Archive Report: Allied Forces

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20 OTU Wellington Ic R1646 F/O. James Williamson Thomson DFC

Operation: Training

Date: 18th January 1942 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 20 Operational Training Unit. 6 Group

Type: Wellington IC

Serial: R1646

Code: JM-D

Base: RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland

Location: Glen Clunie near Braemer, Scotland

Pilot (Inst) F/O. James Williamson Thomson DFC. NZ/40667 RNZAF Age 25. Killed

Pilot 2: Sgt. Robert James Jackson R/83904 RCAF Age 21. Killed

Pilot 3: Sgt. Michael Henry John Kilburn 1380631 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Obs: Sgt. Harry Joseph Kelley R/76125 RCAF Age 23. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gn (Inst): Sgt. John Bernard Riley 995062 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Beaumont Churchill Dickson Aus/404634 RAAF Age 22. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. William Morphet Greenbank 1029811 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Roy Alistair Milliken Aus/404637 RAAF Age 22. Killed

REASON F: LOSS:

Took off on a cross-country flight and failed to return at the scheduled time. On or around the 19th February the police relayed a message to Lossiemouth indicating that the wreckage of an aircraft had been reported in the vicinity of Clunie Water (or Clunie Glen) near Braemar in Aberdeenshire.

Three days later, a service party struggled across the snow-covered countryside and confirmed that the remains were those of the Wellington. From evidence gathered at the scene it seemed likely that the bomber came down at around 12:50 hrs. Of the eight members of the crew six were recovered but only two had been identified. The remaining two crew members were recovered after the weather had permitted access to the crash site.

Above L-R: F/O. Thomson DFC, Sgt. Jackson, Sgt. Kilburn and Sgt. Kelley

Above L-R: Sgt. Riley, Sgt. Dickson, Sgt. Greenbank and Sgt. Milliken

Burial and other details:

F/O. James Williamson Thomson DFC. Dyce Old Churchyard. Grave 12. Born 07th August 1916 in Oamaru, Otago. Educated at Waitaki Boys' High School.Emplpyed by the Justice Department prior to service. Enlisted in civil reserve in February, 1939 and mobilised on the 13th February 1940, Son of James (died 09th July 1918, age 37) and Laura Jean Thomson (née Williamson - died 06th July 1930, age 45), ofHerbert, Omaru, Otago, New Zealand.. A total of 659 flying hours logged.

DFC Citation: - 18th September 1941:

'Pilot Officer James Williamson Thomson, Royal New Zealand Air Force, awarded Distinguished Flying Cross. One night in June, 1941, after bombing a target in Dusseldorf, Pilot Officer Thomson was twice caught in a cone of searchlights and held for some minutes. Flak hit the aircraft in several places, and one burst sent it into a fast vertical dive to a low altitude. He regained height but was again caught by a large number of searchlights.
The anti-aircraft fire suddenly ceased, the searchlights were extinguished, and, almost immediately, an enemy fighter opened with bursts of bullet and cannon fire from dead astern.
His rear gunner replied with a burst, driving the enemy off. Severe damage was done to the British aircraft, and a fire broke out which the crew quickly extinguished. Pilot Officer Thomson has encountered and gallantly overcome many similar harassing experiences; his courage determination and devotion to duty are worthy of high praise.'

Sgt. Robert James Jackson Dyce Old Churchyard. Grave 13. Born on the 24th February 1921 in Toront, Ontario, Canada. Enlisted on the 09th December 1940. Son of Captain James (died 08th June 1968, age 83) and Ella Maud Jackson, (née Young - died 10th April 1955, age 74) of 32 Queensbury Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Epitaph: 'On Earth He Nobly Did His Best'.

Sgt. Michael Henry John Kilburn. Farnham Cemetery (Green Lane). Section. B. Grave 1103. Initially buried with the other crew members at Dyce. Reinterred on Saturday 23rd January 1943 Born 1922 in Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire, England. Educated at Farnham Grammar School. Enlisted in 1940 - straight from school. The only child of Frank and Gladys May Kilburn, of Farnham. Epitaph: 'E'en As He Went That Day To God So From His Birth In Loyalty And Honour Bent'.

Sgt. Harry Joseph Kelley. Dyce Old Churchyard. Special Memorial. Grave 19. (Buried near this spot), Born on the 06th February 1918 in Quebec, Canada. Enlisted on the 24th October 1940. Son of Harry Joseph Kelley and Helen V. Kelley (née O'Malley,) of 13 Bay view Street, Westmount, Province of Quebec, Canada. Epitaph: 'Here He Gave His Youth And His Life For God And Country'.

Sgt. John Bernard Riley. Dyce Old Churchyard. Special Memorial. Grave 15. (Buried near this spot). Born 1918 in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. Son of Edgar and Edith Marie Riley; husband of Joyce Riley, of Askern, Yorkshire. Epitaph: 'In Loving Memory Of My Dear Husband Always In My Thoughts Until We Meet Again'. Enlisted with his friend Roy Alistair Milliken - trained together and crewed together/

Sgt. Beaumont Churchill Dickson. Dyce Old Churchyard. Special Memorial. Grave 16. (Buried near this spot). Born on the 24th August 1919 in Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia . Son of Mervyn and Esther Elizabeth Dickson, of Rockhampton, Queensland. Australia. Epitaph: 'Enshrined In Noble Memory For Evermore'. His brother Cedric Mervyn Ward and Clifford Noel Bedwell (died 01st March 1051, age 35) both served in the army and survived the war.

Sgt. William Morphet Greenbank.Windermere Cemetery. (St. Mary's). Section A.2. Grave 95. Born on the 29th January 1922 in Sodbergh, Yorkshire, England. Son of Fred and Sarah Elizabeth Greenbank (née Morphet), of Beaconsfield Terrace, Windermere, Cumbria, England. Epitaph: 'At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Them'.

Sgt. Roy Alistair Milliken. Dyce Old Churchyard. Grave 11. Born on the 06th May 1919 in Mackay, Queensland, Australia.. Enlisted on the 06th May 1919 in Brisbane. Adopted son of Robert Anderson Milliken (died 01st April 1961, age 83) and Anne Brown - died 09th July 1952, age 69); husband of Mary Patricia Donahoe (née Milliken, of Des Plaines, Illinois, U.S.A. Sp. Mem. "C". Epitaph: 'He Served His Country Well'.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the National Archives Kew, National Archiveis Australia. extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, New Zealand Cenotaph. Paradie RCAF Archives, Paul McGuiness RAAF Archives.

Other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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