WALROND – Arthur A.

1383413 – A.A. Walrond – Barbados – Sgt – Ach/W.Op/A.G. – attested 31.12.40
Missing August 1943 – D.F. 29.6.43

[Source: NA AIR 2/6876 – Nominal Roll of Coloured Candidates, October 1944]

Sergeant Arthur Walrond from Barbados, wireless operator/air gunner of a Stirling Bomber.  Killed on night of 29 June 1943, on a bombing raid over Germany.

He has an encounter with American soldier in June 23, 1943 in a dance hall for inviting a white girl to dance with him – a fight broke out. He complainted about his treatment in a letter to the Government on June 29 but was killed that same night over Germany.

[Source: AE]

Sgt. Arthur A. Walrond

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Courtesy: Audrey Dewjee]

Name: WALROND, ARTHUR ADOLPHUS
Initials: A A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 15 Sqdn.
Age: 29
Date of Death: 29/06/1943
Service No: 1383413
Additional information: Son of Richard Humphrey and Sarah Walrond; husband of Ena Louise Walrond, of St. Michael, Barbados.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave 6. D. 1-20.
Cemetery: HEVERLEE WAR CEMETERY

Stirling BK694 Mission to Cologne

T/O 23.50 from Mildenhall. Shot down by a night-fighter (Hptm Werner Hoffman, 4./NJG5) and crashed 02.20 at Lommel (Limburg), Belgium. Those killed were taken to St-Truiden for burial on 1st July 1943. They were subsequently re-interred in the Heverlee War Cemetery. In civilian life Sgt Keen was an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. His W/Op, came from St Michaels on Barbados. All but one of the crew were killed

Sgt J B Keen
Sgt G A Pryke
Sgt P F P.Venton
F/Sgt J D Duckett RNZAF PoW “No.308”
Sgt A A Walrond
Sgt W G Johnson
Sgt D Thomas

[Source: www.WW2chat.com]

Back row: C.P. King, J.S. Partridge, A.A. Walrond, J.L.L. Yearwood, M.R. Cuke, E.W. Barrow - Front row: G.D. Cumberbatch, A.P.C. Dunlop, H.E.S. Worme, G.A. Barrow, A.O. Weekes, B.F.H. Miller.

The Barbados Second Contingent
Back row: C.P. King, J.S. Partridge, A.A. Walrond, J.L.L. Yearwood, M.R. Cuke, E.W. Barrow – Front row: G.D. Cumberbatch, A.P.C. Dunlop, H.E.S. Worme, G.A. Barrow, A.O. Weekes, B.F.H. Miller.

Subsequently killed were: Sgt. Charles Parnell King, Sgt. Arthur Adolphus Walrond, Pilot Mark Radford Cuke, Sgt. Grey Doyle Cumberbatch, Flying Officer Andrew P.C. Dunlop, Pilot Officer Bruce F.H. Miller

The First Contingent, the Harold Wright Contingent as is became known, sailed 27th July 1940 and was recruited for the forces generally. However, the Second Contingent were recruited for the RAF and departed Barbados in November 1940. The 12 men selected included Errol W. Barrow, who would survive the war, enter politics and eventually become Barbados’ first Prime Minister (1966-1976)

[Source: Barbados at War 1939-1945 by Warren Alleyne, privately published 1999, p.9]

In 2008 the Barbados Postal Service issued a set of stamps commemorating their men who served in the Royal Air Force in WW2. More »

[Trinidad Guardian 18 January 1944 – Courtesy Jerome Lee, CMHA]

One addition to “WALROND – Arthur A.”

  1. Billy Machado adds:

    I suspect Sgt. AA Walrond was the father or uncle of Dr. Errol Mickey Walrond, professor of surgery of UWI at Bridgetown.
    Here’s hoping someone can alert Dr Walrond to this website, he was my friend long ago that I’ve lost touch with but the family’s details fit.

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