This is not a Halifax message but thought somebody might be able to help.
I have been researching the loss of my girlfriends great uncles wellington (X3647 KO-A) from 115 suqadron that crashed at Attigny
in France on the 28th of August 1942. All of the crew (including her relative Sgt Hepworth) were killed apart from one Canadian (Sgt W D Haddleton) who servived and became a POW.
I have been trying to contact him for some time, but have no success, however I noticed in an earlier posting that somebody had a form which had been filled in by the POW after liberation.
Do these forms exist for all POW's, and if so how where could I obtain copies?
I was also wondering if anybody had any ideas of how I could search for him. I am very keen to try and find out why the aircraft crashed.
Many thanks,
Jonathan
PS, as an aside, I am also researching my grandfather (Flt Lt Ralph Reginald Shipley) who was a rear gunner with 214 Squadron on Stirlings. He later became the gunner leader for 296 squadron and served on halifaxs at the end of the war towing gliders and dropping supplys etc.
POW questionaires were filled in by returning POW's. These are held at the National Archives at Kew in the WO 344 series. You will need to visit Kew and see if one exists for Haddleton. They will not search for you and I understand it might take a while as they are in no particular order.
I presume you know he was held at Stalag Luft 6 Heydekrug for most of his period of captivity
Haddleton is not a very common name (only one POW by that name from the Air Forces). The Service Number for your man is R/94765 and his christian names are William Desmond. At the time of his capture his family were living in Climax, Saskatchewan. A search of the Canadian Yellow pages brings up one entry
This may or may not be the person you are seeking but it could be a start.
You could consider putting an appeal in the appropriate provincial newspaper covering Climax
Check out this link
Hello, I am the niece of William Desmond Haddleton, wireless Air gunner with the RCAF who was the only survivor when his plane (Lancaster?) was shot down in Europe. He died of cancer in Nanaimo, B.C. many years ago. My 93 year old father is still alive however he has Alzheimers and the stories are gone forever.
Thank you very much for the reply. I hope you see this message.
I have been trying to get in touch with your family (or any of Haddletons family) for about 7 years now, so thank you very much for replying to my message.
Would it be possible for me to email you? My email is
johnnieshipley@hotmail.com