Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

Not sure whether specific numbers are available on this but I was hoping to find out the number of Uruguayans (I'd imagine that they would be exclusively from the British community in the country) who served with the RAF during the war.

And another small question, I had an idea there was a fellow flying with 41 Sqn who was from Uruguay but the name escapes me. Anyone know or am I barking up the wrong tree?

Thanks in advance.

Tim

Re: Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

Hello,

1262926 F/Sgt Herbert Percival COATES RAFVR (of No.41 Sqn), was born on 8 December, 1919, in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Col.

Re: Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

Many thanks for that, that'll be the chap I was thinking of.

Still hoping that someone might also know how many of these men served with the RAF.

Re: Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

This link points to pilot John Hyland and Sgt John Drever as having a connection with Uruguay. Scroll down to 1939-1945: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britis...#1939–45

Regards,

Leendert

Re: Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

maybe not the best source ...
but there are no uruguayans listed:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-Br...tle_of_Britain

regards

Re: Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

maybe not in B of B but surely later. The British contingent in Uruguay was probably less than in other larger South American nations such as Argentina and Brazil.

There is a large book on Argentine-English aircrew but too expensive for my blood, along with delivery. There were also Chilean and Brazilian English who served.

Re: Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

There were obviously none in the Battle of Britain as that is well documented with books such as Wynn's but we know for a fact that a number of British Uruguayans served in the RAF during the war. The RAF obviously had a presence for recruitment in Uruguay (you'd have to imagine that this was most probably only in Montevideo) due to men volunteering and signing up in that country. Uruguay had a modest yet very active British community and I'm interested to know the number of men who served who came from there.

And Kaki3152, I'd imagine you're referring to Alvaro Cuenca's book, "Deber y aventura", a book which I don't have either and yet probably holds the answer or at least the closest attempt at it. Perhaps a member here has it and can help?

Re: Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

That wasn't the book I was thinking of but did you know you can get a kindle version of "Deber y Aventura" for $3.00?

See link
https://www.amazon.com/Deber-aventur.../dp/B0774QB7VF

Re: Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

I've seen that Kaki but I don't really want to buy the book being unaware of whether it may or may not contain what I'm after. I'm also wary of how much detail and specifics are given to the RAF volunteers or whether the information in it is merely cursory. For now I'm just interested in knowing the level of contribution from Uruguay in terms of the amount of men who served if that is possible to find out.

Re: Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

Hello,

Incidental info:

One member of the RAAF that I know of who came from Uruguay, was, AUS433511 F/O (W.Op/Air Gnr.) Leslie George MOTTERSHEAD RAAF. Mottershead, was born in Fray Bentos, Uruguay on 10 March, 1925. He flew 17 ops with 460 Sqn RAAF during 1945, survived the war and passed away in NSW, on 26 April, 1988.

Col.

Re: Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

Thanks Col Bruggy and I think there will be a few. Obviously not as many as something like the Argentinian contribution but probably more than a handful. But it would be nice if we can find out just how many.

Re: Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

Hello,

Re: John Alexander DREVER. 1282863 Sgt (W.Op./Air Gnr.). J A Drever RAFVR, was not missing in February 1942. His aircraft, No.162 Sqn Wellington IC Z8905, was lost on 6/7 March 1942 (see: BLME1/Gunby & Temple/130). Also aboard Z8905, was AUS407955 Sgt R G Tregenza RAAF. Tregenza's A705 mentions that Dreyer's next-of-kin was nominated as his mother, Mrs C W Drever, of Massini 3370, Montevideo, Uruguay.

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Sear...aspx?B=1082208 (p.71 of 72).

Col.

Re: Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

Dear Smithy,

I guess that the "Official" number of how many Uruguayans or Brazilians that served both the RAF and His Majesty Armed Forces perhaps will never fully being known.

On my case of study, Brazil entered the war in October 1942...thus up to this time, all those who volunteered did so on a private venture, with some help from the Embassies (covering letters, etc.). All were sons or daughters of British born citizens and, in some cases, some of those volunteers were indeed born in the UK or other Dominion, before sailing from South América to join the Forces.

Most of those "early" volunteers did not wear the BRAZIL shoulder "Country" Badge...but the later ones did. I have seen some pictures of volunteers from CHILI, BRAZIL, ARGENTINE but not Uruguay so far.

ME too would like to obtain "an oficial number" of Brazilian Volunteers....the number may vary...

I guess that the book mentioned previously about the Argentinians is that from Mr. MEUNIER. I only have seen the cover and other details...Guess that the Argentinians too were the South Americans that won the most number of D.S.O.'s.

Adriano Silva Baumgartner, ASV 00.344

Re: Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

Hi Adriano,

Thank you for the reply. You are probably very right that the exact number of these men may never be precisely known but I am hoping that we might be able to at least have a figure which is a close approximation.

This does appear to be one of those facets of RAF history from WWII, albeit possibly a small one, which at best has not been subject to a great deal of research, or at worst largely overlooked, at least in documentation or published sources in the English language.

I'm thinking an email enquiry to Señor Cuenca might be the best next step to see if he can possibly help in terms of numbers of these Uruguayan volunteers.

Tim

Re: Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

F/L William McKellar Hodgson DFC AFC, killed on operations with 109 Squadron.
http://aircrewremembered.com/hodgson...-mckellar.html

Re: Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

Nice finding Dave

Adriano

Re: Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

The Surgey brothers:


https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/c...arles-kenneth/


https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/c...ey,-john-eady/


Dave

Re: Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

Thanks to the two Daves for identifying more Uruguayans who served in the RAF above. It's hugely appreciated.

The more I read about this facet of RAF WWII history, the more I realise just how little research or consolidation of information in the English language exists regarding the RAF volunteers from Uruguay, which strikes me as a little sad, considering some of these men made the supreme sacrifice.

I'm getting in touch with Alvaro Cuenca, so hopefully we might be able to put a figure to the number of these fellows. Interestingly a bit of searching on the internet seems to show that Señor Cuenca's "Deber y aventura" is scheduled to be released in English.

Thanks once again to everyone contributing to this thread and please keep the information coming.

Tim

Re: Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

Dear Tim,

One more found on my files: Sergeant Denis Michael King (RAFVR 18090889) – Graduated at Nº 27 S.F.T.S. (Canada) on 27 April 1944 along with other South Americans.

And: W/O David Lyford-Pike (From Uruguay)

Adriano

PS: You should try to contact also Mr. Claudio Meunier (Argentinian Historian).

Re: Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

Tim,

Contact me: baumgartner_asv@yahoo.com.br

Re: Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

TIM,

Forgot to say that KING came from CHILI, since you are looking for that Country's Servicemen too!

Re: Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII
 

Thanks Adriano, much appreciated!