Thread: A Caribbean Roll of Honour - WW1 & WW2

Hi Jerome - very well done.

I quickly looked through to see if there was anything I could contribute. The only death in Australia on the Roll of Honour was an Air Force death in Sydney. I have provided what I can find, I hope it is of help.


File type - Casualty - Repatriation; Aircraft - Mosquito MV1-HR576; Place - Petersham, New South Wales; Date - 2 May 1945

PILOT - ROCHFORD, David George - (Flight Lieutenant); Service Number - RAF 106025

BOYDELL, CHARLES BROUGHTON (C. B.) – (Leading Aircraftman); Service Number – 444885 (Passenger – Aircrew trainee) - Place of birth - TUL-MI-CHUNG KOREA (Photo of 1945 grave marker on his file)

02/05/1945 1145 hrs – “Aircraft on fire disintegrated in dive and crashed on buildings”. Court of Inquiry determined wing failure. (Crash report File available). Aircraft was on flight test from Mascot Airport. Reference is made to the conduct of the funeral services for the two servicemen.

regards


Dave


ROCHFORD, DAVID GEORGE Initials: D G Nationality: Trinidad Rank: Flight Lieutenant Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 618 Sqdn. Date of Death: 02/05/1945 Service No: 106025 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 2W. B. 14. Cemetery: SYDNEY WAR CEMETERY,AUSTRALIA

Dave, thanks for the input on Rochford. I have a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy of an Oz newpaper clipping of the crash - really poor quality - will upload it when i can resuscitate my dead hard drive.
Official letter to his wife stated cause of crash cannot be determined - interesting that CoI states wing failure. Thanks

Have you seen this already Jerome ? there is also something in The Times 8th May 1945 page 8 col 5 ..... about Flight Lieutenant David Rochford .... but I can't pull it up ..... !!

Mosquito HR576 RAF (UK) disintegrated over the inner western Sydney suburbs of Leichhardt and Petersham on 2 May 1945 during an air test flight. The crew of two were killed but fortunately no one on the ground was seriously injured by the falling debris of the Mosquito. The Daily Telegraph of 3 May 1945 stated that two civilians were injured and a total of 18 properties were damaged. Five houses were set on fire by the falling debris.
It was suspected that a violent pull out from a power dive, with its associated high 'g' forces may have led to the structural failure of the aircraft. The two crew members tried to eject from the aircraft but they were not high enough for their parachutes to open. Flight Lieutenant David Rochford of Oxford, England and LAC Charles Boydell from Mosman were both killed. F/Lt Rochford's body was found in the playground of Petersham Public School while LAC Boydell's body was found on the roof of a railway building about 100 metres away.

2 May 1945 - Crash of a Mosquito over the suburbs of Sydney, NSW

This is what I had on the two.

File type - Casualty - Repatriation; Aircraft - Mosquito MV1-HR576; Place - Petersham, New South Wales; Date - 2 May 1945

PILOT - ROCHFORD, David George - (Flight Lieutenant); Service Number - RAF 106025

BOYDELL, CHARLES BROUGHTON (C. B.) – (Leading Aircraftman); Service Number – 444885 (Passenger – Aircrew trainee) - Place of birth - TUL-MI-CHUNG KOREA (Photo of 1945 grave marker on his file)

02/05/1945 1145 hrs – “Aircraft on fire disintegrated in dive and crashed on buildings”. Court of Inquiry determined wing failure. (Crash report File available). Aircraft was on flight test from Mascot Airport. Reference is made to the conduct of the funeral services for the two servicemen.

In Memory of
Flight Lieutenant DAVID GEORGE ROCHFORD

106025, 618 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died
on 02 May 1945

Remembered with honour
SYDNEY WAR CEMETERY

In Memory of
Leading Aircraftman CHARLES BROUGHTON BOYDELL

444885, Royal Australian Air Force
who died age 24
on 02 May 1945
Son of William Guy Broughton Boydell and Roi St. George Boydell, of Mosman.
Remembered with honour
SYDNEY WAR CEMETERY

And a little more"

Seems they were flying the Mosquitoes that were designed to drop the bouncing bombs against Japanese shipping.

Narromine Airfield, Narromine, New South Wales, during WW2

2-5-45
F/Lt David Rochford RAF
LAC Charles Boydell RAAF, age 24
Sydney War Cemetery

618 Sqdn
Mosquito FB.VI, HR576
Aircraft disintegrated over Sydney during test flight
19-6-45
F/O Ernest Bell RAF, age 25
F/Lt Edward Sillito DFC, RAF, age 24
Benalla War Cemetery, VIC
618 Sqdn
Mosquito PR.XVI, NS735
Crashed in flames enroute from Laverton VIC to Narromine
27-7-45
S/Ldr James McGoldrick RAAF, age 27
F/Lt Francis French RAF, age 36
Narromine War Cemetery
618 Sqdn
Mosquito FB.VI, HR614
Crashed beside railway line in Narromine - control lost whilst manoeuvring at low altitude

Mosquito PR.XVI NS735 of 618 Squadron RAF (UK) disintegrated over the inner western Sydney suburbs of Leichhardt and Petersham on 2 May 1945 during an air test flight. The crew of two were killed but fortunately no one on the ground was seriously injured by the falling debris of the Mosquito. The Daily Telegraph of 3 May 1945 stated that two civilians were injured and a total of 18 properties were damaged. Five houses were set on fire by the falling debris.

It was suspected that a violent pull out from a power dive, with its associated high 'g' forces may have lead to the structural failure of the aircraft. The two crew members tried to eject from the aircraft but they were not high enough for their parachutes to open.

Wendy Harvey was only 6 weeks old when her father Flight Lieutenant David Rochford of Oxford, England was killed in this tragic incident. LAC Charles Boydell from Mosman was the other crew member killed in this crash. F/Lt Rochford's body was found in the playground of Petersham Public School while LAC Boydell's body was found on the roof of a railway building about 100 metres away.

:2 May 1945 - Crash of a Mosquito over the suburbs of Sydney, NSW

There is a memorial plaque to the to airmen at the old school.

Thanks Annie & Spidge. Good links - will contact Vic Whitley

I have a book on 618 Sqn by Des Curtis sent to me by one of my book angels in the UK. Will have a look through it to see if there's any reference. I believe Kitty and Kyt have the same book so they might get to it before me.

I wonder if the inquiry gave any consideration to wing failure through structural deterioration (the problems encountered with Mossies in warmer climates)?

Originally Posted by Jerome

I have just set up a website, Caribbean Roll of Honour , which contains in one location the names of West Indian Service persons killed/died on active service in both World Wars. Included are Merchant Marine & Civilians killed as a result of enemy action.

Eventually I hope to expand it to include all West Indian service persons - not just the dead - but this will depend on how much space the site host allows me. I am also thinking of adding a page for those non West Indians buried on West Indian soil.

It is incomplete and data continues to be uploaded as and when acquired, so do please feel free to wade in with your corrections/additions.
Jerome

Hi Jerome,

Went to the National Memorial on sunday and there was a place for those shot at dawn which included one of your West Indian casualties. There is a post for each soldier who was shot at dawn for military offences and its laid out in a semi circle each post having a plaque to each soldier. I have taken a photo of your guy so if you want a emailed copy please let me know and i will send you one.
Regards
Sniper