Belgian plaque to RAF Typhoon pilot fm 164 Sqn

AG, imagine running into you again…. ; – )

over here off the Gulf, dodging the hurricane season (knock wood, so far)

no sense in trying to reason with hurricane season…

A very profound and moving photo , thanks for sharing it with us CC .

Thanks for posting a picture of the memorial; simple, emotive and poignant. The plaque looks as if it might be made from a piece of the aircraft, do you know if it was? I’ve seen this done before.

Like EN830, I too have found many examples of children being born after the death of their father during this period. Tragic for all concerned.

We will remember.

Radar, SY,

You’ve nailed it on the head.

The losses suffered by those who wait… Whenever I see a service star hanging in a home or office window, I wonder what those who wait are enduring…

A Marine Lt who belongs to our church and is back from 2nd tour in Iraq was in the service last week. He was blinded (temporarily in 1 eye) when an RPG hit his helmet in a patrol ambush. Needless to say, he got an instant and long standing ovation… He had an amazing positive attitude. But I won’t go into that as it may be perceived as too political about the war. Point being, he gave in his service.

The lives touched in war are not just those who are maimed or die… but their families and friends around them….

I think that is what I felt when I watched the movie, “Saving Private Ryan”…. a profound sense of loss for the GIs and their families… You saw them as real people, not movie stars.

Tnx for the follow on thoughts…

It happened all too often I’m afraid. In my research I’ve come across at least four examples were a child was born either the day before a pilot was lost or a couple of months after.

At present I’m looking into Flt/Lt Norman Taylor who served with 601 Sqn during the Bob, MSFU from Mid 1941 until early 43 and then with Rolls Royce as a test pilot. He was killed in a flying accident in 1948 shortly before his daughter was born.

She came to Chailey in August with her fathers log book and photo album, a great piece of history, somethng I was very honoured to go through with her and her family. In that brief encounter the gathered “anoraks” were able to shed a bit of light on her fathers past, and I have taken up the challenge from thereon, with a little bit of success.

Twenty days later, his widow gave birth to his son.

Difficult to know what to say to that. That’s really quite a heart-rending thought. 🙁

Twenty days later, his widow gave birth to his son. As a ever lasting memory she placed this bench here.

Not exactly a rare occurence, I know, but it just makes you want to cry. Having a son almost three weeks after you’ve been killed. That is the real tragedy of war and how it affects real lives.

Rememberance from wife /widow

SY AiB,

Tnx…

JV!! Thanks VERY MUCH for your translation… It adds MUCH to the meaning and remeberance!

The website also largely relates to a bridge built over the Leopold Canal, perhaps an action advancing on the Germans?

Maybe the Typhoon was giving close air/anti tank support to the crossing?

Thanks again.

Translation for those who wouldn’t speak dutch. I speak dutch, so I hope I’ll do it right :p 😮 :

At this very spot, on the 7th october 1944, a young english pilot named James Brian TEATHER -164SQ RAF crashed in his Typhoon fighter/bomber.

Twenty days later, his widow gave birth to his son. As a ever lasting memory she placed this bench here.

For our future, he gave his present.

A nice dedication to one of the many.

Thanks for posting,
J.V.

Plaque

CC and Steve
thanks for this.
Typhoon losses were often much heavier than what we now realise.
It wasn’t all shooting up Jerry and having him on the run, sometimes they shot back and German light Flak by 1944 was very fierce indeed.
Thank you both for sharing.
Regards
Andy

It’s in Flemish, which is similar to Dutch, but not an exact match. I’ve managed to get the following…

“On this crashed 7/10/1944 the young English pilot James Brian TEATHER with its Typhoonfighter-bomber.”

“Twintig dagen later beviel zijn weduwe van zijn zoon” – no direct translation found for this piece, but I do recognise a few words and so am guessing that it may mean he died of his injuries twenty days later. Very sad if that’s the case.

“As permanent souvenir she let this rest bank (memorial) put down. For our morning, gave he are today.”