237676 S/Sgt. James Higginbotham Army Air Corps B Squadron, 19 Flight 2nd Glider Pilot Regiment from:Napier Street, Workington, Cumberland  My grandfather James Higginbotham joined the Royal Artillery in May 1939 when he was 19 years old. He volunteered and was accepted for the Glider Pilot Regiment in September 1942. He flew his glider during Operation Mallard. His next operation was Market Garden and he flew in the 1st lift from RAF Manston. After landing successfully he and the rest of B Squadron 19 Flight, approximately 17 Glider Pilots, went with Colonel Frost and 2 Para to take the Arnhem Bridge. He was involved in the fierce fighting there and although he avoided being wounded his 2nd Pilot Sergeant Carter had to have his arm amputated. He was captured when they were forced to surrender. He was first taken to Oberusel where he was interrogated and then on to Luft 7, Bankau. He was on the Long March to Stalag IIIA, Luckenwalde and when he was repatriated he only weighed about 7 stone. He was classified unfit for active service. He was a bricklayer at Workington Iron Works, Cumberland before the war and after it he qualified as a civil engineer and had a successful career with Morgan Refractories in Neston, Cheshire.
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