Army casualty Mundesley, Norfolk Feb 1945

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by Spitdigger, Nov 19, 2014.

  1. Spitdigger

    Spitdigger New Member

    Hi all,

    On 15th February 1945 a 124 Sqn Spitfire crashed at Mundesley Sanatorium, Norfolk. The aircraft hit a building within the grounds killing a soldier inside. F/Sgt Allen the pilot also died in the crash.

    The Sanatorium was for TB sufferers but the patients and staff had been evacuated to Cheshire earlier in the war. What isn't clear to me is what use it was put to by the Army, ie hospital/convalescence or barracks. If it were barracks then which unit was stationed there and therefore it should be possible to find the name of the casualty. If used as hospital/rest home then I'm not sure how to identify the soldier killed.

    Any ideas ?

    Thanks, Jeff
     
  2. hutt

    hutt Member

    Are you able to contact Archant newspapers in Norwich who I believe, hold the extensive archives for the EDP (Eastern Daily Press) which might give some clues although I would presume that censorship, while allowing the names to be released would not have permitted the unit details to be published.

    http://www.edp24.co.uk/lifestyle/family-history/searching-public-records
     
  3. Spitdigger

    Spitdigger New Member

    Thanks Hutt,

    The EDP confirms 1 soldier killed and 3 in an adjoining room escaping unhurt. Refers to it as 'barracks'

    Jeff
     
  4. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2403627/
    ALLEN, PELHAM BOLTON
    Rank: Flight Sergeant
    Trade: Pilot
    Service No: 1512540
    Date of Death: 15/02/1945
    Age: 22
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 124 Sqdn.
    Grave Reference: Panel 6.
    Cemetery: MANCHESTER CREMATORIUM


    [hr]

    I went through the results from Geoff's search engine for British deaths on 15/2/45 and listed as Army / UK Burials. You might want to re-check the results for yourself http://www.********.co.uk/cgi-bin/search39-47.php
    Maybe if you can find circumstances of their deaths, one might just match up.

    Good luck.


    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2698082/
    ASPIN, EDWIN
    Rank: Private
    Service No: 3388090
    Date of Death: 15/02/1945
    Age: 25
    Regiment/Service: East Lancashire Regiment
    Grave Reference: Grave NE. 10994.
    Cemetery: BURNLEY CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of Thomas and Jane Aspin, of Burnley.


    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/4029385/
    BOORER, ERNEST LESLIE
    Rank: Trooper
    Service No: 14990519
    Date of Death: 15/02/1945
    Age: 19
    Regiment/Service: Royal Armoured Corps
    Grave Reference: Grave 62.
    Cemetery: WOLVERHAMPTON BOROUGH CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of Walter Joseph and Florence Lavinia Boorer, of Wolverhampton.


    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2359266/
    BRADSHAW, JAMES HENRY
    Rank: Gunner
    Service No: 1717583
    Date of Death: 15/02/1945
    Age: 36
    Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
    Cemetery: WIGTOFT (SS. PETER AND PAUL) CHURCHYARD
    Additional Information: Son of John and Sarah Bradshaw; husband of E. M. Bradshaw, of Wigtoft.


    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2407942/
    ELLIS, WILLIAM
    Rank: Gunner
    Service No: 947464
    Date of Death: 15/02/1945
    Age: 26
    Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
    Grave Reference: Plot 16. Row Y. Grave 15.
    Cemetery: FULFORD CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of William and Eva Winifred Ellis; husband of Alice Matilda Ellis, of Kennington, London.


    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2146269/
    GIVAN, PATRICK
    Rank: Corporal
    Service No: D/17513
    Date of Death: 15/02/1945
    Regiment/Service: Royal Engineers, 699 Gen. Constr. Coy.
    Panel Reference: Panel 5. Column 1.
    Memorial: BROOKWOOD MEMORIAL


    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2723298/
    HIDE, HENRY
    Rank: Lieutenant
    Service No: 155348
    Date of Death: 15/02/1945
    Age: 32
    Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery, 95 Lt. A.A. Regt.
    Grave Reference: Grave 2537.
    Cemetery: HAILSHAM CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of Charles and Mildred Hide, of Eastbourne.


    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2715331/
    LOVE, JOHN
    Rank: Serjeant
    Service No: 1682983
    Date of Death: 15/02/1945
    Age: 28
    Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery, 82 H.A.A. Regt.
    Grave Reference: Grave 445.
    Cemetery: SANQUHAR PARISH CHURCHYARD EXTENSION
    Additional Information: Son of Jessie Love, and stepson of Hugh Black, of Sanquhar.


    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2441810/
    MEDLAND, WILFRID GILBERT WINGET
    Rank: Private
    Service No: 14245144
    Date of Death: 15/02/1945
    Age: 30
    Regiment/Service: Royal Army Medical Corps
    Grave Reference:
    Cemetery: KINGSTEIGNTON (ST. MICHAEL) CHURCHYARD AND EXTENSION
    Additional Information: Son of Joseph and Emily Medland, of Kingsteignton; husband of Lydia Mary Phyllis Medland, of Kingsteignton.



    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2712406/
    MELLEY, ERIC
    Rank: Private
    Service No: 5126278
    Date of Death: 15/02/1945
    Age: 26
    Regiment/Service: Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
    Grave Reference: Grave 3.
    Cemetery: TARDEBIGGE (ST. BARTHOLOMEW) CHURCHYARD AND EXTENSION
    Additional Information: Son of Alfred and Elizabeth Melley, of Webheath.


    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2715704/
    MURRAY, JOHN
    Rank: Private
    Service No: 3249348
    Date of Death: 15/02/1945
    Age: 35
    Regiment/Service: Pioneer Corps
    Grave Reference: New Western Extn. Sec. I. Grave 267.
    Cemetery: HAMILTON (BENT) CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of John and Annie Murray, of Hamilton; husband of Sarah Murray, of Burnbank, Hamilton.

    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2712845/
    POWELL, JOHN HENRY
    Rank: Private
    Service No: 4917891
    Date of Death: 15/02/1945
    Age: 26
    Regiment/Service: The Parachute Regiment, A.A.C., 13th (2/4th Bn. The South Lancashire Regt.) Bn.
    Grave Reference: Sec. A. Grave 424.
    Cemetery: CHESLYN HAY CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of John and Amy Powell; husband of Winifred Grace Powell, of Cheslyn Hay.

    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2717616/
    PUGH, FREDERICK WILLIAM
    Rank: Warrant Officer Class II
    Trade: R.Q.M.S.
    Service No: 1423070
    Date of Death: 15/02/1945
    Age: 49
    Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery, H.Q., 45 A.A. Bde.
    Grave Reference: Uncon. Sec. Grave 1110.
    Cemetery: ABERCYNON CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Pugh, of Abercynon; husband of Ida Esme Pugh, of Crowthorne, Berkshire. Also served in the 1914-18 War.


    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2453109/
    ROBINSON, JOHN GEORGE
    Rank: Serjeant
    Service No: 3260041
    Date of Death: 15/02/1945
    Age: 63
    Regiment/Service: Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
    Grave Reference: Sec. B. Grave 201.
    Cemetery: GLASGOW (LAMBHILL) CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of Andrew and Margaret Stirratt Robinson; husband of Elizabeth Robinson, of Glasgow.


    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2733880/
    RUSSELL, ALBERT FREDERICK
    Rank: Private
    Service No: 14599731
    Date of Death: 15/02/1945
    Age: 38
    Regiment/Service: Royal Army Ordnance Corps
    Grave Reference: Sec. D.7. Grave 44387.
    Cemetery: CHINGFORD MOUNT CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of Albert G. Russell and Mary Russell; husband of Myfanwy Russell, of Chingford.


    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2451674/
    SIMMONDS, GEORGE THOMAS
    Rank: Serjeant
    Service No: 2619676
    Date of Death: 15/02/1945
    Age: 33
    Regiment/Service: Grenadier Guards, 5th Bn.
    Awards: M M
    Grave Reference: Grave 953.
    Cemetery: WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of Samuel George and Ethel Kate Simmonds; husband of Amy May Simmonds, of Wotton-under-Edge.

    Listed in Regtl History as “Died of Wounds”, both Sgt Simmonds’ legs had been “blown off” on 2/12/1944 at Monte Sole during the Italian campaign.



    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2723131/
    STANTON, FREDERICK JOHN
    Rank: Private
    Service No: 14639325
    Date of Death: 15/02/1945
    Age: 40
    Regiment/Service: Royal Army Medical Corps
    Grave Reference: Plot A.G. Grave 597.
    Cemetery: HAYWARDS HEATH (WESTERN ROAD) CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of Frederick and Norah Stanton; husband of Emma L. Stanton, of Limehouse, London.


    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2712138/
    WILSDON, FREDERICK
    Rank: Lance Serjeant
    Service No: 5247711
    Date of Death: 15/02/1945
    Age: 36
    Regiment/Service: Worcestershire Regiment
    Grave Reference: Grave 1699.
    Cemetery: EVESHAM CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of Harry and Ellen Wilsdon; husband of V. E. Wilsdon, of Evesham.


    [hr]
    Included just in case:

    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2428158/
    MASON, HARRY HAROLD
    Rank: Marine
    Service No: RME/11906
    Date of Death: 15/02/1945
    Age: 41
    Regiment/Service: Royal Marine Engineers
    Grave Reference: Square 119. Jt. grave 7779. Screen wall. Panel 8.
    Cemetery: CAMBERWELL NEW CEMETERY


    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2734173/
    ROPER, EDNA MAUDE
    Rank: Private
    Service No: W/123051
    Date of Death: 15/02/1945
    Age: 28
    Regiment/Service: Auxiliary Territorial Service
    Grave Reference: Screen Wall. Square 241. Coll. grave 108029.
    Cemetery: CITY OF LONDON CEMETERY AND CREMATORIUM, MANOR PARK
    Additional Information: Daughter of James Samuel and Adelaide Roper, of Harrow, Middlesex.
     
  5. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

    Might be a bit hard to place who was there at the time, as according to this story there was a training area at Mundesley

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/12/a5779812.shtml

    Each platoon of trainees had a 2nd Lieutenant who was to go on active service with the 21 men. When the end of training came all the men were sent on leave — except me. I was sent to a more intense infantry training course at Mundesley-on-Sea, the Junior Leaders Course.
     
    dbf likes this.
  6. Spitdigger

    Spitdigger New Member

    Info in overnight -thanks to Col Bruggy - suggests it was Pvt Eric Melley. His death was registered at North Walsham as was F/Sgt Allen.

    For background info; F/Sgt Allen was killed during dive bombing practice in Spitfire IX PV212 flying out of Coltishall. 124 Sqn were engaging in dive bombing attacks on mobile V2 launch set-ups at this time.

    http://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/cathedral/memorials/WW2/pelham-allen

    This was a crash in Norfolk that was known but only recently had we been able to put a little more info to it. Thanks to all for info and background. I'll post up any further developments.

    Jeff
     
  7. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Pte, please.
    Pvt is American .
    Yes I am a pedant.
     
  8. Spitdigger

    Spitdigger New Member

    In my defence I'm normally air force orientated but pedantry matters :)
     
    Owen likes this.
  9. Brian Melley

    Brian Melley New Member

    It was my great uncle Eric Melley who was the soldier who was killed.The family always said he had been wounded and was in a building with 2 others making tea because it was cold when 2 planes above crashed together and came down on top of the building.I would be very intrested to learn anything of this.
     
    CL1 likes this.
  10. Lotus7

    Lotus7 Well-Known Member

    Hi and welcome to the forum Brian, good luck with your research
     
  11. Denise Revell

    Denise Revell New Member

    The other Casualty was Eric Melley, born 1920 Alcester, Warwickshire, died 15 Feb 1945 Mundesley Sanitorium, apparently he was sent to the Sanitorium to recover after being injured during the war, he was about to be discharged to home when the Spitfire crashed into the building he was in.
     

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