Walter Dennis Waller

 

Walter Dennis Waller is the final airman to be buried at Bethel during the Second World War.

Flying Officer Walter Dennis Waller served with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and died on 5^th March 1945.

Walter was the son of Mrs E. V. Waller.  Walter was born on 5^th November 1921, so sadly there is no record of him on the 1921 Census, that had been undertaken earlier that year, in June.

Mrs E. V. Waller was Elizabeth Virtue Mainwaring, who married William Henry Waller, on 25^th September 1920, at the St. Thomas parish church.

William Henry Waller and Elizabeth Virtue Mainwaring
marriage certificate
St. Thomas parish church

At the time of the 1911 Census, Elizabeth, 15, was recorded as a resident at 24 Inkerman Street, St. Thomas, her parent's home.  William T., 53, was an Engine Driver; Mary, 54.  Elizabeth’s older siblings were Mary Ann, 25, who undertook Housework, and Ivor McIntyre, 20, who was a Fuel Worker.  Elizabeth was a Dressmaker.

1911 Census

Meanwhile, William Henry Waller at the time of the 1911 Census is recorded to have been resident at 50 Midland Terrace, St. Thomas. The home of his widowed mother, Charlotte, 39.  William, who was 17 was a Junior Clerk.  His younger sisters were Florence Mabel, 13; Margaret Alice, 10 and Charlotte Mildred, 6.  Also present at the property were two boarders, Herbert John Pollard, 18, who was a Railway Passenger Porter and Carmie Albert Robbins, 30 who was a Guard (Under Goods)

1911 Census

At the time of the 1921 Census, William and Elizabeth were living with Elizabeth’s parents at 24 Inkerman Street.  William Thomas, 63, was a Crane Driver, at Fuel Works, but was out of work.  May, 64, and Elizabeth Virtue, 26 who undertook the Home Duties.  William, 27, was employed by the Swansea & District Cooperative Society as Chief Clerk.

1921 Census

South Wales Daily Post

1937 William died following a long illness and was buried at Bethel.  William had completed 25 years with the Cooperative.

1939 Register

The first record that records Walter, is the 1939 Register, when he is living with his widowed mother, Elizabeth at 127 Glanmor Road.  Walter’s occupation is recorded as Optician Dispenser, having been employed by Dixey Opticians, Uplands.  Walter had been educated at Craig-y-nos School. 

1941 Walter enlisted and joined the RAF, sadly on 5^th March 1945 was killed. 

Halifax III

On the night of the 4^th and 5^th of March, the crew of the 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit, took off on board a Halifax III LL554, to undertake in night cross-country training flight. from RAF Riccall.  RAF Riccall, 3 miles north of Selby, North Yorkshire.  The airfield opened in September 1942.  The airfield had three runaways.

With the exercise completed the aircraft made a circuit of RAF Riccall but overshot the approach to land.  The pilot tried to climb away and fly another circuit of the airfield, but whilst making another bank lost control and the aircraft lost height and crashed near Skipwith.   Four of the crew lost their lives whilst three were injured.

Pilot – Flight Lieutenant, Francis Chamberlain Neville, was injured.  Flight Engineer – Sergeant Dennis Raphael Goodman. Bomb Aimer – Flight Officer Victor Ernest Phillips were also injured.

 Navigator – Flight Officer Joseph Hooper, 34, buried at Selby Cemetery, Yorkshire. Wireless Operator/Air Gunner – Sergeant William George Mowbrey, 22, buried at Upperby Cemetery, Carlisle. Air Gunner – Flight Officer Edward Henry Ewin, 23, buried at Selby Cemetery, Yorkshire. Air Gunner – Flight Officer Walter Dennis Waller, 23.

Walter Dennis Waller
Bethel Welsh Congregational Chapelyard
credit - findagrave

Herald of Wales

Walter’s body was brought back home to Swansea for burial at Bethel.  The Herald of Wales reported the funeral.

Supermarine Spitfire

Meanwhile, on the 5^th of March 1945, a Supermarine Spitfire, flown by Flight Officer R. S. G. Dunn from RAF Fairwood, when an engine cut out and the aircraft was ditched into the sea 4.5 miles off Mumbles Head.  Dunn was picked up by a fishing boat.