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I am once again indebted to Duncan Campbell for the below image of the North Sydney War Memorial. On this day we remember the three Australian crew members aboard Lancaster ED559: F/O Harry Riding - Wireless Operator — RAAF 403699 (age 25) of West Maitland, New South Wales, Australia F/O Errol C. Crapp - Navigator — RAAF 411113 (age 24) of Singleton, New South Wales, Australia Sgt Garnet W. Durdin - Rear Gunner — RAAF 416149 (age 25) of Strathalbyn, South Australia.  North Sydney War Memorial - ANZAC Day 2022
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Today marks the 79th anniversary of the loss of the seven crew members of Lancaster ED559. F/Lt Richard A. Curle (Pilot) — RAF 121280 (Age 28) Sgt David A. Hart (Flight Engineer) — RAF 567377 (Age 24) F/O Harry Riding (Wireless Operator) — RAAF 403699 (Age 25) F/O Errol C. Crapp (Navigator) — RAAF 411113 (Age 24) P/O Charles S. Challoner (Bomb Aimer) — RAF 131995 (Age 37) Sgt Daniel L. Gooch (Mid-Upper Gunner) — RAF 1336491 (Age 19) Sgt Garnet W. Durdin (Rear Gunner) — RAAF 416149 (Age 25) I was hoping that for this anniversary the commemorative plaque I had made would have been placed at the cemetery where Richard Curle is interred. Alas, although I have requested updates, I have not heard from the local mayor's office since early January. I remain hopeful that the plaque will be installed soon and visitors can learn more about the crew and the sacrifice they made all those years ago. Lest we forget.  I have been in touch with local council on the Island of Oléron in western France. In their communal cemetery lies the final resting place of Fl/Lt Richard Curle, interred there in April 1943. I sent a request to the local mayor’s office for permission to have a commemorative plaque placed on the cemetery wall. I received the good news that they are happy to place a plaque. It will provide visitors with more information regarding Richard, the six missing crew members and their mission in 1943. The sign is etched aluminium and should hopefully last quite a few years. I am hopeful it will be placed in time for the 79th anniversary of the loss of the crew of Lancaster ED559 in March 2022. I am also looking at potentially making my first trip to the island as well (but I’m wary of possible Covid issues affecting my plans). I should add that I have received support in this endeavour from Luis Garrido. He supplied the French translation and provided a contact I could email at the council.  Commemorative Plaque for the Crew of Lancaster ED559 I was recently contacted by Luis Garrido. He was visiting the grave of F/Lt Richard Curle and found this website when looking up his name. Luis has managed to contact Maguy, the daughter of M. Guy Normandin, who was the fisherman that found the pilot's body and returned with it in April 1943. Read more about Guy Normandin  M. Guy Normandin (© Normandin family) I am indebted to Howard Stanley for the following photographs. Howard lives 90 minutes from Île d'Oléron and paid a recent visit and his respects at Richard Curle's grave. Howard undertook to clear the weeds and debris from the grave and leave a poppy in remembrance. Howard mentioned just two Second World War graves in the area. The other being in La Rochelle for Sgt. James Merry of 10 OTU, the pilot of a Whitley undertaking an anti-submarine operation in the Bay of Biscay. The Whitley crashed into the Bay of Biscay but the rest of Merry's crew survived and were taken prisoner. Howard is seeking any further information regarding this crew - contact me if you know more. All photographs courtesy of Howard Stanley  Richard Curle's Grave, Île d'Oléron Cemetery
…seven men climbed onboard Lancaster ED559. Their loss still felt across the years. F/Lt Richard A. Curle (Pilot) — RAF 121280 (Age 28) Sgt David A. Hart (Flight Engineer) — RAF 567377 (Age 24) F/O Harry Riding (Wireless Operator) — RAAF 403699 (Age 25) F/O Errol C. Crapp (Navigator) — RAAF 411113 (Age 24) P/O Charles S. Challoner (Bomb Aimer) — RAF 131995 (Age 37) Sgt Daniel L. Gooch (Mid-Upper Gunner) — RAF 1336491 (Age 19) Sgt Garnet W. Durdin (Rear Gunner) — RAAF 416149 (Age 25)  Seven remembrance crosses at the The International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC), Lincoln. At front a memorial stone to the crew of Lancaster ED559. I recently came across the website for No. 1 Wireless Air Gunners School that operated at Ballarat between 1940 and 1945. Ballarat is located in the Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia. The website contains excellent information about the service personnel that undertook training at the establishment. One of those men was Flight Sergeant Garnet Walter Durdin, Lancaster RD559's rear gunner. The memorial page on the 1WAGS site contains a lot of information about Garnet's courses. Some details are not quite right and I have let the website know. The website also had a much better image of Garnet. The one I had appears to have been a newspaper version of this photo.  Flight Sergeant Garnet Walter Durdin, Lancaster RD559's rear gunner |
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March 2022
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