While visiting shawbury today I noticed the Church tower in the village so after I left the airfield I decided to go and have a look. Knowing there’s often an “Airmen’s Corner” I decided to explore the Churchyard.
As far as I am aware, Shawbury has always been involved in the training role. I have to amit I was somewhat shocked to find so many graves of Air Force personnel.
Ranging in age from 18 to 57 years and in rank from Aircraftsman 2nd Class to Squadron Leader, from as far away as Poland, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, these forty-five men, who only wished to serve their respective Countries, lie together in a village Churchyard in Shropshire. Of the forty-five, twenty-eight of them are RAF personnel, one of them a South African. Six are from the Royal Canadian Air Force, three from the Royal Australian Air Force, seven members of the Polish Forces and a lone New Zealander.
I was surprised to find that eleven of the burials are from the post war period. I suppose it just points out even more harshly that aviation can be a dangerous pursuit, be it in war or peace.
Between the forty-five, they were awarded a DFC and Bar, an AFC and an MBE.
It all confirms my belief in the debt we owe to those who died during wartime and those who gave their lives while maintaining the peace. None of them would have wished to have died prematurely, but it is incumbent upon us all to remember that they were prepared to do so.
Regards,
kev35
By: Manonthefence - 5th September 2005 at 23:17
True, basically i was just saying its a good thing aircrew don’t die in training accidents anymore
I think my next door neighbour would disagree that deaths in training accidents dont happen any more. Please do stop talking claptrap.
By: kev35 - 5th September 2005 at 21:29
RPSmith.
I think the family’s wishes are of considerable importance when a decision is made. Otherwise the burial site could be local to the airfield they operated from or local to where they died.
I was researching a crew and one of the casualties was a Londoner based at Upper Heyford. He failed to get out of a Wellington which hit the Birmingham Balloon Barrage and crashed. As he had no next of kin he was buried in Witton Cemetery in Birmingham. Anyone familiar with the M6 between Junctions 7 & 6 Southbound will know the Cemetery I mean. It is located on a hill to the left of the motorway. Other casualties remains from the same crew were buried where they originated from.
Regards,
kev35
By: RPSmith - 5th September 2005 at 10:04
In recent years we have all seen sad pictures on our TV screens of casualties of various military conflicts being bought back to the U.K. for burial.
Are military casualties in the U.K. no longer buried in the graveyard local to the base but at one close to their home – or is it a decision resting solely with their loved ones?
Roger Smith.
By: Box Brownie - 3rd September 2005 at 22:34
Re clapped out a/c, the O.R.B. for R.A.F. Wellesbourne Mountford, held at Kew, contains a technical report on the servicing of engines which says just that.
One hundred and twenty two French Canadians are buried in Stratford on Avon churchyard, killed in wartime training accidents.
By: Rlangham - 3rd September 2005 at 22:28
True, basically i was just saying its a good thing aircrew don’t die in training accidents anymore
By: kev35 - 3rd September 2005 at 22:14
Rlangham.
I believe you may be talking rubbish here. The amount of hours occupied training today’s aircrew into a much smaller RAF cannot be compared like for like with wartime training. There’s an interesting mathematical study for you there if you’re interested. Compare attrition rates between training in World War Two and now.
Regards,
kev35
By: Rlangham - 3rd September 2005 at 22:11
I meant the wartime ones, the same thing happened at local aerodromes. It’s a shame so many die in training accidents, thankfully that doesn’t happen anymore, at least not often.
By: kev35 - 3rd September 2005 at 22:10
Sadly, it was most probably due to the aircraft they were using. OTU units were given old, clapped out aircraft, which often crashed due to mechanical failure e.t.c.
In the 1950’s and 60’s?
I would suggest not all died in flying accidents anyway, though a considerable number certainly did.
regards,
kev35
By: Andy Mac - 3rd September 2005 at 22:08
Sadly, it was most probably due to the aircraft they were using. OTU units were given old, clapped out aircraft, which often crashed due to mechanical failure e.t.c.
…yep, and human error. Heroes one and all. 🙁
By: Arabella-Cox - 3rd September 2005 at 22:02
Sadly, it was most probably due to the aircraft they were using. OTU units were given old, clapped out aircraft, which often crashed due to mechanical failure e.t.c.
……………and where pray did this evidence come from? :confused:
By: Rlangham - 3rd September 2005 at 21:57
Sadly, it was most probably due to the aircraft they were using. OTU units were given old, clapped out aircraft, which often crashed due to mechanical failure e.t.c.
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September 3, 2005 at 9:41 pm