In the Commonwealth war grave cemetery in Blandford four of the graves contain members of the Royal Canadian Airforce all for the date of 11/02/1943.
The four Canadian men were part 90 Squadron (Ridgewell) in a seven man crew of a Stirling 1 heavy bomber (R9309) returning from a sortie to Lorient in France, damaged but still flying when both starboard engines failed. The order to abandon the aircraft was given but only three of the crew were able to escape before the bomber crashed at 2305hrs at Bulbarrow Hill, just west of Blandford Forum.
A Stirling 1 Heavy Bomber
Lorient had a massive U-boat base with the capability to shelter and supply up to thirty submarines in massive concrete bunkers. Between 14 January 1943 and 17 February 1943, Allied aircraft dropped as many as 500 high-explosive bombs and more than 60,000 incendiary bombs on Lorient; nearly 90% of the city was flattened. The Stirling 1 was suited to this sort of mission with a pay load of up to 14,000 lb worth of 500 lb bombs. Given the shear scale of the target they were bombing this is understanable.
The U-boat bays of Lorient
Flying Officer James Stenhouse Brydon
Age: 29
Service Number: J/10154
Division: 90 (R.A.F) Sqdn
Grave Reference: Grave Plot 33
Born on the 12th of November in 1913 in Ontario to the parents of Scottish immigrants, Arthur Mackenzie Brydon and Helen Mary Miller who married in 1907 at Cathcart, Lanarkshire.
In October 1941 on the 25th he started a no. 2 flying training course with the Royal Canadian air force and completed in January the 16th in 1942.
When his family was asked if they wish for an inscription on the grave that sent this quote to be engraved:
“Tranquil you lie your Knightly virtue proved”
Flying Officer Norman John Patrick Hartney
Born: 01/04/1920
Age: 22
Service Number: J/10412
Division: 90 (R.A.F) Sqdn
Grave Reference: Grave Plot 32
Citations: 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, Operational Wings awarded posthumously 4th May 1946
The son of John Howard Hartney and Elise Mable Hartney, of Toronto, Ontario.
A student of Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute which after the war created a memorial for all its students that went away to war but did not return home.
Flight Sergeant William Cuthbert Morton
Born: 1915
Age: 28
Service Number: R/75596
Division: 90 (R.A.F) Sqdn
Grave Reference: Grave Plot 34A
The son of Ben F Morton and Catherine Morton of Dundas, Ontario
He was the wireless operator and air gunner when the aircraft needed defending.
His family picked the inscription for his grave:
“Though duty's face is stern her path is best they sweetly sleep who die upon her breast”
This is from the Poem “the Roman Sentinel” by Henry Abbey (1842-1911)
Warrant Officer Class II Willard Kennedy Rosenberry
Born: 1922
Age: 21
Service Number: R/91883
Division: 90 (R.A.F) Sqdn
Grave Reference: Grave Plot 34
The son of David Dudley and Rose Kennedy Rosenberry, from Vancouver in British Columbia.
His role was as an air observer on the air craft.
A Quote to consider:
“Three thousand miles across a hunted ocean they came, wearing on the shoulder of their tunics the treasured name, 'Canada', telling the world their origin. Young men and women they were, some still in their teens, fashioned by their Maker to Love, not to kill, but proud and earnest in their mission to stand, and if it had to be, to die, for their country and for freedom.
One day, when the history of the 20th century is finally written, it will be recorded that when human society stood at the crossroads and civilization itself was under siege, the Royal Canadian Air Force was there to fill the breach and help give humanity the victory. And all those who had a part in it will have left to posterity a legacy of honour, courage and valour that time can never despoil.”
- Father J. P. Lardie (Chaplin 419, 428 Squadron RCAF)
