RAF Casualty George Melton-Speirs

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by temptage, Aug 1, 2022.

  1. temptage

    temptage I thought it would only take a few weeks......

    I am trying to find out more about this man. He seems to be a bit of an enigma.

    Leading Aircraftman George Melton-Speirs, at the time of his death on 16th August 1945, was training with 132 OTU of Coastal Command, which was based at East Fortune in Scotland. He was the son of Mary McQueen Speirs, of Rothesay, Buteshire, also in Scotland.

    I have found that he died at 11.25pm at the junction of Marmion Road and Clifford Road, North Berwick, the result of a fractured skull suffered in an accident. It doesn't state whether the accident was a road traffic accident or not. His occupation is given as Apprentice Aero Engine Fitter.

    Now what I cant understand is why he is buried in Waltham in Lincolnshire. I cant find anything linking him to Waltham, no addresses, no family, nothing. But I have an inkling that he may have been based at RAF Waltham prior to moving up to 132 OTU.

    Can anyone find anything about him. He has me flummoxed.
     
    travers1940 and CL1 like this.
  2. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    In Britain, the NOK had the right to decide the burial place of their military dead. I feel that there must be a NOK connection with the Grimsby area. If not the casualty must have been buried at Waltham with the NOK's permission.

    Perhaps the Grimsby Telegraph archives might reveal more information
     
    travers1940 and CL1 like this.
  3. travers1940

    travers1940 Well-Known Member

    This entry has the added info that he was the husband of Ivy May and daddy of Margaret and Pamela. This information is possibly on the flower holder shown on the photo in the link, but of course that could have been moved there for another grave by mistake.

    George Melton-Speirs (unknown-1945) - Find a...

    Unable to find an England and Wales marriage, remarriage or death of his widow or births of the daughters, although ancestry does not seem to cope well with double barrelled names.

    Have also checked British Newspaper Archives with a nil result.
     
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2022
    Harry Ree and CL1 like this.
  4. travers1940

    travers1940 Well-Known Member

    The CWGC graves registration report for Waltham cemetery dated 1955 sates that his grave is maintained by "rels.", so maybe relatives local in 1945-55.
     
  5. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    Thanks Travers for a very informative post


    As regards the NOK. It points to possibly a marriage in the Grimsby area where the NOK brought home her dead husband to be buried at Watham. I would think it also points to a Coastal Command connection in that I think that LAC George Melton-Speirs was based at North Coates, an airfield within No 16 Group Coastal Command and not at RAF Grimsby (Watham), No 1 Group Bomber Command.
     
  6. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  7. temptage

    temptage I thought it would only take a few weeks......

    Its amazing who comes forward when you put the feelers out isnt it?

    Helen Sheard Hinkley

    George was my Grandmother's nephew. He lived with my Grandparents in New Waltham for some time.

    and then this little beauty.

    PETER Sheard, (92 yrs) Georges cousin here
    George Melton Spiers was apprentice Aircraft Fitter with De|Havillands at Waltham Aerodrom before the war. At the outbreak of war the aerodrome was closed and he volunteered for the RAF within weeks. After his basic training, which I believe was at Blackpool, he went on to do his trade test at Weston Super Mare. He was then on embarcation leave and was posted to 21st Air School, Kimberley, South Africa for most of the war.
    On return to the UK, after demarcation leave, he was posted to East Fortune. His accident was caused by travelling too fast downhill on his bicycle, hitting a brick wall causing his death..
    As I understand the situation, George was brought up initially by Hilda and George Melton, his grandparents. Upon the death of Hilda, my mother took over responsibility for grandfather and George. Locally he was known only as George Melton. It wasn't until he joined the RAF he was officially known as George Melton-Spiers.
    There is a growing memorial of George in the shape of a huge horsechestnut tree growing just inside the gate of our former home at 99 Peaks Lane which George raised from seed when he was at St. James School, Grimsby
     
  8. temptage

    temptage I thought it would only take a few weeks......

    That is a mighty fine looking tree.
     

Share This Page