Sergeant Harry Bliss RAF was the son of Henry & Lilian Bliss of 154 Mayfield Avenue, Dover. Harry was born on the 26^th of October 1919 and was one of six children, including a sister Olive and brother Raymond (served in the Royal Sussex Regiment and died of T.B. after returning home from a POW Camp.)

 Harry had originally hoped to become a pilot but was diagnosed with colour blindness and trained as an air gunner instead. After attending 1651 Conversion Unit, he was posted to 218 Squadron on the 4^th of February 1943 and became the only survivor of the crash on 28/29^th April 1943 when Stirling 1 EF356 HA-O left Downham Market at 21.05 as part of a Gardening Op. in the Sweet Pea area of Rostock, Germany. The Stirling was caught on German Radar and shot down at 00.35 at Oddum, between Esbjerg and Ringkobing,Denmark, by the German pilot Oberfeldweber Mangeldorf from 12/NJG 3. Before the Stirling crashed, Sergeant Bliss parachuted to safety, landing at 7.00 a.m..A local smallholder called the Parish Executive Officer who arrested Harry and took him to Addum Village where he was picked up by the Danish police and then handed over to the German Wehrmacht in Skjorn. He was taken to the interrogation centre at Oberursel before being sent to Prisoner of War Camps, including Stalag III and Stalag Luft IV Gross Tychow.At the latter camp the conditions were particularly atrocious and it is believed that it was here that his appendix burst. In a letter to Harry’s mother, a survivor and friend of Harry’s who must have been with him at the camp told her that Harry had suffered deep marks on his chest after having a rifle butt pushed into it. 

 In the book, "Footprints in the Sands of Time" by Oliver Clutton-Brock,i t states that on part of the journey by train from Gross Tychow to Fallingbostel, where, locked up in a cramped cattle truck with other pow’s, Harry developed acute appendicitis for which he received no medical attention. He died on the 30^th of March 1945, just weeks short of victory in Europe.

 The family was also told that Harry made several escape attempts during his time as a POW.In letters home dated December and February 1943,andJanuary and September 1944, to his sister, Olive from Stalag III, Harry tells her that letters from home are getting through but that" he would like to mention that this place is no holiday camp"

 He also mentions that he is keeping busy, playing chess, and drawing and as he is a Sergeant,"we don’t have to work. I am doing haircutting and learning French as a past time".

 Harry's crew crew consisted of:

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