British Red Cross letter

British Red Cross letter

A letter from the British Red Cross and Order of St John of Jerusalem sent to Mrs Joan Broderick concerning her husband, Kenneth. The letter provides an update on the whereabouts of Joan's husband, of which the German authorities have no further information.

1944-01-24

Single page type written letter

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EAmpthillMBroderickJR440124-0001, EAmpthillMBroderickJR440124-0002

WAR ORGANISATION OF THE BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY and ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM

[British Red Cross crest] [Order of St. John crest]

[underlined] WOUNDED, MISSING AND RELATIVES DEPARTMENT [/underlined]
Chairman: THE DOWAGER LADY AMPTHILL, C.I., G.B.E.

In replying please quote reference [underlined] WAS/MHD RAF/C.3331 [/underlined]

7 BELGRAVE SQUARE,
LONDON, S.W.1

24th January, 1944

Dear Mrs. Broderick,

We are writing to tell you of a statement from the Official Bureau at Berlin concerning your husband, Pilot Officer K.J. Broderick 115109, and members of his crew, which has been forwarded to us through the International Red Cross Committee.

We must tell you, very regretfully, that we are now informed the German authorities have no records in the name of your husband or those of four of his companions. The Organisation at Geneva adds that enquiries about the recovery and burial of Sergeant Curtis are still in progress.

When the Berlin reply on this subject reaches us, we shall not fail to pass it on to you. It is realised that this information is considerably overdue, but, as you know, we are not in a position to enforce a punctual response to our requests and can only, in such instances, ask for their repetition at intervals.

We are not, unhappily, always able to secure definite information from our enemies about every member of a crew if the disaster to their aircraft took place over the sea, and it now appears there is but the most remote possibility that news of Pilot Officer Broderick may yet come through.

Please believe how distressed we are at the lack of any result in connection with our efforts on your behalf, and how much we sympathise with you in your sorrow.

54845 Wren J.R. Broderick,
B. Site R.N.A.S. Eglinton,
Londonderry,
Northern Ireland.

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Ampthill Mrs D L
Chairman.


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[inserted] Document 6 [/inserted]