Pilot Officer T. F. E. Johnson
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
145822
Died on active service, 5 September 1943, Wales. Aged 22.
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Thomas Johnson was never known by his first name. To his family he was ‘Boyk’, his wife called him ‘Johnnie’ and even his mother called him ‘Bill’. To his friends he was ‘Tich’ given his small size.
‘Tich’ was born on 19 April 1921, the son of Edward and Dorothy Johnson who lived in Marsh Lane, Addlestone. He arrived at the County School in 1932 and was a keen and talented football and rugby player. He played for both school teams during his time at the County School.
After leaving school in 1938 ‘Boyk’ worked as a clerk at Vickers before joining up in 1940 and training as an air bomber.
On 28 January 1943 he married Annie Cox (known as ‘Nan’). ‘Nan’ was the sister of Alfred Cox a fellow Old Wokingian who was to die in Japanese hands.
In 1943 ‘Boyk’ was awarded the DFM. At the time he was serving with 44 Sqn. based at Dunholme Lodge, Lincolnshire. He had already flown a large number of operations to most major targets in occupied Europe in the course of which he invariably displayed the greatest deliberation and coolness when over the target area. As air bomber his skill at target location was excellent and his results were outstanding.
On 5 September 1943 ‘Boyk’ was aboard Lancaster (W4929) when it took off from RAF Winthorpe near Nottingham on a night exercise off the Scottish coast. On the return journey the aircraft ran into a heavy storm over the Brecon Beacons and crashed at 2320 at Fan Foel near Llanddensart. All crew members were lost. To this day the 20m long scar in the moorside is still visible together with some of the wreckage.
The crew that night were as follows:
Pilot Officer Norman Duxbury (Pilot) - Aged 22 from Wigan.
Sgt. Leslie Holding (Flight Engineer) - Aged 20 from Wigan.
Pilot Officer Victor Folkersen RCAF (Navigator) - Aged 27 from Saskatchewan, Canada.
Sgt. Frank Pratt (Wireless Operator) - Aged 22 from Hemel Hempstead.
Sgt. Roy Wilson (Bomb aimer) - Aged 24 from Clitheroe.
Sgt. John Curran (Air gunner) - Aged 19 from Coldstream, Berwickshire.
Sgt. Ernest Buckby RAAF (Air gunner) - Aged 19 from Queensland, Australia.
Pilot Officer Thomas ‘Boyk’ Johnson (Instructor) - Aged 22 from Bisley.
W4929 and five crew members
The final chapter of ‘Boyk’s’ story came in 1993 on the 50th anniversary of the crash. Nan Wareham flew in a helicopter to the crash site and unveiled a plaque in memory of the crew of Lancaster W4929. The plaque reads a line from a hymn in Welsh which translates as ‘After the tragedy, may there be peace’.
The crash site and memorial plaque
‘Boyk’ Johnson was cremated at Woking Crematorium, St. Johns, Surrey (panel 3) and his ashes were scattered by a bomber over the North Sea. He is also remembered on the Woking County Grammar School roll of honour located in Christ Church, Woking.
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Last updated 29 August 2009
Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Woking News and Mail
Woking County School magazine
A special thank you to the late Denis Walker for all his help
My grandmother's young cousin Leslie Holding was the flight engineer. I am wondering if one of the lads in front of the Lancaster is him. Is there any chance of getting a better resolution image of the photo you have posted here? Many thanks - Jo
ReplyDeleteHi, I’m a great niece of RCAF F/O Victor Folkersen. He is very left in the photo. This bomber is a 2 engine Vickers Wellington and was most likely taken while the crew was at 16OTU RAF Upper Heyford prior to the crew going to 1661 Heavy Conversion Unit to train on the 4 engine bombers.
ReplyDeleteCrews were usually just 5 at 16OTU and would gain the Flight Engineer at the Heavy Conversion Unit as Pilot couldn’t fly the larger 4 engine bombers alone.
Photo left to right is F/O Victor Folkersen (navigator), unknown, Sgt Ernest Buckby (Gunner), Sgt Norman Duxbury (Pilot), unknown. Most likely the two unknown airmen are either Curran, Pratt or Wilson as Holding wouldn’t have been on the crew yet at 16OTU. Lest We Forget.
Janel Mann
That's really interesting, Janel, thank you! How do you know that Holding wouldn't have been on the crew yet? Many thanks - Jo
ReplyDeleteAh - you may have already answered - Holding was the flight engineer, so would have joined at the Heavy Conversion Unit - which makes sense (plus my grandfather was stationed there at that time and 'may' have pulled strings to get young Holidng there too - he was then living with my grandparents). You might want to read my grandfather Squadron Leader (a nominal title for a RAF war correspondent) Frank Tilsley's book - 'The Boys of Coastal', which contains lots of wonderful little stories about Coastal Command. It is dedicated to Sergeant Lesley Holding. You can pick up second hand copies on eBay.
ReplyDeleteHi Jo,
DeleteI’ve been doing some research on my families war history. My grandpa and his two brothers served (RCAF) and my great grandpa (RCEME) and his brother (Can Army). Many people have helped me through the various Facebook Bomber Command Groups learn the process etc.
I’ve still got some books to read and research to do, but if I find anything else out I’ll let you know.
I’ve already gotten a opt of your grandfather book! I haven’t read it yet a it just arrived not too long ago. Do you have a photo of Leslie? I’m trying to put together the crew.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately not - I didn't even know who Leslie Holding was until I started investigating the dedication in the book - and unfortunately there's now nobody left to ask. He was an only child - a younger first cousin of my grandmother. I do know that a memorial was put in place at the crash site in 1993, and that at the time of dedication those organising it had tried to find a family member to represent him, but hadn't been able to. But that was long before I started investigating. I still haven't organised my own trek to the site, but do intend to go and pay my respects at some point. I do know that there was no easy way to learn how to fly bombers. The other aircrew sat in the plane, scared to death, while the pilot trained. Even after months of theoretical lessons and dozens of hours in the air, the training crews suffered a litany of disasters, crashes, and deaths. By the end of the war, Bomber Command had lost 8,305 aircrew who were killed in training or by accident.
ReplyDeleteMy mother and I are thinking of going on a visit as well. Not til covid is contained but perhaps the 80th anniversary. Have you been in contact with any other families?
DeleteI haven't. Someone called Alun Evans organised the ceremony in 1993 (I found out through the man’s son, Owain Wyn Evans who, incidentally, presents the weather on BBC Wales, who had posted something online about it on Twitter). Apparently he has no family connection with any of those who died, but took it upon himself to organise the whole thing.
DeleteI think it was a bit of red tape to get that memorial stone and plaque erected being as it was in a national park. I’m just happy one is there.
ReplyDeleteI’d like to invite you to our family war history group if you’re on Facebook. I have gathered some info about Victor and crew, along with my grandpa and their younger brother who also served with the RCAF. Just search Janel Mann on Facebook. I can invite you to join our group after we connect.