kev35RE: And yet more…
Firstly, thanks to Snapper for uploading the photographs as I couldn’t scan them, then I couldn’t shrink them and then I couldn’t upload them! I thought my photography was poor but it seems I’m not too bright with a PC either…Never mind.
The first photograph is the grave of Sgt Crabtree. It’s in a small, well tended plot of military graves, the whole plot being kept very tidy. With over 700 Commonwealth headstones in the Cemetery you certainly need either a map or a couple of days free to do your search. It is sobering to think that this young man apparently died with no next of kin, no family to mourn him.
The second photo is a view from level with Sgt Crabtree’s grave to the Chapel. The distance shown encompasses around a quarter of the length of Witton Cemetery. Each side of that avenue the graves stretch back for between around 50 yards at its narrowest point and 150 at its widest. Those of you who travel south on the M6 between junctions 7 and 6 pass this Cemetery, it’s on the left and up on a hill.
I have found a reference and a photograph to damage in Bromford Road, Erdington. It is purported to be bomb damage to the side of a house but it shows what can only be described as a hole several feet in depth right against the wall of the house but with little damage to the house itself. Just appears a little odd so I’m carrying on looking into that. I’ve also found a list of air raid alerts for Birmingham and there was one described as being between 11.59pm and 1.25am on the 8th of August 1942. Whether that was 11.59pm on the 7th or 11.59pm on the 8th isn’t certain. No bombs were dropped however, so it is feasible that the alert was triggered by the crash of the Wellington. Again, it needs looking into further.
Waiting for other info to come via snail mail so will post any more news as and when.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: Another Caption Competition!
“Mmmmmm, over or under?”
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: And yet more…
Hi, Snapper.
Thanks for your comments. I can’t let this one go just yet. We have a local history professor in the West Midlands who presents a two hour radio show weekday afternoons and he is brilliant. Might see if I can get the crash mentioned on there, find out where it was and visit the crash site. Snapper, local press in Norwich are going to check their archive for me for P/O Moxey.
I have another question. Can anyone London based please try and find out the name and contact number for the press covering Streatham? I’d like to try and find a death notice and photo if possible.
If the photo is ok I’ll try and post it tomorrow.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: And yet more…
Today I visited the local studies section of Birmingham Central Library and browsed the Birmingham Post for the period of one month after August 7th. Unfortunately, this revealed absolutely nothing. I’m not surprised as the information might have been concealed for morale reasons. So, a fruitless afternoon?
Not quite….
Decided to pop into the massive expanse of Witton Cemetery in the hope of finding the grave of Sgt Norman Geoffrey Crabtree, a Wop/AG who was killed in the crash. Surprisingly they have an office who kindly provided me with a map (the place is so big it is needed) and I found the grave. I know I’m probably just a sentimental old fool but it really felt like I had done something, you know? The grave is in a small plot with other Second World War burials and is well tended. Sadly, there is no additional inscription.. However, all is not lost. The office staff offered to check the burial records for any further information and lo and behold, he is listed in their records as a soldier, aged 22 with no next of kin. His home address was 66, Beckmead Avenue, Streatham, London SW16. His last known address is given as 1a Raddlebarn Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham. This is almost certainly the old postal address of the Selly Oak Hospital.
I took a couple of photographs and will get them developed tomorrow but photography is not my strong point so I’m not too hopeful. Anyway, it was just so easy to find him. I walked back to the car and turned on the radio. Any ideas what was playing? Hymn to the Fallen. Just about says it all doesn’t it?
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: Shuttle lost (blows up?) on re-entry
TV News are showing film of wreckage all over Texas including the charred charred remains of a helmet. That’s really going to help the families if they see that isn’t it?
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: Shuttle lost (blows up?) on re-entry
TV News are showing film of wreckage all over Texas including the charred charred remains of a helmet. That’s really going to help the families if they see that isn’t it?
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: Shuttle lost (blows up?) on re-entry
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 01-02-03 AT 05:08 PM (GMT)]PII.
You have a major point there. With a crew of three still on board the ISS, how long can they stay there and what are the chances of NASA risking another launch to retrieve them?
A sad day for the families and colleagues of the crew.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: Shuttle lost (blows up?) on re-entry
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 01-02-03 AT 05:08 PM (GMT)]PII.
You have a major point there. With a crew of three still on board the ISS, how long can they stay there and what are the chances of NASA risking another launch to retrieve them?
A sad day for the families and colleagues of the crew.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: AW Meet :: What’s the Latest?
Ren Frew.
I’ll be there.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
Moggy.
Like I say, I don’t think we’re done just yet. Something is really bugging me with this one, I think we can, between us, complete the story. By our efforts to discover something of the life and death of P/O Moxey we are honouring all those who gave their lives. This was one name among many thousands but gradually we are discovering more about him as an individual. Here we have a man prepared to give his life for his country, with a wife and maybe children at home. Hoping against hope that he would come through but prepared to face the horrors of war just the same. Who’s to say his courage was any less than that of the more celebrated names which come to our lips unbidden? He is certainly no less deserving of our rememberance.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
Hi, Snapper.
Thanks for the leads. I’ll give them a try tomorrow or monday. DORIS, happens to be the Department of Research and Information Services. Send us an email re Johnny Wiseman. What is it you’re looking for?
Gorleston is near Ludham? I feel a pilgrimage coming on.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
Yes, Moggy, a brilliant result but I don’t think we’re finished with this one just yet. I hope to search the Birmingham Post archive in the next week and letters have gone off today to DORIS at the RAF museum and to the Air Historical Branch of the MOD. I pass Witton Cemetery fairly often but it is a huge place. When the legs feel up to it I’ll try to find Sgt Crabtree’s grave.
Seeing as P/O Moxey is buried in Norfolk, could one of our members from the area please give me a clue as to the address/phone number of the local history society/group. I want to find out which paper his death notice would have been in. There might be a picture.
Fingers crossed.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: AW Meet :: What’s the Latest?
July 10th at MAN seems to be the day of choice. Renfrew has suggested we all meet up at a central location at 13.00 with anyone wishing to get there earlier meeting as and when they choose. I intend to be there early-ish and as said will be able to ferry people around within reason.
Anyone else have any ideas we can explore?
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
More information!
I received an email this morning from Doug Cuthbertson which contained the following details:
The pilot was P/O Maura who baled out along with two other unnamed crewmembers. The other two who died were Sgt. N G Crabtree 1263387 RAF(VR), Wop/AG who is buried in Witton Cemetery. The other casualty is LAC R L Smith, 1252106 RAF(VR) who was a passenger. He is buried at Middleton Stoney Churchyard, Oxon.
Thanks again to Doug who is a member of the Bomber Command E-group.
Regards,
kev35
kev35RE: Vulcans?
Hi, Andrew.
Nice to see you popped into a forum where proper aircraft are discussed (lol)
There are currently no airworthy Vulcans anywhere in the world which is a damned shame as they were a sight to behold. There are several in this country, some of which do fast taxi runs but I’m a bit sketchy on details. I know there are Vulcans at Cosford, Coventry, Southend?, Wellesbourne Mountford and I believe one or two other places. I know you can obtain access to the cockpit at Coventry as long as they have a volunteer available.
However, there is a Vulcan based at Bruntingthorpe in Leicestershire which was the subject of a Heritage Lottery Fund bid in order to get it airborne again. Unfortunately this failed but the group are stilltrying to see if they can find anyway of getting the aircraft back in the air.
I’m sure someone else will jump in and fill in the details for you and provide some links. In the meantime, I hope this helps.
Regards,
kev35
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