Harold Graham Jordan MBE (1908-1986)

Dates

Birth: 28 March 1908 200 Fernhead Road,, Paddington, London, UK
Father: Charles Ephraim (Ephriam) Jordan 1875-1936
Mother: Susan Hope 1874-1913

Christening: 31 May 1908 St Luke, West Kilburn, London, UK

Marriage: 1 July 1933 Holy Trinity, Hampstead, London, UK
Wife: Doris Grocock 1908-1994

Death: 5 May 1986 Wenbury, The Hyde, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, UK

Children

Unknown

Notes

Birth of Harold Graham Jordan in FreeBMD in April-June 1908 in Paddington (1A 13).

Entry in Ancestry London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1917 for Herald Grahem (sic) Jordan born on 28 March 1908, and baptised on 31 May 1908 at St Luke, West Kilburn, Westminster, parents Charles Ephraim and Susan Jordan. "Page 193 Baptisms solemnized in the Parish of Saint Luke Kilburn in the County of London in the Year One thousand nine hundred and eight. 1908 31 May Born 28 March 1908 No. 1537 Harold Graham, [parents] Charles Ephraim [a] Railway Clerk [and] Susan Jordan [of] 200 Fernhead Road".

In the 1911 census as Harold Jordan aged 3, born in Paddington and living with his parents (Charles and Susan), and two brothers (Arthur and Charles) in three rooms at 200 Fernhead Road, Paddington W, London.

His mother died in Hampstead in 1913, and his father married Margaret Mary Mullington in Newport, Shropshire in 1914.

In the 1921 census as Harold Graham Jordan born in Paddington, London in 1908, and living with Charles Ephain (sic) Jordan (father?), Margaret Mary Jordan (stepmother?), Arthur Hope and Charles Homer Jordan (brothers?), and Constance Emily Jordan (half-sister?) in Hampstead, London, Middlesex.

Entry in Ancestry London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1938 for the marriage (sic - banns) of Harold Graham Jordan and Doris Grocock on 28 May 1933 at St Mary, Harrow. "Page 166 The Year 1933 [...] No. 491 Banns of Marriage between Harold Graham Jordan b of Holy Trinity Finchley and Doris Grocock of this Parish Were published as follows: 1st, on Sunday May 14 1933 [...] 2d, on Sunday May 21 1933, 3d. on Sunday May 28 1933".

Marriage of Harold G Jordan and Doris Grocock in FreeBMD in July-September 1933 in Hampstead (1A 1822).

Entry in Ancestry London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1938 for the marriage of Harold Graham Jordan aged 25, father Charles Ephraim Jordan and Doris Grocock on 1 July 1933 at Holy Trinity, Hampstead, Camden. "Page 76 [...] 1933. Marriage solemnized at Holy Trinity Church in the Parish of Hampstead in the County of London. [No.] 152 July 1 Harold Graham Grocock [aged] 25 [a] Bachelor [and] Schoolmaster [of] 166 ? Hamspstead N.W.6 [father] Charles Ephraim Jordan [a] Stationmaster [and] Doris Grocock [aged] 25 [a] Spinster [of] 112 Risboro Rd Harrow [father] Harold Backhouse Grocock [a] Clerk (deceased). Married in the Church aforesaid according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church after banns [...] in the Presence of us Horace Grocock, Gladys Grocock [and] Charles E Jordan."

There are nine entries in Ancestry All Surrey, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1945 results for Harold Graham Jordan address 56 South Way, Addington in 1933 to 1939, other occupant Doris Jordan (wife?).

In the 1939 England and Wales Register as Harold G Jordan born on 28 March 1908, a schoolmaster, and living at 56 South Way, Croydon, Surrey, other occupants Doris Jordan (wife?), and Gertrude E and Maude E Gercock (unknown relatives of his wife?).

Entry in Supplement to the The London Gazette 1 September 1942 p3813 "Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve [...] 8th May 1942. [...] 1322509 Harold Graham Jordan (121561). 3rd June 1942."

Entry in Second Supplement to the The London Gazette 8 January 1943 p247 "Distinguished Service Order Pilot Officer Harold Graham Jordan (121561), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve".

Entry in RAF Commands 943-01-12 DSO Plt Offr Harold Graham Jordan (121561) 1474 Flt

Distinguished Service Order Pilot Officer Harold Graham Jordan (121561), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Distinguished Flying Cross Pilot Officer Edwin Amos Paulton (Can/J 16114), Royal Canadian Air Force Distinguished Flying Medal Can/R 93566 Flight Sergeant William Walter Bigoray, Royal Canadian Air Force Pilot Officers Jordan and Paulton and Flight Sergeant Bigoray, have displayed great gallantry, fortitude and devotion to duty in exceptionally hazardous circumstances London Gazette No. 35858, Dated 1943-01-12.

At 0202 hours of 3 December 1942, Wellington 1c aircraft, DV819, took off from RAF Station Gransden for a Special Wireless Investigation Flight in the Frankfurt area.. At 0431 hours the aircraft was in a DR position of 49 degrees North 54 minutes East. The Special Operator monitoring German airborne frequencies, P/O Jordan, reported that he had been receiving signals on his special Wireless Equipment which he thought were the ones requiring to be investigated. He warned the crew to expect a fighter attack. On the northerly leg the signal grew stronger and Jordan repeated his warning. A code had previously been arranged, so that if the signal were picked up, the frequency could immediate be sent back to base, it being absolutely vital that this information should reach base at all costs. Position of 50 degrees 30 minutes East was reached at 0442 and the aircraft set course for the homeward leg. The Special Operator passed the coded message to the Wireless Operator for transmission to base, giving in the message the frequency and that this frequency was very probably the correct one. Jordan warmed the crew that his receiver was being saturated and to expect an attack at any moment; almost simultaneously the aircraft was hit by a burst of cannon fire. The rear gunner gave a fighter control commentary during the attack and identified the enemy aircraft as a Ju.88. Violent corkscrew turns were used as evasive action through eight or nine attacks. The aircraft was effectively wrecked, to the point that it ditched off the English coast. Most of the crew were wounded, although all survived.
3 Dec 1942
No.1474 Flight
Wellington IC DV819
Op: RCM
T/o Gransden Lodge and during the course of the sortie, came under attack from a Ju 88 night-fighter. Badly damaged, Sgt Paulton RCAF was obliged to ditch his aircraft at 0824 off Walmer beach on the south side of Deal, Kent.
J16114 P/O Edwin Amos Paulton RCAF (Pilot) (later DFC LG:12-1-43 - 1474 Flt))
J16116 P/O William Alexander Renton Barry RCAF (Nav.) (later DFC - LG: 9-2-43 - 1474 Flt))
121561 P/O Harold Graham Jordan RAFVR (S/O) (later DSO - LG:12-1-43 - 1474 Flt))
R93566 F/Sgt William Walter Bigoray RCAF (W.Op.) (later DFM - LG: 12-1-43 - 1474 Flt) + 27/28-4-44 - 7 Sqn - BCL5/196)
F/Sgt GRANT (A/G) R79229 F/Sgt Everett Thomas Vachon RCAF (A/G) (later DFM - LG: 9-2-43 - 1474 Flt)

Entry in Aviation Safety Network

Date: Thursday 3 December 1942
Time: 08:24
Type: Vickers Wellington Mk IC
Owner/operator: 1474 Wireless Interception Flt RAF
Registration: DV819
MSN: DT-G
Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6
Aircraft damage: Destroyed Location: North Sea, 200 yards
from the British coast near Deal - United Kingdom
Phase: Landing
Nature: Military
Departure airport: RAF Gransden Lodge
Destination airport:
Narrative:
Badly damaged by Ju-88 night fighter over Germany Ditched off the coast of England. Crew:-
Pilot : Pilot Officer Edwin Amos Paulton DSO RCAF J/16114
Navigator : Pilot Officer William Alexander Renton Barry RCAF R/100054
Wireless Operator : Flight Sergeant William Walter Bigoray DFM RCAF R/93566 [Injured]
Front Gunner : Flight Sergeant Frederick Percy Grant RCAF R/95585
Special Equipment Operator : Pilot Officer Harold Graham Jordan DSO DFC RAFVR 121561 [Injured] (NCO:1322509 Commission Gazetted : Tuesday 01 September, 1942)
Rear Gunner : Flight Sergeant Everitt Thomas Vachon RCAF R/79229 [Injured]

Entry in Ancestry UK, Memorial Books WWI and WWII, 1914-1945 for Jordan, Harold Graham Sqdn-Ldr., R.A.F. - D.S.O.

Entry in Trove Issue Vol. 11 No. 14 (3 April 1943)

Harold Graham Jordan, of Addiscombe, taught at Lanfranc School before he joined the RAF. In September 1940, homes of some of the boys he taught were demolished by Nazi bombs. Jordan, enlisting, told boys he would help to pay Nazis back. Now a pilot-officer he has won DSO for gallantry and devotion to duty. He was recently rescued from sea after bailing out when plane was hit on offensive flight to Germany.

There is a very long description with photos in Legion Magazine which gives the background to this important mission.

Three entries in Ancestry Gloucestershire, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1974 for Harold G Jordan address Orchard House, New Inn Lane, Shurdington, Cirencester and Tewkesbury from 1959 to 1964, other occupant Doris Jordan (wife?).

Entry in Wikipedia The 1968 Queen's Birthday Honours were appointments to orders and decorations of the Commonwealth realms to reward and highlight citizens' good works, on the occasion of the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. They were announced in supplements to the London Gazette of 31 May 1968. [...] Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) [...] Civil Division [...] Harold Graham Jordan, DSO, Lately Departmental Specialist, Government Communications Headquarters, Diplomatic Service.

Entry in Supplement to the The London Gazette 5 June 1968 p6314 "M.B.E. To be Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order Civil Division [...] Harold Graham Jordan, D.S.O., Lately Departmental Specialist, Government Communications Headquarters, Diplomatic Service.

Entry in the Register of Deaths for Harold Graham Jordan, born on 28 March 1908, in May 1986 in Cheltenham (22 1451).

Entry in Ancestry England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995 for Harold Graham Jordan died on 5 May 1986 in Winchcombe Glos, probate 23 November 1989 in Llandaff. "Jordan, Harold Graham of Wenbury The Hyde Winchcombe Glos died 5 May 1986 Probate Llandaff 23 November Not exceeding £40000".

From emails on RAF Commands109 Squadron Wellingtons I have just one photograph of a 109 Squadron Wellington - the squadron code was definately HS. ZP was carried by 1473 (SD) Flight - it was given to me by Harold Jordan DSO - Spec Op aboard DV819 when they confirmed the existence of German AI. John Rees.

Ten entries in Ancestry Family Trees for Harold Graham Jordan.

Relationship

Harold Graham Jordan was the husband of Doris Grocock, my half third cousin. He was also the grandnephew of Edgar Jordan, husband of Amy Luff, my half first cousin twice removed.

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