Finding relatives of missing airgunner William Robert Louth of Hayes Middlesex

[David Van Coolwijk]

Currently I am researching the crash of Halifax bomber JB803 KN-G, which crashed in my hometown Muiden, the Netherlands.

We are erecting a monument in honour of the crew of this Halifax.

I am looking for information about William Robert Louth of Hayes Middlesex and relatives, also we are looking for a photo of him. He is the only crewmember still missing. The other 6 died when the Halifax crashed and were buried in Muiden.

Why am I looking for information and relatives? There is a good chance we have traced where Louth is buried.

The day after the crash a wounded RAF airman was found near Muiden. He was unconscious and died on may 13th without ever waking up. He had no means of identification on his body. He was buried in a grave as an unknown airman of the RAF. I have tried several museums and archives, but without luck. They adviced me to use social media.

Is there anyone who can help me out? Are there any relatives still alive? An unconfirmed source said he had been married. But I have not been able to find anything on that. He was born 31 st October 1920. I am also not sure if he was born in Hayes, Middlesex

I have tried the Yorkshire Airmuseum, www.cwgc.org and several others, but without result.


Thank you in advance!

[crisane]

The CWGC has him as being killed 1 May 1943 but as you say no family mentioned.
I can't see a birth registration of a William R(obert) Louth on FreeBMD in the Dec 1/4 of 1920 which would have given his mother's maiden name.
You could apply to the MoD for his service record but they charge 30 pounds. You wouldn't need a copy of his death certificate as he is on the CWGC site.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records

There is a William R Louth born 31 Oct 1920 on the 1939 register on ancestry (Findmypast will have it too) occupation Clerk, Public Works but he is living with a McCormack family in the Hayes and Harlington U.D., Middlesex,  - no other Louths in the household so if he did marry it was after 1939

[philipsearching]

A warm welcome to Rootschat, and huge thanks to you and the people of Muiden.

Rootschatters love a challenge!

There are baptisms between 1915 and 1926 in Middlesex for
LOUTH Edwin (Brentford 1918) mmn MORRIS
LOWETH Pauline (Fulham 1919) mmn MOORE
LOWTH Victor (Islington 1919) mmn GODWIN
LOWTHE Patricia (Brentford 1920) mmn HANNON
LOUTH William T (Mile End 1920) mmn MITCHELL
LOWETH Sidney (Fulham 1920) mmn MOORE
LOWTH Albert ((Kingston 1921) mmn WETHERFIELD
LOUTH George (Barnet 1921) mmn SMITH
LOUTH Lilian (Mile End 1922) mmn MITCHELL
LOWTH William A (Edmonton 1923) mmn SMALL
LOWTH Mary (Brentford 1925) mmn STOCKTON
LOWETH Irene (Fulham 1926) mmn MOORE
LOWTH Joyce (Hendon 1926) mmn TEW

- so nothing remotely resembling William (or an obvious family for him).

The only candidate I could find on FreeBMD in England/Wales is:
LOWTH William, Dec qtr 1920 Blandford (Dorset) vol 5a p370 mmn HULL

It would be very useful to find him on the 1939 register or a death before 1939.
(UPDATE - I can't see a death 1920-1939 matching a birth c1920)

Philip

[David Van Coolwijk]

We have been able to find an address he was registered at in 1939:  75 Nield Road Hayes - occupation Clerk Public Works. The house was registered to a: Peter McCornmick

Apparently he rented a room or something, my guess is that Louth wasn't born in Hayes...

[philipsearching]

The only candidate I could find on FreeBMD in England/Wales is:
LOWTH William, Dec qtr 1920 Blandford (Dorset) vol 5a p370 mmn HULL

It would be very useful to find him on the 1939 register or a death before 1939.
(UPDATE - I can't see a death 1920-1939 matching a birth c1920)

The Blandford birth would tie in with:
Marriage Dec qtr 1919 Blandford vol 5a p688 on same page William LOWTH and Charlotte D HULL
Birth Mar qtr 1900 Blandford vol 5a p221 HULL Charlotte Daisy, mmn POORE

Philip

[David Van Coolwijk]

Interesting..... Maybe his name was misspelled. I recall that in a record of him his name was spelled Lough. This lad is very mysterious.

I think we can safely say that he is not from Haye Middelsex then, at least not born there.

[Jool]

There is a probate record for William Lowth (husband of Charlotte) stating that he died 10 Queens Crescent, Botwell Lane, HAYES on 21st July 1935.  Administration at BLANDFORD to Charlotte Daisy Lowth, widow.

[Jool]

Nield Road, where William (junior) was living in 1939 is also off Botwell Lane.

[philipsearching]

There is a probate record for William Lowth (husband of Charlotte) stating that he died 10 Queens Crescent, Botwell Lane, HAYES on 21st July 1935.  Administration at BLANDFORD to Charlotte Daisy Lowth, widow.

What a great find!  That provides a link between Blandford and Hayes.

Jool's link of Nield Road to Botwell Lane is another powerful link.

crisane and my cousin and fellow Rootschatter ayashi have not found another match in 1939 for William born 1920.


For information, and in respectful tribute:
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=51988

Philip