‘I guess this is the end of the story now . . . Freddie has come home’
Dogtag bracelet belonging to airman shot down then tortured by Nazis donated by family to RAF church
For Sergeant Freddie Habgood’s relatives, the “family church” of the RAF was a fitting location to place his final memento. When Sgt Habgood, 21, was shot down with his Lancaster after a raid on Stuttgart in July 1944, he was betrayed to the Gestapo then taken to the nearby Natzweiler-struthof concentration camp and hanged.
Since then, his family have had nothing to remember him by, as his body was cremated in the camp and his ashes scattered in a fire pit.
That was until 2018, when a girl chanced upon the silver bracelet that Sgt Hapgood wore on his final raid, in what is now a memorial garden.
After receiving it at a ceremony in France this year, yesterday his family offered the bracelet to St Clement Danes church in London, the Central Church of the RAF, to commemorate Sgt Habgood’s life.
At a private ceremony at the church on Wednesday, it was gratefully received by Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, the Chief of the Air Staff, who paid tribute to Sgt Habgood and the 55,000 RAF Bomber Command personnel lost during the war.
The bracelet was given to Sgt Habgood by relatives the year before he died, while he was training in Canada, and was thought lost to the ground or looted by the Nazis.
Marilyn Corrigan, Freddie Habgood’s niece, said: “It was a lovely end in a beautiful church, we couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
The airman’s nephew, Paul Habgood, said the last three and a half years had been an emotional journey.
From first hearing about the bracelet to holding it in his hands in France and then taking ownership of the bracelet earlier this year, he said St Clement Danes, where displayed on the walls are the names of the 150,000 airmen and women who have died in service in the RAF, will be “the final resting place”.
Air Chief Marshal Wigston paid tribute to the lost aviators of Bomber Command and said Sgt Habgood’s story epitomised the experience of many others who failed to return.
“This is a story of one young sergeant who trained in Canada, joined a squadron, was shot down on a raid over Stuttgart, survived the bailout but fell into the hands of the Gestapo and was executed.
“And then, over 70 years later, his bracelet was found in the remembrance garden of the concentration camp where he was executed, before being reunited with his family.
“That story of remarkable fate, tragic fortune, sacrifice and bravery epitomises and reflects all of the service and sacrifice of the Second World
War generation.
“So for the family to offer that bracelet to us to put it in the Central Church of the Royal Air Force as a symbol of all of that sacrifice, should remind people that these were human beings called on to do amazing things to protect our freedom.
“One very poignant story epitomises all of that service and sacrifice.” The names of every person from any nation that died in the service of the RAF are recorded in the Books of Remembrance, including a separate volume for US servicemen.
Sgt Habgood’s family found his name in the memorial ledgers, as well as two other Habgoods who died serving in the RAF during the Second World War. Marilyn and Paul’s grandfather hailed from Dorset and had 11 siblings, one of whom emigrated to Canada – hence the connection to Freddie’s training in the country. It is possible that the other names are closely related.
ACM Wigston said it “inspires us to this day” that the public, alongside serving RAF airmen and women, their families and veterans, are able to visit St Clement Danes to read the books of remembrance.
“We celebrate their bravery and their skill,” he said. “And we remember deeply their sacrifice.”
Meeting the head of the RAF was a fitting final act to Sgt Habgood’s story, said the family, who plan to leave the bracelet with the RAF in St Clement Danes on a semi-permanent basis.
“I’m sure he would be very honoured to have his bracelet in this church,” said Mr Habgood, adding he would bring his sons to see it one day.
“It’s a lovely place to have it. We’re very happy the bracelet has come here. It’s a lovely place to put it and hopefully a lot of visitors will see it and get to know the story.”
Mrs Corrigan agreed: “One of the good things about the bracelet being here is other family members can come and visit.”
They said Freddie had already come home to the family, and was now home also with his RAF family.
“I guess this is the end of the story,” said Mr Habgood. “Freddie has come home.”
‘I’m sure he would have been honoured to have his bracelet in this church’