Operation: Night Training

Date: 21st/22nd October 1941 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit No: 19 Operational Training Unit (OTU), 6 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Whitley V

Serial: P5103

Code: Not issued

Base: RAF Kinloss, Morayshire, Scotland

Location: Ardestie, Scotland

Pilot: Plt Off. Lewis Taylor Younie 41390 RNZAF Age 20. Killed

2nd Pilot: Sgt. Harry Gervase Roughton 405322 RNZAF Age 24. Killed

Observer: Sgt. Roy Tufts Oliver R76040 RCAF Age 23. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Joseph Reid 1050106 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Air Gnr: Sgt. R. Scott 1001823 RAFVR Age? Injured

REASON FOR LOSS:

One of many training losses that are simply not remembered on many websites - boys killed perhaps even before they may have seen active service!

During a cross country training exercise the starboard engine suffered a severe glycol leak - the aircraft rapidly lost height after that engine failed. At 23:59 hrs the aircraft then dived into the ground killing four (4) of the crew.

Sgt. Scott survived the crash but suffered broken ribs. It appears that he survived the war as there are no records of his death in service, as a PoW or as an evader. Additionally there is not record of him being appointed to a commission in the London Gazette.

This loss was pointed out to us by the great chaps at Medals Reunited of New Zealand. Established in May 2014, MRNZ is sustained by medals found (or pre-owned) by members of the public, RSAs, NZ Police, charity shops, service organisations and government departments, which are sent to them to research and hopefully reunite with the veteran’s family or descendant kin. They have had considerable success but always welcome any information on medals that you may have that belonged to New Zealand military personnel.

Burial details:

Plt Off. Lewis Taylor Younie. Kinloss Abbey Burial Ground. Grave 15. Row A. Born on the 7th December 1920 in Auckland, New Zealand. Son of Thomas and Gladys Younie of Te Aro, Wellington City, New Zealand.

Sgt. Harry Gervase Roughton. Kinloss Abbey Burial Ground. Grave 16. Row A. Born on the 13th September 1917 in Nelson, New Zealand. Son of Oliver Gervase and Lily Beatrice (née Popham) Roughton of Wakefield, Nelson, New Zealand.

Sgt. Roy Tufts Oliver. Kinloss Abbey Burial Ground. Grave 17. Row A. Born on the 18th May 1918 at Westville. Son of George Thomas and Eliza Jane (née Simpson) Oliver. Husband of Catherine Isabel (née Russell) Oliver of Hopewell, Pictou Co, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Sgt. Joseph Reid. Rutherglen Cemetery. Div. N. Grave 35. No further corroborated details found.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Ian Martyn of MRNZ, the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand (Apr 2018). Reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered (Apr 2026).

Other sources listed below:

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