World War Two War Dead
RIP
Cecil Geoffrey Nigel Darlow
Cecil
Geoffrey Nigel Darlow was born in Everton, the third son of Harry and Ivy
Darlow. He left school aged 14 and worked for Mr George Mence at Hasells farm.
He volunteered for the RAF, and became a Sergeant rear gunner (No. 1877735), 90
Squadron, RAF Volunteer Reserve. He was the only fatality in Everton during the
Second World War. His plane, Lancaster 1 PD269 'Q', took off from Tuddenham at
1159 hours on Tuesday, 31st October 1944 for a raid on Bottrop, an industrial town
in the Ruhr Valley, Germany. Killed in action, Aged 20 and buried in the
British Military cemetery at Reichwald Forest, Germany, Plot 35, Row C, Grave
9.
There were seven war graves in St Mary’s churchyard, but one Canadian was disinterred after the war to be
buried in his hometown. The others are: -
R/78532 Leading Aircraftman Archibald M. Galbraith, RCAF,
Died Thursday 26th March 1942, aged 25, Son of
Archibald Campbell Galbraith and Gladys Lillian Harris Galbraith, of Montreal,
Province of Quebec. Canada. ‘At the
going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them’.
352613 F/S
Ernest M. Fletcher, RAF,
Died Monday 6th June 1942, aged 38, Son of Ernest
Henry and Emma Ellen Fletcher; husband of Ethel Minnie Fletcher, of Sidcup,
Kent. ‘Tho lost to sight to memory dear thou ever wilt remain.
1385168 Sergeant
Andrew Christie, Pilot, RAF,
Died 30th
November 1942, aged 26, Son of Robert and Annie Christie; husband of Tessie
Pearce Christie, of Acton, Middlesex.. ‘Sleep on beloved, Sleep and take thy
rest’.
1167643 Sergeant Leslie. E. Neary, Air Gunner, 149
Squadron RAF ,
Died Saturday 19th December 1942, aged 22. Son
of Mr. and Mrs. Louis H. Neary husband of Margaret W. B. Neary, of Patcham,
Sussex. ‘For our country’
P/O Ian M. Wilson, Navigator, RCAF,
Died Monday 25th January 1943, aged 25. Son of
James Leiper Wilson and Grace Lumsden Wilson, of Montreal, Province of Quebec,
Canada.
1371493 Sergeant R. Macauley, Air Gunner, RAF,
Died 19th December 1942, ‘Always remembered’.
The only additional information comes
from W.R. Chorley’s 'Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War’ . He
details how Sgt McCauley and Sgt. Leary were two of eight men of 149
Squadron who died when their Stirling 1 R crashed at 16:15 at Great Gransden. The accident happened
during a height and load test, during which the structural failure of both
wings occurred as the pilot tried to recover from a steep dive. P/O Wilson of
192 Squadron was one of four men who died when their Wellington X HE231 DT crashed.
They took of at 14:58 from Gransden Lodge to test the rate of oil and petrol
consumption. It crashed at 15:35, due to engine failure, into a wood near the
Papworths, Huntingdon. This was the first aircraft written off by the Squadron
since its reformation on 4th January 1943; it was also the first flight of the
Wellington since being taken on charge.
Any further information on
these men will be appreciated: contact fquirk202@aol.com