2
25
75
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Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
Culkin, Jean
J Culkin
Description
An account of the resource
10 items. An oral history interview with Jean Culkin, née Dodds (b.1924), photographs and documents. The collection also contains an album of photographs and newspaper cuttings. Jean Culkin grew up in Sunderland and worked in a reserved occupation. Her husband, John George Mackel Culkin, served as ground crew.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Jean Culkin and catalogued by IBCC Digital Archive staff.
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2017-09-13
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
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Culkin, J
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
B0574910 Warrant Officer J G M Culkin
Royal Air Force
Born 14th May 1923
John George Mackel Culkin in Sunderland (East End) County Durham
Father – Thomas William Culkin
Mother – Ethel Jane Elizabeth May Culkin Nee Mackel
Schools
Moor Board School, East End Sunderland
Sunderland Technical College (Scholarship)
Royal Air Force
1938
Joined 6th September as an Enlisted Aircraft Apprentice (38th Entry) at R.A.F. Halton, Buckinghamshire.
14th September posted to Apprentice training to R.A.F. Cosford, Shropshire, 1(a) Wing for full R.A.F. Technical Apprenticeship and further technical academic schooling.
1939
3rd September war with Germany was declared.
Posted back to 3(a) wing R.A.F. Halton to finish shortened apprenticeship training.
Passed out as Aircraftman 1st class, but he was under 18 years of age so was not eligible foe “Mans service”.
1940
29th June – posted to No 4 Group H.Q. Hesslington Hall, York. Found to be a non a/c establishment. After a cup of tea was sent to no 4 Group Bomber Command Communication Flight, Rawcliffe Lane, Clifton, York.
Flight manned by Class E reservists and World War 1 personnel.
Aircraft on flight strength;
Avro Tutor 504K, (Lynx engine).
Percival Proctor, cabin with side by side seating.
Miles Mentor, cabin with side by side seating.
Miles Magister, open cockpit tandem seating.
Flight aircraft used by staff officers from No 4 Group (Bomber Command) on visits to No 4 group airfields. Notably R.A.F. Leeming, Topcliffe, Linton – on – Ouse and Dishforth.
Apprentice J G Culkin became a popular airman to take around on site visits to look after aircraft and to do the starting drills. Eventually most staff officers took an interest in showing him how to fly and allowing him to take the controls for most of the flights. He became a very good flyer.
2nd July re-classified as Aircraftsman 1st Class and now qualified to carry out the duties of Fitter 2(Engines) on all R.A.F. aircraft. Working on flight and visiting aircraft including Westland Lysander, Hawker Hurricane, Supermarine Spitfire, de Havilland Albatross (passenger General Sir Alan Brooke), Bristol Blenheim and Botha and Handley Page Hereford.
3rd December posted to No 35 Squadron, R.A.F. Leeming, Yorkshire. First squadron to equip with Handley Page Halifax bomber. Squadron had one prototype aircraft. Shortly after arrival squadron moved to R.A.F. Linton – on – Ouse and received it’s full quota of aircraft. It quickly became operational.
1941
1st March sat and passed trade Test examination and promoted to Leading Aircraftman. Now heading modification team, working on such projects as fitting all squadron aircraft with propeller de-icing systems, modifying air intakes and engine controls.
Station bombed on several occasions – Station commander killed. Aircraft damaged by fire bombs.
14th May, now 18 years of age, commenced mans service.
10th July promoted to corporal. Very proud. Very, very young for the rank, was posted to R.A.F. Middleton St George, co Durham, to new squadron no 76, fine unit good record.
Flew with squadron to Tain in Scotland with full bomb load. Waited several days for weather to clear for the squadron to bomb German pocket battleship Tirpitz in Trondheim Fiord, Norway, hard work long hours.
J G Culkin now in charge of a maintenance crew responsible for one of the Halifax bombers.
1942
Bad time, charge, summary of evidence for Court Marshal – failing to carry duty as N.C.O. I/C anti-paratroops patrol and leaving arms and ammunition unguarded. Proceedings quashed by 4 group H.Q. this was in view of my work record. Not really my fault all due to administrative error which should have excused me being on full time guard duty commitments. Spent 14th May (my birthday) under close arrest. Thankful when it was over.
10th July all squadron aircraft and selected crews and personnel took off in the early hours for a mission in the Middle East. I was on of them. Planned to fly and land at Mersa Matruh in North Africa via Gibraltar.
Took a few days to service the aircraft and load bombs. Fly back to base by flying over Southern Italy and bomb the Italian fleet at Taranto. Over the alps and back to base – total tour 16 days. Result – landed Ismalia, Egypt – all four engines cut out on landing. Not even a smell of fuel in any of the tanks. Refuelled and flew on to Acqui in Palestine. Eventually joined by rest of squadron, two aircraft lost on journey – all aircrew safe.
[account ends]
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
Jack's life and service up to 1942
Description
An account of the resource
A memoir by Jack of his life before and service in the R.A.F. up to 1942. Has his comments on postings and events up to 1942.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Jack Culkin
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Typewritten account
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text. Memoir
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SCulkinJ19241214v10002-0001, SCulkinJ19241214v10002-0002, SCulkinJ19241214v10002-0003, SCulkinJ19241214v10002-0004
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1938
1939
1940
1942
1942
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Buckinghamshire
England--Durham (County)
England--Yorkshire
35 Squadron
4 Group
76 Squadron
ground crew
ground personnel
Halifax
military discipline
RAF Halton
RAF Leeming
RAF Linton on Ouse
RAF Middleton St George
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/627/19786/MPettyD189456-160831-01.1.jpg
5fbeec3b9f2e7eae44e16d68e954b091
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Petty, Doug
Douglas Petty
D Petty
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Petty, D
Description
An account of the resource
11 items. An oral history interview with Flying Officer Douglas Petty ( 1923 - 2023, 189456 Royal Air Force) documents and photographs. He flew operations as a flight engineer with 429 Squadron.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Douglas Petty and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-08-31
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
Flying Officer Douglas Petty. Flight Engineer 189456 Born 11th Jan 1923 in ShiId on Co DurhamVolunteered for R.A.F., called up June 1943, enrolment in London as A.C. 2 number 1592021.Posted to Torquay to No 21 initial training wing, No3 squadron B flight for basic training. Then to St Athan in South Wales to train as a Flight Engineer .Com p leted course in March 1944 & awarded my F.E certificate no 86 entry dated 8th March 1944 with a 71% pass. Promoted to Sgt & posted to 1659 conversion unit at Topcliffe N Yorks. Crewed up with an all Canadian crew F/0 Claridge, Pilot, Bullen navigator, F/0 Mannion, Bomb Aimer, Sgt Tammela , Radio Operator, Sgt Jodrell, Mid Upper gunner & Sgt Hay, rear gunner.
Commenced Flying training on 15/4/44 completed on 1/6/44. Posted to Leeming, flew first training flight on 7/6/44.
First operational flight with F/0 Lasik on 14/8/44.Lost F/o Claridge,posted back to Topcliffe for new pilot F/o Mitchell.
Returned to Leeming & commenced operational flying on 12/9/44
Completed 31 operation sorties Promoted to Pilot Officer No 189456 during tour then to F/0. Completed tour on
31/3/45. The crew then consisted of 6 Officers & one Sgt the Sgt was wireless operator E Tammela, Four of the crew
were awarded D.F.Cs These awards were in recognition of the mining operations They were Pilot ,Navigator, Bomb aimer
& Mid upper gunner.
Aircraft flown during this time were Halifax 2.3 &5 ,Lancaster 1&3 .Engines were R.R Merlin & Bristol Radial.
My details are.
13Hrs 35 mins on Link trainer to act as second pilot. Flying training was 165.24 hrs of which 4 were flying the aircraft
including two landings. Operational flying191.25 hrs .These consisted of 7 daylight ,15 night & 9 Minelaying . Carrying
58 tons of bombs .36 canisters of incendiaries & 27 mines. Giving an average load of 10,000 lbs or 4.4 tons
Incidents during tour includ ed Sept 44 , cross country training , mixed with German raid on Bristol.12th Oct 44,
daylight raid on Wanna Eickel, flack damage with pieces in Engineers panel .27th Nov diverted to Woodbridge (fog) landed
with the aid of F.I.D.O fog dispersal system. 12th Jan 45 mine laying at Kiel . J.U 88 shot down by gunners on second attack , we
were only aircraft to return. 1st Feb 45 night raid on Mainz returned on 3 engines , One damaged by flak.
31st March daylight attack on Hamburg attacked by Me262s I used nose guns to help repel attacks.
Completed tour in April 45, me to Air HQ Delhi the Canadians back home. I returned home in March 47 to one of the worst
winters on record. I was demobilised in April 47.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Flying Officer Douglas Petty Memoirs
Description
An account of the resource
Brief memoirs recorded by Doug Petty during his RAF service. They cover the period from June 1943 to April 1947.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Doug Petty
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One typewritten sheet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Memoir
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MPettyD189456-160831-01
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Shildon
England--Torquay
Germany--Kiel
Germany--Hamburg
Germany--Mainz (Rhineland-Palatinate)
India--New Delhi
Germany
India
England--Devon
England--Durham (County)
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943
1944
1945
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
David Bloomfield
1659 HCU
aircrew
anti-aircraft fire
bombing
Distinguished Flying Cross
FIDO
flight engineer
Halifax
Halifax Mk 2
Halifax Mk 3
Halifax Mk 5
Heavy Conversion Unit
Initial Training Wing
Ju 88
Lancaster
Lancaster Mk 1
Lancaster Mk 3
Me 262
mine laying
RAF Leeming
RAF St Athan
RAF Topcliffe
RAF Torquay
RAF Woodbridge
training
-
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Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
Culkin, Jean. Album
Description
An account of the resource
64 items. An album containing photographs and newspaper cuttings from her husband John George Mackel Culkin's service as ground crew in North Africa and Italy, and Hong Kong post war.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
John George Mackel Culkin
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Culkin, J
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Early photograph of Jack Culkin
Description
An account of the resource
Jack as a schoolboy, standing in front of a shop window, school cap, a tie and shorts. On the reverse '1936 - 37, High Street East, East End, Sunderland. Junior Technical School'.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One b/w photograph
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PCulkinJ17010390, PCulkinJ17010391
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Sunderland (Tyne and Wear)
England--Durham (County)
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1122/19949/LSharrockR2210141v1.2.pdf
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Sharrock, Bob
Robert Sharrock
R Sharrock
Description
An account of the resource
Six items. An oral history interview with Flight Sergeant Bob Sharrock (1924 - 2019, 2210141 Royal Air Force), his log book, a photograph and documents. He flew operations as a flight engineer with 428 Squadron.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Bob Sharrock and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2018-03-19
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Sharrock, R
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Bob Sharrock’s flying log book for navigators, air bombers, air gunners, flight engineers
Form 1767
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Description
An account of the resource
Flying log book for R Sharrock, flight engineer, covering the period from 22 March 1944 to 17 April 1945. Detailing his flying training and operations flown. He was stationed at RAF Dishforth and RAF Middleton St George. Aircraft flown in were: Halifax, Lancaster and Oxford. He flew a total of 28 operations with 428 Squadron, 7 daylight and 21 night time operations. Targets were: Essen, Cologne, Oberhausen, Ludwigshaven, Duisberg, Scholven, Nurnberg, Hannover, Hanau, Mersburg, Zeitz, Stuttgart, Weisbaden, Bonn, Pforzheim, Mainz, Chemnitz, Dessau, Dortmund, Sweibrucken, Hagen, Hemingstadt and Hildesheim. His pilot on operations was<span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}"> </span>Flying Officer Anderson.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mike Connock
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LSharrockR2210141v1
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Great Britain
England--Durham (County)
England--Yorkshire
Germany--Bonn
Germany--Chemnitz
Germany--Cologne
Germany--Dortmund
Germany--Duisburg
Germany--Essen
Germany--Gelsenkirchen
Germany--Hagen (Arnsberg)
Germany--Hanau
Germany--Hannover
Germany--Hildesheim
Germany--Ludwigshafen am Rhein
Germany--Mainz (Rhineland-Palatinate)
Germany--Merseburg
Germany--Nuremberg
Germany--Oberhausen (Düsseldorf)
Germany--Pforzheim
Germany--Schleswig-Holstein
Germany--Stuttgart
Germany--Wiesbaden
Germany--Zeitz
Germany--Zweibrücken
Germany--Dessau (Dessau)
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944
1945
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-03-22
1945-04-17
1664 HCU
428 Squadron
aircrew
anti-aircraft fire
bombing
crash
flight engineer
H2S
Halifax
Heavy Conversion Unit
Lancaster
Lancaster Finishing School
Oxford
RAF Dishforth
RAF Middleton St George
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1122/19950/MSharrockR2210141-180309-01.1.pdf
634e13613aed9f896da9cbecf6da0495
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Sharrock, Bob
Robert Sharrock
R Sharrock
Description
An account of the resource
Six items. An oral history interview with Flight Sergeant Bob Sharrock (1924 - 2019, 2210141 Royal Air Force), his log book, a photograph and documents. He flew operations as a flight engineer with 428 Squadron.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Bob Sharrock and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2018-03-19
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Sharrock, R
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
428 “Ghost” Squadron RCAF
Motto: "Usque ad finem" ("To the very end").
Badge: In a shroud, a death's head. The badge refers to the squadron's nickname "Ghost"- a nickname earned through many hours of night-bombing operations - and also to the death and destruction which the squadron carried to the enemy.
No. 428 Squadron was formed at Dalton, Yorkshire, on 7th November 1942, as a bomber unit of No. 4 Group. On 1st January 1943, it transferred to No. 6 (RCAF) Group, with which it operated against enemy targets until 25th April 1945 - about a fortnight before VE Day. Early in June 1943, the squadron moved to Middleton St. George, its base for the remainder of its period in the UK. It first flew Wellington IIIs and Xs, then Halifaxes (Vs and IIs), and finally Lancaster Xs. Code letters NA.
In January 1944, Halifax bombers from No. 428 Squadron participated in the first high-level mining raid "Gardening", when mines were dropped by parachute from 15,000 feet (4,570 m) over Brest on 4/5 Jan and Saint-Nazaire on 6/7 Jan 1944.
The squadron flew its last sortie with the Halifax on June 12, 1944, then converting to the Canadian-built Avro Lancaster (B. Mark X), the first sortie taking place on June 14, 1944.
For the final phase of the air campaign against Germany, the squadron took part in day and night raids, with its last operational sortie taking place on April 25, 1945, when 15 Lancasters bombed anti-aircraft gun batteries defending the mouth of the Weser, on the Frisian Island of Wangerooge.
No. 6 RCAF Group comprised 9 squadrons across N. Yorks and county Durham and flew 39,584 missions and dropped 126,122 tons of bombs and mines for the loss of 784 aircraft and almost 10,000 men. AOC was AVM C.M. McEwen- Feb ’44 to June ’45.
Aircraft [2][3] Period of service[8] Representative serial[8]
Handley Page Halifax Mk B.V June 1943 – January 1944 DK237 (NA – L)
Handley Page Halifax Mk B.II November 1943 – June 1944 JN955 (NA – L)
Avro Lancaster Mk B.X
June 1944 – September 1945 KB763 (NA – S)
Aircrew and groundcrew of Avro Lancaster KB760 NA:P "P-Peter", from No. 428 Squadron RCAF-Hitler’s Haunters. The badge for the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire is visible on the nose. Photo taken after the squadron's 2,000th sortie, a raid on Bremen, Germany.
Bob Sharrock and his crew flew this aircraft on the following occasions as follows:
28 Oct 1944 Cologne
29 Dec 1944 Scholven
30 Dec 1944 Cologne
2 Jan 1945 Nuremburg
28 Jan 1945 Stuttgart
1 Feb 1945 Mannheim
4 Feb 1945 Bonn
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
428 "Ghost" Squadron RCAF
Description
An account of the resource
A brief history of 428 Squadron, formed at Dalton on 7 November 1942, part of No. 4 Group then transferred to No. 6 Group at Middleton St George. Some of the operations are discussed, as are the aircraft flown by the squadron. There is a list of operation flown by Bob Sharrock and a photograph of their Lancaster with the crew.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two typewritten sheets
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Memoir
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MSharrockR2210141-180309-01
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Royal Canadian Air Force
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
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Germany
Great Britain
England--Durham (County)
England--Yorkshire
Temporal Coverage
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1942
1943
1944
1945
428 Squadron
6 Group
aircrew
bombing
flight engineer
Halifax
Halifax Mk 2
Halifax Mk 5
Lancaster
mine laying
nose art
RAF Middleton St George
-
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Title
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Culkin, Jean. Album
Description
An account of the resource
64 items. An album containing photographs and newspaper cuttings from her husband John George Mackel Culkin's service as ground crew in North Africa and Italy, and Hong Kong post war.
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John George Mackel Culkin
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IBCC Digital Archive
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Culkin, J
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Jack and family
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Three photographs, first of Jack sitting in a car, captioned 'Debden 1950 Not our car!!'.
Second of Jack standing with three other individuals in garden with house in background, reverse captioned 'Tom, Dad, Self, Conrad, about 1946/7'.
Third is Jack standing between two ladies, in garden with house and street in background. Reverse captioned ' About 1953 Mum, Self, Jean's Mum, 124 Newbold Avenue, Sunderland'.
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Three b/w photographs on an album page
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eng
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Photograph
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PCulkinJ17010354, PCulkinJ17010355, PCulkinJ17010356, PCulkinJ17010357, PCulkinJ17010358, PCulkinJ17010359, PCulkinJ17010360
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Civilian
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Great Britain
England--Sunderland (Tyne and Wear)
England--Durham (County)
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IBCC Digital Archive
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Date
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1950
Temporal Coverage
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1950
RAF Debden
-
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Title
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Culkin, Jean. Album
Description
An account of the resource
64 items. An album containing photographs and newspaper cuttings from her husband John George Mackel Culkin's service as ground crew in North Africa and Italy, and Hong Kong post war.
Date
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John George Mackel Culkin
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Culkin, J
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Title
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Jack with family
Description
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Three photographs, first Jack with sister Ethel sitting on low wall grass bank in background, reverse captioned 'Sunderland 1946 sister Ethel, Roker.
Second Jack with daughter and wife, sitting on low wall, grass bank in background, reverse captioned 'Roker Sunderland 1946, Shirley, self, Jean'.
Third head and shoulders in civilian clothes, reverse captioned Warrington 1953'.
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Three b/w photographs on an album page
Language
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eng
Type
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Photograph
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PCulkinJ17010345, PCulkinJ17010346, PCulkinJ17010347, PCulkinJ17010348, PCulkinJ17010349
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Civilian
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Great Britain
England--Sunderland (Tyne and Wear)
England--Warrington
England--Cheshire
England--Durham (County)
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IBCC Digital Archive
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Date
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1946
1953
Temporal Coverage
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1946
1953
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/501/22597/MCurnockRM1815605-171114-025.1.pdf
47b29512fd6a29e7ba8653c928204f37
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Curnock, Richard
Richard Murdock Curnock
R M Curnock
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IBCC Digital Archive
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Curnock, RM
Date
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2016-04-18
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Description
An account of the resource
92 items. An oral history interview with Warrant Officer Richard Curnock (1924, 1915605 Royal Air Force), his log book, letters, photographs and prisoner of war magazines. He flew operations with 425 Squadron before being shot down and becoming a prisoner of war.
The collection has been licenced to the IBCC Digital Archive by Richard Curnock and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Transcribed document
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Transcription
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No. 58 February 1945
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR RELATIVES’ ASSOCIATION
NEWS SHEET
V [Drawing] V [Drawing]
16 ST JAMES’S STREET,
LONDON, S.W.1
Telephone: ABBEY 3520.
President:
THE RT. HON. LORD VANSITTART, G.C.B., G.C.M.G.
Chairman:
Mr. J. CRAIG HARVEY
Secretary:
Mr. W. LAING.
Founder and Organising Secretary:
Mrs. P.M. STEWART.
Hon. Treasurer:
Mr. R.H. HYDE-THOMSON.
Editor:
ELIZABETH EWING.
[Boxed] IN THIS ISSUE.
PAGE
Far East Prisoners write Home 3
Camps as Schools of Citizenship 6
I.R.R.C. Visit Far East Camps 7
Far East Camp Problems 9
Letters from Germany 12
Activities in Provinces 15
Late News 16 [/boxed]
COMMON PROBLEM
BRITISH prisoners of war, from home and all parts of the Overseas Empire, now number nearly 300,000. That figure, given recently in the House of Commons by Mr. Churchill in the course of a survey of war casualties, is a telling reminder to the general public that prisoner of war problems are wide enough to be a matter of considerable moment to the community as well as to that section of it bound by blood and affection to the men who, in captivity, are at once so utterly out of the war and so pressingly in it. It is a reminder, too, that the restoration of the prisoner of war to normal life must be considered generally as an integral part of that reshaping of the world around us which is the post-war responsibility of all.
Relatives’ Part.
As is natural and to be expected, the main driving power behind past and present activities on the prisoner of war’s behalf has come from his relatives. They have provided, in their letters, his main personal link with normal life. They have, in the case of men shut off in that Far East which is living up, unfortunately, to its reputation for inscrutability, striven to the last ounce of their energy to achieve contact – and are still striving. They have sent personal parcels, with the individual needs which mean so much, to camps in Germany and, earlier in the war, to Italy too, and have contributed, by money and work, to the immense activities of the Red Cross in succouring prisoners. Among themselves relatives have got together and have endeavoured, by discussion and the exchange of views, to picture the world of the prisoner and enter into his thoughts. They have co-operated to help the families of prisoners in cases where need arose. That solidarity of the relatives will, when the story comes to be told, be one of the outstanding examples of how suffering can draw people together and bring out the best in them as well as enabling them to aid to the utmost of their power their prisoner of war sons and husbands and brothers.
The Future.
As regards the wider issue of the future of the prisoner of war, there is evidence that the community in general, as well as the relatives, is giving considerable and steadily growing thought to this problem. At the present moment the return of the prisoner, as distinct from that of the fighting man, has secured a dramatic hold on the public mind. The surge of Allied armies on to German soil from East and West makes this irresistible. As liberation draws near, it throws into bold outline the drama of those long years of captivity. It makes the modern prisoner of war one with the age-long wanderer and exile who comes back to a world he scarcely knows and which scarcely knows him. This is one of the oldest of human dramas, persistent from Homer’s Odyssey to Tennyson’s Enoch Arden, and that it should thus be revived in the persons of this war’s prisoners is for the most part a good thing. To see our present and personal problems in the magnifying glass of general human history is beneficial if it clarifies them.
A Danger.
There has, however, been evident of late a serious danger arising out of this – the danger of the prisoner war being regarded as a “problem” upon whose solution will be let loose an army of psychologists and other high-geared experts all on the lookout for symptoms of abnormality or strain in him. There has already been a tendency to impress this upon relatives, to explain to them in advance that all sorts of difficulties and maladjustments are likely to confront them when their men come home. This has at times reached the extent of a certain amount of scare-mongering, and something like a “bogey” is being created in various directions.
[Page break]
2 B.P.O.W.R.A. News Sheet
At times the talk and discussion resembles that which a few years ago seethed round the so-called “problem child” who, we were told, must be allowed to set the drawing room curtains on fire if he felt like it and who was encouraged to get rid of his inhibitions by riding round town all day in a taxi if he felt an inclination that way. So easy is it to be swept along to absurdities like this that a clear vision of the prisoner of war must be kept in mind by those at home if the difficulties of family reunions are to be met fairly and squarely.
Voice of the Prisoner.
For this purpose, we publish in this issue a forceful and reasoned letter on the subject written by a medical man who has been a prisoner of war since the Greek evacuation of 1941 and who has been attending prisoners professionally as well as living as one of them in Stalag IX B. His refutation of the idea of any general “problem” among prisoners of war is emphatic and categorical. He deserves to be listened to. Equally conclusive are the letters from camps, a cross-section of which we publish monthly as a means of giving in some ways a more just and balanced picture of the prisoner’s life and thoughts than can individual correspondence. Most of these letters tell of that inexhaustible, inspiring human miracle of adjustment to alien surroundings; of humour and balance preserved; studies proceeded with, careers prepared for. Among men who have been repatriated the same spirit prevails. The Far East is not an exception; remember Gunner Wilson, selected by the B.B.C. to broadcast his experiences and recalling among other lighter touches, how our men “had some fun” with the roll-call – “The Japanese couldn’t understand English in the beginning, and when they gave us the order to “number” it went something like: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace.”
Prisoner’s Point of View.
But the problem of the prisoner is not wholly resolved by the reminder that normality has not left him. If we imagine this is so, we are taking too self-centred a point of view. What is his attitude to us going to be? What will he think about the world to which he returns?
“All the world’s queer except me and thee. And even thee’s a little queer,” is a saying which voices a truth from which only the wisest and mentally most honest of us are immune. The plain fact is that to returned prisoner this world of ours will seem very queer indeed, and in many ways unpleasantly so. Thousands of prisoners of war know nothing of rationing of any sort. They are unaware of the revolution wrought on the home by the servant problem, the disappearance of the car, the shortage of fuel, the inability to repair and renew household goods. They have no knowledge of the mental and emotional upheaval caused by long evacuation, by the damaging of one house in three all over Britain by enemy raids. They do not know how five years have broken ties and changed friendships and destroyed settled habits and created new ways of daily life.
A Bleak Life.
Looking back on memories of pre-war existence they will no doubt find our present life narrow and bleak in many ways, lacking in graciousness and cordiality. Strain, overwork, lack of leisure have taken their toll of us gradually though in everyday life we are unaware of them. To men who return to us after years such things will stand out a mile. It is we who will in many ways be the problem, not they. It is ourselves who should be considering and our own adjustment to the future which should give us thought. That is the real lesson we can learn from the thought of the return of the prisoner.
Balanced View.
It may be that we shall consider some of the changes in ourselves beneficial. We may applaud the end of hypocrisy and invidious class distinctions and hail the creation of a more equitable world. In that event we can recall that prisoners, too, have written in their solitude, that their enforced withdrawal from the world has had a beneficial effect on them, has cleared away cobwebs from their minds and made their purpose in life clearer. We can, accordingly, prepare to move hand in hand with them out of the chaos into the future. There is no doubt that returned prisoners will welcome this, for no man of worth wishes to be regarded as a prisoner or to be set aside from his fellows for longer than is called for by the mere mechanics of getting back into normal life. Having served his country he wants to share its future along with those at home who, in the hard conditions of modern war, share with him in body and mind the scars of the conflict regardless of their age, occupation and station.
P.O.W.R.A. CONFERENCE
In London in March
THE BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR RELATIVES’ ASSOCIATION will hold a CONFERENCE at the CAXTON HALL, WESTMINSTER, LONDON, on SATURDAY, MARCH 17th, 1945.
This meeting will be open to all Individual Members of the Association, Members of Affiliated Associations and Societies and their friends.
The President, Lord Vansittart, has promised to address the gathering, and other speakers will include senior officers of National Organisations which have the welfare of Ex-Service Men and their rehabilitation as their special concern.
An Informal Session will be held in the morning, commencing at 11.30, when the Officers of the Association will be available to deal with individual enquiries concerning Prisoners of War. During the Afternoon Session, commencing at 2 p.m., ample opportunity will be afforded to relatives to put forward their views on the future policy of the Association. Formal Resolutions will not be put to the vote on this occasion, as the Conference is not confined to representative members. It is requested that all those who wish to speak will confine their remarks to matters of general interest to those who attend the meeting, and will be brief and to the point.
Thailand Relatives
Meeting Arranged
Owing to many requests we are arranging an informal Meeting at ALLIANCE HALL, CAXTON STREET, WESTMINSTER, LONDON, S.W.1. on Saturday, March 10th, at 3 p.m. for the relatives of P.O.W. and Civilian Internees in Thailand only.
This will be mainly in the nature of an experiment to sound the opinion of these relatives as to whether they would support future similar meetings in London for the purpose of exchanging views and information on matters relating to Thailand.
We suggest that any attending should pin a ticket on the coat indicating the camp in which the respective Prisoner or Civilian is interned.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES.
Membership of the B.P.O.W.R.A., which includes the News Sheet, is 12s. per annum. In cases of limited means, reduced rates are considered.
[Page break]
B.P.O.W.R.A. News Sheet 3
FAR EAST PRISONERS WRITE HOME
What Their Letters Say
How are we at home to form a true picture of the Far East camps where 300,000 of our own people from home and the Dominions and of the Allied nations are in captivity? Life in that dim world of the Pacific, spread over hundreds of thousands of square miles, is unbelievably hard for those who have never been there to imagine, and the effort is made ten times harder by Japanese obstructiveness over allowing communications to be set up.
Gleams of light come from the stories of men who have been repatriated, from radio messages that trickle through from the erratic flow of correspondence. When, just before Christmas, 60,000 letters and cards arrived from prisoners of war and civilian internees in Japanese hands, this record mail did more than any other single happening to shed light on the Far East.
Singly, these communications brought comfort to relatives, who, in many cases, had never had word from near and dear ones on captivity in the Far East. Together, and aided by the comments and notes of the recipients, they are of even greater value. To help to fill out the picture, other information has come from other parts of the world to P.O.W.R.A.
A friend in Melbourne, for instance, sends a very helpful letter.
“I am,” she writes, “a member of an Auxiliary in Melbourne, the personnel of which is composed entirely of N.O.K. of prisoners of war in Japanese hands.
“Recently I have been lucky in receiving what is a comparatively large amount of news from my husband. Two letters arrived in the large distribution of mail some weeks ago. Two radio messages have come since then, and last week I had another letter written on May 17th of this year. In the first radio message (which was only picked up in the U.S.A.) my husband said: ‘I am working on a farm and studying Eastern History.’ I have good reason to believe that he was at Tamagato last year and I imagine he is now in Camp No. 4, though, of course, I have no proof of this. The letter received last week stated: ‘The second lot of Red Cross parcels have arrived.’ The first lot arrived in April, ’43, and was enough meat and sugar apparently to last for four months. I don’t suppose they realize that what they have had is a lot more than many of the camps. A great many of the details of camps in Malaya and Thailand are now known owing to the evidence of the prisoners who have recently been rescued by the Americans and who arrived here a couple of weeks ago. The evidence is indeed grim and one cannot but be grateful when one’s husband is in a camp further north.
“The letter which arrived last week had German censor marks on it, which was rather puzzling. Probably some of these letters have arrived in England too. There were only forty-two in the whole lot for Australia, so we do consider ourselves extremely favoured. There was no other actual news in this letter. It was written in verse on heavy lined paper. There were exactly ten words on every line and exactly a hundred words in the whole message. Both the papers and the envelope (inside and out) was streaked with blue and orange paint which is, I am told, the method of testing for secret writing.”
From Bristol comes a lighter touch in the story of how a Bristol corporal, sending one of the formal printed cards from No. 2 Camp, Thailand, beat the Japanese censor with a touch of humour.
Having solemnly declared in cold print that his health was normal, that he was
[Picture of a house on a beach, with palm trees] A pre-war memory from Singapore.
working for pay and so forth, he delighted his mother by writing on the two lines provided after the printed “My best regards to”-“ yourself, all the family, Giles, Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davey, Dan Widder, Uncle Tom Cobley.”
Elsewhere, scattered bits of news throw light here and there. The aunt of an artillery officer in No. 4 Camp, Thailand, received on December 22nd last a postcard dated January 15th 1944, saying that no mail had arrived but the writer was in “usual” health and working for a monthly salary. On January 2nd, 1945, she received another postcard dated June 10th, 1944, announcing that mail had been received and health was still as “usual.”
Another gunner, in a Borneo camp, sent five undated postcards to his wife, who received them all during the recent Christmas holiday.
“They are all in my husband’s writing,” she explains to P.O.W.R.A., except one, which is printed, and he has filled in the blanks. He says he is interned in Sandakan, and is working for pay. Also that health, climate and spirits are excellent and that we must not worry. He sounds quite cheerful. Unfortunately he has received no letters yet.”
Other letters from prisoners speak for themselves. Here is a selection recently received:-
HAKODATE.
Undated.
In excellent health and spirits still. Hope this applies to you. Have just enjoyed gift of American Red Cross parcel and clothing. We shall soon be re-united – God bless you all.
2/5/44.
My seventh card saying all is well, no mail yet, but some expected soon. Keep writing and send photographs. Just received more --, Red Cross food, boots, and toilet kit, love to you all.
16/5/44.
This is to say I am still safe and well, and receiving good treatment. Hope you are all well. Am receiving Red Cross supplies fairly frequently now, and am expecting mail soon. Needless to say, I am always thinking of home and hope we shall soon be reunited. Keep writing meanwhile.
24/7/44.
In excellent health and spirits. Delighted to receive twenty-three more letters, and an air card only three months old. Keep it up, with more local news please. We write monthly. Please send photographs. Hope you like mine. Have received no personal parcels yet, but still hoping. Sincerely pray Hugh is safe and well. What stories we shall be able to exchange when reunited. G. and G. safe when last seen, October, 1942. Love to everyone. Chins up. Reunion soon.
28/4/44.
Am still in good health and spirits. Glad to receive another letter and air card, dated May, 1944. My thoughts always with you all, especially Hugh, whom I pray is still safe. Am receiving excellent treatment still, but parcels and photographs would be most acceptable. Please send more local news when you write Am no longer with my original friends, but D.F. was well when last seen March, 1943. Am longing to see you all again, and feel that the time is not long now.
7/9/44.
Am still well. Hope you are all right. I trust Hugh is still safe and well. Am confident that we shall meet again before long. Am still receiving excellent treatment, but needless to say shall be glad to
[Page break]
4 B.P.O.W.R.A. News Sheet
see Suffolk again. I expect harvesting is now in full swing. Hope it is a good one. My best wishes to all my friends. Am looking forward to more mail. My best wishes for Christmas and peace in the New Year.
CHOSEN (KOREA) DETATCHED No. 1
16/4/44.
Delighted to send eighth card – two days ago overjoyed to receive fourteen from you, two from Hilda, no one else.
I hope your neuritis improves and you are in good health as I am. Rest and take care of yourself, Mum. Remember my money is yours. I shall be sorry if I find you have “needlessly wanted” at all. Am pleased you are able to go about occasionally.
Glad to hear family well with exception of Harry. I hope he improves quickly. Those at home will seem changed when I return, but I always think of you as you were when I last saw you. I have a photo of you and my dear Father, which I treasure above all else. You express a desire for a stone for my dear Dad’s grave. I wish it also and we can do that when I return.
Fred D—is a friend of mine here and is O.K. You met his wife at a Red Cross meeting. The R.C.S. is doing good work and would do more if it were not so restricted. In one year we have had one American parcel, a very good one too. Summer is beginning and today is sunny and warm. It is Sunday and my rest day. We have every other Sunday off work. I have had my hair cut today by an Aussie. You would laugh, it is only half an inch long on top. Still it is healthy.
We have a garden which we hope will help fill our stomachs and we have eight pigs. They are funny ones, have profuse long black hair and are so small. No one seems to know what they eat besides fish-heads. We have footballs, etc., and they look good on a show-case.
The Pope gave us 50 sen each, very kind --- (here quite four or five lines are blacked out).
Very best wishes to all family and neighbours and tell my nieces not to grow too much or I shall feel an old man.
In anticipation of a day not far distant, for which we must pray.
FUKUOKA CAMP No. 2, KIUSHU, JAPAN.
Undated.
This is my fourth letter, not heard from you yet. Am fit and well, treatment is O.K. Pray you are all the same. Remember me to all friends and relatives. Patience, all my love.
CAMP No. 4, TAIWAN.
8/7/44.
Most letters to July ’43 received, one December. Glad you wrote so many long ones – love re-reading twiddlies! Thank you, Anthea Rob lovely letters. Pictures jolly good – adorn wall above my bed. Am well, cheerful. Also read Plato; learning German, shorthand. Home soon.
5/8/44.
Time I answered some your letters! Our rabbit’s white, Anthea with pink eyes! I’ve not tried sketching – no paints – but wrote a little music and, for magazine, music articles. I read mainly philosophical, scientific, and historical novels and textbooks. Now enjoying Sparkenbroke. Also poetry means much more. Faith stronger. Think much of you and the children and future. (Army – certainly awhile – Church? Business? Politics?) Made several permanent friends. Bless you all.
TAIWAN
27/3/44. (Received December 25th, 1944.)
I have just received your letters of June, August, November, 1942, and April, 1943. Wonderful stimulation in the news of you and everybody’s doings, but almost painful in its revival of memories grown dull. Nevertheless, the same mixture in future letters, please.
I am still well and our treatment is everything you can imagine. The Y.M.C.A. has been our best friend, recently sending us books, a medicine ball, a gramophone and records and some musical instruments. We are allowed concerts and at each one the officers do a sketch which would make the Crazy Gang seem highbrow.
Although we have no news our spirits are high and my fellow-rankers think the war will end next month. I hope they’ll soon be right, so please don’t worry about me.
25/5/44. (Received December 23rd, 1944.)
Since my last letter to you I have received yours of July 20th, 1943 – not the latest I’ve had but full of interesting news.
Great excitement here as we have each received (via the Gripsholm, I presume) a 10 lb food parcel from the American Red Cross. After a year without them, such things as Klim, butter, cheese, chocolate, coffee and Spam represent the wildest luxuries. We also received such odd comforts as soap, shaving soap, toothpaste, tobacco, razor blades, etc., and our doctors received a wonderful selection of drugs.
What with this and increased facilities for sport, life is getting more cheerful. Under difficult conditions I’m becoming quite a baseball addict. Both the Y.M.C.A. and Red Cross have sent quite a lot of books and I’ve got enough decent literature to go on with.
Don’t worry about me as I’m very well.
23/7/44. (Received January 1st, 1945.)
Since last writing to you I have received fifty letters, all between June ’42 and July ’43, and two airmail postcards of March 27th and April 10th, ’44. All letters, photos ae worth their weight in gold.
Don’t worry about my wearing rages – a minor point. Anyway, I have no immediate shortage. I don’t smoke and have smaller appetite than most. I am still well, have books to read, and enough to eat. We amuse ourselves with football of a sort in the evenings and an occasional concert.
23/3/44.
Am quite well. Hoping you are all fit. Received no mail yet. Am working for pay. Has Maurice been called up yet? Is Fred married, if so give him my congrats. Give my love to Sylvia and Fred. Keep smiling. Fondest love.
28/4/44.
Hope you and all at home are well. I am well and working. Received no mail yet. Give my regards to everyone. Tell them I still remember them. Give my love to Sylvia, Maurice and Fred. Keep your chins up and keep on smiling.
24/5/44.
Received no mail yet. Hope you are all well. I am well and healthy. I have received a Red Cross parcel. Give my fondest love to Sylvia. Remember me to all at home. To-day is Empire Day and I hope things are happening. Fondest love.
26/6/44.
I was delighted to receive eight letters dated up to July 1943. Glad to hear you ate all O.K. I would like some snaps very much. Give my love to everyone. Keep your chins up. Ever your loving son.
26/8/44.
Hoping you are all well and cheerful. I am receiving mail. Very surprised at change of address and business. I have received one letter from Maurice, very much blue pencilled. Give my love to all, keep your chins up.
No. 4. THAILAND.
15/1/44.
Your mail received with thanks. My health is good. I am working. Best regards.
10/6/44.
Your mail received with thanks. My health is good. I am not working. My best regards to family and all friends.
ZENTSUJI CAMP No. 1.
23/5/44.
Since I wrote the first letter I have received letters and postcards from you. The first batch of letters, of which I received two, and two postcards, arrived on April 17th, 1944. The dates of your letters were May 25th, 1943, to June 24th, 1943. Earlier letters from you arrives a little later here, because they were addressed to Malaya.
I am quite well, and am labouring in the open air. I often wondered if Aunt Emily had visited the District. She will, no doubt, have given you an idea too, of the type of food we get. It is not what we are used to, of course, but occasionally we get bread instead of rice.
The postcard you wrote the day before my twenty-second birthday arrived the day before my twenty-third, so your wish of many happy returns came just right for that date.
All the boys here are now longing for a parcel from home. We still get the Red Cross gifts of food, toilet requisites, boots and clothing. The Red Cross really do a marvellous job for us.
The camp entertainments here include games of football and table tennis. We have a gramophone with English and American records.
10/9/44.
Once again permission to write to you has arrived. Your letters, I am pleased to write, are getting here after about six months.
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B.P.O.W.R.A. New Sheet 5
Prisoners and Parliament
Many Questions Answered
Total numbers of prisoners of war in all ranks of British Commonwealth and Empire Forces were given in the House of Commons by the Prime Minister on January 16th, 1945.
Including Service internees, the totals are as follows:-
United Kingdom (including men from overseas serving in these Forces) … 161,020
Canada … 7,128
Australia … 25,597
New Zealand … 7,153
South Africa … 10,765
India (including 22,803 officers and other ranks missing but presumed to be prisoners of war) … 76,023
Colonies … 6,752
[Underlined] 294,438 [/underlined]
Prisoners of war in Stalag IV C are working twelve hours a day, seven days a week, with one Sunday off a month, stated Mr. T. Driberg, M.P., in the House of Commons, when he asked the Secretary of State for War if he would make appropriate representations through the Protecting Power.
Sir James Grigg said in reply that he was well aware of this and other matters in connection with Stalag IV C, and that repeated representation had been made, so far without satisfaction. They would continue to be made so long as there was the slightest hope of their achieving any result.
The dissatisfaction of relatives with the arrangements made for repatriated prisoners of war suffering from tuberculosis was voiced by Miss Irene Ward, M.P., when she asked Sir James Grigg if in view of this he would consider an alteration of the present policy.
In reply, the Secretary for War stated that according to Army regulations soldiers suffering from tuberculosis were discharged as soon as possible, so that they could if necessary enter civil sanatoria near their homes. They became the charge of the Ministry of Health. Repatriated prisoners of war were given special consideration, and as there was sometimes a delay in their entering sanatoria through lack of accommodation the Minister of Health had set aside a number of beds in E.M.S. hospitals specially for service patients awaiting transfer to sanatoria.
In reply to a further question by Miss Ward, Sir James Grigg promised to pass on to the Minister of Health the information that his arrangements were regarded as unsatisfactory and that improvements were needed in future.
Information was sought by Mr. Collindridge on the subject of promised cablegrams from prisoners of war in Japanese hands. Mr. George Hall, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, replied that no cablegrams had yet been received from prisoners of war or civilian internees in Japanese hands, under the scheme sponsored by the I.R.C.C.
Miss Ward asked the Secretary of State for War for an assurance that pay and allowances to prisoners of war in the Far East about whom no authentic information was available were being continued for the next twelve months, Sir James Grigg said in reply that so long as a man was recorded as a prisoner of war, in the Far East or elsewhere, his pay and allowances admissible for his dependents continued.
Major Peto asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether aby escaped British prisoners of war were imprisoned in Spanish prisons at the present time. The answer was “No.”
CAMP VISITS BY Y.M.C.A.
Special Needs Supplied
Charcoal driven automobiles are used by seven Swiss and Swedish “Y” secretaries who constantly visit our men in German prison camps. These cars are carefully equipped for the needs of the particular camps each worker serves. For example, the car used for visits to the surgical-orthopaedic hospital in Germany, and a special camp for prisoners who have suffered eye injuries, is loaded with short-wave apparatus, a special motor for diathermy, transformer bulbs, and modern Swedish instruments for the blind. All other available space within the car is crowded with hospital games, handicraft materials, braille books, masseur books, pipes, pencils, notepaper, and a hundred miscellaneous items. On the roof, ten sacks of charcoal provide an ever-present filling station!
A total of 1770 such personal visits were made by representatives of War Prisoners’ Aid of the Y.M.C.A. from February, 1940, to December, 1943, in order to promote and establish religious, educational and recreational activities for our men in German prison camps. During 1944 visits have been increased.
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR RELATIVES’ ASSOCIATION.
Council of Management, 1944-45.
The Viscountess Acheson, Barclay Baron, Esq., O.B.E., Lady Bracken, L.E. Davis, Esq., Violet, Countess of Ellesmere, Mrs Ferguson, Mrs Fitton, Major-Gen. H.W. Goldney, O.B.E., M.C., R. H. Hyde-Thomson, Esq. (Hon. Treasurer), Mrs. Constance Gold, Sir Leonard Lyle, Bt., M.P., Humphrey H. King, Esq., Mrs. Mitchell, Mrs Harold Palmer, Colonel T.C. Sinclair, C.B.E., J.E. Sixsmith, Esq., Miss Irene Ward, C.B.E., M.P., Brigadier H. Willan, D.S.O., M.C.
LONG TERM PRISONERS OF WAR
Sir Leonard Lyle, M.P., who has been urging the repatriation of long-term prisoners of war in the hands of the Germans as well as of the Japanese, has received a letter from Mr. Eden, the Foreign Secretary, in which he writes:-
“Up to the present time, and in spite of frequent pressure from the Swiss, no reply has been received to the proposals which we put forward to the German Government in April last regarding able-bodied long-term prisoners of war.
We are, therefore, now considering whether there is any alternative proposal which we can put forward, and which might have a better chance of acceptance by the Germans. If one is found, you may be sure that it will be forwarded at once through the Protecting Power.
It is only just that it should be made clear to the relatives, and other inquirers, that the fault is with the Germans, and that without their co-operation no progress can be made.
With regard to prisoners in the Far East, the Japanese Government have, up to the present, refused to repatriate even the sick and wounded.
[Picture of a pleasant country scene] Konigstein, once a popular tourist resort, where Stalag 383 is situated.
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6 B.P.O.W.R.A. News Sheet
PRISON CAMPS AS SCHOOLS OF CITIZENSHIP
Doctor Denies Fellow P.O.W.s are Problem Cases
There may be an acute danger of too much being made of the “problem” of the returned prisoner of war. Even if due to an excess of zeal and devotion on the part of his people at home, this can be psychologically harmful as well as the cause of much needless friction in personal and business life. As a considered statement of how the real facts of the case present themselves to a Liverpool ophthalmic surgeon who allowed himself to be captured in the Greek Campaign of 1941, and who has since declined two opportunities to be repatriated, we reproduce, by courtesy of the Editor of “The British Medical Journal,” the following letter which appeared in the issue of January 6, 1945.
The writer, Major Charters, is a prisoner of war in Stalag IX B.
Sir,
Because there is a delay in the arrival here of my Journals I have only recently read the correspondence on the prisoner of war mentality. I am amazed to find in Dr. Harkness’s letter of April 22nd, 1044, the statement that “the very large majority of our returned prisoners of war will be problems for their lifetime.” It has been my privilege for the last three and a half years to administer the medical affairs of large groups of wounded and disabled prisoners. These groups consisted of some of the worst of our “grands blesses” – the totally blind, the double or single amputated, the extensively burned, the paralysed, and the major orthopaedic cases. Nearly all of these patients had known several years of captivity; nearly all of them had suffered hard disappointment when the first attempt at repatriation broke down at Rouen in October, 1941, and they returned to the prison camps instead of going home.
No one realises more acutely than I do the pressing psychological problems which in certain cases have resulted from years of enforced idleness, of monotony, and of physical suffering and disablement. If any group of prisoners of war was likely to present psychological problems it was the kind of group with which I had to deal. Nevertheless I most emphatically deny that anything approaching a majority of prisoners will be “problems for their lifetime.” Rather I would say that the majority of these men have gained in tolerance, understanding, patience, forbearance and courage. They have acquired a bigger concept of comradeship and of community life. They have more fully recognised the need for the individual to pull his weight in the interest of the group. If a man was disabled it became a matter of pride to him to be one of the “muckers” – the man who was ready to “muck in,” to lend a hand, and accept his responsibilities. The average prisoner has demonstrated a high standard of adaptability, and will do so again when he returns home to a post-war world. He will be out of touch in much the same way as any normal man who has been abroad during the changes of the last few years. He will need time to pick up the threads of his life again, but he will not have a peculiar mentality. I have shown Dr. Harkness’s letter to several of the men here – cheerful, average, level-headed individuals. They expressed themselves as follows: “Afraid he doesn’t all together know what he is talking about: a few special cases, yes! but not the very large majority.”
By all means let us arrange for physical and mental rehabilitation where it is needed. By all means let us make some allowances for the fact that the average prisoner of war is not adjusted to the change of the last five years. But so not let us discuss the majority as if they were psycho-pathological problems. Above all, let us avoid discussing their “mentality” in the lay press. If Dr. Harkness’s statement were true, and if we were to follow his recommendation for wide publicity, “the powerful advocacy of the press” would hardly be sound psychological treatment for the prisoner; nor would it encourage employers to select him as a worker. It is my belief that the responsible Departments of the Government will make a true assessment of the problem, and will provide adequate means of rehabilitation. It will not be difficult for them to obtain accurate information based on actual observation by medical officers and by laymen, who have been with the prisoners over long periods and under changing circumstances.
I have lived with prisoners of war of all ranks, of all the services, from all European fronts. On their behalf I resent any implication that they are below average in the qualities of balance, steadiness, patience, perseverance, tolerance, or good humour. The average prisoner is not a “problem” to himself, his companions or his future employer. Surely Dr. Harkness takes a very pessimistic view of the mental and moral stamina of our race.
I am, etc.,
D.L. CHARTERS
Major, R.A.M.C.
(P.O.W. No 23911).
Next-of-Kin Parcels
Points to Watch
With reference to the instructions issued by the Red Cross in December regarding next-of-kin parcels, it should be noted that the allowance of 20 extra coupons (and extra chocolate and soap) made to compensate for 1944 issues missed owing to the suspension of despatches can only be made up to the end of February, and only by next-of-kin who still hold a 1944/3 label (or earlier 1944 issue) with 20 coupons.
The extra allowances cannot, in any circumstances, be made with a 1944/4, or any 1945, label.
Applications should state clearly whether the next-of-kin holds an issue of label and coupons, and if so, its number.
It is important that next-of-kin who qualify, and apply for, the extra coupons for use with a label already in their possession, do not despatch a parcel with this label before they receive the extra coupons, because these must be accounted for at the same time as the issue already held.
In cases where the parcel is sent in and the extra coupons are not accounted for at the same time, they will have to be sent back to the Packing Centre for clearance, before any subsequent label can be issued.
In consequence of the very great number of parcels received since the beginning of December and the difficulty of obtaining extra labour, the despatches from Finsbury Circus and Glasgow are about one month in arrears.
The issue of labels and coupons is also consequently delayed.
All possible steps are being taken to overcome the difficulties, and next-of-kin are asked to help by not making enquiries about the despatch of their parcel and the issue of their next label and coupons until at least two months have elapsed since they posted their parcel.
[Photograph of a man in water, with a model boat] Making the best of it: an R.A.F. prisoner in Stalag Luft III steers the steamboat he has made from scrap metal from Red Cross parcels.
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B.P.O.W.R.A. News Sheet 7
International Red Cross Visit to Far East Camps
Re-assuring Features of Daily Life
(Translated from Revue Internationale de la Croix Rouge.)
On the 16th and 17th of September Mr H. Angst visited the main Hakodate camp, in which are housed more than 200 British (seven of whom are civilian internees), 40 Americans, 50 Netherlanders, and some Australians, Canadians and Esthonians.
The camp consists of thirteen wooden bungalows (with plank floors) ten of which are of recent construction. The lighting and ventilation systems are adequate; fire-precautionary measures have been installed and anti-air-raid trench shelters have been constructed. The washing and bath facilities (in the Japanese style) are adequate. The food is the same as that of the camp guards. This is the normal amount, but the prisoners would like to receive more Red Cross parcels. The kitchen contains five cauldrons, some stoves, an ice-box, and two store-rooms for provisions. And there is a hut in which vegetables can be kept. Nine prisoner of war cooks, one of whom is a professional, prepare the meals. The infirmary comprises nine rooms capable of accommodating 60 patients, and the isolation quarters, which consist of three wards, can accommodate a further 20. The dental equipment is, apparently, complete, save for a lack of the material necessary for manufacturing artificial dentures. The camp has, moreover, a group of specially chosen laundrymen, but soap is scarce.
The camp commandant allots to each man a task suitable to his wishes and qualifications, in electrical works, or other factories, the work including such things as carpentry, porterage, etc. Prisoners of weak constitution are occupied in the camp itself, where also there is a carpenter’s shop. More than 200 prisoners are employed in labour detachments. All workers have a quarter of an hour’s break for rest during the morning, and another in the afternoon, as well as an hour in which to take their mid-day meal; every Sunday is a free day.
These men are not insured, but the national laws in regard to employment apply to them and, in case of being the victims of an accident, they receive the same relief as that to which ordinary workers are entitled by law. The prisoners keep cows, pigs, chickens and rabbits, and cultivate an area of 2970 square metres. Weekly walks are allowed; indoor and out-of-door games such as volleyball, catchball and boxing are organised. In the summer the men may bathe in the sea every day. They have a library, consisting mainly of books donated by the Y.M.C.A., and they also have some musical instruments.
Religious services can be held at will. The prisoners hold these themselves in English and Dutch.
The commandant had no complaints to make. He stated that discipline was good and that the morale of the men was satisfactory, but he confirmed the need of the prisoners for warm clothing and especially for footwear.
Mr. Angst also visited a branch camp which depends on Hakodate main camp, and which accommodates more than 100 British (of whom four are civilian internees) and some Americans, these latter all being medical staff.
This camp is situated beside the sea; it comprises five wooden bungalows of recent construction. The latrines and baths are installed in the Japanese style. The food rations are the same as those in the main camp, but prisoners who do heavy work receive some extras. The kitchen possesses three cauldrons and two store-rooms; a bread oven in in the process of construction; five military cooks prepare the meals.
The infirmary can take in ten patients; prisoners who are seriously ill are taken to the infirmary of the main camp.
These prisoners hold their own religious services.
One hundred men work in a cement factory; the others are engaged in camp maintenance. The prisoners have a sports ground as well as a piece of ground, measuring 1320 square metres, where they cultivate vegetables; some pigs and rabbits are raised in this camp too.
The commandant of the camp had no complaints to make in regard to the prisoners, but he passed on to the delegate of the International Red Cross Committee the requests of the prisoners, which were numerous, the men being particularly anxious to receive some warm clothing, some footwear and some food parcels.
Future of Prisoner of War
ABERDEEN LOOKS AHEAD
Measures to safeguard the future of men who have spent several years in prisoner of war camps have recently been discussed by the Returned Prisoners of War Association (Aberdeen Area).
The Committee of this Association has been considering the Government’s White Paper on the reallocation of man power between the defeat of Germany and that of Japan.
This resolution was agreed to unanimously at a special meeting:-
“That the Committee, having studied the Government’s proposed Demobilisation Plan, notes that on their repatriation, men who have spent long years of captivity in Germany will be retained in the Army and required to await their turn for demobilisation according to their release group number. That the Committee, without wishing to suggest that returned Prisoners of War should receive priority over other Service men, feels that there are reasons why those who have spent a number of years in captivity should not be retained un the Forces longer than is absolutely necessary. That the Committee is of the opinion that those who have spent more than two years as a Prisoner of War should not again be sent, except voluntarily, on overseas service. That in the event of any priority in demobilisation being given to men who had overseas service, then the Committee is of the opinion that Prisoners of War should receive at least as favourable treatment.”
GERMAN CAMP MAP ON SALE
The new coloured Red Cross map showing the principal camps for British and Dominion prisoners of war in Germany can be supplied on application to B.P.O.W.R.A. Headquarters, 16a St. James’s Street, London, S.W.1. The price is: small size 2d. (by post 3d.); large size 1/- (by post 1/2). Remittance should be sent with order. The map is correct according to information available up to June 30th, 1944.
New Light on Rescued Thailand Prisoners: Miss I. Ward, M.P., obtains facts
Certain questions arising out of the recent rescue of torpedoed Thailand prisoners of war by an American ship and their subsequent return to this country have been answered as a result of correspondence which has passed between Miss Irene Ward, M.P., and the Foreign Office.
In answer to the query as to whether there were any officers on board the sunk transport it was stated by the Foreign Office that the names of all officers were known and that their next-of-kin had all been informed.
As rumours were current to the effect that everyone was being moved from Thailand camps to Japan, information was sought by Miss Ward on this point. There is, it is stated, a tendency to remove prisoners from the Southern to the Northern area, including Japan, and this was happening in the case of the torpedoed transport. But a large number of prisoners remain in Thailand. Their relatives should continue to write to the Thailand camp, the Japanese Government having provided an assurance that correspondence for transferred prisoners of war will be redirected to their new address.
Broadcast messages from Japanese stations, including broadcasts by prisoners and messages from them, have been the subject of some discussion. Every word spoken over the enemy radio is monitored in the British Empire, some in Australia, some in India, some in London. Messages by or relating to prisoners of war are passed on to the next-of-kin as soon as possible.
Efforts were made by Australia to establish a system of broadcast messages to and from prisoners of war, but to this the Japanese Government refused to agree. The New Delhi system has proved unsatisfactory for various reasons, including the lack of assurance from the Japanese that messages to prisoners would be handed on.
Relatives of prisoners of war in Thailand have expressed the desire that representatives of Government Departments should attend a meeting of the Thailand Fellowship to answer questions and provide information. It is explained by the Foreign Office that this would be difficult in view of the great pressure at which the officials concerned are working, both on behalf of relatives and with the direct purpose of alleviating the conditions of prisoners in the Far East. It is suggested, however, that the Thailand Fellowship could serve a very good purpose by keeping records of and disseminating all available information, referring questions when necessary to the Prisoners of War (Far East) Enquiry Centre, Curzon Street House, Curzon Street, London, W.1.
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8 B.P.O.W.R.A. News Sheet
Red Cross Parcels and German Camps: DETAILED REPORT
PART PLAYED BY EMPIRE
News of parcels for prisoners of war in Germany is included in information issued by the Red Cross and St. John War Organisation.
During October the International Red Cross Committee is reported by the Red Cross to have despatched to the camps in Europe for British prisoners of war 53,068 British Red Cross, 13,920 Canadian and 5,524 Indian food parcels. In addition, food in bulk from Argentina was sent to the equivalent of 21,374 parcels, and 285 kilos. of bulk food was sent from Brazil. Other despatches during the same month were 39,215 medical and 1,236 tobacco parcels.
Acknowledgements received from the camps by the I.R.C.C. during October were of 107,641 British Red Cross, 211,130 Canadian, 10,276 Indian and 15,963 New Zealand food parcels. Food in bulk from Argentina equalled 30,092 food parcels and 603 kilos. of bulk food was received from Brazil. Acknowledgements were also received of 33,470 medical and 6,145 tobacco parcels, in addition to forty-four cases of cigarettes and tobacco, of which thirty-nine were from New Zealand.
During December the staff of the Shipping Section of the Stores Departments of the Red Cross worked at high pressure, dealing with the many consignments arriving from overseas of supplies for prisoners of war and British Red Cross Commissions overseas. The Section received, unpacked and distributed 121 consignments of gifts during the month. These included 25 from the American Red Cross and in all there were 7,600 cases and packages, including 1,065 boxes of eggs from Argentine, dried bananas, cigarettes, boiled sweets from South Africa, hospital supplies, clothing, blankets and eighty bags of raw coffee.
Two shipments of supplies for prisoners of war were assembled, packed and despatched. They amounted to 20,138 packages, weighing more than 1,100 tons, and their total value exceeded £500,000. The first contained Army clothing and toilet requisites. The second consisted of outdoor sports equipment, musical instruments, next-of-kin parcels, books, artists’ materials, clothing, towels, boot polish and cigarettes and tobacco.
G.P.O. and Far East: New Instructions
It should be noted that considerable differences in the procedure for sending communications to prisoners of war and civilians in Japan and Japanese-occupied territories are announced in the Post Office Leaflet (P.2327 B), now being supplied to enquirers. The existence of these changes may not at first be clear, because the new leaflet bears the same number as the earlier one, but the date is December, 1944.
[Photograph of a building, fronted by trees] The Sick Bay at Stalag 344.
HANDS ACROSS THE SEA
News from American P.O.W.R.A.
Cordial New Year greetings have been received from the American P.O.W. Relatives’ Association, whose officials send a message of good cheer to all the British relatives, wishing them a speedy reunion with their kinsfolk.
The American Association was formed in Buffalo in 1941 by Miss Helen Wade Jackson, now Organising Secretary, for the purpose of assisting British prisoner of war and especially men of the Rifle Brigade, on whose behalf appeals had been made. The National Chairman of the Association, Mrs. John Knight Waters, provides a strong link with the European Theatre of War, because she is the daughter of General Patton. Her husband, Lieut.-Col. Waters, is second in command at Oflag 64. Living in Washington, Mrs. Waters has done invaluable work by keeping the American P.O.W.R.A. in close touch with the War Department and the National Red Cross Headquarters.
At the start of its career, the American organisation sent parcels to men of the Rifle Brigade and to other British prisoners of war. This work was stopped when parcels were restricted to those with next-of-kin permits, but regular supplies of Canadian cigarettes are still sent, and books are provided in response to specific demands. In addition, packing centres have been set up where next-of-kin can be advised on the best items to send and the most nourishing foods, and assisted to obtain them. If any family cannot afford to send a really good box, the Association offers to pay for it.
“Cousin Helen.”
To hundreds of men in prison camps Miss Jackson has become known as “Cousin Helen,” so close is her interest in their well-being. She has also had hundreds of letters of thanks from British relatives, expressing gratitude for help being given to prisoners of war from America. She now asks us to convey her thanks for these letters, which it is unfortunately impossible for her to answer personally, but which have been profoundly appreciated by all those who have taken part in the work.
“I shall always feel I have many good friends in England,” writes Miss Jackson “and am looking forward to the time the war is over and I can hope to come over and meet some of them. The undaunted spirit of the British people at home in a fitting match to the magnificent attitude of their men who have spent long years shut away from the world, enduring loneliness and privation so bravely.”
Recently a number of repatriated officers have spoken at spoken at branch meetings of the American P.O.W.R.A., whose members have found their understanding of prisoners of war problems greatly widened as a result of this. As in this country, interest is centred strongly on what can be done for prisoners of war on their return home. “As you probably realise,” concludes Miss Jackson. “the return of the prisoners of war is almost a new experience for this country, and I think we should profit by whet you people have to ‘offer’ in the way of plans and suggestions.”
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B.P.O.W.R.A. News Sheet 9
FAR EAST CAMP PROBLEMS REVIEWED IN FULL
WHAT AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS HAS DONE
Below we reproduce the second half of the Address given by Dr. J. Newman Morris, C.M.G., Chairman, National Executive, Australian Red Cross Society, at a conference called at Melbourne on May 12th, 1944, by the Australian Red Cross Society for the purpose of exchanging information about prisoners of war in Japanese hands. The first half of the Address appeared in our January issue, and we are indebted to the Australian Red Cross for permission to reprint this comprehensive survey of the situation. Particular attention should be paid to dates.
Over a period of many months, the Japanese have taken the position that they will not discuss any relief matter until every reported incident of aerial attack on Japanese hospital ships has been fully clarified.
Since the storm of public opinion raised by the publication of maltreatment of prisoners, the Japanese are apparently more active in helping to effect the prompt distribution of goods sent by exchange ships. There are indications that these goods are actually reaching the prisoners at practically all points.
Red Cross Co-operation.
As it has been said, co-operation between National Red Cross Societies has grown steadily in the face of the common problem and culminated in a conference held in Washington the latter part of last year, and confined entirely to consideration of prisoners in Japanese hands.
We gave full authority to the British delegates to act for us. There has been constant interchange of information and consultation between Governments over this problem, but it was not until the final session of the Washington Conference that Government representatives and Red Cross representatives met around one table.
It would be informative and perhaps helpful to include here the full text of some of the cables that passed between Washington and Geneva arising out of that conference.
Cable sent to Geneva from Washington Conference on October 1st, 1943:-
“Because of increasingly grave concern over lamentable situation of prisoners of war is Japanese hands and over failure to date to secure them protection and relief which would be in accordance with principles of Prisoner of War Convention, Amcross* (*American Red Cross Society) has convened conference of Red Cross Societies of British Empire. This Conference is now in session and united action in form of conference machinery and otherwise as may be proper will continue as long as there is hope of solution being found to present impasse. Representatives of Red Cross Societies here attending have full power to deal with situation as above generally described.
It is unnecessary to recapitulate the individual representations which have been addressed to you over the last two years by the Red Cross Societies concerned and to the Protecting Power by the respective governments. You are cognizant of all these and interchange of information which has been continuous throughout and has now been further consolidated has established that views of all Red Cross Societies are wholly in accord as regards vital importance of problem. We recognize unanimously also that we are dependent upon good offices of I.R.C.C. † († International Red Cross Committee) to secure conventional solution; that difficulties in your way have been uniquely great owing to position of Japanese authorities vis-a-vis the convention and their general attitude towards humanitarian issues involved.
Nevertheless failure to secure adequate solution conventional or otherwise is intolerable and if such failure is perpetuated it is bound to have prejudicial effect upon future reputation and potency of national Red Cross societies and indeed whole Red Cross structure. It is even now difficult to satisfy public opinion in our countries that sufficient effort has been made and this difficulty will constantly increase. We know well that fault lies mainly or wholly within Japan, but we feel bound to emphasise foregoing aspects of matter on which we all feel so strongly and which we know must be equally close to the heart of I.R.C.C.
It seems possible to us that current development of hostilities may provide timely psychological opportunity of further and strengthened reaffirmation of requests to Japanese authorities for compliance in all material aspects with provisions of convention regarding communications between prisoners and the Red Cross and the securing to them of traditional Red Cross relief of material kind and specifically regarding the appointment of I.R.C.C. representatives in sufficient numbers in all areas in which prisoners are detained with freedom to inspect and report on welfare of prisoners.
We attach highest importance to this latter safeguard. Japan’s recent request for Red Cross reciprocity may further be interpreted as offering hope of willingness to approach problem more in the spirit which other belligerents have displayed, and which combined with admirable arrangements by I.R.C.C. has resulted in favourable conditions to prisoners in Europe.
We earnestly request therefore that you will review very urgently in the light of the above the previous representations you have received from the individual Red Crosses on the subject, the most recent representations in particular, and will inform us by cable fully on the following points:-
1. What action have you felt able to take vis-a-vis the Japanese authorities on the representation already received and what response has been made by the Japanese authorities of a kind on which you feel entitled to build hope? A full and definite summary covering this would be of great value to the present deliberations.
2. How would you view a proposal that we should send you an expression of protest and redoubled request for relief facilities for formal transmission to Japanese Red Cross or other Japanese authorities, such communication being expressed as representing unanimous view and wishes of Red Cross societies here in conference. Would such communication which amongst other things would be designed to bring world opinion to bear on subject be likely to make impression on Japanese authorities? Would it in your opinion be liable to prejudice any effort that you may already have in hand and from which you have some present reason to hope for progressive good result? A full and frank statement of your views on these special issues would be greatly appreciated.
3. Have you any fresh suggestion of your own to make which we could usefully consider here? Since we are assured of your sympathy in the views we hold and the objective we aim at, we fell we need not apologise for the force with which we now direct this representation. It is sent with the full and unreserved concurrence of the Amcross, and Britcross, Cancross and other Red Cross societies of the British Empire, and we hope to receive a very early reply to enable us to decide upon next step to be taken in consultation and agreement with you. – NORMAN DAVIS, Amcross.”
The following cable was despatched to Geneva on December 2nd, 1943:-
“We have carefully studied your cable of October 9th and wish to express our appreciation of the efforts which have been made by you and the International Red Cross Committee to alleviate the conditions of prisoners of war and civilian internees in the Far East. We continue to be hopeful that your further diligent and patient efforts will eventually result in the creation of forms of transportation and communication which will enable a continuous flow of relief goods and mail in both directions between east and west. After thoughtful consideration we have decided, if you so concur, to transmit the following joint appeal to the Japanese Red Cross:-
“The American, Canadian and British Red Cross Societies, the British Red Cross Society representing all other Red Cross Societies of the British Commonwealth, have met in Washington in a conference convened by the American Red Cross to consider the situation of American, British Commonwealth and Netherlands prisoners of war and internees held by Japan, and the means of securing them the full measure of Red Cross protection and relief to which they are entitled under Geneva conventions and usage hitherto universally recognised. The conference has studied carefully the whole series of representations which have already been addressed to the Japanese Red Cross by the American and British Red Cross societies acting individually, and has examined every aspect of the present position which causes us grave concern.
It is abundantly clear that the high humanitarian ideals jointly professed by the Red Cross societies of the world, which in the present war have been observed by other belligerents, have not been given full effect by Japan in the two following respects:-
1. Facilities have not been given for shipments of appropriate supplementary food, medicines, and comforts from abroad;
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10 B.P.O.W.R.A. News Sheet
2. The International Red Cross Committee and its delegates have not been given full scope at all points to exercise their traditional functions of safeguarding the legitimate interests of all prisoners of war alike.
The conference of the Red Cross Societies assembled in Washington feels it is its duty to present this view with grave emphasis to the Japanese Red Cross bearing in mind the solemn adherence to Red Cross principles and practice for which the Japanese Red Cross has stood, notably in the International Red Cross Conference held in Tokyo in 1934, and again in its pronouncement on the humane treatment of prisoners of war published in its bulletin of 1942. It is common fundamental ground that however fully a detaining power may be prepared to provide by its own means for the welfare of prisoners, the prisoners themselves are entitled to the special humanitarian services rendered by the National Red Cross Societies through the International Red Cross Committee, and the relatives of the prisoners are correspondingly entitled to the comfort and assurance which the close intervention of this neutral and independent agency alone can give.
In response to requests from the Japanese Red Cross, the American and British Red Cross Societies have already guaranteed through I.R.R.C. that Japanese prisoners within their jurisdiction will receive Red Cross services in the fullest measure. What is now required of the Japanese Red Cross is reciprocity in the practical form which the circumstances of the case necessitate. The most urgent problem at present confronting the American and British Commonwealth Red Cross Societies is that of the means of transporting to the prison camps the relief supplies which have been sent to Vladivostok for the prisoners, the Japanese authorities having suggested this stage in the movement of Red Cross relief.
The Red Cross Societies are prepared to co-operate in any practical way. The Japanese Red Cross Society has here a great opportunity of Red Cross service to humanity and it is earnestly requested that the Japanese Red Cross will offer constructive advice and suggestions as regards the means of onward transportation to be provided, replying as soon as possible.’ – AMCROSS”
The Japanese attitude is indicated by a cable sent on February 24th, 1944, from International Red Cross, Geneva:-
“Intercross has been informed by its delegate in Japan that after delegate’s repeated efforts to obtain satisfactory solution problem Vladivostok shipments, delegate was informed by Japanese Official Information Bureau that question was being studied by Japanese Naval Authorities and Japanese Foreign Office that intervening events render pursuance this problem rather inopportune at present moment. At same time, Intercross has received message from Japanese Red Cross replying to various communications sent them from Amcross through Intercross concerning supplies Vladivostok stating that upon receipt of each cable Japanese Red Cross had taken up with proper authorities question of acceptance and distribution relief and requested authorities to take the subject into consideration. Japanese Red Cross itself prepared to give every facility when relief arrives in Japan. In spite remarks mentioned first part this cable Intercross following this subject.”
Memorandum from Washington.
There is a permanent British and British Commonwealth Red Cross representative in Washington representing us all and continuing to work in consultation and co-operation with American Red Cross. From him we received yesterday the following memorandum on the present situation in regard to Far Eastern relief:
“In the memorandum issued by this Mission on February 21st to Red Cross Societies of the British Commonwealth, the position in regard to relief for the prisoners of war and civilian internees in the Far East was summarised up to date. No further memo has been issued since then, mainly because there have been no concrete results to report.
This, however, does not imply that no action has been taken. The effect of the atrocity disclosures on public opinion in America was strong, and considerable pressure was exerted in February on the United States Government and on the American Red Cross to make further endeavours to open up the supply routes. This resulted in the formulation of proposals put forward by the American Red Cross, with the approval of the State Department, toward the end of February, for another approach to the Japanese through the International Red Cross. This proposal, which involved the use of neutral shipping to convey supplies to a point in Far Eastern waters where the ships would be taken over by Japanese crews, was considered jointly by the Red Cross Societies and Government Departments in London and Washington in the first week in March. It was agreed that, although there were some defects in the proposals, they should go forward to Geneva, with the request that they should be sent on to Tokyo after enquiry by the International Red Cross whether neutral shipping would in fact be available if required.
It is now learned that this enquiry has been answered in the affirmative, and that the proposals have been sent on to the International Red Cross delegate in Tokyo.
It is not possible to predict what will be the reactions of the Japanese to these proposals. Their general attitude since the atrocity disclosures has been that when their own grievances in regard to the bombing of hospital ships, etc., have been cleared up they will be ready to consider moving supplies forward from Vladivostok. This is an improvement, if only slight, on their attitude last autumn, and it is possible that they have been affected by world opinion sufficiently to make them more disposed to listen to suggestions for the opening of the supply routes. It must, however, be emphasised that there as yet no evidence to show that this is the case.
Such reports as are received come solely from the northern camps in Japan, Formosa and northern China. These show that conditions, if not good, are tolerable. But the bulk of Commonwealth prisoners are in the camps in Burma, Siam, Malaya and Java, about which we have no official, and very little unofficial information. It is to be feared that conditions in these camps are bad.
Enclosed with this report is a statement showing the information which has reached the Mission regarding the distribution of supplies sent by the American, Canadian, British and Australian Red Cross Societies on the American exchange ship Gripsholm. These supplies appear to have been distributed to the camps round about Christmas time, except for those which were sent to Yokohama, some of which are still lying there.”
RELIEF SUPPLIES CARRIED ON SECOND AMERICAN-JAPANESE EXCHANGE SHIPS
AUTUMN, 1943
Supplies sent to Far East:
American Red Cross:
Cases of Food, Clothing, Medical Supplies and Toilet Articles … 44,424
Canadian Red Cross:
Cases of Food, Medical Supplies, etc. … 3,177
British Red Cross:
Cases of Medical Supplies … 891
Y.M.C.A.:
Cases of Recreational Supplies … 225
National Catholic Welfare:
Cases of Religious Supplies … 40
--- 48,757
1. Distribution of Supplies Reported:
Malay P.O.W. Camps … 637
Malay C.I. Camp … 164
Thailand P.O.W. and C.I. Camps … 2,293
Sumatra P.O.W. and C.I. Camps … 748
Java P.O.W. and C.I. Camps … 274
--- 7,333
Philippines P.O.W. and C.I. Camps 21,624
2. Off-loading of Supplies Reported:
Yokohama for Japan, Korea, Manchuria and Formosa 13,239
(Of these 8,270 cases have been sent to camps in Japan and Korea)
Yokohama for Hong Kong 1,921
(Not yet shipped to Hong kong)
Shanghai … 4,408
(Actual distribution to camps not yet reported) --- 19,628
Total … 48,585
Cash Relief.
While it is satisfactory that a certain amount of success has been attained in forwarding cash, it cannot be considered a real substitute for relief goods.
Money has been sent to all areas, both from Australia and from the United Kingdom, from the United States and from other countries.
Up to the end of 1943, 240,000 dollars had been supplied by American Red Cross for local relief to be spent in Shanghai, Hong-kong, the Philippine Islands and Japan itself. Where there are recognised International Red Cross Delegates, the spending of this money is entrusted to them for the purchase of supplementary food and clothing, and it is estimated that it is necessary to spend 150,000 dollars per month in these areas.
Early in 1943 Australian Red Cross received a message from the International Red Cross Committee requesting reimbursement to them of the sum of 20,000 Swiss francs, or £1,462 Australian, which had been made available to a member of our imprisoned unit in Malaya. This sum had been sent for the general relief of our prisoners of war in that area. In refunding this sum to Geneva in February, 1943, we asked if arrangements could be made for forwarding further finds to our unit in Malaya for this purpose.
Later we forwarded 81,000 Swiss francs, or £5,921 Australian, in April 1943. Recently we received a copy of a promissory
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B.P.O.W.R.A. News Sheet 11
note signed by Mr. Campbell Guest in Malaya covering this last advance. So that from March, 1943, there has apparently been available some money for local purchases of comforts and medical supplies for those of our men in Malaya.
Since that time and in order to co-ordinate our joint Red Cross efforts, we have forwarded contributions through British Red Cross, which acts for us in this regard with International Red Cross. By the end of last year approximately £25,000 had been placed at the disposal pf the Swiss Consul at Bangkok for the purchase of medical, clothing and toilet supplies for the benefit of prisoners of war in Siam. This Swiss Consul has purchased and transmitted to the prisoners of war certain supplies for which he has received receipts, which indicate that some supplies have reached their destination. In fact, we have recently received news that some of the medical supplies thus purchased have succeeded in saving the lives of some of the British prisoners.
The Swiss Consul in Bangkok has been authorised to send money to the camps for local purchase of food and for this purpose £12,000 Australian per month is being made available by the British Red Cross War Organisation. Australian Red Cross contributes its proportion of this amount.
To Internees.
In Malaya and Singapore International Red Cross has been able to arrange for a Swiss citizen, Mr. Schweitzer, to act as its agent, and through him to purchase local limited relief supplies. The greatest proportion of this relief has been given to the civilian internees in Changi Camp, but he has been able to do a very little for prisoners of war. It was through this Mr. Schweitzer that funds were sent to our unit in Malaya early last year. We have no details of the use to which the money has been put, but we have the greatest confidence that if any freedom of action has been allowed to our Commissioner, he will spend the money to the best advantage.
Advice from Geneva dated 18th January, 1944, stated that Schweitzer had been able in December last to distribute approximately 97,000 dollars monthly, as before stated, to internees. He had hoped to cable a complete summary of the loans and purchases for the prisoners of war from September 1st to December 31st, 1943.
Communications to Prisoners of War and Internees.
During my visit to Washington, Ottawa and London I became fully aware of the constant pressure being brought by all the Governments on to the Japanese Government on the important matter of the notification of lists of prisoners and the forwarding of mails. I think I saw copies of all the correspondence passing between Governments in this regard. I was also shown their comments on the almost complete failure of the Japanese Government to adhere to the terms of the International Convention relative to the treatment of prisoners of war. One can only fully realise the deprivation imposed by the Japanese on our prisoners of war by the knowledge of the relevant articles of this Prisoners of War Code. I shall read these in full in order to refresh your memory:
ARTICLE 36 of the Convention lays down that each of the belligerents shall fix periodically the number of letters and postcards which prisoners of war … shall be permitted to send per month, and shall notify that number to the other belligerent.
These letters and cards shall be sent by post by the shortest route. They may not be delayed or withheld for disciplinary motives.
Not later than one week after his arrival, or similarly in case of sickness, each prisoner shall be enabled to send a postcard to his family notifying them of his capture, and the state of his health. The said postcard shall be forwarded as quickly as possible, and shall not be delayed in any matter.
ARTICLE 37 states that prisoners of war shall be authorised to receive individually, postal articles containing foodstuffs and other articles intended for consumption, or clothing. The parcels shall be delivered to the addressees and receipts given.
ARTICLE 39 states that prisoners of war shall be permitted to receive individually, consignments of books which may be subject to censorship. This same Article also permits duly recognised and authorised associations to send works and collection of books to the libraries of prisoners’ camps. The transmission of such consignments to libraries may not be delayed under pretext of difficulties of censorship.
Finally, part of ARTICLE 40 states that any prohibition of correspondence ordered by the belligerent for military or political reasons shall be only of a temporary character, and shall be for as brief a time as possible.
Lists of Names.
With regard to the notification of names, it has always been very apparent that the persistent and typical evasiveness of the Japanese character ruled the negotiations. They in effect wanted a one-way traffic. You are all probably fully aware, only too well aware, of the gaps in our lists of names. If reliance were placed entirely on official Japanese notification, we would have a very small amount of comfort.
All sorts of excuses have been put up for the Japanese, some no doubt authentic, but International Red Cross early in 1942 informed us that a Prisoner of War Bureau would be set up in Tokyo that would exchange information about prisoners of war and civilian internees.
Three months later our first list comprising a few hundred names came from Tokyo through I.R.C.C. This included the names of some of our men in Singapore, but mostly covered names in other areas. It was not until November, 1942, that the first list of men captured in Malaya reached Great Britain. From then on names began to come in greater volume. As we all know, there is still a large number of whom nothing has been heard officially or unofficially. It is not the purpose of this report to deal with statistics, but it is well always to remember in considering the problem, that there are upwards of 300,000 Allied prisoners of war and civilian internees in the Far East.
Now relief measures are a joint enterprise; everything that gets in is for the common good – each for all and all for each. Although Australia is probably on a per capita basis more deeply involved in the grave problem that we are studying than any other of the United Nations, it is not possible to arrange differential treatment. The Japanese make some distinction as between civilian internees and prisoners of war in favour of the civilians, but maintain the same evasive cynical attitude to all national protests and suggestions. While referring to this joint effort, permit me to quote the words of Sir Ernest Burdon in summing up his impressions of the Washington Conference:
“Our consciences can now be clear, and we were able to show the world that the Red Crosses really did take every possible step and try their utmost to get relief to those in the hands of the Japanese. Nothing as yet had been achieved with the Japanese, but at any rate new ways and means of pressure had been devised and should the Japanese open the door wider the joint machinery was set up and ready to take the actions it was desired to take by all.” Thus joint consultation by all the Red Cross bodies concerned can now take place in Washington, and the fullest advantage be taken of any opportunity to reach our men in Japanese hands.
Mail communications, while not a Red Cross responsibility in any way, have been the subject of many negotiations, and, of course, considerable anxiety. It has been a great comfort that some messages have got through, that some letters have been received by some of the men. As you all know, for a long time we were completely in the dark as to whether the Japanese would deliver any letters sent from Australia. The route for transmission of letter via Russia has always been available, but we knew that letters sent by this route would take months to reach their destination.
Send Correspondence Direct.
The latest communications we have with regard to mails is the following cable from Geneva dated 28th January:
“Japanese Red Cross asks us to communicate following message: Considerable correspondence addressed to internees, prisoners of war under Japanese authority has reached us from enemy countries by the last exchange boat. The Japanese Government has already communicated to them the names of the internees, prisoners of war. Therefore we should like them hereafter to send correspondence addressed to these internees, prisoners of war directly to their camps and to send us the rest.”
You will see by that again another illustration of the tendency to put all the blame on us, naturally enough, perhaps, but it would appear obvious that the Japanese Government has misled the Japanese Red Cross because in so many cases the camp addresses of internees and prisoners of war have not been communicated.
(Here follow comments affecting Australian mails only, which owing to lack of space we omit.)
Broadcasting Policy.
The policy with regard to this means of communication is a Governmental matter. You are all familiar with the history of Japanese action regarding broadcast messages. There is no doubt that they have given a very great deal of information not otherwise available, and have provided a considerable amount of comfort, despite the apparent motives behind the Japanese action in this regard.
Owing mainly to the necessity of first ensuring that regular mail communications are established, and probably to Government pressure of work on short-wave stations, the Commonwealth Government has not given approval for broadcasting of messages from Australia to prisoners of war and internees in Japanese hands.
(Continued on page 16.)
12 B.P.O.W.R.A. News Sheet
LETTERS FROM GERMAN CAMPS
WINTER DAYS AND FUTURE PLANS
MARLAG O.
Welcome Cigarettes.
31/10/44.
Two cigarette parcels have arrived from the Worcester P.O.W.R.A. Branch. Would you acknowledge and thank them for me? Three weeks since tour last letter arrived, dated September 9th. Many of your letters are missing, it seems. I’ve only had two July ones, and no August ones as yet. Are my letters getting through? I went out for a walk to-day. Although the weather was misty and damp it was pleasant to get out for a bit.
5/11/44.
My model yacht is nearly finished. Am having great difficulty cutting a decent set of sails. My powers of “seamstering” are not great and material is limited to the remains of an old shirt.
OFLAG VII B.
Coal Short.
10/11/44.
We have had snow for the past two days and are all preparing to hibernate for the winter! Coal is very short – much less than last year, which was less than the previous year. We are still on half rations of Red Cross parcels, but a number of private parcels have come in recently. The new conductor of the orchestra now holds weekly promenade concerts and I very much enjoyed the first one last weekend, as I also did a show given by our orderlies and a choral and orchestral concert. We have just had another number of our Camp Magazine Touchstone in which there is an able article on land nationalisation. No, I have not had any more parole walks or cinema visits. These were stopped by higher authority in the autumn and for the main body of the camp have not been re-started. Recently I have been reading translations of Virgil, Horace and Aristophanes, etc. Only wish I could read the originals.
Half Parcels.
30/11/44.
I am afraid I have not written you a Christmas letter this year. In fact I completely forgot until it was too late, so I now wish you all New Year Greetings and hope you have had as good a wartime Christmas as possible. The postcards we are sending for Christmas Greetings have not yet materialised.
I was interested to hear that both John S. and Angus P. are on the Continent. I was most pleased to hear that you are to have extra rations – a very good sign. As you know, we have been on half rations for over two months, and stocks in the camp will last at this rate until the New Year so we do not look like having anything special for Christmas. A small Handicrafts Exhibition was held last week-end – as good as usual. A new Dance Band Show opens to-night, which I shall see on Monday, and on Saturday I go to hear the orchestra playing a programme of ballet music. There is going to be no pantomime this year – ideas have run out after producing four!
A Bright Idea.
31/10/44.
A good week for mail. Mum’s of August 26th and September 16th and 24th, and Pop’s of July 18th, August 25th and September 19th. I’ve also had the sunglasses you sent. They are fine glasses, but you need something better than them to see the sun these days! As a matter of fact the weather hasn’t been too bad, but it is getting colder now and I have only had one game of hockey since I wrote. I’m still having fun with the gearbox – it’s a lot easier to have a bright idea than to get it to work out, even on paper. In the flesh I expect it would burst or melt or something. There hasn’t been anything very exciting in the theatre – an orderlies’ concert and some orchestra stuff.
[Boxed] Extracts from letters from prisoners of war and civilian internees in Germany and the Far East are welcomed for reproduction in these pages. They should deal with subjects of general interest, such as camp life and conditions. Copies of letters only should be sent and should be written on one side of the paper, with the prisoner’s camp number, address and date od writing clearly marked. Interesting camp photographs are also cordially welcomed, and will be returned with care. [/boxed]
Welcome Gramophone Records.
10/11/44.
I am very well – only one letter this week, Mum’s of July 2nd. A slip for some more records has arrived but I haven’t had them yet. It’s getting beastly cold here – we’ve had a good old blizzard the last two days and we’re only getting a third of the coal this year to what we had last! That and half parcels makes this winter look most uninviting to say the least of it. Yes, I’ve been thinking pretty hard on what to da after we get home. I’ve definitely decided against getting a regular commission and this exam which won’t turn up was going to be a step towards getting a job. I’ve taught myself quite a bit here, but the snag is I’ve no real experience and am getting a bit old for an office boy. Anyhow, one of the first things I shall do is run around and find what sort of vacancies, if any, there are with big firms like G.E.C. and get some experience with them if I can.
20/11/44.
Two of your letters this week: Mum’s of July 16th and 30th, also H.’s of June 29th. Thank you very much also for two records. They are La Traviata and two short sides of symphonies. They always arrive intact and undamaged, much better than anything else. I’ve had a most energetic day. I am on a small party that goes out to collect fir cones. We do a week at a time and go out for about four hours in the afternoon with haversacks and a handcart. Every now and then we get a horse and cart, so you collect like hell and then bring back what you can, leaving the remainder for when the horse and cart comes out. I don’t think I’ve worked so hard for ages, and of course it had to pour with rain just as we were starting back! Heigh-ho, anyway. French without Tears has opened and is a great success.
Fir Cone Collection.
30/11/44.
No mail this week. I have finished the cone collecting and am feeling much better for the fresh air and exercise, although I was pretty weary by the end of the week. We are losing the Canadian who has been messing with us and hope to get a friend of V.W.’s into the room, so we shall still mess as a four. Our crossword has appeared in the camp magazine Touchstone, and I’ve already been accosted and told how difficult it is! Anyway, someone has tried to do it. French without Tears is over and we have a Dance Band show starting the end of this week. The Dance Band is definitely better than I’ve heard it before, although some of the turns between tunes are not up to scratch. Victor blows a trombone in both dance and symphony orchestras and has got a good arrangement he has done of Sunny Side Up in this new show.
[Photograph of two rows of men] In Oflag VII B. Back row: Charles Watt, Richard Clark, Peter Hanbury, Dan Cunningham, Ian Garnett Orme, Peter Fraser, Brian McIrvine. Front: Iain Cobb, Andrew Craig Harvery, Jocelyn Abel Smith, Graeme Panton, Brian Wilson.
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B.P.O.W.R.A. News Sheet 13
OFLAG IX A/H.
Birthday in Captivity.
15/10/44.
Well, once more we come round to my birthday. You will need no telling that it is my fourth in captivity and my third in this camp.
I see that in my letter of October 10th, 1943, I wrote: “I should think it is practically certain that my next birthday will be spent in England.” However, the fates have decided otherwise and that is that. We can only carry forward the slogan anther year with definitely better grounds. If the war is not over soon all long term prisoners will be feeling that something ought to be done (as happened in the last war) for us to be sent to a neutral country or even repatriated.
OFLAG IX A/Z.
Hard Winter.
3/11/44
I was pleased to receive two letters from you yesterday; the dates were August 23rd and September 27th. The weather has got very cold lately. I think we are in for a hard winter, which is not what I am looking forward to, especially as the food situation is not the same as it was last year. Anyhow we shall get through O.K., and I can look forward to getting home next year.
OFLAG 79.
Good Scheme.
12/10/44.
I was delighted to get your letter dated September 17th this morning – very quick. I have had almost no August nor other September letters at all. We are all growing very impatient to be back and it looks doubtful now whether we shall make Christmas or not. Life has been quieter here lately, but the repatriated people could tell you something about the state of our nerves a month ago. They have recovered a bit, fortunately, and mine have not suffered as much as most. I have read the Government’s proposed demobilisation scheme and I think it fairly good.
STALAG IV A.
News from London.
13/11/44.
I’ve had some cigarettes lately, and tobacco from you, so am O.K. for smokes for a bit, but hope a supply of parcels comes soon as we are nearly out of them. We have had some more chaps here, including some who were in London at the end of September, so have some idea of things with you after such a long break.
STALAG IV B.
26/10/44.
Note new address (cut out Luft 3). Received your letter from Bedford, September 25th. Parcels are almost finished but will manage O.K. Went to an excellent Schubert Symphony concert at the Empire this week. The orchestra was made up from British, Dutch and French musicians. Some of the Arnheim boys have gone out on “kommando” but more arrived today. They had a pretty tough time in Holland, but were praised by Jerry. These longer evenings make us think of the home fire burning. See you soon.
New Arrivals.
9/11/44.
I went for a walk the other week to the ---. It is a quaint little place and very quiet these days. However it is a change to get out of the cage for a spell. I shall probably go again this Friday, as we can go once every week. This only applies to the hospital staff, so there are about twenty on each walk. It has been very wet lately and it gets cold at night, but it will not be long before the spring comes. We have had a lot of new arrivals lately, including a fellow who was repatriated way back in early 1943 from Camp 43. I have been trying to get a French Grammar Book for quite a while but without success. If possible could you have a Neath’s French Grammar sent? My transport books have not arrived yet, unfortunately.
Pay Problems.
17/11/44.
I had a letter on Monday – yours of October 7th. I had another letter from the Paymaster which was as clear as mud, at the same time it makes me mad that after suffering being a prisoner of war you get further complications about pay. It has been fairly cold here of late but nothing
[Photograph of three men with musical instruments] “Music Hath Charms” for this happy trio at Stalag IV A.
to worry about. I generally get to bed about 8 p.m. and read until 9.30 p.m. I still do not like sleeping in blankets, but of course I would not be without them. Two I have carried all the way from Italy to here. There is another week gone by, but it is one nearer home. I guess I have just lived for that day, whenever it may be. It’s a long time since I saw you.
A Record Mail.
9/11/44.
In the last ten days I have received over 60 letters, dated from April to September, from all the usual sources. Sorry you have been unlucky, but I would point out that the ration is only two letters per month and four cards. All goes well here and I am still fairly busy. Parcels have just run out but more are expected.
I have just seen a demonstration of hypnotism. Amazing but true. I will write more about it anon.
College Prospects.
3/10/44.
The age of miracles is not yet passed! I have just received three letters and a parcel of 500 cigarettes, dispatched by Dad on May 5th. Sincere thanks. They are
[Picture] This Christmas Card was sent home to relatives by men in Oflag IX A/H.
more useful than ever now that the issue of Red Cross parcels in cut down to half owing to difficulty of supplies. The letters were from Dad (May 5th and 15th) and G.C. (August). Nice work.
Have you heard about the National Further Education Scheme? In brief it says that a cash grant will be made to University students who broke their studies for the duration, sufficient to pay both tuition fees and also the cost of living. Just think of it: my final year at College with all expenses paid! I am itching to get back and get stuck in. What do you think about it? The immediate future is certainly taking shape fast. I haven’t any room for news. No matter, there isn’t any, anyhow. Do you see I am in a cheerful mood? Must go now – there’s a train to catch.
Post-war Planning.
2/9/44.
I have had no mail or parcels for many weeks now, but that is only a minor detail and no explanations are necessary. I don’t think you will receive this, but here goes. In case my earlier letters have not arrived I will briefly outline one of my post-war plots. Three of we ex-aviators are contemplating opening up a building venture – to wit Sid, Bill (F.A.A. pilot) and yours truly. Sid is a master builder and the working part of the firm, while Bill and I intend to watch from a safe distance. I will tell you more shortly, but for the present I wonder if Dad would kindly mind making a few crafty enquiries at the Ministry of Works and Buildings re the forming of new companies, etc., and also the allocation of contracts for bomb damage repairs? Sid has been in the business all his life and certainly knows his onions. If there are restrictions on the forming of new companies, by virtue of our position as prisoners of long standing we shall do our best to obtain special concessions. What do you think of the scheme? I think it should be a good scheme, particularly as no work is required on my part! I may say that we have thought out this idea very carefully. More anon.
[Page break]
14 B.P.O.W.R.A. News Sheet
STALAG VII A.
Camp Newspaper.
16/10/44.
I have started a camp newspaper in conjunction with another officer and our first bi-weekly number appears to-morrow. I have just received your first letter, dated August 26th, though from its contents I gather that it is not the first you have written. From all accounts my letters arrive quicker than yours.
STALAG XVIII A.
Paid in German Marks.
8/10/44.
You are certainly very optimistic about the finish of the war, and I hope among your flags you have a Greek one. (The writer was captured in Crete. -ED.) Religion seems to interest you quite a lot by the trend of your letters. You should read some modern books such as The Age of Reason. We are now paid in German marks instead of camp money – twenty-one marks a month. Quite a change of policy. We are now allowed more than thirty marks. Personal parcels are starting again next week for all of us.
Exciting Times.
22/10/44.
Nothing this week except six parcels. To-day more Red Cross parcels, and during November we are to receive one a fortnight. We have plenty of excitement nowadays, and spend quite a bit of time in the evenings with no lights.
1/10/44.
What are the chances of putting the car on the road when I return? Your views are wanted on this subject. Just fancy the old bus has been laid up five years yesterday.
STALAG XX A (3).
Together in Thought.
12/11/44.
My 29th birthday has passed me by most uneventfully. Maybe, after five years behind the wire, this birthday, and the approaching Christmastide, will be really the last I shall spend in captivity, but who can say?
However in spite of minor setbacks – no mail from you for several weeks, no permit cigarettes for a very long time, no personal parcel later than last January’s, and a very elusive, curtailed Red Cross food ration – I manage to keep cheerful and happy. How could I be anything else, when you are always with me to add extra heart to this long wait in isolation?
We tend to become such hardened fatalists, living this unnatural life, that any though of good news to come – as it undoubtedly will – seems unable to pierce the hard armour, fashioned in five long years away from all one loves and holds most dear. We just await “the day” – but after so many disappointments, dare not imagine when that day will be. This must not in any way convey I am “down in the mouth” for I am no such thing – I can still count my blessings on both hands.
I think this letter should arrive in time to send you every possible loving greeting for a happy Christmas Day. If the parcels arrive on time, we shall make the [missing word] in the camp as usual, and manage
(Continued from previous column.)
to do so anyway, even if the parcels are delayed, as we have been warned to expect.
I am quite fit again following my recent operation, and the three weeks in hospital was a real rest. This new camp if wooden huts is well situated, and healthy. I am keeping house with two other lads, one an Australian. As they both work in the cook house you can imagine I am getting well cooked meals. They have made me Q.M. so I try to rule rations with an iron hand, as we are only allowed one Red Cross food parcel per man each fortnight.
STALAG 344.
Fourteen Ovens.
12/11/44.
This past week has seen our first fall of snow, and I think the winter has started now. The outlook for Christmas is not too cheerful; we are on a half parcel per week now and I believe that finishes this month. Still we are consoling ourselves with the thought that this is definitely the last winter. How grand it will be to be home! Next week we are making an oven for cooking on in the barrack round. It is funny, practically every combine in the barrack room is making itself a small stove. By the time they are all finished there will be some fourteen or fifteen fires in the barrack. Still it will keep us warm this winter. I went to a variety concert to-night which I enjoyed.
STALAG 383.
At a Rest Camp.
1/11/45. [sic]
Still at the Rest Camp in Bavaria – nearly seven weeks now since we arrived, and my mental and physical condition is greatly restored. Mentally I am much calmer and able to concentrate. I must admit that before, like many others, I had become very nervy.
With the long walks and long views my limbs and eyes have had a good stretching, so now I can wait in greater peace of spirit for as long as proves necessary.
I can rejoice in spirit with some of my friends. I hope you can write and possibly help ---. These families gave us the finest help and affection. We had five months of the greatest hospitality that could not have been better had they been our own families. We should like you all to help them, for they will probably have been in great need of it. Some of them lost their husbands and brothers in the evacuation of Greece. I hope the country will remember this.
ATHLETICS IN GERMAN CAMP
Some Fine Achievements
A warm tribute to the “grand sporting spirit” of our prisoners overseas was paid recently by Percy Rudd in the News Chronicle. In the second of two articles he writes:-
A week last Saturday I told the story of the swimming activities of British prisoners of war in a German camp, Stalag 383, where two Londoners, Cpl. G. Stacey and Sgt. W. Cole, had been acting as instructors and organisers.
Stacey’s father has now sent me a photograph of these two which he has just received from his son and which is reproduced in the adjoining column.
It is a magnificent example of what swimming can do on the score of physical fitness, even for prisoners of war, and of how much we are indebted to the Red Cross for its practical encouragement among our men in the German prison camps.
Since writing that article I have received details of an athletic meeting held on August Bank Holiday of last year at another German camp, Stalag 344, which typifies the grand sporting spirit of our prisoners overseas.
To create the illusion of home, the competing teams bore such famous names as Polytechnic Harriers, Herne Hill Harriers, Achilles Club and Milocarians.
Everything was done in the manner of a big meeting in this country. There was a march-past of the competitors, headed by the camp pipe band, the salute being taken by Lt.-Col. D.M. Crawford, R.A.M.C.
All the track events included in the Camp Championship were team or relay races and Rifleman Wood, a pre-war member of Poly. Harriers, who at one time trained with Syd. Wooderson, was first in two of these. Wood is unbeaten in camp distance races and on this occasion he won the 1,600 yards team event in 4 min. 9 3-5 sec. and the 3,200 yards in 10 m. 26 1-10 s.
In the band race competitors had to play instruments as they ran, but three of them preferred to walk behind the runners, derisively playing “Colonel Bogey.”
Shields, given as prizes, were made by craftsmen in the camp – the medallions carved and burnished from waste metal.
[Photograph of two men in swimming costumes] Courtesy News Chronicle Cpl. Stacey, Sgt. Cole.
[Page break]
B.P.O.W.R.A. News Sheet 15
ACTIVITIES IN THE PROVINCES
PARTIES AND MONEY-RAISING PROJECTS
Bridlington.
Well over a hundred children enjoyed a tea and party given in the Christ Church Parish Hall, under the auspices of the local P.O.W.R.A. The young guests were the children of prisoners of war. The Mayoress (Mrs. Newby) presented a large cake which augmented a fine display of good things. A big Christmas tree was provided by the Corporation Gardens Superintendent. Every child received a toy, an apple, a bag of sweets, and Father Christmas distributed sixpenny pieces. Entertainment was provided by the “Tiny Tots” from Flambro and Mr. E.L. Maples, conjuror.
Brighouse.
A very enjoyable afternoon was spent by relatives at a meeting attended by the Mayor of Brighouse (Mr. F. Bottomley), who accepted the invitation of the club to be its president. Mrs. M.M. Middleton was in the chair.
Bristol.
Two hundred and fifty children, close relations of prisoners of war, came to Bristol Cathedral for toys
from a Christmas tree provided for them. Each child received one large toy, one or more small ones, a book, money and a bag of sweets, and the event was a great success. The association reached its parcels fund target of £10,000 on December 31st, 1944. This is passed to the Red Cross to cover the cost of Bristol Prisoners’ Food Parcels.
Burnley.
Competitions held at meetings have raised substantial sums of money for the association, and gifts of sweets contributed to the success of the children’s Christmas party, which was attended by about 180 children. The Mayor of Burnley was present.
Members took an active part in preparing the petition, with 4,300 signatures, which was recently sent to the Borough Member, Mr. W.A. Burke, urging more interest in the welfare of prisoners in the Far East on the part of the Government. A reply was subsequently received, giving assurances of unremitting pressure on the Japanese to improve the treatment of prisoners of war.
As parcels cannot be sent to the Far East, money is being set aside as gifts for the men when they return.
Caterham and District.
Many activities were carried out in 1944, starting with the second birthday meeting and annual children’s party. In early spring meetings were transferred to the afternoons owing to raids, and although crowded meetings took place in May and June, activities had to be suspended for the next three months owing to raids and evacuation. Crowded meetings were held again in October and November, when an ex-prisoner, now stationed in the district, brought his band to entertain members and received a very warm welcome. During this month the Hon. Secretary opened a gift shop for a week, which raised nearly £330 for the special Far East Fund. The aim of this fund is to give every Far East prisoner a substantial money present on his return to make up for the lack of parcels during captivity.
At the December meeting a local man rescued from the Japanese, was the guest of honour and received the branch’s usual welcome home present. Christmas week saw a tea party for the relatives of the seventy local people in the hands of the Japanese. Private Wiles, the local returned prisoner, had an individual chat with each relative. On January 1st, 1945, the third birthday party was held.
During the three years over 300,000 cigarettes have been sent to prisoners of war in Europe. The Hon. Secretary has kept in touch with the relatives of over 200 prisoners on the branch’s books.
Clitheroe and District.
The fourth Christmas party was held on December 16th at the Conservative Club, when fifty children of prisoners of war were entertained. The room was festively decorated with a huge illuminated Christmas tree loaded with toys presented by local people. The Mayor and Mayoress (Councillor and Mrs. J. Wilkinson) were guests of the party and presented gifts. Father Christmas, assisted by the Mayoress, distributed toys and a money gift from an anonymous donor. On leaving each child was given a new two-shilling-piece, an apple and sweets. Tea, ices and music from a barrel organ contributed to the fun.
Durham and District.
A “Bring and Buy” Sale was held in the Town Hall in December in aid of the Duke of Gloucester’s Red Cross Fund, to be used for prisoners of war in the Far East. The Mayoress, Mrs. Bell, opened the sale, which resulted in a cheque for £60 being sent to the Red Cross.
Grimsby and Cleethorpes.
Details of what is being done for prisoners of war were given by Mrs. P.M. Stewart, Organising Secretary of B.P.O.W.R.A., at a meeting held recently. The Mayor of Cleethorpes presided, supported by the Mayoress and many other well-known people, including representatives of the British Legion, S.S.A.F.A. and the Red Cross. Mrs. Stewart dealt with mail and parcels for prisoners, with difficulties in the Far East and with the need for considering whether the Association should continue to exist after the war for the purpose of assisting prisoners to settle down in ordinary life again.
Congratulations on the work of the association were extended by Miss Elise Sprott of the B.B.C., and thanks to Mrs. Stewart, the Mayor and Mayoress and others were proposed by Mrs. Meller, Mrs. Frank Robinson and Mrs. Hazelgrove. Musical items were rendered by Mrs. Frank Bannister’s trio.
Hungerford and District.
A dance was held in the Church House to raise money for prisoners of war on their return to civil life, and the net proceeds amounted to £10 4s. 6d. A Fur and Feather Whist Drive was held in December, the prizes being donated by various people in the district. As a result £16 10s. 0d. was raised as a further contribution towards helping returned prisoners.
Kendal.
The second Christmas party for all Kendall children whose fathers are prisoners of war was held in the Y.W.C.A. Hall on January 3rd, when the Rev. E.H.E. Bowers presided and some fifty children enjoyed the tea provided by the Association and friends. The Mayor of Kendall, Councillor W.F. Pennington, attended and congratulated the Association on the happy, healthy appearance of the children. A conjuring display was given by Prof. Fox of Morecombe, and games were organised by Miss Deighton. A Punch and Judy show followed, and before leaving each child was given a present from the Christmas tree.
Newbury.
A largely attended meeting held on December 14th listened with great interest to Mr. S.G. King, of the Far Eastern Section of the British Red Cross, who described the latest developments in the prisoner of war situation in the Orient.
He told of the efforts being made continuously to ship further Red Cross supplies and of the cash remittances made to neutral representatives to enable them to purchase necessities for our men. He dealt also with the latest reports from the camps, the delays in transmission of mail and hopes of the eventual commencement of a cable service.
Mr. P.B. Brown, the Chairman, announced that the Association had made a donation of £250 to the British Red Cross, half this sum being earmarked for the Food Parcels Fund and half for Far Eastern relief. The Toc H./P.O.W.R.A. Joint Fun Fair held recently had realised a net profit of about £750.
The despatch of cigarette parcels to prisoners of war from Newbury now in German Camps had been resumed.
North-East Cheshire.
The North-East Cheshire Branch of the Prisoners of War Relatives’ Association held its Christmas party on Saturday January 6th, at their headquarters, Unity
NEW AFFILIATED BODY
Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire.
Honorary Secretary: A.A. Nicholson, Esq., 57, Bordon Place, Stratford-on-Avon.
[Page break]
16 B.P.O.W.R.A. News Sheet
Hall, Greek Street, Southport. Eighty-five members and children of prisoners of war attended.
A very bountiful tea was enjoyed and games were conducted by Mr. W. Stephen in which children and many of the parents joined.
Father Christmas (Mr. Titterton) visited the party and gave each child oranges, apples and sweets, and a small gift.
At the conclusion of the afternoon Mr. H.C. Hindley, treasurer, presented each child with Savings Stamps to the value of 7s. 6d.
Oldham.
During the past year the number of prisoners has increased from 425 to 618 – 408 in Europe and 210 in the Far East. Forty-nine men have escaped or been repatriated since the beginning of the war, and 14 have died in camp, the majority of the latter being in the Far East.
The Committee still attend every Friday afternoon at 112a Lees Road, to give advice and help with the next-of-kin parcels. Nearly 800 parcels were packed during 1944 and £2,121 was expended on food parcels sent from London.
The Association meets twice monthly, one of the meetings being for the Far East and one for Europe.
The Committee have fourteen adopted prisoners.
Meetings have been held regularly and donations have been received from many sources.
Reading and District.
A performance of Christmas Carols held in the Town Hall, Reading, realised the sum of £14 to be used for the Reading Prisoners of War (Welcome Home) Fund. The carols were sung by the Reading Temperance Choral Society and the Reading Postal Choir, the soloists being Doris Coles and Geoffrey Tristram and the conductor Frederick Drew. The district’s first repatriated prisoner, Cpl. Norman Bennett, has been appointed to the Committee, and Captain A. Henson has been made an additional Trustee.
At the monthly meeting of the Reading branch of the Association last week, Capt. A. Henson being in the chair, it was announced that the Mayor had accepted a vice-presidency of the association, and he said he would do all he could to help. The secretary said the Prisoners of War Welcome Home Fund stood at £3,800, and the proceeds of the November and December efforts to provide for a re-union and reception of local prisoners of war as soon as practicable after their return had realised £213 10s. 5d.
The Christmas sale of toys realized £44 10s. 2d. and the Christmas competition £47 11s. 11d.
Spen Valley.
A seasonable address was given at a Christmas meeting by the club’s padre, Rev. T. Abell, and carols were sung. Greetings were extended to all by the chairman, Mr. A. Helliwell.
Far East Problems Reviewed
(Continued from page 11.)
Red Cross Messages.
The Red Cross Message Service may be mentioned here. It began to operate from Japan and Siam as early as the end of February, 1942, giving the first news of the welfare of certain individual British nationals.
Thousands of Red Cross messages have been sent from Australia to the Far East, and where Red Cross is well organised, as in Shanghai, a large number of replies to messages have been received.
The position as regards messages to and from Malaya and Java is obscure, but we will hope the Japanese Government will make an announcement in this aspect at an early date.
I have presented a short, probably incomplete, statement of the history of negotiations and the results obtained by the Red Cross efforts in co-operating with Governmental action. You will, I trust, see that the position has in no sense of the word become static; that there is continuous session machinery for co-ordinated United Nations Red Cross effort.
However pessimistic the Government attitude may be, we feel justified within the Red Cross movement in maintaining the attitude of constant pressure in spite of the heavy clouds of doubt and frustration. There does seem to be a little rift in the clouds at the present moment. We trust it will be widened at a very early date.
The future programme concerns the obligations placed on us by opportunities which may, and we trust will, arise for service even while our men are in captivity, and secondly the prosecution of preparations for relief on the release and repatriation of prisoners and civilians concerned.
Firstly, a new Prisoner of War Department has been created, concerned solely with the organisation of service to prisoners of war and internees, both now and during the process of repatriation. This brings us into line with the practice of the British Red Cross Society and other Empire Red Cross Societies.
Secondly, the maintenance at its full efficiency of the Bureau for Missing, Wounded and Prisoners of War in relation to Searcher Service and communications. We feel that the day is approaching when the doors will open on the prison gates of our fellow citizens and relations, and we are in close consultation with the Government Departments in the preparation of plans. We have allotted the leader of the Commission, whom it is hoped will accompany the liberating forces. He is busy selecting the remainder of his team, who will undertake concentrated training for the work ahead of them. Our Stores Department, Medical Department, Library Services and Information Department and others are already involved in the preparation of the special contributions they can make to the service.
Complete lists of names are being prepared by the Central Bureau, so that every effort will be made to get in touch with the men whose names are on those lists, and so that our Searcher Service will be completely equipped to fill in the gaps in the information relating to each individual member of the forces.
(Continued at foot of next column.)
(Continued from previous column.)
Finally, we consider we are acting firstly as an Official Auxiliary of the Government in this matter, but that our services will be always carried out as the agency of the people in this country for relief work in this regard. We look for and expect he mutual co-operation of the special interests represented here to-day.
LATE NEWS
P.O.W. Military Mission in Moscow
We are informed that a British Military Mission is now established in Moscow for the purpose of assuming responsibility for British Prisoners of War in the event of their being released by the advancing Russian armies.
Japanese Statement on Far East Parcels.
Reuter reports Tokyo wireless statement that Japanese Government will send a ship to Singapore, Sumatra and Java with Red Cross parcels and gift to prisoners of war. Date and route will be published later.
Food Parcels in German Camps.
“A German order came out yesterday saying that we must consume all the food in the camp by January 14th,” states a letter just received from Oflag VII B and written on December 20th. “The Germans,” it continues, “say that after January 14th parcels will come in once a week and must be consumed as they arrive.”
Broadcast by Returned Thailand Prisoner of War.
For the information of those who did not hear the broadcast by Gunner Wilson on Christmas Eve and January 10th, the script was printed in the Listener of January 4th, 1945.
Repatriated Prisoner of War.
Names of sick and wounded repatriated prisoners of war brought home on hospital ships Leticia and Arundel Castle were (states The Times of February 1st) communicated in advance to next-of-kin from lists compiled in Switzerland. Nearly 1,500 men have returned to this country, and 370 will shortly sail from Marseilles to their homes in India, South Africa and New Zealand.
FAR EAST MAP OUT OF PRINT
The Far East map is out of print and no orders can be taken meantime. A new, more detailed map is being prepared and an announcement will be made as soon as it is available.
ERRATUM.
January Newsheet, page 16, col. 3.
Far East Exchange of Prisoners of War and Internees.
The last paragraph under this heading should be deleted. It should read “It is learned that this situation is not confined to civilian internees in Hongkong.” It is incorrect to assume that this applies to Prisoners of War.
Published by British Prisoners of War Relatives’ Association, 16 St. James’s Street, London, S.W.1 and Printed by Speedee Press services, Ltd., 27a Pembridge Villas, London, W. 11
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
News-sheet of the British Prisoners of War Relatives' Association February 1945
Description
An account of the resource
The news-sheet covers the return of prisoners of war and issues that they will face, POW letters from the Far East, Prisoners and Parliament, Camp visits by the YMCA, Prison Camps as schools of Citizenships, Next-of-kin Parcels, International Red Cross Visit to Far East Camps, Future of Prisoners of War, New Light on Rescued Thailand Prisoners, Red Cross Parcels and German Camps, News from American POW Relatives Associations, Far East Camp Problems Reviewed in Full, Letters from German Camps, Athletics in German Camp and Activities in the Provinces.
Creator
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The British Prisoners of War Relatives' Association
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1945-02
Format
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16 printed sheets
Language
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eng
Type
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Text
Identifier
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MCurnockRM1815605-171114-025
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--London
Australia
Victoria--Melbourne
Japan--Hakodate-shi
Malaysia--Sandakan (Sabah)
Korea
Japan--Fukuoka-shi
Taiwan
Thailand
Japan--Zentsūji-shi
Germany--Königstein (Pirna)
United States
Washington (D.C.)
Russia (Federation)--Vladivostok
Thailand--Bangkok
Canada
Ontario--Ottawa
England--Worcester
England--Bridlington
England--Brighouse
England--Bristol
England--Burnley
England--Caterham
England--Clitheroe
England--Durham
England--Grimsby
England--Cleethorpes
England--Hungerford
England--Kendal
England--Newbury
England--Cheshire
England--Oldham
England--Reading
England--Spen
Russia (Federation)--Moscow
Poland--Żagań
Poland--Tychowo
Poland
Singapore
Victoria
Malaysia
Ontario
Germany
Japan
Russia (Federation)
England--Durham (County)
England--Gloucestershire
England--Berkshire
England--Lancashire
England--Lincolnshire
England--Surrey
England--Westmorland
England--Worcestershire
England--Yorkshire
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1945-02
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Anne-Marie Watson
aircrew
arts and crafts
Churchill, Winston (1874-1965)
demobilisation
entertainment
prisoner of war
Red Cross
sport
Stalag Luft 3
Stalag Luft 4
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/757/24498/LKluva[Ser -DoB]v1.pdf
be6f0d1d62bb10504c90cad0de934f0f
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cranswick, Alexander Panton
Alexander Panton Cranswick DSO DFC
A P Cranswick
Description
An account of the resource
Nine items. The collection concerns Squadron Leader Alexander Panton Cranswick DSO DFC (42696 Royal Air Force) and contains documents, memorabilia and photographs. He flew operations as a pilot with 35 Squadron Pathfinders and was killed 5 July 1944. <br /><br />The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Alexander Parr Cranswick and catalogued by Barry Hunter. <br /><br />Additional information on Alexander Panton Cranswick is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/206220/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Publisher
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IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2018-05-24
Rights
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This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Cranswick, AP
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Sergeant Kluva's log book
Description
An account of the resource
A flying log book created for Kluva, temporary sergeant and assistant wireless operator, flight engineer and navigator, covering the period from 8 December 1942 to 20 June 1944. He was stationed at RAF Middleton St George and RAF Graveley. Aircraft flown in were Halifax, Oxford, Proctor and Lancaster. He flew one operation with 419 squadron and served with 35 squadron. His pilot on operations was Flight Lieutenant Cranswick. Target was Lorient. His log book states that he “is liable to desert from his post as assistant engineer and assume the role of wireless operator”
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
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Mike Connock
Format
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One booklet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LKluva[Ser#-DoB]v1
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
Great Britain
England--Cambridgeshire
England--Durham (County)
France--Lorient
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942
1943
1944
1943-01-29
1943-01-30
35 Squadron
419 Squadron
aircrew
bombing
flight engineer
Halifax
Lancaster
navigator
Oxford
Proctor
RAF Graveley
RAF Middleton St George
training
wireless operator
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/455/24508/LNewsome[Ser -DoB]v1.pdf
9cb898d03d24aa0890ed2da1e09d6fcb
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cothliff, Ken
Ken Cothliff
K Cothliff
Description
An account of the resource
486 items in 12 sub-collections. The collection concerns Ken Cothliff's research on 6 Group Bomber Command and contains an interview with Adolf Galland, documents and photographs. Sub-collections include information on 427 Squadron, 429 Squadrons, Gerry Philbin, Jim Moffat, Reg Lane, Robert Mitchell, Steve Puskas and logs from RAF Tholthorpe.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Ken Cothliff and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-10-20
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Cothliff, K
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Flight Engineer William Gracie's log book
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LNewsome[Ser#-DoB]v1
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Description
An account of the resource
Flight Sergeant W.B. Gracie’s Flying Log Book, from 6th September 1943 to 5th August 1944, recording training and operations as a Flight Engineer. Based at RAF Croft (1664 Conversion Unit) and 431 RCAF Squadron) and RAF Tholthorpe (425 RCAF Squadron). Aircraft in which flown: Halifax III, Halifax V. Records a total of 23 operations (22 night, 1 day), final entry reads “OPS MISSING”. Targets in Belgium, France, and Germany: Amayé-sur-Seulles (“2000 yards ahead of our lines”), Bamieres, Berlin, Boulogne, Essen, Foret de Nieppe, Hanover, Kassel, Laon, Le Mans, Leipzig, Lens (France), Leverkusen, Louvain, Mannheim, Meulan-Les-Mureaux, Paris Le Bourget, Sautrecourt, St Valery and Stuttgart. His pilots on operations were Squadron Leader Philbin and Wing Commander Newson. Includes numerous comments on operations, including: “FIRST MISTAKE AS F/E. ENGINES CUT ON LANDING NO FUEL”, “PRETTY SHAKY TRIP. PREDICTED FLAK CAME DAMN CLOSE”, “PFF BOOB” and “MET BOOB”. This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form. No better quality copies are available.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
David Leitch
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Belgium
France
Germany
Great Britain
England--Durham (County)
England--Yorkshire
Atlantic Ocean--English Channel
Belgium--Louvain
France--Boulogne-sur-Mer
France--Laon
France--Le Bourget
France--Le Mans
France--Lens
France--Les Mureaux
France--Louvaines
France--Nord-Pas-de-Calais
France--Pas-de-Calais
France--Saint-Valery-en-Caux
Germany--Berlin
Germany--Essen
Germany--Hannover
Germany--Kassel
Germany--Leipzig
Germany--Leverkusen
Germany--Mannheim
Germany--Stuttgart
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
France--Calvados
France--Nieppe Forest
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1943
1944
1943-10-08
1943-10-09
1943-10-22
1943-10-23
1943-11-03
1943-11-04
1943-11-18
1943-11-19
1943-11-20
1943-11-22
1943-11-23
1943-11-26
1943-11-27
1943-12-03
1943-12-04
1944-01-20
1944-01-21
1944-01-28
1944-01-29
1944-02-19
1944-02-20
1944-03-02
1944-03-03
1944-03-07
1944-03-08
1944-03-23
1944-03-24
1944-04-18
1944-04-19
1944-04-20
1944-04-21
1944-04-24
1944-04-25
1944-04-26
1944-04-27
1944-05-07
1944-05-08
1944-05-11
1944-05-12
1944-05-13
1944-06-16
1944-06-17
1944-06-28
1944-06-29
1944-07-30
1944-08-03
1944-08-05
1664 HCU
425 Squadron
431 Squadron
aircrew
anti-aircraft fire
bombing
bombing of Kassel (22/23 October 1943)
bombing of the Juvisy, Noisy-le-Sec and Le Bourget railways (18/19 April 1944)
flight engineer
Halifax
Halifax Mk 3
Halifax Mk 5
Heavy Conversion Unit
missing in action
Normandy campaign (6 June – 21 August 1944)
Pathfinders
RAF Croft
RAF Tholthorpe
tactical support for Normandy troops
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1623/25106/PCothliffKB15110104.1.jpg
6a0d58a7d5d8db90f21f3f8f68483c2d
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cothliff, Ken. Folder 1511
Description
An account of the resource
77 items. The collection contains photographs.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Ken Cothliff and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Cothliff, K
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Burnt out Lancaster
Description
An account of the resource
The port and rear of Lancaster KB700 after a fire. Three airmen are sitting on top of the fuselage. Two are looking out through a hole in the side.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One b/w photograph
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PCothliffKB15110104
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Royal Canadian Air Force
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1945-01
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1945-01
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Durham (County)
419 Squadron
ground crew
ground personnel
Lancaster
RAF Middleton St George
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1624/25151/PCothliffKB17030029.1.jpg
75162e99c0101046bc5720cb1c7101c8
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1624/25151/PCothliffKB17030030.1.jpg
b96bd68dea05453c5b571198ff89c039
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cothliff, Ken. Folder 1703
Description
An account of the resource
27 items. The collection contains photographs and a map.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Ken Cothliff and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Cothliff, K
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lancaster 'VR-V'
Description
An account of the resource
A full frame vertical aerial photograph of a Lancaster flying over a heavily bombed V-1 site.
On the reverse 'KB745 VR-V 419 Sqn Middleton St Geo attacking V1 site July 1944.
Lost 5/10/44 crashed into high ground on Op to Norway'
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-07
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One b/w photograph
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PCothliffKB17030029,
PCothliffKB17030030
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Royal Canadian Air Force
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-07
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Durham (County)
France
Conforms To
An established standard to which the described resource conforms.
Pending identification. Places
Pending geolocation
419 Squadron
crash
Lancaster
RAF Middleton St George
V-1
V-weapon
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1624/25157/PCothliffKB17030043.1.jpg
aaccabe59e7412ab280f14191a018dff
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cothliff, Ken. Folder 1703
Description
An account of the resource
27 items. The collection contains photographs and a map.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Ken Cothliff and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Cothliff, K
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Sodium Flarepath Type F Middleton St George
Description
An account of the resource
A sketch map of the lights on runway 06/24 at RAF Middleton St George.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One printed sketch map
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Map
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PCothliffKB17030043
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Durham (County)
RAF Middleton St George
runway
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1624/25162/PCothliffKB17030053.2.jpg
43a80c7d601bea4cd58f79ea819a97a7
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1624/25162/PCothliffKB17030054.2.jpg
9278ae129b5ff4ed48b699e3de2645f6
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cothliff, Ken. Folder 1703
Description
An account of the resource
27 items. The collection contains photographs and a map.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Ken Cothliff and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Cothliff, K
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Seven Airmen and Lancaster 'NA-I'
Description
An account of the resource
Seven airmen standing under the nose of Lancaster 'NA-I'. Annotated 'S/Ldr Don Lamont & Crew. "I" Ink 428 Sqd. M.S.G.'
On the reverse -
F/Lt Don Lamont & crew by Lanc KB792
Left to Right
F/S Ken Kehl (WOP)
Sgt Tod MacLelland R/gunner
F/Lt Don Lamont (Pilot)
F/O Jack MacFadden (Nav)
F/O Lorne Harley (B/Aimer)
Sgt Ted MacLeod (mid upper gunner)
Sgt Monty Tegard (Flt Eng)
Photo Don Lamont
* KB 792 failed to return from Wiesbaden 2/3 Feb 1945
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One b/w photograph
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PCothliffKB17030053,
PCothliffKB17030054
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Royal Canadian Air Force
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Durham (County)
428 Squadron
air gunner
aircrew
bomb aimer
crash
flight engineer
Lancaster
navigator
pilot
RAF Middleton St George
wireless operator
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1346/25759/LHughesCL133498v1.2.pdf
6dbdb18ffd3e62614751663a964af340
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Hughes, Clarence
Clarence Lindsay Hughes
C L Hughes
Description
An account of the resource
34 items and two sub-collections. Collection concerns Clarence Hughes' (1334982). He flew operations as a navigator with 427 Squadron. Collection contains his flying and navigators logbooks, photographs of people and aircraft, documents, correspondence, identity disks, decorations, mementos, and items of uniform. One sub-collection is photograph album covering his time training in the United States and Canada and family back in England, The other contains precis of subjects covered on the officer's advanced training school.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Christina Jones and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-06-02
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Hughes, CL
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Clarence Hughes’ observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book
Description
An account of the resource
C. L. Hughes’ Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book, from 8th January 1942 to 8th July 1945, detailing his training, operations and instructional duties as a navigator. He was stationed at RCAF Charlottetown (32 Air Navigation School), RAF Millom (2 (O)AFU), RAF Lossiemouth (20 OTU), RAF Croft, RAF Leeming (427 Squadron), RAF Topcliffe (1659 CU), RAF Kinloss (19 OTU), RAF Shawbury (Empire Air Navigation School) and RAF Moreton In Marsh (21 OTU). Aircraft in which flown: Anson, Wellington IC, Wellington III, Wellington X, Halifax II, Halifax V, Halifax II Series IA, Whitley V, Stirling and Wellington XIII. He completed one tour of duties, a total 29½ night operations, plus three recorded as “Returned early” or “DNCO”. His pilot on operations was Pilot Officer Rodwell. Targets in France and Germany were: Berlin, Bochum, Cannes, Duisburg, Dusseldorf, Elberfeld, Essen, Hamburg, Hannover, Kassel, Kiel, Krefeld, Krefeld, Leverkusen, Lorient, Ludwigshafen, Mannheim, Munich, Nurnberg, St Nazaire, Stuttgart, Wilhelmshaven, and Wuppertal.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
David Leitch
Cara Walmsley
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LHughesCL133498v1
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Canada
France
Germany
Great Britain
Atlantic Ocean--Bay of Biscay
England--Cumbria
England--Durham (County)
England--Gloucestershire
England--Shropshire
England--Yorkshire
Scotland--Moray
France--Cannes
France--Lorient
France--Saint-Nazaire
Germany--Berlin
Germany--Bochum
Germany--Duisburg
Germany--Düsseldorf
Germany--Elberfeld
Germany--Essen
Germany--Hamburg
Germany--Hannover
Germany--Kassel
Germany--Kiel
Germany--Krefeld
Germany--Leverkusen
Germany--Ludwigshafen am Rhein
Germany--Mannheim
Germany--Munich
Germany--Nuremberg
Germany--Stuttgart
Germany--Wilhelmshaven
Germany--Wuppertal
Prince Edward Island--Charlottetown
Prince Edward Island
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942
1943
1944
1945
1942-12-20
1943-01-21
1943-02-16
1943-02-17
1943-02-24
1943-03-03
1943-03-26
1943-03-27
1943-03-28
1943-03-29
1943-04-04
1943-04-05
1943-04-08
1943-04-09
1943-04-10
1943-04-11
1943-04-14
1943-04-15
1943-04-16
1943-04-17
1943-05-29
1943-05-30
1943-06-11
1943-06-12
1943-06-13
1943-06-21
1943-06-22
1943-06-24
1943-06-25
1943-07-09
1943-07-10
1943-07-13
1943-07-14
1943-07-24
1943-07-25
1943-07-26
1943-07-27
1943-07-28
1943-07-29
1943-07-30
1943-08-10
1943-08-11
1943-08-23
1943-08-24
1943-09-05
1943-09-06
1943-09-07
1943-09-22
1943-09-23
1943-10-03
1943-10-04
1943-11-03
1943-11-11
1943-11-12
1943-11-18
1943-11-19
1943-11-20
1944-01-31
1944-02-07
1945-07-18
1659 HCU
19 OTU
20 OTU
21 OTU
427 Squadron
Advanced Flying Unit
Air Observers School
aircrew
Anson
bombing
bombing of Hamburg (24-31 July 1943)
Halifax
Halifax Mk 2
Halifax Mk 5
Heavy Conversion Unit
navigator
Operational Training Unit
RAF Croft
RAF Kinloss
RAF Leeming
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Millom
RAF Moreton in the Marsh
RAF Shawbury
RAF Topcliffe
Stirling
training
Wellington
Whitley
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1346/27054/LHughesCL133498v1.2.pdf
6dbdb18ffd3e62614751663a964af340
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Hughes, Clarence
Clarence Lindsay Hughes
C L Hughes
Description
An account of the resource
34 items and two sub-collections. Collection concerns Clarence Hughes' (1334982). He flew operations as a navigator with 427 Squadron. Collection contains his flying and navigators logbooks, photographs of people and aircraft, documents, correspondence, identity disks, decorations, mementos, and items of uniform. One sub-collection is photograph album covering his time training in the United States and Canada and family back in England, The other contains precis of subjects covered on the officer's advanced training school.
The collection has been loaned to the IBCC Digital Archive for digitisation by Christina Jones and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-06-02
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Hughes, CL
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LHughesCL133498v1
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Conforms To
An established standard to which the described resource conforms.
Pending review
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-12-20
1943-01-21
1943-02-16
1943-02-17
1943-02-24
1943-03-03
1943-03-26
1943-03-27
1943-03-28
1943-03-29
1943-04-04
1943-04-05
1943-04-08
1943-04-09
1943-04-10
1943-04-11
1943-04-14
1943-04-15
1943-04-16
1943-04-17
1943-05-29
1943-05-30
1943-06-11
1943-06-12
1943-06-13
1943-06-21
1943-06-22
1943-06-24
1943-06-25
1943-07-09
1943-07-10
1943-07-13
1943-07-14
1943-07-24
1943-07-25
1943-07-26
1943-07-27
1943-07-28
1943-07-29
1943-07-30
1943-08-10
1943-08-11
1943-08-23
1943-08-24
1943-09-05
1943-09-06
1943-09-07
1943-09-22
1943-09-23
1943-10-03
1943-10-04
1943-11-03
1943-11-11
1943-11-12
1943-11-18
1943-11-19
1943-11-20
1944-01-31
1944-02-07
1945-07-18
Title
A name given to the resource
Clarence Hughes observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book
Description
An account of the resource
Observer’s and air gunner’s flying log book for Clarence Hughes, Navigator, covering the period from 8 January 1942 to 18 July 1945. Detailing his flying training, operations flown and instructor duties. He was stationed at 32 Air Navigation School RCAF Charlottetown, 2 (Observer’s) Advanced Flying Unit RAF Millom, 20 Operational Training Unit RAF Lossiemouth, 427 Squadron RAF Croft and RAF Leeming, 19 Operational Training Unit RAF Kinloss, Empire Air Navigation School RAF Shawbury, and 21 Operational Training Unit RAF Moreton-in-Marsh. Aircraft flown in were Anson, Wellington, Halifax, Whitley, and Stirling. He flew a total of 29 and a half operations with 427 squadron. Targets were Lorient, Wilhelmshaven, Hamburg, Duisburg, Saint Nazaire, Kiel, Stuttgart, Mannheim, Wuppertal, Dusseldorf, Bochum, Krefeld, Elberfeld, Essen, Nurnberg, Berlin, Munich, Hannover, Kassel, Cannes, Ludwigshafen, and Leverkusen. His pilots on operations were Wing Commander Burnside and Flight lieutenant Rodwell.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Canada
France
Germany
Great Britain
Atlantic Ocean--Baltic Sea
Atlantic Ocean--Bay of Biscay
Atlantic Ocean--North Sea
England--Cumbria
England--Durham (County)
England--Gloucestershire
England--Shropshire
England--Yorkshire
France--Cannes
France--Lorient
France--Saint-Nazaire
Germany--Berlin
Germany--Bochum
Germany--Duisburg
Germany--Düsseldorf
Germany--Elberfeld
Germany--Essen
Germany--Hamburg
Germany--Hannover
Germany--Kassel
Germany--Kiel
Germany--Krefeld
Germany--Leverkusen
Germany--Ludwigshafen am Rhein
Germany--Mannheim
Germany--Munich
Germany--Nuremberg
Germany--Stuttgart
Germany--Wilhelmshaven
Germany--Wuppertal
Prince Edward Island--Charlottetown
Scotland--Moray
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mike Connock
1659 HCU
19 OTU
20 OTU
21 OTU
427 Squadron
Advanced Flying Unit
Air Observers School
aircrew
Anson
bombing of Hamburg (24-31 July 1943)
Halifax
Heavy Conversion Unit
navigator
Operational Training Unit
RAF Croft
RAF Kinloss
RAF Leeming
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Millom
RAF Moreton in the Marsh
RAF Shawbury
RAF Torquay
Stirling
training
Wellington
Whitley
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1471/28163/LFertichF[Ser -DoB]v1.pdf
8ef6cb97a789b4d133327468c0820168
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Fertich, Frank
F Fertich
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-11-14
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Fertich, F
Description
An account of the resource
One item. Frank Fertich's log book. He flew operations as an air gunner with 428 Squadron.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Ernest Smith and catalogued by IBCC Digital Archive staff.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Frank Fertich's Royal Canadian Air Force flying log book for aircrew other than pilot
Description
An account of the resource
Frank Fertich’s Flying Log book as air gunner covering the period from 24 January 1944 to 17 April 1945. Detailing his flying training and operations flown as air gunner. He was stationed at RCAF Mont Joli (9 B&GS), RAF Wellesbourne Mountford (22 OTU), RAF Croft (1664 HCU) and RAF Middleton St George (428 Squadron). Aircraft flown in were Battle, Wellington, Halifax, Lancaster, Oxford and Anson.Targets were Essen, Cologne, Oberhausen, Ludwigshaven, Duisburg, Scholven, Wurzsburg, Hannover, Hanau, Merseburg, Zeitz, Wiesbaden, Bonn, Goch. Pforzheim, Mainz, Dortmund, Zweibrucken, Hagen, Neuss, Chemnitz, Dessau, Hemmingstedt and Hildesheim. He flew 22 night and 8 daytime operations with 428 Squadron, a total of 30. The log book also contains a poem and hand drawn illustrations including a woman with a horse and a naked woman captioned '428 Ghost'. His pilot on operations was Flying officer Anderson.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Terry Hancock
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One photocopied booklet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Artwork
Text. Poetry
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LFertichF[Ser#DoB]v1
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Royal Canadian Air Force
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944
1945
1944-10-25
1944-10-28
1944-10-30
1944-11-01
1944-12-15
1944-12-18
1944-12-29
1944-12-30
1944-12-31
1945-01-01
1945-01-02
1945-01-05
1945-01-06
1945-01-07
1945-01-14
1945-01-15
1945-01-16
1945-01-17
1945-01-28
1945-01-29
1945-02-01
1945-02-02
1945-02-03
1945-02-04
1945-02-07
1945-02-08
1945-02-23
1945-02-24
1945-02-27
1945-02-28
1945-03-02
1945-03-05
1945-03-06
1945-03-07
1945-03-08
1945-03-11
1945-03-12
1945-03-14
1945-03-15
1945-03-20
1945-03-21
1945-03-22
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Canada
Great Britain
Germany
England--Yorkshire
England--Durham (County)
England--Warwickshire
Germany--Neuss
Germany--Bonn
Germany--Chemnitz
Germany--Cologne
Germany--Dessau (Dessau)
Germany--Dortmund
Germany--Duisburg
Germany--Essen
Germany--Goch
Germany--Hagen (Arnsberg)
Germany--Hanau
Germany--Hannover
Germany--Ludwigshafen am Rhein
Germany--Mainz (Rhineland-Palatinate)
Germany--Merseburg
Germany--Oberhausen (Düsseldorf)
Germany--Pforzheim
Germany--Zeitz
Germany--Zweibrücken
Germany--Hildesheim
Germany--Wiesbaden
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
1664 HCU
22 OTU
428 Squadron
air gunner
aircrew
animal
Anson
arts and crafts
Battle
bombing
Bombing and Gunnery School
Halifax
Heavy Conversion Unit
Lancaster
Operational Training Unit
Oxford
RAF Croft
RAF Middleton St George
training
Wellington
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/540/28368/NGilbertAC161013-01.1.jpg
3cbe4fe05c4720204043cc99e39bbd54
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Gilbert, Alexander Charles
A C Gilbert
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Gilbert, AC
Description
An account of the resource
21 items. An oral history interview with Squadron Leader Alexander Charles Gilbert DFC (b. 1921, 1336682, 186764 Royal Air Force) his log book, documents and photographs. He flew operations as a flight engineer with 9, 514 and 159 Squadrons. He was Awarded the Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur in 2020.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Alexander Gilbert and catalogued by Barry Hunter.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-01-13
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[Photograph]
BERLIN – HERE WE COME.
Crew of a Lancaster prepare for the take-off.
BLOOD-RED PALL OVER THE HEART OF NAZI GERMANY
By GEORGE HARRISON,
“News of the World” Special Correspondent
A BOMBER COMMAND STATION, Saturday morning. – With one exception, all the big fellows who roared out of this station after dark last night are back and “bedded down.”
They are back from those smoking, smouldering, glowing ruins that once were the proud city of Berlin.
Their crews, and the crews from other stations up and down the land, flung another 1,000 plus tons of high explosive and fire-bombs on to the stricken heart of Nazi-ism in the night.
Enormous fires spreading over the city and merging into a giant cauldron of unbroken blaze, turned Berlin’s sky into a blood-red pall, still clearly seen by our returning bombers 200 miles away on the journey home.
This is a near-to-death blow for Berlin.
Smashed, blasted, and burning, the centre of the Reich must be a hollow tooth of a city this morning.
In the cold, grey hours I have talked on this mighty airfield with those men of the R.A.F. just returned from a six hours’ trip of destruction.
Grim and set-faced, their eyes red rimmed and tired, and their bodies drooping from fatigue, these boys did not gloat or exult over the night.
“It must have been mass destruction over there. Thank God I was not one of the Berliners!”
In that phrase a young pilot – the youngest I should imagine from this station – summed up the reactions of the rest.
Their only feeling was that of a job done, and done well.
When they left Berlin after little more than a quarter of an hour of terrific, concentrated attack, a sea of flame glowed scarlet and gold behind them.
AN AWESOME BAPTISM
It was the first bombing assault by the whole crew of one Lancaster – F for Fanny. Young Bob Langley, a sergeant, of Ferryhill, Co. Durham, piloted her, and with him were two 19-year-old lads flying to their baptism of fire – Bert Oliver, the rear gunner, whose home is at Ashtead, Surrey, and his pal, Bob Smith, of Glasgow, looking after the mid-upper gun.
There was still a suspicion of awe in their voices as they talked of the experience.
“It was a sight that near scared you. Those fires down there… They spread with hardly a break.”
That was Oliver. Smith added: ”It was like looking down on a giant fairground with all the lights on.”
[Inserted] X [/inserted] Out in the darkened airfield, as the twinkling navigation lamps of the returning planes pin-pricked the sky, I met the crew of “A for Apple,” the first of the returning Lancasters to lay down her wheels on the runway.
Rear-Gunner Peter Twinn, of Richmond, Surrey, stepped down, stretched himself, and sighed.
His eyelashes were ice-covered; the tears had frozen.
He rubbed his eyes with the back of a gloved hand.
“It was 30 below zero the whole way,” he confided. “My moustache froze as I licked it. “But I still would sooner have had the cold up there than the heat Berlin got last night.”
Twinn’s colleague, Sergt. Alec Gilbert, of Southampton, “A for Apple’s” engineer, backed up with: “After the war I want to go to Berlin and take a bus ride around the place just to see what it’s like. This is our fourth trip there in eight days and I’ve still noticed nothing but fire.”
WHEN THE GUNS DIED
Other crews were also making their fourth Berlin attack since the blasting of the city began little more than a week ago.
They disclosed in rich experience of the great Battle of Berlin that the anti-aircraft defences had been considerably strengthened for this latest attack.
Many mobile batteries of anti-aircraft guns ringed the capital to replace the batteries wiped out in the hail of bombs of previous raids.
The searchlights, too, had been reinforced by dozens, and the bombers constantly found themselves picked up and “coned” by 30 or 40 as they swept in to drop their loads.
Meanwhile, night-fighters overhead flung wide their patterned-lanes of parachute flares in desperate endeavour to outline our giants over the sprawling target.
But as the minutes passed by and bombs screamed down by the ton, the guns began to fade.
One by one they ceased fire as an overwhelming weight of high explosive tore earthwards and the flames took a grip that finally enveloped the city.
Continued on Page Three
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Blood-Red Pall over the Heart of Nazi Germany
Description
An account of the resource
A newspaper cutting referring to an attack on Berlin. Peter Twinn and Alec Gilbert have been quoted with comments on the cold and the fires in Berlin.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
George Harrison
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One newspaper cutting
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
NGilbertAC161013-01
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany--Berlin
Great Britain
England--Ferryhill
England--Richmond upon Thames
England--Southampton
England--Ashtead
Scotland--Glasgow
Germany
England--Durham (County)
England--Hampshire
England--Surrey
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
David Bloomfield
Anne-Marie Watson
Requires
A related resource that is required by the described resource to support its function, delivery, or coherence.
Workflow A completed
air gunner
aircrew
anti-aircraft fire
bombing
flight engineer
Lancaster
military service conditions
pilot
propaganda
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1505/28853/SDaviesLA1581024v10002-0001.2.jpg
c62673aaab64e39d6a0159126e55a0c8
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1505/28853/SDaviesLA1581024v10002-0002.2.jpg
b0e89834306cd1fbd3d8ba4c164e30c6
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Davies, Leslie and Jack
Leslie Alfred Davies
L A Davies
John Richard Davies
J R Davies
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-04-28
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Davies, LA-JR
Description
An account of the resource
49 items. Collection concerns Leslie Alfred Davies (1922-1996, 1581024 Royal Air Force) and his brother John Richard Davies ( - 1944, 1580941). Leslie served as a Lancaster navigator on of 50 Squadron completing his tour of 30 operations in March 1945. John served a Lancaster bomb aimer on 166 Squadron He was killed in action 3 August 1944. Collection consists of Leslie's crew's individual logbooks and biographies, operational histories, photographs of people, aircraft and a grave, documents and correspondence. <br /><br />The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Murray Davies and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. <br /><br />Additional information on John Richard Davies is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/105795/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[black and white head and shoulder photograph of Robert McKenzie Smith in uniform]
ROBERT (MCKENZIE otherwise MACKENZIE) SMITH – Flight Engineer
The talented Bob Smith was born in Gateshead on 14th July 1925, the elder of the two sons of William Smith (a proof reader) and his wife Margaret. He took his second forename from his paternal grandmother’s maiden name – had he not done so, thereby distinguishing himself from many thousands of “Bob Smiths”, it would have proven quite impossible to trace his family to learn of his life after hostilities ended in 1945.
Bob learned his trade as Flight Engineer at the No 4 School of Technical Training at what was then RAF St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales, subsequently qualifying from No 5 Lancaster Finishing School as a Lancaster Flight Engineer on 27th September 1944, just ten days before the crew took off on their maiden operational raid on Flushing. It was the Flight Engineer’s role, in essence, to do all that was required of him to keep the aircraft functioning. It is hard to imagine the stresses he was under on the night of 14th/15th January 1945, with the battered Lancaster losing height, two engines gone (with consequent hydraulic issues) and fuel being used, or lost, at an alarming rate. He was still only nineteen years of age when the crewmates were tour expired in March the following year.
[black and white photograph of Robert McKenzie Smith inside the cockpit of the aircraft wearing flying uniform and mask]
Passed Halt Signs
Two R.A.F. flight-sergeants stationed at Exeter, Cyril Cheeseman and Robert Mackenzie Smith, were each fined 10s by Exmouth magistrates on Monday for failing to stop at halt signs when riding pedal cycles at Honiton Clyst. For a similar offence when driving a car, Cedric Marsh Bland, of 32, Elm Grove-road, Topsham, was also fined 10s.
[page break]
Bob and a colleague were to fall foul of the law, and on 20th May 1946, before demobilisation it would appear, the pair appeared at Exmouth Magistrates Court, leading to the attached report in the Western Times five days later. There are no indications that he strayed from the straight and true thereafter.
After leaving the RAF later in 1946 Bob enrolled in an Engineering degree course at King’s College, Newcastle, then part of the University of Durham. This involved a two year placement with the Merchant Navy, followed by two years study of Engineering theory.
Thereafter Bob joined Vickers Engineering at their factory on Scotswood Road, Newcastle, in the design draughtsmen’s department. It was whilst on demobilisation leave that Bob had met his wife-to-be (like his mother named Margaret), and they were to be married in 1951. The couple were not to have children.
[black and white head and shoulders photograph of Robert McKenzie Smith in suit]
[coloured photograph of Robert McKenzie Smith and his wife]
Bob rose through Vickers (working for the company for the remainder of his working life) finally becoming Chief Designer with a team of draughtsmen reporting to him. He spent some time in the USA, promoting the Challenger tank to the US Department of Defense. [sic]
Bob died of heart disease on 29th April 1989, shortly before he was due to take retirement. He was only sixty three years of age. He is survived by Margaret, who still lives in the house they shared in Whickham. She says that she and Bob had a very happy life together, socialising with Bob’s brother Dick and his family, and enjoying their holidays together to Spain.
My thanks go to Margaret for sharing her memories of her late husband.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Robert Smith biography
Description
An account of the resource
Biography of flight engineer Robert (McKenzie otherwise Mackenzie) Smith. Includes early life and RAF training. Continues with operational history and description of flight engineers role. Concludes with post-war brush with law and subsequent career. Includes b/w photographs of Robert in uniform and in cockpit as well as colour post-war photographs.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two page printed document with b/w and colour photographs
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Photograph
Text. Personal research
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
SDaviesLA1581024v10002
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Northumberland
England--Gateshead
Wales--Vale of Glamorgan
England--Durham (County)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-09-27
1945-01-14
1945-01-14
1946-06-20
1989-04-29
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Tricia Marshall
aircrew
flight engineer
Lancaster
Lancaster Finishing School
RAF St Athan
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/995/28922/MMossH3041799-181105-02.1.pdf
5017eb030d07e9e5fe0c2f7cff7597a3
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Moss, Henry
H Moss
Harry Moss
Description
An account of the resource
Twenty items. Collection concerns Henry Moss (1925 - 2020, 3041799, Royal Air Force). He served as an air gunner with 138 Squadron at RAF Tuddenham. Collection consists of an oral history interview, his flying logbook, documents and photographs.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Henry Moss and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2018-10-30
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Moss, H
Requires
A related resource that is required by the described resource to support its function, delivery, or coherence.
Henry Moss, Flight Sergeant, served in the RAF between 22 October 1943 to 10 April 1946. He trained as an Air Gunner and was involved in bombing Kiel, Potsdam, Heligoland, and Bremen before taking part in Operations Exodus, Manna and Revue with 138 Squadron. Henry was demobilised in 1946.
Henry left school in Bradford aged 17½ just before the outbreak of war with no qualifications . He worked in a variety of jobs including a garment fitter where he made waterproof clothing for dispatch riders. Henry passed his National Service medical board and joined the Air Transport Corps which led him to choose to join the Royal Air Force.
Henry was ordered to go to Viceroy House in London to be fitted with his unforms and receive his inoculations before moving on with his next stage of his training. He was then posted to RAF Usworth in February 1944 for his primary training. This was made up of marching and learning to salute, and basic tests on arithmetic and writing to place recruits on their trade path. There were people from many different places around the globe. https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/28928
Henry learned how to strip down and re-assemble a Browning gun blindfolded but found this a pointless exercise as at altitude, it impossible to manipulate the small parts of the weapon with gloves on.
After RAF Usworth, he was posted to RAF Pembrey to the Introductory Gunnery Course at 1 Air Gunnery School flying Ansons. He did not experience air sickness and enjoyed flying. While here Henry learned about ‘offsetting’ the release of the bombs and how to aim accurately. He was surprised to learn that from his own records that he had scored 98.5% in the exam. Over his time at RAF Pembrey, he fired a total of 300 rounds. Henry was finally selected as an air gunner/wireless operator.
Henry’s next posting was to (26 OTU) RAF Wing on the Vickers Wellington, where he crewed up. His first pilot made a mistake during a landing and while the landing was safe, the pilot was sent home. His second pilot was Sergeant Crawford who he felt safe with for the rest of the war. From here Henry went to the 1669 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF Langer on Lancasters, and 138 Squadron RAF Tempsford. Henry flew to Kiel twice; both flights were at night and while he was involved in the sinking of the German ship Admiral Sheer, he did not see anything. Henry flew operations to Potsdam and a daytime operation to the Naval base on the island of Heligoland. He can remember being able to see the other aircraft and watching the torpedo boats below; he thought the operation was a bit of a ‘dead duck’. Henry’s final operation was to Bremen when they were hit by flak but ‘nothing vital was hit’. Henry referred to Operation Manna as ‘Spam Runs’
After the war ended Henry was involved, as a camera operator, in Operation Revue which was the creation of a digital map on mainland Britain as an aid to town and country. Henry was demobilised from Personnel Dispersal Centre 100 having achieved the rank of Flight Sergeant. In total he completed 436 hours 20 minutes flying. He went straight back to his previous job as a garment cutter in Bradford, but he did not stay in contact with any of ‘his’ crew.
Claire Campbell
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Henry Moss flying clothing card
Description
An account of the resource
Booklet filled in with quantities of kit issued with dates in 1944. Issued at RAF Usworth.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Ten double page printed booklet with cover
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Service material
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MMossH3041799-181105-02
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Sunderland (Tyne and Wear)
England--Durham (County)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
aircrew
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/995/28928/PMossH1806.2.jpg
ee2d610b8853783721933666063473e7
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/995/28928/PMossH1807.2.jpg
50fb880b2d379ae998d4d0e2b7eb8a6e
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Moss, Henry
H Moss
Harry Moss
Description
An account of the resource
Twenty items. Collection concerns Henry Moss (1925 - 2020, 3041799, Royal Air Force). He served as an air gunner with 138 Squadron at RAF Tuddenham. Collection consists of an oral history interview, his flying logbook, documents and photographs.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Henry Moss and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2018-10-30
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Moss, H
Requires
A related resource that is required by the described resource to support its function, delivery, or coherence.
Henry Moss, Flight Sergeant, served in the RAF between 22 October 1943 to 10 April 1946. He trained as an Air Gunner and was involved in bombing Kiel, Potsdam, Heligoland, and Bremen before taking part in Operations Exodus, Manna and Revue with 138 Squadron. Henry was demobilised in 1946.
Henry left school in Bradford aged 17½ just before the outbreak of war with no qualifications . He worked in a variety of jobs including a garment fitter where he made waterproof clothing for dispatch riders. Henry passed his National Service medical board and joined the Air Transport Corps which led him to choose to join the Royal Air Force.
Henry was ordered to go to Viceroy House in London to be fitted with his unforms and receive his inoculations before moving on with his next stage of his training. He was then posted to RAF Usworth in February 1944 for his primary training. This was made up of marching and learning to salute, and basic tests on arithmetic and writing to place recruits on their trade path. There were people from many different places around the globe. https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/28928
Henry learned how to strip down and re-assemble a Browning gun blindfolded but found this a pointless exercise as at altitude, it impossible to manipulate the small parts of the weapon with gloves on.
After RAF Usworth, he was posted to RAF Pembrey to the Introductory Gunnery Course at 1 Air Gunnery School flying Ansons. He did not experience air sickness and enjoyed flying. While here Henry learned about ‘offsetting’ the release of the bombs and how to aim accurately. He was surprised to learn that from his own records that he had scored 98.5% in the exam. Over his time at RAF Pembrey, he fired a total of 300 rounds. Henry was finally selected as an air gunner/wireless operator.
Henry’s next posting was to (26 OTU) RAF Wing on the Vickers Wellington, where he crewed up. His first pilot made a mistake during a landing and while the landing was safe, the pilot was sent home. His second pilot was Sergeant Crawford who he felt safe with for the rest of the war. From here Henry went to the 1669 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF Langer on Lancasters, and 138 Squadron RAF Tempsford. Henry flew to Kiel twice; both flights were at night and while he was involved in the sinking of the German ship Admiral Sheer, he did not see anything. Henry flew operations to Potsdam and a daytime operation to the Naval base on the island of Heligoland. He can remember being able to see the other aircraft and watching the torpedo boats below; he thought the operation was a bit of a ‘dead duck’. Henry’s final operation was to Bremen when they were hit by flak but ‘nothing vital was hit’. Henry referred to Operation Manna as ‘Spam Runs’
After the war ended Henry was involved, as a camera operator, in Operation Revue which was the creation of a digital map on mainland Britain as an aid to town and country. Henry was demobilised from Personnel Dispersal Centre 100 having achieved the rank of Flight Sergeant. In total he completed 436 hours 20 minutes flying. He went straight back to his previous job as a garment cutter in Bradford, but he did not stay in contact with any of ‘his’ crew.
Claire Campbell
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
C Flight A Squadron Usworth (drill hall) February 1944.
[photograph]
[page break]
Jamaica [symbol] P.C. Woodham
Lascilles T Williams from Jamaica R Jushil West Indies.
R. Chiswell
R Orton.
J W Minns R.A.F.R
N Trelforth
E.R. Griffiths.
P. Shoncair (Jamaica).
J Cruchshank RAFR
JG. Luphens (S.Wales)
Sean MAC Sabann (Southern Ireland).
Fitz H [signature] (JAMAICA)
N Woollord R.A.F.R. [indecipherable word]
L. Taylor. (R.A.F R)
J. Kenderton. ([indecipherable word])
W M H Walker. Scotland
D. Thorpe
D. Rooney. N. Ireland.
[signature]
[signature]
JE Richards (I.O.W.)
C Carlisle.
Charles [signature]
N. Westlake.
J. White Howles
J D Worrell
P. Cumphells N. Ireland.
NH. Cording London Hackney.
J. Reynolds South Wales.
[signature] ([indecipherable words])
[signature] [underlined] Eire [/underlined]
B.J. Giblin (Galway Eire).
DG. Martin
J. Ratcliffe (RAF.R.).
Ray [signature] (London)
A S.R.
H Holland (London)
[signature] Eire
D Mc. Causland (N.I).
Tony Martin
Michael [signature]
J Handley. (M.U.)
J [signature] BROM
H P Thomas (Jamaica)
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Course photograph
Description
An account of the resource
Forty five students and three staff sitting and standing in four rows. All are wearing tunics and students wear cadets side caps. In the background a corrugated iron building with windows. Captioned 'C Flight, A Squadron, Usworth (drill hall) February 1944'. On the reverse signatures.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1944-02
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One b/w photograph
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Photograph
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
PMossH1806, PMossH1807
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Sunderland (Tyne and Wear)
England--Durham (County)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-02
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
David Bloomfield
Steve Baldwin
training
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1477/30532/MDyerJH1217992-160108-01.2.pdf
c4f20bb39d2d50bcbbba08b2cca2b56d
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Dyer, John
J H Dyer
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-01-08
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Dyer, JH
Description
An account of the resource
Nine items. The collection concerns Sergeant John Dyer (1217992 Royal Air Force) who was a wireless operator on Lancaster with 106 Squadron and was killed on operations 2 January 1944. Collection contains an account of operation and crew newspaper cuttings and photographs of his crew. <br /><br />The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Christopher Dyer and catalogued by Nigel Huckins. <br /><br />Additional information on John Dyer is available via the <a href="https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/106752/">IBCC Losses Database.</a>
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
T Sgt John Dyer from his niece Christine Dyer Lancaster MK3 JB645 ZN‐F left Metheringham in the early hours of the 2nd January 1944 on an operation to Berlin, the take‐off time having been delayed for some 4‐5 hours due to poor weather. They were part of a 421 strong force of Lancasters from No's 1,3, 5, 6 and 8 group. The aircraft was lost and all the crew killed. In 1948 Dyer’s parents were contacted by the Missing Research and Enquiry Service to inform them that his remains had been found, along with the rest of the crew, having been buried by the villagers of Nudow in the local cemetery. The aircraft had come down near the village which lies about eight miles south west of Berlin. The crew’s remains were re‐ interred to the British Military Cemetery in Berlin. Pilot Officer Edward Holbourn was the pilot. He was 27 years old and from Worthing in West Sussex. He was married to Hilda May Holbourn. Sgt Edward Burton was the Navigator. He was 20 years old and from Folkestone in Kent. He was the son of Ralph Withers and Kate Burton. Sgt Herbert Walmsley was the Flight Engineer. He was 21 years old and from Morecambe in Lancashire the son of Thomas and Martha Anne Walmesley. Flight Sgt Stanley Mattick DFM was the Rear Gunner. His age and home town are unknown. He was awarded the DFM in 1943 while serving with 61 Squadron, the award was gazetted on 15th of October 1943. Sgt Thomas Powell was the Bomb Aimer. He was 21 the son of Thomas and Marjorie Powell from Woodside Surrey. Sgt Thomas Mallet was the Mid Upper Gunner. He was 20 years old and from Sunderland Co Durham the son of Elizabeth Mallet and step-son of Alexander Clark. Sgt John Dyer was the Wireless Operator/Air Gunner. He was 21 years old from Stahern near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire. He was the son of Harold and Nellie Dyer and brother of Maurice
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
T Sgt John Dyer
Description
An account of the resource
Note from his niece which gives outline of operation to Berlin on 2 January 1944. Mentions that Missing Research and Enquiry Service contacted his parents with news that his remains had been found and he and rest of crew were buried in the village of Nudow near where their aircraft came down. Gives details of all the crew.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
C Dyer
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One page printed document
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MDyerJH1217992-160108-01
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Germany
Germany--Berlin
Great Britain
England--Lincolnshire
England--Kent
England--Folkestone
England--Lancashire
England--Croydon
England--Durham (County)
England--Sunderland (Tyne and Wear)
England--Leicestershire
England--Melton Mowbray
Germany--Ludwigsfelde Region
England--Morecambe
England--Sussex
England--Sussex
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1944-01-02
1943-10-15
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
David Bloomfield
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
61 Squadron
air gunner
aircrew
bomb aimer
crash
Distinguished Flying Medal
final resting place
flight engineer
killed in action
Lancaster
navigator
pilot
RAF Metheringham
wireless operator
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/193/30993/MYeomanHT104405-190417-02.1.pdf
29c89a9414263ed99058a31e3b29b199
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Yeoman, Harold
Harold Yeoman
Harold T Yeoman
H T Yeoman
Description
An account of the resource
31 items. Collection concerns Harold Yeoman (b. 1921 1059846 and 104405 Royal Air Force). He flew operations as a pilot with 12 Squadron. Collection contains an oral history interview, a memoir, pilot's flying log book, 26 poems, a photograph and details of trail of Malayan collaborator.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Christopher E. Potts and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2016-10-28
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Yeoman, HT
Dublin Core
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Title
A name given to the resource
Obituary: Harold Yeoman
Description
An account of the resource
Covers education, playing rugby and RAF career. After training as pilot in England and Canada, posted to 12 Squadron at RAF Binbrook flying Wellington. Mentions some of his 14 night operations before he was medically grounded. Continues with postings as intelligence officer and then to Malaya. Concludes with post war career.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Two page printed document
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MYeomanHT104405-190417-02
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Civilian
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Durham
England--South Shields
England--Northamptonshire
England--Northampton
Canada
Saskatchewan--Moose Jaw
England--Lincolnshire
France
France--Paris
Germany--Essen
Germany--Cologne
England--Yorkshire
England--Suffolk
Malaysia
Malaysia--Butterworth (Pulau Pinang)
Saskatchewan
Germany
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
England--Durham (County)
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1940
1943
1946
1946-10-12
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
12 Squadron
aircrew
bombing
Flying Training School
ground personnel
Harvard
pilot
RAF Binbrook
RAF Breighton
RAF Linton on Ouse
RAF Sywell
RAF Tuddenham
sport
Tiger Moth
training
Wellington
Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1772/31069/MCleggPV[DoB]-150819-04.pdf
f455e2dd94dd4a5af08ae3e4cb11a33d
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/1772/31069/MCleggPV[DoB]-150819-04.pdf
f455e2dd94dd4a5af08ae3e4cb11a33d
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Clegg, Peter Vernon. Aldborough Dairy and Cafe
Description
An account of the resource
Collection contains advert for Mudd's choicest butter, details of Aldborough Cafe, photograph, newspaper cuttings and many pages of visitors signatures. an index of visiting Canadian and American airmen, some notes on signatures and details of the death of those signing the book.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2015-07-02
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. Some items have not been published in order to protect the privacy of third parties, to comply with intellectual property regulations, or have been assessed as medium or low priority according to the IBCC Digital Archive collection policy and will therefore be published at a later stage. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collection-policy.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Clegg, PV
Transcribed document
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading.
Transcription
Text transcribed from audio recording or document
[underlined] DETAILS OF THE DEATH OF THOSE SIGNING THE BOOK [/UNDERLINED]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 3 – Date of entry January 7th 1942]
Athol Herbert JENNINGS F/S RCAF Killed Aug 28th/42 408 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
408 Sqn – Hampden I – P1244 EQ-Y – Op: Kassel
Sgt A H Jennings Killed
Sgt L G Chaston RCAF Killed
Sgt C H Thompson RAAF Killed
Sgt J W Todd Killed
T/o 2005 Balderton. All are buried in Hannover War Cemetery.
[visitors book entry. Page No. 3 – Date of entry January 7th 1942]
Sydney Clarence CAMP Flt Sgt RCAF Killed Jan 15/42 51 Sqn
[visitors book entry. Page No. 3 – Date of entry January 8th 1942]
Eric John RICHARDS Sgt RAF Killed Jan 15/42 51 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
51 Sqn – Whitley V – Z9424 MH-R – Op: Emden
Sgt E J Richards Killed
Sgt H C Needham pow
F/S S C Camp RCAF Killed
Sgt G S Booth pow
Sgt W D Muirhead pow
Sgt R J White Killed
T/o 1758 Dishforth. Shot down by a night-fighter (Uffz Zipperlein, 4./NJG1) and crashed 2215 between Achtkarspelen and Rottevalle (Friesland) the latter being 4 km N of Drachten, Holland. Those who died are buried in Smallingerland (Rottevalle) Protestant Churchyard.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 3 – Date of entry January 8th 1942]
Roderick James CHISHOLM F/S RCAF Killed Jan 6/42 35 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
35 Sqn – Halifax II – R9439 TL-A – Op: Emden
Sgt S E Davies Killed
Sgt H Thomas Killed
P/O T J Taylor RCAF Killed
F/S R L Bradshaw RCAF Killed
F/S R J Chisholm RCAF Killed
Sgt A Squires Killed
T/o 2319 Linton-on-Ouse. Lost without trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Sgt Davies hailed from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
[visitors book entry. Page No. 3 – Date of entry January 8th 1942]
Frank OLIVER DFM F/S RAF Killed Sep 30/42 51 Sqn
(No details known) [Squadron with Coastal Command, May - Oct 42]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 3 – Date of entry January 9th 1942]
Douglas FORBES Sgt RAF Killed Mar 8/43 61 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
61 Sqn – Lancaster I – W4903 QR-P – Op: Nürnberg
F/L C A Giles DFC RAAF Killed
P/O K D Babington-Browne Killed
F/O F Richards Killed
P/O B J Gunter Killed
F/S G Mitchell Killed
Sgt E Carr Killed
F/S D Forbes Killed
T/o 1930 Syerston. Believed crashed in the general vicinity of Fürth, a large town just to the NW of Nürnberg. All were buried at Fürth on 10 March, but since the war their bodies have been taken to Durnbach War Cemetery.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 3 – Date of entry January 10th 1942]
Jack Vage KERR F/S RAF Killed Oct 16/42 51 Sqn
(No details known) [Sqn with Coastal Command, May - Oct/42]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 3 – Date of entry January 10th 1942]
Frank Lewin LUFF Sgt RAF Killed Aug 12/42 51 Sqn
(No details known) [Sqn with Coastal Command, May - Oct/42]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 3 – Date of entry January 10th 1942]
Norman VINER Sgt. RAF Killed Jan 21st/42 51 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
51 Sqn – Whitley V – Z9311 MH-J– Op: Emden
P/O B Sides Killed
Sgt D A Richards Killed
F/S B L Hart Killed
Sgt N Viner Killed
Sgt J J Clarke Killed
T/o 1734 Dishforth. Lost without trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
[visitors book entry. Page No. 3 – Date of entry January 13th 1942]
William Moreton JAMES Sgt RAF Killed Jul 12th/42 51 Sqn
(No details known) [Sqn with Coastal Command, May - Oct/ 42]
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 4 – Date of entry January 23rd 1942]
Stanley WOOLHOUSE W/O RAF Killed Oct 3/43 51 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
51 Sqn – Halifax II – HR728 LK-D – Op: Kassel
F/L W T Irwin Killed
F/O J A Grundy Killed
P/O W J Watson Killed
F/O J J Dawkins Killed
F/O R T Watkinson Killed
W/O S Woolhouse Killed
Sgt J Dixon Killed
Sgt J F Gordon Killed
T/o 1810 Snaith. Crashed at Wietersheim on the E bank of the Weser, 4 km SSW of Petershagen. All are buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery. F/O Grundy was an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects.
[visitors book entry. Page No. 4 – Date of entry 27th January 1942]
Arthur Hugh Steyning BROWN P/O RAAF Killed Oct 16th/42 51 Sqn
(No details known) [Sqn with Coastal Command, May - Oct/42]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 4 – Date of entry 28th January 1942]
Douglas Ronald FREEAR Sgt RAF Killed Apr 10/42 158 Sqn
(No details known)
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 4 – Date of entry January 28th 1942]
John David William STENHOUSE F/S RAF Killed Mar 1/43 51 Sqn
[visitors book entry. Page No. 4 – Date of entry February 15th 1942]
Ronald Arthur Bertram WILLMOTT P/O RAF Killed Mar 1/43 51 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
51 Sqn – Halifax II – BB223 MH-C – Op: Berlin
F/S J D W Stenhouse Killed
Sgt C Avery Killed
Sgt W Colangelo RCAF Killed
Sgt A Beauchamp Killed
F/S R A B Willmott Killed
Sgt A Howe Killed
F/O J B Duncan Killed
T/o 1830 Snaith. Shot down by a night-fighter (Lt August Geiger, III./NJG1) and crashed 0008 Voorst (Gelderland), 5 km NW of Zutphen, Holland. All are buried in Voorst General Cemetery.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 5 – Date of entry February 20th 1942]
Alan Kenneth FARLAM W/O RAAF Killed Aug 14/43 19 OTU
[crew and operation details]
19 OTU – Anson I – N9671 XF-P – Training
W/O A K Farlam RAAF Killed
F/O H H Kirby DFC Killed
Sgt E S A Gray Killed
Sgt F J Pellatt Killed
Sgt R Brown Killed
Sgt K Ashmore Killed
T/o 1435 Kinloss for a navigation training detail. At approximately 1505, the Anson was seen diving, with both engines running at full power, from 4,000 feet and failing to recover before hitting the ground roughly a mile E of Arbroath airfield, Angus. An examination of the wreckage revealed that most of the fabric had peeled away from the starboard wing. All rest in cemeteries scattered across the United Kingdom and it seems likely that the funeral for W/O Farlam of Neutral Bay in New South Wales was arranged by relatives as he is buried in Surrey at Cheam (St. Dunstan) Churchyard, Sutton and Cheam.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 5 – Date of entry March 18th 1942]
Edward Maurice TAYLOR Sgt RAF Killed Jun 17/42 24 OTU
[crew and operation details]
24 OTU – Whitley V – BD358 – Training
F/S W T Rushton Killed
P/O L Rowlinson Killed
Sgt G E Hibben Killed
Sgt E M Taylor Killed
Sgt A F Alcock RCAF Killed
Sgt Harris inj.
LAC H G Foot Killed
AC2 J Murray Killed
T/o 1525 Honeybourne for a navigation exercise involving the crew, which was made up of a screened pilot and wireless operator, four trainees and two passengers, in overwater flying. At 1955, the bomber returned to base and was seen, while on the cross-wind leg, to lower the flaps. As it did so, so the nose appeared to rise quite sharply. Immediately, the flaps were retracted and the Whitley continued with its approach but as it turned finals, and the flaps were once again lowered, the nose pitched up and the aircraft stalled, plunging to the ground on the boundary of the airfield, where it burst into flames. Those who died rest in various cemeteries across the United Kingdom. This was the first major accident involving an aircraft from the unit since its formation in mid-March 1942.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 6 – Date of entry July 28th 1942
Roderick John HEATHER P/O RCAF Killed Mar 12/43 427 Sqn
(No details known)
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 7 – Date of entry September 18th 1942]
Thomas Donovan COPELAND F/O RCAF Killed Mar 11/45 434 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
434 Sqn – Lancaster X – KB834 WL-Y – Op: Essen
F/L R J Fern RCAF Killed
P/O W T Jones Killed
F/L A G Rowe DFC RCAF Killed
F/O T D Copeland RCAF Killed
F/O J R Latremouille RCAF Killed
F/O G Scott RCAF Killed
F/O J A H B Marceau RCAF pow
T/o 1138 Croft. Hit by flak and crashed within seconds of completing its bombing run, plunging into the target area. Six bodies were later recovered from Plot B at the Süd-West Friedhof and taken to the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. F/O Marceau RCAF was very badly wounded and was to undergo many years of hospital treatment. Apart from 37 year old P/O Jones, who had served previously with 419 Squadron, the crew were on their second tour of operations.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 8 – Date of entry September 19th 1942]
Eric Raymond PRICE F/O RAF Killed Oct 22/43 77 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
77 Sqn – Halifax II – JD121 KN-O – Op: Kassel
F/O J S Barber Killed
Sgt D W Stribley Killed
Sgt R O Hand Killed
F/O E R Price Killed
Sgt I M Smith Killed
Sgt J Pretsell Killed
Sgt H A Weber RCAF Killed
T/o 1802 Elvington. Crashed at Tietelsen, 9 km SE of Brakel. All rest in Hannover War Cemetery.
[visitors book entry. Page No. 8 – Date of entry October 14th 1942]
Peter LANE Killed Jan 18/43 97 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
97 Sqn – Lancaster I – R5575 OF-L – Op: Berlin
Sgt G H Rowson Killed
Sgt P Lane Killed
Sgt J E West Killed
Sgt J Bell Killed
Sgt J C Brittain Killed
Sgt G A Axup Killed
F/S H C Beebe RCAF Killed
T/o 1703 Woodhall Spa. Crashed in the Waddenzee. Sgt Brittain's body was recovered on 9 April and buried a week later in Ulrum General Cemetery. The rest are named on the Runnymede Memorial. At 40, F/S Beebe RCAF was amongst the oldest RCAF airmen to die on operational service with Bomber Command.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 8 – Date of entry October 23rd 1942]
Arthur Lawrence FAIRBROTHER Sgt RAF Killed Feb 15/44 77 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
77 Sqn – Halifax V – LK726 KN-O – Op: Berlin
F/O G Bodden Killed
Sgt J L Green Killed
F/S N F W Gooding Killed
Sgt W H Beere Killed
Sgt R C Hall Killed
Sgt J Smith Killed
Sgt A L Fairbrother Killed
T/o 1730 Elvington. Crashed at Buskow, 7 km S of Neuruppin. All were buried at Buskow on 17 February, since when their remains have been exhumed and reinterred in the 1939-1945 War Cemetery at Berlin. Sgt Fairbrother's service number indicates he was accepted for pilot training in the pre-war volunteer reserve.
[visitors book entry. Page No. 8 – Date of entry November 27th 1942]
Derek VOLLANS Sgt RAF Killed Apr 15/43 425 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
425 Sqn – Wellington III – X3763 KW-L – Op: Stuttgart
P/O A T Doucette DFC RCAF Killed
Sgt A Jones Killed
P/O J O L Desroches DFC RCAF Killed
Sgt D Vollans Killed
P/O G P H Ledoux RCAF Killed
F/S P P Trudeau RCAF Killed
T/o 2107 Dishforth. Crashed at Mussey-sur-Marne (Haute Marne), on the W bank of the Marne, 8 km S of Joinville, France. All rest in Mussey-sur-Marne Communal Cemetery.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 10 – Date of entry January 17th 1943]
William ("Bill") HENDERSON P/O RCAF Killed Apr 14/45 419 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
419 Sqn – Lancaster X – KB866 VR-M – Op: Kiel
F/S C C Maclaren RCAF Killed
Sgt G A Livingston RCAF Killed
F/O D W Wincott RCAF Killed
F/O C R Loft RCAF Killed
WO1 W Henderson RCAF Killed
F/S E R Wightman RCAF Killed
Sgt G J Jones RCAF Killed
T/o 2022 Middleton St. George similarly tasked. Lost without trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. At 36, F/S Wightman RCAF was amongst the oldest Canadians killed on bomber operations in 1945.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 12 – Date of entry February 21st 1943]
James Henry ("Smudge") EVANS F/S RCAF Killed Aug 10/43 405 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
405 Sqn – Halifax II – HR872 LQ-K – Op: Mannheim
F/L K MacG Gray RCAF Killed
Sgt D A Black RCAF Killed
F/O A J Middleton RCAF Killed
Sgt J H Evans RCAF Killed
Sgt H King Killed
Sgt C W Pickering RCAF Killed
Sgt J Hanna RCAF Killed
T/o 2252 Gransden Lodge. Shot down by a night-fighter (Lt Norbert Pietrek, II./NJG4) crashing 0100 at Awenne (Luxembourg), 9 km NW of St. Hubert, Belgium. All are buried in Florennes Communal Cemetery. F/S Gray RCAF and F/O Middleton RCAF both came from Medicine Hat in Alberta.
[visitors book entry. Page No. 12 – Date of entry February 21st 1943]
William John Ross DAVIES F/S RCAF Killed March 5/43 426 Sqn
[visitors book entry. Page No. 12 – Date of entry February 21st 1943]
Cyril Randolph TRASK P/O RCAF Killed March 5/43 426 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
426 Sqn – Wellington III – BK401 OW-M – Op: Essen
P/O C R Trask RCAF Killed
P/O C E Chapman Killed
Sgt W J R Davies RCAF Killed
SGT N F Paterson RCAF Killed
Sgt G Walen RCAF Killed
Sgt R E Williams RCAF Killed
T/o 1910 Dishforth. Lost without trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Note. A reliable private source in Holland indicates this Wellington may have crashed in the IJsselmeer, 10 km E of Amsterdam.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 14 – Date of entry April 17th 1943]
Albert Frederick HOPLEY F/S RCAF Killed May 14/43 426 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
426 Sqn – Wellington X – HE697 OW- – Op: Bochum
Sgt J A Thomson RCAF Killed
Sgt A F Hopley RCAF Killed
Sgt J P O Ethier RCAF Killed
Sgt N Hudspith Killed
Sgt T F How Killed
T/o 2334 Dishforth. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed 0253 near Nederhorst den Berg (Noord Holland), 16 km SE of Amsterdam. All are buried in Amersfoort (Oud Leusden) General Cemetery.
[visitors book entry. Page No. 13 – Date of entry March 31st 1943]
Sidney Leon MURRELL D.F.C. Flt/Lt. RCAF Killed June 22/43 405 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
405 Sqn – Halifax II – JD124 LQ-P – Op: Krefeld
F/L S L Murrell DFC RCAF Killed
Sgt A W Nichols BEM RCAF Killed
P/O F W Hodge RCAF Killed
P/O J H T J Lemieux RCAF Killed
P/O R A Livingston DFC RCAF Killed
F/S E D Rowe RCAF Killed
Sgt R L Robinson RCAF Killed
T/o 2336 Gransden Lodge. Crashed in the vicinity of Mönchengladbach, where all were laid to rest in the Städtfriedhof on 24 June. Sgt Nichols RCAF now lies in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery; the rest have been taken to Rheinberg War Cemetery. F/L Murrell RCAF was a Texan from Gainsville.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 16 – Date of entry July 3rd 1943]
John Henry STEVENS Sgt RAF Killed Oct 3/43 44 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
44 Sqn – Lancaster III – ED433 KM-V – Op: Kassel
P/O H G Norton RAAF Killed
Sgt J H Stevens Killed
Sgt S D Stait Killed
Sgt F Thompson pow
Sgt E E Greenfield Killed
Sgt W A Whalley Killed
Sgt R G Martin Killed
T/o 1831 Dunholme Lodge. Crashed in the Söhrewald, 10 km SE of Kassel. Those who died are buried in Hannover War Cemetery.
[visitors book entry. Page No. 15 – Date of entry May 7th 1943]
Donald James ELLIOTT F/O RCAF Killed Jan 1/44 405 Sqn
(No details known)
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 17 – Date of entry July 16th 1944]
Lloyd William Wesley JONES P/O RCAF Killed Jan 22/44 427 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
427 Sqn – Halifax V – LL139 ZL-D – Op: Magdeburg
S/L D M Arnot DFC RCAF Killed
W/C A N Martin RCAF Killed
P/O R A N Rondelet RCAF Killed
P/O L W W Jones RCAF Killed
F/O W V Thom RCAF pow
P/O R Dawson Killed
P/O L S Gray RCAF Killed
P/O R O Nickerson RCAF Killed
T/o 2000 Leeming. Attacked at 19,500 feet by a night-fighter while clearing the target area. The order to abandon was given, but before the crew could react, the Halifax exploded, throwing clear F/O Thom RCAF. The others are buried in Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. W/C Martin RCAF was the CO of 424 Squadron and had been attached for operational experience. P/O Rondelet RCAF was a Belgian, born on 21 November 1915 at Seraing in the SE suburbs of Liege.
[visitors book entry. Page No. 17 – Date of entry July 24th 1944]
David Neville COTTON P/O RCAF Killed June 29/44 427 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
427 Sqn – Halifax III – LV938 ZL-A – Op: Metz
WO2 A J King RCAF pow
Sgt H Morgan pow
F/O W A Wilson RCAF pow
P/O W M Pookay RCAF evd
F/S R E Mowbray pow
F/S S K Vallieres RCAF pow
F/S D N Cotton RCAF Killed
T/o 2145 Leeming similarly tasked. Hit by flak and crashed at Juvincourt-et-Damary (Aisne) some 24 km SE of Laon. F/S Cotton RCAF is buried in Juvincourt-et-Damary Churchyard.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 18 – Date of entry August 26th 1943]
Nick VENBER P/O RCAF Killed May 1/44 420 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
420 Sqn – Halifax III – LW476 PT-J – Op: Somain
F/L E Northern DFC RCAF Killed
Sgt L S Franklin RCAF Killed
F/O F W Morrison RCAF Killed
WO1 N Venber RCAF Killed
F/S C H Lines Killed
Sgt W H Young RCAF Killed
F/O A H B Hall RCAF Killed
T/o 2115 Tholthorpe to bomb rail installations. Presumed crashed in the sea. F/O Morrison RCAF is buried in Cayeux-sur-Mer Communal Cemetery, F/O Hall RCAF rests at St-Valery-sur-Somme Communal Cemetery, while the other members of crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 19 – Date of entry August 27th 1943]
William Edward MARTIN Sgt RCAF Killed Dec 11/43 26 OTU
[crew and operation details]
26 OTU – Wellington III – BK440 – Training
F/S A Merridew Killed
Sgt S Wilson Killed
F/S N Doherty RAAF Killed
Sgt E W Brown Killed
Sgt W E Martin RCAF Killed
Sgt A W Ellis Killed
T/o 0645 Little Horwood for a navigation sortie. Exploded 0800, or thereabouts, and crashed near Park Farm, Hindolveston, 8 miles ESE of Fakenham in Norfolk. Five were taken to Cambridge City Cemetery, while Sgt Brown is buried in Rushden Cemetery. In the years since this tragedy, various items of debris have been recovered from the fields and the more important pieces are now with the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum at Flixton.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 23 – Date of entry January 4th 1944]
James Archibald WILSON Sgt RCAF Killed Jan 21/44 419 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
419 Sqn – Halifax II – JD466 VR-E – Op: Magdeburg
F/L A G Hermitage RCAF Killed
Sgt J A Wilson RCAF Killed
F/S R H Walton RCAF Killed
F/S W B Tobin RCAF Killed
WO2 J B Chess RCAF Killed
Sgt R Shields Killed
Sgt R W Edwards RCAF Killed
T/o 1941 Middleton St. George. Crashed at Borne, where all were buried on 26 January. Since the cessation of hostilities, their bodies have been brought to the 1939-1945 War Cemetery at Berlin.
[visitors book entry. Page No. 23 – Date of entry January 4th 1944]
James Coulter COPELAND P/O RCAF Killed Dec 6/44 429
[visitors book entry. Page No. 23 – Date of entry January 4th 1944]
William Edward Heaton BARTY P/O RAF Killed Dec 6/44 429 Sqn
[visitors book entry. Page No. 23 – Date of entry January 4th 1944]
Stephen Lawrence NOREJKO P/O RCAF Killed Dec 6/44 429 Sqn
429 – Halifax III – MZ900 AL-K – Op: Boulogne
F/O J M Prentice RCAF
F/S F P Platt
F/O T A Wilson RCAF
F/S S L Norejko RCAF
Lt F M McRoberts USAAF
F/S W E H Barty
F/S J C Copeland RCAF inj
T/o 0714 Leeming similarly tasked. Hit by flak which damaged both starboard engines. Unable to maintain height, F/O Prentice RCAF put the bomber into the sea off the French coast. F/O M Lanin RCAF in Halifax III MZ303 AL-R witnessed the ditching and he remained overhead until an ASR Walrus, escorted by two Spitfires, arrived on the scene at 1019. All were picked up, F/S Copeland RCAF being slightly injured. Overladen, the Walrus was eventually met by an HSL which took the crew in Newhaven. P.T.O. [See next entry]
[page break]
[crew and operation details]
429 Sqn – Halifax III – MZ463 AL-J – Op: Osnabruck
F/O J M Prentice RCAF Killed
F/L H D O/Neil RCAF Killed
P/O E S C Clark RCAF Killed
F/O T A Wilson RCAF Killed
P/O L Norejko RCAF Killed
Lt F M McRoberts USAAF Killed
P/O W E H Barty Killed
WO2 J C Copeland RCAF Killed
T/o 1619 Leeming. Lost without trace. The six RCAF members of crew, along with P/O Barty, are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial while Lt McRoberts USAAF is named on his country's memorial to its airmen with no known graves. It will be recalled that six of the crew had been involved in a dramatic ditching incident while operating against Boulogne in September. Apart from F/L O'Neil RCAF, who was flying his first sortie, all were about two-thirds of the way through their tour.
[visitors book entry. Page No. 23 – Date of entry January 7th 1944]
Frederick Peter CAMMAART P/O RCAF Killed Apr 23/44 424 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
424 Sqn – Halifax III – LV780 QB-M – Op: Dusseldorf
WO2 W F Vornbrock RCAF Killed
Sgt L Walters Killed
F/S J S Laird RCAF Killed
WO2 F P Cammaart RCAF Killed
Sgt L Hanson Killed
Sgt J J Renning RCAF Killed
Sgt F P Morrisey RCAF pow
T/o 2230 Skipton-on-Swale. Crashed near Goirle in Noord-Brabant, 4 km S of Tilburg, Holland. Those who died were buried in Goirle Roman Catholic Cemetery, but since 1945 the four RCAF members of crew have been taken to Bergen op Zoom Canadian War Cemetery. Sgt Walters had been born Lionel Cohen and he came from Golders Green in Middlesex.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 24 – Date of entry February 1st 1944]
William Henry PARKINSON F/O RCAF Killed May 9/44 432 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
432 Sqn – Halifax III – LW594 QO-G – Op: Haine-St-Pierre
P.O S A Hawkins RCAF Killed
Sgt H Ibbotson Killed
F/O A I Raetzen RCAF pow
Sgt M B O'Leary RCAF pow
F/O W H Parkinson RCAF Killed
Sgt G Hand evd
Sgt R B Haxton RCAF evd
T/o 0130 East Moor similarly tasked. Shot down by a night-fighter (Oblt Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer Stab IV./NJG4) and crashed 0332 at Grand Reng (Hainaut) a small Belgian town on the border with France some 16 km SE of Mons. Those who died lie in Gosselies Communal Cemetery, where all 102 graves are for airmen who died in Bomber Command service between July 1942 and May 1944.
[visitors book entry. Page No. 24 – Date of entry February 3rd 1944]
John Tengate TUNSTALL Sgt RAF Killed Jan 7/45 550 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
550 Sqn – Lancaster I – NG363 BQ-P – Op: Munchen
F/O C J Clarke RCAF Killed
Sgt J T Tunstall Killed
F/S H E Miell RCAF Killed
F/O A L Coldwell RCAF pow
Sgt L O Precieux Killed
F/S F W Bradley RCAF Killed
F/S L A J Gauthier RCAF Killed
T/o 1815 North Killingholme. Those who died rest in Dürnbach War Cemetery. Nineteen year old Sgt Precieux was the son of Jules Henri and Marie Alicia Fanellie Precieux of Phoenix on the island of Mauritius.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 25 – Date of entry February 4th 1944]
Stanley Allen HAWKINS F/O RCAF Killed May 9/44 432 Sqn
(See Page 24 et seq. for details with rest of crew)
[visitors book entry. Page No. 25 – Date of entry February 8th 1944]
Douglas Anderson HENDERSON P/O RCAF Killed Feb 21/45 427 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
427 Sqn – Halifax III – NR288 ZL-F – Op: Worms
P/O W R Wilson RCAF pow
Sgt J F W Taylor Killed
F/O L Webster RCAF Killed
WO2 R R Stuart RCAF Killed
F/S D A Henderson RCAF Killed
F/S L O Foisy RCAF Killed
F/S A J McLeod RCAF Killed
T/o 1623 Leeming. Those who lost their lives are buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 26 – Date of entry February 18th 1944]
Robert Fitzgerald CONROY F/O RCAF Killed Mar 24/44 429 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
429 Sqn – Wellington X – HE593 AL- – Op: Düsseldorf
F/S R F Conroy RCAF evd
Sgt G A Leitch RCAF Killed
P/O G R Densmore RCAF Killed
F/S G A Nelson RCAF Killed
Sgt J Burns RCAF Killed
T/o 2300 East Moor. Outbound, and while climbing towards 19,000 feet, shot down by a night-fighter. Three are buried in Eindhoven (Woensel) General Cemetery; Sgt Burns RCAF lies in the Canadian War Cemetery at Groesbeek.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 27 – Date of entry February 28th 1944]
James Coulter COPELAND P/O RCAF Killed Dec 6/44 429 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
429 Sqn – Halifax III – MZ900 AL-K – Op: Boulogne
F/O J M Prentice RCAF
F/S F P Platt
F/O T A Wilson RCAF
F/S S L Norejko RCAF
Lt F M McRoberts USAAF
F/S W E H Barty
F/S J C Copeland RCAF inj
T/o 0714 Leeming similarly tasked. Hit by flak which damaged both starboard engines. Unable to maintain height, F/O Prentice RCAF put the bomber into the sea off the French coast. F/O M Lanin RCAF in Halifax III MZ303 AL-R witnessed the ditching and he remained overhead until an ASR Walrus, escorted by two Spitfires, arrived on the scene at 1019. All were picked up, F/S Copeland RCAF being slightly injured. Overladen, the Walrus was eventually met by an HSL which took the crew into Newhaven.
(Above F/S also signed the Visitors Book on an earlier page (23) on Jan 4th 1944)
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 27 – Date of entry February 29th 1944]
Robert Roy CAMPBELL F/O RCAF Killed May 13/44 419 Sqn
[visitors book entry. Page No. 27 – Date of entry February 29th 1944]
Burdel Frank EDWARDS F/O RCAF Killed May 13/44 419 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
419 Sqn – Lancaster X – KB713 VR – Op: Leuven
P/O B F Edwards RCAF Killed
Sgt J R Carruthers Killed
F/O R R Campbell RCAF Killed
P/O P Dewar RCAF Killed
P/O R S Smith RCAF Killed
P/O J A Webber RCAF Killed
P/O H E Oddan RCAF Killed
T/o 2200 Middleton St. George to bomb rail yards. Outbound, crashed and exploded at Reninge (West-Vlaanderen), 10 km SSW from Diksmuider. On 16 May, P/O Smith RCAF was buried in Coxyde Cemetery, the others lie at Adegem Canadian War Cemetery.
Note: P/O Charles SURLES is listed as having been killed the same day as F/O PRITCHARD. He must have been in the same aircraft shown here as he was in Pritchard's crew. He was an American citizen from Louisiana.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 33 – Date of entry July 12th 1944]
Gordon Featherstone PRITCHARD F/O RCAF Killed Aug 17/44 420 Sqn
[visitors book entry. Page No. 33 – Date of entry July 12th 1944]
Charles Pittman SURLES P/O RCAF Killed Aug 17/44 420 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
420 Sqn – Halifax III – MZ687 PT-L – Op: Kiel
F/O G F Pritchard RCAF Killed
P/O R H Davis RCAF Killed
Sgt E A J Proud pow
F/O F W Moffit RCAF Killed
F/O D I Block RCAF Killed
WO2 D B H Lorenz RCAF Killed
F/S K G Boucock RCAF Killed
F/O A G Roski RCAF Killed
T/o 2101 Tholthorpe. Crashed in the North Sea from where Sgt Proud was rescued two days later. Of his seven comrades, F/O Moffit RCAF and WO2 Lorenz RCAF are buried in Kiel War Cemetery while the rest have no known graves.
Note: P/O Charles SURLES is listed as having been killed the same day as F/O PRITCHARD. He must have been in the same aircraft shown here, as he was in Pritchard's crew. He was an American citizen from Louisiana.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 34 – Date of entry August 11th 1944]
J P ("Benny") BENOIT WO2 RCAF Baled out Aug 3/44 433 Sqn. Survived.
[crew and operation details]
433 Sqn – Halifax III – HX275 BM-S – Op: Bois de Cassan
F/O R H Simpson RCAF
Sgt W Purdie
F/O R Woodhouse RCAF
F/O C M Dandy RCAF inj
WO2 J P Benoit RCAF
Sgt R E Budd RCAF
Sgt O M Brown RCAF
T/o 1031 Skipton-on-Swale similarly tasked. Hit by flak while turning from the target area, F/O Dandy RCAF being slightly wounded. The flying controls were badly damaged and at 1440 the crew baled out, no further injuries being reported.
Note: "Benny" BENOIT from Toronto, calls himself "The Parachute Kid" – for good reason! Where he landed is not known.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 37 – Date of entry September 19th 1944]
Thomas Abercromby WILSON F/O RCAF Killed Dec 6/44 429 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
429 Sqn – Halifax III MZ463 AL-J – Op: Osnabruck
F/O J M Prentice RCAF Killed
F/L H D O'Neil RCAF Killed
P/O E S C Clark RCAF Killed
F/O T A Wilson RCAF Killed
P/O S L Norejko RCAF Killed
Lt F M McRoberts USAAF Killed
P/O W E H Barty Killed
WO2 J C Copeland RCAF Killed
T/o 1619 Leeming. Lost without trace. The six RCAF members of crew, along with P/O Barty, are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial while Lt McRoberts USAAF is named on his country's memorial to its airmen with no known graves. It will be recalled that six of the crew had been involved in a dramatic ditching incident while operating against Boulogne in September. Apart from F/L O/Neil RCAF, who was flying his first sortie, all were about two-thirds of the way through their tour.
Note: F/O Wilson was in the same aircraft that included the three other crew members that appear on Page 23 previously (and Page 27)
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 38 – Date of entry October 25th 1944]
William ("Bill") Gordon McLEOD F/O RCAF Killed Apr 10/45 433 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
433 Sqn – Lancaster I – PB903 BM-F – Op: Leipzig
F/O R J Grisdale RCAF Killed
Sgt W A J Thurston Killed
F/O I B Zierler RCAF Killed
F/O W G McLeod RCAF Killed
F/S J M Hirak RCAF Killed
F/S F G Seeley RCAF Killed
F/S D W Roberts RCAF Killed
T/o 1317 Skipton-on-Swale similarly tasked. Hit by predicted flak just short of the AP. A fire was seen to break out in the starboard inner engine, though the flames were soon quelled. Height was lost, followed by a small explosion which turned the Lancaster onto its back. Diving steeply, the bomber hit the ground and exploded. All are buried in Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery.
[visitors book entry. Page No. 38 – Date of entry October 25th 1944]
Ernest ("Bill") William WATSON F/L RCAF Killed Jan 16/45 420 Sqn
[visitors book entry. Page No. 38 – Date of entry October 25th 1944]
Quan Jil LOUIE F/O RCAF Killed Jan 16th 45 420 Sqn
420 Sqn – Halifax III – NA192 PT-Q – Op: Magdeburg
F/L E W Watson RCAF Killed
Sgt A K Parker Killed
P/O C W Way DFC Killed
F/O Q J Louie FCAF Killed
P/O W J D Partridge RCAF Killed
F/S D J Jacobi RCAF pow
F/S T Lynch RCAF pow
T/o 1846 Tholthorpe. Those who died are buried in Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. F/O Louie RCAF, for whom no details of his next-of-kin are known, had the unusual Christian names of Quan Jil. P/O Partridge RCAF was the son of the Revd A M Partridge of Napanee, Ontario.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 38 – Date of entry October 31st 1944]
Sydney Dolton HEWSON F/O RCAF Killed Dec 28/44 428 Sqn
[visitors book entry. Page No. 38 – Date of entry October 31st 1944]
Robert Allan EBBER F/O RCAF Killed Dec 28/44 428 Sqn
[visitors book entry. Page No. 38 – Date of entry October 31st 1944]
Arthur Allen DIXON F/O RCAF Killed Dec 28/44 428 Sqn
[visitors book entry. Page No. 38 – Date of entry November 2nd 1944]
Albert Thomas LE BLANC F/O RCAF Killed Dec 28/44 428 Sqn
[visitors book entry. Page No. 38 – Date of entry November 2nd 1944]
Keith Oscar McDIVITT F/O RCAF Killed Dec 28/44 428 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
428 Sqn – Lancaster X – KB798 NA-G – Op: Opladen
F/O E W Page RCAF Killed
Sgt G F Owen Killed
F/O S D Hewson RCAF Killed
F/O A A Dixon RCAF Killed
F/O R A Ebber RCAF Killed
F/O K O McDivitt RCAF Killed
F/O A T le Blanc RCAF Killed
T/o 0300 Middleton St. George. All are buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 40 – Date of entry December 17th 1944]
John STREET P/O RCAF Killed Mar 2/45 408 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
408 Sqn – Halifax VII – RG472 EQ-T – Op: Koln
F/O H R Sproule RCAF pow
Sgt A D Dennis RCAF pow
F/O J E Moran RCAF pow
F/O V D J Mousseau RCAF pow
F/S J G Paxton RCAF Killed
F/S J Street RCAF Killed
F/S V T Hunt RCAF pow
T/o 0721 Linton-on-Ouse. Homebound, when hit by flak which killed F/S Paxton RCAF and F/S Street RCAF. The other members of crew baled out just moments before their aircraft exploded and fell near Bad Godesberg on the W bank of the Rhine, SE of Bonn. The two airmen who died were first buried at Bad Godesberg, since when their remains have been taken to Belgium and interred in Hotton War Cemetery.
[page break]
[visitors book entry. Page No. 42 – Date of entry January 23rd 1945]
Harold Keith STINSON, D.F.C. Sqd/Ldr. R.C.A.F. Killed Feb 1/45 433 Sqn
[crew and operation details]
433 Sqn – Lancaster I – NG460 BM-A – Op: Ludwigshafen
S/L H K Stinson DFC RCAF Killed
P/O E H Thompson Killed
F/O D J McMillan RCAF Killed
F/O A W Belles RCAF
P/O J T McShane RCAF Killed
P/O R Pierson RCAF Killed
P/O R J Thompson RCAF
T/o 1523 Skipton-on-Swale. Bombed the AP at 1928 from 17,000 feet and was hit by flak. On return the Lancaster entered turbulent weather while in cloud and control was lost, two of the crew managing to bale out from 2,000 feet before their aircraft crashed near Low House, roughly 1,000 yards NW from the town of Driffield, Yorkshire. The four RCAF officers are buried in Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery; P/O Thompson rests in Hampstead Cemetery, Cricklewood.
Note. These were the first casualties sustained by 433 Squadron in 1945 and it was also their first Lancaster write off. Three more would be lost before the end of the war, from which not one man survived.
[Source of information: Bill Chorley's 'Bomber Command Losses' Volume 3]
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Details of death of those signing the book
Description
An account of the resource
Listing by page of visitors' book of personnel who had signed and were subsequently killed with details.
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Air Force. Coastal Command
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Great Britain
England--Nottinghamshire
Germany
Germany--Kassel
England--Yorkshire
Germany--Emden (Lower Saxony)
Germany--Nuremberg
Scotland--Moray
Germany--Berlin
Germany--Essen
England--Worcestershire
England--Durham (County)
England--Lincolnshire
Germany--Stuttgart
Germany--Kiel
Atlantic Ocean--Baltic Sea
Germany--Mannheim
England--Cambridgeshire
Germany--Bochum
Germany--Krefeld
Germany--Magdeburg
France
France--Metz
England--Buckinghamshire
France--Boulogne-sur-Mer
Germany--Osnabrück
Germany--Düsseldorf
Germany--Munich
Belgium
Belgium--Haine-Saint-Pierre
Germany--Worms
Belgium--Louvain
France--L'Isle-Adam
Germany--Leipzig
Germany--Leverkusen
Germany--Cologne
Germany--Ludwigshafen am Rhein
Netherlands--Zutphen
Netherlands
Germany--Ruhr (Region)
France--Mussey-sur-Marne
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942-08-28
1942-01-15
1942-06-06
1942-09-30
1942-03-08
1943-05-08
1943-05-09
1942-10-16
1942-08-12
1942-07-12
1943-03-08
1942-10-16
1942-08-12
1942-01-21
1943-10-03
1943-10-03
1942-10-16
1942-04-10
1943-03-01
1943-03-02
1943-08-14
1942-06-17
1943-03-12
1945-03-11
1943-10-22
1943-01-18
1944-02-15
1944-02-16
1943-04-14
1943-04-15
1945-04-13
1945-04-14
1943-08-09
1943-08-10
1943-03-05
1943-03-06
1943-05-13
1943-05-14
1943-06-21
1943-06-22
1943-10-03
1943-10-04
1944-01-01
1944-01-21
1944-01-22
1944-06-28
1944-06-29
1944-04-30
1944-05-01
1943-12-11
1944-01-21
1944-01-22
1944-12-06
1944-09-17
1944-12-06
1944-12-07
1944-04-22
1944-04-23
1944-05-08
1944-05-09
1945-01-07
1945-01-08
1944-05-09
1945-02-21
1945-02-22
1944-03-24
1944-03-25
1944-12-06
1944-05-12
1944-05-13
1944-08-16
1944-08-17
1944-08-03
1944-12-07
1945-04-10
1945-01-16
1945-01-17
1944-12-26
1944-10-31
1944-11-02
1944-12-27
1944-12-28
1945-03-02
1945-02-01
1945-02-02
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Twenty-eight page printed document with handwritten annotation
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Personal research
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MCleggPV[DoB]-150819-04
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
David Bloomfield
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
PV Clegg
158 Squadron
19 OTU
26 OTU
35 Squadron
405 Squadron
408 Squadron
419 Squadron
420 Squadron
424 Squadron
425 Squadron
426 Squadron
427 Squadron
428 Squadron
429 Squadron
432 Squadron
433 Squadron
434 Squadron
44 Squadron
51 Squadron
550 Squadron
61 Squadron
77 Squadron
97 Squadron
Anson
bombing of Kassel (22/23 October 1943)
Halifax
Hampden
killed in action
Lancaster
Operational Training Unit
RAF Balderton
RAF Croft
RAF Dishforth
RAF Dunholme Lodge
RAF East Moor
RAF Elvington
RAF Gransden Lodge
RAF Honeybourne
RAF Kinloss
RAF Leeming
RAF Linton on Ouse
RAF Little Horwood
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Middleton St George
RAF North Killingholme
RAF Skipton on Swale
RAF Snaith
RAF Syerston
RAF Tholthorpe
RAF Woodhall Spa
training
Whitley
-
https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/files/original/2006/31708/LThompsonAJB121138v1.1.pdf
4af21a2654c477499de28be0d1581de6
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Thompson, Barney
Alfred James Barnard Thompson
A J B Thompson
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2019-10-03
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Thompson, AJB
Description
An account of the resource
Two items. The collection concerns Pilot Officer Alfred James Barnard Thompson (b. 1917, 1335861, 121138, Royal Air Force) and contains his log book and prisoner of war log. He flew with 427 Squadron before becoming a prisoner of war.
The collection has been donated to the IBCC Digital Archive by Jan Elizabeth Pickup (nee Thompson) and catalogued by Nigel Huckins.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Pilot Officer A.J.B. Thompson’s SAAF Observers or Air Gunners Log Book
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
One booklet
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Text. Log book and record book
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LThompsonAJB121138v1
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
South African Air Force
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force. Bomber Command
Description
An account of the resource
Pilot Officer A.J.B. Thompson’s SAAF Observers or Air Gunners Log Book from 17th January 1942 to 4th February 1943, detailing his training and duties as a Bomb Aimer. He was stationed at: SAAF Queenstown (No. 47 Air School), SAAF Port Alfred (No. 43 Air School), RAF Penrhos (No. 9 (O) Advanced Flying Unit), RAF Hampstead Norris and RAF Harwell (No. 15 OTU) and RAF Croft (427 Squadron). Aircraft in which flown: Anson I, Oxford I, Blenheim IV, Wellington Ic, Wellington III. Records just one night operation, target Lorient in France, with the comment: “Target bombed… O/C & crew lost following explosion of photoflash”. His pilot on operations was Pilot Officer Parson. A note on the final page records: “POW 6.2.43 - 2.5.45”.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
IBCC Digital Archive
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
France
Great Britain
South Africa
England--Durham (County)
England--Berkshire
France--Lorient
South Africa--Port Alfred
South Africa--Queenstown
Wales--Gwynedd
Temporal Coverage
Temporal characteristics of the resource.
1942
1943
1943-02-04
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
David Leitch
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Great Britain. Royal Air Force
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
15 OTU
427 Squadron
Advanced Flying Unit
aircrew
Anson
Blenheim
bomb aimer
Initial Training Wing
Operational Training Unit
Oxford
prisoner of war
RAF Croft
RAF Hampstead Norris
RAF Harwell
RAF Penrhos
RAF Torquay
training
Wellington