MILLER – Bruce Fitzgerald Henry

1383411 – B.F.H. Miller – Barbados – Ach/Observer – attested 31.12.40 158294 – P/O – D.F. 22.10.43

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

Name: MILLER, BRUCE FITZGERALD HENRY
Initials: B F H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Pilot Officer (Nav.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: 103 Sqdn.
Date of Death: 22/10/1943
Service No: 158294
Awards: DFC
Additional information: Husband of Helen Elizabeth Miller, of Sawley, Long Eaton, Derbyshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial
Reference: 16. E. 9.
Cemetery: HANOVER WAR CEMETERY

Lancaster LM314 Mission to Kassel T/O 18.00 from Elsham Wolds. Crashed at Rischenau, 9 km SSE of Lügde.
W/O K R Lee DFC
F/L P J Blurton DFC (P2)
Sgt M Sheedy P/O B F H Miller DFC
Sgt D Adams
Sgt C W Gray
Sgt C L Spink
F/Sgt G G Sveinson RCAF DFC
LG’d 28th March, 1944 Pilot Officer Bruce Fitzgerald Henry MILLER (158294), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 103 Squadron, with effect from 17th October, 1943

[Source: www.WW2chat.com]

Bruce Miller DFC was navigator in Ken Lee’s crew in 103 Squadron RAF and was killed in 1943.

103 Squadron Lee crew with Bruce Miller

[Source/Photo copyright: David Fell/ 103 Squadron Website – more pictures there]

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 »

HALY – Edward Fred Hutchinson

Flying Officer – Pilot – DFC – KIA 17 Sept. 1944 (Operation Market Garden?)

Service no. at entry: 1318907, 144463 when commissioned F/O

Cremated, buried Stonefall War Grave Cemetery

[Source: AD]

Flying Officer Edward Fred Hutchinson Haly

Edward Haly received his commission on 21st March 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency).  He was later awarded the DFC for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted on 17th August 1943.  He was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 21st September 1943.  On 17th September 1944 he was flying in Halifax BB360 and was probably instructing with 1652 HCU rather than training.  BB360 crashed near Angram, York on a training flight and all nine airmen on board were killed.  He was twenty three years old and is buried at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.

The  Commonwealth War Graves Commission list him as being the son of John and Edith Marie Haly and the husband of Daphne Pauline Haly, of Wokingham, Berkshire. But with him being originally from British Guiana.

It seems F/O Haly had been involved in a previous crash due to engine failure, when he was still a Sergeant: Halifax W7818 at Snaith airfield.

On 18th February 1943 Halifax W7818 had just taken off for a mine laying flight at 18.44hrs when an engine failed, losing height the pilot belly landed the aircraft at the edge of Snaith airfield in front of the Squadron Headquarters building.  The aircraft was badly damaged but the crew escaped injury.  All of the above were posted to 51 Squadron on 4th January 1943 from 1652 HCU.  [Pilot – Sgt Edward Fred Hutchinson Haly RAFVR (1318907).]

[Source: http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/yorkshire/york43/w7818.html, courtesy Audrey Dewjee]

 

EFH Haley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Picture courtesy International Bomber Command Centre]

 

BARNARD – D.B.

Flight Lieutenant –  DFC

Son of Mr & Mrs George Barnard of Choiseul, St Lucia. Report states: “Is back on active service after reported missing last September” (1942). Brought down over Lille, eluded capture and escaped through France – Spain – Gibraltar

[Source: The Trinidad Guardian 17 Mar 1943, courtesy Jerome Lee, CMHA]

HYNAM – Winston Kitchener (Pony)

Winston Kitchener Hynam, 103 Squadron, was awarded the DFM in November 1942 while Sergeant. He was described as an impurturbable and reliable NCO who has served as Wireless Operator/Front Gunner, and Bomb Aimer. In December 1943, now Pilot Officer with 100 Squadron, he was awarded the DFC. Possibly his RAF numbers: 1283669 when Sergeant and 155808 when Pilot Officer (promoted September 1943?) . He is the only West Indian to hold both the DFM and DFC. Used to be Warden of West Indian Students Centre in Earls Court in 1980.

[Source: AE]

WKH At WESC Opening

Winston seen in the background during the opening of the West Indian Students’ Centre in 1955. He is visible just behind Princess Margaret and companions at the 25sec mark of the report by Pathe News: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGoDfSzz_7o

[Courtesy Matthew McKinnon]

Winston Hynam flew as Air Bomber in 103 Squadron RAF with Squadron Leader John H. Kennard DFC for 6 ops. [Source: David Fell/ 103 Squadron Website] Military History of Barbados 1627-2007 by Major Hartland Matthew McKinnon is the grandson of Winston Kitchener Hynam. He kindly sent us the photographs below – including images of his logbook. ‘Pony’ Hynam died in 1991 and his widow Doris Hynam passed away in early 2008. They are survived by their daughters Roma and Carole. Mr. McKinnon informs us that Winston was the Warden (and resident, in the top floor flat) of the West Indian Students Centre from 1954 until 1980, where he got to know Cy Grant (who also flew with 103 Squadron) when he would visit. Click on any picture to enlarge.

Pony-1

‘Pony’ Hynam

 Pony-2Pony 2
Group 4Air Gunners Course
Group 5
Group 1
Group 2No.50 Bombing Leaders Course, Manby 1943
MissionsList of Missions (2nd tour) RecommendationRecommendation for DFM
Pony & MollyPony & Doris Molynyeaux a.k.a. ‘Molly’, the future Mrs. Hynam

Plaque 2 Plaque 1

GRANNUM – Patrick Colin Haworth

Patrick Colin Haworth Grannum (born Eisner but adopted by his aunt and uncle). From Jamaica, crashed his (Hurricane) in (France) and made his way back to England

[Source: Guy Grannum; note: sources below indicate F/Lt Grannum flew a Lancaster bomber and crashed in Belgium, this seems to be confirmed by the fact that 12 Squadron flew bombers, not fighters]

Came down in Belgium and escaped through the Comète escape network; see comment below.
Official site Escape Line Comète
More about Escape Line Comète: according to the file here Flight Lieutenant Grannum crashed while flying a Lancaster bomber:

Colin Patrick Haworth GRANNUM / 155216 & 655315
Freemason Lodge, 26 Arnold Road, Kingston, Jamaica
Bron 19 september 1918 in Kingston, Jamaica
F/Lt RAF Bomber Command 12 Squadron, pilot
near Banneux, Province of Liège, Belgium.
A.V. Roe Lancaster MkIII, JB650, PH-E, lost during mission of 27-29 January 1944 to Berlin
Crashed between Gomzé and Andoumont, approximately 13 km Southwest of Verviers, Province of Liège, Belgium.
Duration : 7 months.
Arrived in Switserland May 9th, repatriated to England at the end of August 1944.

[© Philippe Connart, Michel Dricot, Edouard Renière, Victor Schutters]

Colin Grannum returned to 12 Squadron, further operations unknown but awarded a 1st Bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross, which appeared in the London Gazette, 4th December 1945, page 5897.

[Courtesy Nick Carter, see comment below]

SMITH – Alst Claude D.

Flight Lieutenant – Pilot – 213 Sqn – Hurricanes

Educated at QRC; Volunteer Trinidad ETS; Trained at Piarco, 1st Course. Served with 213Sqn, Hurricanes, North Africa & 74 Sqn (2 tours), Mustangs, Italy. Nickname “Tigger”. Died by accident 1984. Grandson Louis-Claude Thomas; 759-6530/372-6108 lc_thomas@hotmail.com

[Source: CMHA]

SMITH – Louis R.G.

Flight Lieutenant – Pilot – 92 Sqn, 80 Sqn – Spitfire/Typhoon – DFC

Educated at QRC; Volunteer Trinidad ETS, trained at Piarco, 1st Course; 203 Operations; 1st tour with 92 Sqn in 1942, Flew fighter cover for El Alamein; 2 probables & 1 damaged on 1st tour.2nd tour with 80 Sqn; flew Spitfire IX for D Day sweep; by D + 7 flew mostly ground attack. Re-equipped with Typhoons then Tempests against V1, then fighter bomber sweeps across Gremany. 2 kills, many probables. Awarded DFC

[Source: CMHA]

VENEBLES – Hugh D.

106029 – Squadron Leader – Pilot – RCAF – Boston – KIA on 9 April 1943

Volunteer Trinidad ETS, trained at Piarco 1st Course; flight commander 418 Sqn. Boston Intruder W8325 took off from RAF Ford at 2200hrs on 9 Apr 1943 for an operational sortie over the Melun-Bretigny area and failed to RTB. Later established that the Boston collided in mid-air with a german twin enginned night fighter. The Two aircraft crashed near St Andre airfield, Chapigny la Futelage, Eure, France. Both crews perished. DFC

[Source CMHA]

SHORT – Walter Horace

136419 – Squadron Leader – Pilot – 181 Sqn – Typhoon – KIA

Volunteer Trinidad, trained at Piarco ETS. Shot down several times; was CO 181 Sqn, Typhoons. Killed at 1210hrs on 27 Dec 44 when his aircraft collided with another aircraft (Canadian pilot) while both were engaged in attacking ground targets during the Battle for Bastogne, in the area of St Vith. Both pilots were killed. Son of Walter Mayow Burgoyne Short, and of Clare Mary Short, of Paddington, London. Awarded DFC

[Source: CMHA]

605470 – W.H.B. Short – Trinidad – attested 28.7.42 – P/O Pilot UK 26.1.43
136419 – A/S/L – F/L (w) – DFC 24.11.44 – commissioned 4.12.42 – missing, believed killed 27.12.44

[Source: NA AIR 2/6876]

Click the link for an Archive Report with more details about Squadron Leader Walter Short DFC on Aircrew Remembered.

[Courtesy Ralph Snape]

PATON – Donald P.

Wing Commander – Pilot – Bombers/Fighters

Volunteer Trinidad ETS, trained Piarco 1st Course. Awarded DSO, DFC

[source: CMHA]

 

Served with 600 Squadron in North Africa and Italy flying Mosquito nightfighters and later Hurricanes.

[source: Ben Paton, see comment below]

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