The Scottish War Graves Project

spoons · Last edited by spoons on Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:16 pm; edited 1 time in total

OS Map Ref NX 786 699

In the centre of Kirkpatrick Durham, a village a few miles north of Castle Douglas

Number of CWGC burials 1

spoons · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:27 am Post subject:

This is a private stone on a CWGC listed grave

Name: LITTLE
Initials: J C
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 3rd Bn.
Date of Death: 08/10/1917
Service No: 31269
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: In North-West part.
Cemetery: KIRKPATRICK-DURHAM PARISH CHURCHYARD

spoons · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:00 pm Post subject:

Name: BURGESS, WILLIAM
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Lancashire Fusiliers
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 21/08/1915
Service No: 17191
Additional information: Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Burgess, of Kirkpatrick Durham, Dalbeattie.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 58 to 72 or 218 to 219.
Memorial: HELLES MEMORIAL

spoons · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:04 pm Post subject:

Name: DAVIDSON, GEORGE
Initials: G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 11/04/1918
Service No: 19916
Additional information: Son of William and Agnes Davidson, of Lochside, Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 5.
Memorial: PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL

and his cousin (another who died on the 'inglorious' 12th)

Name: CAMPBELL, HUGH
Initials: H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 1st/5th Bn.
Age: 19
Date of Death: 12/07/1915
Service No: 1044
Additional information: Son of the late Peter Campbell.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 84 to 92 or 220 to 222.
Memorial: HELLES MEMORIAL

spoons · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:07 pm Post subject:

This is a positively enormous memorial, over 10 feet high!

Name: McQUEEN, ALASTAIR NORMAN LEIGH
Initials: A N L
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flight Lieutenant (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Date of Death: 09/02/1945
Service No: 129934
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: X. 28. 20.
Cemetery: BRUSSELS TOWN CEMETERY

spoons · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:10 pm Post subject:

Name: ROXBURGH, WALLACE
Initials: W
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment)
Unit Text: 49th Bn.
Age: 27
Date of Death: 09/06/1917
Service No: 811345
Additional information: Son of the late Peter and Jane Roxburgh, of Kirkpatrick-Durham, Dalbeattie, Scotland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Memorial: VIMY MEMORIAL

spoons · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:14 pm Post subject:

Name: THOMSON
Initials: J
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment)
Unit Text: 16th Bn.
Age: 31
Date of Death: 23/04/1915
Service No: 28694
Additional information: Son of William and Mary Thomson, of Beeswing, Dumfries, Scotland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. F. 12.
Cemetery: VLAMERTINGHE MILITARY CEMETERY

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

FT.LT. ALASTAIR NORMAN LEIGH MCQUEEN
An architect he was admitted ARIBA on 18 July 1938 after study at Glasgow School of Architecture 1932-35 and at the Bartlett School of Architecture, London until 1939.
The following text is from www.users.telenet.be/airwareurope/en/bergingen/lancaster_wauthier_e.htm

On February 9, 1945, Lancaster I, HK620 LS-W of 15 Squadron took off at 0313 hr.. from Mildenhall for an operation against a specific target in the Krefeld area. In the Operational Record Book of 15 Squadron, the following was noted :
Hohenbudberg. Twelve aircraft from the Squadron took off safely between 0259 hr. and 0315 hr. to attack the Railway Marshalling yards at Hohenbudberg in the Ruhr. Two aircraft carried Red T.I.'s which they were to drop on Special Equipment - the remainder to bomb these T.I.'s. Soon after crossing the coast on the way out two aircraft experienced engine trouble and after jettisoning their bombs in the Channel area returned to base. The remainder bombed the target in conditions of 5-6/10th cloud.

Several T.I.'s were seen and were well grouped, Flak was moderate but accurate, and searchlights were also active. Soon after the attack started the searchlights remained stationary, as if assisting fighters. Crews reported a good attack with most of the bombing slightly to port of the T.I.'s. Several large fires were seen in the target area. One aircraft has been posted as missing from this attack. The remaining nine aircraft who successfully attacked the primary returned to base." (note : T.I. = Target Indicators).

The missing crew consisted of nine airmen :

Pilot: F/L James H Cowie RCAF

2nd pilot: F/L Alastair N L McQueen

F/E: Sgt John Malcolm

Nav: F/O Peter J Day

B/A: F/S George C Dickinson

W/op: Sgt Alan T. Dobson

Mu/Gnr: Sgt John Gregory

Mid-under/Gnr: F/S Maurice E Hathaway

R/Gnr: Sgt Joseph W Hall

What actually happened, remains a mystery. The people of Wauthier-Braine, a village roughly situated ten miles south-west of Brussels, woke up when a burning bomber lit the night. A report stated two engines were on fire. Flying very low, it just missed the castle of the family d'Oultremont, and finally crashing into the woods, locally known as "le bois d'Hautmont". Many fallen trees led to the site, where the remains of Lancaster HK620 were lying scattered around. An Allied team recovered the remains of eight airmen, probably not knowing this plane had the exceptional number of nine people on board - this seems understandable as the above mentioned Operational Record Book only mentions eight - it seems the debriefing officer did not knew there was a second pilot on board, as F/L McQueen's name is not mentioned. However, after the war he was identified, together with the rest of the crew, except the wireless operator, Sgt A. Dobson. The remains of the crew rest at Evere/Brussels cemetery. The missing airman, 23 year old Sgt Alan Thomas Dobson is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

This year, members of the Belgian Aviation History Association decided to find our more about this particular incident and started their search in the surrounding areas. A large part of the wing, with a clear view of the camouflage pattern and RAF roundel still remarkably well preserved, was recovered from the garden in the neighborhood.
In the Bois d'Hautmont, the team met the Count d'Oultremont and the current owner of the part of the wood where the Lancaster crashed. To our astonishment, large parts of the flaps were found thirty meters high in the trees. We decided to leave these were they are, and were very glad the owners gave us permission to investigate the site.
On Sunday 28 October 2000, a large part of the area was sifted by the 30-men/women BAHA Team, during the process metal detectors and a crane made the work much easier. From the findings it was soon obvious Lancaster HK620 came in a shallow dive, so no large parts were to be recovered. However, an oleo leg was found more or less intact, as well as lots of window strips (dropped to disturb the German radar installation) and the remains of a few .50 caliber rounds - the proof that this Lanc was equipped with the American heavy machine gun.

Note that his mother lived at Roughhills Colvend, and Alastair is remembered on the WW2 Memorial at Colvend Church.
Ken

spoons · Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 5:11 pm Post subject:

Some additional info from the Lost Bombers website............

Serial Range HK535 - HK806 This aircraft was one of 200 Lancasters ordered from Vickers Armstrong (Castle Bromwich) as Mk.11 in Sep41 and changed to Mk.111 in Feb43, but built as Mk.1 from Oct43 to Feb45. Up to HK773 had Merlin 20 engines initially installed, all subsequent Merlin 24 engines. HK620 was delivered to 15 Squadron 31Aug44. HK620 wore the ID's LS-V/W HK620 took part in the following Key Operations: Frankfurt 12/13Sep44; Duisburg 14oct44-Daylight; Nuremburg 2/3Jan45. Airborne 0313 9Feb45 to bomb Hohenbudberg railway yards.

kinnethmont · Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 121 Location: aberdeenshire

Records show F Lt Alastair Norman Leigh McQueen 129934 was a pilot with 2 TAF ( No. 2 Tactical Air Force ), not 15 Squadron Bomber Command or Army , and that he died on 9th Feb 1945 at Peuninger, Holland whilst on Air Operations. I assume his remains were found there.
If he was on board HK620 it must have been as an observer or the like.
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

Jim's post above is one result of an e-mail I received (via Adam Brown) from Alastair Treep in the Netherlands.
Alastair's parents knew Flt.Lt. McQueen in Eindhoven in 1945 and that he had died in Holland.
On Spoons photo above the memorial is inscribed "killed in Holland"
Jim's info. adds to this possibility.
It's early days, but it does look as though he was not onboard the Lancaster HK620 of 15 Squadron (which was based at Mildenhall)
Rather he was piloting an Air Observation Auster aircraft in support of 21 Army Group when he was killed .
Proving which scenario is the real one might be difficult.

Any thought/ideas are welcome.

Ken

kinnethmont · Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 121 Location: aberdeenshire

Ken

The details I gave show he was with 2 TAF when he died. That detail would be the same if he was on board the Lancaster of 15 Squadron, BC, for whatever reason. We know from Lost Bombers, etc that there were nine crew on HK620 that night, including him.

It is entirely possible McQueen was not found at the crash site because he had been lost / jumped from the aircraft long before it fell to earth. It was on an trip to Krefeld and it would have crossed over Holland on the way in and out of the target. Maybe he fell out through the bomb bay, a hatch came loose, etc due to flak or night fighter attack. It happened.

He is buried among the crew at Brussels.
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

I have received a couple of photos from Alastair Treep who lives in Holland. According to Alastair, Flt. Lt. McQueen was billeted in Geldrop near Eindhoven and met Alastair's parents there.
The photo has McQueen with Alastair's mother and sister.

With the photo Alastair has a hand written note of McQueen's address
"F/L Alastair McQueen RAF, TAC HQ, 21 Army Group, B.L.A. Home address 13 Royal Circus, Edinburgh."

McQueen was flying this aircraft when he was hit by ground fire. His co-pilot managed to land the Auster but McQueen was dead. The incident happened near Beuningen, Nijmegen on 9 February 1945.
The Service Return record at the General Records of Scotland, as Jim has posted, agrees with the date and place of death (they have Peuninger, but there is no such place in Holland - a mistranscription I think)

McQueen was buried in Brussels Town Cemetery.

As things stand there is no evidence that McQueen was onboard a Lancaster of 15 Squadron. The various sources who suggest he was cannot produce any documentation to support their case. McQueen is buried along side the crew of HK620 and, until someone can prove otherwise, that is the only connection.

Alastair Treep was named in memory of Alastair Norman Leigh McQueen
Flight Lieutenant (129934) 2 Tactical Air Force, Comm. Flt. attached to Tactical Army Command HQ. 21 Army Group, British Liberation Army.
Killed in action in Holland 9 February 1945.

Ken

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

In a blinding flash of the blooming obvious, I've just realised that even CWGC does not show that McQueen was a member of 15 Squadron. He happens to be buried in the same row and next to the crewmen of HK620. Hardly surprising since he died on the same day.

Ken

kinnethmont · Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 121 Location: aberdeenshire

Ken

There was no suggestion CWGC had it wrong. Now that some evidence appears, although nothing official, it does look like lostbombers, etc have possibly got it wrong and you should take this up with them to see what their source was.

I am sure I have seen those photos before somewhere.
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.