In Layton Cemetery, Blackpool, Lancashire, there is headstone inscribed as follows: Private J Ozbic, 30 October 1944, Yugoslav Forces Can anyone shed any light on who Private Ozbic was and why he came to be buried in Blackpool? Regards PeterJM
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: Joseph Ozbic Death Age: 24 Birth Date: abt 1920 Registration Date: Dec 1944 Registration district: Fylde Inferred County: Lancashire Volume: 8e Page: 750 He may have been connected to SOE or other special operations. His death cert as above would tell you what he died of which may help unravel some of the mystery -- broken neck maybe a parachuting accident etc etc TD
He is mentioned in this thread here too. A researcher from the region did some research into Royal Yugoslavian Air Force members flying with Allies and his name comes up as well as an alternate spelling of his name as Josef Osbic. No information on who he was serving with though. RAFCommands
Thanks to you both. It would make sense that he was an airman as thousands were trained hereabouts. I cannot link him with any of the local flying accidents but he may well have died in some other form of accident. PeterJM
According to his death certificate Joseph Ozbic died in RAF Hospital Kirkham. He was admitted with TB and died following complications. His occupation is described as "Y364" and "Y.S.A.F.", presumably the latter meaning the Yugoslav Air Force. A sad end to man who appears to have survived a lot of hardship. PeterJM