LAC Robert Edgar SNAYLAM-1943-Lahore

[Stewart McLoughlin]

Now researching another of our local casualties 1135719 known as Edgar SNAYLAM, late of Croston near Preston, Lancs. Son of a solicitor/merchant who was serving his articles when called up to take on trade as aircraft fitter of some description. Family now died out but have been presented with considerable personal archive containing many letters home, along with many civilian and service photographs. Amongst which are his will and the official communication that he died of "...acute..." the exact words of which has been deliberately cut out by the family from two documents. Also a letter home dated only four days prior to his death which makes no mention of him being ill, so it must have been something 'very' acute.
Question, does anyone know which Squadron would have been based at Lahore, N.W. Pakistan during early 1943 and what would have been their duties, to enable further research to be carried out. They are some distance from any front line conflict.
Many thanks
Stewart

[malcolm_raf]

Hi Stewart

He is listed as being with 83 ACU

Malcolm

[Stewart McLoughlin]

Continuing to catalogue our casualties archive where there are two photos that show identifiable aircraft. Firstly is just a working group gathered around the tail assembly of an unknown aircraft with the serial number L4832 and secondly a full shot of a Wellington with the serial number DV549. Can anyone add anything concerning these aircraft which were based at Lahore, now Pakistan, in January 1943.
Many thanks
Stewart

[Oggie2620]

Had a look in my Sqn book. The only one I could find based there in January 1943 is 194 Sqn and they moved on to Palam in Feb 43! They were at the time operating Hudsons. Dont know if that helps....

You might like to contact 194 Squadron Chairman: Alan J Barnett, 43 Milden Gardens, Frimley Green, Surrey, GU16 6PU :tel 01252 409278

Dee

[Bill Walker]

L4832 was a Blenheim Mk. IV. I'm not familiar with "ACU", would it be some sort of holding or shipping unit?

[malcolm_raf]

Further to my last message and some PMs between Stewart and myself, I now believe the unit is No 83 RSU.

The transcribed source I used stated 83 ACU but on checking th eoriginal type written document this stated 83 ASU but there is still no such unit.

The only unit numbered 83 in the right time frame is 83 RSU at LAHORE. I therefore assume the original typist misread an 'R' for an 'A', hence ASU instead of RSU.

Malcolm

[Stewart McLoughlin]

Thank you gentlemen for your continued efforts. Am plodding through a wealth of correspondence and have come across a photo of his original grave marker (he was first interred at Lahore and then re-interred at Karachi). The marker refers to him as of 307 M.U. (Maintainance Unit ?) RAF. Have found 'airgraph' dated a week before his death. No mention of illness, sounds normal, cheerful self. Also found letter from colleague to his mother that appears to have been judiciously torn other that the last part of the letter expressing condolences. Whatever it was that killed him was sudden and deeply impacting on his family.
Stewart