A BLUE plaque commemorating Sergeant David Taylor Horsfall - a Barnsley dambuster - will be unveiled tomorrow morning during a special event.
He attended Holgate Grammar School along with his brother Albert.
David joined the RAF in 1936 as a boy entrant at the Number One School of Technical Training at RAF Halton and served in ground crew until 1942.
He then took the opportunity to retrain as a flight engineer on heavy bombers, and met up with his future crew at 1660 Conversion Unit at RAF Swinderby in late 1942.
His first operation was to Berlin on January 16 and his second operation was the following day.
He climbed aboard Avro Lancaster AJ-A ED877G at RAF Scampton on the evening of May 16 1943 as a crew member to Squadron Leader H.M. ‘Melvin’ Young - known as ‘Dinghy’ because of twice being rescued from the sea.
They were the fourth aircraft to target the Mohne Dam.
The fact that he was the flight engineer aboard the first Avro Lancaster to score a perfect hit on the Mohne Dam first came to light through publication of the book The Holgate 100.
Its authors were former Chronicle news editor Ian Harley and retired accountant Melvyn Lunn who looked at the lives of 100 former Barnsley Holgate Grammar School pupils who died in service of their country during World War Two.
The aircraft fell victim to flak as it crossed the Dutch coast on the flight home with all lives lost.
The research also revealed that David had only volunteered as aircrew after his 19-year-old brother, Alan Albert, died during service as a navigator with Bomber Command in 1940.
A blue plaque is set to be unveiled at a special event tomorrow at Shaw Lane Sports Club from 11am.
Veterans, old boys of Holgate Grammar School and Civic Trust members will be in attendance.
There will be an introductory talk by David Radforth from the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln and a speech from Dan Jarvis, MP and Security Minister.
The Mayor of Barnsley Dave Leech will unveil the plaque.
It will be erected at a later date on the house where Sgt David Taylor Horsfall lived on Commercial Street.
Ian Harley said: “The brothers’ story is particularly sad as they were the only issue of Robinson Horsfall and his wife, Emma (nee Taylor).
“We were therefore delighted when readers agreed it was worthy of commemoration.
“Melvyn and I are members of a group of old boys who first started at Holgate Grammar in 1960 and several volunteered to contribute towards a commemorative plaque as did one or two private individuals including the owner of 24, Commercial Street.
“We would like to thank them, the Barnsley Civic Trust, Shaw Lane Sports Club and everyone else who has helped us ensure that one family’s sacrifice to Britain’s fight for freedom will not be forgotten.
“The location of the event is appropriate as the brothers would have been very familiar with the Shaw Lane premises of the late 1930s and the date - May 16 - marks the 83rd anniversary of the Dambuster Raid.”
