1943 diary - detective work needed

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by Mike L, Oct 10, 2010.

  1. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Diary of Thomas E. Nash.

    Some years ago a diary dating from 1943 was handed in at the Hornchurch RBL and it has recently come to my attention. The woman who handed it in apparently knew nothing about it but thought it might be of interest to somebody.
    The diary belonged to Thomas E. Nash who appears to be a British serviceman sent to Canada for flying training. The address(es) listed are:
    33 S.F.T.S. Carbury, Manitoba and 34 S.F.T.S. Medicine Hat, Alberta. Entries start on the 18th January1943 and finish on the 31st December.
    I know a few people here like a challenge ;) so the question is:
    Who is Thomas Nash and what happened to him?

    I haven’t read the whole diary yet but I have attached a few pages that might provide clues and will add new pages as and when I come across new information.
    Thanks in anticipation of your help.

    Mike
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Looking at the first page of the diary I see that 34 SFTS is mentioned, a few details......


    No. 34 SERVICE FLYING TRAINING SCHOOL was established at Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. Opening on the 26th of Feb. 1941 for the training of pilots in both single and twin engine aircraft. The aircraft used in training included Avro Ansons, Oxfords and Harvards.
    Over 2000 airmen were trained at Medicine Hat, 48 airmen lost their lives whilst flying from this school. Most are buried at the Hillside Cemetery close to the base.
    The school closed on the 17th Nov. 1944. Today the site is Medicine Hat Airport.
     
  3. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    And I found some info about 33 SFTS:

    The story of the airport at Carberry is a sad one, but worth telling for its lessons.

    The RCAF and federal public works built the airport in the early, dark days of WWII. The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan was Canada’s largest contribution to the war, one that Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in admiration, called the “Aerodrome of Democracy”.

    The airfields of the BCATP were not established randomly, but by careful design. Canada was sure we were going to win the war and these airfields would be turned over to local governments after the war to become the network of airports that would link this great country by air travel.

    The location chosen for this aerodrome was a good one as the town of Carberry was growing in 1940 and the location was beautiful – nestled in the parkland of the Carberry Hills, hills left by the glaciers of 12,000 years ago.

    RCAF Station Carberry was a special aerodrome in the BCATP – home to one of the rare double-sized Service Flying Training Schools, designated No. 33 SFTS.1940 Dec 26-1944 Nov 17 Not only was the school twice the size of a regular SFTS the airport was too, with parallel runways in all directions. It was a magnificent airport.

    The men and women of No. 33 SFTS did their duty and contributed well to WWII, which we won, but through no fault of theirs the airport fell victim to peacetime shortsightedness afterwards.

    After the war the airport was given to the community of Carberry so it would become their link to the world. Instead they sold it to a potato company who wanted to use the hangars to store and process potatoes. The airfield was neither promoted nor valued by the municipal government and as a result the potato company closed it down in the 1990s. Today it is still visible, but deteriorated to a non-usable state.

    It is a monument to the great foresightedness of the RCAF and the Federal Department of Public Works in creating infrastructure that would serve this nation and help build it into a great nation of aviators.

    As the base for a SFTS Carberry had a satellite bases used for touch and goes and also as an emergency alternate to Carberry. This was Petrel, 7 nm north and Oberon 13nm north west. Pictures and info on Petrel at http://www.copanational.org/PlacesToFly/airport_view.php?pr_id=4&ap_id=321

    A sat photo of this airport can be found at http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=49.851045,-99.337177&spn=0.023080,0.054305&t=k&hl=en

    2006 runways no longer exist
     
  4. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    There does not appear to be a match on CWGC using Geoff's search engine.

    Looks like Thomas Nash survived the War.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  5. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Peter, Tom, Thanks. I tried CWGC as well.
    Is there a way of checking RAF/RAFVR lists online? Surprised there is no service number given in the diary.

    Mike
     
  6. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    Well, despite knowing the bra size of his family members, not an easy one. But here is what I can find, but as ever no guarentees.

    Name: Thomas Edward Nash
    Birth: 12 Mar 1907 - Poplar, London
    Death: Oct 1994 - Havering, Essex, England

    Possibly living at 10 Spring Street Bow on the 1911 Census.

    I always use 20 years of age as a starting point for marriages around this time, and have found the following

    Name: Thomas E Nash
    Spouse Florence L Merrifield
    Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1927
    Registration district: Stepney
    Registration county (inferred): Middlesex

    The same year, a daughter Florence was born, which ties in with a daughter called Florrie in the diary.

    Name: Florence O R Nash
    Mother: Merrifield
    Birth: Oct Nov Dec 1927 - Stepney, Greater London

    This also ties in with the fact a Billy Merrifield is listed in his diary as serving as a Sapper
     
  7. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Phil, that is superb mate. And so quick!

    Mike
     
  8. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    Well, despite knowing the bra size of his family members, not an easy one. But here is what I can find, but as ever no guarentees.

    Name: Thomas Edward Nash
    Birth: 12 Mar 1907 - Poplar, London
    Death: Oct 1994 - Havering, Essex, England

    Possibly living at 10 Spring Street Bow on the 1911 Census.

    I always use 20 years of age as a starting point for marriages around this time, and have found the following

    Name: Thomas E Nash
    Spouse Surname: Merrifield
    Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1927
    Registration district: Stepney
    Registration county (inferred): Middlesex

    The same year, a daughter Florence was born, which ties in with a daughter called Florrie in the diary.

    Name: Florence O R Nash
    Mother: Merrifield
    Birth: Oct Nov Dec 1927 - Stepney, Greater London

    This also ties in with the fact a Billy Merrifield is listed in his diary as serving as a Sapper

    Florence married in 1951

    Name: Florence O R Nash
    Spouse Dennis J Peck
    Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1951
    Registration district: Romford
    Registration county (inferred): Essex
    Volume Number: 5a
    Page Number: 1284

    Florence and Denis where both still alive in 2008 and where both on the electoral role living in Essex. Sadly neither appears on the 2010 role.

    There is one strong birth record for children

    Name: John D Peck
    Mother's Maiden Surname: Nash
    Date of Registration: Jan Feb Mar 1956
    Registration district: Brentwood
    Registration county: Cambridgeshire/Bedfordshire, Essex

    And from the 2010 Electoral Role

    John D Peck
    Age guide: 50-54
    Hornchurch, Essex, RM11 2HS

    Ive pm'd the full address to Mike
     
    Smudger Jnr likes this.
  9. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Phil,

    I am suitably impressed at your detective skills.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  10. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Tom,
    You and me both!
    Unbelievable - just over 1 hour from me posting the query to a full address for a possible Grandson being provided.
    Phil, Mr. Peck is ex-directory otherwise I would have phoned him by now but he only lives a couple of miles from me so I might pop round later and see if he is the right chap. Needless to say I will keep you informed.

    Cheers

    Mike
     
  11. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    Tom,
    You and me both!
    Unbelievable - just over 1 hour from me posting the query to a full address for a possible Grandson being provided.
    Phil, Mr. Peck is ex-directory otherwise I would have phoned him by now but he only lives a couple of miles from me so I might pop round later and see if he is the right chap. Needless to say I will keep you informed.

    Cheers

    Mike

    Mike, I will look forward to the next installment, and hope its a successfull one. It looks as if Florence and Billy Merrifield where more in Mile End, but lets see where this one leads first.

    P
     
  12. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Chalk up another success for WW2Talk!
    Not only was it the right John Peck but his Mother, Florrie was there too.
    I think they were both a bit stunned when a complete stranger turned up with their Father/Grandfather's WW2 diary.
    It appears Nash was a RAF fireman during the war, asbestos suit etc, and later became a bus conductor and coin collector (the same thing I suppose!). Florrie remembered his 'aerographs' from Canada but had no idea how his diary turned up at the Legion. Probably turned up when his house was cleared out after his death.
    I have exchanged contact details and should be getting copies of some pictures in a little while, which of course I will post here.

    Thanks all for a very fast and successful search. It's certainly a bit quicker than the 'Mystery plaque' thread which is still ongoing!

    Mike
     
    dbf likes this.
  13. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    What a great result for those who concerned.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  14. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    Chalk up another success for WW2Talk!
    Not only was it the right John Peck but his Mother, Florrie was there too.
    I think they were both a bit stunned when a complete stranger turned up with their Father/Grandfather's WW2 diary.
    It appears Nash was a RAF fireman during the war, asbestos suit etc, and later became a bus conductor and coin collector (the same thing I suppose!). Florrie remembered his 'aerographs' from Canada but had no idea how his diary turned up at the Legion. Probably turned up when his house was cleared out after his death.
    I have exchanged contact details and should be getting copies of some pictures in a little while, which of course I will post here.

    Thanks all for a very fast and successful search. It's certainly a bit quicker than the 'Mystery plaque' thread which is still ongoing!

    Mike

    Glad to be of assistance, I wish they where all that simple and quick. Even if I say it myself, Im impressed :D
     
    dbf and Owen like this.
  15. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Phil, you are a master of understatement :)
    This has to be some sort of record for a quick conclusion.........
    unless you know of a quicker one?

    Thanks again,

    Mike
     
  16. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    Phil, you are a master of understatement :)
    This has to be some sort of record for a quick conclusion.........
    unless you know of a quicker one?

    Thanks again,

    Mike

    1 Hour 3 mins. Must do better..... and no I dont work for MI5

    P
     
  17. peteden

    peteden Member

    Phil,
    Im a recent newcomer to this site and I knew that people on here would be helpfull and that was impressive.
    Looking forward to further threads.

    Peter
     
  18. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    I'm stunned.
    What a result.
     
  19. RosyRedd

    RosyRedd Senior Member

    I have just read this thread and didn't expect the result to be successful so quickly. Brilliant!
     
  20. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Phil

    I have been watching with admiration as this thread reached resolution.

    Other forums...... eat you heart out !

    Well done that there man ! (as my old Sgt.Major used to say)

    One for the record book, I'd say

    Ron
     

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