From Colin Snook who researched and wrote “The Fallen”
I hope you will find this of interest. Recently I received an email from Barbara Coombes at Aldingbourne. My details were passed to her by Tony Wheatley. She explained that whilst researching Arthur HAYMAN (‘The Fallen’) she came across Harold Lewis SEWARD (‘The Fallen’) from a Roll of Honour board, who is buried at Apaldram Church. He turns out to be her mother’s cousin.
“Tony Wheatley gave me your email address as I have been researching names on the War Memorial in the churchyard at St. Mary’s Aldingbourne and found that Arthur Hayman was on the above roll of honour. I found a two-page document which had at the top the Martlet Roll of Honour with a badge and picture of a Bristol Beaufort which was useful; however, if you have any further information concerning where he was living at the time etc. that would be helpful.
Also, by strange co-incidence when researching another name, I came across a relative who is buried in the churchyard at Apaldram, Pilot Officer Harold Seward and when looking for Arthur found he was on the same roll of honour! I know something about the crash but again if you have any further information that would be wonderful; I believe he was a cousin of my mother’s although did not know he existed as families then were so large there was often very little communication!”
Barbara was clearly looking for more details.
My original source for SEWARD was provided by Dennis Burke of ‘Foreign Aircraft in Ireland 1939-1945’ Dublin. I contacted him and within hours he was back with more information which I have forwarded to her. Barbara is now our fourth descendant.
Colin Snook
December 2020
From Dennis Burke Esq.
“On the 21st March 1941, seven airmen of the Royal Air Force and one from the Royal Canadian Air Force took off on their very first patrol mission from their new base on Lough Erne. They had arrived on the Lough only the day before but sadly would never return to its waters. Their new Consolidated Catalina Flying boat crashed into a hillside in the Kinlough Valley in Leitrim killing all eight.”