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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

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

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

Hi Val,
I think your Thomas might well be part of the family I have in my tree.
Thomas Jimmison of Staindrop married Phillis Craggs of Brancepeth on 13th May 1794 at Brancepeth.
The children that I've found so far are, George 1802 at Sedgefield, Sarah 1807 at Brancepeth, Richard 1812 at Stapleton, William 1814 at Stapleton. The family obviously moved around in their earlier years of married life before settling down in Stapleton and then Blackwell which are near neighbours. On Sarah's baptism entry she is said to be their 5th child so I am missing 3 others, at least.

Colin