The Lincoln School Memorial for World War 2
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THE LINCOLN SCHOOL MEMORIAL FOR WORLD WAR 2 From the Garton Archive at Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School Occasional Paper by David Pape With a foreword by Chris Williams Foreword This article in the Occasional Paper series from the Garton Archive was inspired by earlier work by Graham McAdam on those former pupils of Lincoln School who were lost in the Great War, and whose names are remembered on the War Memorial in the cloisters at Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School (LCHS). The Occasional by Graham McAdam, referenced below, was developed from contemporary copies of The Lincolnian and external sources. It also contains additional detail from other sources including major research work by Mick Wall, a member of the staff of LCHS. Past Heroes of Our School by Michael G Wall BSc is the source of the individual records of all Old Lincolnians lost in both world wars; the result of years of diligent research and collation. It is possibly unique in state schools in the UK. The folder includes all information on the fallen from all three services in both world wars. For our RAF100 display on Heritage Open Day in September 2018 we only included airmen, albeit two from the Fleet Air Arm, formed in 1924 as part of the RAF, and then placed under Royal Navy command in 1939. Until then no-one had attempted to create a table for the Second World War comparable to the McAdam one. A first rudimentary table on airmen from both wars was compiled by me in September 2018. It required further work, but even in its basic state allows some at-a-glance comparisons with the Great War. From looking at the overall totals on the LCHS memorial, rounded up slightly to 50 in each war, there are a number of key points that immediately emerge: - proportions – in the Great War 10% of the Lincoln School deaths (5) were in the RAF and its predecessors; in War World Two it was over 40% (21%); - global spread – in the First War all were lost on the Western Front or England, whereas in 1939-1945 the deaths occurred in conflict areas across Europe, Africa and Asia, and ‘safe’ training areas in Canada, Kenya and South Africa; - Lincolnshire’s title as “Bomber County” is illustrated clearly by the types of aircraft being flown by the casualties, especially Lancasters; - Accidents or air-raids were responsible for 20% (1/5) of the Great War deaths from this small sample, but 33% (7/21) of those in the Second World War. One need, which became apparent on Heritage Open Day, was to create a core document in a table similar to Graham McAdam’s, again relying heavily on Mick Wall’s research. Dave Pape volunteered to take on this task and produced the following splendid document, which goes far beyond the original ambition, and expands on Mick Wall’s seminal document. September 2019 will mark the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of World War Two. We are publishing this Occasional Paper at the beginning of the year for two main reasons. The first is to provide a fuller and public record to commemorate those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The second is to launch a search for narrative, photographs and possibly memorabilia relating to the wartime experiences of the young men and women from the schools which merged in 1974. There are probably former pupils of the schools who have personal memories of the war either as civilians or combattants. They may also have tales told to them later by their parents. These stories were often suppressed for many years after the fighting ended, but this may now be an opportune moment for them to be shared with a wider audience before they are forgotten. Please contact the Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School Archivists via our Main Reception on 01522.881144 or by email on [email protected] The Records Name Rank Unit Death History Memorial ADAMSON Flying Officer 570 Sqn RAF 4th March Thomas Adamson was an Air Bomber (bomb aimer), he completed extensive Buried in Thomas Johnston RAFVR 1944 operations over Germany and Italy with 78 Sqn. He was awarded the Distinguished Orleans Main No 146346 Flying Medal DFM, after 25 operational sorties “some of which over the most heavily Cemetery, with defended areas of Germany” – “shown great pluck” – “guided his captain over the target four crewmates. with determination” (London Gazette 11/6/43) at that point he held the rank of Sergeant. Plot 2, Row A, In 1942/3 78 Sqn was a night bomber squadron flying Halifax heavy bombers from RAF Grave 20. Middleton St George (now Durham Tees Valley Airport) and RAF Linton on Ouse, North Yorks. Sgt. Adamson was Commissioned, to the rank of Pilot Officer, (London Gazette 10May43) Flying Officer Adamson died 4th March 1944. Whilst serving with 570 Sqn which was stationed at RAF Hurn, Dorset and amongst other things was tasked with supporting the SOE in occupied France. Fg Off Adamson took off with four other crew in Armstrong Whitworth Albermarle V1641, Sqn code TT, at 9.12pm on 3rd March 1944 on a supply dropping mission to the French Resistance. The aircraft did not return. It was reported shot down near Chateaudun. There was no German night fighter claim, so it was possibly shot down by ground fire. There is talk on one of the websites that the crew survived the crash and were executed by the Germans along with the family who were hiding them. (this last info is quoted from a family member and is not from an official source) ANDREW Jack Sergeant RAF, unit not 15th Feb Jack Andrew was killed while flying a Beaufighter from RAF Ford, Sussex. Classed as Buried in St RAFVR known. 1943 killed on active service. Chad’s No 1042366 churchyard extension, Dunholme. BAILEY Norman RAFVR 5th Sept Norman Bailey joined the RAFVR, but was diagnosed with Epilepsy and classed as . Thomas 1945 unfit. He died whilst swimming at Boultham Baths. Not included on the School War Memorial but included here as volunteered for service Name Rank Unit Death History Memorial BARTON John Chaplain 4th Army Padre 25th Sept Revd. John Barton was awarded the Military Cross during the Tunisian Campaign in Buried in Godfrey Class 1944 November 1943. Coriano Ridge No 144935 In Sept 1944 allied forces were involved in fierce fighting at Coriano Ridge, Revd. Cemetery, BARTON was probably a victim of this. Riccione, Italy. Grave ref xvii.H.3 BIGGIN Douglas Ordinary HMS Canopus 27th Apr Douglas Biggin served on Destroyer HMS Fernie, involved in evacuation of Le Havre Plymouth Naval Alan Elmhurst Seaman, 1942 and Cherbourg in 9th June 1940 and convoy escort duties. Memorial, Panel Royal Navy HMS Canopus was RN shore based establishment in Alexandria, Egypt, school records 67 Column 1 D/JX228982 indicate died at sea. no details known. BISHOP Denzil Flight 625 Squadron Reported Flt Sgt Bishop was a pilot. In 1944 625 Squadron was based at RAF Kelstern, north No known Yorke Sergeant RAF missing west of Louth and flew Avro Lancaster heavy bombers. grave, RAFVR and Lancaster ME731 Sqn code CF-S, piloted by Flt Sgt Bishop, took off from RAF remembered on No 947234 recorded Kelstern at 23.47 on 20th April 1944. The target for the sortie was Cologne. At 03.02 on Runnymede as died 21st April 1944 the aircraft was shot down by a German night fighter northwest of Memorial, 21st Apr Westkapelle and crashed into the North Sea. All members of the crew were posted Surrey, Panel 1944 missing in action. 215. Also Memorial Gates, Saxilby Playing Field BROWN Dennis Not Known Not Known School Presumably served in the armed forces but currently no further information known. Not Known records In March 1943 the British Eighth Army was advancing along the North African coast show - leading to the surrender of Axis forces in North Africa in May 1943. missing in North Africa presume d Killed March 1943 CLARK Raymond Sergeant Flying 9th Dec Sgt Clark was a flying instructor. He was reported as being killed in a flying accident in Vulcan Arthur RAFVR Instructor 1942 Alberta Canada. Cemetery, No 1218320 Alberta Canada, Name Rank Unit Death History Memorial During WW2, 42,110 RAF Aircrew were trained in Canada. Sgt. Clarke’s Grave is in Grave ref. plot Vulcan Cemetery. Alberta. RCAF Station Vulcan was an airfield close to the town of 226 Vulcan, in southern Alberta, Canada and in 1942 hosted No.2 Flying Instructor School. Also on War Memorial Lincoln High St. CULLEN Charles Flight 153 Squadron 23rd Jan Served in the Lincolnshire Constabulary and enlisted in the RAFVR in 1941 and Runnymede Leslie Sergeant RAF 1945 became an Air Bomber, training in South Africa in 1942 and Canada in 1943. Memorial, panel RAFVR In January 1945 153 Sqn was based at RAF Scampton. 270. No 1439614 At 16.45 hrs, 22nd Jan 1945, Lancaster PB636, Code P4-D, took off from RAF War Memorial Scampton on an operation to target the Benzol plant in the Bruckhausen area of High Street, Duisberg, Germany. Flt Sgt Cullen was listed as the Air Bomber (bomb aimer). The Lincoln aircraft and crew failed to return and no trace was ever found of them. DRUMMOND Lieutenant 7th Bn. Argyll 21st Jul Lt Drummond joined the regular army, Black Watch Regiment from school. After 18 Catania War Angus Hamilton and 1943 months he transferred to 4th Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment. He also served with Royal Cemetery, Sutherland Sussex and Highland Light Infantry, Reconnaissance Corps and the Royal Marines.