Brookwood Military Cemetery/Lytchett Minster Churchyard/Glasgow Western Necropolis/ LANCASTER CRASH

I am pleased to announce that we have had contact from James Maygers relatives today. James was the Flight Engineer and we have now found all four British members of the crews relatives.

The credit for the above goes to 'EnglandPhil'. Well done Phil.

 

Am pleased to announce that we have found another relative of Francis Gunn, the Navigator, who is interested in the memorial. I am hopeful that we will receive some background history of Francis and even maybe a photo.

Two more to find.

 

We have now located relatives of the Pilot Murray McPherson, in Canada.

This leaves Warrant Officer Camerons relatives to find. Six out of seven is far beyond what we expected to achieve.

 

The search for W/O Camerons relatives continues. We were given a contact of the person who donated the documents to the Veterans Affairs Canada website - the telegram and letter from the Chaplain who officiated at his funeral sent to his parents etc, but so far have not had a response.

We will obviously keep trying.

Below is a Google Earth picture of where the memorial will be placed:

We were also sent some USAAF Official pictures taken of the actual crash site by a historian (Nigel Julian)but they are of so poor quality that they cannot be improved. This one showing the tail section is about the only usable one. We are trying to find out where these photos originated from. These obvioulsy came from a microfiche source and have been photo copied many times.

 

Photographs of the three of the crews names inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial in Nanton Alberta. Also attachment of the overall view of the memorial.

I would like to pour a little praise on STAN50 for his stout effort with this project, and with the help of forum members to have made contact with relative of six of the seven crew is remarkable in such a short time, as I am involved in this project in a small way, I am fully aware of the time and effort he has put in thus far, and its a lot, well done him, and I am very confident he will find the last one, for a full house.

regards lofty

 

I received some photos today from James Maygers relatives. James was the Flight Engineer on the Lancaster and was aged 21. My thanks to them who I'm sure will be happy for these to be displayed on here for those following this thread:

The second picture of James standing is the original and the one next to it has been sharpened up by member Roger (RCO) of Pristine Images on here.

Photos kindly sent by Fiona George.

 

Hi all,
STAN50 has asked be to add the rest of the pictures he received to day from the relatives of James Mayger, I must say that looking at this picture of this young man, it again brings home the the tragedy of those war years,
regards lofty

 

You mentioned Lychette and the USA plane that came down there. I recall it very wel.l They built a runway to take off after they repaired it. That cut right across the wareham Pool main road. IT was a flying fortress.

 

We have receieved a photo of Murray McPherson today along with a some information about him. Very kindly sent by one of his sisters children. His sister Alma is now in her 95th year.

Alma recalls: Murray growing up on their parents farm in Manitoba and receiving a good education. He enjoyed playing baseball, hockey and could play piano by ear. He was a fine young man and was well liked by everyone.

Photo kindly sent by Joyce and Dan Anderson

 

In our research of the crew we found that two of them have lakes named after them. The Canadian Government created a scheme to honour those who lost their lives during WW2. I have been in contact with Doug Chisholm who has written a book about his involvement with this.

Murray McPherson also has a lake named after him called McPherson Bay.

Doug Chisholm has very kindly sent me some photos of Gunn Lake:

His website tells a much more detailed account of how he became involved:

Woodland Aerial Photography & Doug Chisholm, author of Their Names Live On, provide Aerial Photos, Geographic Memorial Tributes & Plaques for our fallen military service personnel, and community profiles.

We will ensure that the relatives of Francis Gunn also receive copies of these pictures.

 

In the shade of a Yew tree...
Geoff

 

Robert Edgar Hall Cameron was born on the 6th August 1923 in Qubec, and at the time of his death was living at 641, Richmond Street, London, Ontario.

His racial heritage is listed as Scottish, although his parents where born in Qubec.



Roberts father is lsted as Edgar Wilson WESLEY Hall on his marriage entryto Margaret Amanda Thompson, so not sure at this stage where the surname Cameron comes from.

 

Gef thanks for the picture and Phil thanks for the info.

I've been in contact with a lady in Canada who has been helping me along with our Canadian Airmen searches but this last one really seems to be the hardest to find. All information gratefully receieved on 'Cameron'.

P.S. If anyone feels like a bit of a challenge on this let me know. I have a vast trail of searches and collated information that a fresh 'detective' may be able digest and make progress with.

Thanks again.

 

We now have some background information on Francis Gunn the Canadian Navigator to hand and a few other photos of him, sent in by a relative in Canada.

We also have been sent a 626 Squadron photo from James Maygers relatives. This is dated 24th March 1943.

It is rather large so I've had to post this on here in three seperate pictures:

Photo - Thanks to Fiona George.


The search for W/O Camerons relatives continues.

 

'Francis Winburn Gunn was born July 2 1914. In the fall of 1941 Francis joined the Air Force as a navigator. He was in Regina for awhile. He left for Halifax and overseas on Christmas Day 1942.

Ater High school he worked on a farm and in the bush. These were depressive years.

He married Molly Broughton on January 25th 1940 and they had a daughter.
He had twin sisters who joined the Air Force and served in a Canadian ammunition factory.

The Saskatchewan Movement named lakes after men who where killed in the War.'


Photos of Francis before the War.

Thanks to Doug Kain from Penticton British Columbia.

 

Hi all
We received today some outstanding pictures of the crash site, they have been sent to us by Mr Craig Mackey, of the Maxwell Air Force Historical Research Agency, based in Alabama, Mr Mackey has been a great help throughout, and we are truly grateful to him
The chassis cab, appears to be some of what is left of a mobile DF unit, the back body appearing in others pictures completely detached, the hole in the hut (billet) was caused by a large chunk of the aircraft entering and landing between two beds which were occupied at 4am!, fortunately causing no injuries.
It can also be seen just how far away the tail section finished up from the rest of the aircraft, it will not be possible to put the memorial on the exact spot, however, having studied these pictures it will be a lot closer then we thought.
STAN5O is still working hard to find relatives of the seventh and final crew member six found one to go, its all coming together very well.
regards lofty

 

We also now have been contacted by the person who placed the documents relating to Robert Cameron onto the Veterans Affairs Canada website.

These were given to him by a friend who received them when the mother Margaret Cameron died. The documents relate to the funeral at Brookwood Military Cemetery where Robert is buried with his fellow airmen. They also include the telegram to his mother informing her of his death.

This is probably our best chance of making a link to the family and we have our fingers crossed for a good outcome. Our thanks goes to John Brehaut at the Veterans Affairs for his help with this.


http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2762101?Robert%20Edgar%20Hall%20Cameron

 

RAF Wickenby:

Made the effort to visit there Friday and looked through nearly 400 photos of the unknown crews. Couldn't unfortunately see any of the crew from UM-K2 but it was worth the effort. The museum is based in the old Control Tower and although quite small is packed with a lot of interesting material and displays relating to the two Squadrons based there during the War. The airfield is still active for private flying and they have an air show there each year. They also have an annual Remembrance Service at the memorial just outside the gates.

 

Prior to having our memorial inscribed I am just checking all details. I've just noticed that in the wording of 'Through Adversity To The Stars there appears to be two ways of spelling the second word.

It is either 'ARDUA' or 'ARDVA'

At the new London Bomber Command Memorial it is spelt ARDVA for example,
whilst at Brookwood Military Cemetery and our local airfield memorial it is spelt ARDUA.

I need to know the answer to this before we commit to the inscribing. Many thanks in advance for a definitive answer.

Pics 1 and 2 are at the London Bomber Command Memorial; Pics 3 and 4 are at Brookwood Military Cemetery; Pic 5 is at Boxted Airfields Memorial in Park Lane Langham Essex.

 

There appears to be no right or wrong way to spell the second word we've discovered. As there is no letter U in the Latin Alphabet V is commonly used.

After much discussion we've decided to use the letter 'V' which is the version that has been used with the new London Bomber Command memorial.

We are now having the stone work inscribed. The memorial is now well and truly on its' way.