41952 F/L John REDMAN P.O.W ?

[Marks]

I am looking into the details of a Battle of Britain Pilot 41952 P/O John Redman R.A.F 257 Sqn. Now Kenneth G Wynn book 'Men of the Battle of Britain' lists Redman as a P.O.W . Flight magazine lists him as a P.O.W late 1940/41 (Germans ?). Wynn also records Redman as being liberated in 1945 and leaving the RAF.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists 41952 F/L John REDMAN R.A.F.V.R Died 20/4/1943 Commemorated Singapore Memorial.

RAF Overseas War Deaths 1939-47 lists 41952 F/L John Redman Died 1943 Unit 224 Group HQ

Unsung Heroes of the RAF- Far East P.O.W Les & Pam Stubbs lists

Redman John 41952 - 77 Brigade- Held Burma - Died Burma (Near Irrawaddy River) 20.4.43
Named Kranji Memorial

Any ideas

TIA

Mark

[Amrit]

Unsung Heroes of the RAF- Far East P.O.W Les & Pam Stubbs lists

Redman John 41952 - 77 Brigade- Held Burma - Died Burma (Near Irrawaddy River) 20.4.43
Named Kranji Memorial


The 77th was the 77th Indian Infantry Brigade, and during this period was known as the 1st Chindit expedition.

If he was involved in this then he was either involved in re-supply duties, or was attached to one of the columns as RAF ground-air co-ordinator.

However, by April the last colomn wwas on their way back to India.

[northeagle]

Hi Marks......I used to have notes on this pilot but they seem to have gone walk about. In the Battle of Britain he flew with 43 Squadron from RAF Usworth for further training. He was then posted to 257 Squadron where one of the Hurricanes he flew was coded 'A' but not Tuck's Hurricane. He was married in Newcastle, October 1940, ceromony carried out by his father who was a vicar at Fenham. It is known that he was in Gibralar in 1942 as he was speaking to a fellow Newcastle pilot there. He was not a native of Newcastle, I think he came from the Midlands.
He certainly was never a POW as recorded by Wynn. To the best of my knowledge he was in an air accident in the Far East and he was drowned in a river, probably the one noted by Amrit. Therefore, that he was released from the RAF after the war is also wrong.
Hope this helps a little.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

[Ross_McNeill]

How curious,

He was listed in the Red Cross/War Office PoWs held in German camps in 1944/45 returns.

http://www.rafcommands.com/Air%20Force%20PoWs/RAF%20POWs%20Query%20R_1.html

I notice that no camp or PoW number is listed but his service number is.

Regards
Ross

[Amrit]

I cannot find anything in Bloody Shambles (Shores et al), or in any of my other books on Burma.

A

[northeagle]

Hi Ross,
I'm sure it was on this forum, maybe a year ago. If I remember right it was a relative of John Redman quierying about the POW bit. I may be wrong.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

[Robert Hunter]

As I type this I am watched by a 1941 portrait of John beside my computer, in his RAF uniform. John, born Liverpool 1/2/1915, died in Burma on or about 20 April 1943. Prior to this he served with 245 Squadron from 6/11/39; 43 Squadron from 16/9/40; and then 257 Squadron from 22/9/40. His marriage to Catherine Audrey Kelly (26/10/40) was not a success, and rather than face the prospect of divorce (my grandfather Canon Sam Redman was vicar of St James' and St Basil's, Fenham) which may have been perceived as improper given Sam's profession, John took a posting overseas. Initially, I understand, he served with convoys, as a pilot flying the Sea Hurricane Mk1A from catapaults from the bows of merchant ships (CAM). I believe he may have been serving on SS. Empire Hudson, part of convoy SC42, torpedoed 09:57 hrs 10/9/41 off the coast of Greenland by U-82. Survivors were rescued by SS. Baron Ramsay. The next information I have jumps to his posting as an RAF liasion officer to Orde Wingate's 77th Indian Infantry Brigade (Chindits) for their first campaign into Burma from Imphal on 8/2/43. This was a disasterous campaign, and John was last seen alledgedly helping a wounded man under Japanese attack. He has no known grave. I never knew John, but am immensely proud that he is commemorated on the BoB Memorial by the Thames, as well as at Kranji. He was remembered by my late mother as full of life and adventure. Someone she felt would have not looked for an overseas posting had he had a happy marriage. I hope this is of interest to you. I have never found anyone who could tell me anything about John, other than family, and some of the above I've dug up via internet research. I have one or two of his possessions, and I keep his memory alive, remembering him each Armistace Day as someone I wish I could have met.
Robert Hunter, Hook, Hampshire.

[Marks]

Hi Robert,

Thank you for the most detailed account on your uncle, certainly a most courageous flyer on the land sea and in the air.

His story reminded of the famous pilot Adrian Warburton who was posted to Malta on account of his wife trying to find him to seek a divorce. Warburton went from an average pilot to a legend winning the D.S.O & Bar, D.F.C & 2 Bars !

Robert you might be interested to know that you can amend John's details as shown on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. You could add his age and his family details if you wanted. The commission does require evidence such as copies of birth certificate, service record etc !

Thanks again

Mark

[bamboo43]

Hi All,

Better late than never as the saying goes. I have just completed the story, as I understand it, of John Redman and his WW2 pathway for my website, 'Chindit Chasing'. I have used some of the information from this thread and would like to thank you all for your contributions.

Here is the link, if you would like to have a read:

http://www.chinditslongcloth1943.com/flight-lieutenant-john-redman.html

Best wishes

Steve