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Topic: 16 Acre Plantation, Blaxton (Read 1020 times)
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Colin Cruddace
RootsChat Member
Posts: 244
My Grandparents
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Hello All,
Flying Officer William Gordon Craig DFC, Royal Australian Air Force, was based at Croft, North Yorkshire, and sadly died on 8th April 1945 just 2 weeks before the Squadron's final operational mission. His death certificate states that the place of death was Sixteen Acre Plantation, Wroot Road, Blaxton, and the cause was 'Due to War Operations'. It was registered in the Don Valley sub-district of Bawtry and Tickhill.
I am trying to find out the circumstances of his death but Darlington local papers only had an announcement of his death.
Does anyone have access to Blaxton's local paper and be willing to check? It would be very much appreciated as I doubt if his service records (which are awaited) would have those details, and I think his squadron was one of the Royal Canadian Air Force, so mission reports are likely to be in Canada somewhere, but I haven't tried for those yet.
Regards,
Colin
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Colin Cruddace
RootsChat Member
Posts: 244
My Grandparents
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Hi Pam,
Thanks very much for the offer to check the papers, it's very much appreciated. I saw that Finningley was near to Wroot Rd. and wondered if it might have been a domestic flight between bases, but as far as I can tell, he flew Halifax and Lancaster bombers so perhaps that would be unlikely.
Regards,
Colin
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winston
RootsChat Aristocrat
Posts: 2773
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HI
Did your man marry and leave a wife behind?
Wendy
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Any census information included in this post is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.ukBlakeley in Batley West Yorks Turner in Hanging Heaton West Yorkshire Dann last known area Soothill West Yorks Hirst in Hanging heaton W Yorks Moss in Morley and Leeds Parker in Morley W Yorks Parker in Hull E Yorks Tilburns in Morley W Yorks |
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Colin Cruddace
RootsChat Member
Posts: 244
My Grandparents
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Hi Pam and Wendy,
Thanks very much for your interest and suggestions. I found Lindholme with no problem. It's interesting to see the place on Google satellite maps where you can see the outlines of a couple of the former runways.
I've been able to find a lot of information about him but not the action leading to the award of his DFC, nor the circumstances of his death.
He appears on the Australian Roll of Honour at www.ww2roll.gov.au.
William Gordon Craig married Olive Mary Swainston (my mother's cousin) on10th August 1944 at Darlington
The award of his DFC was Gazetted on 13th October 1944, as an Acting Flt Lieut
His funeral and burial took place in Darlington on 10th April 1945 and a local newspaper report says he was awarded the DFC two months 'before' his marriage.
I'm still waiting for his service records which might have the DFC details, but I doubt if his death will have much detail, which is why I'm trying for newspaper reports as the best option.
The added problem is that he was an Australian pilot, assigned to a Canadian squadron, flying RAF missions. 431 squadron RCAF was disbanded not long after the war but records should be available somewhere. I haven't tried for those yet.
Best wishes to you both,
Colin
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winston
RootsChat Aristocrat
Posts: 2773
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HI Colin
Hopefully this link will have worked and does show you why your William G Craig DFC was granted his award
http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/awm192/00305/003050752.pdf
Wendy
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Any census information included in this post is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.ukBlakeley in Batley West Yorks Turner in Hanging Heaton West Yorkshire Dann last known area Soothill West Yorks Hirst in Hanging heaton W Yorks Moss in Morley and Leeds Parker in Morley W Yorks Parker in Hull E Yorks Tilburns in Morley W Yorks |
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Colin Cruddace
RootsChat Member
Posts: 244
My Grandparents
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Deb D, thanks for the link. His records have been requested from the NAA, but I'm too impatient to wait for their arrival.
Wendy, those details are marvelous, many thanks once again.
Now it's a case of trying to find out how he died. I'd imagined something like limping back home from a mission but couldn't make it back to Croft and tried to make an emergency landing. It would be tragic if it turned out to be a routine domestic flight.
Regards,
Colin
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winston
RootsChat Aristocrat
Posts: 2773
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HI Colin
Also found this but still doesn't say how he died or what caused his death
http://www.awm.gov.au/roh/person.asp?p=148-30832
Wendy
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Any census information included in this post is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.ukBlakeley in Batley West Yorks Turner in Hanging Heaton West Yorkshire Dann last known area Soothill West Yorks Hirst in Hanging heaton W Yorks Moss in Morley and Leeds Parker in Morley W Yorks Parker in Hull E Yorks Tilburns in Morley W Yorks |
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Colin Cruddace
RootsChat Member
Posts: 244
My Grandparents
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Hi Wendy,
Those details put a whole new light on it. It now looks as though he might have received his DFC on completion of his quota of active missions, and was then transferred or appointed to a Flying Instructors School. He may have died while training new pilots.
Thanks,
Colin
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Colin Cruddace
RootsChat Member
Posts: 244
My Grandparents
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Hi Pam,
It's very good of you to have gone to all that trouble, thank you very much. I've been told that the RAF Museum at Hendon might be able to provide some details, but I'll wait for the service records to arrive before I go down that avenue.
Thanks again for your help,
Colin
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