Operation: Foret-de-Gault

Date: 13th June 1940 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 12 Squadron (motto: 'Leads the Field')

Type: Fairey Battle I

Serial: L5324

Code: PH-A

Base: Sougé, France

Location: St-Barthelémy, Seine-et-Marne, France

Pilot: P/O. John Sidney Shorthouse 36251 RAF Age 20 Injured - evaded

Obs: Sgt. Norman Clifford Cotterell 580948 RAF Age 20. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: LAC Richard Alfred Copley 748217 RAF Age 30. Injured - evaded (1)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 17:50 hrs one of six from the squadron detailed to bomb German tanks reported to be in the Foret-de-Gault to refuel.

The formation being - Battle L5451 flown by F/O. Brian Elwyn Moss, Battle L5321 flown by P/O. Gilbert Mclean Hayton (2), Battle L5396

flown by Sgt. Rex Wheeldon, Battle L5324 flown by P/O. John Sidney Shorthouse, Battle L5531 flown by P/O. John Fletcher McPhie and Battle L5580 flown by P/O. Rupert Charles Langridge Parkhouse.

No tanks were seen, but large concentrations of motor transport were observed moving North towards Gault Soigny. These were not bombed as they were presumed to be friendly forces. Bombs were dropped, high-level, On the South side of the forest, and also on the wood skirting the eastern edge.

Intense heavy flak fire was encountered which was fairly accurate, while Sgt. Wheeldon was attacked 4 miles South of the target by a Me109 which was driven off. P/O. Shorthouse and crew, P/O. Parkhouse and crew, and P/O. MaPhie and crew did not return with the others, all of which landed by 21:00 hrs.

The crew managed to evade capture with the aid of the Belgium Comet escape line.

Further details:

Battle L5531:

P/O. John Fletcher McPhie, suffered badly burnt on hands and legs (PoW No. 16247 Stalag Luft Sagan, Sgt. Charles Shaun Gordon Beevers 564349 RAF (PoW No. 13399 Stalag Kopernikus) and LAC. James Gilchrist Thomspon 755699 RAF (PoW No: 13337 Stalag Luft Heydekrug) both unhurt but all captured.

Battle L5580 PH-X:

P/O. Rupert Charles Langridge Parkhouse 33575 RAF (PoW No.469 Stalag Luft Sagan) born in Dulich on the 04th February 1921, Enlisted on the 299th April 1939 at Cranwell. Remaind in the RAF after the war and flew Sunderlands on the Berlin airlift. Passed away on the 17th October 2019, age 98. Sgt. Arthur Reginald Morris (PoW No. 372 Stala Kopernicusg) and AC1. Duncan Alexander MacDonald (PoW No further details) all captured

Above: The Shorthouse brothers - see details below (Courtesy New Zealand Cenotaph)

John Shorthouse was the eldest of three sons of Son of John Stephen Shorthouse (RNZNVR NZD948, killed on the 12th February 1961 in a road traffic accident) and Marguerite Shorthouse (nèe Gargrave), of Walkouku Road, Waimauku, North Auckland.1961 in a road traffic accident) and of Marguerite Shorthouse (nèe Gargrave), of Walkouku Road, Waimauku, North Auckland. (Newspaper report)

His younger brother, - Eric Peter Shorthouse (NZ/4212607, born 24th May 1921 - killed 12th April 1945) served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War 2. His other brother, Robert Clive Shorthouse (NZ/412749, born 09th August 1922) served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force in the Middle East.
DFC Citation:
'The citation published on the occasion of the award is as follows: Squadron Leader J.S. Shorthouse, DFC 'On one occasion this officer was detailed to carry out an attack on Mannheim. Whilst still 80 miles from the target one engine of his aircraft was knocked out and the aircraft began to lose height. It was typical of this officer that he never even considered turning back despite the fact that he could not maintain height above fifteen thousand feet. Although engaged by flak and searchlights over the traget, Squadron Leader Shorthouse pressed hom his attack in the face of heavy opposition and was so successful he brought back a photograph of the Aiming Point;.

(2) Fl/Lt. Gilbert Mclean Hayton DFC was returning to England from the Middle East on the unescorted British troop ship RMS Laconia when it was attacked at 22:07 hrs. by U-156. A full report can be read here.

Fl/Lt. Gilbert Mclean Hayton 42503 RAF DFC. Alamein Memorial, Column 247. Also remembered on the family grave at Awanui Cemetery, Taranaki, New Zealand. Born on the 12th May 1917 in Hāwera, Taranaki, New Zealand. Son of Ernest Colin Hayton (died 07th July 1972, age 93) and of Lilian May Hayton (née Dickson - died 28th November 1964, age 80), of New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand.

Sgt. Norman Clifford Cotterell. St. Barthelemy Communal Cemetery. Son of Henry George and Annie Elizabeth Cotterell, of Lee, London . Epitaph: 'In Our Hearts A Memory Of One We Loved And Never Forget. Mum, Dad, Arthur & Raymund'.

Above: Airline Pilots Meeting, Auckland 06th July 1947 L-R: Frank William Kilgour (NZ412701), Romald Puttick (NZ/412735) and John Sidney Shorthouse (36251)

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, New Zealand Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, National Archive Kew, AIR-27-16-4-6/7, Belgium WW2 Info.

Other sources as quoted below:

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