Uruguayans in RAF service during WWII

[Smithy]

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

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

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

Col.

[Smithy]

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.

[Leendert]

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

[ghostwriter]

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

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

regards

[kaki3152]

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.

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by ghostwriter

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

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

regards

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?

[kaki3152]

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

[Smithy]

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.

[Col Bruggy]

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.