RAF Airman, long shot!!!

Steve Newman · 06-03-2007, 10:32 PM

Having researched over 120 names that are connected to our local town who served in both WW1 and WW2 I am down to one man that I need to confirm. As soon as I have him the the roll of honour book I have been working on for two years can go to proofing and start to get sold to raise funds to restore our war memorial.

Can anyone help or push me in the right direction of any documents that may help find the link to Wickford/Runwell Essex.

All I have from the memorial is:

R.H JONES RAF.

My gut feeling is that he probably worked at the nearby Runwell Hospital rather than had family here(who recruited a number of men from around the country in 1930's) and the staff there supplied his name for inclusion, but I could be completely wrong on this. Alas the parish council don't have copies of how the names were subscribed so I am none the wiser. He doesn't appear in any local papers of the time that I have seen so again where to go.
Suggestions ideas or someone saying 'yeah its this R H Jones who has an Essex connection' all gratefully received!!!
Cheers
Steve
Wickford War Memorial

adrian roberts · 07-03-2007, 01:40 AM

Have you tried the CWGC website, cwgc.org?
There are ten RH Jones' from the RAF in WW2. Unfortunately from the information given none appears to have an Essex connection, but there are a couple for whom there is no personal info at all. Could your man be one of those?

Steve Newman · 07-03-2007, 11:31 AM

Hi Adrian

Yes I have looked at this many times, hoping to see something I have missed and have played around with the initials to see if there ws an error, alas nothing!! I suspect I can rule out the two Canadians but having been surprised in the past when I have finally discovered for 100% other men I guess anything is possible!!

Cheers
Steve

Kitty · 07-03-2007, 08:38 PM

I expect you've done the letters in the local papers. Hmm. if oyu suspect he worked at the hospital (Was it RAF?) then you may be able to track him down through the hospital records, but where they'll be I don't know.
One thought does come to mind, was Runwell designated under the Emergency Medical Scheme in '39? if so he may have been brought there with battle injuries and died there, hence his name on the war memorial if his family had been killed previously in a bombing raid.
Not sure what else to suggest except track down hospital records.

ADM199 · 08-03-2007, 10:12 AM

Hi Steve,
perhaps a telephone call to the enquiries section at the C.W.G.C. would give you an answer. In the past I have found them very keen to help.

Steve Newman · 08-03-2007, 04:13 PM

I visited the hospital today and no luck at all, its a mental institution and to be honest when I asked if there was a roll of honour I think they thought I needed locking up!! I asked an older porter who was far more helpful and pointed me in the direction of a hand painted oak panel roll, which looked from a distance to be very encouraging. Alas it turned out to be dedicated to the councillors present at the opening.... shame so much effort didn't go to remembering their own staff who were killed.

Steve

Kitty · 08-03-2007, 08:04 PM

Steve, i think the hospital must have been listed under the '39 Emergency Medical Scheme. This was before the start of the NHS in '48 so you'll need to find out who was reponsible for it at the time (my nearest hospital, the childrens Orthopeadic in Biddulph, Staffordshire, was East lancashire).
You then need to track down who took it over in order to find any records or patients and admissions, if they'll let you access them.
Best of luck.

06-03-2007, 10:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
Steve Newman Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 69	RAF Airman, long shot!!! Having researched over 120 names that are connected to our local town who served in both WW1 and WW2 I am down to one man that I need to confirm. As soon as I have him the the roll of honour book I have been working on for two years can go to proofing and start to get sold to raise funds to restore our war memorial. Can anyone help or push me in the right direction of any documents that may help find the link to Wickford/Runwell Essex. All I have from the memorial is: R.H JONES RAF. My gut feeling is that he probably worked at the nearby Runwell Hospital rather than had family here(who recruited a number of men from around the country in 1930's) and the staff there supplied his name for inclusion, but I could be completely wrong on this. Alas the parish council don't have copies of how the names were subscribed so I am none the wiser. He doesn't appear in any local papers of the time that I have seen so again where to go. Suggestions ideas or someone saying 'yeah its this R H Jones who has an Essex connection' all gratefully received!!! Cheers Steve Wickford War Memorial

07-03-2007, 01:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
adrian roberts Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NW Kent, England Posts: 758	Have you tried the CWGC website, cwgc.org? There are ten RH Jones' from the RAF in WW2. Unfortunately from the information given none appears to have an Essex connection, but there are a couple for whom there is no personal info at all. Could your man be one of those? __________________ for heathen heart that puts its trust in reeking tube and iron shard all valiant dust that builds on dust and guarding, calls not thee to guard thy mercy on thy people, Lord (Kipling)

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07-03-2007, 11:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
Steve Newman Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 69	Hi Adrian Yes I have looked at this many times, hoping to see something I have missed and have played around with the initials to see if there ws an error, alas nothing!! I suspect I can rule out the two Canadians but having been surprised in the past when I have finally discovered for 100% other men I guess anything is possible!! Cheers Steve

07-03-2007, 08:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kitty Legendary Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 5,121	I expect you've done the letters in the local papers. Hmm. if oyu suspect he worked at the hospital (Was it RAF?) then you may be able to track him down through the hospital records, but where they'll be I don't know. One thought does come to mind, was Runwell designated under the Emergency Medical Scheme in '39? if so he may have been brought there with battle injuries and died there, hence his name on the war memorial if his family had been killed previously in a bombing raid. Not sure what else to suggest except track down hospital records.

08-03-2007, 10:12 AM	#5 (permalink)
ADM199 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: ENGLAND Posts: 221	Hi Steve, perhaps a telephone call to the enquiries section at the C.W.G.C. would give you an answer. In the past I have found them very keen to help.

08-03-2007, 04:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
Steve Newman Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 69	I visited the hospital today and no luck at all, its a mental institution and to be honest when I asked if there was a roll of honour I think they thought I needed locking up!! I asked an older porter who was far more helpful and pointed me in the direction of a hand painted oak panel roll, which looked from a distance to be very encouraging. Alas it turned out to be dedicated to the councillors present at the opening.... shame so much effort didn't go to remembering their own staff who were killed. Steve

08-03-2007, 08:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
Kitty Legendary Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 5,121	Steve, i think the hospital must have been listed under the '39 Emergency Medical Scheme. This was before the start of the NHS in '48 so you'll need to find out who was reponsible for it at the time (my nearest hospital, the childrens Orthopeadic in Biddulph, Staffordshire, was East lancashire). You then need to track down who took it over in order to find any records or patients and admissions, if they'll let you access them. Best of luck.

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