Tuesday 23 April 2013

Marjorie GREENFIELD 1914-1945

Marjorie was born on 06 September 1914 in Christchurch, New Zealand,  to Albert Percy and Mary Lawyer GREENFIELD, the middle child of three.
Before enlisting in The New Zealand Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, Marjory was a beautician and residing with her parents in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Sat 6/Sun 7 Oct 1945  Special transport flight from Egypt to England. 299 Squadron, RAF (Shepherds Grove, Suffolk - 38 Group) Short Stirling IV LJ668 - took off from Egypt captained by Fg Off C T Dillon, RAF, bound for England, but diverted to Rennes, France, because of high fuel consumption. On entering the circuit difficulties were encountered with radio communication between aircraft and ground, whilst approach to the airfield was hampered by a 200-foot cloud base and inadequate airfield lighting. Although homed on to the correct runway and seen from the ground, the captain could not see the flare path when at 150 feet. He carried out an overshoot, called at 0028 to advise he had only 10 minutes fuel left and immediately crashed while turning to port, and burned out.
The six crew, eight RAF, two Navy and 10 Army passengers died, three New Zealanders being amongst the latter.
Passenger: 822452 Cpl Margery GREENFIELD, NZ WAAC -  aged 31.



Margery is buried at Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine, Bretagne, France Sec. 18. Plot 1. Row B. Grave 4.



Both of Marjorie's siblings were also enrolled in the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Forces:

Frances Ruth Greenfield born 28 Oct 1912- died 17 Jan 2000, service number 71996
John Robert Greenfield born 15 Nov 1919- died 1996, service number 26687

6 comments:

  1. Oh thank you so much for your contribution! Our first woman on our Trans Tasman Blog honour roll! Welcome to the Blogging world, well done!

    Thank you again! Kind regards SEONAID

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    1. well... it is an honour to introduce our first lady of the Trans Tasman Blog Roll

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  2. Lovely Colleen. Great to see women being honoured.
    Congratulations on your first post.

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  3. https://otagotaphophile.blogspot.com/2019/10/822452-tempcorporal-margery-greenfield.html?showComment=1572009696808#c2217494455108032500

    ReplyDelete