John Hamblin's Research: Surnames H-J

Haig, John Sutherland Flight Lieutenant 180120

Royal Air force, attached to No. 24 Flight, G Squadron, No. 1 Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment
Killed in action on the 24th of March 1945 aged 20
John Sutherland Haig was born at Edinburgh on the 16th of July 1924 the younger son of David Haig and Christina Gordon Ross (nee Wilkie) Haig of 21, Crawford Road, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's college from 1930 to 1942. On leaving school he enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and was sent to Oklahoma in the United States for pilot training. He rose to the rank of Aircraftman 2nd Class before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation on the 18th of June 1944. He was confirmed in his rank and was promoted to Flying Officer on the 18th of December 1944.
Following the losses to glider pilots during the Battle Arnhem, where the Glider Pilot Regiment had lost 90% of the men who took part, the Royal Air Force was called upon to provide 1,500 pilots for glider training for Operation Varsity, the crossing of the Rhine in March 1945. John Haig was one of these. He was attached to G Squadron based at Great Dunmow where the pilots underwent intensive training for the operation during March 1945. On the 6th of March 1945 he was appointed to the command of No. 24 Flight. The camp was sealed off at noon on the 22nd of March and final equipment and supplies for the operation were issued the following day.
On the 24th of March 1945 he was one of sixty crews who took off from Great Dunmow for the operation, with another twenty taking off from RAF Matching Green. Forty four of the crews from G Squadron were carrying men of the 12th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment as well as men from Anti Tank Batteries of the Royal Artillery and of a Field Ambulance. They had been briefed to land at Landing Zone "R" and then to hold the village of Hamminkeln after its capture, if required.
John Haig was killed during the landings.
He is buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Plot 39 Row A Grave 7

Hall, John Wilmore Pilot Officer 174306

140 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 15th of July 1944 aged 31
John "Jackie" Wilmore Hall was born at Edinburgh on the 25th of May 1913 the second son of James Kirkwood Munro Hall and Elizabeth Janet (nee Anderson) Hall of 2, Cumin Place, Edinburgh, later of 69, Ravelston Road, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1919 to 1932 where he was member of the 1st Rugby XV for two seasons. He went on to Edinburgh University where he studied Agriculture. He was a member of the Watsonian Rugby XV and of the Highland Rugby Club of which he was their Captain for a number of seasons. He was married in 1938 to Margaret "Peggy" Murray (nee MacFarlane) and they lived at 1, Glebe Road, Edinburgh; they had two daughters, Margaret and Fiona.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1941 and underwent pilot training in the UK and in the United States. He rose to the rank of Flight Sergeant before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 22nd of March 1944.
John Hall and his Navigator, Flight Sergeant Henry Herbert "Harry" Ashby, took off from RAF Northolt at 10.30am on the 15th of July 1944 in Mosquito PR Mk IX MM249 for a photo reconnaissance mission over France. Having successfully completed their mission the aircraft was returning to base when one of its engines failed. Visibility was poor and they attempted to make a forced landing in Windsor Great Park but both men were killed when the aircraft crashed there.
He is buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery Plot 22 Row D Grave 1

Halley William Alexander Munro Pilot Officer 63440

No. 10 Operational Training Unit, Royal Air Force
Killed on active service on the 4th of May 1941 aged 18
William Alexander Munro Halley was born at Edinburgh on the 2nd of January 1923 the eldest son of Alexander Munro Halley, a tea buyer and company director, and Nora Catherine (nee Forbes) Halley of 54, Victoria Street, Aberdeen, later of 15, Hartington Place, Edinburgh. He was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School from 1929 to 1930, at the Cathedral School, Shanghai from 1930 to 1932 before returning to Aberdeen Grammar School from 1932 to 1935. He went on to George Watson's College from 1935. He was a keen swimmer and golfer. On leaving school he had intended to enter banking but instead he enlisted as an Aircraftman in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in July 1940 and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation on the 3rd of April 1941.
William Halley and his crew took off from RAF Abingdon on the 4th of May 1941 in Whitley Mk V N1467 RK-Z for a circuit training flight. The aircraft crashed into a house at Cherwell Farm, 31, Linton Avenue, Oxford, at 4pm killing the entire crew and seriously injuring Mrs Frances Emma (nee Stanbra) Hitchcox, her husband, Joseph Edwin, and her son Kenneth who both suffered burns. Oxford medical student Nick Rawlins attempted to rescue one of the crew but was driven back by the flames and exploding ammunition. The injured were taken to Radcliffe Infirmary where Frances Hitchcox died the next day from a cardiac arrest following severe burns.
The crew was: -
Pilot Officer Charles Nairn Small (Pilot)
Pilot Officer William Alexander Munro Halley (Observer),
Sergeant John Alfred Mochan: (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
At the inquest, Arthur James Hitchcox, one of the sons of the house stated that: - "The engine suddenly cut out and the plane dived to within 100 feet of the ground. It then flattened out and glided straight into the house, setting fire to it."
Eyewitness, Derrick Holt was walking with a friend beside the River Cherwell when he saw the aircraft circling. He stated that: -"As it flew towards us from the direction of New Marston, the engines gave off four puffs of smoke before it dived directly at us. Fortunately, it started to flatten out and flew overhead before hitting the far bank of the Cherwell, sliding up Linton Road and exploding in a ball of black smoke, followed by the crackle of exploding ammunition."
One eyewitness reported that they heard one of the engines misfiring and when the aircraft crashed the noise was said to have been heard all over North Oxford.
The incident is commemorated on a plaque which was unveiled on the 4th of May 2014 at the Leonard Wolfson College Auditorium which now stands on the crash site.
He is commemorated on the Aberdeen Grammar School Roll of Honour 1939-1945.
He is buried at Liberton Cemetery, Edinburgh Section M Grave 244

Halsall, Donald Addie Pilot Officer 62669

254 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 27th of December 1941 aged 21
Donald Addie Halsall was born at Ormskirk, Lancashire on the 7th of December 1920 the second son of Robert Halsall, a solicitor, and Marie Macnee Addie (nee Pickard) Halsall of 17, Sandringham Road, Ainsdale, Southport in Lancashire. He was educated at King George V School, Southport and at George Watson's College from 1933 to 1937 where he was a member of the 1st Rugby XV. On leaving school he became a member of Southport Rugby Football Club.
Before the outbreak of war, he had enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and volunteered for flying duties, although he didn't begin his training until April 1940. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 9th of March 1941.
Donald Halsall and his crew took off on the 27th of December 1941 in Blenheim Mk 1 Z6184 for an operation to Norway. When over the Norwegian coast the aircraft was seen to be attacked by two Messerschmitt Bf109 fighters and was shot down, with the starboard engine seen to be on fire. It crashed into the sea to the west of Bjornoy at Faafjord, between the islands of Husevaagoy and Grindoy, with the loss of the entire crew.
The crew was: -
Pilot Officer Donald Addie Halsall (Observer)
Pilot Officer John "Jack" Worrall Roche RAAF (Pilot)
Sergeant Frederick Henry Silk (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
His father received the following telegram: - "Deeply regret to inform you that according to information now received from the International Red Cross Committee your son Pilot Officer Donald Addie Halsall is believed to have lost his life as the result of air operations on 27th December 1940. Letter confirming this telegram follows. The Air Council express their profound sympathy."
His body was recovered from the sea on the same day off Vaagso Island. It was taken to a hospital at Maaloy where he was found to have been killed instantly by a bullet. He was buried with full military honours at Maaloy Cemetery, Son-og-Fjordane, Grave 8 on the 30th of December 1941. His body was exhumed in 1946 and reinterred at its present location.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at King George V School, Southport.
He is buried at Stavne Cemetery, Trondheim Plot A IV British, Row G Grave 5

Hamilton, William Flight Lieutenant 63095

604 (County of Middlesex) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 16th of May 1943 aged 23
William Hamilton was born at Lasswade, Midlothian on the 3rd of March 1920 the son of Dr William Hamilton MC MB Ch.B and Mary Miller Hamilton of Stanley Lodge, Roslin. He was educated at George Watson’s College from 1928 to 1938 after which he went on to Edinburgh University to read Medicine. He was married to Rosemary Olive.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1940 and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 23rd of March 1941. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 24th of March 1942 and to Flight Lieutenant on the 23rd of March 1943. He was posted to 604 Squadron flying night fighters.
William Hamilton and his radar operator, Flying Officer John Ross Coates, took off from RAF Scorton on the night of the 16th of May 1943 in Beaufighter Mk If V8554 along with four other aircraft from the Squadron which had been scrambled to intercept an incoming raid of six enemy aircraft which were approaching Sunderland. During the mission, he radioed his base to report that they were engaging an enemy aircraft after which nothing more was heard and the aircraft failed to return. It was assumed that they were shot down by return fire from the enemy aircraft and had crashed into the sea. Flying Officers Keele and Cowles from the Squadron were successful in destroying a Dornier 215 during the same sortie.
He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Panel 119

Hardie, John Captain EC/6411

C Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force)
Died of wounds on the 18th of March 1944 aged 26
John Hardie was born at Bo'ness on the 12th of December 1917 the only son of Alexander Hardie and Margaret M. Hardie of 1, Corstorphine Hill Avenue, Edinburgh, later of Barnton, Midlothian. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1929 to 1934. He was connected to the firm of Messrs. Hardie & Co, builders of Bo'ness and Edinburgh and was a member of Barnton Rugby Football Club and was a Scout Master.
In 1940 he enlisted in the Royal Scots before being posted to Sandhurst Military College for officer training from where he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Indian Army. He was attached to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles and was later appointed to the command of C Company.
At 10.30am on the 14th of March 1944, the 3rd Battalion, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles arrived on trucks at Imphal Road Training Camp where they received the news that large numbers of Japanese troops were at Jat Gyat. They assembled on the Imphal – Tiddern Road at 10.30pm that night and made contact with enemy troops at 3pm the following day when A and B Companies came under fire and heavy fighting began.
At 2pm on the 16th of March John Hardie’s C Company caught the enemy moving across their front and killed thirteen of them.
On the morning of the 17th of March 1944, C and D Companies attempted to advance in the direction of a nearby river. During their move forward they encountered a Japanese bunker complex and were forced to take cover in slit trenches just to the north of B Company’s positions. They remained there, where they improved their positions, until 3pm when they were withdrawn to prepare for an attack that night. At 2.30am on the 18th of March 1944, the main column was to advance while C Company and a Platoon of D Company, assisted by tanks, were detailed to act as a rearguard but also to attack and clear an enemy roadblock ahead of them. Within minutes of the attack on the roadblock John Hardie was severely wounded and was brought back to the Regimental Aid Post at 2.25am where he died of his wounds during the night. The attack on the enemy roadblock was a failure and no further forward progress was made that night.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records his death as having taken place on the 17th of March 1944 but the Battalion war diaries record it as having taken place on the 18th of March 1944.
He is commemorated on the Rangoon memorial Face 63

Hart, Colin James Lieutenant 177486

2nd Battalion, Royal Scots (Royal Regiment)
Died on the 18th of October 1942 aged 26
Colin James Hart was born at Edinburgh on the 27th of February 1916 the only son of Daniel Hart and Jane Hart of 34, Arden Street, Edinburgh, later of "Ar Den", London Road, Stranraer, Wigtownshire. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1921 to 1932. On leaving school he joined the staff of the National Bank of Scotland and worked at their Canonmills and Edinburgh West End Branches. He enlisted in the Territorial Army and was mobilised on the outbreak of war for service in the Royal Scots and was later transferred to the Royal Pay Corps. He attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Scots on the 15th of March 1941. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion of his regiment based in Hong Kong and arrived there in June 1941. He was wounded during the fighting for the city and returned to his unit after two months in hospital. He was captured on the 25th of December 1941 when Hong Kong surrendered to the Japanese. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 15th of September 1942.
On the 27th of September 1942, he was one of 1,816 British prisoners of war who were embarked on board the Japanese armed troopship Lisbon Maru for transit to Shanghai and Japan where they were to be used as slave labour in factories, mines and dockyards. In addition to the prisoners were 778 Japanese troops of which 25 acted as guards for the prisoners. Colin Hart was of 373 men of the Royal Scots who were packed into No. 1 Hold at the front of the ship.
At just after 7am on the morning of the 1st of October 1942, the Lisbon Maru was some six miles off the Sing Pang Islands to the south of Shanghai when she was struck in her engine room by a torpedo fired by the American submarine USS Grouper. The explosion caused the engines to stop and the lights to go out and the vessel's gun began firing. Throughout the day the prisoners were kept in the partially closed holds with no food or water. At 5pm the 778 Japanese troops were offloaded onto a Japanese destroyer, leaving the prisoners, their 25 guards and the crew of 77 still on board the crippled ship. At 9pm, fearing that they could be overwhelmed by the prisoners, the decision was made by the ship’s Captain to seal the holds where the prisoners were being held. Two men had died in Hold No. 1 and Hold No. 3, where the torpedo had exploded. The holds were flooding and continued to do so even when the prisoners manned the pumps. Just after dawn the next day the crew and all but five of the guards left the ship as it was clear that the ship was close to sinking. Lieutenant Colonel Stewart, the senior British officer, ordered Lieutenant Howell of the Royal Scots to attempt to break out of the sealed hatches. Howell and a few men managed to break out from Hold No. 1 but were fired at and two men were killed. Howell reported back that he had seen an island some distance away and Stewart ordered the men to abandon the ship. A number of the prisoners climbed out of the hold, jumped into the sea and began swimming towards the island. The Japanese guards fired at them but were quickly overwhelmed by the prisoners who were by now pouring out of the holds. At about this time the stern of the Lisbon Maru became lodged on a sandbank and stayed afloat for another hour, giving time for the prisoners to evacuate before she sank at 10.45am. Between the swimmers and the island were a number of Japanese auxiliary ships and tugs which refused to allow the prisoners on board and in some cases, fired on them. Lieutenant Howell was picked up by a Chinese sampan and was among the first to reach the island where he persuaded the locals to pick up the men in the water. Around 200 survivors were assisted by the local villagers until the Japanese arrived to pick them up a few days later. They were packed together on the deck of a Japanese gunboat and taken to Shanghai where a roll call was taken on the 5th of October which revealed that 846 men had died in the sinking, although it was later discovered that 35 had escaped with the assistance of the local Chinese.
With dysentery rife among the survivors, the 35 worst cases were left at Shanghai while the remaining men were embarked on board the cargo ship Shinsei Maru for transit to Kobe and Osaka in Japan. On their journey the ship stopped at Kokura, where 50 very sick men were dropped off, and continued on to Hiroshima where Colin Hart, who was suffering from diphtheria and dysentery, was one of fifty men considered to be too ill to continue the journey and were disembarked there. He died a short time later.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at the National Bank of Scotland.
He is buried at Yokohama War Cemetery British Section A Row D Grave 13

Hart, William Marwick 2nd Lieutenant 148304

C Troop, 11 (Honourable Artillery Company) Field Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
Died of wounds on the 23rd of January 1942 aged 22
William Marwick "Bill" Hart was born at Edinburgh on the 25th of November 1919 the son of William Binnie Hart, a railway claims inspector, and Maggie (nee Marwick) Hart of 7, Inverleith Terrace, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1924 to 1938. He was a keen horseman. On leaving school he joined the firm of Messrs. Steel Brothers & Co Ltd, Burma traders of London, and was training in their London office prior to being posted to their Burma office.
He enlisted in the Honourable Artillery Company in May 1939 and was mobilised for service on the outbreak of war. He attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on the 7th of September 1940 and was posted to his old regiment. He embarked for overseas service with his Regiment on board HMT Samaria on the 25th of September 1941. They landed at Port Tewfik on the southern portion of the Suez Canal in Egypt on the 5th of December 1941.
Towards sunset on the 23rd of January 1942, the 11th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery was heading north through Libya where they were falling back following Operation Crusader, where they had been involved in heavy fighting over the previous few days. Captain Dunn of A Battery was looking to the rear through his binoculars when he saw enemy tanks in pursuit. He alerted the commanding officer and brought his guns up alongside a South African troop of 25 pounder field guns on a ridge near Saunu to engage the 36 enemy tanks which were advancing towards them with the sun behind them. One of the guns fired prematurely, giving away the battery's position and bringing down a hail of machine gun fire on the HAC positions. Following the earlier fighting C Battery had one remaining gun which fired half a dozen rounds before it was put out of action by machine gun fire. Lieutenant Peter Mills climbed into the gun layer’s seat to see what he could do to make it fire but was soon badly wounded. Bill Hart ran across to the commanding officer to seek orders and was sent across to the South African troop. He had almost reached them when he too was badly wounded and he died from his wounds later that night
He is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial Column 13

Hastie, John Everest Ordinary Seaman D/JX 272241 RN

HMS Prince of Wales, Royal Navy
Killed in action on the 10th of December 1941 aged 21
John Everest "Ian" Hastie was born at Ayton in Berwickshire on the 6th of August 1920 the son of Alexander Hastie and Jane Hastie of Chirnside in Berwickshire, later of Penang. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1926 to 1929 and from 1935 to 1939 and was appointed as a School Prefect. He was School Swimming Champion and the winner of the discus event at the annual games. On leaving school he joined the staff of the Caledonian Insurance Company in Edinburgh.
On the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Royal Navy and trained at HMS Drake at Devonport before being posted to the battleship HMS Prince of Wales (H53).
HMS Prince of Wales arrived at Singapore on the 2nd of December 1941 in response to rising tensions in the Far East with a probable attack from the Japanese expected. She was still in port when Japanese aircraft attacked Singapore on the 8th of December and her anti-aircraft guns engaged them but without success. With reports of Japanese troop transports in the area she set sail during the afternoon, with the battlecruiser HMS Repulse and the destroyers HMS Electra, HMS Express, HMS Tenedos and HMAS Vampire, collectively known as Force Z, under the command of Admiral Sir Thomas Spencer Vaughan Phillips. In response to intelligence reports, Force Z headed for Kota Bharu to engage the Japanese transports thought to be landing there but was spotted by the Japanese submarine I-65 on the afternoon of the 9th of December and by enemy spotter aircraft during the evening. At 2.11am on the morning of the 10th of December 1941, they were spotted by another submarine and at 8am they arrived off Kuantan where the landings were discovered to have been a diversion. At 11.13am the first formation of eight Japanese Type 96 bombers attacked the ship, with one bomb passing through the hangar roof and exploding on the main deck below. At 11.30am a second attack followed comp
rising of seventeen Type 96 bombers armed with torpedoes. This formation split, with one group heading for the battlecruiser HMS Repulse but she was not hit during the attack. HMS Prince of Wales was hit by one of the torpedoes which struck her on the port side, to the rear of Y Turret wrecking her propeller shaft, destroying bulkheads, causing flooding and disabling the electrical supply to the rear of the ship. She began to take on a heavy list. A third attack was made solely against HMS Repulse but a fourth was made against both ships by Type 1 aircraft carrying torpedoes which scored a hit on HMS Repulse and she sank at 12.33pm. Meanwhile, six aircraft from this wave broke off and attacked HMS Prince of Wales, which only had two of her anti-aircraft guns still operating and scored three hits, causing further flooding. A short time later she was hit by a 500kg bomb which penetrated the main deck and hit a makeshift aid centre causing widespread casualties. Several more bombs scored near misses which caused further damage and at 1.15pm the order was give to abandon ship. HMS Prince of Wales sank five minutes after the order was given with the loss of 327 of her officers and men, including Admiral Phillips and Captain Leach. The destroyers arrived and rescued around 1,000 men from both ships but 840 men had been lost.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Chirnside.
He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 49, Column 2

Hawkins, James Addison Flight Lieutenant 120119 (Pilot)

1521 Flight, Royal Air Force
Died of wounds on the 14th of April 1944 aged 22
James Addison Hawkins was born in London on the 13th of November 1921 the son of Reginald Thomas Hawkins and Margaret Thomson (nee Addison) Hawkins of 32, Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1926 to 1929 and from 1935 to 1939, where he was a School Prefect, Swimming Champion, and winner of the discus event at the annual Games.
After a year at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh he enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he rose to the rank of Leading Aircraftman before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 27th of February 1942. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 1st of October 1942 and to Flight Lieutenant on the 27th of February 1944. He was later posted as a flying instructor at an operational training school.
At 3.35pm on the 14th of April 1944, James Hawkins and Flying Officer Bryan Hedley Dennis took off from RAF Wymeswold in Master Mk 1 LB415 for a beam approach training exercise. Weather conditions were good with eight miles of visibility. At 4.30pm, the aircraft was flying at 1,000 feet over the village of Screveton when it was in collision with Lancaster Mk 1 W4103 of No. 5 Lancaster Finishing School. The two aircraft crashed a short distance apart in a field just to the south of RAF Syerston killing Bryan Dennis and the entire Lancaster crew, which included Old Watsonian David Winchester McRuer. The force of the collision threw James Hawkins clear of the wreckage and he descended by parachute, but was severely injured. He was taken to the Royal Air Force Hospital Quarrington at Sleaford where he succumbed to his injuries later the same day.
A report into the crash, compiled by Wing Commander W.C. Gardiner of No. 5 Lancaster Finishing School, dated the 16th of April 1944 noted that: - "Aircraft using Newton's beam have always been a source of some anxiety and pilots have been warned to keep away from beam approach aircraft. It was not known that aircraft other than Newton's used the beam for practice and would be flown by pilots unfamiliar with local conditions."
A memorial to the two crews was unveiled at St Winifred's Church, Screveton in 2004 and a memorial stone and plaque was consecrated at the crash site on the 13th of November 2005.
He is buried at Burton-on-the-Wolds Burial Ground Row F Grave 10

Heggie, David Alexander Sergeant 1053585 (Pilot)

No. 54 Operational Training Unit, Royal Air Force
Killed on active service on the 29th of May 1941 aged 26
David Alexander Heggie was born at Edinburgh on the 7th of December 1915 the eldest son of Maurice Heggie, a company director, and Ada Mary (nee Aitchison) Heggie of 13, Napier Road, Edinburgh. He was educated at Cranley School and at George Watson's College where he played as a forward in the 1st Rugby XV and later for old Watsonians. On leaving school he went to work for Heggie and Aitchison Ltd, joiners and cabinet makers of 62, Duff Street, Edinburgh, but left their employ in July 1940 to enlist in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He trained as a pilot and rose to the rank of Sergeant before being posted to No. 54 Operational Training Unit based at RAF Church Fenton to complete his pilot training.
On the 29th of May 1941 David Heggie took off in Defiant Mk 1 N1556 for a solo night training flight. At the time, he had 24.50 hours of solo flying time on Defiants, of which 8 were at night, and 106.55 hours of total solo flying time on all aircraft types of which 11.50 were at night. While he was airborne an air raid siren sounded across the airfield at 1.25am, due to enemy activity in the area. As a result, all the airfield lighting was extinguished. David Heggie received instructions from air traffic control to orbit the Church Fenton flashing beacon at 5,000 feet and to turn off his navigation lights. He acknowledged the message but instead of flying to the correct beacon he flew towards the second emergency beacon, some four and half miles away, and began circling it at 2,500 feet. This was the same beacon and height as Blenheim Mk 1 L8337 had been given and the two aircraft collided, "disintegrated" and crashed near Rakes Wood killing David Heggie and the Blenheim pilot, Sergeant Kenneth Campbell Gemmell. A portion of the Blenheims skin was found amongst the wreckage of the Defiant.
An inquiry into the collision concluded that: - "The accident was undoubtedly caused through either disobedience of, neglect or inability to carry out the orders given to the pilot of the Defiant by the controllers over R/T. These orders were acknowledged a full 5 minutes before the accident. There is a possibility that the Defiant was flying en route for his beacon and inadvertently passed over the other beacon but this is inexcusable as he knew the position of both beacons and the visibility was good and both men were visible from the air."
His funeral took place on the 31st of May 1941.
He is buried at St John the Baptist Churchyard Extension, Kirkby Wharfe Row D Grave 3

Honeyman, Percy Ewen Clunes Lieutenant Colonel 5214

Royal Scots (Royal Regiment)
Died on the 17th of February 1945 aged 50
Percy Ewen Clunes Honeyman was born at Inverness on the 11th of November 1894 the youngest son of Thomas Honeyman, Factor to the Lochiel Estate, and Jane Stuart Honeyman of Lochiel, Achnacarry. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1907 to 1910. He was a regular player for Lismore Rugby Football Club and for Watsonians from 1910 to 1914. On the outbreak of the Great War he enlisted in the Territorial Army as Private 2064 in the 9th (Highlanders) Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) in August 1914 and embarked with his battalion on board HMT Inventor on the 24th of February 1915. They arrived at Le Havre at 6.30am on the morning of the 26th of February where disembarkation was completed by 11am when they began their journey to the front line at L'Abeille. He rose to the rank of Lance Corporal before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Battalion on the 9th of July 1915 and rejoined the Battalion with three other officers as a reinforcement between the 13th and 24th of January 1916 when they were resting at Baizieux.
He transferred to the regular army with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant on the 4th of November 1916 and was posted to the 2nd Battalion of his regiment. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 9th of October 1917. He was wounded on three occasions, one of which was near Brandhoek on the 26th of September 1917. He was appointed as a General Staff Officer Grade 3 and was promoted to temporary Captain on the 24th of February 1919. He relinquished his appointment and his temporary rank on the 8th of November 1919. He served for a time in West Africa and was restored to his Battalion on the 16th of October 1922. He was appointed as Assistant Superintendent for Physical Training for the Southern Command based at Devonport on the 1st of January 1924. He was promoted to Captain on the 2nd of March 1927 and was seconded for service with the General Staff on the 29th of January 1928. After further service in India he was appointed as a Staff Officer for Physical Training, Scottish Command on the 29th of January 1932. He retired from the service on the 4th of April 1935 and joined the staff of George Watson's College in 1936. He was married to Yvonne Muriel (nee Rennie) and the couple lived at 492, Lanark Road, Juniper Green, Edinburgh. They had three children, one of which was called Ewen.
He was recalled to his regiment on the outbreak of war and was promoted to Brevet Major on the 18th of September 1939. He was promoted to Acting Major on the 8th of April 1941 and was appointed as a Staff Officer in Scottish Command for Physical Training on the 25th of March 1942. He was promoted to Major on the 5th of February 1944 and to Acting Lieutenant Colonel on the same date.
He died at Gogarburn Military Hospital.
He is commemorated at Warriston Crematorium Panel 2

Hughson, David John Ordinary Seaman C/JX 251597 RNVR

HMS Pintail, Royal Navy
Killed in action on the 10th of June 1941 aged 26
David John Hughson was born at Wishaw in Lanarkshire on the 8th of November 1914 the son of John Hughson and Christina (later Vincent) Hughson of "Westfield", Edinburgh Road, Peebles. He was educated at Lochinver Public School and at George Watson's College from 1927 to 1931. He went on to Edinburgh University where he graduated with First Class Honours in French and Latin in 1935. He then went on to the University of Paris for a year before becoming Lecteur d'Anglais at the University of Bordeaux. From 1938 to 1939 he attended Moray House Training College, University of Edinburgh and, on leaving, he accepted a post as a teacher in Cromarty and later at Sanqhuar.
He was called up by the Royal Navy in 1941 and was posted to the 580 ton patrol vessel HMS Pintail (K21) based at Harwich.
On the 10th of June 1941 HMS Pintail, under the command of Lieutenant John Leopold Elphinstone McClintock RN, was escorting a convoy near Buoy 62, some 30 miles off the Humber and 28 nautical miles off Spurn Point. One of the convoy, the SS Royal Scot, under the command of Watsonian John Bruce Watson OBE, triggered an acoustic mine, blew up and sank. HMS Pintail rushed to the scene to pick up survivors and also triggered an acoustic mine; she sank almost immediately.
An eyewitness on another ship wrote: - "A beautiful new ship called H.M.S. Pintail came out to join us, I think from Harwich. We plodded along over a mirror-like sea, the sun glittered and flashed from the water as she glided past us. We were so envious of her power and grace. Suddenly she speeded up, and carving white wings of water, she cut across our bows. There was a huge explosion and she heeled onto her side, still cutting through water, with a white wave curling over her decks, ripping off depth-charges, and men like cotton reels and dolls, like a dying animal, and then nothing! Everything vanished! There ahead of us was the mirror-like sunlit sea, but nothing else. We were stunned. Then suddenly the scene changed, becoming macabre. Bodies came to the surface. Not exactly complete men, but parts missing, and entrails floating after some bodies. It was pitiful. It still flashes into my mind and it hurts. Time does not heal."
Lieutenant Commander D.J.L Percy RN, commanding officer of the destroyer HMS Quantock who was in the area at the time, described the scene - "It was the most dreadful sight that I have ever seen. It did not seem possible that there could be any survivors."
Six officers and forty eight men were lost with twenty two of the crew being rescued from the water.
He is commemorated on the Chatham Memorial 44,3.

Hunter, Ian Ronald Grey Flying Officer 178294

No. 302 Ferry Training Unit, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 6th of March 1945 aged 21
Ian Ronald Grey Hunter was born in Midlothian on the 3rd of June 1923 the son of William Hunter, a consulting engineer and Elizabeth M. Hunter of "Breezehill", Roslin, Midlothian. He was educated at George Watson’s College from 1928 to 1938 after which he went on to Edinburgh School of Agriculture where he studied farming.
He volunteered for the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in September 1941 and trained as a pilot in the UK and in Canada. He rose to the rank of Flight Sergeant before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 27th of February 1944. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 27th of August 1944.
He was flying Catalina Mk IVB JX608 when it crashed at Sedjenane in Tunisia with the loss of the entire crew.
The crew was: -
Sergeant Cecil James Cutting (Wireless Operator)
Sergeant Peter Dick (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Douglas Cecil Holmes (Wireless Operator)
Flying Officer Ian Ronald Grey Hunter (Pilot)
Sergeant Cyril George Lloyd (Air Gunner)
Sergeant Walter Frederick Norrington (Pilot)
Sergeant Samuel Robinson (Navigator/Air Bomber)
Sergeant Alexander Campbell Scott (Flight Engineer)
His brother, Warrant Officer Thomas Fulton Hunter OW 114 Squadron, Royal Air Force, was killed in action on the 3rd of March 1945.
He is buried at Enfidaville War Cemetery Plot V Row D Grave 12

Hunter, James Walter Scott Sub Lieutenant (A) RNVR

755 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm
Killed on active service on the 28th of November 1944 aged 22
James Walter Scott Hunter was born at Morningside, Edinburgh on the 11th of August 1922 the elder son of Graham Thorburn Scott Hunter and Elizabeth Borthwick Inglis (nee Paxton) Hunter of 46, Colinton Road, Edinburgh. He was educated at Gillsland Park School, Edinburgh and at George Watson’s College from 1935 to 1939 where he was a member of the Under 15 Rugby XV and later of the 3rd Rugby XV. On leaving school he took up a career in architecture and played rugby for Old Watsonians.
He enlisted in the Fleet Air Arm and trained as a pilot in Canada before being commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant (A) in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on the 24th of July 1943. He was posted to the Mediterranean Fleet in March 1944.
On the 28th of November 1944, James Hunter took off from the Royal Naval Air Station at Dekhaila near Alexandria in Martinet TT.I Mk 1 NR329 for a training flight. While the aircraft was still climbing and was at 500 feet, the engine cut out. He tried to turn to avoid a group of labourers on the ground but the aircraft stalled and crashed onto the beach killing him.
His mother received the following telegram: - "From Admiralty. Deeply regret to inform you that your son Sub Lt James W.S. Hunter has been reported killed in an aircraft accident. Letter follows."
He is buried at Chatby Military War Memorial Cemetery, Alexandria Row O Grave 107

Hunter, Thomas Fulton Warrant Officer 1344408

114 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 3rd of March 1945 aged 23
Thomas Fulton Hunter was born at Edinburgh on the 16th of December 1921 the elder son of William Hunter and Elizabeth M. Hunter of "Breezehill", Roslin, Midlothian. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1928 to 1938. On leaving school he entered market gardening before enlisting in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1940 where he trained as an air gunner and rose to the rank of Warrant Officer.
Thomas Hunter and his crew took off from Falconara at 11.05pm on the 2nd of March 1945 in Boston Mk IV BZ563 for a night intruder operation over Lake Comacchio. Eight crews had been briefed for the raid but the last four which had been due to take off were recalled due to bad weather. When the remaining four aircraft arrived over the target they encountered 10/10ths cloud and the result of their bombing was not seen. The aircraft crashed between Comacchio and San Giuseppe with the loss of all but one of the crew. Due to the lack of anti-aircraft activity in the target area that night it is thought that the loss of the aircraft was caused by bad weather.
The crew was: -
Warrant Officer Roy Dennis Toynton (Pilot)
Warrant Officer Thomas Fulton Hunter (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant George M. Seddon (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) (POW Stalag VIIA)
Pilot Officer Stanley Birch (Navigator)
The bodies of two of the crew were found in the wreckage of the aircraft but the other two had managed to bail out. Of these, wireless operator George Seddon, landed on a beach and was taken prisoner, while the other crew member landed in the sea and was drowned.
His brother, Flying Officer Ian Ronald Grey Hunter OW, No. 302 Ferry Training Unit, Royal Air Force, was killed on active service on the 6th of March 1945.
He is buried at Argenta Gap War Cemetery Plot I Row F Grave 19

Inglis, John Mitchell Flight Lieutenant 60288

209 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed on active service on the 20th of August 1943 aged 26
John Mitchell Inglis was born at Edinburgh the youngest son of John S. Inglis of 4, Cramond Road, South Davidson’s Mains, Edinburgh and Jean M. Inglis of Omaru, New Zealand. He was educated at George Watson’s College from 1928 to 1935 where he was a member of the 1st Rugby XV, the Cricket XI and was Captain of the Tennis VIII. He left school with the intention of taking up a career in actuarial science and later became an Inspector with the Scottish Union & National Insurance Co. Ltd in Edinburgh. He volunteered for the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in March 1939 where he qualified as a pilot and rose to the rank of Sergeant before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation on the 3rd of November 1940. He was confirmed in his rank and was promoted to Flying Officer on the 3rd of November 1941. He saw action in many raids across Germany and the occupied territories.
On the 12th of October 1942 John Inglis and his crew took off from Mombasa in Catalina Mk IIA AH543 WQ-S for a patrol down the coast of Africa to Durban. They landed on the island of Pamanzi from where they departed at dusk. A short time later they saw an oncoming electrical storm which they passed through during which the aircraft was tossed around between 13,000 and 2,000 feet. At dawn, they were still over the ocean and were short of fuel but managed to make landfall where they landed on a small lake. Before long they realised that they were in neutral Portuguese East Africa, about seventy miles to the south of Loureno Marques and were in danger of being interned. A short time later, Captain J. Alger passed overhead who, against regulations, landed and picked up Inglis and his crew. Their aircraft was impounded and taken to Portugal.
He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on the 3rd of November 1942.
On the 20th of August 1943, John Inglis and his crew took off from Kipevu, Mombasa in Catalina Mk 1b FP302 for a night training exercise to practice depth charge attacks on a light ship. While searching for the target, the aircraft’s wing clipped the sea and crashed at 8pm with the loss of the entire crew.
The crew was: -
Flight Lieutenant Edwin Ronald Brooke Roberts RAAF (Pilot)
Wing Commander Gerard Euan Wallace (2nd Pilot) (Commanding Officer 209 Squadron)
Flight Sergeant Ernest Hallas (Air Gunner)
Sergeant Stanley Borrill (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant James Malcolm Snowden (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant John Mitchell Inglis (3rd Pilot)
Flying Officer Victor Bowring Field (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Fight Sergeant Ernest Mallon (Flight Engineer)
Flight Sergeant Dennis William O’Leary (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Stanley Borrill (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant Ernest Hallas (Air Gunner)
Leading Aircraftman Norman Edwards (Passenger)
He is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial Column 267

Inglis, Ronald George Pilot Officer 104574

114 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 2nd of June 1942 aged 21
Ronald George Inglis was born at Edinburgh on the 14th of July 1920 the son of George Inglis, a company director, and Janet Smail Inglis of 76, Claygate Lane, Hinchley Wood, Esher in Surrey. He was educated at George Watson’s College until 1934 when he went on to Kingston Grammar School. He was Scottish Boys Golf Champion in 1937 and 1938. He played for the Scotland v England Boys Golf International match at Southport in 1936 and Captained the Scottish team at Bruntsfield in 1937. Also in 1937, he won the Scottish Boys Championship at North Berwick and successfully defended his title the following year. In 1939 he led the qualifiers in the Scottish Golf Championship (Service) at Prestwick.
He enlisted as an Aircraftman in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1940 where he trained as a Navigator and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 23rd of August 1941. He was a member of the Royal Air Force Golfing Society.
On the night of the 1st/2nd of June 1942, Bomber Command dispatched 545 Wellingtons, 127 Halifaxes, 77 Stirlings, 74 Lancasters, 71 Hampdens, 33 Manchesters and 29 Whitleys for an operation on Essen. At the same time, 48 Blenheims were dispatched to various German and Dutch airfields for intruder operations to attack enemy night fighters and to disrupt their response to the raid. Of these ten aircraft reported making attacks and three failed to return.
Ronald Inglis and his crew took off from RAF West Raynham at 10.39pm on the 2nd of June 1942 in Blenheim Mk IV R3620 RT-A for an intruder operation against Bonn airfield in Germany, a large night fighter base for the defence of Germany. The aircraft was shot down by anti aircraft fire at 12.09am and crashed at Buschbell in Germany with the loss of the entire crew.
The crew was: -
Flight Sergeant Patrick Bernard "Bernie" L’Hirondelle RCAF (Pilot)
Pilot Officer Ronald George Inglis (Observer)
Sergeant Henry Meakin (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
His father received the following telegram date the 25th of September 1942: -
"Deeply regret to advise you that according to information just received through the International Red Cross Committee your son Pilot Officer Ronald George Inglis is believed to have lost his life as the result of air operations on 2nd June 1942. The Air Council express their profound sympathy. Letter confirming this telegram follows".
The crew was buried at Cologne South Cemetery but their bodies were exhumed in 1948 and moved to their present location.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Kingston Grammar School.
He is buried at Rheinberg War Cemetery Collective Grave 1 F 8-15

Isaacs, Frederick Munro Coder C/JX 272084 RN

HMS Ibis, Royal Navy
Killed in action on the 10th of November 1942 aged 35
Frederick Munro Isaacs was born at Morningside, Edinburgh on the 25th of April 1907 the son of Frederick Isaacs, a stockbroker, and Elizabeth Vasey Isaacs of 30, Braid Crescent, Edinburgh, later of 56, Morningside Road, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1914 to 1923 after which he entered his father's stock broking business. He later joined the firm of Messrs. John Henry Tod, Chartered Accountants of Queen Street, Edinburgh.
He was married to Susannah Barton (later Wilson) of Edinburgh.
He enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1940 and was later posted to the sloop HMS Ibis (U99). On the 8th of November 1942 HMS Ibis, under the command of Commander Henry Maxwell Darell-Brown RN DSC, set sail from Gibraltar as an escort to Assault Convoy KMF.1 for the invasion of Algeria as part of Operation Torch. She was tasked with protecting the Eastern Task Force during the landings on the Algerian coast.
On the 10th of November, HMS Ibis was sailing some ten miles to the north of Algiers when she came under attack from Italian torpedo bombers. She was struck by a torpedo and sank with the loss of one hundred and eight members of her crew. There were four survivors of which one later died of his wounds.
He is commemorated on the Chatham Memorial 60,1.

Jagger, John Johnstone Squadron Leader 123520 DFC

35 (Madras Presidency) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 21st of January 1944 aged 33
John Johnstone Jagger was born at Galashiels on the 5th of August 1910 the son of John Johnstone Jagger and Helen (nee McVinnie) Jagger of 9, Scott Crescent, Galashiels. He was educated at Aylwin College, Arnside, Westmorland and at George Watson’s College until 1926 when he travelled to Germany to study German He later returned to Scotland where he entered the cinema business, becoming a cinema manager in Dumfries. He was married in 1935 to Elizabeth Thomson (nee Couper) of Dewarton, Midlothian.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where trained as a pilot and rose to the rank of Sergeant before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 25th of April 1942. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 25th of October 1942.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, which was announced by the Air Ministry on the 14th of December 1943. The citations read: -
"One night in November 1943, this officer piloted an aircraft detailed to attack Berlin. Soon after taking off, one of the bomber's engines commenced to lose power. Flight Lieutenant Jagger continued to the target however, and successfully completed his attack. Whilst over the city, the defective engine became useless, but Flight Lieutenant Jagger flew the bomber safely to base. This officer has always displayed the greatest determination to reach and bomb his objective and his example has inspired all."
John Jagger and his crew took off from RAF Graveley at 8.10pm on the 21st of January 1944 in Halifax Mk III HX324 TL-B for a raid on Magdeburg. The aircraft was carrying three 1,000lbs general purpose bombs as was as target indicators. At 10.15pm, when the aircraft was in the area of Hanover, it was attacked and shot down by Ju88 C-6R4+L flown by Hauptmann Eduard Jakob of 3./NJG2. Three of the crew managed to escape from the aircraft before it exploded in mid-air at very low altitude, spreading the wreckage over an area of 500 metres in diameter. The wreckage came down half a kilometre to the west of Rehbeck, near Luchow and Dannenberg. Eduard Jakob’s aircraft crashed at Deelen the following morning injuring him and another member of the crew. This was his third and final victory before he was killed in action on the 8th of February 1945.
The crew was: -
Squadron Leader John Johnstone Jagger DFC (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant William Percival (Flight Engineer)
Pilot Officer John Ralph Humberstone (Navigator) (POW No. 3366, Stalag Luft III)
Flight Lieutenant Thomas Patrick McGarry (Air Bomber) (Injured) (POW No. 108661 Stalag Luft I)
Warrant Officer Donald Smedley (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) (POW No. 871, Stalag 357)
Flight Sergeant Nelson John Rapere (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Eric Hie (Air Gunner)
After the war the Royal Air Force Missing Research and Enquiry Service found an eyewitness to the crash and recorded the following in their report: - "A four engine aircraft was observed approaching Rehbeck from the Southeast at approximately 22:00 on 21st January 1944. It was flying at a very low altitude and when about ½km west of Rehbeck at a height of approximately 100 metres it exploded in the air. The bombs had been jettisoned prior to the explosion. Cannon fire was heard and it is assumed that the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter. The aircraft burned for approximately ½ hour. Debris from the wreckage was scattered over an area of about 500m in diameter. On the following day the Luftwaffe took the remains of the wreckage to Salzwedel. The remains of the aircrew were taken to Lüchow by the Burgermeister of Weitsche and buried in the new cemetery, Lüchow".
The bodies of the crew members who lost their lives were exhumed on the 27th of May 1947. Being unable to identify them they were reinterred at Soltau and their names are recorded on the Runnymede Memorial.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Aylwin College.
He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Panel 200

James, David George Trooper 7942517

No. 1 Troop, B Squadron, North Irish Horse Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps
Killed in action on the 17th of September 1944 aged 21
David George James was born at Edinburgh the only son of David George James and Blanche James of 72, South Trinity Road, Edinburgh. He was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and at George Watson's College from 1930 to 1939, where he won 1st Rugby XV colours.
Following the outbreak of war he enlisted as a Trooper in the North Irish Horse and took part in the North African campaign where he was wounded in April 1943.
By September 1944, the North Irish Horse was in Italy where it was involved in the Allied assault on the Gothic Line, one of a series of fortified positions which had been constructed across the country to slow the Allied advance. On the 15th of September the regiment's tanks crossed the Rover Marano. David James's No. 1 Troop from B Squadron was across the river by 6.30am and began forming a bridgehead, although their objectives were not consolidated until midday. On the morning of the 17th of September 1944, B Squadron was detailed to support the attack of the 2nd Battalion, King's Regiment on an enemy position known as Point 137. In advance of this, the three tanks making up No. 1 Troop, under the command of Lieutenant B.E.S. King set out along the road at 4.30am to neutralise an enemy position known as Point 126. They were covered during this move by tanks of No. 2 Troop. With the assistance of troops from the 2nd King's they cleared three enemy machine gun positions, with Lieutenant King being wounded during the exchange of fire. Ignoring his wounds, Lieutenant King then led his tanks towards Point 137 at first light where they came under fire from a German Mark IV tank which hit two of No. 1 Troop's tanks, knocking both out. While one crew managed to escape from their tank without injury the other tank crew suffered badly with its commander, Sergeant J. Maxwell, and Lance Corporal Gifford being wounded and David James killed. The other two members of the crew, Troopers Mitchell and Johnson, escaped injury. The enemy tank was itself destroyed by supporting fire from the tanks of No. 2 Troop.
He is buried at Gradara War Cemetery Plot II Row A Grave 21

Jameson Ian Sutherland Squadron Leader 39791

254 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 4th of May 1942 aged 28
Ian Sutherland Jameson was born at Tientsin, China on the 10th of October 1913 the elder son of Philip Sutherland Jameson, a China merchant, and Isabella Young Bain (nee Paterson) Jameson of Tientsin. He was educated at George Watson’s College from 1920 to 1931 where he served as a Company Sergeant Major in the Officer Training Corps. On leaving school he took up a career in insurance, joining the Scottish Insurance Corporation Ltd in 1931. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th/5th Battalion, Royal Scots (Royal Regiment) in the Territorial Army on the 19th of March 1932 and was promoted to Lieutenant on the 19th of March 1935. He resigned his commission on the 31st of May 1937 on his appointment as an Acting Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force from the same date. He was confirmed in his rank on the 5th of April 1938.
Following the outbreak of war, he was promoted to Flying Officer on the 5th of October 1939 and took part in many raids over Germany and the occupied territories, including actions over Dunkirk and the Lofoten Islands.
He was serving with 59 Squadron based at RAF Detling when, without warning, the airfield came under attack from German Ju 87 Stukas at around 4pm on the 13th of August 1940. When the attack was over some sixty seven personnel, mostly ground crew, had been killed with another ninety four injured. Ian Jameson was among the injured and was taken to St Bartholomew's Hospital at Rochester where he was treated for shock and was released two days later.
His brother received the following telegram dated the 17th of August 1940: - "Regret to inform you that information received states that your brother Pilot Officer Ian Sutherland Jameson has been injured as the result of enemy action on 13th August 1940. Nature of injuries not known at present. Further information will be sent to you as soon as possible. Letter follows."
He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on the 5th of October 1940 and served for nine months in Iceland before returning to the UK in 1941.
On the 4th of May 1942, Ian Jameson and his crew took off from RAF Carew Cheriton at 9.20am in Blenheim Mk IV R2779 QY-U with one other aircraft from the Squadron to provide an escort to a DC2 aircraft over the Bristol Channel. At the time he had a total of 699 hours of solo flying experience of which 199 were on Blenheim aircraft.
The two Blenheims rendezvoused with the DC2 at 9.40am and at 9.43am the pilot of the other Blenheim, Pilot Officer G. Gregory, who was flying in line astern, noticed that the port engine of Ian Jameson’s aircraft had cut out. Following the engine failure Ian Jameson had turned the aircraft to starboard and had set course for base. Pilot Officer Gregory followed the aircraft in a northerly direction for about three minutes, during which time Ian Jameson’s aircraft was flying at 150 mph and was maintaining its height. Having concluded that the aircraft was "fully under control", he continued to escort the DC2 alone before leaving it to return to base at 10.35am.
The sea in the area was covered by thick fog from 50 feet up to 600 feet and it is thought that Ian Jameson had tried to land the aircraft on the sea but had crashed at about 10.30am with the loss of the entire crew.
The crew was: -
Squadron Leader Ian Sutherland Jameson (Pilot)
Sergeant Robert Arthur French Raymond (Wireless Operator/ Observer)
Flight Lieutenant Arthur Walter Barnes (Air Gunner)
Five aircraft from the Squadron were dispatched to look for the missing aircraft and its crew. Four hours later Ian Jameson and Robert Raymond were found alive in the water by a rescue boat some 7 miles to the northwest of Lundy Island. They were pulled from the sea and artificial respiration was carried out on both men, but to no avail and both died from exposure. There was no trace of Arthur Barnes or of the aircrafts dinghy. Their bodies were brought back to Clovelly Harbour from where they were taken to the mortuary at RAF Chivenor.
An investigation into the failure of the engine found that there had been problems with it in the past and that it had been stripped down, fitted with new parts and satisfactorily tested on the ground.
His funeral took place on the 8th of May 1942.
He is commemorated on the Roll of Honour for AVIVA PLC.
He is buried at St Augustine’s Churchyard, Heanton Punchardon Row N Grave 12

Johnston, Robert Douglas Surgeon Lieutenant Commander (D)

HMS Prince of Wales, Royal Navy
Killed in action on the 10th of December 1941 aged 32
Robert Douglas Johnston was born on the 5th of June 1909 the son of Robert Johnston, of the Northern Lighthouse Board, and Elizabeth (nee Griffith) Johnston of 15a, Waldegrave Park, Strawberry Hill, Middlesex. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1917 to 1926 after which he entered the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh and later the Edinburgh Dental College from where he graduated LRCP and LDS. He went into general practice at Strawberry Hill before joining the Royal Navy on a short service commission as a Surgeon Lieutenant on the 16th of November 1936. He served with the battlecruiser HMS Hood in the Mediterranean before joining the battleship HMS Prince of Wales. He served at Suez, Ceylon and Narvik.
HMS Prince of Wales arrived at Singapore on the 2nd of December 1941 in response to rising tensions in the Far East with a probable attack from the Japanese expected. She was still in port when Japanese aircraft attacked Singapore on the 8th of December and her anti-aircraft guns engaged them but without success. With reports of Japanese troop transports in the area she set sail during the afternoon, with the battlecruiser HMS Repulse and the destroyers HMS Electra, HMS Express, HMS Tenedos and HMAS Vampire, collectively known as Force Z, under the command of Admiral Sir Thomas Spencer Vaughan Phillips. In response to intelligence reports, Force Z headed for Kota Bharu to engage the Japanese transports thought to be landing there but was spotted by the Japanese submarine I-65 on the afternoon of the 9th of December and by enemy spotter aircraft during the evening. At 2.11am on the morning of the 10th of December 1941, they were spotted by another submarine and at 8am they arrived off Kuantan where the landings were discovered to have been a diversion. At 11.13am the first formation of eight Japanese Type 96 bombers attacked the ship, with one bomb passing through the hangar roof and exploding on the main deck below. At 11.30am a second attack followed comp
rising of seventeen Type 96 bombers armed with torpedoes. This formation split, with one group heading for the battlecruiser HMS Repulse but she was not hit during the attack. HMS Prince of Wales was hit by one of the torpedoes which struck her on the port side, to the rear of Y Turret wrecking her propeller shaft, destroying bulkheads, causing flooding and disabling the electrical supply to the rear of the ship. She began to take on a heavy list. A third attack was made solely against HMS Repulse but a fourth was made against both ships by Type 1 aircraft carrying torpedoes which scored a hit on HMS Repulse and she sank at 12.33pm. Meanwhile, six aircraft from this wave broke off and attacked HMS Prince of Wales, which only had two of her anti-aircraft guns still operating and scored three hits, causing further flooding. A short time later she was hit by a 500kg bomb which penetrated the main deck and hit a makeshift aid centre causing widespread casualties. Several more bombs scored near misses which caused further damage and at 1.15pm the order was give to abandon ship. HMS Prince of Wales sank five minutes after the order was given with the loss of 327 of her officers and men, including Admiral Phillips and Captain Leach. The destroyers arrived and rescued around 1,000 men from both ships but 840 men had been lost.
He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 45 Column 1