|
Re: 3 unaccounted FAA losses, May/June 1940
To show some of the difficulties with the FAA listings on the CWGC database:
Walrus P5647, 700 Sqdn
Lieutenant Ronald W. Benson-Dare, RN, H.M.S. Devonshire [700 Sqdn.], age 23, 18/05/1940, missing. Commemorated on the Lee-on-Solent Memorial.
Midshipman A D.Corkhill wounded, rescued
Leading Airman William H. Hill, RN FX/55056, H.M.S. Devonshire [700 Sqdn.], age 31, 18/05/1940, Tromso Cemeterty, Norway (died of wounds)
Fairey Swordfish Mk I, 825 Sqdn, lost 29/05/1940
Leading Airman Leonard P. Gardner, RN FX/76361, H.M.S. Kestrel [=Fleet Air Arm base at Worthy Down near Winchester][825 Sqdn.], age 26, 29/05/1940, Bollezeele Communal Cemetery, F
Lieutenant (A) Robin H.G. Grey, RN, H.M.S. "Glorious" [825 Sqdn]. He was taken prisoner of war and died, age 24, of cancer in German captivity, 29/08/1941. He is buried at Malbork Commonwealth War Cemetery, Poland.
Fairey Albacore, 826 Sqdn, lost 21/06/1940
Sub-Lieutenant Victor J. Dyke, RN, H.M.S. Peregrine [826 Sqdn.], age 22, 21/06/1940, Texel (Den Burg) Cemetery, NL
Fairey Swordfish Mk I, 823 Sqdn, lost 21/06/1940
Sub-Lieutenant (A) Maurice P. White, RN, H.M.S. Glorious, [823 Sqdn.], age 23, 21/06/1940, missing
Naval Airman 1st Class Charles H.A. Hull, RN FAA/FX. 77524, H.M.S. Sparrowhawk, [823 Sqdn.], age 20, 21/06/1940, missing
As you may notice in the last case S/Lt White is listed as belonging to HMS Glorious, which was sunk on 08/06/1940.
With other words: for some reason many FAA (and other Royal Navy Casualties) are listed as belonging to HMS Sparrowhawk, HMS Daedalus, HMS Peregrine etc etc, which were land stations and not the actual units they were in. Or they are listed as being crew of a ship the actual unit ws once assigned to.
All of this makes me think of publishing a list of all RN land stations with possible units assigned to them that are named in the CWGC headstones - if such a list is non-existent.
Regards,
Bart |