Another Lysander loss: 26 Sqdn, 20/06/1940, two casualties

[B.F.M. Droog]

Thanks,

Henk and Dick. A question: does the death registration of Lees in Aldershot means that there was a body? Or could such a death registration have been made when somebody was 'missing presumed killed'?

Regards,

Bart

[Ex Shack]

Hi Bart
I think that a death registration was made on the basis of the knowledge or presumption that a death of a known person had occurred. Most commonly of course there would have been a body but there were a fair range of circumstances,particular in the violence of war, where there were no recognisable remains after the incident. Henk's suggestion of coming down in water is merely one of them. If we are dealing with a Lysander loss then it would have been known who was on board even if they could not find the remains of one of them, hence the correct death registration but no burial.
Regards
Dick

[B.F.M. Droog]

Hello Dick,

Thanks for the explanation. As rules for death registrations can differ per country and per time period I had to ask this question.

Regards,

Bart

[B.F.M. Droog]

News just coming in from Henk Welting: there exists a description of the burial of P/O Lees at Aldingham Churchyard, Cumbria. So he's not missing.
See 26 Squadron, 20/06/1940: ?, UK. 1 Plane lost, 2 KIA

Regards,

Bart