Sgt Robert Montgomery RAFVR 1366420

[malcolmmacdonald]

This WOp/AG was lost over Germany on 30 January 1944 with 514 Squadron. Does anyone know where he was from and his age?

Another Robert Montgomery (PO RAFVR 170961) from Coventry was lost over France with 49 Squadron on 27 April 1944 aged 22.

A Robert Montgomery, signed professional by Leeds United FC, was killed serving with Bomber Command in 1944 but I cannot identify which of these two airmen is the correct individual.

Is there anyone out there who can offer me a clue?

Regards
Malcolm

[AlanW]

Malcolm,
Not much to go on but Robert Montgomery who signed for Leeds was Irish, Robert Montgomery of 49sqdn appears to be registered at birth in Aston.
Cheers......Alan.

[malcolmmacdonald]

I concur with the Montgomery that was signed by Leeds was Irish - thanks for the Aston connection for the 49 Squadron loss which tends to rule that candidate out. I still need proof of where the other lad came from as history proves that assumptions don't always turn out to be correct.

Malcolm

[dennis_burke]

Its a long shot but the Service and casulaty records of O'Brien and Robertson RAAF and Chequer RCAF might help to enlighten the question?

There is a small chance that the next of kin of the other crew are mentioned in their records.

neither of the RAAf men's files have been scanned unfortunatly.

regards

Denis

[Dick]

Hi Malcolm
I don't want to complicate matters but it depends on the source of "Irish" for the footballer. If it is definitely known that he was born there then it is settled, but if we are just talking about a possible qualification to play International Football, then he could just as easily be born in Aston as anywhere because the right to play for a given country could arise from as slim a circumstance as a single Grandparent, irrespective of where the individual was born. Have you tried Leeds United Football club or it's Fanclub to see if they have any records from the period?
Regards
Dick

[malcolmmacdonald]

Thanks for the advice Dick & Denis

I'll trawl through the rest of the crew for clues.

The player in question did not play first-team football but it is believed he was from Northern Ireland.

I know that current qualifications to play international football are much less regulated than in the 'thities and 'forties (eg grandparents) so I tend to feel that the Aston born airman is now in the 'unlikely' category of being the right man. The Leeds papers just state that Robert Montgomery was lost on active service with the RAF.

All Leeds United records on players before 1957 went up in smoke after the West Stand fire that year.

I am trying to compile a list of Leeds City and Leeds United players lost in WW1 and WW2 and Robert plus a City player need to be confirmed with adequate proof that it is the right individual. This for a plaque to the commemorate those lost serving their country.

Malcolm Macdonald
(co-author with Martin Jarred of The Who's Who of Leeds United - published by Breedon Books in August 2008)

[captainhaddock]

I have significant information to hand about this player

He was indeed Northern Irish, playing for Portadown before being spotted by Leeds, he played 4 games for Leeds Reserves before being killed in a Lancaster bombing raid over Germany aged 22

he played for his college(will find out name tommorrow as have forgotten it - about 5 letters begins with O i think) rugby team and was a runner up in the 1938/39 yorkshire football league

i have a newspaper clipping that goes into great detail abotu his short life

his medal for 1938/39, rugby cap and an autograph boook collected by him will be coming up for auction next month

[captainhaddock]

Robert Montgomery was killed in action while leading a heavy bombing attack by Lancasters on Schweinfurt Southern Germany on the night of 26th/27th April 1944.

He joined the RAF in 1941, and proceeded to Canada where he received training as a pilot. Subsequently he proceeded to Georgia U.S.A where he qualified and received his wings. He then returned to England and became attached to a squadron of Lancaster bombers. He took part in many operational flights over enemy, and enemy-occupied territory, as a Sergeant pilot. He was commisioned a few months before he was shot down. Three members of his crew were fortunate enough to escape from the damaged aircraft and managed to parachute to safety, one of the men succeeded in hiding before making his way over the Swiss border, the others were taken prisoner and were released by the advancing Allied armies. Robert Montgomery was well known in Sligo, where he was educated at the Sligo Grammar School, and had been one its most brilliant pupils and was renowned for his prowess as a member of the school rugby team.

After leaving the Grammar School he returned to his home in Northern Ireland and took to playing football for Portadown. He showed great promise as a centre-forward and caught the eye of W.Hampson the Leeds United manager with the result that he was brought over to Leeds and signed as a professional. He played several games as a centre-forward for the clubs first division team with great success before the outbreak of the second world war.

He was only 22 when he was killed.

His items are being auctioned on February 25th at Bonhams in Chester.

[malcolmmacdonald]

Many thanks indeed for all the marvellous information on Robert Montgomery. I thought I might strike it lucky by finding out the date he died. Now it has transpired to be not just a grain of gold but a very rich vein indeed.

This is all greatly appreciated and thank you for the tip off regarding the auction.

Malcolm Macdonald