RootsChat.Com

Many thanks for finding this, I certainly will, I have pm's you.

The site where the picture will be added is here. Its a work in progress so more detail will be added as we progress, but now we have photos of all seven crew, which is unusual and a first in the 50 or so similar projects I have worked on since 2008


http://www.absa3945.com/Pertes%20Bretagne/Morbihan/pertes_raf_morbihan.htm

http://www.absa3945.com/Pertes%20Bretagne/Morbihan/29%20Janvier%201943/Halifax%20HR662.htm

Thank you, I will see if I can contact the original poster. Much appreciated

Hi, my name is Fletcher Smyth. William is my Grandfather. Unfortunately, he died more than 30 years ago. However, his son, my father is still alive. He lives in South Africa and I am sure would be able to provide you with further details.

Thank you Fletcher, you might be interested in the site we created dedicated to your Grandfathers crew

https://www.absa3945.com/Pertes%20Bretagne/Cotes%20Armor/28%20septembre%201941/blenheim_iv_z6163.htm

Translated by google here

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.absa3945.com%2FPertes%2520Bretagne%2FCotes%2520Armor%2F28%2520septembre%25201941%2Fblenheim_iv_z6163.htm

and

https://www.absa3945.com/Pertes%20Bretagne/Cotes%20Armor/28%20septembre%201941/SMYTH.htm

greetings,

I am assisting a group of Amateur Historians in Brittany (ABSA) to document WW2 aircraft losses in their area.  One of the aircraft I'm helping with is Blenheim Z6163 of 500 Squadron. It crash landed near Brest in September 1941. The three man crew were unharmed, escaped from the aircraft and successfully evaded capture for 6 weeks, before finally being arrested after a search by the Germans in Nantes. The three men spent the rest of the war in a variety of PoW camps including the famous Stalag Luft III.

The crew were :

Pilot Officer. REECE, FRANCIS (Dunedin, NZ)
Sergeant. SMYTH HENRY W. (Belfast, Northern Ireland)
Sergeant. APPLEYARD JAMES DOUGLAS (Ontario, Canada)
the site we have created is here: http://www.absa3945.com/Pertes%20Bretagne/Cotes%20Armor/28%20septembre%201941/blenheim_iv_z6163.htm We are trying to include a picture of each of the men and possibly some background.

I have copies of the POW report which each man completed in 1945, and I can see that William Henry Smyth was born in 1915 and gave an address on North Rd, Belfast at his time of enlistment. his trade was Furniture Salesman.

I also have copies of pictures taken at the time of the Aircraft ditched on the beach at Brest.

If anyone knows anything about William Henry Smyth or can provide any pointers I would be very interested to hear. This is an entirely amateur effort, both for me and the French association. ABSA would simply like some background on William and ideally a picture, to put along side his fellow crew members. It is possible he is still alive, though alas, his two comrades have since passed away.

many thanks


Jonathan

I too am searching for a Gilmour from Bute.

I'm trying to trace the family of the pilot of an RAF Lancaster that was shot down near Rennes in France in 1944.
He was from Rothsay, Buteshire and I think his father may have been the Postmaster.

Here is what I know:

Aircraft was Lancaster BI LL841 Code VN-O of 50 Squadron

Pilot Officer (Pilot). GILMOUR JOHN. 50 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Coll. grave XVI. D. 3-6. BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY.  Son of John and Margaret Beatrice Gilmour, of Rothesay, Buteshire.

John Gilmour Snr's death certificate d.3 Mar 1950 and his occupation was listed as Postmaster (retired) . He was living at Ardmount, Armory Road, Rothsay and this may have been where Flying Officer Gilmour was from. His   death was reported by E.J. Foot- who is recorded as an acquaintance.  Margaret Beatrice Gilmour (nee Ballantine) died in 1970 on Bute aged 85.

I believe that FO Gilmours grandfather was William Gilmour , originally from Ireland, and his grandmother was Elizabeth. the family are listed in the 1901 census living in Glasgow t 8 Woodside Place and Williams trade is telegraph Clerk, with one daughter listed as Telephone Operator. So clearly the family had a tradition of postal and telegraphic service.


I'd be very interested to hear from relatives of this family. I'm working with a Group in France with a group who want to  create a memorial to the crew of this aircraft. Any pictures or biographical information about F/O John Gilmour would be very gratefully received.

my email is (*)

many thanks

Jonathan

(*) Moderator Comment: e-mail removed in accordance with RootsChat policy,
to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.

New members must make at least three postings before being allowed to use the PM facility.
See Help-Page:  http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php