Jimmy Ward's Victoria Cross dinner at 75 Sqdn

[generally]

While my father (F/O RH Patterson) was serving in 75 Sqdn he acquired a signature-covered menu from Jimmy Ward's dinner, I assume it was in the squadron mess.
So far Chris & I have sorted out these names

Aug 7th 1941 Menu

J A Ward VC
C E Kay                      Sqdn CO
R P Widdowson          1st Pilot
L A Lawton                  Obs
A R Box DFM              Rear Gunner
R H V Evans              Front gunner

Those signatures were on the front cover-

The back cover contains-

G Hardy                                      George Hardy, Obs for Simich
Stollus******                             Illegible. No Stollxxxx in nominal roll
Bruce Johnston                            On nominal roll
M G Fell                                      Rear gunner for P G F Fletcher
J P Hamory                                  Not in Nominal roll
Cpl Charles C Shepherd                Armourer
Sgt John D Pleasants                    Armourer
Sgt Warren M Ewing                    RAF Engine mechanic
LAC Rodney D Fairbrother            Armourer
Sgt Keith L D Sarginson              W/op (Bray crew)
Sgt Brian Falvey                          Armourer
Sgt Thomas P Duffy                    w/op mech
Cpl Micheal W Organ                   Armourer
Cpl Norman G Davies                w/op mech
Cpl William J Mason                    Armourer
Cpl John H Walsh                        Armourer
Ronald K Bartlett                        Armourer
Cpl John Chemis                         Armourer
Cpl Reginald H Farrow                 Armourer
Sgt Ernest J Gray                        Armourer
LAC John McW Boyd                     w/op mech
Cpl Eric McN Watt                        Armourer
P/O Edwin P Williams DFM            w/op Signals Leader
D A Abbott                                 Rear gunner Pop-eye & Simich
T J W Williams                             Flew under Pop-eye
Sgt Eric C Bunting (Butch)            Armourer
C W Scott P/O                             Flew with RAFVR crew
F J Lucas (Pop-eye)                     Sqn Ldr
E McSherry                                 Pilot
F C Fox P/O                                 Francis Charles Fox
J R F Brooks RAFVR pilot             On nominal roll
F C Sergent                                No information found


I'll link the images of the menu when I can host them somewhere.
OK, on Flickr-

www.flickr.com/photos/187495978@N05/51485409298/in/album-72157719904115201/

www.flickr.com/photos/187495978@N05/51485409223/in/album-72157719904115201/

[generally]

Ah, sorry, you'll be fascinated to know if you DO happen to win a VC in wartime you can expect a celebratory dinner of-

Ham

Salad

Cakes

Beer

Tea

[Dave Homewood]

Martin Fell was from Cambridge and his page on my website is here:

www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Martin%20Fell.htm

[planewriting]

My father, Brian Layne, told me he had drinks with Jimmy Ward in London to mark the occasion. I was curious, knowing they were in separate RAF Commands how they knew each other. I believe they had met at the N Z Forces' Club in Charing Cross Road, London. At the time, Dad had two weeks leave from 2 Aug 1941 after finishing N0 4(C)O.T.U at both Stranraer and Invergordon on Stranraers and Catalinas before commencing Sunderland training on 15 Aug 1941 with 201 Squadron, Sullem Voe, Shetland Islands.

[11SQNLDR]

Piccy attached of the menu - great thread!

FYI Corgi are releasing a James Ward VC 1/72 Wellington in diecast in the coming months