I am carrying out research into the names of the fallen in my village from WW1 & 2 and am trying to find out which unit the following gent served with:- Name: MARTIN, FREDERICK VICTOR Rank: Sergeant Trade: Obs. Service No: 1375907 Date of Death: 10/09/1941 Age: 25 Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Grave Reference: Grave 186. Cemetery: EYNSFORD (ST. MARTIN) CHURCHYARD Additional Information: Son of William Thomas Martin and Mary Jane Martin, of Eynsford. Any help would be appreciated in where to look for this info.
10 September 1941. 25 OTU. B Flight. Wellington IC X9872 Op: Training. Crew. F/L. D J. Bassett + Sgt. F V. Martin + Sgt. W G. Kilsby + Sgt. G F. Large + F/S. T. Highton DFM + Sgt. M J. Byrne + Took off Finningley for night bombing training. At 2145 hrs flew into farm buildings near Southrey, a fenland village some 4 miles NW of Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire. All are buried in cemeteries within the UK. BCL's - W R. Chorley. Hope this is a help. Regards Peter.
Peter Many, many thanks for your help. This man lived in my village and is buried in the graveyard of St Martins, Eynsford, a Norman church. A beautiful setting. That's the amazing thing about this Forum. There are so many helpful people who belong to it who are able to share their knowledge so quickly. Robert
I am looking for details on what happened to another 5 RAF casualties if anyone can help. See below:- Name: BOWERS, CHARLES WILLIAM Initials: C W Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Pilot Officer Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 524 Sqdn. Age: 30 Date of Death: 04/03/1945 Service No: 56414 Additional information: Son of Josiah and Phyllis Bowers; husband of Muriel Beatrice Bowers, of Gillingham, Kent. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 268. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Name: GIGGER, DERRICK JOHN Initials: D J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Pilot Officer (Pilot) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 625 Sqdn. Age: 21 Date of Death: 16/03/1944 Service No: 173328 Additional information: Son of John Henry and Elsie Winifred Gigger, of Eynsford, Kent. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Row B. Grave 2. Cemetery: DANNES COMMUNAL CEMETERY Name: INSTON, JOHN Initials: J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Flying Officer Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 106 Sqdn. Date of Death: 30/01/1944 Service No: 151635 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 207. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Name: MAJOR, PETER ANTHONY Initials: P A Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Flight Lieutenant Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Unit Text: 602 Sqdn. Age: 24 Date of Death: 17/05/1942 Service No: 33352 Additional information: Adopted son of John Lewis Major and Constance Theodora Major, of Eynsford, Kent. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 21. B. 15. Cemetery: BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY Name: OVENDEN, FREDERICK GEORGE Initials: F G Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Leading Aircraftman Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Age: 26 Date of Death: 06/12/1944 Service No: 1626444 Additional information: Son of George and Lucy Ovenden; husband of Phyllis Violet Ovenden, of Dartford, Kent, England. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 3. Column 3. Memorial: OTTAWA MEMORIAL Many thanks - Robert
Name: GIGGER, DERRICK JOHN Initials: D J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Pilot Officer (Pilot) Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 625 Sqdn. Age: 21 Date of Death: 16/03/1944 Service No: 173328 Additional information: Son of John Henry and Elsie Winifred Gigger, of Eynsford, Kent. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Row B. Grave 2. Cemetery: DANNES COMMUNAL CEMETERY P/O. Gigger was lost on 15-16 March 1944 when Lancaster I W4833 CF-J was lost on a raid to Stuttgart. The aircraft was presumed to have crashed in the sea off the coast of France. Regards Peter.
Name: INSTON, JOHN Initials: J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Flying Officer Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 106 Sqdn. Date of Death: 30/01/1944 Service No: 151635 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 207. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL F/O. Inston was lost on 30-31 January 1944 with the loss of Lancaster III ND336 ZN-Q on a raid to Berlin. The aircraft crashed in the North Sea. Regards Peter.
Name: MAJOR, PETER ANTHONY Initials: P A Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Flight Lieutenant Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Unit Text: 602 Sqdn. Age: 24 Date of Death: 17/05/1942 Service No: 33352 Additional information: Adopted son of John Lewis Major and Constance Theodora Major, of Eynsford, Kent. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 21. B. 15. Cemetery: BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY F/L. P Major was lost on 17 May 1942 with the loss of Spitfire Vb BM426 on a Ramrod 33 sortie. he was picked up dead from the sea off Cap Gris Nez Regards Peter
Peter - Thank you again for that information. For the casualty P A Major, what was a Ramrod 33 sortie. A reconnaisance flight maybe? Regards - Robert
Peter - Thank you again for that information. For the casualty P A Major, what was a Ramrod 33 sortie. A reconnaisance flight maybe? Regards - Robert Robert The definition of a Ramrod sortie = Ramrod - bomber raid escorted by fighters aimed at destruction of a specific target in daylight. ------------------------------------- All these operations were numbered consecutively. so according to John Foreman (FC War Diaries Part 3) Ramrod 33 was flown on 17/5/42. The operation sustained heavy losses. (Steve Brooking) Regards Peter
Robert, Great results for you Robert. Like you say, this forum is full of knowledgeable members and Peter has come up trumps. Hope you can soon complete your investigations. Regards Tom
Tom WW2 has been quite easy to find out about. WW1 looks like a much harder challenge. For quite a few of the names, I have found up 100 casualties for the same surname and initial. Quite sad when you think of it. A consult with my Local Village History Society is next on the Agenda. Robert
Robert, That sounds like a very good move. Be careful, you may get abducted into the group! Regards Tom
I have a final request to find information on 2 airforce casualties. They are:- Name: CHESTER, ARTHUR JOHN Initials: A J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Sergeant Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 466 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn. Age: 26 Date of Death: 14/01/1943 Service No: 1254680 Additional information: Son of George and Mable Beatrice Chester, of Eynsford, Kent. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 145. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Name: PEARSON, EDWARD HENRY Initials: E H Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Sergeant Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 49 Sqdn. Age: 19 Date of Death: 13/06/1943 Service No: 1628361 Additional information: Son of Edward H. and Rosina B. Pearson, of Wilmington, Kent. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 161. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Thanks in advance for any information.
Name: CHESTER, ARTHUR JOHN Initials: A J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Sergeant Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 466 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn. Age: 26 Date of Death: 14/01/1943 Service No: 1254680 Additional information: Son of George and Mable Beatrice Chester, of Eynsford, Kent. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 145. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL 14-15 January 1943. Sgt Chester was lost on this day when Wellington HE152 HD-L was lost on a Gardening operation in the Nectarines Region (Frisian Islands) The aircraft was shot down by Kriegsmarine flak and crashed at 1742 hrs into the sea west of Ameland. Gardening was the aerial laying of mines in enemy waters, each area was given a code, ie. Anemones = Le Havre: Lettuces = Kiel Canal. and so on.
Name: PEARSON, EDWARD HENRY Initials: E H Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Sergeant Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 49 Sqdn. Age: 19 Date of Death: 13/06/1943 Service No: 1628361 Additional information: Son of Edward H. and Rosina B. Pearson, of Wilmington, Kent. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 161. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL 12-13 June 1943 Sgt. Pearson was lost on this day when Lancaster III ED584 EA-U was lost on a raid to Bochum. The aircraft crashed near Marienheem (Overijssel) a hamlet near Raalte, Holland.
Name: CHESTER, ARTHUR JOHN Initials: A J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Sergeant Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 466 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn. Age: 26 Date of Death: 14/01/1943 Service No: 1254680 Additional information: Son of George and Mable Beatrice Chester, of Eynsford, Kent. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 145. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL 14-15 January 1943. Sgt Chester was lost on this day when Wellington HE152 HD-L was lost on a Gardening operation in the Nectarines Region (Frisian Islands) The aircraft was shot down by Kriegsmarine flak and crashed at 1742 hrs into the sea west of Ameland. Gardening was the aerial laying of mines in enemy waters, each area was given a code, ie. Anemones = Le Havre: Lettuces = Kiel Canal. and so on. This is one of the few occasions I have come across where there was not an Australian on a 466sq RAAF aircraft. F/S Stewart is buried in Vlieland General Cemetery; the rest have no known graves. This was the Squadron's first operational loss since its formation at Driffield 15Oct42. Sgt R.V.Babington KIA Sgt J.A.austin RNZAF KIA Sgt L.H.Tabner KIA F/S H.W.Stewart RCAF KIA Sgt M.Harris KIA Sgt A.J.Chester KIA "
Thanks again Peter for that information. Spidge - I see that 466 squadron's first operational mission was on the 13th January 1945. Sadly it did not take long for losses to occur. Thanks to you also for that useful information. It's amazing that of the 11 casualties commemorated on my village war memorial, 8 of them were in the Air Force. I shall stand at the Remembrance ceremony with other village members later this morning knowing a little of the sacrifice that these men made for their country. Robert.
I would again like to thank those members who provided me with a lot of information, particulary Peter Clare. Here is a photo of my Village War Memorial after today's Remembrance Service. It was well attended by about 200 people.
Thanks again Peter for that information. Spidge - I see that 466 squadron's first operational mission was on the 13th January 1945. Sadly it did not take long for losses to occur. Thanks to you also for that useful information. It's amazing that of the 11 casualties commemorated on my village war memorial, 8 of them were in the Air Force. I shall stand at the Remembrance ceremony with other village members later this morning knowing a little of the sacrifice that these men made for their country. Robert. Hi Robert, The date was 13th January 1943. Must have een a typo. 466 Squadron RAAF: Australian War Memorial Cheers Geoff