Visit to Crete if anyone needs a grave photo?

[Steve Newman]

I'm off to Crete in the middle of September so if anyone researching a memorial, family member or anything else needs a picture of a grave or memorial please let me know and be happy to assist?

Also is there anything WW2 related thats a must see whilst there?

Cheers
Steve

[gen]

Hi Steve,

If you see any Canadians buried there would you take photos of their headstones for me. Not sure if there are any buried there but if you do see any would certainly appreciate it.
Many thanks
Mike

[spidge]

Originally Posted by Steve Newman

I'm off to Crete in the middle of September so if anyone researching a memorial, family member or anything else needs a picture of a grave or memorial please let me know and be happy to assist?

Also is there anything WW2 related thats a must see whilst there?

Cheers
Steve

Hi Steve,

Thank you for the offer. Gen was kind enough to supply me with the burial photographs for Rhodes so the Crete photos would be great.

I am making the assumption that six of these guys went down on the same aircraft.

Hope you have a great trip. Look forward to the photos.

I have these on a spreadsheet if you have an email address I can attach it to.

Regards

Geoff

Surname	Rank	Service Number	Posting on Death	Date Of Death	Age	Regiment/Service	Nationality	Grave/Memorial Ref.
BAYLY, FRANCIS PAUL	Warrant Officer	407402	454sq	23/07/1943	27	RAAF	Australian	5. D. 19.
BETTERIDGE, ARTHUR FREDERICK	Flying Officer	400772	454sq	23/07/1943	27	RAAF	Australian	5. E. 1.
CARSON, ALLAN EDWIN	Flight Sergeant	404537	10sq	6/09/1942	22	RAAF	Australian	5. E. 6.
DONALDSON, DAVID ALEXANDER	Flight Sergeant	405544	160sq AIR HQ	28/10/1942	28	RAAF	Australian	7. B. 20.
GILES, DONALD BRUCE	Warrant Officer	407498	454sq	23/07/1943	26	RAAF	Australian	5. D. 18.
GODDARD, JOHN ENDACOTT	Warrant Officer	406692	454sq	23/07/1943	28	RAAF	Australian	5.D.17.
MOON, LOUIS WILLIS	Warrant Officer	401011	454sq	23/07/1943	25	RAAF	Australian	5. D. 20.
WEDGEWOOD, KEITH STEWART	Warrant Officer	401260	454sq	23/07/1943	28	RAAF	Australian	5. B. 4.

[spidge]

Originally Posted by gen

Hi Steve,

If you see any Canadians buried there would you take photos of their headstones for me. Not sure if there are any buried there but if you do see any would certainly appreciate it.
Many thanks
Mike

Hi Mike,

From the Maple Leaf project site:

Suda Bay War Cemetery (Crete) 5 + 1 NCU Roger Lightfoot & Ralph McLean

This is one of them and I am assuming they are all RCAF in a collective grave.

28

DUNCAN, WILLIAM WALTER, W W

Warrant Officer ( W.Op./Air Gnr. )

R/115792

Royal Canadian Air Force

16/02/1944

24

Coll. grave 13. E. 2-8.

[Andy in West Oz]

Geoff, the little relevant bit off Wikipedia in case you didn't already know. Supports your theory of those six being on the same aircraft or maybe even two?

In February 1943 454 Squadron moved to Amiriya in Egypt, where it joined 201 Group of the RAF's Middle East Command. Having left its Blenheims in Iran, the squadron was equipped with Martin Baltimores. It commenced operations as a maritime patrol squadron and spent the next 17 months working in this capacity over the Mediterranean - its main targets were enemy submarines and merchant shipping. It was also used for long-range reconnaissance and occasionally employed in strikes against land targets in Crete and the Greek islands. During this period 454 Squadron operated from several airfields including Amiriya, Gambut III, and St Jean and Berka III.

[Andy in West Oz]

Geoff, that date was a dark one for 454. 454 History

The Squadron’s worst operational day occurred on 23 July 1943, when eight 454 Squadron Baltimores, led by Squadron Leader Lionel Folkard and accompanied by fighters, made a daylight low level offensive over northern Crete. Six Baltimores and five crews were lost. Flight Sergeant Akhurst’s crew survived after scrambling out on one motor at low level and ‘ditching’ just off Gambut. Akhurst’s immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) was the Squadron’s first decoration.

454 Squadron Personnel were awarded one OBE, fifteen DFCs, one DFM, one BEM and nine MIDS.

[spidge]

Originally Posted by Andy in West Oz

Geoff, the little relevant bit off Wikipedia in case you didn't already know. Supports your theory of those six being on the same aircraft or maybe even two?

In February 1943 454 Squadron moved to Amiriya in Egypt, where it joined 201 Group of the RAF's Middle East Command. Having left its Blenheims in Iran, the squadron was equipped with Martin Baltimores. It commenced operations as a maritime patrol squadron and spent the next 17 months working in this capacity over the Mediterranean - its main targets were enemy submarines and merchant shipping. It was also used for long-range reconnaissance and occasionally employed in strikes against land targets in Crete and the Greek islands. During this period 454 Squadron operated from several airfields including Amiriya, Gambut III, and St Jean and Berka III.

Thanks Andy,

With a crew of 4 on Baltimores we are probably looking at two aircraft and other Commonwealth crew.

[spidge]

Originally Posted by Andy in West Oz

Geoff, that date was a dark one for 454. 454 History

The Squadron’s worst operational day occurred on 23 July 1943, when eight 454 Squadron Baltimores, led by Squadron Leader Lionel Folkard and accompanied by fighters, made a daylight low level offensive over northern Crete. Six Baltimores and five crews were lost. Flight Sergeant Akhurst’s crew survived after scrambling out on one motor at low level and ‘ditching’ just off Gambut. Akhurst’s immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) was the Squadron’s first decoration.

454 Squadron Personnel were awarded one OBE, fifteen DFCs, one DFM, one BEM and nine MIDS.

All the others (14) must have been from other Air Forces as there are only 2 for that day in El Alamein cemetery. The others for that date are in Australia and the Pacific theatre.

There are 756 entries on the CWGC and no method of simple sorting except page by page.

[51highland]

If you are anywhere near Chania, visit the museum there. 2nd floor is dedicated to the battle of Crete 1941. The missus even enjoyed that. Its at the ancient Port.

[Andy in West Oz]

PictureAustralia - Paybook photograph taken on enlistment of 401011 Warrant Officer (WO) Louis Willis Moon, No. 454 Squadron, RAAF. WO Moon, aged 25, was killed on 23 July 1943 when his squadron met concentrated ...

Commonwealth biplane fighter aces - Homer Cochrane
His Hurricane was badly damaged by Flak on 23 July 1943 when his unit took part in the operation "Thesis" attack on Crete.

And, most importantly, further details as to some of the crew make up from the 454 site:
Folkhard LH
Grimwade G
Akhurst R