RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: Copper1 on Wednesday 06 January 21 00:38 GMT (UK)
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I'd like to know if anyone has researched the names of those killed as a result of the incident. Apparently sources state a Hawker Hurricane was being flown in a demo of its firepower, when the pilot (who was killed on a sortie months later), mis-directed? his aim on spectators. Unproven data suggests 25 dead and 71 injured.
I presume they were all armed forces personnel but where were they buried? Where is the memorial and does anyone have an image of it?
Yes by the way, I am aware the village is still an MOD training ground.
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https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/152452
The above is a site for modern aircraft crashes worldwide. I did not realize it went back to 1942. Probably all of the deaths are registered in the relevant Registration District.
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As to be expected there are a number of newspaper reports of the tragedy. Whilst early reports say 23 dead and about 60 wounded, in answering questions in the House of Commons it was stated as 25 dead and 71 wounded. No general list of names, the ones mentioned are Major G B DAVIES and Lieut HAWKES, with Robert E P CECIL wounded.
Modified to add:
Appears that Lt John Christoper HAWKS (who died at Imber Down) wife gave birth to a son 3 days after the tragedy.
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Some death notices for those killed at Imber Down:
Lt John Christopher HAWKS
Lt Ronald B LIPMAN
James Rowland WEST
(Friday, Apr. 17, 1942 The Daily Telegraph)
Perhaps a search of death notices around the time may reveal some more names?
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The death of Ronald B. Lipman was registered in Sturminster.
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"LIPMAN, Killed at Imber Down, Lt RONALD B LIPMAN, R.A.S.C., beloved and younger son of Mr. and Mrs. A H Lipman. Funeral Willesden Cemetery, Pound-lane, 12 o'clock to-day (Friday). Prayers Sunday evening only, 8 p.m., at 38 West Heath-Drive, N.W.11"
"WEST. - On April 13, 1942, JAMES ROWLAND, of 654 Dorchester-road, Upwey, killed during Army exercises at Imber, Salisbury. Funeral service Holy Trinity Church, Dorchester to-day (Friday), 12.15 p.m. Cremation private. No flowers, please."
"HAWKS - on April 13, 1942, JOHN CHRISTOPHER HAWKS, Lt. R.A.M.C., attached London Scottish, dearly loved husband of Sara Rosamund and son of Dr. and Mrs. F. Swanson Hawks, of 45, Rodney-street, Liverpool."
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Memorial at Warminster Garrison Church
https://www.wiltshire-opc.org.uk/Items/Imber/Imber%20-%2070th%20Anniversary%20plaque%20of%20friendly%20fire.pdf
There is a photo of the memorial plaque with the names of those killed, though it is hard to read.
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There was a lot of different information as to nationality of the pilot.
"Despite the statement from the coroner McLachlan was an American who had joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and officially a "Canadian".
Normally if a serviceman is killed/died in Great Britain the remains would be returned to his family and buried at a cemetery near his home at Government expense. Some would not be found or identified.
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Thank you all for the current contributions. It gets me a little further ahead. How sad that any representation of the actual memorial is obscured by 'posed' pictures, rather than the essential epitaph to the victims by a clear vision of their names. At least the Chaplain for the Garrison Church has contact details available so I will endeavour to ask about an image more worthy of researching the incident from that source.
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Memorial photo a touch clearer.
https://dirkdeklein.net/2017/04/13/imber-friendly-fire-incident/
I checked the CWGC register and presume this is the Pilot.
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1079561/WILLIAM%20JOHN%20ANDREW%20McLACHLAN/
more on the pilot.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15258957/william-mclachlan
One of those killed.
http://www.staffshomeguard.co.uk/DotherReminiscences145Cates.htm
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Much appreciation for your concise research steve60j. You have drawn together some very important threads which would otherwise hardly been found - perhaps not at all. Fitting that at last there is now a link available to read details of the Inquiry and a summary which includes mention of the probable causal effect pilot attending, and poignant occurrence of his "MIA" barely two later.
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My Grandfather was one of the men killed. My mum was 2 at the time. The family said he had been killed by a friendly fire incident on Salisbury Plain, my Grandmother received a telegram to tell her what had happened. So it was hushed up to an extent, but we certainly knew the bare bones of what had happened.
When the plaque was unveiled to commemorate those killed it was said that efforts had been made to trace living relatives but they must have been pretty poor efforts as my Mum only lived in Somerset and could easily have been traced.
I would be interested to know more about my Grandad as all that has been lost.
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Welcome to RootsChat Beckyjuk,
Such a sad event with lasting effects in many I imagine. If you'd like to find out more about your grandfather it might be an idea to start a new thread asking for help to research him. Lots of friendly experienced people here willing to help! :)
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Hi to those for whom this incident is a matter of keen interest. My own just as a keen learner of war-time incidents such as occurred at Imber, was initially to piece together the names and later as many of the last resting-places of them all. I haven't attended to that now for some months but it was just 2/3 short of the full number.
However, a far greater priority was to find a worthy image of the memorial plaque. I am afraid the picture which is available in the public domain - linked in previous postings to this original thread, is, in my humble opinion not good enough. Sorry if that appears unkind, but it is an indisputable fact a far greater high resolution image would be justified to the memory of all those who were killed. I have written to the service chaplain for the church some time ago, but not received the courtesy of a reply.
If anyone is lucky enough to gain access, or has already taken a better image - at least 2/3MB resolution as minimum (original barely 400kb), please do this story & readers alike a greater place in history and place it on Rootschat.
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Hello, Thanks to everyone who has posted on this topic. It has resolved some queries that I had about this tragedy. Very briefly, I'm one of the admins for the Wiltshire On-Line Parish Clerks (WOPC) and am helping to find, record and remember all Wiltshire-connected people who lost their lives in conflict. I came across this tragedy and noticed that the memorial image in St. Giles Church had 25 names (the most often quoted number of fatalities) versus the 27 names mentioned in reports of the Court of Inquiry. The link in this thread to a really useful article about the Warwickshire Home Guard casualty Lt. G.G. Cates, which contained an update (in 2018) about the 2 missing names being appended (in some way) to the original memorial. I also would like to get a better image of the amended memorial. Does anyone have one? Anyway, I'll put it out to our network to see if it's possible to get a visit made to the church this year to get a quality photograph. I have the full list of casualties now, which I'm happy to share. Thanks again.