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Post by chinapilot on Sept 27, 2010 21:41:10 GMT 12
Many small booklets are published in the UK and just happened to notice in one that a Kiwi, Roderick Campbell Mathieson, engaged in the unglamourous work of target towing was killed along with his target operator after ditching near Bude [Cornwall] in a Hawker Henley. 1.4.1940 Another unsung Kiwi... Very spectacular coastline which extends up to Hartland Point with very large waves breaking on the cliffs at high tide.  |
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Post by oggie2620 on Sept 28, 2010 8:01:34 GMT 12
He made it into Errols excellent "For your tomorrow". Both Volume 1 and 3 mention this young man. I will leave it Errol to fill in more but the photo as extra information is great. Nice one Chinapilot! Unlucky for his parents though that he didnt stay a bandsman....
Dee
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Post by errolmartyn on Sept 28, 2010 11:43:45 GMT 12
Ian/Dee,
So close but so far from safety..
From Vol One:
Mon 1 Apr 1940
Fighter Command
Target towing practice
1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit, RAF (Cleave, Cornwall - 22 Group)
Henley I L3245 of ‘D’ Flight - experienced engine failure a mile north of Bude and ditched 50 yards off shore in heavy seas at 1515. Both crew members got clear of the sinking machine but were drowned in the surf, the pilot being buried at Morwenstow, 6 miles north of Bude.
Pilot: 40933 Plt Off Roderick Campbell MATHIESON, RAF - Age 22. 331hrs.
And Vol Three:
Amendment - took off at 1420. Crash time also recorded as 1445.
Bio - MATHIESON, Pilot Officer Roderick Campbell.
40933 (no No. in NZAF); b Wgtn 14 Nov 17; Hamilton HS & Timaru BHS; radio assembler - Phillips Lamps Ltd, Wgtn. NZAF (RNZAF Band) c.Oct 36 to Mar 37; selected for RAF SSComm, emb for UK 7 Apr 38, arr 10 May 38; RAF & to Desford/7E&RFTS as Pilot u/t 16 May 38, SSComm [wef 16.5.38] & 1 Depôt 9 Jul 38, 10FTS 23 Jul 38, Pilots Badge 27 Oct 38, 1AACU/D Flt (various a/c types) as staff pilot 4 Mar 39, kaa 1 Apr 40 (Henley). Morwenstow (St John the Baptist) Churchyard, Cornwall, England. Son of Isaac Harper & Mary Mathieson (née Campbell), In'gill.
Errol
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 28, 2010 15:33:14 GMT 12
It's a very sad photo and story. I like the Henley and think it's an interesting type. This is the first time I've heard of any NZ connection to them. Thanks for the info everyone.
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Post by angelsonefive on Sept 28, 2010 15:44:15 GMT 12
I remember, somewhere in my net surfing, reading about an RAF airman (non-flying) who was awarded a medal (BEM, Royal Humane Society ?) for his gallantry in trying to rescue the crew of a Henley which had ditched somewhere along the coastline of Britain.
I wonder if this was the incident ?
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Post by chinapilot on Sept 28, 2010 20:59:02 GMT 12
Thanks Errol...thought they may have drowned as the ditching looked successful. It's a windswept coast with hundreds of ships lost there also. Could be the one, angelsonefive, although there seems to be other Henley ditchings mentioned in the booklet but no details of survivors.  Ian |
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Post by oggie2620 on Sept 30, 2010 3:16:51 GMT 12
Theres 38 people on this list www.ww2awards.com/award/24/abc but it will take a while to plough through and I am not sure its a comprehensive list. when you click on the name it gives you the citation. Have fun checking it out. It also does the same for other awards..... Dee |
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Post by apteryx on Sept 28, 2020 18:04:42 GMT 12
Hi I've written up R C Mathieson's story for the Clan Matheson website. The photo comes from an earlier post by chinapilot, and I can add a credit if required. It's a privilege to record the story of another young Kiwi who died far from home. Andrew |
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