The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

spoons · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 8:55 pm Post subject: Dundrennan Air Crash

UKNIWM Ref: Not listed

OS Map Ref: NX 7490 4773 (by GPS), beside the Rerrick Parish memorial outside Dundrennan Church.

I attended the unveiling of this memorial today, the 18th July 2010 which is the 66th anniversary of the tragedy commemorated. I became aware of these events over 3 years ago and originally posted information on the Dundrennan memorial thread where some additional information can be found.

In the early hours of 18th July 1944 a Bristol Beaufighter crashed on a house in Dundrennan killing the crew of two, plus four members of the Hamilton family. This was one of only two incidents during WW2 involving multiple deaths of civilians in Dumfries and Galloway – the other being the bombing raid on Gretna.

The four members of the Hamilton family are buried in a single grave in the Rerrick parish cemetery and this is well off the beaten track at OS Map Ref NX 760 467. All are listed on CWGC so this is a war grave.

The unveiling was attended by Mrs Georgina (known as Ina) Wood who is the sole surviving member of the Hamilton family from the tragedy. Until now there was no memorial to the family/event in the church, school or any other place. There is a photographic record (book) of the events in the Stewartry Museum in Kirkcudbright.

Thanks to Alan Leishman at the Dumfries Aviation Museum for the following information.

"Beaufighter JL893 of 9 OTU

crashed into a house in Dundrennan on 18th July 1944. Both crew were killed. They were :

YOUNG E.M SGT. RAF PILOT BEAUFIGHTER JL893 LEEDS , LAWNS WOOD , CREM.
WILES H.A F/SGT RAF NAV. BEAUFIGHTER JL893 ALDERSHOT CIVIL , HAMPS

Commemorated are James Hamilton and his wife Georgina along with two of their children Henry and Agnes. Also commemorated are the two airmen mentioned.

Mrs Ina Wood is the lady in the blue jacket, the lady beside her is Jean Brown who has been the driving force behind getting this memorial erected.

spoons · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 8:58 pm Post subject:

spoons · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 8:59 pm Post subject:

This is the site of the crash, just a short distance from the memorial. The house was never rebuilt and is now a private garden.

spoons · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 9:06 pm Post subject:

Name: WILES, HENRY ARTHUR
Initials: H A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flight Sergeant (Nav./W.Op.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 21
Date of Death: 18/07/1944
Service No: 1600998
Additional information: Son of Mitchell Alfred and Hannah Wiles, of Aldershot.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. U. Grave 20.
Cemetery: ALDERSHOT CIVIL CEMETERY

Name: YOUNG, ERIC MOLSON
Initials: E M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flight Sergeant (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 21
Date of Death: 18/07/1944
Service No: 1459184
Additional information: Son of Herbert Collier Molson Young and Kathleen Young, of Gledholt, Huddersfield.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Screen Wall. Panel 3.
Cemetery: LEEDS (LAWNS WOOD) CREMATORIUM

spoons · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 9:24 pm Post subject:

There is a lengthy news item published last year at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/8156122.stm

and a couple more photos of the unveiling.

spoons · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 4:47 pm Post subject:

details and photographs sent to UKNIWM today.

\Paul

stuartn · Joined: 13 Dec 2016 Posts: 2551

This was entered by the office, as memorial WMR 69406 last year, I have just tidied the record up tonight