Descendants of the Berkshire Bints

The Bint Family of Eaton, Nuneaton & Yorkshire

HENRY BINT   1839-1911

This Bint family  lived in the Appleton, Eaton area near Cumnor to the South West of Oxford all of which were in Berkshire until 1974 when  a number of major changes took place. A large area to the north west as far as Abingdon was transferred to Oxfordshire, and Slough (formerly in Buckinghamshire) became part of Berkshire.

My sincere thanks to Teddi from Canada,  Nigel from Woodstock, Graham Bint and Linda King from Oxford for their unhesitating help and allowing me to use their valuable and extensive research.

To the left of Cumnor. Long Leys Farm - Henry's home

Appleton, a village and a parish in Berkshire. The village stands near the Upper Thames, 5 miles NW of Abingdon station on the G.W.R., and has a post and money order office under Abingdon, which is the telegraph office. The parish includes also the township of Eaton. Acreage, 2077 ; population, 532. The Fettiplaces had an old seat here, which is now reduced to a fragment, with remains of a moat The living is a rectory in the diocese of Oxford; net yearly value, £330 with residence, in the gift of Magdalen College, Oxford. The church is a plain stone building in the Early English style, the chancel being 15th century. The tower contains a fine peal of ten bells. The nave was restored in 1883. The church has a Jacobean tomb of Sir J. Fettiplace, and a brass of a skeleton (1518). There is also a small Wesleyan chapel. The manor house is supposed to have been built in the reign of Henry II.       Transcribed from The Comprehensive Gazetteer of England and Wales, 1894-5

Bablock Hythe was on the Berkshire Oxfordshire border until 1974.

The Greyhound Inn, Besselsleigh 1900 (Eaton Lane is on the left.)

Appleton late 1890  

Philip's son Henry Bint (1839-1911) grew up in the Eaton, Appleton area  and by the time he was eleven years old  was working as a farm labourer in Eaton. In 1861 he was a still a farm labourer and working at Appleton. 

It was in February 1861 that same year the 21 year old married Maria Stimpson aged 20, at St Laurence Church Appleton. Maria who was born in July 1840 at nearby Marcham, was the daughter of  well known local master-thatcher Charles Stimpson. 

 Whilst Henry was still working on the land, Maria was employed as a washerwoman – 10 years later in 1871 they were living at Eaton Lane, Appleton and had five children who were; 

Louisa  Ellen  -      1862

Charles  -              1863 

Frederick James -  1866

Eliza  -                   1867

Albert -                 1870

Originally two game keepers cottages, Long Leys Farm Cottage  is an attractive period house believed to date from the 18th century.

The 1881 census shows the family had grown to ten children with the addition of;

Edna    -       1875 

Frederick -   1872

Sidney  -      1878 

Norah   -      1880

Alice Lizzie was born in 1883.  Henry was then employed as a general labourer living at Long Leaze Cottage. His sons Charles and James were also listed as labourers.

In 1891 Henry was  a widower, Maria had died in 1888. He was now employed as a gamekeeper and had moved to Lower Whitley Farm a short distance away. He had a housekeeper to help him with the children. She was Warwickshire born widow Levina Fowler(1848) and had a daughter Alice Fowler (1883).

 Believed to be  Bints, Marshalls and Robinsons at a family wedding. (sorry no names).     Supplied by Nigel Robinson

Nigel's great-grandmother was Henry's daughter Edna Jane Bint who was born at Eaton in 1875. She married Oxford born Thomas William Robinson (1875) at Oxford in 1895. They had seven children, 

Thomas Harry Robinson 1894, 

Edna Mabel 1895, 

Beatrice 1900, 

Bertha Lilian 1906, 

Dora 1913-14, 

Louise Nora 1905  

Nora Elizabeth 1898-99.

Thomas William Robinson & Edna Jane

Edna Jane Bint in 1910

Gamekeepers look after "beats" (areas of countryside) in order to provide game for shooting and maintain a balanced habitat and wildlife population.

In Victorian times he would be ever watchful at all hours for poachers or sheep and cattle thieves.

Planning for the shooting season includes sowing and drilling game crops such as maize and kale and preparing woodland to feed and shelter birds throughout the year.

As well as encouraging game which breed in the wild, many gamekeepers hatch and rear young game birds like grouse, partridges and pheasants. They are then released while continuing to feed them at carefully selected locations.

Another part of their job especially in the breeding season, is the monitoring and culling of predators such as foxes, stoats, crows and magpies and pests like rabbits and pigeons.

Other responsibilities would be gun maintenance, arranging shoots, hiring beaters and training and feeding the dogs.

Peter Hills- an 1870s Yorkshire Gamekeeper

In July 1895 widower 34 year old Henry married 38 year old Rose Janaway who had been born at St Ebbes, Oxford the daughter of Oxford builder Frederick Janaway. 

They were back in Long Leys Cottage and were there in June 1896 when their son Horace Janaway Bint was born. 

In 1901 Henry was still employed as a game keeper and living in Long Leys Cottage with Rose and 4 year old Horace.

Henry died in 1911. Rose in 1940.

He appears to have passed on his skills to four of his sons, James, Charles, Frederick and Sidney who all went on to be game keepers.

Rose

Their son Horace Janaway Bint (1896-1994) married Northmoor born widow Norah Busby (1891-1971) whose Canadian husband George Kensett (1894-1919) had died in France in April 1919 only 14 months after their marriage, while serving with the Canadian Infantry. 

Horace had joined the Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars in 1915, was injured at Somme in 1918 and discharged as only fifty percent fit in June 1919.

Norah and farm-worker Horace Bint were married at Northmoor Church in June 1920. They had two children, Henry 1922 and William 1928, both born at Northmoor. He was buried there in 1994 at the ripe old age of 97.

Henry's eldest son, game-keeper Charles Henry Bint, was born at Eaton in 1863. His wife Lilian Marshall was born at Kirkby Underwood in Lincolnshire in 1873.They were married there in 1892. 

Their eight children were - 

Charles Henry Bint (1863-1929)

Lilian Marshall (1873-1959)

Alice Lizzie Bint (1883-1962)

Horace A W Marshall (1882-1973)

Charles Henry Bint's youngest sister, Alice Lizzie (1883-1962) also married into the Marshall family. He was Horace A W Marshall (1882-1973) the son of Lincolnshire school teacher Emily Marshall (1861)

Lilian Marshall's grandfather, woodsman William Marshall (1803) and Maria with their ten sons.

Photos from Teddi's collection

We do not know at present who is who on this 1870-80s photograph other than the old couple. He married Mary Ann Simpson in 1830. His sons were - William Marshall 1831 – 1918, John Marshall 1833 – 1919, Robert Marshall 1835 – 1916, George Marshall 1837 – 1927, Edward Marshall 1838 – 1910, Thomas Henry Marshall 1841 – 1926, Joseph Marshall 1843 – 1933, Samuel W. Marshall  1844 – 1931, Simpson Marshall 1847 – 1905, Albert James Marshall 1850 – 1891.  

Charles Henry Bint's wife Lilian (born 1873) was the daughter of William Marshall (1831).

In 1891 Charles was already head gamekeeper at the Grange, Kirkby Underwood, in Lincolnshire. By the time of his first son's birth he had moved to Winsford in Cheshire. When Charlotte and Albert were born the family were at Holywell, Lincolnshire, and then from around 1901 the remainder of the children were  baptised at Westwood in Worcestershire. Charles Bint was then head-keeper and living at Keeper's House, Westwood with his younger brother Sidney working under him. He was at Westwood till at least 1912 when his youngest son Kenneth John Bint was born.

By 1915 he had moved to  Standlake, Oxfordshire, only a few miles from his birth-place of Eaton. He is listed as landlord of the 'Black Horse' in Standlake from 1915-17 taking over from his brother Frederick. In later years the family would be associated with the 'Bell' in the High Street.

Charles died at Hanborough, Oxfordshire in 1929. 

61 year old Lilian remarried in 1934. He was 64 year old cowman Joseph Baston who was born at Abingdon.

The Bell, High Street, Standlake in 2009

Charles Henry's eldest daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Bint was born at Holywell, Lincs in 1896.

In 1918 she married Joseph Wood (1892) an RAF engineer from Haydock, Lancashire at Standlake. Her brother Chris, who migrated to Canada seven years later, was a witness at their wedding.

They settled at Freeland, five miles east of Witney, and had one son, Edward John Wood.

Chris in 1917

Chris and his sisters

Amy and Chris at their 50th Anniversary

Brothers and sisters -

Marjorie, Lilian, Ken, Walter and  Chris. 

Albert Christopher Bint (1897-1987) was also born at Holywell, Lincolnshire. At 14 years old he was already an assistant game-keeper at Westwood Park and the end of his time there in 1915 the 18 year old was listed as a game-keeper and horseman. 

The family moved back to their roots to Standlake in Oxfordshire in the later part of 1915 and it was from there in November he joined the Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars. He was injured in 1916. In 1917 the 20 year old was discharged from the army being 30 per cent disabled.

In 1921 Chris married Amy Maria Trinder at Witney. Amy, born in 1900, was from nearby Stanton Harcourt in Oxfordshire. 

In March 1925 they migrated to Nova Scotia with their 3 year old daughter Sheila Amy on the Ausonia, arriving at Halifax on April 3rd. 

Chris and Amy farmed in Manitoba and altogether had five children. 

Amy died in North Vancouver in 1985 and Chris in 1987.

He was a farmer at heart and even after they moved from their Manitoba farm to their city home in North Vancouver, their yard was a showplace of flowers. 

Despite having knee and hip replacements later in life, he could always be found in his yard or on the roof (much to the consternation of his children!) continuing to maintain their plot.

He was very active in the Legion and an avid cribbage player. Teddi

Amy Maria Bint with Dennis, Elaine and Doreen in Manitoba during the early 1940's

Amy Maria Trinder

I'll always remember her as a lovely proper woman who always had wonderful baking to share, taught me to cheat at solitaire and enjoyed Stampede wrestling on TV.

My mother says she was basically disowned by her family for marrying beneath her and never spoke to any of them again.  She also says that she and Chris never fought a day in their life.

She had advanced Alzheimers at the end of her life.  She stayed at home with Chris until he couldn't look after her anymore then moved to a nearby extended care.  Chris walked over every single day to be with her for meals.   Teddi

Stanton Harcourt in 1900 - the home village of  Amy Trinder

They had one child.

Kenneth John Bint was born at Westwood, Worcestershire in 1912. He married Sutton born Doris May Trinder (1912-1946) at Northmoor in 1934. 

Doris died in 1946. 

In 1979 the 67 year old married Queenie Ayres, also 67, at Witney Registry Office.

Queenie died in 1987 and Kenneth in 1990.

Kenneth with second wife Queenie at Witney in 1979

Walter Marshall Bint was born at Westwood, Worcestershire in 1907. He married Wigan born Mary Hilda Smith (1912) at North Leigh in 1931.  They had two children.

Mary died in 1956 while Walter lived to the great age of 91.

Lillian in 1982

Thomas Curtis

Westwood House  ©  Richard Greenwood

Entrance to Westwood Estate

Henry's youngest son Sidney John Bint who was born at Eaton in 1878 was also a gamekeeper. In 1901 the 23 year old was already employed on the Westwood Estate where his brother Charles was head keeper. He was single and living alone at nearby Forest Meadow, Hampton Lovett near Droitwich in Worcestershire. 

He  stayed in the Droitwich area after marrying  Florence Mary Hedgcock (1877-1949) in 1904. They had three children, 

John Henry (1907-1987) 

Charles Edward Bint (1915-1990) 

Dorothy F Bint (1916).

In 1911 Sidney was listed as a market gardener and farmer at nearby Hadley.

His son Charles Edward Bint (1915) was married in the Droitwich area to Ross-on-Wye girl Joyce Kathleen Weeks (1917-1994) in 1953. They had two children.

Frederick Bint who was born to Henry and Maria at Eaton in 1872 was also a gamekeeper. He married Emma ( Laura) Cooper (1871-1929) from Chaul End, near Luton, in 1891 at Marylebone in Middlesex. His first child Percy, was born near the Papworth Hall Estate in Cambridgeshire where Frederick was probably employed as a game-keeper. They next settled around 1895 near the Woburn Abbey estate at Milton Bryan in Bedfordshire. Its not clear at present whether he was employed by the Duke of Bedford or the owners of Milton Bryan Manor. The Duke purchased the Manor in 1906.

Frederick and Laura had seven children. 

Milton Bryan in 1900

Today's map

Frederick's son Lionel Bint (1901-1981) married Lilian Stevens (1904-1985) in 1925. He is listed as a carrier at Standlake  in 1926, a farmer in 1930, and a publican from 1937. They baptised four children at Standlake, 

Clifford John (1926-1979)

Brian Frederick Lionel (1930)

Patrick David (1937)

Leslie (1948)

His son Clifford John Bint (1926) married Vera May Fitchet (1932-2005) in 1951.

Lionel and Lilian are buried at Northmoor.

Another of Frederick's sons, Cyril James Bint (1895) married Dorset girl Beatrice Ellen Budden (1897-1990) at Bridgwater, Somerset in 1921. 

Their son Stanley Frederick Bint had his birth registered at Witney in 1922.

Cyril's sister, Eva Bint (1898-1990), married Eynsham born Harvey Lewis Hill (1895) in the Witney area in 1925.

30th of August 2009. Mr. Brian Bint, former resident of Standlake has sent the following notes to the Standlake and District Historical Society as he noticed several inaccuracies in the publication of 'Standlake at War'. He spoke to  Lynda Blair one Wednesday in church and she suggested he emailed her with his comments. This is what he said: You suggested that I send my comments and corrections to you and I have much pleasure in doing so. I was 9 years old when war broke out and remember it well. My comments are:

To be precise on location, "The Bell" had Fred Bourton's butcher's shop on the left as you face it and Mr Walter Florey's Drapers store on the other side, i.e. where the Post Office is today.

Louis Tuckey - Eileens Father - had the Bakery opposite the Bell where Eileen lives today. As a boy I worked for Mr Tuckey from 1940 until 1947 delivering bread three evenings a week and all day Saturday to Northmoor and the West End and Lynch Hill. The man who worked for Mr Tuckey was Cecil Lay who lived in Northleigh.

Mr Tuckey delivered his excellent bread by horse and van starting at about 6pm and ending in Brighthampton after 9pm. Often he would fall asleep after his 16 hour working day and his horse would bring him home. During the war deliveries were restricted to three days a week to conserve petrol. He was a delightful man and I enjoyed working for him and learning from him.

Mains Electricity came to the village just BEFORE the war but not everyone could afford the conversion so they would remember not having it. An Automatic Telephone Exchange was built opposite the Black Horse before the war.

The local Blacksmith was Fred Timms who was also the Landlord of the Red Lion, Northmoor. Later John Barrett was the Blacksmith.

In addition to Mr F.B. (Sonny) Johnson other men worked at the M.G. factory including Arthur (Darkie) Wearing, who cycled to Abingdon every day. He was a declared Communist and when Hitler attacked Russia I remember him saying "The good old hammer and sickle, God bless them". He was always very vocal in support of Russia and frequently argued with other men in the Bell.

The recreation was let to Mr Bint (my Father) not "Bent". I worked many hours in the recreation field harvesting barley, picking potatoes and cutting cabbages and lettuce at 4am before going to school.

The Glider crashed in the village on the day we attempted to capture the Bridge at Arnhem. I ran across the fields to see the soldiers opening the Horsa Glider and drive away in what I think was a Jeep.

The Canadians were camping under canvas on Forty Acres, the common land on the right as you approach the first bridge on the way to Newbridge. 

Reference is made to an older girl Nellie Longhurst.  Mrs Nellie Longhurst was a married woman not an older girl.

Nellie was married to Ernie Longhurst who worked at Florey's grocery store. They lived in a house almost opposite to Joan Eagle.

Nellie was the Manageress of Mr. Florey's Drapers Store. She was famously noted for her raucous laugh which was frequently heard in the store and as she rode her bicycle home.

There is mention of the "Local Pubs" which were frequented by the G.I.'s and Canadians as well as the people of the village. Such was the demand for beer that the Pubs could only open three or four days a week before they were sold out. Yes - beer was also in short supply.    Brian Bint

Brian Bint is the grandson of Frederick Bint (1872) who was landlord of "The Bell" at Standlake and a son of Lionel Bint (1900).

16th of August 2010  Hi Tom,   After all this time I have just visited    www.bint-family.com
Thank you for the information. I am flying to England on Wednesday and meeting Nigel Robinson on Friday. I'm sure he has so much information for me. My father was Lionel Bint. I and my three brothers were born at The Bell , Standlake. I knew Horace and visited him a few times in the years before he died.  I will try to keep in touch.  Best wishes,
Brian F. L. Bint

Standlake is an appropriate name, one might think, particularly looking at the village from the air, as it is surrounded by at least eight lakes. In 1718 the diarist Richard Rawlinson wrote that Standlake was 'among streams in a moorish lakish soil' and 'situate on a dam'd standing puddle, long, deep and dirty'. In fact the Old English meaning of Standlake is 'hill by a stony stream'. Three old hamlets form Standlake as we know it today: Standlake, Brittenton and Brighthampton. It lies about ten miles west of Oxford.      www.visitoruk.com

Standlake Village   © Jonathan Billinger

The 'Black Horse' Standlake  © Jonathan Billinger

Albert Bint was born at Eaton in 1872. He married Elizabeth Jane Jaggard (1865) who was from Tackley, Oxfordshire at Tackley in 1889. Albert was employed as a railway plate-layer. Their first son Albert Henry Bint was born at Tackley in 1890. The family settled at Southrop, Hook Norton near Banbury and their other children were born there. They were 

Eder J Bint (1892) 

Emily May (1894)

Florence Maria (1900) 

On the 1911 census the only child still at home with her parents was Florence. On his son Albert's wedding certificate in 1914 Albert senior was still giving his occupation as plate-layer.

Plate-layers were linemen. The term dates back to the earliest days of the railways when they were known as plate-ways and were built using short sections of iron bar or angle sections rather than the rails we know today. A plate layer was responsible for all aspects of track maintenance such as replacing worn out rails or rotten sleepers, packing to ensure a level track, weeding and clearance of the drains etc.

Albert Henry Bint and his brother Eder had moved to Nuneaton in Warwickshire and were employed in the coal mines there. On the 1911 census they were both boarding with a Mumford family. In 1914 Albert married Elsie Hannah Mumford at Chilvers Coton parish church, Nuneaton. Interestingly Albert Henry Bint had changed his second name to Albert Edward on the marriage certificate.

Elsie was born in 1890 at Neithrop, a part of Banbury in Oxfordshire, the daughter of Thomas Charles Mumford. 

Eder married Emily Fidoe (1901) at Hook Norton in 1923.

Albert and Elsie had two daughters, Ivy May (1916) and Violet Elsie Bint, who was born at Nuneaton in 1917. Violet married Hartlepool, Co. Durham boy Albert Oswald Mann (1916-1944) in 1940 at Islington, Middlesex. He joined the RAF to train as a pilot in 1940 but tragically lost his life when the Lancaster in which he was Second Pilot crashed near Dusseldorf in 1944.

See   Albert Mann's War

Southrop Green, Hook Norton

Old Hook Norton

A younger son of Henry Bint was James Frederick Bint born in 1865. He, like his three brothers, was also employed as a gamekeeper. He married Frances Rose Green (1872) from Pendock, Worcestershire at Upton upon Severn in 1888 and their first child Beatrice(1889) was born nearby. 

He was a gamekeeper in the New Forest area of Hampshire  from 1891-1894. Three of his children were born there, Edith May (1890), James Arthur (1893) and Dorothy Lily Bint (1894). 

By 1898 he had moved north to the Whitby area of Yorkshire where their remaining children were born.

The Plough Inn, Moorsholm - now Toad Hall

Sunnyfield House, Guisborough 

Memories

Graham Bint (1951), a great-grandson of James Frederick, has collected some memories from his uncle, William Young and added a few of his own. Unfortunately there are no dates so we are hoping that another family member may recognise one or more of these relations and possibly help out. The notes in italics are mine.  (Tom)

"Charles Bint was a footman at Grey Towers, Nunthorpe. He later had funeral cars at Lingdale. He became a bookie and had a lot to do with Doncaster Dog Track."    Was this Charles Frederick Bint (1901-1973) who married Doris Fletcher in 1921?   

"Sid Bint was a miner at North Skelton."  Perhaps Sidney Bint (1910) who married Vera Baxter at Guisborough in 1929?

"Was Lonnie Bint, the musician and band-master, the son of Harold Bint?"  Harold William Bint (1910) married Sarah Hesslewood at Guisborough in 1932. They had at least three sons, Denis M Bint (1933), Harold W Bint (1935), and Donald Bint (1937).

"Albert Bint was a professional footballer. He played for Doncaster Rovers when they were in the 2nd Division in 1934."  Was this the Albert J Bint, who was born in 1912 at Guisborough, and married Eileen Eastham at Doncaster in 1934?

"Aunt Alice Bint was later Alice Knight of Lindale, North Yorkshire."  Alice Norah Bint married William Knight at Guisborough in 1920.

 "Aunt Dora was later Dora Oliver of Eston, Middlesborough."   Dorothy Lily Bint married Ernest Oliver at Guisborough in 1918.

"Aunt Mim was at Netherby Farm, Ladgate Lane, Middlesborough."    

From Teddi in Canada
In my search of Bint families I've come across a whole family that I can't seem to figure out.  Maybe you or one of your contacts might be able to figure it out?  I don't even know if they tie in to my bunch or not.
Anyway, here goes.
In going thru Yorkshire records, I've come across a bunch of kids, all surname Bint with the mother listed as "Scott".
1) Gordon Bint, born Mar 1936 in Doncaster
2) Ronald Bint, born Jun 1936 in Doncaster
3) Sidney Bint, born Jun 1940 in Doncaster
4) Roy Bint, born Jun 1943 in Doncaster
There might be more but this was my starting place.  There are no others born before 1936 anyway.

Now, the only Bint/Scott marriage I can find a record for is in Jun 1962 in Doncaster.  (James A. Bint & Florence Scott).  Anyway, my curiosity has gotten the best of me and this is driving me nuts!  I've gone thru every source I can think of - Ancestry, Free BMD, FindMyPast, family search, etc to no avail.  so If you have a record somewhere of any of these kids, can you please let me know?

James's son Percy Henry Bint (1899) married Alice Annie Gabbitas (born 1894) at Sheffield in 1918. Their first son Kenneth James and daughter Peggy Frances (1921) were born in the Whitby area. Percy and Alice had moved to the Worksop, Nottinghamshire area when their other four children were baptised. They were 

Lesley James (1923), 

Percy (1924)

Frank (1924)

Eunice (1926)

His son Kenneth James Bint (1918-2003) who married Rotherham girl Janet Bessie Coleman (1922) at Worksop in 1940 was also a sergeant in the RAF when his son Stephen Bint was born at Albert Street in Grantham, Lincolnshire in May 1944.

Another son of James, Charles Frederick Bint (1901-1973) married Doris Fletcher (1902-1980) in 1921 at Guisborough. They had six children. Their first Desmond Charles Bint (1921-1971) was registered at Guisborough, and his siblings, Frances Bint (1923-2009), Doris Bint (1925), Jean Bint (1929), Raymond Bint (1932) and Charles (1934-1934) at Doncaster.

Denis's mother was James Frederick Bint's daughter Gladys Violet Bint (1902). She gave birth to him at Sunnyfield House, a maternity hospital at Guisborough, Yorks on the 2nd of April 1920.

16 year old Gladys was single at the time and gave her occupation on the birth certificate as domestic servant and her address as the Plough Inn at Moorsholm. Her boy-friend was Moorsholm iron miner's son George William Young who at the time of the birth was serving with the British Army in India. They had to wait for his return three years later before being able to marry at Guisborough in 1923.

George and Gladys were to have four more children - William, George, Albert and Pauline.

"Dad did have the chance to change his surname but in those days it was a complicated affair and declined to do so."  Graham

During the 1930s the family were at Combe Bank Farm, Boosbeck near Guisborough in North Yorkshire. In 1937 a work-force was required by an expat from Australia to run Aylworth Farm in the Cotswolds village of Naunton. The family moved there and it was from that address that Denis Bint joined the RAF in April 1938.

During World War 2 James Frederick's grandson Denis Charles Bint (Charlie) (born 1920), an RAF bomb aimer, flew out of Elsham Wolds with Pilot Officer Jimmy Griffiths and his crew for 30 operations with 576 Squadron a part of the RAF's Bomber Command. 576 Squadron was formed at Elsham Wolds on November 25, 1943 during the height of the Battle of Berlin, as a unit of No 1 Group Bomber Command under the command of Wing Commander G T B Clayton DFC.

They started operations beginning in the night of 2 to 3 December 1943, when seven Avro Lancasters were send out to bomb Berlin. 

On April 30th 1944 LM527 was their aircraft, and the target the largest Luftwaffe bomb and ammunition dump at Maintenon in Northern France. Lancaster LM527 flown by P/O Jimmy Griffiths and his crew struck the perimeter fence on take off and damaged the undercarriage and undersurfaces of the aircraft. It proved impossible to lock down one wheel of the undercarriage. The hydraulics failed and the bomb doors would not open. The crew were ordered to head the aircraft out to sea and bale out over land.  They luckily managed to parachute safely over Lincolnshire and the  plane is believed to have crashed into the North Sea.

His crew-mates were ..

• Pilot                  P/O   J S GRIFFTHS 
• Engineer           SGT   J D HAWKSWOOD
• Navigator          SGT   T  ATHERTON
• Bomb Aimer      SGT    D C BINT 
• Wireless Op       SGT   W J McARTHY 
• Air Gunner         SGT   M  LANGMEAD 
• Air Gunner         SGT   T JAGO 

See Jimmy Griffiths's account

The mission was a success for the other aircraft on that raid. Bombing took place from between 6,500 ft and 8,000ft at around midnight and was very accurate with the target obliterated in a sea of explosions that were still visible as the bombers returned over the Channel. The raid was entirely successful with the ammunition dump completely destroyed. None of the nearby housing was hit. During the attack no flak, searchlights or fighters were seen. Sqdn Leader Davison was the first to land at Elsham Wolds at 01:55. All aircraft returned safely to base.

In April 1944 the squadron's efforts were concentrated in bombing railway communications and military installations in preparation for the D Day landings on the 6th June 1944.Throughout the summer of 1944 most of its operations were in direct support of the land forces in the field and also against German V weapon facilities and oil and fuel production and storage facilities. Many of these operations were carried out in daylight.

During its brief period of existence 576 Squadron operated only one type of aircraft, the Avro Lancaster four-engined heavy bomber. It carried out 2,788 operation sorties with the Lancaster, with the loss of 66 aircraft. The last bombs of the squadron were dropped on 25 April 1945, when 23 of the squadrons aircraft bombed Hitler's mountain retreat at Berchtesgaden, their last operational mission was a food dropping to the starving Dutch people in Rotterdam on 7 May 1945. 576 Squadron was disbanded at Fiskerton on 13 September 1945.

Denis Bint was extremely fortunate to complete his hazardous 30 missions. He was in the lucky 40 per cent of aircrew who survived the war unscathed. His squadron was disbanded at Fiskerton on the 13th September 1945. It had participated in 189 bombing operations and 2 mine-laying operations. 2788 sorties had been flown for the loss of 66 aircraft. In addition 9 aircraft were destroyed in crashes in Britain.

Some 125,000 aircrew served in Bomber Command in WW2, of whom 73,700 became casualties - a staggering 60 per cent. Of this total 63,750 occurred on operations, the others suffering during training or associated flying duties. In all 55,000 died, more than 47,000 of them on operational missions, more than 9800 others were taken prisoner. The other 8400 or so were those who returned wounded or were injured in accidents.

A/C Denis Bint in the historic airship hangers at RAF Cardington during his training

Denis's son Graham Bint (1951) married Linda Whitton (1952) in 1972. They have two sons, James Bint (1973) and Gary Paul Bint (1976).