F003 ARTHUR TIMOTHY SMITH. Sergeant, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 968337, Royal Air Force, (VR) He died during the night of 3rd/4th November 1940 aged 20 years when his Wellington aircraft (R1094) lost height soon after take-off from RAF Luqa and crashed onto a house in Dun Mario Street, Qormi, Malta bursting into flames. The front part of the fuselage fell burning into a 40-foot shaft at the bottom of a deep quarry. Moans were heard from the shaft and a wire rope was lowered and the airman grasped it, but after being drawn up he could not hold on and fell back into the shaft. He was rescued by Police Constable Carmel Camilleri; the airman was Arthur Smith. PC Camilleri was awarded the George Medal 1941. Son of Arthur Thomas and Elsie May Smith, of Colchester, Essex.
At rest in Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta Plot F Grave 3.
PC CARMEL CAMILLERI AWARDED GEORGE MEDAL
The Malta Government Gazette announced today that Police Constable Carmel Camilleri has been awarded the George Medal for gallantry and devotion to duty. The award citation reads:
Burned out Wellington bomber in Qormi. Scene of PC Camilleri’s bravery at Qormi,
Malta “In the early morning of the 4th November 1940, a Royal Air Force aircraft crashed on a house at Qormi, and the front portion of the machine fell into a 40ft shaft at the bottom of a deep quarry beyond the house. Moans were heard coming from the shaft, from which flames were spouting, and an injured airman was observed supporting himself under the vertical edge of the shaft. A wire rope was lowered which the airman grasped, but after being drawn up a few feet he could not maintain his hold and fell back into the shaft. PC Camilleri, who had been one of the first on the scene, immediately volunteered to go down for him, in spite of the flames from the burning aircraft and in disregard of danger from the possible explosion of heavy calibre bombs, and was lowered into the shaft. The rope slipped and he fell to the bottom, fortunately without serious injury. A third rope was lowered to which PC Camilleri tied the injured airman who was then hauled up. The rope was again lowered for Camilleri, who was brought up with no injuries beyond slight burns.”
F003 CHARLES EDWARD GRAYSMARK. Sergeant, Pilot, 1267255, Royal Air Force (VR), 601 Squadron. Son of Leslie Charles and Louisa Cecilia Graysmark. Husband of Marjorie Vera Graysmark, nee Turk of Isleworth, Middlesex. Died of his wounds 12th May 1942 aged 21 years from injuries received during aerial combat. He is commemorated on the War Memorial in St Johns Church, Isleworth, Greater London.
At rest in Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta Plot F Grave 3.
F003 COLIN VERNON FINLAY. Sergeant Pilot, 1288189, Royal Air Force (VR), 185 Squadron. Killed on air operations over Malta on Ascension Day 14th May 1942 aged 20 years. Born 4 December 1921 to Arthur Reginald Gayer and Phyllis Carney Finlay, nee Smythe of Sutton Valence, Kent. Wills and Admin, Ancestry - His residence in England was 3 The Cheynes Sutton Valence, Maidstone, Kent. Died on date stated. His effects went to his father, civil servant.
At rest in Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta Plot F Grave 3.
The following is credited to Dulwich College War Memorial -
COLIN VERNON FINLAY (1935-1942). Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Born December4, 1921.He was the younger brother of B. F. G. Finlay (O.A.) and a boarder in Ivy Holme. He was a School Prefect, in the Second XI and captain of Sidney. He had intended going up to Cambridge with a view to entering the Colonial Service, but immediately on leaving School entered the R.A.F.V.R. and after completing his preliminary training at home he went to Kingston, Ontario, in February 1941, obtaining his wings in the following May and promotion to sergeant. He completed his operational training with 605 Squadron in Wales and proceeded to Malta in November1941and saw much active service. He was wounded in March but returned to duty in April and was killed in action on May 14, 1942, being C.V. FINLAY. attacked and shot down by six Me.199'S. A Foreign Travel Exhibition has been founded at the College in his memory.
F003 TIMOTHY JAMES CARLISLE FRENCH. Corporal, 553198, Royal Air Force, 126 Squadron. Born 1923 in the registration district of Hammersmith London to Reginald and Edith French, nee Foord of Barton on Humber, Lincolnshire. Died 16th May 1942 aged 19 years.
At rest in Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta Plot F Grave 3.
F003 DONALD GEORGE SUSSEMS. Corporal, 570324, Royal Air Force, 126 Squadron. Born 1921 in the Registration district of Tendering Essex to Herbert Charles and Violet Eunice Sussems nee Davey. Died 16th May 1942 aged 21 years.
At rest in Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta Plot F Grave 3.
