Help with RAF Casualty's / RAF Service numbers

DOUGLAS GARDINER, Corporal, 1060041, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Died 02 December 1942


Killed On Active Service.

'Killed on active service' means that the individual died as a result of an accident or something similar whilst engaged on operational duties. Thus, if a person was killed on a training sortie, or a flight not engaged in operations against the enemy that would be classed as KOAS.


Regards
Peter

 

WILLIAM MICHAEL BLADEN, Sergeant, 1510804, 40 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Died between 15 August 1943 and 16 August 1943


Between 15 August 1943 and 16 August 1943

40 Squadron
Wellington X HE646 'D'

Raid on Scalea beaches, crashed in flames near San Giovanni, Calabria.

 

Hi Phil,

Francis James Sheldrake

This could be him as a young bloke or however it is more likely his father.

Aircraft Modellers from the early 30's.

F.J. Sheldrake
158 Birchfield Road
Widnes

The Model Engineer - Volume 68 - Google Books

Don't tell me he used to live "just up the road" :p


This one from 1931 possibly confirms he is the father.

Some good names here applying for patents. Sheldrake is mentioned twice here.

de havilland | 1931 | 0582 | Flight Archive


Cheers

Geoff

 

Hi Phil,

Thought I would just throw this in for the names etc.

de havilland | 1931 | 0582 | Flight Archive

[/QUOTE]

 

Hi Phil,

James Gerard (Jim) Murphy

Somebody else looking for "Jim"!

Runcorn and Widnes World: local homes and properties for sale in and around Runcorn and Widnes

He may have found some info that he is prepared to share.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Hi Phil,

James Edward Leadbetter

A James Edward Leadbetter was married at St Mary's Widnes in 1930.


St. Mary's, Widnes | The LINK

Nothing here for Leadbetter however Murphy showed up.

Alphabetical Listing of all known Casualties in Balloon Command

 

Hi Phil,

James Gerard (Jim) Murphy

Alphabetical Listing of all known Casualties in Balloon Command

Show his age as 45.


Cheers

Geoff

 

Hi Phil,

Francis James Sheldrake

This could be him as a young bloke or however it is more likely his father.

Aircraft Modellers from the early 30's.

F.J. Sheldrake
158 Birchfield Road
Widnes

Don't tell me he used to live "just up the road" :p

Erm, well actually Geoff, I grew up at no 111. (Seriously)

P

Thanks though Geoff I'll go through these links tonight when I get home, I have tried to contact the person regarding Jim Murphy already but to no avail

Phil

 

FRANCIS JAMES SHELDRAKE, Flying Officer, 122848, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Died 21 April 1946

So far all that has come to light is that Sheldrake's death is registered at Runcorn.
I can cover RAF losses up to the end of 1949 and he is not listed for an aircraft loss on the given date of death.
Not giving up, I'll keep looking.

Regards
Peter

 

Hi Phil,

Joseph Kempson

He was possibly killed in an air raid on Newcastle and Whitley Bay. He is buried in Widnes Cemetery.

Cheers

Geoff

Cheers Geoff, all 12 service deaths appear to be RAFVR

Name: Joseph Kempson
Death Registration Month/Year: 1941
Age at death (estimated): 20
Registration district: Northumberland South
Inferred County: Northumberland

Monday, 8th/Tuesday, 9th December 1941
N828Bombs were dropped at isolated points in Yorkshire and many places in the counties of Northumberland and Durham. At Newcastle HEs fell in the Battlefield area killing five people, in addition to private property, a Civil Defence Mortuary was damaged by blast, and there were thirty-two casualties, five of which were fatal IBs fell in Heaton slightly damaging the Meldon Social Club and a few houses - In the Urban District of Whitley Bay and Monkseaton property was damaged and the casualties included ten civilian and twelve service deaths besides several people injured - South Shields sustained damage to the river jetty and to the offices of the Town Improvement Commissioner in the dock area - At Pelaw fifty yards of colliery railway track was put out of action for a short time - At Boldon two people were killed and eighteen injured.

SOURCE: NE Diary 1939-45; Incidents 2nd November 1941 to 26th December 1941


Phil

 

Hi Phil,

Great to see it coming together.

Cheers

Geoff

 

So far all that has come to light is that Sheldrake's death is registered at Runcorn.
I can cover RAF losses up to the end of 1949 and he is not listed for an aircraft loss on the given date of death.
Not giving up, I'll keep looking.

Regards
Peter


Peter, I have a rough note on him saying 'killed in glider accident' but dont know where I got the info from.

Phil

 

Some additional research has identified another few casualties for Widnes, one of whom was albeit serving with the Royal Navy was killed in a flying accident

Lieutenant (A) ERIC SMITHERINGALE
H.M.S. Fulmar, Royal Navy
who died age 26, on 21 August 1947
Son of William and Constance Smitheringale; husband of Joyce Smitheringale, of Bardney.

Can anyone assist with any information

Phil

 

Phil

Something to start you off with. Probably a training accident. Seems to have been a lot of casualties from that shore base at Lossiemouth.

21 August 1947

Fleet Air Arm, 766 Sqn, HMS Fulmar, air crash
SMITHERINGALE, Eric, Lieutenant (A), killed

Cheers - Rob

 

Can anyone help with any details on this casualty,

Flight Sergeant VINCENT STEELE SWALE
1001433, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died age 21, on 26 November 1942
Son of Thomas and Olinda Alice Swale of Widnes, Lancashire.
Remembered with honour, Grave 263 ELDORET CEMETERY

 

Phil i may be wrong but im sure he gets a mention in the Widnes Weekly News.Will check what files i have his name certainly rings a bell.

 

Phil i may be wrong but im sure he gets a mention in the Widnes Weekly News.Will check what files i have his name certainly rings a bell.

Cheers Izzy

 

Can anyone help with any details on this casualty,

Flight Sergeant VINCENT STEELE SWALE
1001433, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died age 21, on 26 November 1942
Son of Thomas and Olinda Alice Swale of Widnes, Lancashire.
Remembered with honour, Grave 263 ELDORET CEMETERY

26 November 1942

72 OTU
Blenheim V BA528

Crashed in attempted forced-landing 17 miles north east of Eldoret (destroyed by fire) P/O. F. Kaegi (Pilot) injured. F/S. V. Swale (Observer) killed. Sgt. G. Dowling RAAF (Wop/Ag) injured.

 

Phil there is an article [with photo] on the front page of the W.W.N s dated Friday 4th December 1942 under the title Popular Airman. Brief particulars are as follows.

Son of Councillor Thomas Swale of Hillside, Highfield Road Widnes.Only son, he had a sister called Kathleen.Celebrated his 21st Birthday in Africa on 30th May and like his father was a native of Widnes.
Educated at Simms Cross School Widnes and later after passing his County Council Examination he went to Rydal school Colwyn Bay where his leasure was devoted to the outdoor pursuits of Cricket, Scouting and Football. As a Wicket keeper he excelled in playing for the school eleven behind the stumps. In Rugby Union Football he played in the Scrum Position and later became a playing member of the Liverpool Rugby Club in Aigburth Liverpool. After leaving school he studied Law before voluenteering for the R.A.F in May 1940. He was called up for service the following October.He was a popular member of the Lane Tennis club [Widnes ?] he was the third generation to serve his country his Grandfather the late mr Thomas Swale founder of the Weekly News served with the Army in India in the 1860s and his father Councillor Swale served in the 14-18 war as a Dispatch Rider in the Royal Engineers.
There then follows a load of tributes from friends and family.
Try contacting Liverpool Cricket [and Rugby] Club as they have records as well as Simms Cross School and Liverpool library may have an obit in the Echo. There well may be an obit in the Law society Journals will check next week when im in Liverpool. Regards Izzy

 

Peter / Izzy, thanks once again for the assistance

P