There is some interesting information on the BoB site about the nationalities of those who participated, and who are entitled to wear the Clasp (which was limited to Fighter crews of specific squadrons). Due to the nature of the Empire and the Dominions, it seems to be a rather complicated, and contraversial, topic - even after nearly 70 years. One example is "who was Australian?": http://www.battleofbritain.net/0004.html (Document 18 - scroll to the end of the page for the new window - includes a fuller explanationon the BoB Clasp entitlement)
Is there also a reverse anomaly here. When going through the RAAF deaths there were a large amount whose place of birth was Britain.
Unfortunately, there are many anomolies that pertain to nationality, force joined and force served with. You highlight one such instance. Another one that I haven't been able to decipher yet is the designation of Indians who served and died in the RAF, and yet are categorised as being RIAF on CWGC. The numbers are very small in comparison to other nationalities but still annoying.
Hi Kyt, Is this the same Richard Hillary of which you wrote in your first post? HILLARY, RICHARD HOPE Flight Lieutenant 74677 08/01/1943 23 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve United Kingdom Panel 2. GOLDERS GREEN CREMATORIUM
Funny you should mention him, Geoff. I only realised he was Australian-born several days ago when transcribing the details of Mayers for you. I know that sounds ridiculous given he is one of the most well-known RAF pilots through his The Last Enemy but... I don't even have his book on my shelf, nor have I read it. No idea why not. Always assumed it'd always be available, I guess, so have concentrated on the rarer titles or more obsucre subjects.
A query of Australians in the Battle of Britain Over the past couple of years I have seen many questions by different people requesting information on "Australians" in the Battle of Britain. The Battle of Britain Historical Society nominate 32. There are others who state 25. I have listed below all of these queries, even though I feel I could personally dismiss them due to date, area of death, squadron etc etc. Many are listed on the Australian Commemorative Roll which lists those Australians who died while with the RAF or other allied force. Some survived the war so I find them difficult to research. One is listed on the Australian Commemorative Roll as dying in 1940 however he is not on the CWGC site. This is the first on the list: BAYNE, David Walter Squadron Leader 26077 257sq 28/05/1963 D W Bayne_P David Walterb: 17 Apr 1908r: 29 Aug 1955d: 11 Jun 1986
BULL, NUGENT JOSEPH Sergeant 904181 149sq RAF 9/09/1940 Bull, Joseph Nugent Palmer (1908 - 1940) Biographical Entry - Australian Dictionary of Biography Online
CURTIS, AUBREY GLEN Flying Officer 36160 8sq RAF 10/08/1940 I do not have access here "yet"! Casualties Aug 1940This section covers RAF personnel killed between 1 - 10 August 1940. ...... CURTIS, AUBREY GLEN. Fg Off. He was killed whilst flying Blenheim I, ... www.rafweb.org/Members%20Pages/Casualties/1940/Casualties_1940_08_1.htm - 262k -
EARL, RAYMOND PATRICK Pilot Officer 41770 61sq RAF 26/09/1940 Commemorative Roll - Raymond Patrick Earl Raymond Patrick Earl Service number: 41770 Rank: Pilot Officer Unit: No 61 Squadron Service: Royal Air Force Conflict: 1939-1945 Date of death: 25 September 1940 Cause of death: Killed in action Cemetery or memorial details: KVIBERG CEMETERY, Sweden. 4. A. 7.
GARFOOT, ALLAN Flying Officer 40617 20sq RAF 30/09/1940 In Memory of Flying Officer ALLAN GARFOOT 40617, 20 Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died age 26 on 30 September 1940 Son of Ruby Elizabeth Honeyman, of Bondi, Sydney, Australia. Remembered with honour KARACHI WAR CEMETERY No further info
HORAN, JAMES HENRY Pilot Officer 41417 233sq RAF 31/07/1940 Commemorative Roll - James Henry Horan James Henry Horan Service number: 41417 Rank: Pilot Officer Unit: No 233 Squadron Service: Royal Air Force Conflict: 1939-1945 Date of death: 31 July 1940 Cause of death: Killed in action Cemetery or memorial details: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, Surrey, United Kingdom. Panel 8 In Memory of Pilot Officer JAMES HENRY HORAN 41417, 233 Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died age 27 on 31 July 1940 Son of Thomas E. and Elizabeth Horan, of Kingsford, New South Wales, Australia. Remembered with honour RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
HORAN, A D Pilot Officer ??? 0/0/1940 As previously described. Not much info yet on the Aust Comm Roll. Commemorative Roll - A D Horan A D Horan Rank: Pilot Officer Unit: Unknown unit Service: Royal Air Force Conflict: 1939-1945 Date of death: 1940 Cause of death: Missing
LEACH, PHILIP ALLEN Pilot Officer 77944 38sq RAF 21/07/1940 In Memory of Pilot Officer PHILIP ALLEN LEACH 77944, 38 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died age 38 on 21 July 1940 Son of Henry Ernest and Agnes Jessie Leach, of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Remembered with honour MARHAM (HOLY TRINITY) CHURCHYARD
MILLER, ROGERS FREEMAN GARLAND Pilot Officer 42419 609sq RAF 27/09/1940 In Memory of Pilot Officer ROGERS FREEMAN GARLAND MILLER 42419, 609 Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died age 20 on 27 September 1940 Remembered with honour RADFORD SEMELE (ST. NICHOLAS) CHURCHYARD In Memory of Pilot Officer JOHN GARLAND MILLER 42865, 149 Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died age 23 on 12 August 1940 Remembered with honour RADFORD SEMELE (ST. NICHOLAS) CHURCHYARD 27th September - we remember [Archive] - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums They seem to be both listed there and I do not have the second brother as his CWGC NOK did not mention Australia. Cemetery Reports There are 6 records in the database. In this category there are 3 records. A - C D - F G - I J - L M - O P - R S - V W - Z NoNameRankServiceRegimentDate Of DeathAgeGrave/Memorial Ref. 1 MILLER, JOHN GARLAND, J G Pilot Officer ( Pilot   42865Royal Air Force12/08/1940 23 S.E. of church. 2 MILLER, ROGERS FREEMAN GARLAND, R F G Pilot Officer ( Pilot   42419Royal Air Force27/09/1940 20 S.E. of church. 3 MUCKLOW, CHARLES, C Rifleman Y/1232King's Royal Rifle Corps15/07/1915 21 In South-East corner. Geoff.
REED, ROBERT JAMES Flight Lieutenant 40059 50sq RAF 10/09/1940 I would see the cemetery and disregard him. Was there anything BoB before this?
ROSS, ELLIS HENRY (DFC) Flying Officer 40060 83sq RAF 13/08/1940 He is listed here: junkers | 1940 | 1665 | Flight Archive
SCOTT, ERIC WILLIAM STANTON Pilot Officer 40852 616sq RAF 4/06/1940 http://www.thesoutheastecho.co.uk/Graves/GraveSCOTT.jpg Royal Air Force Officers 1939-1945 -- S Some info here - Will have to join! http://www.authpro.com/cgi-bin/auth.fcgi?user=rafweb
