Biography

Family background

Charles Askwith Haxby, a saddle and harness maker, (born about 1824 in Hampsthwaite) and his wife Ann had 9 children. They also had a number of grandchildren including Charles Johnson Haxby (born in 1897 in Harrogate), Minnie (born in 1898 in Harrogate) and John Askwith Haxby, born on the 16th March 1899 in Harrogate. John is listed on both the 1901 and 1911 censuses, but we can find no trace yet of him on the 1921 census. However by 1931 John appears on the electoral roll for Collingham, living at Railway Cottages, Collingham. John remains listed at that address in 1931, 1932, 1934 and 1935. In 1937 and 1938, John is still listed in Collingham but has moved to 19 Brookside, Collingham, and in 1939 his address is given as 36 Brookside. His occupation is given as a quarryman and charger.

Service record

In 1939 John would have been 40 years old, but would have still been expected to serve in the military under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act of 1939.

A list of airmen in the RAF available from The National Archives lists a John Askwith Haxby with a service number 1768294 having joined the RAF sometime after 1941. In fact John's service record shows that he enlisted on the 13th September 1942 in Leeds, and was immediately placed in the reserve for a month, prior to becoming a gunner under training. He was eventually called up on the 13th October at No 1 Recruiting Centre at Penarth. Here John would have been kitted out. He was then posted to RAF Locking. RAF Locking, near Weston-super-Mare in Somerset was RAF Locking had opened as a training unit in 1939 as No.5 School of Technical Training. Its role was to train new RAF and Fleet Air Arm entrants in the trades of aircraft mechanics, airframes, carpentry, fabric working and parachute packing.

John's service record next shows an undated transfer (after Oct 1942) to RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire. RAF Binbrook had opened as a Bomber Command station in June 1940 as home to No. 12 Squadron RAF. RAF Binbrook had closed about the 25th September 1942 for three new concrete runways to be installed and it re-opened in 1943 as home to No. 460 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, by this date flying Lancaster bombers. It is possible that John Haxby was posted to 460 Squadron about this date. His record also shows that his role had developed away from flying duties and that he was now an Armament Assistant. If he was at 460 Squadron in early July 1943 he would have been very aware of a frightening experience at the base. During the early evening, prior to aircraft taking off for operations, two fully bombed up aircraft caught fire and were completely destroyed and three others became unserviceable. For a space of half and hour there was much excitement as each aircraft was laden with 4,000 lb bombs. There were several terrific explosions causing severe damage, but the fires were then extinguished. Fortunately no one was injured, although some ground crew were in the aircraft when she first caught fire.

On the 21st April 1944, John was posted again, this time to No. 5 Lancaster Finishing School (5 L.F.S.) at RAF Syerston, where Lancaster crews undertook their final training prior to operations. On the 12th November 1944, John was taken on the strength of the base at RAF Syerston, potentially servicing aircraft from other squadrons based there. While at Syerston, John was promoted to Aircraftman 1st Class. Then, on the 7th April 1945, John was transferred to No 53 Base at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire. John remained at Waddington until the war in Europe was over when, on the 16th June 1945 he was posted to RAF Sturgate where some blind flying training for Lancasters took place.

John's time in the RAF was coming to a close. On the 24th October 1945 he was posted to No 263 Maintenance Unit at RAF Stansted, but a month later, on the 13th November 1945 he passed through No 102 Personnel Dispatch Centre at RAF Cardington, Bedfordshire and became a civilian again.

After the war

In 1946 John is again registered in the Collingham electoral rolls at 36 Brookside, Collingham and he remains registered at that address until 1957. In that year, when John was 58 years old, he appears on the electoral roll for Harrogate, living at 1 Hill Top Close, Harrogate with his sister Minnie and they remain registered there into the 1960s.

John Askwith Haxby died at 1 Hill Top Close, Harrogate, on the 30th January 1971.

Biography last updated 21 January 2025 15:00:51.