MARCH 31, 2019

remembrance ni

Belfast man from Ballintoy was last fatality of Royal Flying Corps

The death of Lt James Alexander Donnelly occured on the last day of the RFC. He is deemed to be the last member of the Royal Flying Corps to die before it became the Royal Air Force. His remains rest in Doullens Cemetery Extention beside a flier who died on the first day of the RAF.

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2Lt J A Donnelly was aged 44. He grew up in Ballintoy and lived in Belfast. He was an Equipment Officer with No 59 Sqn RFC, and died of wounds on 31/03/1918 - the last day of the RFC. He was wounded on 28 March while he was visiting an artillery battery.

He was a member of the Orange Order and in 2018 a special centennial service was held in Ballintoy Parish Church attended by members of Royal York Loyal Orange Lodge No 145 from Belfast.

Lord Rogan of Lower Iveagh, lodge past master, said the story of James Alexander Donnelly and his siblings John, Frank and Jane is an “incredible story” that comes into its own in Ulster.

He added: “From what we would call today a ‘mixed’ family (their father being born a Roman Catholic), they went on to be pillars of the community in Orange, business, church and the Army circles. In James’ case, to excel in the new sciences of telegraphy and aviation.”

James Donnelly was the most senior Lodge officer (its Lay Chaplain) to perish in the Great War. His name, and those of his Brothers, the Rev John and Major Frank Donnelly, are inscribed on the Church War Memorial tablet.

At a lodge meeting on 3rd April 1918 in Clifton St Orange Hall, Belfast, Bro Edward Leathem, WM presided. The minutes of the meeting record “The WM referred to the sad news which was in possession of most of our members, viz the death from wounds received in France of our dear Bro Lieut Jas A Donnelly, his loss to our Lodge was deeply felt by all his brethren and he begged to express for them his sincere regret and deepest sympathy, further his loss to the

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community in general, as a Loyal Protestant, and a sound Unionist was a very severe blow when all such staunch champions as him were wanted in the present crises.

“The D.M. Bro Davison, Bro J L P McKeown and Bro Dr Walker also paid tribute in

sympathetic terms to the loss of Bro Donnelly who was beloved by all who knew him.

“A resolution of sympathy and condolence was passed in silence, all present standing.

“Bro R Tougher proposed and Bro Dick seconded that a Deputation consisting of the W.M., the D.M., the Secretary and Bro Hodgen, wait upon Mrs Donnelly and convey the resolution of sympathy from the Lodge.”

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Before adjourning the meeting in respect to James Donnelly, “Bro R Tougher suggested that the secretary consult with Bro Rev R Dixon Patterson, Rector of St Barnabas Church in order that a memorial service be held on Sunday 7th inst in memory of Bro Donnelly, which was agreed to”.

Roll of Honour 1914 - 1919

These lodge members died in service.

+BROWN, EdwardRoyal Irish Rifles. 18th Bn. attd. 2nd Bn. Lieutenant. Died 07/08/1917. Aged 25. Son of Robert and Mary Brown, of Pond Park, Lisburn. The Huts Cemetery, West-Vlaanderlan, Belgium

+CRAWFORD, RobertRoyal Irish Rifles (YCV). 14th Batt. B Coy. 7th Platoon. Lance Corporal. 6100. Died 10/04/1918. Aged 24. Son of James and J. Crawford, of 2, Shankhill Rd., Belfast. Born Cairncastle, Co. Antrim. Dunhallow ADS Cemetery, West-Vlaanderlan, Belgium

+DONNELLY, James AlexanderSecond Lieutenant, 59th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Died of wounds. 31/03/1918. Aged 44. Born 1874 Ballintoy, Son of John Donnelly, J.P. Husband to Sarah A. Donnelly, Willowbank, Street, Belfast. Doullens Communal Cemetery

+HARPER, WilliamRoyal Engineers.150th Coy. Sapper. 57709. Died of effects of gas poisoning 25/07/1919. Husband to Sarah Johnston

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(formerly Harper), 53, Upper Charles St., Shankhill Rd., Belfast. Belfast City Cemetery

+MacBRIDE, Henry NormanRoyal Garrison Artillery, Antrim (S.R.). Gunner. 285575. Died 28/12/1917. Dundonald Cemetery

+McKEOWN, DavidRoyal Inniskilling Fusiliers. 2nd Batt. C Coy. 9 Platoon. No 3 Section. Private. 14440. Died 27/09/1916. Cambrin Churchyard Extension, Pas de Calais, France

+SCOTT, JamesRoyal Irish Rifles. 14th Batt (YCV). No 2 Coy. CSM.14/15892, Died 22/01/1917. Aged 35. Husband of Jane Duffy (formerly Scott), Finaghy Halt, Balmoral, Belfast. La Plus Douve Farm Cemetery, Hainault, Belgium.

+WALKER, Claud Arthur LeonardRoyal Inniskilling Fusiliers. 2nd Batt. Second Lieutenant, Died 10/07/1916. Aged 21. Son of the Rev. R. Walker, LL.D., and Mrs. L. J. T. Walker, of Shankill Rectory, Belfast. Joined Public Schools Corps, Aug., 1914. Nominated to R.M.C. Sandhurst, Dec., 1914. Commissioned, May, 1915. Bouzincourt Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France

The following served

John AndrewsEngine Room Artificer, HMS Tyne

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William Cavan

Ernest Chambers1633, Lance Corporal, D Coy, 14th Batt, Royal Irish Rifles, 36th Ulster Div.

Robert F Colville

John CorkenCQMS, B Coy, 18th Batt, Royal Irish Rifles

George Dawson

Robert Dickson

William Dickson

James Forbes8998, Private, Irish Guards, 3rd Coy, 3rd Reserves

Andrew Garner14/19498, Private, No 10 Section, 7 Platoon, B Coy, 14th Batt, Royal Irish Rifles (YCV)

James GreggCaptain, Army Veterinary Corps

William A Hamilton14759, Corporal, No 1 Coy, No 3 Platoon, 16th Royal Irish Rifles

James HannaSergeant, 3rd Batt. Royal Irish Rifles

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George Harris1704, Trooper, North Irish Horse, D Squadron, No 13 Sandhill Camp

William Jordan15/12932, QM Sergeant, 107/1 Trench Mortar Battery, 1 Coy, 15th Royal Irish Rifles

Samuel JordanSergeant, 15th Batt, Royal Irish Rifles

William McClureRoyal Navy

Samuel McCollum

Leonard B Mills17646, Private, B Coy, 8th Batt, Royal Irish Rifles (MM, Aug 1917)

Victor MorganCQMS, 122nd Field Coy, Royal Engineers

Alfred Morgan14/15630, Sergeant, No 2 Platoon, D Coy, 14th Royal Irish Rifles (YCV)

Rowland Alexander Francis Naye2601, Captain, Royal Highlanders, RIF, Royal Artillery, 95th Infantry, Indian Army

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Alfred S Roper1835, Private, Army Pay Corps, No 8 General Hospital, BEF, France

Thomas Russell

William Small

John T Storey

James Thornton54/092954, Private, Army Service Corps, BEF, Salonica, Greece

George D UprichardQM Sergeant, B coy, 14th Batt. Royal Irish Rifles, BEF, France

John F Walker1315, Private, 8th Batt. Royal Irish Rifles, 18 Camp, 36th (Ulster) Division

James B WilsonNaval Reserve

Roll of Honour - March 31

1916+CRAIG, Henry 2202. Died 31/03/1916. From Londonderry

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1918

+BAMBRIDGE, Harry Liddall

East Yorkshire Regiment. 7th Battalion. Second Lieutenant. MC. Died 31/03/1918. Age 30. Member of the Training Corps 1916. Prior to the war he was a Cashier of National Provincial Bank, Leeds. Son of Samuel and Agnes Bambridge, Barnsley; husband to Amy Bambridge, of Park Grove, Barnsley. Arras Memorial, Bay 4

1941

+COOPER, Walter Alfred HenryRN. Able Seaman. D/JX 141074. HMS Bonaventure. Died 31/03/1941. Age 23. Son of Walter and Ada Keturah Cooper, Strandtown, Belfast. Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 46

1944

+COLHOUN, William Andrew Lawrence RAFVR. Flying Officer. Died 31/03/1944. Arts 1937 - 38 QUB. QUB RH

+CRAIG, James

RCAF. Flying Officer (Air Bomber). J/21466. DFC. Died 31/03/1944. Aged 22. 97 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Born Moat Road Ballymena 1921. Son of John and Elizabeth Craig, formerly of Ballymena. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Hanover War Cemetery

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+CRORY, Weir

RAFVR. Sergeant. 1795076. Died 31/03/1944. Aged 20. 640 Sqdn. Son of William and Edith Crory, of Donaghcloney, Co. Down. Runnymeade Memorial, Panel 228

+GWYNNE, William James

RAFVR. Sergeant (Flight Engineer). 1566687. Died 31/03/1944. Aged 21. 103 Sqdn. Son of William James Gwynne and Annie Gwynne, of Omagh, Co. Tyrone. Rheinberg War Cemetery, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

+HILLIS, John RAFVR Sergeant. 1567503. 78 Squadron. Died 31/03/1944. Age 26.Son of John Scott Hillis, and of Margaret Jane Hillis, of Inver, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. Hanover War Cemetery, Neidersachen, Germany

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+JOHNSTON, James GuyRAFVR. Flying Officer (Pilot). 135076. Died 31/03/1944. Aged 28. 103 Squadron. Son of William and Mary Guy Johnston, of Eglinton, Co. Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Rheinberg War Cemetery, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany(See article below)

OTD - 30/31 March 1944 Nurenberg the Nightmare Raid

This was the greatest single air-battle of WW2 when the hunters became the hunted.

This would normally have been the moon stand-down period for the Main Force, but a raid to the distant target of Nuremberg was planned on the basis of an early forecast that there would be protective high cloud on the outward route, when the moon would be up, but that the target area would be clear for ground-marked bombing.

A Meteorological Flight Mosquito carried out a reconnaissance and reported that the protective cloud was unlikely to be present and that there could be cloud over the target, but the raid was not cancelled.

795 aircraft were dispatched - 572 Lancasters, 214 Halifaxes and 9 Mosquitos.

The German controller ignored all the diversions and assembled his fighters at 2 radio beacons which happened to be astride the route to Nuremberg. The first fighters

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appeared just before the bombers reached the Belgian border and a fierce battle in the moonlight lasted for the next hour. 82 bombers were lost on the outward route and near the target. The action was much reduced on the return flight, when most of the German fighters had to land, but 95 bombers were lost in all - 64 Lancasters and 31 Halifaxes, 11.9 per cent of the force dispatched. It was the biggest Bomber Command loss of the war.

Most of the returning crews reported that they had bombed Nuremberg but subsequent research showed that approximately 120 aircraft had bombed Schweinfurt, 50 miles north-west of Nuremberg. This mistake was a result of badly forecast winds causing navigational difficulties. 2 Pathfinder aircraft dropped markers at Schweinfurt. Much of the bombing in the Schweinfurt area fell outside the town and only 2 people were killed in that area.

The main raid at Nuremberg was a failure. The city was covered by thick cloud and a fierce cross-wind which developed on the final approach to the target caused many of the Pathfinder aircraft to mark too far to the east. A 10-mile-long creepback also developed into the countryside north of Nuremberg. Both Pathfinders and Main Force aircraft were under heavy fighter attack throughout the raid. Little damage was caused in Nuremberg.

49 Halifaxes minelaying in the Heligoland area, 13 Mosquitos to night-fighter airfields, 34 Mosquitos on diversions to Aachen, Cologne and Kassel, 5 RCM sorties, 19 Serrate patrols. No aircraft lost.

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3 Oboe Mosquitos to Oberhausen (where 23 Germans waiting to go into a public shelter were killed by a bomb) and 1 Mosquito to Dortmund, 6 Stirlings minelaying off Texel and Le Havre. 17 aircraft on Resistance operations, 8 OTU sorties. 1 Halifax shot down dropping Resistance agents over Belgium.

Total effort for the night: 950 sorties, 96 aircraft (10.1 per cent) lost.

Pilot Officer Cyril Barton, a Halifax pilot of No 578 Squadron, was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for carrying on to the target in the Nuremberg operation after his bomber was badly damaged in a fighter attack and 3 members of his crew baled out through a communication misunderstanding. Although the navigator and wireless operator were among the men who had parachuted, Barton decided to attempt the return flight to England in spite of the fact that only 3 engines were running. An unexpected wind took the Halifax steadily up the North Sea and it was short of fuel when the English coast was reached near Sunderland. Barton had to make a hurried forced landing when his engines failed through lack of fuel and he died in the crash, but his 3 remaining crew members were only slightly hurt. Pilot Officer Barton's Victoria Cross was the only one awarded during the Battle of Berlin, which had now officially ended.30/31 March 1944

Acknowledgments Admiralty recordsCWGCQUB RH

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remembrance ni

The remembrance ni programme is overseen by Very Rev Dr Houston McKelvey OBE, QVRM, TD who served as Chaplain to 102 and 105 Regiments Royal Artillery (TA), as Hon. Chaplain to RNR and as Chaplain to the RBL NI area and the Burma Star Association NI. Dr McKelvey is a Past President of Queen’s University Services Club. He may be contacted at houston.mckelvey@btinternet.com

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