Date: 20th April 1945 (Friday)
Unit: No. 19 O.T.U. "C" Flight (Operational Training Unit)
Type: Wellington X
Serial: LP760
Code: ?-H
Base: R.A.F. Kinloss, Scotland
Location: Bank Head farm, Humble, Scotland.
Pilot: F/O. Aubrey Glyndwr Matthews 153043 R.A.F.V.R. Age 26. Killed
Nav: F/O. Edward Rawlinson 166236 R.A.F.V.R. Age 23. Killed
Nav 2: F/O. Robert Edward Williams J/46275 R.C.A.F. Age 20. Killed
Air/Bmr: Sgt. Vivian Peter Dias 605691 R.A.F.V.R. Age 20. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. John Daniel Pulham 1896217 R.A.F.V.R. Age 19. Killed (1)
Air/Gnr: Sgt. William Gourlay 1825511 R.A.F.V.R. Age 22. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Take off at 11.52 hrs from R.A.F. Kinloss in Scotland for a cross-country flight.
Shortly afterwards at 12.40 hrs. it was to end in scenes of devastation in the vicinity of Bank Head farm, Humble, some eight miles SSW of Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland.
Eye witnesses report that the Wellington was cruising at some 5,000 feet when the overcast sky was lit by a flash, followed by an explosion.
Debris rained down and accident investigators concluded that the outer section of the starboard wing had sheared away.
It was 19 Operational Training Unit’s last fatal accident in five years of operational training.
Sgt. Vivian Peter Dias and his grave at Haddington R/C graveyard Eat Lothian, Scotland (courtesy Vivien Smith via Linda Ibrom)
On the F1180 A/C Accident card, it states- “The pilot probably lost control in turbulent cloud due to not being strapped in”. This statement does not support the eyewitness reports of an explosion at the time.
(1) Further information on Sgt. John D. Pulham is available from the Dover War Memorial Project "Link" - our thanks to Maggie, from this fine memorial website.
Burial Details:
F/O. Aubrey Glyndwr Matthews
Son of Mr and Mrs J J Matthews and husband of Eileen Matthews of West Kensington, London.
Flying Officer Matthews is buried in Plot 14.Section C Grave 91 in Mortlake Cemetery, Hammersmith, London.
F/O. Edward Rawlinson
Son of Theodore and Maud Rawlinson of Horwich, Manchester.
Flying Officer Rawlinson is buried in South Section, Grave 42 in Horwich (Holy Trinity) Churchyard, Manchester
F/O. Robert Edward William
Son of David Robert and Miriam Ada Williams of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Flying Officer Williams is buried in Section E, Grave 31 in Haddington (St.Martins), New Burial Ground, East Lothian, Scotland.
Sgt. Vivian Peter Dias
Son of Vivian Charles and Cecily Alice (nee Benbow) Dias of Georgetown, Demerara, British Guyana.
Vivian’s father was Portugese and worked as a solicitor while his mother was from Staffordshire, England.He had three younger sisters and he attended a Roman Catholic boarding school in England.
Sergeant Dias is buried in Section M, Grave 18 in Haddington Roman Catholic Graveyard, East Lothian, Scotland.
Sgt. John Daniel Pulham
Known as Jack he was the son of Edward Stanley and Sarah Louisa Pulham of Dover
Sergeant Pulham is buried in Section FR, Grave 32 in Dover (St.James) Cemetery
Sgt. William Gourlay
Son of William and Eileen Firth Gourlay of Patrick West, Glasgow, Scotland.
Sergeant Gourlay is buried in Section E, Grave 33 in Haddington Roman Catholic Graveyard, East Lothian, Scotland.
Researched by Linda Ibrom for the A.R. Society and dedicated to relatives of this crew.
Photo credits and family information on Sergeant Dias to his niece, Vivien Smith.
