Please go to this thread to see all remaining requirements in England & Wales as Ireland & Scotland are now complete! http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-grave-photographs/22411-raaf-burials-uk-england-wales.html#post234745 There is (1) RAAF and (2) RAF Australians of WW2 and (2) RAF Australians of WW1 still to be photographed in (5) cemeteries in Middlesex. If you can take a photograph of the headstone/memorial or know someone that can, please let me know. See post three for the required photos. Cheers Geoff
Hi Spidge, I know this is an old thread but did you have any luck with people getting pictures of these mens graves. Let me know as some of these cemeteries are fairly close to me so and as long as they are close to public transport links as I don't drive I may be able to help you.
Hi Mullet 94. Thank you for the offer. Yes they are all still required. I have listed them again as the previous placement has gone whacko! Those in red are now completed. FFRENCH, EVELYN WILSON Captain 23/12/1918 40 RAF United Kingdom GOLDERS GREEN CREMATORIUM CALE, FRANCIS WALTER Pilot Officer 42104 266sq RAF 15/08/1940 Unknown Royal Air Force UK Plot 16. Grave 13060. HANWELL CEMETERY SMEE, SMEE, JAMES KENNETH Sergeant 1380996 219sq RAF 5/06/1942 20 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve UK Sec. R.C.1. Grave L.3. HAYES AND HARLINGTON (CHERRY LANE) CEMETERY ASHTON, CECIL GEORGE Captain 24/02/1919 34 RAF United Kingdom B. 6. 24831. HENDON CEMETERY STURDAY, BRUCE LEONARD Pilot Officer 403384 61 O T U 24/12/1941 19 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Plot D. Row C. Grave 5. HOUNSLOW CEMETERY Cheers Geoff
Hi Geoff, Was there a Lieutenant D C Black in your original post who's buried in Hampstead Cemetery? Your updated post doesn't have him on but i took a trip there but could not find his grave. If you do need this serviceman I will try again when Friends of Hampstead Cemetery are holding an event there and they can help me locate his grave as there are no cemetery plans that I could find. I know you did not ask for these headstones but searching the cemetery I came across 4 graves of men who served in the Australian Imperial Forces in WWI and are buried together. Private L W Hamilton, 3rd BN. Australian Infantry: Private F Westway, 8th BN. Australian Infantry: Private J Cameron, 1st BN. Australian Infantry: Private R J Kerr, 14th BN. Australian Infantry:
Golders Green Crematorium is just up the road from Hampstead Cemetery so I got a picture of the memorial plaque for Captain E W French. He is commerated on memorial to all WWI and WWII servicemen who were cremated at this Crematorium. Close up of Captain French's listing on the memorial: WWI Roll of Honour: The Memorial:
Hi Mullet, Thank you for the AIF photos. The first one Hamilton was born in a little town in the North East of Victoria where my great Grandparents emigrated to from Ireland in the 1850's and where my Grandmother was born. He was wounded at Gallipoli. Is /was there a hospital near the cemetery? With respect to Black, I have this photo of his grave! Thank you very much for taking the time to seek him out. I have also just received a photo of Cecil George Ashton from Hendon Cemetery. Glad to see that the strange spelling of FFRENCH was not an error on my part. Thank you for getting that one also. The third one on the list should read as follows as I cut his surname off.: SMEE, JAMES KENNETH Sergeant 1380996 219sq RAF 5/06/1942 20 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve UK Sec. R.C.1. Grave L.3. HAYES AND HARLINGTON (CHERRY LANE) CEMETERY Cheers Geoff
No wonder I couldn't find his grave, as I couldn't find any cemetery plans I just went around looking at the CWGC headstones. I assume there must have been a hospital close to the cemetery where WWI casualties were treated as close to the row of AIF graves was alsoa Canadian soldier from WWI. The Royal Free Hospital is close by but that only moved to the area in the 1970's so an old hospital may well have closed down when this came to the area. I'll probably take a trip to Hayes and Harlington cemetery in the next week for Sergeant Smee's grave.
No wonder I couldn't find his grave, as I couldn't find any cemetery plans I just went around looking at the CWGC headstones. I assume there must have been a hospital close to the cemetery where WWI casualties were treated as close to the row of AIF graves was alsoa Canadian soldier from WWI. The Royal Free Hospital is close by but that only moved to the area in the 1970's so an old hospital may well have closed down when this came to the area. I'll probably take a trip to Hayes and Harlington cemetery in the next week for Sergeant Smee's grave. These lads must have been some of, the first lot of casualties to be returned to Britain as their deaths in the main were less than 5 months after the Gallipoli campaign began. Look forward to hearing from you. Cheers Geoff
A quick google gave this on hospitals in Hampstead ww1. Hampstead Military Hospital 1914-18: During World War 1, the workhouse in New End was turned into a military hospital. From: Military History Online - One of Ten Thousand We travelled by hospital train to Paddington about 230 miles then motored to Hampstead (New End) Military Hospital where we are looked after splendidly. When the boys are able to walk, they are allowed out from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. They are often taken for motor trips all over London. The people are very kind, and invite the boys to afternoon tea. The Old Bull and Bush Inn is only ten minutes walk from here. Little did I think I would one day see the original? I will write to you again about the different places when I can get about. Don’t worry about me, my wounds are not serious. I expect to be about in a couple of weeks. I have an appetite like a horse [I should think so after bully beef and biscuits for four months] I am unable to find a photo of it however someone may be a better googler than me.
I found this link that says it was a specialist cardiac hospital. The military hospitals in Great Britain in 1914-1918 I found this paper article about the hospital which says it was housed in the old Mount Vernon Hospital building in Hampstead which interestingly is now the Mount Vernon Hospital in Northwood close to where I live. Amazing what you can find out. http://rcnarchive.rcn.org.uk/data/VOLUME054-1915/page251-volume54-27thmarch1915.pdf The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust - History of Mount Vernon Hospital And I found some images of the old building on flickr that says it's now luxury flats. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaxuk/186408413/ Mount Vernon Hospital, Hampstead on Flickr - Photo Sharing! IMG_7952 Apartment Complex, Old Mount Vernon Hospital, Hampstead on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
These are the remaining photos I require in Middlesex. HANWELL CEMETERY HAYES AND HARLINGTON (CHERRY LANE) CEMETERY CALE, FRANCIS WALTER Pilot Officer 42104 266sq RAF 15/08/1940 Unknown Royal Air Force UK Plot 16. Grave 13060. HANWELL CEMETERY BoB Pilot CALE, P/O F. W. 42104 Australian. 266 Squadron. Killed August 15th 1940 Francis Walter Cale, from Western Australia, was educated at Guilford Grammar School, Perth. He was provisionally accepted by an RAAF Board for an RAF short service commission and sailed for England on February 2nd 1939. With his elementary flying successfully completed, Cale was granted his commission in May 1939. After completing his flying training, he joined 266 Squadron at Sutton Bridge in early November. On August 15th 1940 Cale was shot down by Me109's over Maidstone. He baled out but landed in the River Medway, his body being recovered from the river the following day. His Spitfire, N3168, crashed in flames on the bank of the Medway at Teston. Cale was 25. He is buried in Westminster City Cemetery, Ealing. SMEE, JAMES KENNETH Sergeant 1380996 219sq RAF 5/06/1942 20 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve UK Sec. R.C.1. Grave L.3. HAYES AND HARLINGTON (CHERRY LANE) CEMETERY Info from RAF Commands I have received further information from Smees nephew in Australia. It helps to explain why he was buried so many miles away from Tangmere in Sussex. At the beginning of the war he was serving in the Australian merchant marine but got tired of being shot at and not being able to fire back so, on arrival UK, he jumped ship, changed his name, joined the RAF. At the time of the crash he was engaged to a local girl from Hayes in Middlesex who he was going to take home when the Beaufighter was being introduced to Australia. I have no further details of his crew mate Bassett. However, I am being sent papers and photos from Australia and will get back with any more news. (28th July 2009) Squadron - 219 Aircraft - Beaufighter Mk If R2267 Pilot - 1380996 Sergeant James Kenneth SMEE - from Mayfield, NSW, Australia Navigator - 926261 Sergeant Claude Stanley BASSETT - from Ropley, Hampshire, England. Time Up - 00.05 hrs 5-6-1942 Crashed - 03.59 hrs 5-6-1942 Crash Place - Boxgrove, Sussex, England. (about 2 miles north of Tangmere) Base - RAF Tangmere Duty - Red ink entry in squadron log book as "S/L Co-op" - Searchlight co-operation? Two other Beaufighters sent up on same duty R2063, flown by Pilot Officer Carrol and R2202, flown by Squadron Leader Roger Winlaw (the cricket player) returned safely to base at 02.55 hrs. No combats were reported that night. Sgt Smee age 20 is buried at Hayes & Harlington Cemetery, Middlesex, England. Sgt Bassett age 22 is buried at Hillingdon & Uxbridge Cemetery, Middlesex, England. This information has been gathered from an original squadron log book with additional information from the CWGC web site. Any information about this crew and their last flight will be gratefully received. Pilot reported on W/T that u/c would not lower. Told to fly around until dawn. Later reported u/c down but stalled and crashed, Boxgrove, Sussex, on approach (to Tangmere). See: The Bristol Beaufighter Crash Log. Smith,David J. Wirral:Author, n.d. Unpaginated:see under date. Smee has an undigitised A705 at the National Archives of Australia: NAA: A705 163/162/375 The Item Notes, albeit, quoting an incorrect Service number for Bassett, and the Title, an incorrect Casualty date. Having family in Australia, the facts on Smee's death would have been signalled to the Air Board, Melbourne, for notification of his NOK.
I might be able to get to Cherry Lane Cemetery over the next week. Thanks Mullet, Great if you can. Geoff
If I can join the party, I am looking for the following headstone from Feltham, Middlesex area. FELTHAM CEMETERY MORCOM, GEORGE WILLIAM, 3645445, Sec. I. Grave 58. Thanks in advance P
