Request from my Mom

Date: Jul 17, 2008

Request from my Mom

Linda · Air Commodore

Hi bob,
Would this be Pilot Officer Ralph Henry RCAF killed 26-7-1942 and remembered on the Runnymede Memorial?
Parents Ernest & Adeline of Kincardine,Ontario?
I don't have a reference book for that year so hopefully someone else can come up with the cause of his loss with the BCATP.
His Squadron /Unit isn't listed on the CWG.
Did he have a couple of brothers who received awards?

dawallace · Wing Commander

From "They Shall Grow Not Old"
Henry, Ralph Ballantyne P/O(P) J7615. From Kincardine Ontario. Killed Jul.26/42 age 30. #5 Operational Training Unit. Beaufort aircraft #W 6480 hit sea while engaging in bombing practice four miles west of Girvan, Aryshire, Scotland. One RAF Airman was also killed. Pilot Ofiicer Henry has no known grave and his name is inscribed on the Runneymede War Memorial, Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey, England.
Regards
Dave Wallace

dawallace · Wing Commander

There are also two Henrys from Kincardine in the RCAF Honours and Awards
HENRY, F/L Douglas Woods who won a DFC and Bar with 214 Squadron, and my father was a Navigator at 214 Squadron when he was there.
HENRY, F/L Ernest Raymond on a DFC and Bar with 109 Squadron and even stanger my father served with him at 109.
I have a fair bit of information of both of these Henry men as a result if they are related which seems likely by the birthdates.
Dave Wallace

-- Edited by dawallace at 14:46, 2008-07-18

-- Edited by dawallace at 15:05, 2008-07-18

Date: Jul 18, 2008

Wow! Thanks to all those who posted a reply. My Mom will be amazed at how quickly the internet can find answers. She remembers the Henry clan from her hometown and I believe there were a number of brothers likely all of which she knew. Mom is away at the summer "cottage" but I will print the info and take it to her as soon as I am able to venture up that way. She will be able to confirm if they are all related but as Kincardine was a small town it's quite likely. Incidentally Mom worked summers during the war years at a furniture factory which made parts for Canadian produced Mosquito Bombers. I have a lamp and several wooden picture frames which she crafted out of the plywood used to make the leading edges and other assorted wingparts.

Thanks again everybody.

Bob

Date: Jul 27, 2008

Spoke with Mom this week-end and conveyed all the information everyone contributed and Mom confirmed the fact that all the Henry Boys were brothers. She was most appreciative for the particulars as 66 years passage had erased some of the details though she told me so much more regarding the family that there was no way I could remember a fraction of it.

Nonetheless it's quite remarkable that three brothers from the same family served, one tragically being lost in training and the other two being awarded DFCs with Bars. She doesn't know if any of the Henry Boys are still alive and as they were several years older than she, has her doubts.

Thanks again everyone.

B.

Date: Nov 7, 2008

While visiting Mom and browsing through her mother's scrap book (my Grandmother) I found a newspaper clipping showing the three Henry Boys of Kincardine pictured together in uniform. Obviously this would have been prior to the loss of one of them overseas. That would date it prior to 1942.

Should anyone have an interest in a scan of said picture/article I could provide same with provision of address to send to.

Interested parties can connect with me via the forum.

Tx.

Bob

dawallace · Wing Commander

Hi Bob
I would appreciate a copy of the article, my email is dawallace@sympatico.ca.
Thanks
Dave Wallace

Date: Oct 4, 2010

Hi Bob,
Just happened on your posting tonight Oct.4/10. I am the daughter of Ernest Henry who was the youngest of the Henry brothers. Ralph, my dad's eldest brother perished on a mission. My granparents were told he was missing in action but we never knew what happened. He was having some trouble with his eyes according to his diary, I think especially with night vision, but had been fitted with goggles which were to help. We have a letter from a kindly English family who were able to tell my grandparents that Ralph had been happy and was enjoying playing their piano and singing whenever he visited. It meant the world to Granny and Grandad Henry.
My father Ernest and Douglas the middle brother had been fortunate enough to meet up with him just before he was lost. All the boys were in the Air force. Douglas stayed on, eventually becoming a Wing Commander and my father received the D.F.C. Douglas passed away in his mid fifties right after retiring from The AirForce. My father passed away in 1991. Towards the end of his life, he wrote about his childhood in Kincardine and his war years. My brother was named Paul Ralph Henry in Ralph's honour and Douglas's first born is named Ralph Henry. My husband and I celebrated by birthday in KIncardine this year visiting all my favourite places from my childhood.

Date: Oct 4, 2010

Whay an amazing means of making a connection! Mom knew the Henry Boys from school in Kincardine and I have a newspaper picture of the three of them around here somewhere. I will be seeing Mom tomorrow and show her your forum post Edith. I, too, ventured to Kincardine this Summer past during the week-end of the Highland Games and our granddaughter loved the Scottish Pipe Band, the waves at the beach, the boardwalk and the sunset.

Mom had worked at Malcolm's Furniture Factory during the war years building the wing tips and leading edges of Mosquito Bombers as part of the Canadian War effort. Her maiden name was Dobson.

Let me know if you'd like a scan of the newsapaper photo of the Henry Boys. My e-mail is roful at sympatico dot ca.

dawallace · Wing Commander

Hi Edith
I have a very good quality photo of your Father's Mosquito leading a formation of Lancasters on July 12/44 in a daylight attack on a V-1 rocket site at Rollez if you are interested. My Father served with yours at 109 Squadron and I collect information on that squadron. My email is dawallace@sympatico.ca
Regards
Dave Wallace

-- Edited by dawallace on Tuesday 5th of October 2010 08:20:34 AM

dawallace · Wing Commander

I just figured out how to post the photo.

It was taken July 12, 1944 & the target was the constructional works at Rollez, using a formation of six 582 Squadron Lancs and one 109 Squadron Mosquito.
The photo was taken from Lancaster ND931 (coded 60-H) by F/L Harry Wright who was Navigator 1 on the crew of S/L DM Walbourne. 60-J in the foreground is PB136 flown by F/L HC Walker and his crew. 60-H was at 16,000 ft while 60-J was at 15,800 ft. The Mosquito is ML980, coded HS-W flown by F/L JR Emerson and his Navigator F/L ER Henry.
The formation originally was led by S/L JC "Monty" Thelwell and his Navigator F/L Harry Scott of 109 Squadron who had joined with the 582 Squadron crew of F/O KH Weir for the op, although none of the ORBs have the serial or squadron code for that aircraft. Thelwell was leading the formation into the target but had an Oboe equipment failure at 14:58.30, He dove out of the formation, rejoining it 700 yds behind and 1000 ft. below Emerson & Henry in the Mosquito that had taken over the lead, which is what we see in the photo. Emerson & Henry in the Mosquito did not have enough time to get their Oboe set tuned and settle into flying the beam so they bombed on dead reckoning at 15:04.30 and the rest of the formation bombed on seeing their bombs go and their flare being fired. Thelwells bombs were 10 seconds late due to having to re-position his aircraft. In the photo both the Lancaster and Mosquito have their bomb doors open and they are just about to release their bombs.
The photo is quite large compared to the one you see here- email me if you want a full size copy
Dave Wallace

-- Edited by dawallace on Tuesday 5th of October 2010 09:27:29 AM

Date: Oct 5, 2010

Edith:

Sitting here with Mom she tells me that Bill Bruce named his first son Ralph in honour of your Uncle because everybody in the community felt the loss. Mom says everyone in Kincardine bought all their school books at Henry's (your grandparent's) which was a book & gift store on the main street on the West side about two stores down from the road which leads to the harbour.

Mom says your Dad was a good friend of Don Bruce and my Mom was good friends with his sister Marj. By the time your father returned from Overseas Mom was at University in Toronto and hadn't seen him since.

Mom says Mrs. Henry was absolutely full of trepidation when all three boys enlisted into the Air Force in London and then devastated when they lost one so shortly thereafter. Bill Bruce enlisted and served as an Officer in the RCA Dental Corps and Don served as a Mechanic in the RCAF much to his disappointment as he tested colourblind and was unable to meet the prerequisite for aircrew.

Ralph Bruce, named after your Uncle, followed in his father's footsteps and was a Dentist as well with a sterling reputation.

Thought you might be interested in this small bit of history and the legacy that your Uncle's sacrifice led to if you didn't already ...

Bob

Date: Oct 5, 2010

Hi Bob,
I never in my wildest dreams expected the quick response I found tonight and for which I am very grateful. Your Mom will know that the Henry's lived almost beside the Malcolm's factory and one of my sweetest memories is waking in her house and hearing the drone of the machinery...very pleasant and smelling the sweetness of the wood on the air. We have some treasured pieces from that factory.
You were mentioning the Bruces who were very dear friends of the Henry's. Bill Bruce's brother, Don, is my godfather. Mum and I are still in touch with him in London Ontario. Please give my regards to your Mom when you see her.

Sincerely,Edie

Date: Oct 5, 2010

Dear Dave,

I was able to relate yesterdays information to my mother Joan Henry who was a W.A.F. in England. She was saying how lovely it would be to read all the information so this evening I have printed it out for her. Mum was working in the Met. Office giving weather reports to the crews going out. Pilot Bill Williamson R.A.F. thought he should introduce her to my father Ernest Henry. Apparently a good introduction! Mum and Dad kept in touch with Bill Williamson and his wife Spuddy, and Polly and Jack Emmerson. I believe only Polly is still living. We still write every year to Bill and Spuddy Williamson's daughter Helen who lives in Australia. There were many trips back and forth across the ocean to see these lovely people. I am so appreciative of all the information that you have given me and think it amazing that you have the photo of Emerson and Henry and the story as well. Bless you for this.
Most Sincerely,
Edie Pinder(Henry)

Date: Nov 16, 2010

Thank you so much for access to the photo which I was able to reproduce from your posting. My brother was so interested in having a copy. My Mum helped me identify the Mosquito by the number of engines. Don't know about you but I always watch for my parents in films about the war. You made that possibility real for us all by sharing this photograph. Thank you very very much.

Date: Nov 17, 2010

Dear Edie:

I was in contact with Dave Wallace just recently and sent to him a scan from the newspaper my Mom had the clipping of the Henry Boys pictured together. If you'd like a copy I'll gladly forward it to you. Dave in turn sent me a really clear scan of the Lanc & Mossie (your dad was aboard) and in proper size it's a very clear shot.

If you'd like either one just drop me a line at roful@sympatico.ca or contact Dave via the forum. I'm not that computer savvy so posting it on the forum is a bit of a challenge but I do now have it aboard my computer as a scanned image and can send it to you via e-mail.

Both are quite something to see after nearly 70 years of time passage.

Bob

dawallace · Wing Commander

Hi Edie
If you liked the small picture you will love the big version, as Bob says it is quite clear, my email is: dawallace@sympatico.ca
I can also send you other information if you are interested as I have the operations records for 109 Squadron which detail all of your father's operations with them. On D-Day, just before the landings he was assigned to mark a heavy costal gun for 115 Lancasters near St. Pierre du Mont, my father was on one of the other two 109 Squadron Mosquitos involved in that attack so I have a very detailed account of what went on there as well.
There is also an interesting account in "Beam Bombers - The Secret War of 109 Squadron" by Michael Cumming that details an incident on March 22/44 when they were experimenting with wing mounted bombs which ended up freezing to their mounts as Oboe marking was usually done at 28,000' & up. In this case the bombs ended up dropping off as the 109 & 105 Squadron crews landed back at RAF Marham. They were time delay fuses so they landed on the flare path & didn't explode right away. Your father's Mosquito flew right over them and landed safely but the Mosquito immediately behind them was blown up, killing the pilot and severly injuring the Navigator who was trapped under the burning wing & lost his leg in the incident. Oddly enough he was my best friend's dad when I was a boy and lived just down the street from me.
Another interesting entry from the Squadron ORB for Sept.12/44 when your Dad flew to Scholven with F/L Dray (after Jack Emmerson left the squadron) for a daylight marking operation: "Marked from 32,000' by AR.5513 [Oboe]. Cloud: nil; Defenses: very heavy and accurate. 15 flak holes in aircraft. Oil fires seen."
Cheers
Dave

-- Edited by dawallace on Wednesday 17th of November 2010 03:24:08 PM

-- Edited by dawallace on Thursday 18th of November 2010 11:24:54 AM