Another Australian Spitfire Pilot found in France.

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by spidge, Oct 20, 2011.

  1. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Received this from the Minister's office!

    [FONT=&quot]Hi Geoff[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
    [FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
    Thank you for your email. The Minister's office contacted the Daily Telegraph journalist today to notify him of the error. The material sent to the journalist on Sunday included the pilots name as William James Smith.
    regards
     
  2. Andy Saunders

    Andy Saunders Senior Member

    I am pleased that the error has been corrected.

    The story will be covered as part of Discovery History's series "War Digs With Harry Harris" and will be transmitted next year.

    Worth pointing out that Sgt Smith was lost on an escort mission for Circus 160 which involved Bostons attacking Hazebrouck, and not "an escort to Germany" as has ben suggested. The squadron were attacked on the way home, with Sgt Smith last being seen at 20,000 in a dogfight mid-way between Dover and Mardyck
     
  3. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    I am pleased that the error has been corrected.

    The story will be covered as part of Discovery History's series "War Digs With Harry Harris" and will be transmitted next year.

    Worth pointing out that Sgt Smith was lost on an escort mission for Circus 160 which involved Bostons attacking Hazebrouck, and not "an escort to Germany" as has ben suggested. The squadron were attacked on the way home, with Sgt Smith last being seen at 20,000 in a dogfight mid-way between Dover and Mardyck

    Harry Ree posted reference to this in post #17 however I must have missed the reference to "an escort to Germany". Where was this noticed?


    Geoff,

    Sgt Smith was lost on an afternoon sortie,Circus 160 and it would appear that on the day,Luftwaffe JG 26 was prominent in the area.They took a heavy toll of Circus 168 (Hazebrouck railway yards).This may have been a morning sortie.

    No 457 Squadron lost another Spitfire Vb (Sgt R A G Halliday RAAF) during the Circus 160 engagement with JG 26.


    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  4. adam elliott

    adam elliott Junior Member

  5. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

  6. Andy Saunders

    Andy Saunders Senior Member

    Geoff

    Look forward to seeing your photograph in due course.

    The UK-based team hope that the eventual conclusion of this matter in the spring of next year will bring some comfort and closure to family members, including those who have posted here.

    Whilst a long way from his home, or any that would have known him, I planted a poppy cross on 11 November for Sgt William Smith at my local war memorial at Westfield, East Sussex, which I look after for the village.

    We all look forward to further posts here from Sgt Smith's family members when they feel able to do so.
     
  7. Kbak

    Kbak Senior Member

    What a brilliant thread, look forward to hearing more
     
  8. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Don't forget to click the photos three times to get the full size.

    Finally got to Whittlesea to find the memorial to William James Smith. They have a WW1 memorial, another representing WW1 DOAS however I could not find a WW2 memorial. After a bit of questioning at the local bowls club, I had a couple of names to contact when I got home.

    Firstly, I had to get something to eat. As I was waiting for the food, I noticed that on every tree in the main street, they had a plaque placed on a 20" metal stand however they were also WW1.

    Walking around eating my chicken burger I saw some more in the side street which were a different colour so checking them out they were WW2 and planted on every lawn in front of every house.

    1, 2, 3, and 4, I found William James Smith.

    The town certainly know how to honour their heroes.

    I am placing the resized photos here however the Hi-Res photos are available by email.

    WW1 Memorials
    Whittlesea RSL Memorial 3 [1600x1200].JPG .JPG]
     

    Attached Files:

  9. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    WW1 Street Plaques

    Under every tree in the main street.

    Whittlesea Church St Memorial Plaques WW1 [1600x1200].JPG .JPG]

    Church Street and Lime Street

    Whittlesea Lime St  WW2 Naturestrip Plaques (Front of every House) 2 [1600x1200].JPG .JPG]

    WW2 Street Plaques

    View attachment 68078 .JPG]



    And William James Smith

    Smith_William James RAAF [1600x1200].JPG .JPG]
     

    Attached Files:

  10. Room 3603

    Room 3603 Junior Member

    Amazing so much has survived - thanks Geoff.


    Hi Mike L. This has zilch all to do with this thread, but I just couldn’t help myself to a long chuckle at your choice of avatar image there. Really hit my juvenile funny button. Thanks for causing me to snort up my cup of tea here! Phil.
     
  11. Andy Saunders

    Andy Saunders Senior Member

    Spidge

    Thank you very much for posting those images!

    I tried to post a photo of the little poppy cross I planted for Sgt Smith here in the UK on Remembrance Day but the image was too large and I need to work out how to re-size it!! Not that it adds much to the story, though - unlike your images, though, Spidge.

    Thank you again.

    Andy
     
    Pieter F likes this.
  12. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Thanks Andy,

    I was like a little child when I saw the WW2 plaques. I kept saying to myself "hope it is the next one"! I was really happy that I was able to find it.

    Great to see how they have honoured those that died so many years ago however Whittlesea was not on their own as after the Great War, it seems every little town in Australia had a war memorial to honour their fallen townfolk.

    If you want the Hi Res photo let me know and I will email it to you.

    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  13. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

  14. adam elliott

    adam elliott Junior Member

    Well done Spidge
     
  15. Andy Saunders

    Andy Saunders Senior Member

    Spidge

    Is there any chance of a high-res image of the Sgt Smith plaque, for eventual publication here? Obviously with due credit!

    Thanks.

    Andy
     
  16. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Spidge

    Is there any chance of a high-res image of the Sgt Smith plaque, for eventual publication here? Obviously with due credit!

    Thanks.

    Andy

    Hi Andy,

    No problem.

    Let me know by PM where to send it and if you need any others from the group.

    One is 6.39mb and the other 7.96mb.

    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  17. Andy Saunders

    Andy Saunders Senior Member

    Thank you, Geoff, and Happy New Year!

    PM sent.
     
  18. daffy67

    daffy67 Junior Member

    My God, Wallaby Creek! I was reading just the other that the Black Saturday Bushfires destroyed 100% of the 250 year old Ash Forests there. They now say that there are now no trees over 90 metres tall in all of Victoria.

    I think Wallaby Creek was a catchment area hence their employment with the BofW.

    Cheers

    Geoff
    I know it's OT but I lived at Wallaby Creek 1977-79 I think it was, my parents were assistant caretakers as my dad worked for MMBW.
    Nothing much left now I belive, Ash Wednesday and Black saturday saw to that.
     
  19. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    I know it's OT but I lived at Wallaby Creek 1977-79 I think it was, my parents were assistant caretakers as my dad worked for MMBW.
    Nothing much left now I believe, Ash Wednesday and Black Saturday saw to that.

    Well done Daffy.

    Amazing how much info we have come across on this thread.

    A dangerous part of the country to be. I wonder if they were burnt out on Black Friday 1939?

    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  20. Andy Saunders

    Andy Saunders Senior Member

    Spidge

    Many thanks for all your help and input to the case of Sgt Smith. It is much appreciated.

    I do not yet have a date for the military funeral, but will post as soon as I have information. Meanwhile, there continues to be some rather inaccurate and negative comments being made from time to time in the regional news media in France. The over-ridingly important issue, however, is the discovery and identification of Sgt Smith, his burial, and the feelings of his family. Those issues seem to have ben set aside (or to be of secondary importance) by the French provincial newspapers and others in France at this time. An unfortunate state of affairs.

    I have maintained contact with the family of Sgt Smith (some via this forum) and we hope that the impending military funeral in the spring will be a fitting tribute to Sgt Smith and bring closure and comfort to his family.
     
    Pieter F likes this.

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