1689178 William Melding
Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Theatre of War: Home
Age at death: 21
Date of death: 28th of February 1943
Born: St Helens, Lancs
Resided: St Helens, Lancs
Burial / Memorial: St Helens Cemetery
BMD details:
Birth of William Melding son of John & Elizabeth Melding nee Sellers reg Q3 1921 Prescot. Vol 8b page 1547
Census details:
1939 Register. Unfortunately William and one other member of the household are redacted. Father John Melding born 12/03/1885 a General Labourer Glass Works, mother Elizabeth W Melding born 02/11/1889 an Unpaid Domestic, sister Dorothy Melding born 02/11/1908 an Unpaid Domestic, sister Amy Melding born 17/01/1915 a Glass Carrier Glass Making and sister Elizabeth Melding born 04/06/1926 At School are living at 98 Islands Brow, St Helens.
Notes:
Age taken from headstone.
Age taken from headstone.
Wellington W5596 of Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit (OADU). Took off the night of the 11 Sept. 1941 from RAF. Hampstead Norris, Berkshire on a delivery flight to Malta Via Gibraltar. Lost over the Bay of Biscay, one of the crew Sgt Farrell was washed ashore at Quiberville France.
Crew:
Sergeant John George BELL (1378959) Age30
Sergeant Brian Hilton DENNIS (1154617) Age 18.
Sergeant Denis James FARRELL (1256990) Observer. Age 29.
Sergeant Jack GILL (1052475) Age 21.
Sergeant Eric HEALY (1058668) Pilot.
Sergeant Eric Ditchfield MINSHALL (1014916) Pilot.
[pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/1689178MeldingW.jpg[/pic][caption]The headstone of Aircraftman 1st Class William Melding at St Helens Cemetery
(Photo courtesy of Jeff Keenan)[/caption]
