243250 Sgt. Robert Stewart Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 97 (Straits Settlements) Squadron from:Breamar, Aberdeenshire (d.17th Dec 1943) I first read about Robert Stewart when I was reading bombs over Berlin. The book stated that he was buried at Braemar Aberdeenshire. As I was going there on holiday I decided to try and find the grave. After some searching, I found the grave in a small cemetery on the outskirts of Braemar. The grave was intact but had not been looked after for some time. Sgt Stewart was the flight engineer on Lancaster JB219-B one of five Lancasters from Gransden Lodge which crashed on the night of 16th/17th of December 1943 because of bad weather. All seven crew were killed. Most of the crew were buried in Cambridge Military cemetery. I did write to the Royal Air Force Association and The Royal British Legion, both in Aberdeen Scotland not too far from Braemar, but never received a reply from either. It seems a shame that someone so young who gave his life in the service of his country should be forgotten since it is obvious from the grave that no one has been in attendance for some time.
|