400924 - Unaccounted airmen - 24-9-1940

[Henk Welting]

What caused the death of and/or what were the places of death registration for:

Sgt (Pilot) William R. CLEMENTS - 363370 - killed on active service;
LAC (Pilot u/t) Frederick DENNISON - 968150 - killed on active service;
F/Sgt George F.J. JAMES - 362458 - not found Flight archives;
Sgt Denis L. SHUTE - 755725 - not found Flight archives;
AC2 Ernest SIDDALL - 998623 - not found Flight archives, and
AC2 Samuel SIDLIN - 928228 - commemorated on Panel 27 of the Runnymede Memorial.

Proposed aircraft losses for this day:

Master I - N7944 - 5 FTS - crashed into River Dee (abandoned in air)
Oxford I - P8829 - RAFC - flew into ground 1 mile W of South Rauceby, Lincolnshire.

Is it possible that AC2 Sidlin was on board SS Aska en route from Accra to UK, torpedoed by the Luftwaffe in the Bristol Channel 40 miles off Greenock, or was he on the Master aircraft N7944 and drowned in River Dee after baling out ?

Regards and thanks for your help.
Henk.

[Argus]

Hello Henk,

"Unaccounted airmen - 24-9-1940

AC2 Samuel SIDLIN - 928228 - commemorated on Panel 27 of the Runnymede Memorial."

I have him registrated to belong to RAF Station Biggin Hill.

Regards

Finn Buch

[Bart FM Droog]

Hello Henk,

From Naval History.net:

<a href='http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-4009-22SEP02.htm'>24/09/1940</a>: ' Steamer ASKA (8323grt), carrying 183 crew, one naval gunner, two naval signalmen, and 358 troops, was sunk by German bombing in 55‑15N, 05‑55W. Eleven crew and nineteen troops were lost, and the survivors rescued by escort vessel JASON. The steamer went ashore off Cara House.'

Since no RAF personnel is mentioned, it's unlikely AC2 Samuel SIDLIN was aboard.

Regards,

Bart

[Dick]

Hi Henk
Clements,33, and Dennison,19, are registered at Sleaford which is appropriate for Cranwell and the Oxford at S Rauceby. James 35, registered at Wenlock in Shropshire,Shute 26, is registered at Westminster,Central London, and Siddall,25 is registered at Pancras, so the last 2 could be air raid casualties
Regards
Dick

[Eddie Fell]

Hi Henk

The Bristol Channel is a lot further than 40 miles from Greenock which is in Scotland so something more local to Kent is likely as Finn suggests or he had left Biggin and was routing out from Greenock which is where a lot of personnel trained in Canada passed through

Cheers

Eddie

[Henk Welting]

Thanks all for your info.
General info SS Aska (source: "Aviations de la Liberté" - Col Henri Lafont):
Free French Air Force casualties among others:
Sgt Jean CONRAD - 31349 - first buried Lamlash, Scotland, reinterred Perpignan.
Sgt (Pilot) Clifford DACE - 31342 - missing.
Sgt Paul MAURICET - 31343 - missing.
Sgt (Flt Mech) Ernest ALMEYREC - 31340 - wounded and admitted to a hospital at Belfast. Died 25-9-1940, initially buried Belfast, reinterred Aire-sur-l'Adour.
Regards,
Henk.

[Henk Welting]

Please could you have another look for AC2 Samuel SIDLIN - 928228 (believed was posted at Biggin Hill).
Regards,
Henk.

[thorne83]

James died after 'accidentally discharging his revolver' while serving at RAF Cosford.

Cheers, Tom

[Justin_Millner]

Tom,

I am George F.J. James's grandson and have been trying ascertain how he died for some time. My Mother was six when he died and was not told of his death for many years and then it was not planned, I think another child in the playground mentioned that her Dad was dead.

Is there any more detail about his death at RAF Cosford or can you point me in the right direction to where I might manage to research more, the older members of the family who might know about are not very forthcoming.

Thanks Justin

[Martyn A Critchlow]

SHUTE and SIDDALL both KOAS in casualty communique No 49

SIDLIN was initially reported Missing, Believed Killed On Active Service (While Engaged In Non-operational Flying Duties, Or On The Ground Through Enemy Action), and subsequently shown as Previously Reported Missing, Believed Killed, On Active Service, Now Presumed Killed On Active Service.

Martyn

[Martyn A Critchlow]

LAC (Pilot u/t) Frederick DENNISON - 968150 - newspaper report confirms flying accident.

On War Service
DENNlSON.—Suddenly, on 24th Sept., 1940, in flying accident, L. A.C. Frederick Dennison, R.A.F.; deeply mourned.—134 Allander Street, Glasgow, N.

Falkirk Herald - Saturday 05 October 1940

Martyn

[dennis_burke]

AC2 Samuel Sidlin is listed on GRO RAF Overseas deaths as RAF Stn, Biggin Hill,
were there large raids on Biggin Hill that day?

[jonheyworth]

Samuel Sidlin 928228, attached to RAF Biggin Hill , was judged by a court of enquiry to have been killed in an air raid in the Tottenham Court area of London.
Great Damage Was done to a building at 22:00 hours and several people, including service personnel were killed. No trace of his remains were found but civil defence found his ID discs and driving licence at a bomb site. He had delivered an Albion lorry to Gravesend that day and was absent without leave, having been reported as such to RAF Police. The ID discs and driving licence were reported to the Air Ministry on 28 September.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

400924 - Unaccounted Airmen - 24-09-1940

From Henk's List -

CANADA
BEARD, Albert John - F/Sgt - 305 - RCAF.
Burnaby (Forest Lawn) Memorial Park, British Colombia, Canada.
Came into contact with high electrical current while engaged in construction work annd could not
be resusicated

UK

JAMES, George Frederick Jarvis - F/Sgt - 362458 - RAF.
Donington (St Cuthbert) Churchyard, Albrighton, Shropshire.
Died after accidentally discharging his revolver while serving at RAF Cosford.

PALMER, George Edward - AC2c - 1252718 - RAFVR.
Harpswell (St.Chad) Churchyard, Lincolnshire.
Died from injuries received from a bomb explosion at RAF Hemswell.

SIDDALL, Ernest - AC2c - 998623 - RAFVR.
Horbury Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Killed by boming in London.

SHUTE, Denys Lionel - Sgt - 755725 - RAFVR.
East Finchley Cemetery and St Marylebone Crematorium, Middlesex.
Anson I - N4914 - 1 CACU.

From CWGC -

FRANCE
GLOWACKI, William Josef - Porucznik(P/O) - P/76739 - PAF - VM, V kl, ML.
Guines Communal Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.
Hurricane I - P3822 - 605 Sqn.

GERMANY
BLATCH, Alfred Frederick - Sgt - 40185 - RNZAF.
GORWOOD, John Ernest - Sgt - 550891 - RAF - DFM.
WATSON, Francis Joseph - P/O - 42945 - RAF - DFC.
These three airmen rest at Becklingen War Cemetery, Niedersachsen, Germany.
They were crew of Hampden I - L4049 - 83 Sqn.

UK
ASHLEY, Cecil Henry - F/Sgt - 561992 - RAF.
MILLARD, Ernest Stanley - Sgt - 623538 - RAF.
PROUDFOOT, David Scott - Sgt - 745400 - RAFVR.
These three airmen rest at Kinloss Abbey Burial Ground, Moray.

FOLEY, Norman Reginald - Sgt - 758162 - RAFVR.
Keresley (St.Thomas) Churchyard, Warwickshire.

HAY, Ian De Sailly Errol - Sgt - 906233 - RAFVR.
Inverness (Tomnahurich) Cemetery, Inverness-Shire.

LUCAS, Philip Henry - Sgt - 551706 - RAF - DFM.
Hull Western Cemetery, Yorkshire.

The six airmen listed above were crew of Whitley V - P5006 - 19 OTU.

SIDLIN, Samuel - AC2c - 928228 - RAFVR.
Remains were not found. Court of enquiry concluded that he was killed in an Air Raid in the Tottenham Court area of London. His I D disc's being found in the rubble of a bombed Hotel.

ARROWSMITH, Vincent - Sgt - 521409 - RAF.
DAVIDSON, Percival Matthew (Canadian) - Sgt - 580364 - RAF.
HENDRY, Maxwell Frederick - Sqn/Ldr - 37805 - RAF.
These three airmen were crew of Blenheim IV - T1794 - 139 Sqn.

The above four airmen are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.

KEATLEY, Colin Ralph - Sgt - 758037 - RAFVR.
East Dereham Cemetery, Norfolk.
HARRY, Peter John Humphreys - Sgt - 745795 - RAFVR.
South Cerney (All Saints) Churchyard, Gloucestershire.
These two airmen were crew of Oxford I - N1192 - 3 SFTS.

CLEMENTS, William Raymond - Sgt - 363370 - RAF.
Yaxley Cemetery, Huntingdonshire.
DENNISON, Frederick - Lac - 968150 - RAFVR.
Glasgow (Riddrie Park) Cemetery, Glasgow.
These two airmen were crew of Oxford I - P8829 - RAF Cranwell FTS.

HILLS, John Edwin - Sgt - 566066 - RAF.
Oxford (Rose Hill) Cemetery, Oxfordshire.
Hampden I - X2911 - 61 Sqn.

BRYSON, John Samuel (Canadian) - P/O - 41823 - RAF.
North Weald Bassett (St.Andrew) Churchyard Essex.
Spitfire Ia - X4037 - 92 Sqn.

CORNISH, Herbert - Sgt - 580050 - RAF.
Standish ( St.Wilfred) Churchyard, Lancashire.
TAYLOR, Leslie Hambleton - Sgt - 581192 - RAF.
Nottingham Southern Cemetery, Nottinghamshire.
WATERSON, Arnold Irwin - F/O - 41638 - RAF.
Harrogate Crematorium, Yorkshire.
These three airmen were crew of Whitley V - N1470 - 58 Sqn.

CROSS, Anthony Leonard - S/Lt(A) - HMS Ark Royal - RN.
WHEELER, Gerald Mardon Mowbray Cato - S/Lt(A) - HMS Ark Royal - RN.
These two Naval Airmen were crew of Swordfish I - L7696, "A2L" - 810 Sqn FAA,RN.

ENGLAND, Ian Hugh Bellingham - S/Lt(A) - HMS Ark Royal - RN.
MOORE,Francis Cecil - NA1c - FX.80800 - HMS Ark Royal - RN.
These two Naval Airmen were crew of Swordfish I - K8862, "A2M" - 810 Sqn FAA,RN.
These four Naval Airmen are Commemorated on the Lee-on-Solent Memorial, Hampshire.

EGGERT, Karl - GAF.
Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery, Staffordshire.
Cause of death ?

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?1352-400924-Unaccounted-airmen-24-9-1940

Alex

[Andy Marden]

Alex,

FRANCE
GLOWACKI, William Josef - Porucznik(P/O) - P/76739 - PAF - VM, V kl, ML.
Guines Communal Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.
Hurricane I - P3822 - 605 Sqn.
>> Serial was P3832. AIR81/3415 is incorrect. Our database has been amended to remove the incorrect links to P3822.

EGGERT, Karl - GAF.
Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery, Staffordshire.
Cause of death ?
>> According to the Kracker Archive he was in the crew of Do17Z-3 2646 5K+ER of 7./KG3, shot down on 26Aug40. That source says he died of wounds on 28Aug40 though.

Andy

[Alex Smart]

Thanks Andy, too late for me to correct my entry.

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

Uffz Karl EGGERT - 8./KG 77 - Ju 88A-1 - Wn.5097 - 3Z+ES - Shot down 18 September, 1940, Mocketts Farm, Harty Marshes, Isle of Sheppey. Uffz Eggert seriously wounded, died 24 September, 1940 - Buried Cannock Chase 5/18.

See: Luftwaffe Crash Archive Vol.4/Parker/Red Kite,2014/p.456

Ltn Karl EGGERT - 7./KG 3 - Dornier Do 17Z-3 - Wn.2646 - 5K+ER - Shot dqwn on 26 August, 1940. Ltn EGGERT was badly wounded and died on 28 August, 1940.

See: Luftwaffe Crash Archive Vol.2/Parker/Red Kite,2013/p.237.

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?28354-400828-Unaccounted-Airmen-28-08-1940

Col.

[Alex Smart]

Thank you Col, your reply re the two EGGERT,Karl Luftwaffe airmen may well help clear up any past or future confusion over these two airmen.
Alex

[paulmcmillan]

Correction? Sergeant Denys Lionel SHUTE (755725) 1940-09-24 Age : 26 years.

https://www.rafcommands.com/database/wardead/details.php?qnum=110210

I do not believe he was


"Lost in aircraft Anson I N4914 Died from injuries sustained when wounded in Anson N4914 over the English Channel in an attack by Bf109s"

But was killed in an Air raid London on this date - his death is registered (as Dennis L Shute) in Westminster (aged 26) and he buried East Finchley Cemetery