401113 - Unaccounted airmen - 13-11-1940

[Henk Welting]

What caused the death of and/or what were the places of death registration for the following airmen, all three names not found in Flight archives:

AC2 Cyrill BARR - 1014834;
Cpl (Obs) Henry C.H. WEBBER - 916068, and
AC2 John WILSON - 1163192.

Proposed aircraft losses for this day:

Oxford I - N6336 - 3 FTS - crashed in forced landing North Cerney/Gloucestershire.
Whitley V - N1491 - 9 BGS - crashed on take-off Penrhos.

Regards and thanks for your help.
Henk.

[Andy Ingham]

Hello Henk

Cyrill BARR aged 29, registered at Holderness.
Henry C.H. WEBBER aged 27, registered at Pwllheli so a good candidate for the crash at Penrhos.
There are several John WILSONs in the death index. There is one aged 20 registered in West Bromwich. This was the home town and age of your man on the CWGC web site.

Regards
Andy

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Andy for your help screening my long list of unaccounted airmen.
Regards,
Henk.

[Henk Welting]

Please could one of you check the place of death registration for:
Sgt (Pilot) Peter D. GOLDSMITH - 745580 - 13-11-1940.
Regards,
Henk.

[Dick]

Hi Henk
Goldsmith,19, is registered at Bedwelty, Montgomeryshire (now called Gwent) S Wales just over the border from England N of the Bristol Channel
Regards
Dick

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Dick.
Henk.

[Brianw]

Henry C.H. WEBBER aged 27,

Henry Charles Herbert Weber is the correct spelling, name is of German origin, his father was born to a german father, the family moved to UK at the beginning of 20th century, date not known. During wartime they adapted the spelling to English version, his death may be recorded with the correct spelling, thus creating an anomoly.

He was stationed at Penrhos and was injured in a plane that crashed on takeoff and died a short time later in a nearby hospital.

I would be greatful of any further information you might add, thank you

Brian Weber brianweber@quilter.ie

[Henk Welting]

Brian,
I answered your PM. (Whitley N1491 of 9 BGS).
Regards,
Henk.

[Martyn A Critchlow]

AC2 Cyril BARR - 1014834
Drowned Airman - An inquest was held at Newbald on Friday last by Mr. T. Holtby. East Riding Coroner, on Cyril Barr, better known as Cyril Wiles, aged 29. of Newbald. whose body was taken from pond on Wednesday. Dr. Thompson. South Cave, said death was due to drowning. There was no mark of violence on the body. Mr. G. Wiles said the deceased, his adopted son had been serving In the R.A.F. He came home on leave on November 6 and seemed rather depressed. The Coroner found that the deceased took his own life, the balance of his mind being disturbed.

Saturday 23 November 1940, Driffield Times, East Riding of Yorkshire, England

CWGC shows his age as 40, whereas this report states 29.

Martyn

[wwrsimon]

Hello

AC2 John WILSON - 1163192 - the Evening Despatch of November 15th 1940 reported the following tragic tale:

Overcome by death of sweetheart
Airman's Suicide in Canal
A tragic story of depression, following the death of his sweetheart, was revealed at today's West Bromwich inquest on A/C John Wilson, aged 20, of the R.A.F., whose home was at 61, John Street, West Bromwich, and whose body was recovered from the canal off Church lane last Wednesday.
His sweetheart, who was taken ill on November 3, died two days later from bronchial pneumonia and was buried on Monday. Wilson was given seven days' leave on November 3, and attended the funeral. His father told the Coroner that since then he had spoken only once and been very depressed, although previously he had always been cheerful.
Returning a verdict of suicide whilst the balance of his mind was disturbed, the Coroner, Mr. Lyon Clark, said there was no doubt Wilson had taken very much to heart the death of his sweetheart. His grief seemed to be such that he had absolutely no thought for anything else.

Regards

Simon

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

401113 - Unaccounted Airmen - 13-11-1940

From Henk's List -

KENYA
LILLEY, John Aubrey Hugh - Air Sgt - P/655 - SAAF.
Nairobi (Forest Road) Cemetery, Kenya.
Died of aplastic anaemia in Nairobi Hospital.

NEW ZEALAND
JOHNSTON, Kent - AC1c - 639163 - RNZAF.
Wellington ( Karori) Cemetery, Wellington City, New Zealand.
Admitted to Auckland Public hospital on the 7th October, died of natural causes (?).

UK
BARR, Cyril - AC2c - 1014834 - RAFVR.
North Newbald Cemetery, Yorkshire.
(In service was known as Cyril WILES ).
Drowned while on leave.

FINCH, Sydney Frederick - AC2c - 1004463 - RAFVR - 926 Balloon Sqn.
Birchh-in-Hopwood (St.Mary) Churchyard, Lancashire.
Cause of death reported that he Drowned.

WILSON, John - AC2c - 1163192 - RAFVR.
West Bromwich Cemetery, Staffordshire.
Death caused by suicide by drowning following the death of his sweetheart.

Cannot help to wonder if the three drowning were in some way connected ?

From CWGC -

NETHERLANDS
EVEREST, Albert Ernest St.George - Sgt - 643045 - RAF.
HENOCQ, Geoffrey - P/O - 82688 - RAFVR.
HUTCHINSON, Herbert - Sgt - 581390 - RAF.
WILSON, Alexander DUFF- Sgt - 971171 - RAFVR.
These four airmen rest at Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery, Noord-Holland, Netherlands.
They were crew of Whitley V - T4208 - 77 Sqn.

UK
BIRKETT, Thomas - P/O - 87634 - RAFVR.
Chew Magna ( St.Andrew ) Churchyard, Somerset.
CASTLE, Colin Ewart Patrick - Sgt - 966825 - RAFVR.
Cathcart Cemetery, Renfrewshire.
These two airmen were crew of Beaufighter If - R2071 - 219 Sqn.

GOLDSMITH, Peter Dickens - Sgt - 745580 - RAFVR.
Farnborough (St.Giles the Abbot) Churchyard, Kent.
Whitley V - T4232 - 10 Sqn.

WEBBER, Henry Charles Herbert - Cpl - 916068- RAFVR.
South London Crematorium, Mitcham, Surrey.
Whitley V - N1491 - 9 BGS.

BOSSDORF, Hans - GAF
Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery, Staffordshire.
Cause of death ?

Alex

[alieneyes]

Cannot help to wonder if the three drowning were in some way connected ?

Hi Alex,

Not these two members.

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?1795-401113-Unaccounted-airmen-13-11-1940&p=128698#post128698

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?1795-401113-Unaccounted-airmen-13-11-1940&p=125657#post125657

Regards,

Dave

[malcolm_raf]

Hi

Finch - He was serving with No 926 Sqn, and was found drowned in Irlam Lock on the Manchester Ship Canal.

Malcolm

[Andy Marden]

BOSSDORF, Hans - GAF
Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery, Staffordshire.


Bossdorf was the only fatality in the crew of Ju88A-1 6157/L1+LS of 8./LG1, shot down by Spitfires of 611 Sqn and crashing in Oxfordshire.
The Kracker archive incorrectly lists him as Heinrich Bohsdorf (I have submitted a correction).

[Alex Smart]

Thank you Andy,
Your information is most helpful.
Alex