Frederick Percy Charles Cross
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What secrets lay on the seabed?
We will look at the events that were to take place on 19th August
1942. The events at Dieppe, France, where the Allies carried out an
unsuccessful amphibious attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe.
6,086 infantry troops notably Canadian, which were supported
by a regiment of tanks were put ashore from a naval operation which was
protected by RAF fighters.
For a short period, the port was captured, and to test the
feasibility of the landing and to gather intelligence. German coastal defences,
port structures and important buildings were demolished. The Raid was intended
to boost the Allied moral.
Sadly, aerial and the naval support was insufficient to
enable the ground forces to establish their objectives. The tanks on
the beach were trapped, and the troops were largely prevented to enter the town
by obstacles and German fire. In less that six hours and huge number of
casualties, the resulted in a retreat. The whole operation was a fiasco, where
only one landing forces made its objectives and some intelligence was gathered.
Out of the 6,086 men landed 3,623 had been either killed,
wounded or taken prisoner. Both sides learned important lessons regarding
coastal assaults. The lessons that the Allied learnt were to influenceable to
the success of D-Day, 1944.
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| RAF Fairwood Common |
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| No. 172 Squadron |
August 1942, No. 172 Squadron were based here. No. 172 were formed April 1942, as an anti-submarine squadron which flew mainly Vickers Wellington aircraft. Following VE-Day the squadron was disbanded.
On the 19th, Pilot Jamieson, took off
from Fairwood Common, flying a Wellington VIII, ‘Leigh
Light’ Bomber on a test and demonstration along with 8 people, including an US
Army Officer and one ground crew. The aircraft was unarmed apart from a gun
turret. The aircraft was flying over Swansea Bay, when she was mistakenly
attacked by the anti-aircraft gunners on board the US tanker Gulf of
Mexico which was in the Bristol Channel. Those on board didn’t have
time to bail out and the Wellington caught fire before crashing into the sea a
mile west of Scarweather Point, Porthcawl. The next day the US Gulf of
Mexico, docked at Milford Haven and claimed that it had carried out
instructions in accordance with the CAMSI (Confidential Admiralty Merchant
Shipping Instructions). Sadly, the ship seems to have gone off the radar as I
can’t find any trace of it. The plane wreck remains in Swansea Bay, protected
by The Protection of Military Remains Act, 1986.
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Victims of the crash that are buried locally at St.
Hillary’s church, Killay are Sergeant Edgar Harold Dawe, from Newfoundland;
Sergeant Edwin Thomas Arthur Deacon, from Reading, Berkshire, and Pilot Officer
Ross Pringle Fahrni, from Manitoba, Canada
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The other victims of the crash who are buried in different cemeteries/burial
grounds around the country are Sergeant Jack Mullins, buried at Macclesfield
Cemetery; Aircraftman 1st Class Frederick Percy Charles Cross
buried at Redan Road Cemetery, Aldershot. He is buried with his father,
and both their names are on the one headstone. Pilot Officer (Pilot) Gordon
Cave Vincent Jamieson, from Wandsworth, buried at Canford Cemetery, Bristol and
Pilot Officer (Pilot) John Stewart Haynes from Saskatchewan buried at Preston
Cemetery, North Shields.
Further information regarding Frederick Percy Charles Cross
Born 1924, Frederick was the son of Richard Major Cross and Winifred Kate Rush, who were married in October 1920 at St. Michael church
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| Richard Major Cross and Winifred Kate Rush marriage certificate St. Michael church |
At the time of the 1921, the couple, who didn’t have any
children at the time were living at 62 Grosvenor Road.
1921 Census
Richard was 23 years old, and he his occupation is recorded
as a Motor Driver having been employed by Hamlimote Road, Aldershot. His place of birth is recorded as Devonport,
Devon. Winifred was 20 years old. Her place
of birth is recorded as Aldershot.
During the First World War, Richard enlisted and joined the
Royal Flying Corps during 1916. Richard
enlisted for the Royal Air Force at the start of the Second World War.
Sadly August 1940, Richard was killed by an enemy attack at
Biggin Hill Airfield. Richard was buried
at Redan Road Cemetery.
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| Aldershot News |
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