The Scottish War Memorials Project

Adam Brown

Squadron Leader John Ronald Savage memorial Bench
Location: West side of St Andrew Square.
OS Ref: tbc

This is the man commemorated on this Edinburgh bench. Nina was his wife

SAVAGE, JOHN RONALD
Nationality: Australian
Rank: Squadron Leader
Regiment/Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Age: 26
Date of Death: 25/06/1943
Service No: 402882
Additional information: Son of William and Daisy Louise Savage, of Balgowlah, New South Wales, Australia; husband of Wilhelmina Eugenie Savage, of Tullibegerri, New South Wales, Australia.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 187.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

Roxy · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:03 pm Post subject:

I wonder why this Australian is remembered in Edinburgh? I am quite content that he is, by the way! I could not find him on SNWM.

Any ideas?

Roxy
_________________
Remembering my ggf, Pte Thomas Roberts, 10 SR, killed 25 Sep 15 at Loos.
Also remembering Flt Lt Al Squires and CXX/3 killed 2 Sep 06 in Afghanistan.

Adam Brown · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:16 am Post subject:

Roxy

My guess was that Wilhelmina 'Nina' Eugenie Savage was not a native of Tullibegerri, New South Wales, Australia and she is the connection.

Perhaps she returned to Edinburgh after his death?

Adam

Roxy · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:13 pm Post subject:

Adam,

There was a Wilhelmina Savage died in North Lanarkshire in 2003 aged 88; so that may be a possibility. I would be surprised at someone from the west putting a bench in St Andrew's Square. Although the bus to Glasgow used to leave from there!

Roxy
_________________
Remembering my ggf, Pte Thomas Roberts, 10 SR, killed 25 Sep 15 at Loos.
Also remembering Flt Lt Al Squires and CXX/3 killed 2 Sep 06 in Afghanistan.

Roxy · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:17 pm Post subject:

A result?

Nina Savage died in Edinburgh in 2000 aged 84.

Roxy
_________________
Remembering my ggf, Pte Thomas Roberts, 10 SR, killed 25 Sep 15 at Loos.
Also remembering Flt Lt Al Squires and CXX/3 killed 2 Sep 06 in Afghanistan.

Adam Brown · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:52 pm Post subject:

That could be her? I wonder if the council has information on the benches?

Spidge from the War Graves forum kindly provided me with these details

Stirling EF392

Information
Serial Number EF392
Squadron 7
X1D MG-N
Operation Wuppertal
Date 1 24th June 1943
Date 2 25th June 1943

Further Information

"Serial range EF384 - EF400. 17 Stirling Mk.1. Part of a batch of 150 Short S.29 Stirling Mk.1/111/1V. EF327- EF369; EF384-EF400 Mk.1; EF401-EF412 mk.111; EF413 Mk.1; EF425- EF470; EF488-EF518 Mk.111. EF404; EF429; EF435; EF446; EF470; EF506 were converted to Mk.1V. Delivered by Short Brothers Ltd between Mar43 and Jun43. Contract No.763825/38. Delivered to No.32MU 12Apr43, to No.7 Sqdn 9Apr43. EF392 was one of three 7 Sqdn Stirlings lost on this operation. See: R9281; ED595. Airborne 2328 24Jun43 from Oakington. Cause of loss not established. Crashed in the North Sea. The body of F/S Barnes was eventually washed ashore and is buried in Bergen General Cemetery; the others have no known graves. Sgt Spanton had been the sole survivor when his Stirling had crashed off the Kent coast 8/9Mar43. See: BK610. S/L J.R.Savage RAAF KIA W/O F.J.Haines KIA F/S G.H.Cox KIA F/S A.J.Barnes KIA Sgt S.A.Errington KIA Sgt A.A.Caley KIA Sgt N.R.Morrison RCAF KIA Sgt D.R.Spanton KIA S/L Savage was OC 'C'Flight. "

Caroline · Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Posts: 17

Neither of those ladies was married to John Ronald Savage!

Irene Nina Savage who died age 84 in 2000 was the widow of firstly Anthony Savage and secondly Robert Millar.

Wilhelmina Maxwell Savage who died age 88 in 2003 was the widow of Edward Savage.

'Course now it occurs to me that maybe "Nina" is a sister-in-law - but if so, why not add her husband's. his brother's name too?

Caroline