Harry Kartz

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Harry Kartz
Photograph of Harry Kartz, circa 1940s
Chairman of Aston Villa F.C.
In office
1978–1980
Preceded bySir William Dugdale, Bt
Succeeded byRon Bendall
Personal details
Born
John Harry Kartz[1]

(1913-10-26)26 October 1913
Hockley, Birmingham, United Kingdom[2]
Died12 March 2016(2016-03-12) (aged 102)
Solihull, United Kingdom[3]
Spouse
Dorothy Cruse
​
​
(m. 1940; d. 2012)​
Children2
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch/service Royal Air Force
Years of service1942–1945
RankFlying officer
Unit No. IX Squadron
Battles/warsWorld War II

John Harry Kartz (23 October 1913 – 12 March 2016)

Second World War, as a front gunner in No. IX Squadron
.

Biography

In 1940, Kartz married Dorothy Cruse (1914–2012),[1] and they were together for the next seventy-two years, until her death in 2012.[5] The couple had two sons: John (born 1945) and Graham (born 1948).[4]

Kartz fought in the

Second World War as part of the newly formed No. IX Squadron.[3] In an interview with the Birmingham Mail, he said of his time with the RAF Bomber Command: "I feel very lucky to have had the life I had. Seventy years ago I was flying Wellington Bombers over Germany for the RAF during World War II and I got away with that, so I feel very lucky.”[6] He also recalled of a near-miss with a Junkers Ju 88, after his pilot took a charge of direction: "We asked Flying Control for permission to land and they said 'OK, do you want the flarepath on?' 'Oh, yes please.' So they said 'Well, fire your colours of the day, and we'll put on'. He did that, and when he fired his colours of the day, a Junkers 88 was sat at the back of us! Fortunately, they switched off the flarepath and the Junkers took off and dropped a fire behind us. Fortunately, we had taken off..."[7] Post-war, Kartz became a self made businessman, operating his own engineering companies.[2]

In 1919, Kartz attended his first Aston Villa match, and a lifelong love of the club was born.

Brian Little and Gordon Cowans to the club,[1] and helping the club purchase Bodymoor Heath, which still remains their training base.[2]

Kartz also had a great love of horse racing, entering horses in the Derby and Arc de Triomphe; it was a "big win" in 1950 that was the catalyst for founded his engineering business.[1]

In later life, Kartz twice appeared on ITV's 100 Year Old Drivers, firstly in August 2014, and then posthumously in September 2016. On 12 March 2016, Kartz died at the age of 102. He is survived by his sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Shaw, Phil (21 March 2016). "Harry Kartz: Aston Villa director who became chairman and was on the board during the club's early-Eighties pomp". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Kendrick, Mat (13 March 2013). "Former Aston Villa chairman dies at the age of 102". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b "RIP Harry Kartz – IX Sqn Wellington era". IX(B) Squadron Association. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d "RIP Harry Kartz". Aston Villa F.C. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  5. ^ "Harry Kartz: Aston Villa director who became chairman". The Independent. 21 March 2016. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  6. ^ a b Kendrick, Mat (26 October 2013). "Harry Kartz – last Villa chairman to win the top-flight – celebrates 100th birthday". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  7. ^ Steve Bond. Wimpy: A Detailed History of the Vickers Wellington in service, 1938–1953. p. 61.
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