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