Bertram Thomas Henry Scudder

[RobLanting]

Everybody,

Somebody found a newsarticle about the death of the wife of George Hastings, the navigator on the Halifax bomber. Unfortunately George died in 2002 and his wife, last april.

The guy in the guestbook said George and Margaret where very close friends and he was with them a lot in his childhood. I fortunately found him on Facebook and sent him a message.

To be continued.

Rob

[Jool]

Clarence Y Hovey headstone, possibly our C Y Hovey
http://www.canadianheadstones.com/on/view.php?id=266338

[RobLanting]

Clarence Y Hovey headstone, possibly our C Y Hovey
http://www.canadianheadstones.com/on/view.php?id=266338

Jool, thanks a lot! We did not have his gravestone yet.. This will get us a bit closer.

[Jool]

Just saw the post on WW2talk re. the phone number of J Hovey.  The address is exactly the same an an entry for C Y Hovey in the 1995/1996 Canadian phone directory.  Must be a relation!

Jool

[KevinBattle]

I've already contacted the Hadleigh History Society in Jool's link, with details of the search for Bertram.

I didn't realise he had such a royal lineage, they could have snuck an Alfred or Ethelred in his names! With my luck, my 31st ggfather probably fed Alfreds pigs!

Glad to see such progress, we now have all the full names and though the crew members themselves have passed on, the hope is that relatives will get to hear of the search.

2nd Lt Jackson Temple Clary (pilot) USAAF Service Number O.885969; escaped; (18 operations)
Pilot Officer George Victor Hastings, Navigator, CAN/J17665; PoW;
Pilot Officer Ivan Arthur Lewis Lockhart W/Op; CAN/J18450; PoW;
Technical Sergeant Richard William Stuart USAAF; 10601019; (mid upper) PoW;
Pilot Officer Clarence York Hovey CAN/J17408 (rear) PoW.

Apart from Clary who was smuggled through the Comete escape line to Gibraltar and back to the UK by November '43, the rest were in Stalag Luft III before being released/repatriated in July 1945.

If Rob could tell us how the search progresses and come back with details of the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the crash, that's all we ask.

It's great how so much has been gathered so quickly, thanks to you all.

[RobLanting]

I've already contacted the Hadleigh History Society in Jool's link, with details of the search for Bertram.

I didn't realise he had such a royal lineage, they could have snuck an Alfred or Ethelred in his names! With my luck, my 31st ggfather probably fed Alfreds pigs!

Glad to see such progress, we now have all the full names and though the crew members themselves have passed on, the hope is that relatives will get to hear of the search.

2nd Lt Jackson Temple Clary (pilot) USAAF Service Number O.885969; escaped; (18 operations)
Pilot Officer George Victor Hastings, Navigator, CAN/J17665; PoW;
Pilot Officer Ivan Arthur Lewis Lockhart W/Op; CAN/J18450; PoW;
Technical Sergeant Richard William Stuart USAAF; 10601019; (mid upper) PoW;
Pilot Officer Clarence York Hovey CAN/J17408 (rear) PoW.

Apart from Clary who was smuggled through the Comete escape line to Gibraltar and back to the UK by November '43, the rest were in Stalag Luft III before being released/repatriated in July 1945.

If Rob could tell us how the search progresses and come back with details of the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the crash, that's all we ask.

It's great how so much has been gathered so quickly, thanks to you all.

Hi Kevin,

On the moment it is getting crazy. Good progresses though! Scudder relatives have contacted me today, which is great! Geoff in Australia contacted me, as a far cousin. Iam also in contact with another relative of him in the UK.

On the moment Iam close on Hastings in the Winnipeg area. I have contacted a guy who said he was close with the family. George died in 2002 and his wife in 2013. I also emailed a few radiostations around Winnipeg with our story.

We received Hovey and Bellinger telephone numbers, who are possibly relatives. Iam thinking to ask a Canadian who wants to call for us, due to the reception will be much better and your English is a bit better. Anyone who wants to try to call?

Otherwise I will ask my teammates to try it tomorrow.

Thanks all for your help, Kevin and all the others, great work!

Rob

[KevinBattle]

Thanks are not really due to me, Chris (Stan) picked up on it and people here with far better skills than mine were able to find the links.

The reward will actually be in knowing that we succeeded and despite the passage of 70 years, these men are not forgotten.

Please use your contacts in Canada, they will be on the same Time Zone!

Keep us posted, as we will you!

[Geoff Pain]

Edith Maud Scudder (nee Pullen), Bertram's mother died at 39 Norwood Drive, Benfleet, Essex in 1979. This might help if anyone is checking for so far unknown siblings of Bertram.
The solicitors handling her probate were Ashley Kalms Travell & Co., 56 London Road, Southend-on-Sea. (Source - The London Gazette 9 Oct 1980)
Geoff

[STAN54]

Hi Geoff, that is interesting information. Since Phil on WW2talk found the fathers last known address and year of death I've traced his death certificate. On Monday I ordered a copy of this and it should be with me hopefully in today's post.

When we have the name of the relative from this document we can use it in a newspaper appeal adding what you've just provided. Kevin is going to approach the Southend Echo informing them of Rob Lantings project and of the desire to trace relatives.

I've also been in contact with David Smith in London Ontario who has carried out successful research of this nature many times. David was instrumental in helping me with my own project and even came over to the U.K. to attend our Lancaster Crew memorial unveiling ceremony in Colchester this Spring.
David may be able to help with this project as well and is looking at the information accumulated to date.

Best regards,

Chris.