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Introduction

This article has been submitted by Joseph Ritson, a volunteer story-gatherer for the ����ý “People’s War” website on behalf of the ����ý Radio Cumbria CSV Action Desk. The author fully understands the terms of the “People’s War” website.

On Sunday 14 August 2005, the Royal British Legion Branch from Egremont, Cumbria organised a ‘Veterans Parade’ and a ‘Service of Remembrance’ in the town to mark the 60th Anniversary of ‘VJ Day’ and the end of World War Two. The Veterans Parade stopped at the Egremont War Memorial and two Poppy wreaths were laid in commemoration of the war dead.

Whilst researching another story about the Second World War, I had come across a contemporary newspaper article from June 1944 reporting the death of an Egremont fellow called Jack Blair. The headline for the article described him as “Egremont’s most famous airman”. Hence, when I checked the names of the war dead commemorated on the Egremont War Memorial this was the one name I thought would be listed. Yet, the name of Jack Blair is not among them! Although I have very few details about him, I do know that Jack was awarded the DFC and the DFM during the war. He must have been highly respected and well known during the war years in the Egremont area and among his fellow comrades in the RAF.

Jack Blair of Egremont

On Thursday 29 June 1944 ‘The Whitehaven News’ reported the death of Jack Blair and showed a printed a photograph of him in uniform. The headline was ‘KILLED IN ACTION — Egremont’s Most Famous Airman’. The article confirms an earlier one that he had been killed “… while on RAF operations over Germany”.

According to this newspaper article Squadron Leader Jack Blair was originally from the village of Bigrigg, about two miles to the north of Egremont, but had latterly lived in Egremont and then another village to the south of Egremont by the name of Thornhill. The article goes on to say that Jack Blair had volunteered for the RAF at the outbreak of war in 1939. Before the war he had been an all-round sportsman. Having played for Egremont at cricket, rugby and football he must have been well known throughout West Cumberland.

Jack Blair must have been highly respected within the RAF. The newspaper article of 29 June 1944 states that he was initially awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) as a Sergeant. After becoming an officer, Jack Blair was then awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). Being awarded both the DFM and the DFC says a lot about Jack Blair. He is described as having been “… recognised as one of the most skilled and intrepid air-gunners of the RAF”.

Having read a little about Jack Blair in the Cumbria County Archives, I thought it peculiar that his name is not commemorated among the fallen of World War Two on the Egremont War Memorial. Unfortunately, at the time of writing this article I have not been able to speak to anyone who knew Jack Blair or his family, or why his name is not on the memorial. Perhaps it may be just that the names were added many years later. If a request was made for the names of those who had died in World War Two and none of Squadron Leader Blair’s family was still living in the area, this might explain why his name is not on the memorial.

Checking the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records, I found some additional details about Jack Blair. His parents’ names were John Edward Blair and Elizabeth Blair. Jack Blair’s wife was Selina Cook Blair, and they are listed as living in Egremont, Cumberland (now Cumbria) at the time of his death.

Jack Blair was in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. His Service Number was 136172 and he was flying with 156 Squadron and was 32 years old when he died. Although the newspaper article from 1944 says that his plane was lost on operations over Germany, Jack Blair’s remains are actually buried in the Netherlands, along with another five airmen.

Aircrew colleagues of Jack Blair

According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records, I found that Jack Blair is buried in Collective Grave No 49-50 at Molenaarsgraaf Protestant Churchyard in the Netherlands. This is 26 Kilometres SE of Rotterdam. The five other airmen listed in this collective grave along with Jack Blair are all from 156 Squadron. The date of all their deaths is given as 22 May 1944. So it seems that all the six airmen were crewmates in the same aircraft when they died.

The only details I have about Jack’s fellow aircrew are those listed in the CWGC records. It is perhaps comforting to know that they are at rest with some of the crewmates they knew the best and with whom they died. No doubt these five were among Jack Blair’s closest colleagues and friends, with whom he shared many hours on operations over enemy territory. Their names are listed here to honour their sacrifice. Perhaps it may also be of help any of their relatives who may be seeking information about them.

1.Flight Sergeant Raymond Keating, Service Number 1338063.
He was 27 years old when he died and was the son of Kate Keating, of Ebbw Vale, Monmouthshire.

2. Sergeant John Thomas Eardley McCaffery, Service Number 1374780.

3. Flight Sergeant Evan Ephraim Edward Roberts, Service Number 1422157.

4. Sergeant Sidney George Smith, Service Number 1466984.
He was aged 23 when he died and was the son of Walter B. and Annie C. Smith, of Norwich, Norfolk.

5. Flight Sergeant Raymond George Watts, Service Number 1183531.

Conclusion
I would like to thank ’The Whitehaven News’ for permission to quote from the newspaper article from 1944 and the staff at the Cumbria County Records office in Whitehaven for their assistance. Jack Blair was obviously well known and respected by so many people during the war.

With the passage of time, much about him or his achievements have been forgotten. I feel that there are other researchers who have many more facts about Squadron Leader Blair. If so, it would be interesting to learn more about Jack Blair, and indeed the other aircrew with whom he shared his last flight. In the meantime, I would like to dedicate this article to the memory of Squadron Leader Jack Blair, Egremont’s most famous airman.

Additional Information (posted 6 December 2005)

Since initially posting the above article, I have obtained additional information about Jack Blair and how he is honoured in Egremont.

Below are all the linked stories on the "People's War" website that I have written about Jack Blair.

Related “People’s War” articles about Squadron Leader Jack Blair:

1. 156 Squadron bombing mission to Duisburg, 21 — 22 May 1944
(Article Reference A6519873, posted 29 October 2005)

2. Egremont Royal British Legion honours the town’s ‘most famous airman’
(Article Reference: A7584023, posted 6 December 2005)

3. DFM and DFC Citations for Squadron Leader Jack Blair from Egremont, Cumbria
(Article Reference: A7584096, posted 6 December 20005)

4. Squadron Leader Jack Blair: his family’s story
(Article Reference: A7584212, posted 6 December 2005)

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