Philip Gruchy

Pilot Officer Philip Gruchy — Newfoundland’s Sacrifice

Early Life

Pilot Officer Philip Gruchy was born in 1921 in Newfoundland, the eldest son of Philip Gruchy and Evelyn Jean Baird.

1935 Newfoundland and Labrador Census

By the time of the 1935 Newfoundland and Labrador Census, the family was living in Bishops Falls, Twillingate. Philip’s father also Philip, then 43, was employed as an accountant, while Evelyn was 31. The census records show four children: Mabel Phyllis (16), Philip (14), David P. (3), and Patricia (3). The census of that year was notable for its detail, recording not only age and occupation but also religion, birthplace, literacy, and school attendance.

Philip grew up during a time when Newfoundland, still a dominion, was under the administration of the Commission of Government. Like many young men of his generation, he would be drawn into the war effort when conflict came.

Military Service

Philip Gruchy

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Philip enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer with No. 125 (Newfoundland) Squadron.

This unit had originally been formed in the closing months of the First World War but was disbanded before becoming operational. It was reformed on 16 June 1941 at RAF Colerne, Wiltshire, thanks to a War Loan raised by the Newfoundland Commission of Government, which presented $500,000 to the British Government to establish a squadron in honour of the dominion.

Bristol Beaufighter

Initially equipped with Boulton Paul Defiant Mk I night fighters, the squadron soon became operational, defending western England and South Wales. In September 1941, the squadron moved to RAF Fairwood Common, Swansea, where its aircraft carried the squadron code VA. By early 1942, the Defiants were gradually replaced by the more capable Bristol Beaufighter Mk IIFs.

Death and Burial

Philip Gruchy
St. Hilary Church, Killay
credit - findagrave

On 17^th June 1942, Pilot Officer Gruchy and his radar/wireless operator, Sergeant Francis Whyte of Liverpool, took off from RAF Fairwood on a training flight. The exercise, known as a “practice interception,” involved working with another aircraft to simulate the interception of enemy bombers.

During the flight, their Beaufighter was seen falling from the sky and breaking up before crashing. RAF investigators later concluded that Gruchy had entered a manoeuvre the aircraft was not designed to perform, overstressing the airframe until the wings broke away. The report, in stark official language, stated that he had “aerobated a non-aerobatic aircraft” and entered a high-speed spin. Yet even the investigation admitted that such a stall and flick roll could occur involuntarily, suggesting that design flaws in the aircraft may have contributed to the tragedy.

Herald of Wales

Pilot Officer Philip Gruchy was killed instantly and later buried at St. Hilary, Killay. The Herald of Wales published an article about Philip's funeral. His headstone bears the moving inscription chosen by his parents:
“HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR R.I.P.”

Francis Whyte
Ford Roman Catholic Cemetery,
Liverpool
credit - findagrave

His wireless operator, Sergeant Francis Whyte, was laid to rest at Ford Roman Catholic Cemetery, Liverpool.

A Family’s Double Loss

Albert “Bert” Gruchy

The loss of Philip was made even more tragic by the fact that just a month earlier, his cousin Sergeant Albert “Bert” Gruchy had also been killed in action. Albert, serving with No. 9 Squadron RAF, was a crew member of a Vickers Wellington Mk III lost during a minelaying (“gardening”) operation off the Danish coast on the night of 15^th/16^th May 1942.

Albert  Gruchy
Svinø Churchyard,
Denmark
credit - findagrave

When their aircraft was attacked by German anti-aircraft fire, Albert — manning the forward turret — was killed instantly by machine gun fire. Though the rest of the crew survived after a forced crash-landing, Albert’s body was recovered by local villagers and laid to rest in Svinø Churchyard, Denmark, where he remains today among the graves of 61 Allied airmen.

Legacy

The story of Pilot Officer Philip Gruchy and his cousin Sergeant Albert Gruchy embodies the heavy price paid by Newfoundland families during the Second World War. Philip, buried in Wales, and Albert, buried in Denmark, both lie far from their island home, yet together they remind us that the sacrifice of Newfoundland’s sons was carried across oceans and continents in defence of freedom.