St. Hillary's church, Killay - German Pilot

Killay, a suburb of Swansea.  The village of Killay evolved due to the develop of coal mining of South Wales coal industry.  Coal mining in the nearby village of Dunvant can be dated back to the 14^th century.  The largest company operating in Killay was Killan Colliery Company, establishing itself during 1899.  W.W. Holmes and Co. took over the colliery in 1902.  By the end of the First World War, the colliery one of the largest in the area had employed 755 men mostly from Killay and neighbouring Dunvant.

Killan Colliery Disaster Memorial

November 1924, the Killan Colliery was the site of a mining disaster.  A rush of water flooded the mine shaft, ripping out the roof supports and sweeping everything away in its path.  When the news was reached on the surface, rescuers were rushed to assist.  Two bodies were recovered instantly.  A further 11 men were still trapped in the mine.  The rescuers made a frantic attempt to reach the trapped miners. After 50 hours, 8 of those men 11 men trapped had been located and freed.  They had survived after breathing air from an air pocket. 

Without success the other 3 men were still missing.  It was not until January 1925, that their bodies were finally recovered.

The men who lost their lives were

Wilfred John (17);

Willie Goulding (22);

Charles Evans (30);

Archie Davis (28);

Phil Godbeer (32)

One of the men was buried at St. Hillary’s church, Killay.

St Hillays church
Killay, Swansea

The church of St. Hillary’s, replaced the old parish hall, with the foundation stone laid in October 1925.  The architect of the church was Mr. G. Moxham, who provided room for 255 worshippers.  The font which came from the parish of Penrice. Admiral Sir Henneage Vivian, presented the church with a chalice and paten.  St. Hillays consecration was 10^th August 1926.

1922, the churchyard was purchased and dedicated.

It is during the Second World War, that a German pilot was buried for 20 years.

The German pilot, Kurt Brand buried at St. Hilary’s, Killay. We have to turn the hands of time back to 1943, 16^th February, which was the last night that Swansea was bombed during the war. On this night 32 HE and numerous incendiary bombs were dropped, and there were 34 civilian deaths.

According to German sources, the Luftwaffe dispatched 37 Dornier Do 217, each aircraft had a crew of 4. The squadron took off from Eindhoven, Holland, refuelling at Evreux, France. At the same time, in Swansea, 125 Squadron RAF were based at the newly constructed in June 1941, RAF Fairwood Common.

 

The squadron received the first warnings of the Luftwaffe attack and scrambled Beaufighter aircrafts (pictured above). One of the Dornier Do 217 was shot down in flames crashing at around 22.25 into the sea off Port Eynon. There were no survivors. The particular aircraft in question was crewed by Pilot Gunther Hubenthal; Wireless Operator Karl Hochmuth; Flight Engineer Hans Krause and Observer Kurt Brand. On 25^th April 1943, the badly decomposed body of the German airman was washed ashore at Rhossili, and later being identified as Kurt Brand. A death certificate was issued on the 27^th April. The information from the certificate states that the cause of death was “Due to War Operations”. Other information gleaned from the certificate gives his occupation as German Airman and his service number as 58213/184. Interestingly the information that I have found regarding Second World War German dog tags, indicates that the only information etched is the wearer’s service number. Kurt Brand’s military funeral took place on 28^th April at St. Hilary’s Church, Killay. The funeral was conducted by a RAFVR Padre H.S. J. Harries.

 

Kurt Brand's name
St. Hillays Burial Register

His name is found in church’s burial registrar, Page 26, burial No.204.

Location of Kurt Brand's grave
with kind permission St. Hillay's church, Killay

He was buried alongside the church boundary fence, away from the Allied Airmen. Today, there is no indication as to where he was buried for 20 years. St. Hilary’s, the closest graveyard to RAF Fairwood, is the final resting place of RAF service men from many other countries.

 

 

 

 

 

Kurt Brand's grave
Cannock Chase Germany Military Cemetery, Staffordshire

During March 1963, following an agreement made between the British and German governments, Brand’s remains were exhumed re-interred at the Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery, Staffordshire.

 

All the other men on board the plane were never found, the sea off Gower remains their final resting place.