Memorials to 102 Ceylon Squadron

[SimonK123]

With the Bomber Command Memorial dedication coming up I thought it might be useful to provide details of other places where names of fallen Squadron members are listed.

Chris, it might be useful if after the dedication this could form part of the website together with details of the London Memorial. In the meantime I will get some pictures we can use (I have one of the book).
Simon

Memorials which include the names of fallen members of 102 (Ceylon) Squadron:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission Website.
This is the place to start looking for a lost relative.
Website: http://www.cwgc.org/

• RAF Memorial Runnymede, Nr Windsor & Egham , Surrey, England,
The memorial records the names of 20,456 airmen who have no known grave, a beautiful memorial and well worth a visit
Website: http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cem ... 20MEMORIAL

• Bomber Command Memorial Astronomical Clock, York Minster, York.
The ornate astronomical clock was created by craftsmen at the Royal Greenwich Observatory, and was given to the Minster to commemorate the 18,000 Allied airmen who lost their lives in World War II when flying out of bases in Yorkshire, Durham, and Northumberland . A book containing the names of all these airmen is located below it. A page is turned every day of the year.There is now a memorial for 346 Guyenne and 347 Tunisie French Air Force squadrons of 4 Group Bomber Command who flew from Elvington.
Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/York_Minst ... ical_clock

• Book of Remembrance, St Catherine’s Church Barmby Moor Yorkshire.
This book contains the names of all the lost members of 102 (Ceylon) Squadron. The book is kept in a locked cabinet at the rear of the church opposite the entrance porch.

• Register of RAF Aircrew killed during WW2 (General Register Office)
It was possible to see the list some years ago at The Family Records Centre at Myddellton House but the volume may be in the National Archives now.

• Books of Remembrance RAF Church St Clements Danes Church, The Strand, London.
Along both sides of the church are shrines of remembrance, containing the books of remembrance, in which are inscribed the names of those men and women who have died on active service with the Royal Air Force. The 102 (Ceylon) Squadron Badge is set in the floor.
Website: http://www.raf.mod.uk/stclementdanes/

Other memorials to 102 (Ceylon) Squadron:

• Pocklington Airfield
The Memorial is sited next to the Wolds Gliding Club, The Airfield, Pocklington East Yorkshire YO42 1NP. Phone & Fax 01759 303579.
If you visit, you must introduce yourself at the reception and keep well clear of flying operations.
Website:http://www.wolds-gliding.org/

• The Allied Air Forces Memorial, Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, Yorkshire.
102 (Ceylon) Squadron Display Board and the named brick walls both in the Canadian Memorial T2 Hangar and of course the magnificent Halifax rebuild. Website: http://www.yorkshireairmuseum.org/

There are many other war memorials around the country and the world remembering the individual names of fallen members of 102 (Ceylon) Squadron. However there is a book on Yorkshire memorials:

Failed to Return: The Yorkshire Memorials to the Bomber Squadrons of No. 4 Group RAF and No. 6 (Rcaf) Group, 1939-1945 by Bill Norman

Lists the Yorkshire memorials to the Bomber Command crews of No.4 Group RAF and No.6 Group RCAF, as well as providing details of the units and the grievous losses they sustained, both in operations and in training.

Readers are encouraged to ’look beyond the stone’ and to realises the multiplicity of dangers faced by bomber crews. To this end, the details of each memorial are accompanied by at least one tale of a ‘dicey’ trip or a crew lost. A number of ex-bomber crews gave help in the writing of this book.
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd; illustrated edition edition (Nov 1995)
ISBN-10: 0850524741
ISBN-13: 978-0850524741

[Bill Leyland]

On a similar note . . I have put together a list of the 105 men from the squadron who are interned in Britain, and where they lie. I have already visited the local graves and paid my respects. This system doesn't allow me to upload the info so if you would like a copy please contact me. I'm sure Chris will include this on the website soon.
Bill