213892 WO2 Robert Alexander Riddoch Royal Air Force 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron from:Okanagan Center, BC, Canada (d.25th Jun 1944) Robert Riddoch was my great Uncle. He was trained in Canada and attached to the RAF where he served with the RAF stationed at Dunholme Lodge. The Squadron identity letters were KMJ and the serial number was ND 751. He flew on bombing missions as part of the crew captained by Flt Sgt DE Aiken. He signed on on March 31 1944 and flew operations all in Lancaster MKIII aircraft. The aircraft left at 2330 and the raid was against Pommerval.
He flew missions were on April 20th, 22, 24, 26, 28th,
May 11, May 19th, May 21, May 22, May 27th, May 31,
June 2, June 5, June 6 June 8, June 9, June 12 and June 24.
He and the crew never returned from the June 24 mission and were listed as missing in action but later confirmed dead. Date of death is listed as June 25, 1944.
Crew members were:
- P/O Douglas Aiken RCAF Pilot,
- Sgt John Hare- air gunner,
- Sgt Horace A Lewarne- flight engineer,
- F/Sgt Sidney Rawson- wireless operator,
- WO Robert Riddoch RCAF-navigator,
- PO Alfred M Simmons RCAF- air bomber.
Robert Riddoch was twenty three years old when he was shot down and died. He and all of the flight crew are buried in a mass grave in a church cemetery at Criquetot-Sur-Longville Churchyard Seine Maritime France and it is a joint grave for them and he is in grave 3. The village church is about 17 Km south of Dieppe and one Km east of the N 27 road from Dieppe Totes. His name is in the book of Remembrance in Canada.
For his sister and his wife life would never be the same and closure never came to his sister Dorothy Johnstone.
Additional Information: | After watching a BBC program of "The Lancaster. Britian's flying past", I was inspired to search again for information on my Grandfather's 1st cousin and best man John Lewis.
Johnny (as he was known as) was a Sergeant Air Gunner, 1445360, RAF Volunteer Reserve. Son of John & Elizabeth Lewis from Lampeter, Cardiganshire in Wales. He served with 44 Squadron RAF which was equipped with the Avro Lancaster BIII based at RAF Dunholme Lodge. He was killed when his Lancaster was shot down over France on 25 June 1944. Johnny is buried at Criquetot-Sur-Longueville Churchyard with six other colleagues:
Pilot Officer Douglas Earl Aiken, Sunday, 25 June 1944 23 J/85822 Royal Canadian Air Force 44 (Royal Air Force) Squadron British Plot. Grave 2. Joint grave.
Sergeant John Hare Sunday, 25 June 1944 21 1439383 Royal Air Force 44 (Royal Air Force) Squadron British Plot. Grave 4. Joint grave.
Sergeant Horace Arnold Lewrne Sunday, 25 June 1944 Unknown 1279022 Royal Air Force 44 (Royal Air Force) Squadron British Plot. Grave 4. Joint grave.
Sergeant Johnny Lewis Sunday, 25 June 1944 22 1445360 Royal Air Force 44 (Royal Air Force) Squadron British Plot. Grave 1.
Flight Sergeant Frank Sidney Rawson Sunday, 25 June 1944 22 1324690 Royal Air Force 44 (Royal Air Force) Squadron British Plot. Grave 3. Joint grave.
Warrant Officer Class II Robert Alexander Riddoch Sunday, 25 June 1944 23 R/172357 Royal Canadian Air Force 44 (Royal Air Force) Squadron British Plot. Grave 3. Joint grave.
Pilot Officer Alfred Montague Simmons Sunday, 25 June 1944 Unknown J/89960 Royal Canadian Air Force 44 (Royal Air Force) Squadron British Plot. Grave 2. Joint grave.
I have noticed that Johnny's name was missing from your information. Did you know he flew with your Great uncle Robert Riddoch at this time?
Unfortunately, I don't have any other information about Johnny's time in the RAF nor of the missions he flew on. The only information I have is the casualty details from CWGC website
Could I gracefully ask you (and if you are willing to share)if you have anymore information about these brave men. I would be most grateful if you could as I would love to know more about him and his fellow collogues and their missions. I do have a photo of Johnny at my Grandparents wedding in 1939 and a photo of the headstones (found on line) which I can provide if you're interested.
Rosemary
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