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spoons
Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 4991 Location: St John's Town of Dalry
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:35 am Post subject: Largs, Simpson Memorial |
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Not listed on UKNIWM
Location in the uppe floor to St Johns Church, Largs at OS Map Ref NS 201 592.
The memorial is a pair of round stained glass windows by Douglas Hamilton.
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spoons
Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 4991 Location: St John's Town of Dalry
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:38 am Post subject: |
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Name: SIMPSON, ERNEST ROBERT
Initials: E R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Squadron Leader (Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 83 Sqdn.
Age: 35
Date of Death: 26/02/1943
Service No: 106561
Awards: D F M
Additional information: Son of Alexander and Florence Mary Simpson; husband of Christina Lawther Simpson, of Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 2. D. 2.
Cemetery: RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY
There is a Simpson memorial room in the church, dedicated to Alexander Simpson (the father) but there is also this photograph of Ernest.
From the Lost Bombers website:
Lancaster W4846 Information
Type Lancaster
Serial Number W4846
Squadron 83
X1D OL-S
Operation Cologne
Date 1 26th February 1943
Date 2 27th February 1943
Further Information
"Serial Range W4761 - W5012 This aircraft was one of 450 Lancasters ordered from Metro-Vick in 1940 and built as 170 Mk.1 (W4761-W4982) with Merlin 20 engines and 30 Mk.111 (W4983-501_2) with Merlin 28 engines delivered from Sep42 to May43. They were delivered to Woodford for final assembly and flight testing. W4846 was delivered to 83 Sqdn Jan43. W4846 took part in the following Key Operations: Lorient 13/14Feb43; Nuremburg 25/26Feb43; Cologne 26/27Feb-Lost. When lost this aircraft had a total of 67 hours Airborne 1935 26Feb43 from Wyton. Crashed near Monchengladbach. Both air gunners are known to have been buried in the St_dtfriedhof. They have been subsequently re-interred in the Rheinberg War Cemetery. S/L Robinson had previously served with 38 Sqdn, P/O Norrington with 103 Sqdn and S/L Simpson, the Squadron's Gunnery Leader, with No.49 Sqdn. Their DFM's were Gazetted 22Oct44, 5Nov40 and 11Feb42 respectively. S/L S.Robinson DFM MiD KIA Sgt B.A.Hayes KIA P/O D.Norrington DFM KIA Sgt M.D.w.Hambrook RCAF KIA F/S J.H.Henderson KIA S/L E.R.Simpson DFM KIA. Sgt W.A.Ringe KIA " |
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spoons
Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 4991 Location: St John's Town of Dalry
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:49 am Post subject: |
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My thanks to Rev Jeff Hopewell for the following:
From the Troon & Prestwick Times of Friday 27th August 1948, page 2 – this paper had a small Largs column at that time:
‘St John’s Church was filled to capacity on Sunday forenoon when two memorial windows in the transept gallery were dedicated to the glory of God and in memory of Squadron-Leader Ernest R. Simpson, D.F.M., R.A.F.V.R., elder son of Mr and Mrs A. Simpson, Woodbank, the impressive service being conducted by the Rev. W. Morrison Kelly, B.D., S.T.M. The gallant young officer, who died on 20th February 1943, was 35 years of age. He was the youngest elder of the church, captain of the 1st Largs Boy’s Brigade Company, and a member of Largs branch of Toc H. His widow and three young sons attended the service. The memorial windows are the gift of his parents, his father being session clerk of St John’s Church. Representatives of the Boys’ Brigade and Toc H. Attended the service.’ |
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spoons
Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 4991 Location: St John's Town of Dalry
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stuartn
Joined: 13 Dec 2016 Posts: 2551
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Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2018 10:26 pm Post subject: WMR (ex UKNIWM) number |
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WMR 80509 |
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Tony H
Joined: 27 Oct 2019 Posts: 17 Location: Sleaford, Lincolnshire
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2019 10:30 pm Post subject: |
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Further info
S/L E.R. Simpson DFM was the Mid Upper Gunner on 83 Sqn Lancaster W4846 OL-S that had departed RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire at 1935 on 26/02/43 for Ops Cologne
The aircraft is possibly the one intercepted at 5900M in Raum 5B (Box 5B) above Wessem, 10km SW of Roermond by a Night-Fighter captained by Nacht-Jagd “Experten” Oblt Manfred Meurer and shot down for his 15th Abschusse at 2118
The aircraft crashed close to Munchengladbach with the loss of all seven crew
S/L Simpson DFM was 83 Sqn’s Gunnery Leader
Tony |
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Kenneth Morrison
Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 7755 Location: Rockcliffe Dalbeattie
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2019 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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He was awarded the DFM as 745906 Sergeant Ernest Robert SIMPSON, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 49 Squadron.
London Gazette 11/2/1941 p.833
and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on 20/8/1941
LG 14/10/1941 p.5970 _________________ Ken |
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