HOLDEN, Robert Samuel
1133022
Sergeant (Wireless Operator)
Robert Samuel HOLDEN
RAFVR 138 Squadron
(attached to 1483 Technical Training Flight)
Died on Active Service on Sunday, 24th May 1942
Aged 32
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Born in Kirkdale, Liverpool in Q2-1910, the son of Samuel and Mary Jane HOLDEN (née HARDAKER) of 24 Jessica Street, Kirkdale, Liverpool. In Bootle, in Q2-1935,
he married Marion ROGERS, at his death residing at 156 Roxburgh Street, Bootle, Lancashire. At the time of his death he was training as Air Gunner according to the burial register. Chorley records in his Vol 8: Robert was attached from 138 Squadron to 1483 Flight. Wellington Mk1C T2802 took off from Newmarket for fighter affiliation training using cine camera gun. The crew comprised: pilot, wireless operator (attached from 138 Squadron), wireless operator air gunner, an air gunner, three ground staff, an Air Training Corps cadet and an army artillery expert who was attached to 109 Squadron. At around 16:00, the Wellington's main spar assembly failed outboard of the starboard engine. With a large portion of its wing missing, the bomber spun in near Stanton some 6 miles NE of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, killing all on board. Three were buried in Newmarket Cemetery, Sgt R S Holden; LAC A W Hughes and Cadet F/S B V Long ATC. Capt White was taken to Brookwood Military Cemetery. The rest were claimed by their next of kin- F/O M A Coote MID; F/S J G Y Boyle MID; F/S A Adderly DFM; AC1 W G Boyce; AC1 J Capp and Capt D R White RA. F/S Adderly had flown a tour of operations with 115 Squadron; his DFM had been published on 2 September 1941 |
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details