RAAF Burials in the UK - England & Wales

Flying Officer RONALD BRUCE SCUTTS

836, Royal Australian Air Force
who died age 23
on 27 June 1941
Son of Henry Albert and Anna Scutts, of Dulwich Hill New South Wales, Australia.
Remembered with honour
PEMBROKE DOCK (LLANION) CEMETERY

 

Hi Clive,

Great photos - Thank you.

The last Pembroke Cemetery photo shows it to be a little eerie.


Cheers

Geoff

 

Requirements have now been updated.

Hampshire and Wales will give me plenty to do when I get there!

Cheers

Geoff

 

Commemorated Croxley Green,Hertfordshire

Sergeant JOHN LOWES CROUCH

1437428, 460 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died age 20
on 09 April 1944
Son of William Vincent and Frances Grace Mary Crouch, of Croxley Green Hertfordshire.
Remembered with honour
CAMBRIDGE CITY CEMETERY

 

Thank you John for the two at Torquay Cemetery in Devon.

You have done a great job completing all but three in Devon on your own.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Commemorated Croxley Green,Hertfordshire

Sergeant JOHN LOWES CROUCH

1437428, 460 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died age 20
on 09 April 1944
Son of William Vincent and Frances Grace Mary Crouch, of Croxley Green Hertfordshire.
Remembered with honour
CAMBRIDGE CITY CEMETERY

Details of the above loss.

9-10 April 1944

460 Squadron
Lancaster I ME727 AR-
Op. Villeneuve

The aircraft took off 2124 hrs from Binbrook to bomb the railway yards at Villeneuve-St-Georges, but crashed six minutes later into Scallows wood, roughly 5 miles east of the airfield. The four Australian members of the crew and both air gunners are buried in Cambridge City Cemetery. Sgt. Barber rests in Acock's Green (St. Mary) Churchyard, he was 35 years old.

Crew.

P/O. W D. McKenzie RAAF +
Sgt. S B. Barber +
F/S. W D. Weekes RAAF +
F/S. B J J. Simpson RAAF +
F/S. R. Mansfield RAAF +
Sgt. J L. Crouch +
Sgt. J S. Pyne +

'Bomber Command Losses' Vol.5 - W R. Chorley.

 

GOULD, GORDON JAMES Sergeant 1785 10sq 11/06/1941 27 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Sec. T. Non-Conformist. Grave 198. PEMBROKE DOCK (LLANION) CEMETERY UK Pembrokeshire Courtesy CLI

Dear Sir
I note your interest in RAAF headstones in Pembrokeshire. I currently have some 3,000 jpegs of service and ex service personal headstones covering the years of 1722 to 2006.
To date I have covered about 70 to 80% of all chapel,churchyards and cemeteries in the county and county boarders.
If you think I can assist either from my database or specific location research in the county please let me know.
Rgds
Orielbenfro
ORIEL a welsh window on a surname

 

Dear Sir
I note your interest in RAAF headstones in Pembrokeshire. I currently have some 3,000 jpegs of service and ex service personal headstones covering the years of 1722 to 2006.
To date I have covered about 70 to 80% of all chapel,churchyards and cemeteries in the county and county boarders.
If you think I can assist either from my database or specific location research in the county please let me know.
Rgds
Orielbenfro
ORIEL a welsh window on a surname

Hi Oriel,

Thank you for the offer. The ones in red are those that I have already received.

There are quite a few that I require in Wales. What counties have you photographed?

If my geography is correct, these are the requirements in Wales.

[FONT=&quot]Anglesey Photos[/FONT][FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]SCOTT, RONALD NORMAN BILTON Warrant Officer 400737 456sq 8/10/1942 20 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Sec. 3. Grave 301. HOLYHEAD (MAESHYFRYD) BURIAL BOARD CEMETERY UK Anglesey

WOOD, GRAHAME ALBERT CREGEEN Sergeant 401343 456sq 8/10/1942 21 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Sec. 3. Grave 315. HOLYHEAD (MAESHYFRYD) BURIAL BOARD CEMETERY UK Anglesey [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]__________________[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Caernarvonshire Photos[/FONT][FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]BANNISTER, RUPERT THEODORE Sergeant 411475 27 O T U 19/07/1942 30 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Grave 2184. LLANBEBLIG PUBLIC CEMETERY, CAERNARFON UK Caernarvonshire

LONGBOTTOM, ERIC HARVEY Sergeant 416004 27 O T U 19/07/1942 25 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Grave 2183. LLANBEBLIG PUBLIC CEMETERY, CAERNARFON UK Caernarvonshire

MOWAT, NORMAN WARE Sergeant 404359 57 O T U 26/09/1941 27 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Grave 2150. LLANBEBLIG PUBLIC CEMETERY, CAERNARFON UK Caernarvonshire

SHARPLEY, JACK CLARENCE Sergeant 409235 1 O T U 4/02/1943 20 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Grave 2217. LLANBEBLIG PUBLIC CEMETERY, CAERNARFON UK Caernarvonshire

BLANCH, PERCY Sergeant 411853 9 AFU (c) RAF 19/02/1943 28 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Sec. B. Row D. Grave 27. PWLLHELI BOROUGH CEMETERY UK Caernarvonshire

FORSYTH, JOHN MALCOLM Flying Officer 401935 9 AFU (c) RAF 3/02/1943 21 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Sec. B. Row C. Grave 28. PWLLHELI BOROUGH CEMETERY UK Caernarvonshire

OSTENFELD, CHRISTIAN CONRAD Sergeant 402169 21 O T U RAF 28/07/1941 22 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Sec. B. Row C. Grave 27. PWLLHELI BOROUGH CEMETERY UK Caernarvonshire

PARKER, ANTHONY RUSSELL Flight Lieutenant 250 456sq 5/01/1942 27 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Sec. B. Row E. Grave 24. PWLLHELI BOROUGH CEMETERY UK Caernarvonshire

RAINE, NORMAN Leading Aircraftman 3683 10sq 29/04/1941 24 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Sec. B. Row D. Grave 24. PWLLHELI BOROUGH CEMETERY UK Caernarvonshire [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Cardiganshire Photos[/FONT][FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]ANDERSON, DAVID CAMPBELL Flying Officer 400453 1 O T U 10/02/1942 28 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Sec. 18. Grave 851. ABERYSTWYTH CEMETERY UK Cardiganshire [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Carmarthenshire Photos[/FONT][FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]SKELLY, BERNARD JAMES Warrant Officer 418189 1 AGS 26/01/1945 26 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Row 2. Grave 22. PEMBREY (ST. ILLTYD) CHURCHYARD UK Carmarthenshire

THOMSON, BEVERLEY JOHN WENTWORTH Flying Officer 421138 12 AFU 6/01/1945 21 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Row 2. Grave 23. PEMBREY (ST. ILLTYD) CHURCHYARD UK Carmarthenshire [/FONT]


Cheers

Geoff

 

These are my (4) Aussies

HOWIE, CHARLES GORDON Flight Sergeant 414938 460sq 16/12/1943 21 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Grave 13916A. CAMBRIDGE CITY CEMETERY

MOYNAGH, REGINALD ALBERT Flight Sergeant 407391 460sq 16/12/1943 28 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Grave 13915A. CAMBRIDGE CITY CEMETERY

PETERSEN, HARRY HARCOURT Flight Sergeant 413890 460sq 16/12/1943 23 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Grave 13917. CAMBRIDGE CITY CEMETERY

RANDALL, FRANCIS ARCHIBALD (DFC) Flying Officer 413896 460sq 16/12/1943 21 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Grave 13916. CAMBRIDGE CITY CEMETERY



Spidge did I miss those 4? If so I am quite happy to go back and look for them..
Dee
PS Can I have an up to date list of the ones you are still missing me dear.

 

Spidge did I miss those 4? If so I am quite happy to go back and look for them..
Dee
PS Can I have an up to date list of the ones you are still missing me dear.

Hi Dee,

I have all those. Clive posted one for 460sq who was actually British. THe post was just showing the 4 Aussies that were involved on that day.

Cheers

Geoff

 

OK me dear. Just the PS to stand then. By the way have a good start to 2011 me dear since you will get there before us!
Dee

 

Name: STURDAY, BRUCE LEONARD
Initials: B L
Nationality: Australian
Rank: Pilot Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Age: 19
Date of Death: 24/12/1941
Service No: 403384
Additional information: Son of Albert Harold and Annie Sturday, of Homebush, New South Wales, Australia.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot D. Row C. Grave 5.
Cemetery: HOUNSLOW CEMETERY

 

Hi Kevin,

Thank you once more for the photo.

These are the details of his death.

403384 Pilot Officer STURDAY, Bruce Leonard
Source:
AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, 163/57/153 Commonwealth War Graves records
Aircraft Type: Spitfire
Serial number: R 6699
Radio call sign:
Unit: 61 Operational Trg RAF
Summary:
On the 24th December 1941, Spitfire R6699 took off from RAF Heston at 1215 hours to
to carry out a Section climb to 25,000 feet and then do aerobatics and air combat. R6699
crashed when it disintegrated whilst in a spin. Both main planes and tail unit left the
fuselage and the aircraft crashed near St Annes Hill Pleasure Ground, Chertsey The pilot
was killed.
Crew:
RAAF 403384 PO Sturday, B L (Pilot)
PO Sturday is buried in the Hounslow Cemetery, Hansworth Road, Hounslow, UK.

 

On looking at my Father's copy of the RAAF LOG: The R.A.A.F at War (1943) I noticed this article about:

MIDDLETON, RAWDON HUME (Victoria Cross) Pilot Officer 402745 149sq RAF 29/11/1942 26 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Row D. Grave 1. BECK ROW (ST. JOHN) CHURCHYARD UK Suffolk




Hope you find it interesting.

 

Thanks for posting. A very brave man as were the lads that stayed with him nearly to the end but jumped and died of exposure in the English Channel.

A photo of his coffin lying in state at Beck Row
Australian War Memorial - SUK10501



When his VC was announced Radio Operator from his crew went on radio to tell the story of the flight and of the man, Rawdon Hume Middleton.

Flt Sgt Middleton, VC by FO Skinner on 15th January 1944.
ANNOUNCER : This is London Calling.
Today we bring you the story of how Flt Sgt Middleton won the VC just awarded to him
sacrificed himself to save his crew. The story has been told throughout the world in the
last 24 hours and here at least it has been acclaimed as one of the outstanding examples
of human courage and steadfastness at a time when epic stories are almost commonplace.
The story is going to be told to you today by the wireless operator of the Stirling crew
of which Flt Sgt Middleton, VC was Captain. The wireless operator is FO Skinner, a
Yorkshire man who came from the station specially to record this account of that last
flight by Ron Middleton. FO Skinner speaks for the whole crew.
SPEAKER “I am the wireless operator in the Stirling crew which Flt Sgt Middleton was
Captain. Even while the action was on I remember thinking “I’m watching this, not part
of it.” It was like seeing the film of a burning house. Somehow it never enters your head
that you personally won’t come out alive. I hope that this explains why some of the detail
may not be quite clear. I’ve remembered them as if they were in a film I’d seen some
time ago.
Ron Middleton was an Australian, and lived most of his life on his father’s sheep station
at Bogans Gate in New South Wales. He was 26 years old and about the most modest
chap I’ve ever met, and one of the best looking. He was so efficient that the three gunners
of his crew asked to be continued to fly with him even though they had completed their
own tour of operations. They were with us on this trip to Turin.
After dusk we got the green light from the aerodrome control pilot in his caravan by the
runway. Middleton opened up the throttles and we took off. Over France Middleton
noticed that the Stirling, H for Harry, was using up a lot of fuel in climbing. We were
detailed to go down low over Turin to attack the Fiat works and that meant we should
have to climb twice to get over the Alps, so we naturally very careful about the
consumption of fuel, and climbed slowly to economise.
By the time we reached the Alps we had climbed to 12,000 feet. There was no moon and
we should have crossed the Alps several thousand feet higher, but Middleton decided to
go on and make his way through the mountains. The front gunner was told to watch
ahead and everyone in the bomber began looking up at the sides of the mountains. We
could see patches of snow, white against the dark shadows. There was an anxious
moment when the shadows closed in and the front gunner reported “Mountains straight
ahead”. Middleton said “We’re coming to s dead end.” He opened the bomb doors and
the navigator was about to jettison the bombs so that we could climb when the front
gunner called “its there, look to starboard”. For to the right we could see the lights of
Turin and British flares blazing in the sky above the city.
We closed our bomb doors and turned to fly down the pass. Middleton again asked about
petrol and the Flt Engineer said that if we went down low we might not be able to get
back to base. The Middleton asked if we could make an airfield on the south coast of
England. The engineer replied “yes” we could. “Right, we’re going down, Middleton
said. The navigator went into the bombing well.
As we neared Turin Middleton skilfully wove his way down through the light flak and
flares. For a moment I wondered if we were going to get entangled in the white silk
parachutes from which the flares were hanging. Then we were hit by flak in the wing,
which reduced our power to lift, and Middleton called for his second pilot to help him
with the controls. We heard him say over the inter-com “We’re still OK..” and he began
circling again among the flak.
Middleton had just identified the target when a shell burst in his cockpit between him and
the second pilot and wounded both of them. I heard him say over the inter-com “I’m hit”.
Then he lost consciousness, and the Stirling went into a dive. As we went down the
fuselage and main planes were being hit continuously. The second pilot got to the
controls and brought the bomber out of the dive. But we were down to 800 feet before we
felt the bomber levelling out. Middleton came to while we were climbing, and his first
question was to ask if we were too low to bomb. We could see the house tops of Turin
and the tremendous fires. It was a wonderful night for bombers. We dropped our load
from just about 1500 feet and felt the thuds of light flak along the main plane.
Despite his appalling injuries – his right eye had been destroyed by a shell splinter and
the bones above the eye were completely exposed – Middleton ordered his second pilot
back to the rest bunk to get his wounds dressed. He too had been badly hit. The wounds
on his face were dried with gauze. His hand had been torn and was dressed with a pad,
but he refused to have a tourniquet put on his wounded leg. “I want to go back and help
Ron.”, he said. He shambled past me, head forward, looking in his determination like a
wounded bear. I saw the blood stains on his green flying suit as he passed the lights on
the engineer’s panel, and I could not imagine how he kept standing.
We thought then of flying to North Africa to avoid the climb over the Alps (some crew
thought of Switzerland), but Middleton was determined to get his crew back to England.
To make the most of out fuel we jettisoned everything we could. – camera, armour
plating, oxygen bottles, ammunition, flares, sears, fire extinguisher, and even the sextant.
The navigator prowled around the aircraft with a fireman’s axe chopping off things to
jettison. He asked Middleton whether we should drop the guns. Middleton replied “Yes,
OK George carry on but try not to talk to me, it hurts when I answer.”
We had four hours flight ahead of us and the Alps to climb. Both our pilots were
seriously wounded and their windscreen was smashed so that they were sitting in an icy
gale. The front gunner came back and stood by the injured pilots setting their compass
and helping them to weave their way through the passes. The time spent in bombing
Turin had, we thought, reduced fuel so much that we would be lucky if we reached the
sea in order to ditch. We checked our dinghies.
Then the north wind dropped a little and we made better headway. There was still little
hope of reaching England safely, and our captain must have realised that he could have
baled out or crash landed on the flat plains of France, but he had made up his mind to get
his crew back to England, although his wounds were serious.
Over North France I saw a flash of light above me and I realised it was the reflection on
the astrodome from searchlights. We were coned by twelve of them, and more light flak
hit the wings. Middleton was an artist at throwing a bomber about, and we lost height
from 6000 feet to 600 feet. Again he asked about petrol and just as we sighted the coast
of England the engineer reported that he could guarantee five minutes fuel but not ten.
Middleton called for his parachute, and it was passed to him by the navigator. I believe
now that this was a gesture to re-assure us. His voice was very thick and difficult to
understand. For a moment I went off the inter-com to get a bearing, and when I came on
again I was told that the order had been given to bale out. I went forward to see the
second pilot’s upturned face disappear and, and then I went out.
No one will ever know what was going on in Middleton’s mind during those last few
moments. But when the engines of the big bomber cut out, it does not glide easily. So
Middleton went out to sea, possibly thinking that he had a better chance of ditching than
crash landing. But evidently he was to far gone to alight safely on the sea. The bodies of
the engineer and front gunner were found the next day, but Flt Sgt’s Middleton’s body
was not recovered.
During the return home there were many opportunities for us to abandon the aircraft over
France, and for Middleton to live. But he preferred that we, his crew, and the aircraft of
which he was Captain, should not fall into enemy hands. That was the kind of man he
was.”
ANNOUNCER :That was FO Skinner (RAF) the Yorkshire wireless operator in the
Stirling crew of which Flt Sgt Ron Middleton, VC, was Captain. He was telling the story
of the action in which Ron Middleton won the VC. Ron Middleton’s name is well worthy
to be coupled with Corporal John Alexander French, another Australian, who it has just
been announced, has been posthumously awarded the VC, for outstanding bravery in
action at Milne Bay, in Papua.”

 

Remembered in Chalfont St Giles Buckinghamshire

Pilot Officer JOHN DALLAS CROSSMAN

43283, 46 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died
on 30 September 1940
Son of George Edward and Gladys Allyne Crossman, of New Lambton, New South Wales, Australia.
Remembered with honour
CHALFONT ST. GILES CHURCHYARD

 

Thanks Clive.

Where is St Peters Church.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Thanks Clive.

Where is St Peters Church.

Cheers

Geoff

Hello Geoff

it is Chalfont St Giles church (have corrected) Buckinghamshire

J.D.Crossman is buried in the Churchyard.
The Church Warden told me that he remembers his fiancee visiting the grave for a number of years after the War.

regards
clive

 

Hello Geoff

it is Chalfont St Giles church (have corrected) Buckinghamshire

J.D.Crossman is buried in the Churchyard.
The Church Warden told me that he remembers his fiancee visiting the grave for a number of years after the War.

regards
clive

Hi Clive,

I do have J.D. Crossman photo however the St Peter confuses me.

No wonder. This is the CWGC list.

The first one is where Crossman lies.

1.CHALFONT ST. GILES CHURCHYARD United KingdomBuckinghamshire

2 CHALFONT ST. PETER (ST. PETER) CHURCH CEMETERY United KingdomBuckinghamshire

3 CHALFONT ST. PETER BAPTIST CHAPEL BURIAL GROUND United KingdomBuckinghamshire

4 CHALFONT ST. PETER (ST. PAUL) CHURCHYARD United KingdomBuckinghamshire

5 CHALFONT ST. PETER GARDEN OF REST United KingdomBuckinghamshire

Cheers

Geoff

 

hello Geoff


yes it is very confusing

they are all very close to each other


regards
Clive