大象传媒

He was married to my aunt Elsie (Bunny) and died the year after I was born. As a child I remember family members talking of his bravery, charm and dashing style. He loved my aunt and she was alwys sad when she spoke of him. Before she died (aged 87) she showed me a 'photo of him and I could see that he was still sorely missed and greatly loved and revered.

My aunt was a nurse during the war and he was a Sargeant in the RAF. We have a letter written by him to her. He calls her "darling" and looks forward to seeing her on his next leave. He says he has worried so much about this flying that he has reached a stage where he doesn't care, and that they have been waiting two days for suitable weather.

On 6th January 1944 my aunt received a telegram stating that my uncle was "missing from air operations". Four days later a letter was written by Wing Commander J.R. Jeudwine, No. 619 Squadron RAF confirming that my uncle was a Wireless Operator of an aircraft detailed to make an attack on Stettin, Germany, and that he was missing following operations on the night of 5/6th January 1944. As was usual silence was maintained after take-off and it was not possible to determine the cause of failure to return.

On 26th July 1944 The Air Ministry wrote confirming that Sgt. Stuart who was on the same flight was buried along with four unknown members of the crew on the 12th January 1944 in the Military Cemetery, Stattin. Only Sgt. Stuart of my uncle's crew was identified, and my uncle's body was presumed to be one of the unidentified men. On 21st September 1944 the Air Ministry wrote advising my aunt that as no further information had come to hand about her husband, the Department proposed to presume his death for official purposes.

On 11th February 1949 a letter from the Air Ministry advised my aunt that the exhumation of all seven members of the crew by investigating officers of the Royal Air Force Missing Research and Enquiry Service had identified the bodies of Sgt. Stuart and Sgt. Carpenter. (The other crew members unidentified were Flying Officer Day, Sgt. Holliday, Sgt. Bell, Flt. Leut. Wesson, Sgt. Watson). My uncle's remains were moved to the British Military Cemetery at Poznan, Poland where he rests in Grave 9, row J, plot 5 (a handwritten note at the base of the letter states "Old Cemetery Plot 6 Row A Grae 9 Poznam). The Imperial War Graves Commission wrote to her in 1956 advising that "relatives wishing to visit the graves would be welcomed by the Polish people".

My aunt never visited the grave, though it is believed that my uncle's mother did. My aunt, was attracive and vivacious and remarried some years later. Though I never knew Reg, as he was known, he was always talked about with great respect and remebered with affection by our family.

C. Whittemore

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.