Gordon Nancarrow married William’s Woolfries eldest daughter so was his son-in-law. William’s son was a decorated fighter pilot during the war.
In his younger days he was known as Willie. He served in the East Lancashire Regiment (32497) and later 2nd Battalion, Dorset Regiment.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stansted Patrol | Patrol Leader | 27 Jun 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
Head gamekeeper
“Danny”, as he was known in his family, was born in Dorset in 1884 and worked as a gamekeeper in his early years. He married Gertrude Brickell in 1907 and served in one of the Dorsetshire Regiments as Private 17744 during the First World War including deployment to the Middle East.
Having moved to Sussex he became head gamekeeper at Stansted Park living in Middle Lodge on the estate where his three children were born - daughters Lillian and Winifred and son John. William was an accomplished shot and together with his background of military service, management experience on the estate and intimate knowledge of the local landscape, was well qualified to lead the Stansted Patrol.
His son John joined the RAF in 1939 and became a fighter pilot serving in North Africa and Italy as well as Northern Europe. He was shot down over Holland in 1945 but survived to be taken prisoner until the end of hostilities. He was decorated several times for actions over Northern Europe and made MBE in 1955.
TNA ref WO199/3391
1939 Register
Hancock data held at B.R.A
Simon Woolfries Grandson