Correspondence concerning the death of John Madge

Correspondence concerning the death of John Madge

Telegram sent informing his wife that he had failed to return, condolence letters from the squadron CO and Air Ministry and follow up letters to John's wife, and father.

Two telegrams and four typed letters

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EOC98SqnRAFMadgeJE4411111, EOC97SqnRAFMadgeG441111, EMadgeGBurkeR441118, EJohnstonPWMadgeJE441114, EAirMinMadgeJE441221, E[Author]MadgeJE450725

[Post Office crest]

POST OFFICE TELEGRAM

[postmark] NO 11 44

158 B 5.15 LI/T OHMS PTY CC 49

( PRIORITY – CC ) MRS J. MADGE 66 MELFORD ROAD EASTHAM LDN E6

11TH NOV DEEPLY REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR HUSBAND WO J.G. MADGE IS REPORTED MISSING PENDING RECEIPT OF WRITTEN NOTIFICATION FROM THE AIR MINISTRY NO INFORMATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE PRESS LETTER FOLLOWS OC 98 SQUADRON +++++

[deleted] 66. E 6 11 TH 98 LI/T OHMS PTY CC +++ [/deleted]

[page break]

[Post Office crest]

POST OFFICE TELEGRAM

[postmark] NO 11 44

414 5.15 LI/T OHMS PTY CC 46

( PRIORITY – CC ) MR G MADGE 58 CHILDEBERT ROAD LONDON SW – 17

11TH NOV DEEPLY REGRET TO INFORM YOU YOUR SON WO J.G. MADGE IS REPORTED MISSING PENDING RECEIPT OF WRITTEN NOTIFICATION FROM THE AIR MINISTRY NO INFORMATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE PRESS = OC 97 SQUADRON +

[deleted] 58 SW – 17 11 TH 97 LI/T OHMS PTY-CC + [/deleted]

[page break]

58, Childebert Road,
Upper Tooting,
London, S.W.17.

18th November 1944.

Dear Sir,

I beg to thank you for your telegram of last Saturday and your letter of the 14th instant, regarding my Son, Warrant Officer J.G. Madge, and also for the expressions of hope and appreciation contained in your letter.

I have delayed answering your letter until I had seen my Son’s wife, which I have, and she has asked me to acknowledge on her behalf your telegram and letter to her and to thank you for your kind sentiments.

Both she and myself will observe the regulations as to giving informations &c.
[sic]

We shall all appreciate and await any news that you or the Air Ministry may receive and can only hope for the safety of my son and the rest of the crew. If it is admissible my daughter-in-law would like, in due course, a list [deleted] list [/deleted] of the names and addresses of the next of kin of the rest of the crew.

I hope that you will forgive me if I have made any mistake or omission in the manner I have addressed you.

Yours sincerely,

W/Cdr. Rayner Burke,
Commanding,
No. 97 (Straits Settlements) Squadron,
R.A.F.
CONINGSBY,
Lincoln.

[page break]

97 (Straits Settlements) Squadron,
Royal Air Force,
CONINGSBY, Lincoln.

14th November, 1944.

Dear Mrs Madge.

It is with the greatest regret that I must write to you amplifying my telegram of November 11th telling you that your husband, Warrant Officer J.G. Madge, failed to return from a flight over the Continent on the previous night.

I have delayed writing to you for a few days in the hope that I might have received some definite indication of what happened to the missing aircraft – in which your husband was flying as mid gunner. Unfortunately, this hope has proved to be groundless, as although every effort has been made and every possible source tapped, no news has been obtained.

Your husband had completed a successful first tour of twenty-five operational sorties before joining this Squadron about a month ago, and since then he made two trips in commencement of his second tour. His vigilance and skill as a gunner contributed in no small way to the safety of his crew, and is amply reflected in the large number of successful returns they made from sorties against the enemy, which included attacks on heavily defended targets. He carried out his duties conscientiously and well both in the air and on the ground, and will be greatly missed.

It is desired to explain that the request in the telegram notifying you of the casualty was included with the object of avoiding your husband’s chance of escape being prejudiced by undue publicity in case he had managed to bale out over enemy-occupied territory and was still at large. As mentioned above, no information about him is available, but the precaution is adopted in the case of all personnel reported missing.

Warrant Officer Madge’s kit and personal effects are being carefully collected and will be sent to the R.A.F. Central Depository at Colnbrook, near Slough, from whom you will hear in due course.

If any news is received you will be notified immediately, and in the meantime I join with you in hoping we may soon hear that your husband and the rest of the crew are safe.

Yours sincerely

P.W. Johnson.

Group Captain, Commanding,
[underlined] No. 97 Squadron. [/underlined]
(P.W. Johnson)

Mrs. J. Madge,
66, Melford Road,
East Ham, E.6.

[page break]

[Air Ministry crest]

AIR MINISTRY
(Casualty Branch),
73-77, OXFORD STREET,
W.1.

21 December 1944.

P.425378/7/P.4.Cas. B.4.

Madam,

I am directed to refer to your letter dated 24th November, 1944, regarding your husband, Warrant Officer John George Madge (1398434) Royal Air Force, and to inform you that the aircraft in which he was flying on the night of 10th/11th November, 1944, though technically engaged on a cross-country flight, was operating on a course which lay over western Flanders and Central France, such routing being necessary to afford practice to aircrews required to operate over the continent.

Your address has been noted and the records amended accordingly. You may rest assured that should any news be forthcoming concerning your husband it will be passed to you with the least possible delay.

Meanwhile, I am to extend to you the sincere sympathy of the Department in your anxiety.

I am, Madam,
Your obedient Servant

[signature]

for Director of Personal Services.

Mrs. J.G. Madge,
66, Melford Road,
East Ham,
[underlined] London E.16. [/underlined]

[crest of NATIONAL SCHEME FOR DISABLED MEN]

[page break]

R.A.F. Station,
Coningsby,
Lincoln.

25th July, 1945.

Reference:
COB/7035/CofA

Dear Mrs. Madge,

Reference your letter dated 22nd July 1945, your husband’s cycle was sold on the station on April 16th 1945, for the sum of £4-0-0, which was handed to the Accountant Officer for inclusion [deleted] for [/deleted] in your husband’s account.

It is regretted that through an oversight you were not informed at the time.

[signature] F/L
for Group Captain, Commanding,
R.A.F. Station, Coningsby.

Mrs J. Madge,
66, Melford Road,
East Ham,
London. E.6.