Spidge's proposed trip to UK/Europe - Mid April to end of May 2011 - Help Wanted!

Delighted to meet with Geoff today down at CA. , unfortunately a very wet , wet, wet morning and my passenger (the dog) barked like mad.

Geoff was going on up to Moira to meet "D" - I managed to lose Geoff in Dromore ( Co.Tyrone) so hopefully at this time he is well down the road to "Ms D" .
A very nice man to talk to and again delighted to meet one of the "regulars".

Enjoy the rest of your "tour" Geoff and safe home.

Robert,

Absolutely, Geoff was my first "Meet" of a fellow forum member and I hope to meet Kevin "C" on Monday here in Berlin.

A wonderful experience and Geoff was almost predicting rain in Ireland after seeing no rain on his long travels!

Regards
Tom

 

Delighted to meet with Geoff today down at CA. , unfortunately a very wet , wet, wet morning and my passenger (the dog) barked like mad.

Geoff was going on up to Moira to meet "D" - I managed to lose Geoff in Dromore ( Co.Tyrone) so hopefully at this time he is well down the road to "Ms D" .
A very nice man to talk to and again delighted to meet one of the "regulars".

Enjoy the rest of your "tour" Geoff and safe home.

Hi James,

Great day even for the rain. Delighted to meet with you and thanks for all the information and being my tourist guide.

I followed the GPS and only saw one tractor and about three cars before I got to the motorway. Arrived Moira at 1535 so travel time was very good.

Thanks again.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Great night had with Diane, Ian and the "children" and as Diane says a great big toad in the hole. Looked after me like a king.

Thanks to all.

 

In France at the moment. Spent a few days in Paris then caught the train to Versailles and picked up a car.

Completed all my cemeteries in Yvelines Department:

Courgent
Emance
Guyancourt
La Celle-Les-Bordes
Les Gonards
Mareil-Le -Guyon
Tacoignieres
Viroflay

Then yesterday completed all of Eure Department:

Autheuil
Bernay
Cheronvilliers
Criquebeuf-La-Campagne
Rugles
St. Philbert-Sur-Risle
Tourville-La-Campagne

Drove up to Ranville late yesterday afternoon. No accommodation however a local couple put me up in their loft which is a full on suite in the sailors style - roped walkways etc. really nice place.

Cutting back on the cemeteries I intended to do as I want to see a few more "sights". The continuous driving, although okay, is becoming a bit stressful through back lanes and fields in the middle of nowhere.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Glad to here its all going well Geoff, and sorry I missed you whilst you where in Blighty

 

Geoff

If you could bottle your energy and sell it on the internet I would be your first customer

Don't want to pre-empt your report to the forum when you finish your tour, but I'm dying to know if you managed to visit Place Du Terte in Paris ?

Ron

 

Geoff

If you could bottle your energy and sell it on the internet I would be your first customer

Don't want to pre-empt your report to the forum when you finish your tour, but I'm dying to know if you managed to visit Place Du Terte in Paris ?

Ron

Sorry Ron, did not get there.

The two days I was walking Paris it was 30 degrees. Took in alot of the city and walked 6 or 7 kms a day. Took a boat cruise and walked around many of the small streets with markets and lovely restaurants.

Not enough time to do all the things you would like to!

 

Glad to here its all going well Geoff, and sorry I missed you whilst you where in Blighty

Me to Phil.

Been quite "full on" but next time (if and when) things won't be so cramped for time.

Cheers

Geoff

 

The sun is still chasing me. Average temp for May is 18 and 29 here today.

Left out a couple of cemeteries I did yesterday.

St Samson Churchyard - Calvados

Coulonces Churchyard - Orne

Both of these were the only CWGC burial in these cemeteries. Both are tended beautifuly by the local people with a cross on each and flowers placed on a regular basis so it seems.





RAAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR AMONG
RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT
IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS
412727 Flight Lieutenant SMALL, Ronald Harold
Source:
AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, 1667/38/578 Commonwealth War Graves records
Aircraft Type: Spitfire
Serial number: NA 817
Radio call sign:
Unit: ATTD 229 SQN RAF
Summary:
Spitfire NA817 took off from RAF Tangmere at 1550 hours on 23rd June 1944, part of a
formation of eight aircraft from the Squadron detailed to carry out a beachhead patrol
over Normandy, France. On arrival at the beachhead, the formation divided into two
sections of four, with Blue Section led by Flt Lt Small patrolling the east flank.
PO Clark in Blue Section later reported :: “ At approx 1645 hours the Controller reported
enemy aircraft to our east and on going to investigate, 6 FW190’s were sighted at 2
o’clock at our own altitude of 4000 feet diving. We turned to engage them and while
turning 3 FW190’s attacked us from the opposite direction. As we broke into them FO
Armstrong Small’s No 2 received damage to the starboard wing and was forced to break
away. Also Flt Lt Hayes my No 2 received damage to his starboard wing and spun off,
returning to the fight almost immediately.
In the dog fight which ensued, I caught only occasional glimpses of Small in one of
which I believe he was behind a FW190 which received strikes on the cockpit and
subsequently crashed. I then got behind a FW190 which broke and I chased him for 5
minutes. After breaking off the engagement, I returned to the patrol area and made
several attempts to contact Small on the R/T, all of which were unsuccessful I remained
in the patrol area for a few minutes, but seeing no other aircraft about obtained
permission from the Flight Controller to return to base.”
Crew:
RAAF 412727 Flt Lt Small R H (Pilot)
Flt Small is buried in the St Samson Churchyard, Calvados, France. St Samson is a
village and commune on the Caen-L’Eveque road (N815), 9 miles east of Caen. France.
Flt Lt Small is the only WW2 Commonwealth Air Force fatality to be buried in the
Churchyard.

DescriptionCORNWALL, ENGLAND. 1943-10-14. MEMBERS OF SPITFIRE NO. 453 SQUADRON RAAF AT RAF STATION PERRANPORTH, THE ONLY AUSTRALIAN SPITFIRE SQUADRON, HAVING A LAST GAME WITH THE SQUADRON MASCOT "SPROG" WHO HAD TO BE LEFT BEHIND WHEN THE UNIT MOVED TO A NEW LOCATION AT THE RAF STATION SKEABRAE IN THE ORKNEYS. LEFT TO RIGHT: 414519 FLIGHT SERGEANT (F SGT) C. A. SEENEY, GATTON, QLD; 15326 FLYING OFFICER (FO) R. BUSH, SYDNEY, NSW, ENGINEER OFFICER; 409147 F SGT K. C. KINROSS, ESSENDON, VIC; 413296 F SGT H. F. WATTS, MILTON, QLD; 409160 F SGT R. LYALL, GEELONG, VIC; WARRANT OFFICER "JOCK" YOUNG, RAF RADIO OFFICER; FO F. J. CATCHPOLE, RAF INTELLIGENCE OFFICER; 261892 FLIGHT LIEUTENANT H. SHARP, SYDNEY, NSW, MEDICAL OFFICER.

Details of the above loss......Seeney

25 July 1944

453 Squadron
Spitfire IX Pl227

Armed recce pm to Falaise. Shot down by ground fire attacking motorised transport.

'Fighter Command Losses' Vol.3 - N L R. Franks

 

I really put in the hard yards today in the heat. Walking, walking, walking! Walking a couple of kms to the train station. Then changing trains about 10 times during the day with a couple of bus rides eventually getting me to CLICHY NORTHERN CEMETERY (Hauts-de-Seine).

I was directed to Montmarte cemetery, then another and finally worked it out for myself and caught the 74 bus to Clichy Berges de Seine only to find out that nobody had a clue there was a cemetery close by. After putting my I-pad on roaming for the name of the street a shopkeeper got his phone out, looked up the name RUE GENERAL ROUGET (for those that may be interested.) It was another kilometre away but who is counting.

Anyway, success at last then I had to walk another "K" to find the bus stop to take me back to the station. Changed trains again just to be different and got back to St Cyr station near Versailles about 5:00pm. I won't count walking back to the hotel.

So, I photographed my 22 Aussies and this day goes down as the hardest day I have ever put in for achieving my photos.

MACKENZIE, IAN CUMMING Pilot Officer 405005 408sq 15/04/1943

COLE, NORMAN Flying Officer 413964 418sq RCAF 31/07/1943

CHADWICK, THOMAS PATRICK Flight Sergeant 426046 57sq 24/09/1943

BATES, DUDLEY CLIVE Flight Sergeant 426426 9sq 18/04/1944

STRUTHERS, WILLIAM JAMES Flight Sergeant 426790 57sq 20/04/1944

BROWN, JOHN EYRE Flight Sergeant 417809 467sq 21/04/1944

BURGESS, THOMAS JAMES Pilot Officer 409663 207sq 21/04/1944

CAMERON, JAMES WILLIAM KEITH Flying Officer 422423 467sq 21/04/1944

CUTMORE, MAURICE HYDE Flight Sergeant 405677 467sq 21/04/1944

EMERY, SIMON GROVER Flight Sergeant 418366 467sq 21/04/1944

FEENEY, KENNETH GEORGE Pilot Officer 411690 467sq 21/04/1944

FRANCIS, MAX GORDON Flight Sergeant 417356 467sq 21/04/1944

SAMPSON, FREDERICK RICHARD Flight Sergeant 417520 78sq 27/04/1944

BAKER, LOUIS MICHAEL GABRIEL (DFM) Flight Sergeant 426507 166sq 8/06/1944

MARSHALL, ROLAND MAXWELL Pilot Officer 423818 166sq 8/06/1944

BUCKNELL, GEOFFREY CHARLES Flying Officer 421311 97sq 6/08/1944

McALLISTER, RONALD Flight Sergeant 424551 97sq 6/08/1944

CROSS, RONALD FRANK Flight Sergeant 437401 467sq 2/02/1945

ELLIOT, BURTON HAMPTON Flight Sergeant 427234 467sq 2/02/1945

KING, KENNETH JOHN Flight Sergeant 436330 467sq 2/02/1945

PAINE, WILLIAM THOMAS Flight Sergeant 424676 467sq 2/02/1945

ROBINSON, ALTON NEIL GOULBURN Flying Officer 422885 467sq 2/02/1945

 

Hi Spidge, if I had known you were coming over I would not have bothered to spend my whole holiday photographing headstone on my last holiday for you! :indexCANAHAIH: :p

Glad you made it mate,

"O and the wife says to say hello

Regards Lee & Kimberley

 

Hi Spidge, if I had known you were coming over I would not have bothered to spend my whole holiday photographing headstone on my last holiday for you! :indexCANAHAIH: :p

Glad you made it mate,

"O and the wife says to say hello

Regards Lee & Kimberley

Thank you both.

I have left some for you in Calvados and Pas de Calais don't worry.

No wonder many of those in France were still outstanding!:p



Cheers

Geoff

 

Well six weeks have gone like wildfire and I am on my way back to Australia tonight. I have had a wonderful time and a fulfilling experience both here and in Europe.

I would like to thank all those forumites that I have met and thank them for their wonderful hospitality and to those I could not get to meet I apologise but there is always next time (here's hoping).

I have seen some wonderful places, driven over 5,000kms, walked many kms everyday and really crammed a lifelong ambition into a short time.

I did not achieve as much as I had hoped in France however those that I did, I have placed an Australian flag which will show people that there are those that still care.

The cemeteries I visited in the back blocks of France where the Aussie was the only CWGC burial are tended beautifully by the locals for which I give them my sincere thanks.

To those who have put a roof over my head I really appreciated their kindness and can hopefully repay that at sometime in the future.

Thanks again to all.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Hi Geoff

Just to wish you Bon Voyage and a trouble-free trip home !

Speaking as one of the lucky ones who was able to meet up with you, may I say what a pleasure it was to meet you in the flesh after having corresponded with you for so long on the forum itself..

Without wishing to embarress you, I doubt if there are many forum members who would be prepared to put in the effort that you have in your grave-site research and your report on on the French cemeteries (posting No.# 32) is a wonderful example of the lengths to which you are prepared to go.

Best regards

Ron

 

Thanks Ron,

It was a pleasure to meet with you also. We did have a good long chat didn't we. Thank you for taking the train ride down to me. It was very much appreciated.

I stayed overnight in Plymouth to get the Aussie from the Plymouth Jewish Cemetery as it was not open on Anzac Day. I squeezed the contact number from the office at Ford Park cemetery however he did not answer.

The cemetery has 3 meter high walls and gates so at 11.00 I left and had to drive to meet Peter Clare at Runnymede.

You may be able to exert some of your charm to achieve the photo for both of us. I will see if I can get the chaps number again as I have misplaced it during my travels.

John from this forum had tried previously and was unsuccessful because of the securty measures.

SOLOMON, MORRIS Sergeant 402679 1404 MET Flight RAF 21/07/1942 23 Royal Australian Air Force Australian PLYMOUTH JEWISH CEMETERY UK Devon
Source:
AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, 163/163/441 Commonwealth War Graves records
Aircraft Type: Hudson
Serial number: T 9460
Radio call sign:
Unit: 1404 Met Flight RAF
Summary:
On the 21st July 1942, Hudson T9460 took off from RAF St Eval, Cornwall, on an
operational met recce flight. The aircraft crashed at 1450 hours when it hit cliffs at Kellan
Head, Port Quin, Cornwall, and all the crew were killed. The aircraft ahd been in the air
for 4 hours 55 minutes.
The aircraft had returned from the met sortie in conditions of low cloud with a base of
about 150 feet and 1000 feet thick. When over the drome the aircraft called on the R/T
and it was directed to land at Predannack The aircraft acknowledged this. Instead of
flying to Predannack the aircraft flew along the coast, and was seen flying at 50 feet
across Watergate Bay in a northerly direction. It appeared that the pilot was following the
coast northwards at a low altitude instead of climbing above the low cloud and setting
course for Predannick.
An Inquiry into the accident found that : “Low cloud was the main contributory factor to
the accident. Also the Pilot had disregarded instructions to proceed to Predannack, and it
was bad airmanship in trying to follow a difficult coastline in bad visibility.”
Crew:
RAF Sgt D E Peart, Captain (Pilot)
RAF Sgt D J Newcombe, (Observer)
RAAF 402679 Sgt M Solomon, (Wireless Air Gunner)
RAAF 401256 Sgt E L Waldron, (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sgt Peart is buried in the St Columb Major Cemetery.
Sgt Newcombe is buried in the Okehampton (All Saints) Chuirchyard & Extension,UK.
Sgt Solomon is buried in the Plymouth Jewish Cemetery, UK.
Sgt Waldron is buried in the St Mawgan (Lanherne) Roman Catholic Cemetery, UK.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Geoff,

It was wonderful meeting you in Berlin and I for one think that you deserve a medal for your exploits.

Regards
Tom

 

Geoff

I've just come off the phone after speaking to the caretaker of Plymouth Jewish Cemetery.

He is a lovely chap and has promised to get me a photo of the grave-site one way or another.

Will keep you informed as soon as I have something to pass on.

Ron

 

Geoff,

It was wonderful meeting you in Berlin and I for one think that you deserve a medal for your exploits.

Regards
Tom

Thanks Tom.

You and the family were lovely hosts.

I am a poor photographer though. I somehow missed about 20 at Rheinberg. I have a feeling they must have been against a wall I did not see. Many are Special Memorials and are not usually within the rows of the general burials.

I did not check them all off before I left the cemetery which serves me right.

Cheers

Geoff