Hello. I live in Rutland close to what used to RAF Cottesmore and am researching the background of 3 young NZ airmen who are buried in the village cemetery and just wondered if anyone could help me? The 3 men are Sgt Pilot Vincent Herbert Griffiths (aged 29 yrs from Auckland), Sgt Pilot Jack Edward Wall (aged 19yrs from Harihari in Westland) and Sgt Pilot Wilford John Collins(from Auckland). I know that Sgts Wall and Griffiths were killed in a night-time training accident somewhere on the RAF Saltby circuit on 12th September 1941. However, I don't anything of what happened to Sgt Collins who died on 6th December 1942 apparently in a Wellington bomber crash. His death was registered at Oakham so I assumed that the crash took place somewhere close to Cottesmore. He was 23yrs old and married sometime in 1941/early 1942. He left behind his parents and a brother and sister as well as his widow, Zena Florrie. I have received some information from Errol Martyn who very kindly sent me the details he included in his book. However, I'd be very grateful for any more information. The reason for my interest is that we lived in NZ for a couple of years and I wanted to try and find out a little more about these young men who were so far from home. Many thanks for your help.
Griffiths and Wall were in two different Hampdens that were doing night training at Saltby and collided in the circut. Six other airmen, all RAF, were also killed in the collision. Collins was the pilot of a Wellington 1C on a night training exercise but crashed almost immediately after takeoff near Barrow, 4 miles NNE of Oakham. A court of enquiry concluded that the flaps were raised in mistake of the undercarriage and at low altitude the aircraft likely went into the ground before Collins realised his error. Source is Chorley's Bomber Command Losses Volume 7- OTUs Cheers Dave Wallace
-- Edited by dawallace on Wednesday 16th of July 2014 07:32:20 PM
Hello Dave. thank you so much for the information -it is very much appreciated! I've since discovered from a NZ Bomber Command website that Sgts Griffiths and Wall crashed near Waltham on the Wolds having taken off from Saltby. the information I had from Errol Martyn says that they arrived in England at the same time and were posted to Cottesmore at the same time too. The NZ Bomber Command site says that each of the men had just over 200 flying hours experience.
Many thanks again for taking the time to reply.
Melissa Pilbeam
I have just seen your request for information about 3 NZ bomber pilots buried in Oakham. Sgt Vincent Herbert Griffiths was my great Uncle. His sister was my grandmother. In 1984 I tracked down through NZ war office records where he was buried and visited the graveyard. I am the only member of our family to have done so. It is a beautiful church and graveyard and I was very grateful for its beautiful upkeep. I have many of the letters that he wrote home. I know from his letters how very keen he was to join up and start flying. He mentions a " boarding house" he stayed in in Oakham and how the lady kindly did all his washing And there is lots of reference to the local pub! It was ANZAC day yesterday so it feels particularly timely that I saw your post. Thank you for your interest.
Thank you so much for your post -I've only just looked at the forum after quite a few months ! It's lovely to know that his family are aware of his last resting place and how wonderful that you have his letters.You're right it's a lovely place and very well looked after by the CWG staff. I did manage to find a family website which had details of one of Sgt. Griffiths' sisters and the gentleman who produced it put Sgt. Griffiths' details on it . He had wedding photos with Sgt. Griiffiths in them as he was the couple's Best Man prior to his departure for England.
