Keith Harper, notes and war record transcript
Fred met Keith when she was working with him at the Midland Electricity Company (MEC) in Tipton. Apparently they shared the same bus journey in.
Their time together was very short and confined to leave…so I think she saw him for about two weeks of married life. She told me a sad story of how she heard answered the door to a telegraph deliverer in 1945. When he asked if there was anyone else in the house with her she knew what had happened.
Apparently the aircraft had crashed on takeoff. Keith was so badly burned that the family were advised not to open the coffin. He is buried with his mother in Stourbridge cemetery.
Information on the web shows that Keith was in the Gold Coast Squadron http://host.raf38group.org/218squadron/
The site records incidents involving Lancaster and has the fatalities listed for 24th April 1944 http://host.raf38group.org/218squadron/lancaster.htm
Interestingly there seems to have been engine failures to the plane earlier that month – one wonders if today it would be something of a scandal for aircraft to be used in such conditions. I would be interested in your thoughts on this.
Finally, Fred mentioned that on the day that war broke out she listened to the news on the radio and then walked back home with Olive.
Tim
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Date |
Unit From |
Unit To |
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6.3.42 |
Birmingham |
|
|
7.3.42 |
Birmingham |
Res |
|
19.10.42 |
Res |
1 ACRC (Air Crew Refresher School) |
|
14.11.42 |
I ITW (Intelligence Initial Training Wing) |
|
|
16.4.43 |
ACDC (Aircrew Despatch Centre) Manchester |
|
|
2.6.43 |
RAF Hosp |
WILMSLOW |
|
15.6.43 |
Discharged from Stn Hosp WILMSLOW |
|
|
15.6.43 |
1 ACP(Air Crew Pool) Blackpool |
|
|
5.7.43 |
ACDC (Aircrew Despatch Centre) |
|
|
17.7.43 |
Draft no 7846 Sth Africa Durban |
|
|
24.8.43 |
24 AS (Air Staff) |
|
|
25/9/43 |
1 AS (Air Staff) |
|
|
1/11/43 |
MAFD (???) |
|
|
3/12/43 |
48 AS (Air Staff) |
|
|
10.2.44-14.3.44 |
HEUK (Home embarkation UK) |
|
|
15.3.44 |
7PRC (Personnel Reception Centre) |
|
|
2.5.44 |
26 O T U (Operational Training Unit) |
|
|
15.7.44 |
29 O T U |
|
|
25.8.44 |
14 O T U |
|
|
20.9.44 |
51 Base |
|
|
20.9.44 |
A/C School (Aircrew School) |
|
|
3.11.44 |
51 Base Renamed 75 Base |
|
|
27.11.44 |
5 LFS (???) |
|
|
18.12.44 |
218 Sqdn |
|
|
24.4.45 |
Killed |
|
|
24.4.45 |
Killed in Action |
Promotions, Reclassifications, Reversions
6.3.42 Aircraftman Second Class
5.2.43 Leading Aircraftman
9.11.43 Aircraftman Second Class
5.1.44 T.Sgt (officer? Sgt)
16.1.45 T/F/Sgt (officer flight sergeant)
Qualifcations
6.12.43-14.1.41 A/Gunners Course 81%
Date of Birth 31.3.24
Married 1.7.44 St Thomas’s Church, Stourbridge
Civil Occupation Ledger Clerk
Person to be notified of Casualties
Mr W H Harper,
27 Brook Street,
Stourbridge,
Worcs
Father
Daily rate of pay 9/-
Weekly rate of Fam All 24/-
Pos war Creidits in days 919
On Entry: 5′ 10 7/8" Hair: D. Bro Eyes: Bro Comp: Fs
Marks Vac 4LA, Sc L thigh, Sc L ear, Sc L knee
Home address 27 Brook Street, Stourbridge, Worcs.
Miscellaneous
National Registration Identification Letter & No QJQ\J 17-3
Med Cat I 16.2.42
No 28 ACSB F 2171 6.3.42
Rec for training as Pilot .W.Op.AG. (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
Ex Member of the ATC
‹ Text of marriage notice of Freda May Meredith and Keith Harper, County Express Keith Harper’s RAF record – Ian Meredith’s notes ›