The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

apanderson · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2016 7:50 am Post subject:

Well done Sandra!

It's a great feeling being able to find out previously unknown info for people.

I often wonder if they realise that we get as big a 'kick' out of finding stuff as they do when they see it! Very Happy

Anne

spoons · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2016 12:24 pm Post subject:

Yes, well done

apanderson · Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2016 10:13 am Post subject:

David McNay · Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2016 1:51 pm Post subject:

That's a great letter Anne, thanks for sharing it.

jrah60 · Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2016 3:30 pm Post subject:

Well done and well deserved Anne.

John

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 7:23 pm Post subject:

A recent request has an usual (and touching) "back story".

Hello,
A group of some 60 Black Mountains Chapter Wales bikers are travelling to Czech Republic next July for a Harley Davidson anniversary rally. As part of the ride there we are visiting the Prague War Cemetery. Each rider has been tasked with identifying some of our fallen Heroes who lie there so we can pay our respects on a personal basis. Looking through the Commonwealth War Graves Commission I found 2 young Scottish men who were with 153 Squadron Bomber Command RAF Volunteer Reserve. Both Sergeants, both Air Gunners and both only 19 years old. One, Walter Simpson (3020020) of Larkhall and the other William Meechan (3022129) of Dalmellington. They lived 40 miles apart and died on the same day - 6th March 1945. I wonder could you provide some more information on these two young Heroes, their backgrounds, which aircraft they flew in and any other information, or, provide me with contacts of any person or organisation that could help me. Thank You very much, Regards, Michael Crocker

We were able to identify that William Boyd Meechan, Sergeant/Air Gunner (3022129) and Walter Simpson, Sergeant/ Air Gunner (3020020) of 153 Squadron, Bomber Command, RAF were onboard their Lancaster Bomber PB872 which had taken off from RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire for a raid on Chemnitz in Saxony, Germany, just north of the Czech border. The aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed near Rossbach in Bohemia. The crew were originally buried in Rossbach (the German name for Hranice) Cemetery in Czechoslovakia and were re-interred in Prague in September 1947.
These links give even more detail
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=159513
and this one has photographs of the crash site but it is in Czech!
http://www.leteckabadatelna.cz/havarie-a-sestrely/detail/279/

Mike kindly replied:
Thank you so much for your quick reply. The detail of your information is exceptional, making the terrible event come to life. It’s only when you focus on individuals, and these airmen so young and inexperienced that you come to realise how brave they were. I and my fellow bikers will visit these two particular graves and pay our respects and at least feel we know a lot more about them after researching their background. Once again thank you.
Best regards,
Mike Crocker

_________________
Ken

apanderson · Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 1:40 pm Post subject:

Well done yet again Ken!!

Very Happy