605503 – Leopold (‘Poli’) C. Balderamos – British Honduras (NB: should be Belize!) – attested 28.10.42 – Sgt. Wireless Operator/Air Gunner UK 22.10.43

[Source: NA AIR 2/6876]

Leopold (“Poli”) Balderamos, on leave, visiting his friend, the actress, singer and songwriter Nadia Cattouse also from Belize, (who had joined the ATS) at Achnasheen, in Scotland.

[Photo: Courtesy of Nadia Cattouse]

LEOPOLD CLIFFORD (“POLI”) BALDERAMOS  (1927-2002)

Leopold Balderamos joined the RAF in 1942 and flew Stirling bombers with 196 Squadron.

After the war he transferred to civil aviation and spent a considerable time with the CAA visiting many airports both in the UK and Europe before returning to Belize, where he became Chief Civil Aviation Officer.  In January 1966, as Chief Commissioner of the Boy Scouts, British Honduras, he was awarded the M.B.E. in the Queen’s New Years Honours list.

Evidence from the internet:

“My father Leopold Balderamos joined the RAF in 1942 and flew Stirling bombers with 196 Squadron. After the war he transferred to civil aviation and spent considerable time with the CAA visiting many airports both in the UK and Europe before returning to Belize.”
[Posted by Philip Balderamos on http://www.businesssystemsuk.co.uk/InformationCentre/News/On-the-trail-of-historic-voice-recorders-the-jokes-on-us/ ]

Chief Civil Aviation Officer of Belize in 1965
[http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00076855/00028]

In January, 1966, “Leopold Clifford Balderamos, Esq, Chief Commissioner of the Boy Scouts, British Honduras” was awarded the M.B.E. by the Queen.
[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/43854/supplements/25/page.pdf]

He died in 2002.  There is a brief obituary on this site:  http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/16103

“The Leopold (Poli) Balderamos Lifetime Achievement Scouting Award”, a scouting award presented in Belize honours his name.  [http://www.scoutsbelize.org/news/latest/120-scouts-hold-centenary-awards-banquet]

[Research: Audrey Dewjee]