Lot 214
Canadain Memorial Cross to a Lancaster Rear Gunner
At Sea, On Land & In The Air | M24003
Auction: 24 September 2024 at 18:30 BST
Description
A Damaged Canadian Memorial Cross awarded to Flight Sergeant (Air Gunner) John. Willard Drinkwater, 44 Squadron who was Killed in Action September 19th 1942, and his body washed ashore in Norfolk comprising, Candain Memorial Cross, GVIR, ring suspension, (F.S. Air Gunner J.W. Drinkwater R-99962) attempted erasure of name. Otherwise very fine (1)
Taken from rafcommands.com
Lancaster B.I.W4177
Took off from Waddington on a mine-laying detail off Boulogne (Dewberry region). Lost without trace.
Crew, all remembered on Runnymede Memorial except Drinkwater:
655244 Sgt John Beattie
1310780 Sgt Alan Frank Bentley
939658 Sgt Jack Cliffe
1168183 Sgt John Richard Locke
1305405 Sgt Frederck Walters
1005381 Sgt Arthur Kenneth Wrigley
R/99962 Fl Sgt John Willard Drinkwater, Air Gunner, buried Grave 2104 Evesham Cemetery.
Father born at Evesham and so presumably John was buried there as there were still Drinkwater family living there.
John’s death registered at Fakenham, Norfolk, and so presumably his body – the only one of the crew to be found – washed up on the Norfolk coast, the civil registration district for which was Fakenham.
John’s father Edward William Drinkwater was born 26th June 1892 at Evesham, Worcestershire, England and died 7th June 1976 at Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. John’s mother Florence Mae, nee Martin was born 1895 in Great Alne, Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire, England and died 13th July 1995 at Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.
Air Ministry Casualty Reports held at The National Archives, Kew
Reference: AIR 81/18019
Description: Sergeant J Beattie, Sergeant J Cliffe, Sergeant J R Locke, Sergeant A K Wrigley, Sergeant F Walters, Sergeant A F Bentley: missing believed killed, Sergeant J W Drinkwater (RCAF): killed, Lancaster W4177, 44 Squadron, aircraft failed to return from an operational flight over North Sea, 18 September 1942
