Alan Trevor Stear 1921-1944 age 23

Barnsley Chronicle 24 June 1944
Thanks to Barnsley Archives

Born: 1921 in Barnsley Q2

Son of: Herbert Stanley Stear and Nellie Stear nee Pye. Herbert (born in Dodworth in 1895) and Nellie were married in 1919 in Barnsley Q3. Herbert was a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery in WW1, service number 83983, serving overseas in France before being discharged due to wounds. At the time of his son's death, Herbert was a commercial clerk and they lived at Rosedale, Longcar Lane, Barnsley.  The couple also had a daughter Rita, born in 1923.

Husband of: Laura Stear nee Wilson. Alan and Laura married on Easter Monday, 10th April 1944, just 2 months before Alan was killed. 

Military Service: Alan was a Staff Sergeant in the Army Air Corps attached to the Glider Pilot Regiment, 1st Wing. 

Death: 6th June 1944 in Normandy, France, killed in action. 
Details of the Operation can be found here 

Buried: Alan in buried in Ranville Churchyard, Normandy, France in grave 10. His grave bears the inscription  'Until we meet again'

Commonwealth War Graves Commission link: here  
Remembered: At the Buckley Street and Ebeneezer Chapel, Barnsley  and on the Holgate Grammar School Old Boys WW2 memorial.

The Barnsley Chronicle on the 24th June 1944 reported:

Staff-Sergeant A.T.Stear

Barnsley Glider-Pilot Killed in Action.

Widespread regret is occasioned by the news which reached his home last week-end that Staff-Sergt. Alan Trevor Stear, Army Air Corps attached to the Glider Pilot Regiment, only son of Mr and Mrs H.S. Stear, Rosedale, Longcar Lane, Barnsley had been killed in action in Normandy. 

Staff-Sergt. Stear originally joined the Royal Artillery as a surveyor but later transferred to the Airborne, qualifying for his Wings as a glider pilot. Educated at St Mary's School and Barnsley Grammar School where he matriculated, he was articled as a surveyor and civil engineer with Dearne Urban District Council and had just completed his articles when he volunteered for the Services four years ago. He was a student-member of the Institute of Civil Engineers and Surveyors and was on the threshold of what promised to be a successful career. 
He was a playing member of Stainbro' Cricket Club, for which his father, a member of an old Stainbro' family, has played for many years as well as for Barnsley. Staff-Sergt. Stear was only married on Easter Monday to Miss Laura Wilson, and his only sister is engaged on war work in Bristol.