Hello all. I am new here and looking for information and hopefully photographs relating to my late uncle, 1078296 Warrant Officer William Harvey, 78 Squadron, RAF Volunteer Reserve. I have his log book and he was a Wireless Operator in a Lancaster, with many sorties over France, Belgium and Germany. Regrettably he was killed whilst on a day off, in a motorcycle accident on 11 June 1944. He is buried in Stonefall Cemetery, Harrogate. His last flight was on 7 June 1944 to Juvisy in a Halifax 'J' piloted by Flt Lt Harris. Any information at all would be very much appreciated and I apologise if this is in the wrong place. Thank you. Warrant Officer William Harvey | War Casualty Details | CWGC
Hello Debra. I know another member who is the “expert” on 78 Squadron.. I just sent him a Private Message telling him of your request. So hopefully he’ll come on and give you some help on this. Do you have the Operational Record Books for the time period he was with the Squadron? This will give you all the missions (where, when, who with etc) that he flew with this Squadron. If you need help, let me know and I can either give you a link or get them for you to send to you Cheers UPDATE: I just checked I already have downloaded the May/Jun 44 Ops Records, so I’ll take a look for his name, and send you what I have
WO William Harvey (unknown-1944) - Find A Grave... WARRANT OFFICER WILLIAM HARVEY Service Number: 1078296 Regiment & Unit/Ship Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 78 Sqdn. Date of Death Died 11 June 1944 Age 23 years old Buried or commemorated at HARROGATE (STONEFALL) CEMETERY Sec. B. Row F. Grave 20. United Kingdom Country of ServiceUnited Kingdom Additional InfoSon of John Harvey and of Matilda Harvey (nee Brown), of Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Personal InscriptionONE OF OUR AIRMEN IS SAFE
Thank you for this. We visited Willie's last resting place some years ago and my late parents were also privileged to have visited. I often have wondered why he was not brought back home?
Next of Kin choice. There was a very rigid procedure for casualty Second action on the list was to notify NoK (only if resident in UK) by telegram Fifth action was letter of sympathy Sixth action was Letter or Telegram (if resident in UK) to NoK concerning funeral arrangements - note this communication was separate from the fifth action letter. Relatives were offered the choice of: Private Funeral - Service assistance financial or otherwise, coffin arrangement, provision of flag and wreath, provision of death certificate, transportation of body to station, transport by rail and road to destination. Unit representative at funeral, provision of funeral party. Burial at RAF regional cemetery (nearest to RAF station where death occurred) - Ensure that relatives know no private headstone permitted. Same assistance as private funeral but inclusion of rail warrants for relatives (or friends) if necessary and photograph of funeral or grave if desired. Burial in vicinity of RAF station where death occurred (only permitted where single grave spaces are available in special service plots) - Same assistance as for Burial at RAF regional cemetery. Ross
Thank you so much for this Ross. Your reply is very much appreciated. I assume that because he had to get across the sea to Northern Ireland, burial in Harrogate was considered the best option. Very sad though that his family were not at his funeral.
The offer of Private Funeral or Service burial was always given if death was in the UK so it was Northern Ireland NoK choice to have him buried as service funeral and NoK were always offered travel warrants and financial assistance to attend. Some declined as the experience would have been too traumatic and some decided to have their relative buried beside comrades. Edit - if he was married then wife's instructions would have been deciding factor. Ross
Debra, I am the so called "expert" and would be more than happy to send you what information I have on your uncle. I have been researching No. 78 Squadron for over 20 years so should be able to answer most of your questions. Send me a PM with your email address and I'll send over what I have. thanks Daz
Hi Daz Thank you so much for your message. I have my uncle's logbook and records of his flights. But I would love to know anything else and most of all what happened to him and about his funeral. Whatever you can find out would be very much appreciated. Will send email separately. Thank you. Debra
Debra, To send a PM click on your Avatar name and a screen will pop up, select 'Start a Conversation'.