WW2 Air force burials in Kidlington, Oxon

Discussion in 'War Cemeteries & War Memorial Research' started by JMP, May 15, 2010.

  1. JMP

    JMP Junior Member

    Good morning

    I have just joined your forum after trying to find out more online about the burials in St Marys, Kidlington, Oxfordshire burial ground of men from the Airforce killed in WW2 .

    For some reason I hadn't walked passed where they are and since finding them they have stayed in my mind. I walk through the graveyard frequently and would value knowing more so that I can be aware of them as individuals as I walk by, especially if some of them have been buried away from home.

    I noticed that there is one 16 year old buried there and one Polish man.

    If you could send me any detail I would be very glad to receive it

    with my thanks

    JMP
     
  2. CL1

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

    JMP
    Welcome

    below links to Commonwealth War Graves Commision web site showing the cemteries you mention.
    If you open the link it will give you the names of the women/men buried or remembered there.


    Cemetery

    Cemetery

    link below re Polish casualties where you might find answers.
    Polish War Graves
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2018
  3. JMP

    JMP Junior Member

    Thank you!

    That was so quick.

    I'll have a look

    About to walk my dog again while the sun is still shining and it will be good to know some more about these men.

    JMP
     
  4. CL1

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

    JMP

    looks like CWGC link is currently down try it later


    ok its back up now
     
  5. CL1

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

    JMP

    this is the 16 year old lad

    Cadet 1st Class LESLIE SHEARWOOD

    107, Air Training Corps
    who died age 16
    on 04 April 1944
    Son of Robert John and Florence Mildred Shearwood, of Eastcote, Ruislip, Middlesex.
    Remembered with honour
    KIDLINGTON BURIAL GROUND
     
  6. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi JMP and welcome to the forum.

    Can you post their names on the headstones you are interested in or better still photgraphs of the headstones.

    Regards
    Andy
     
  7. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    JMP,

    Hello and welcome to the forum.

    I am glad the sun is shining for you.
    It is absolutely pouring down here in Berlin.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  8. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    I noticed that there is one 16 year old buried there.

    with my thanks

    JMP


    Hello and welcome to the forum

    I believe this to be the 16 year old that you mention.

    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    Regards
    Peter
     
  9. JMP

    JMP Junior Member

    Hi CL1, Andy and Tom

    Thanks, the link is back up and I'm just taking it all in. There is nothing on the Polish War Graves Site for the Polish Airman so I will take more detail when I walk there next time.

    I will check with the Library and local museum too to see what else is known.

    Bye for now. How the rain stops soon Tom

    JMP
     
  10. nicks

    nicks Very Senior Member

    Hi JMP and welcome to the forum.

    Having looked through the cemetery details that looks like an interesting research project. If you need any help give us a shout.:)

    Nick
     
  11. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Three of the casualties died on 3rd June 1944 Killed On Active Service
    Name: INNES-SMITH, DONALD JAMES
    Initials: D J
    Nationality: United Kingdom
    Rank: Warrant Officer (Pilot)
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
    Age: 29
    Date of Death: 03/06/1943
    Service No: 564068
    Additional information: Son of David and Mary Maud Innes-Smith of Sadar, Karachi, India.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. B. Grave 16.
    Cemetery: KIDLINGTON BURIAL GROUND
    As a Flt/Sgt, DJ Innes-Smith had served with 30 Squadron in the Mediterranean, in the defence of Greece, flying Blenheim 1F’s.

    Name: BANKS, JACK STANDISH
    Initials: J S
    Nationality: Canadian
    Rank: Flying Officer (Air Gnr.)
    Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force
    Date of Death: 03/06/1943
    Service No: J/15267
    Awards: D F M
    Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph D. Banks; husband of Anne M. Banks, of East Angus, Province of Quebec, Canada.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. B. Grave 15.
    Cemetery: KIDLINGTON BURIAL GROUND

    Name: BOIRE, LEO ALBERT
    Initials: L A
    Nationality: Canadian
    Rank: Flight Sergeant (Pilot)
    Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force
    Age: 20
    Date of Death: 03/06/1943
    Service No: R/132245
    Additional information: Son of Alcide and Claudia Boire; stepson of Theophile Baron, of Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan, Canada.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. B. Grave 17.
    Cemetery: KIDLINGTON BURIAL GROUND

    I think Flt/Sgt Boire also had a brother who was shot down and taken PoW later in the War:
    L1 3978 Boire J D 420 LW373 R/188869 RCAF 24/03/44
    420 Squadron Halifax Serial Number LW373

    It may be that Boire was a pilot under training with Innes-Smith as Instructor....
    perhaps others know more?
     
  12. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Name: BOIRE, LEO ALBERT
    Initials: L A
    Nationality: Canadian
    Rank: Flight Sergeant (Pilot)
    Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force
    Age: 20
    Date of Death: 03/06/1943
    Service No: R/132245
    Additional information: Son of Alcide and Claudia Boire; stepson of Theophile Baron, of Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan, Canada.
    Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
    Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. B. Grave 17.
    Cemetery: KIDLINGTON BURIAL GROUND
    Five were killed in a mid-air collision on 3 June 1943 between Oxford II, V3821 and Oxford I, X6871.
    Both aircraft were from 20 (P) AFU, Kidlington. Boire was flying from Weston on the Green and the others were out of Kidlington. Both crashed at Kingston Bagpuize near Abingdon.
     
  13. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Thanks, Peter, beat me to it!!
    The other two were:-
    WOOD, Ronald Charles Flying Officer 122251 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery

    BROOKE, Jack Flight Sergeant 1148948 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve buried at Ashton-under-Lyne (Hurst) Cemetery

    Boire and Brooke were flying X6871 from Weston on the Green and the others were out of Kidlington.
     
  14. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Hi JMP and welcome from Australia.

    There are three "Aussies" buried at Kidlington (one RAF and two RAAF) Hopefully someone may have some information on these deaths.

    I had not yet researched these and came upon some interesting family history on one of them.

    Hopefully you might place a flower for me as they, like many were buried a long way from home.

    Kidlington Burial Ground Falkiner_LBS.JPG

    In Memory of
    Leading Aircraftman LEIGH BRERETON SADLEIR FALKINER

    1384158, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 20
    on 12 February 1942
    Son of Leigh Sadleir Falkiner and of Beatrice Lyle Falkiner (nee Young), of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
    Remembered with honour
    KIDLINGTON BURIAL GROUND

    LEIGH BRERETON SADLEIR FALKINER attended Trinity College at the University of Melbourne where he is listed on the Roll of Honour in the Chapel along with his cousin John.

    FALKINER, JOHN ALEXANDER Flight Lieutenant 400952 460sq 22/09/1942 24 Royal Australian Air Force Australian WOOTTON (ST. LAWRENCE) CHURCHYARD UK Hampshire

    Interesting bio of the family.

    http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A080490b.htm

    Boonoke ram sales were severely hit by the Depression. In 1934 Falkiner made his greatest contribution to stud merino breeding; the Poll Boonoke. To offset wartime transport disruption he established a ram depot at Cleeve, near Longreach, Queensland. A formidable octogenerian, he surrendered the stud to Basil Clapham in 1953 (but remained chairman of directors); presided over the record ewe sale in 1957; and, next year, achieved his lifelong ambition by reuniting all Peppins' original studs with the purchase of Wanganella from the descendants of Albert Austin. By 1957, 70 million of Australia's 150 million sheep were descended from his rams.


    The inscription on his headstone reads:

    Sic Itur Ad Astra ("THUS YOU SHALL GO TO THE STARS")

    His sister is listed here and married a "Prince"

    Joan married Taley Muhammed (Lieutenant Colonel His Highness Zubd-tul-Mulk Dewan Mahakhan Bahadur Shri Sir GCIE KCVO ADC) KHAN , Nawab of PALANPUR 1. Taley Muhammed (Lieutenant Colonel His Highness Zubd-tul-Mulk Dewan Mahakhan Bahadur Shri Sir GCIE KCVO ADC) KHAN , Nawab of PALANPUR was born on 7 Jul 1883. He died on 20 May 1957.

    90. Beatrice Lyle YOUNG 1 (Beatrice (Trish) McNicoll , James , David , David ) was born on 24 Oct 1894 in Vic, Australia. She died on 5 Aug 1992.[Notes]
    Beatrice married 2 Leigh Sadleir FALKINER 1 on 14 Nov 1914 in Vic, Australia. Leigh was born on 2 Feb 1880 in Geelong, Vic, Australia. He died on 6 Jun 1952.[Notes]
    They had the following children:
    + 125 F i Beatrice Ann (Ann) FALKINER + 126 F ii Joan Alice (Her Highness Jhanara Begum of Palanpur) FALKINER 127 M iii Leigh Brereton Sadleir FALKINER 1 was born 2 on 11 Jun 1921 in Armadale, Vic, Australia. He died on 12 Feb 1942 in Oxfordshire, England. He was buried after 12 Feb 1942 in Sec. B, Grave 7, Kidlington Burial Ground, Oxfordshire, England. [Notes]

    Ray Thomas Langley

    Service number: 416971
    Rank: Flight Sergeant
    Unit: 20 (Pilot) Advanced Flying RAF
    Service: RAAF
    Conflict: 1939-1945
    Date of death: 27 June 1943
    Place of death: United Kingdom
    Cause of death: Accidental
    Source: AWM148 Roll of Honour cards, 1939-1945 War, Air Force

    View attachment 30386
    Ray Thomas Langley lived at 14 Dawson Place, Fullarton Estate South Australia and was a Bank Officer with the Commonwealth Bank.

    William Harrington Davy Stewart Service number: 404117
    Rank: Pilot Officer
    Unit: 149 Squadron RAF
    Service: RAAF
    Conflict: 1939-1945
    Date of death: 31 December 1941
    Place of death: United Kingdom
    Cause of death: Accidental
    Source: AWM148 Roll of Honour cards, 1939-1945 War, Air Force


    View attachment 30386




    WILLIAM HARRINGTON DAVY STEWART (DFM)

    Lived at 19 Cook St, North Ward Townsville
     

    Attached Files:

  15. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Leading Aircraftman LEIGH BRERETON SADLEIR FALKINER

    1384158, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    who died age 20
    on 12 February 1942
    Son of Leigh Sadleir Falkiner and of Beatrice Lyle Falkiner (nee Young), of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
    Remembered with honour
    KIDLINGTON BURIAL GROUND
    LAC (Pilot u/t) L.B.S. Falkiner - 1384158 and LAC P. Cockburn - 1382945, both 15 FTS, were killed when their Oxford V3906 hit HT cables; crashed Laural Farm near Bicester, 1145 hrs.
     
  16. moth82

    moth82 Junior Member

    Hello,
    I have just joined this site because I read this thread;
    One of my fathers cousins is burried in the small RAF plot at Kidlington.
    I flew in to Kidlington earlier this year and called round to see the site, nice to see it is very well kept.

    Does anyone know how 'Raymond Hooper' RAFVR ended up there?
    If anyone is researching this site I can possibley provide a picture of him in his uniform.

    Regards

    Andrew
     
  17. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

  18. CL1

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

    Welcome and please post any photos you have
    Peter has posted some good info
     
  19. moth82

    moth82 Junior Member

    img002.jpg

    img003.jpg Hello,
    Thank you for your welcome and the info concerning; Raymond Hooper.RAFvR
    It had been mentioned about the hawker Audax crashing at Kingston-Bagpuzie possibily being responsible. But I did not realise his service number was attached which would confirm that.
    I understand the wing folded up due to structural failure on final approach, some one may tell me different?

    Attached should be his picture,
     
  20. Tim Emptage

    Tim Emptage New Member

    Hi

    I have just joined this forum. I live in Kidlington and I have always wondered about the CWGC graves in Kidlington. A lot is made of the men on the War Memorial at the front of the church but noone seems to know much about the men buried at the back of the church. I am planning on writing a small booklet about these men, where they were from, how they came to be in Kidlington and what happened to them. I would be grateful for any information that anyone can give. I am happy to provide photos of anywhere in Kidlingto to anyone who wants them
     

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