Forgotten Hero - Walter Patterson Angus (1923 - 1943)
I came across this report in the local press when I was researching a completely different matter
From The Sheffield Star dated Saturday February 19th 1983
As far as I could ascertain there was no additional information given about Walter at the time, and so I did a check on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database and found the following entry
Name: ANGUS, WALTER PATTERSON
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Pilot Officer (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 88 Squadron.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 08/08/1943
Service No: 146970
Additional information: Son of Thomas Cuthbertson Angus and Grace Hannah Angus, of Totley Rise, Yorkshire, England.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Coll. grave XXVIII. D. 1-5.
Cemetery: BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY
Based on this information I found that in August 1943, 88 squadron was relocated to RAF Hartford Bridge, Hampshire with its sister squadron No. 342 Squadron as part of 137 wing of No.2 Group of the 2nd Tactical Air Force in preparation for the invasion of Europe. From there the squadron attacked German communications and airfields. I believe this is how Walter lost his life. Prior to the invasion of Normandy, the RAF had a long-standing policy of "leaning across the Channel" or "leaning forward into France" and so raids were planned on German military targets in France. The squadron were equipped withBoston IIIA's which were in effect day-bombers but they did fulfil other functions as well. Walters plane noBZ296 crashed at La Chapelle des Fougeretz "Bas Plessis" whilst on one of these missions and according to thewebsite two of the three crew died, one of whom was Walter
Flying Officer Pilot. ANGUS, WALTER PATTERSON, 20 ans, 88 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Coll. grave XXVIII. D. 1-5. Bretteville-sur-Laize.
Pilot Officer Navigator. BROWN LESLIE CHARLES. (EVD).
Pilot Officer radio. OLIVER, SYDNEY, 23 ans, 88 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Pilot Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 88 Sqdn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 08/08/1943
Service No: 146933
Additional information: Son of William Vernon Oliver and Alice Oliver, of Fartown, Yorkshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 132. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Sydney has no known grave, but Walter is buried in Bretteville-sur-Laize War Cemetery in Normandy France.
Notes
1. BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY - the cemetery lies on the west side of the main road from Caen to Falaise (route N158) about 14 kilometres south of Caen and just north of the village of Cintheaux. The village of Bretteville lies 3 kilometres south-west of the cemetery.
Historical Information: The Allied offensive in north-western Europe began with the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944. For the most part, those buried at Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery died during the later stages of the battle of Normandy, the capture of Caen and the thrust southwards - led initially by the 4th Canadian and 1st Polish Armoured Divisions - to close the Falaise Gap. Almost every unit of Canadian 2nd Corps is represented in the cemetery. The cemetery contains 2,958 Second World War burials, the majority Canadian, and 87 of them unidentified.
No. of Identified Casualties: 2873
2. Walter's Parents marriage
Surname First name(s) Spouse District Vol Page
Marriages Dec 1921
Angus Thomas C Hartley Ecclesall B. 9c 963 Hartley Grace Hannah Angus Ecclesall B. 9c 963
Grace was born in the September quarter of 1899 - Ecclesall B. 9c 401 - the 1911 Census gives the following information
Personal Information Name Grace Hannah Hartley Relationship to Head of Household Daughter Gender F Age 11 Estimated Year of Birth 1900 Occupation School Employed Y Working at Home N Place of Birth Derbyshire Dore Enumerator Information Address Devonshire Villas Devonshire Road Totley Rise Sheffield Parish Dore Town Totley Rise Sheffield Type of Building Private House Number of Rooms Nine 9 Inhabited Y Reference RG14PN27762 RG78PN1589 RD509 SD3 ED2 SN153 Administrative County Yorkshire (West Riding) Registration District Ecclesall Bierlow Registration Sub District Dore Enumeration District 2
Grace was the youngest daughter at the time of Walter and Edith Hartley, Walter's occupation is given at printer and stationer
This page was last updated on 10/01/12 11:25