Bertram Thomas Henry Scudder

[STAN54]

I was listening to my local radio station this morning and heard a request from a Rob Lanting in the Netherlands trying to find out information on the above person.

In 1943 a Halifax bomber crashed near his town and two of the seven crew were killed. In September he is unveiling a memorial to the crew and has requested help in tracing relatives of Bertram Scudder.

All he knows is that the family came from Hadleigh in Essex and that his parents were Edith Maud and Bert Henry Scudder.

I've put a link to the radio programme below which will be available for a few days no doubt.
You need to go to 2 hours 33 minutes and 24 seconds to hear the article.

Rob Lantings e-mail address was given out on air as:

lantingrob@hotmail.com

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01cdh18

Having carried out research of a seven man crew myself and building a memorial I know just how hard this type of research is and one needs all the help they can get.

Regards to all.

Chris.

[KevinBattle]

I didn't see this here until this morning, but I've posted information on the WW2Talk thread
http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/48895-help-needed-to-trace-relatives-of-airman-killed-in-holland-1943-by-dutch-researcher/
to save people researching from scratch.
We now have addresses in Hadleigh, father appears to have run a drapery store in London Road Hadleigh in Kelleys 19129 Directory (presumably with Scudder in the name?) and home address 48, Meadow Road. His mother, Edith Maud (nee Pullen) died in the 1970's.....

He flew with a mixed crew including (unusually, I think) 2 Americans, one of whom was the pilot.
Halifax Mk V DK259. Code WL-L. Equipped with Gee. Target Bochum. Take off 18:30 from Tholthorpe.

SCUDDER, BERTRAM THOMAS HENRY. Rank: Sergeant. Trade: Flt. Engr. Service No: 1582262. Date of Death: 29/09/1943. Age: 18
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 434 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn
Grave Reference: Grave 206. Cemetery: ENSCHEDE EASTERN GENERAL CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Bert Henry and Edith Maud Scudder, of Hadleigh, Essex.
(Loss Card notes as 2nd operation)
 
BELLINGER, WILLIAM GEORGE. Rank: Flying Officer. Trade: Nav. Service No: J/13120. Date of Death: 29/09/1943. Age: 21.
Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force. 434 Sqdn.
Grave Reference: Grave 207. Cemetery: ENSCHEDE EASTERN GENERAL CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Harold D. and Elvera L. Bellinger, of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
(Died in hospital of leg wounds) Loss Card shows him as bomb aimer, but crew member(s) say Navigator.
 
2nd Lt Jackson Temple Clary (pilot) USAAF Service Number O.885969; escaped; (18 operations)
Pilot Officer G V Hastings, Navigator, CAN/J17665; PoW;
Pilot Officer J A L Lockhart W/Op; CAN/J18450; PoW;
Technical Sergeant R W Stuart USAAF; 10601019; (mid upper) PoW;
Pilot Officer C V Hovey CAN/J17408 (rear) PoW.

Name: Bertram T H Scudder. Mother's Maiden Surname: Pullen. Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1925
Registration District: London City, Greater London. Volume: 1c. Page: 2

(This makes him one of the younger RAF casualties, at possibly less than 18 years and 3 months.)

Hopefully those of you with Southend connections can pick up the trail from the above, with a successful conclusion!

Only in June was I involved in something similar, for a crew member with and address in Hastings.
I contacted the Hastings RBL Branch and astonishingly spoke to a lady who was his cousin! Despite the short time, she was able (with the help of her family) to drive through the night to be there for the unveiling of the memorial, on the actual 70th anniversary of his death.

If it's meant to happen, it will happen, we just need to give Fate a helping hand!

[Jool]

Hi, there is a tree on Anc. showing the parents

Bert Albert Henry Scudder b. 1899 Essex d. 1970
Edith M M Pullen b. abt. 1900 Essex
married July Q 1924 Rochford
It shows they had 3 children, 2 sons, 1 daughter (details private in tree). At least we know Bertram had siblings.

[KevinBattle]

Blimey!
Quick work!
I'm just looking at that Tree!! (Pain?)
Do you want to make contact, alerting them to the search?
I think all threads lead to Rome, as they say!

Hadleigh and Rochford are both on the outskirts of Southend (my birthplace is shown as Rochford, as that was the maternity hospital for the Southend area) so similarly could be for a Hadleigh baby too!

Thanks for that, everyone pitching in with a bit here and there, we'll soon have the jigsaw done!

[Jool]

Hi, I have just sent a message to the tree owner with a link to this thread.

Jool

[KevinBattle]

Brilliant! Let's hope they are relations and able to make 29 September in Enschede.

That's what is great about these forums, everyone doing a bit to help
Much appreciate your involvement, it may just be the one break needed!

[Jool]

The tree owner has a photo of Bertram's aunt so he must have some contact with the Scudder family

[STAN54]

Well done to all so far. It would be great if we can help this chap In Holland.

[Jool]

I've had a look on freebmd for Bertram's siblings.  Searching Scudder, mother's maiden name Pullen there is only Bertram listed.  There are 2 later entries Scudder, mmn PULLIN,  1 male, 1 female both in Hammersmith, but after a bit of mooching it seems they are the children of a Richard Scudder and Ellen Pullin