Brookwood Military Cemetery - Canada/Gower Connections War time Gower by Eric Gibbs

Henry VI Shakespeare’s play was written in two Parts, Part 1 and Part 2.  This is Part 2 of Brookwood Military Cemetery.  Part 1 was yesterday

Yesterday, after the day visiting the church at Shamley Green, obtaining a photograph of headstone of Harry Seacombe's grave whom is buried here. I received through the post, War time Gower by Eric Gibbs.  A book, written by Eric’s son, David Gibbs, memories of his father war years in Gower as a boy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eric writes

“Then an Avro Anson crashed on Rhossili downs above the old rectory fatally injuring a crew of five, all Canadians”.

Avro Anson, a British twin-engine multi-role aircraft built by Avro.  The first fight made by an Avro Anson, was 24^th March 1935, the following year having been introduced to military service.  During the duration of the Second World War, these aircrafts were being used as an aircraft trainer, and became the mainstay of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. 

 

The Anson N5086, the aircraft that Eric writes about was involved in an accident occurring on the afternoon of 23^rd February 1940.  During the morning of the 23^rd three Anson training aircraft, had taken off from the St. Athan airfield.  On board each of the planes, was an experienced school pilot, along with three trainee navigators.

The first aircraft took off at 10.55 in the morning, followed by another at 11.10 and the final aircraft, Anson N5086, taking off at 11.15.

The weather deteriorated over the Bristol Channel, during the afternoon.   It was during the afternoon, that Anson N5086, flew into high ground in poor visibility at high ground above The Old Rectory, Rhossili Down, West Gower, Swansea, Glamorgan. All four crew were killed.

 

The four crew were

Flight Sergeant William Charles Parkes (pilot), aged 27.  Buried at St. Mary churchyard, Stretton-cum-Westmoor, Staffordshire

Leading Aircraftman Andrew Robert Sutcliffe, aged 26.  Buried at St. Martin old churchyard, Brampton, Cumberland

Leading Aircraftman Frederick Arthur Webster.  Buried St. Andrew churchyard, South Shoebury, Shoebury, Essex

Aircraftman 2nd Class William Ledsham
Overleigh Cemetery

Aircraftman 2^nd Class William Ledsham.  Buried at Overleigh Cemetery, Cheshire.

The official file into the investigation of the accident are still closed at the National Archives, not be opened until January 2023.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eric writes further in his book.   

“A Royal Canadian Tomahawk fighter also crashed near Old Walls; this was a result of enemy action.  The pilot who was badly wounded, was trying to find his way to Fairwood and had to circled the search light base at Cheriton, and signalled them for directions, the search light crew laid an arrow on the ground pointing to Fairwood, but he failed to make it.  He was killed on impact; his name was Flying Officer Ryder of the Royal Canadian Air Force.  I was one of the first on the scene and had to attend the inquest at Gowerton.  A verdict of ‘death through enemy action’ was given.  It is very sad to think that this beautiful peninsular of ours had to be the scene of such carnage and inhumanity.  Was had really come to Gower”.

 

To get an understanding on what happened on that particular day, we have to look at the previous day. 

During the afternoon of the 21^st May 1941, a Tiger Moth N6853, had taken off from RAF Pembrey, Llanelli.  It was to carry an inspection of the camp.  With time passing, a telephone call was received at the base to inform of the missing aircraft was overdue at its intended destination, and that a search for the aircraft should be carried out.

 

Taking off from RAF Pembrey, was Flight Officer Peter Lochnan flying a Lysander V9361.  Sergeant Cyril Cave was his air gunner.

 

 

The Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft.  First flown on 15^th June 1936 and introduced in June 1938. 

Flight Officer Peter Lochnan

Flight Officer Peter Lochnan, a Canadian was on detachment from RAF Odiham, Basingstoke.  Their task was to carry out a search for the missing Tiger Moth.  The weather during the search deteriorated, making it hard to carry out the search.    On the return journey back to RAF Pembrey, at 18.20, the Lysander approaching the Pembrey aircraft to land, a tree-lined hilltop appeared out of the mist, and with any time to make any changes in the flight, the Lysander flew into trees.  The aircraft broke in half on impact, and they caught fire. 

At the local farm, William Howells, who heard the aircraft crashed managed to pull Sergeant Cave clear of the aircraft.  Flight Officer Lochnan was pulled from the wreckage and given first aid by the 79-squadron medical officer. Lochnan was then taken the sick quarters.  He shortly succumbed to his injuries.

Meanwhile, the missing Tiger Moth, had ran out of fuel, crashing into the River Seven near Beachley, Gloucestershire. In a following invesigations into the Tiger Moth, it was found that thew aircraft did not refuel whilst at RAF Pembrey nor did it have enough fuel for the return journey.

The crew were

Squadron Leader William Methven, aged 38.  Buried Newquay cemetery, Newquay, Devon

Flight Lieutenant Marcus Kramer, aged 29.  Commemorated Runnymede Memorial, Surrey

The Following day, 22^nd May 1941, three Tomahawks aircrafts had taken off from RAF Odiham, Basingstoke.

 

The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, fighter and ground attack aircraft which was first introduced in 1938.  It was the British who gave the name Tomahawk to the aircraft

Flight Leituenant William A. Rider

The three aircrafts were flown by Light Lieutenants Bushell and Rider and their Commanding Officer, Wing Commander McKay, whom was in charge.  As they crossed the Bristol Channel, the coastline was covered by fog.  Wing Commander McKay and Flight Lieutenant made the decision halt their mission on finding what happened to Flight Officer Lochnan and return back to RAF Odiham.

Sadly, there was no trace of Flight Lieutenant Rider and nor could radio contact could be made.

Rider who was flying over Llanrhidian, who was trying to attempt to land in the ploughed field.  He had his undercarriage lowered.  In the final approach to land, the aircraft stalled and crashed. 

 

It was this plane, that Eric and William Woolley were first at the scene.  Rider was on the ground, dead and it was noticed that aircraft unexplained 20mm cannon holes in the airframe.  Was this a “friendly fire incident”.

Eric Gibbs of Llangennith points out where Tomahawk AH810 crashed

 

Flight Officer Peter W. Lochnan Grave
Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey

Flight Officer Peter Lochnan, aged 27, hailed from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Flight Lieutenant William A. Rider Grave
Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey

Flight Lieutenant William A. Rider, aged 30, hailed from London, Ontario, Canada

They are both buried side by side at Brookwood Military Cemetery.

It was an agreement which was made by the Canadian Government, that Brookwood Military Cemetery was used for all the burials of all the Canadians that were killed or died whilst in the UK during the Second World War