Looking for J. Clinch DFM

[wheezynana]

While searching 'Papers Past' for family members I came across a photo in the Evening Post of 28 April 1941. The caption is as follows -

"New Zealand sergeant air gunners who received the D.F.M. at a recent investiture at Buckingham Palace. From left, Sergeant Air Gunners A. Halfpenny, J. Clinch, V. P. McLaren, all from New Zealand, and D. Lorimar."

These men could have been with the RAF - I would be grateful for any further information.

Thanks
Anne

[errolmartyn]

Mar 27, 2012 11:52:13 GMT 12 wheezynana said:

While searching 'Papers Past' for family members I came across a photo in the Evening Post of 28 April 1941. The caption is as follows -

"New Zealand sergeant air gunners who received the D.F.M. at a recent investiture at Buckingham Palace. From left, Sergeant Air Gunners A. Halfpenny, J. Clinch, V. P. McLaren, all from New Zealand, and D. Lorimar."

These men could have been with the RAF - I would be grateful for any further information.

Thanks
Anne

Anne,

Halfpenny and Clinch were members of the RAF who had enlisted prior to the war, but I suspect that the caption is in error in claiming them to be New Zealanders.

McLaren was a member of the RNZAF serving on attachment to the RAF at the time of his award:

From Colin Hanson’s By Such Deeds - Honours and Awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999:

McLAREN, Sergeant Peter Victor, DFM.
NZ391862; Born Auckland, 28 Nov 1919; RNZAF 18 Dec 1939 to (kao) 27 Jun 1941; Air Gunner.
Citation Distinguished Flying Medal (13 Jan 1941): [44 Sqn RAF (Hampden)] Sergeant McLaren has completed 125 hours operational flying as air gunner. During one operation his aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter but although harassed by its fire, he succeeded in shooting it down. This is but one instance of this airman’s gallantry and devotion to duty which has been a source of inspiration to other members of his squadron. Sgt McLaren joined 44 Sqn on 6 Aug 1940 flying 25 sorties, including Cologne, Stuttgart, Mannheim(2), Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Berlin(4), Wesseling, Essen, Leipzig, Bremen, Wilhelmshaven and Calais, plus three raids on the TIRPITZ at Wilhelmshaven and mine-laying off Brest. In Jan 1941 he was posted to 97 Sqn RAF (Manchester) flying a further eight sorties. Kao Kiel, Germany, 27 Jun 1941, with 97 Sqn on his 33rd sortie. No known grave. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

He also appears in my trilogy For Your Tomorrow - A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915 (Volume One: Fates 1915-1942):

Thu 26/Fri 27 Jun 1941
Bomber Command
Raid on Kiel, Germany (by 41 aircraft - 2 lost) . . .

97 Squadron, RAF (Coningsby, Lincolnshire - 5 Group)
Manchester I L7374 - took off at 2336 on same raid as the above, a message later advising that an RAF Sgt in the crew had been killed during a night-fighter attack. L7374 later crashed into the sea off Westerhever, Germany, killing the remaining six crew. The bodies of three were later recovered, including that of Sgt C K McKenzie which washed ashore near Flensburg. He was buried in the area, but later reinterred at Ohlsdorf, near Hamburg. The other four are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Captain: 40613 Flt Lt Francis Edwin EUSTACE, DFC, RAF - Age 25. 878hrs. 34th op.
Air Gunner: NZ401811 Sgt Cecil Keith McKENZIE, RNZAF - Age 23.
Air Gunner: NZ391862 Sgt Peter Victor McLAREN, DFM, RNZAF - Age 21. 271hrs. 33rd op.

And Vol Three (Biographies & Appendices):

McLAREN, Sergeant Peter Victor, DFM.
NZ391862 (prev A391862); b Auckland 28 Nov 19; Kowhai HS, Auckland; storeman - Ross & Glendining Ltd, Auckland. RNZAF Levin/GTS as Air Gunner u/t 18 Dec 39, 1AOS 15 Jan 40, Air Gunners Badge* 29 Feb 40, att RAF & emb for UK 23 Mar 40, 1 Depôt 9 May 40, 14OTU (Hampden) 2 Jun 40, Sgt [wef 27.5.40] 27 Jun 40, 106 Sqn (Hampden) 16 Jul 40, 44 Sqn (Hampden - 25 ops) 6 Aug 40, 207 Sqn (Hampden) [2?] Jan 41, 97 Sqn (Manchester - 8 ops) late Jan 41, kao 27 Jun 41. Runnymede Memorial - Panel 64. Son of Edwin & Kathleen Mary McLaren (née Halvey), Pt Chevalier, Auckland. Note: credited with 1 e/a dest. * refer p24. [BSD & phot. TWN 22.1.41 & 16.7.41].

23 Mar 40 Akaroa Lyttelton-London via PC, arr 9 May.
RNZAF for t/fer to RAF: 11 SSComm Pilots – died: Chisholm, R S; Edwards, N J; Hadley, R A; McDonald, L J; Osborn, E R; Sievers, J W; Strang, R H; (7) – survived: Anderson, J R; Hadley, T H*; Johnson, T F S*; Stratton, H A; (4).
RNZAF for att to RAF: 30 AGs – died: Blatch, A F; Bracegirdle, J; Brennan, J S; Browne, T C M; Campbell, A; Fuller, J E; Johnson, G B; Lucas, E R; McChesney, R I; McLaren, P V; Ritchie, A H; Robinson, I N; Russell, L P; Vivian, P A; Young, R B M; (15) – survived: Burns, W R; Craig, G R; Crook, V W J; Emeny, C S*; Fenton, W G; Mabey, L F*; MacMillan, J A M*; Marshall, J; Marusich, C A F; Murland, W J; Pyne, C C; Scott, W J; Street, K I; Sumpter, R L; Walker, J I B*; (15).
6 AOs u/t – died: Dallas, A F; Downs, H C; Niven, S C; Philpott, J B; (4) – survived: Thomson, L M; Witcombe, R E; (2).

Out of curiosity, what is your interest in these particular airmen?

Errol

[wheezynana]

Thanks Errol - The one I was interested in was J. Clinch - my mother's maiden name was Clinch and most if not all Clinch's in NZ come down from my gg grandfather Stephen Clinch who came out here from England with his family in 1863. Thought J. Clinch might have been related.

Anne

[wheezynana]

Errol - just noticed among all those names, J.E. Fuller - he was my mother's cousin.
Anne

[errolmartyn]

Anne,

There's always an outside chance, I guess, that there is a New Zealand connection for the DFM-winning J Clinch, but I've not come across him in my extensive research into New Zealand airmen of WWII.

Here are the relevant entries for J E Fuller from the two volumes I mentioned in my previous post:

Wed 14 Aug 1940
Bomber Command

15 Operational Training Unit, RAF (Harwell, Berkshire - 6 Group)
Wellington I L4308 - captained by Sgt R L Peacock, RAF. Seen at 1125 by the crew of another Harwell aircraft to lose height and fall towards the sea with its port engine on fire, crash and sink about 5 miles east of Lundy Island, in the mouth of the Bristol Channel. An Admiralty yacht picked up the body of one crew member but no trace could be found of the other five, who, including a New Zealand air gunner, are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Air Gunner: A39913 Sgt John Edward FULLER, RNZAF - Age 24. 41hrs.

FULLER, Sergeant John Edward.
A39913; b Blenheim 11 Feb 16; Nelson Coll (1st XI/XV); clerk - Levin & Co, Blenheim. RNZAF Civil Reserve Pilot/Marlborough Aero Club Jan 39, 'A' Licence 9 Mar 39, RNZAF Levin/GTS as Airman Pilot u/t 26 Oct 39, 2EFTS 20 Nov 39, pilot trg terminated, remust as Air Observer u/t & 1AOS u/t 23 Jan 40, Air Gunners Badge 9 Mar 40, remust as Air Gunner [10 Mar 40?], att RAF & emb for UK 23 Mar 40, 1 Depôt 9 May 40, 15OTU (Wellington) 2 Jun 40, Sgt [wef 27.5.40] 27 Jun 40, kaa 14 Aug 40. Runnymede Memorial - Panel 27. Son of Hugh Edward & Kathleen Frances Gwendoline Fuller (née Humphries), Blenheim; h of Dorothy Margaret Fuller (née Kennedy, later Foster), Brooklyn, Wgtn. [Phot. TWN 28.8.40].

Errol

[wheezynana]

Thanks Errol - much appreciated

Anne

[grannygussie]

Have you tried joining and appealing for info on the Brit site, Forces Reunited? There may be someone who knew, or was related or can simply add personal info for you. A brother, a cousin, etc... Sadly, so few actually there, now. Even a chance of someone in same squadron... you never know, if you don't try. I think it costs 5 pounds to join but then you can make unlimited appeals. I'd appeal for you but I don't have a card and can't buy or pay anything, online, so I couldn't join. I have noticed that WW2Talk.com has some very helpful experts on personnel. Peter Clare, bofors and Drew3255, I think are their user names. One has a contact at the NAA. This is what he wrote online. I was researching a bombaimer for a chum and someone else appealed for info on the pilot of that plane. One of those 3 said there were 113 pages on the pilot and the crash and loss of crew at the NAA...Very impressive info. (Original appeal 2009, I think those answers, 2010ish, see appeal and make up your own mind... pilot Walter, (Wally) Rose DFC). Hope some of this helpful.

[wheezynana]

Thanks grannygussie - will check it out.

Anne

[oggie2620]

Anne you might also like to try www.rootschat.com/forum its more genealogically based but they have a WW2 section. The folks on there have been really helpful to me in the past. I have found it better than Forces Reunited. You might also like to look in the London Gazette and Flight Global for his service number. Mind you both are a bit tortuous. If you dont want to join rootschat I will happily put a thread on for you.
Dee