter, who wore a powder blue two-piece with burgundy accessories, and carried a bouquet of pink carnations. The bridesmaid was Miss J. Robinson, wearing a grey and burgundy ensemble with a spray of white carnations. Pte. Leonard Corbett (brother of the bridegroom) was best man.
Two Leatherhead families were united by the wedding at the Parish Church on Saturday of Mr. Horace Wm. Corbett, third son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Corbett, of 5, Dilston-road, and Miss Gladys Richard Ellis, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. Ellis, of 23, Barnett-close. Mr. S. Ellis, a member of the Leatherhead Food Control Committee, gave away his daughter, who wore a powder blue two-piece with burgundy accessories, and carried a bouquet of pink carnations. The bridesmaid was Miss J. Robinson, wearing a grey and burgundy ensemble with a spray of white carnations. Pte. Leonard Corbett (brother of the bridegroom) was best man.
According to the 1939 England & Wales Register Gladys Richard Ellis, born 5 November 1919, a Canteen Waitress, was living with her parents at 23 Barnett Close, Leatherhead.
A daughter was born to Horace and Gladys in 1943.
Some of young Horace's family addresses can be tracked via the Electoral Registers:
1923-1930 241 Kingston Road, Leatherhead
1934-1939 5 Dilston Road, Leatherhead
After the war
Horace's parents continued living at 5 Dilston Road, Leatherhead until at least 1956. In 1959 his father had moved to 100 Middlemead Road, Bookham with Emily K Oak and James S Oak, and in 1962 those three were at 8 Fairfield Cottages, Leatherhead Road.His widow Gladys was living at 21 Barnett Close in 1945-47. Her parents were at no.23.
In July 1948 a marriage was registered (Surrey Mid Eastern District) between Gladys Corbett and Douglas V Haskins.
From at least 1951 until 1962 Gladys and Douglas Haskins were living at 42 Middlemead Road, Bookham. Horace's father James was living at no.100.
In the same District the death of Gladys Haskins at the age of 71 was registered in July 1991.
Horace Corbett is remembered on these memorials
Leatherhead Town Memorial
Leatherhead RBL Roll of Honour, Leatherhead Parish Church
the website editor would like to add
further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him and any recollections of him
last updated 16 Aug 20