CARRINGTON – Edgill R.

1399188 – E.R. Carrington – Trinidad – Ach/Obs. – attested 19.11.41
133251 – F/O – commissioned 7.1.43 – P/War 26.7.43 (?)

[Source: NA AIR 2/6876 – Nominal Roll of Coloured Candidates, October 1944]

Pilot Officer – Pilot – Halifax – POW

Educated QRC; Volunteer ETS; trained Piarco; Shot down while flying a Halifax. POW. Died April 1990

[Source: CMHA]

One addition to “CARRINGTON – Edgill R.”

  1. Helen Hanschell adds:

    This is my mother’s brother Edgell Carrington and he spent most of the war in a POW camp Stalag Luft 3.I was contributing to the BBC People’s War website and asked if anyone could tell me anything about my uncle. This was the response.
    “http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/U1540239
    Master and Pupil
    On the night of 25/26 July 1943,whilst serving as a Flight Engineer on No 78 Squadron, R.T.Davies 655244 and his crew had the misfortune to cop one on a visit to Essen. Thier Halifax Mark-2,JD330,received unwelcome attention from both flak and night fighter and was set on fire, it eventually crashed near Duisburg. From the stricken bomber, however, Reg, together with his Captain, Pilot Officer E.Carrington 133251,and Bomb Aimer Sergeant H.W.Marshall 1480138, managed to survive.”After capture,something almost unbelievable happened;the young Luftwaffa Officer,into whose temporary custody we were placed, recognised my Skipper as his erstwhile teacher at a school in Trinidad! Shortly after the First World War Carrington’s parents had left England to work in the Carribean where the young Carrington had eventually grown up and became a teacher. The German Officer’s parents had done likewise, albeit some time later,and their boy had gone to the same school,in fact’Carry’taught him English-which,to his credit the young German spoke very well.Despite the amazing coincidence the Skipper obeyed his orders to the letter,revealed nothing at interrogation and the German respected this,in any case Carrington was in no mood to talk at length;he was in extreme pain,having broken his leg when he fell awkwardly on a railway line trying to avoid a train as it passed beneath him during his long descent. I hope his ex-pupil used some influence and got him to hospital quickly? I never saw him again.”

    Watermill on BBC’s People’s War website

    Edgell was shot down early in the war and hardly had time to know his crew. He had just finished induction. The writer did not realise that he was from a Trinidad family an was mistaken. Edgell had not taught in Trinidad and had been born there. Also his injury was to do with bashing his knee and leg on the cockpit door as he jumped and there were no breaks on landing. He was upset about the loss of so many men (his crew) when he was the pilot, probably had terrible guilt feelings. He was in his 30s and older than many men flying. He spent the next three years as a prisoner of the Germans. His POW no was L3 Camp 1810, he had been in Bomber Command group 4 Squadron 78 at Middleton St. George Durham (10/6/42) and then after training went to Linton-on-Ouse Yorkshire (16/9/42)
    Th family were surprised to get this information so many years later.
    Best wishes to this wonderful site,
    Helen Hanschell

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