War Dead

[Seusse]

My uncle, dads brother was in the Air Force during WW11 he died but we never found out anything, as far as we wre led to believe there was 'Foul Play' does anyone know how or where i could look to try and find out a bit more ? thanx in advance

[craft1948]

Do you know his full name and date of birth. and where he was from?

[Rose Maybud]

http://www.cwgc.org/

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[dothawkes31]

do you mean he died in a none combatent situation not whilst under enemy fire? If he died in this country in that situation there could be civil and military legal cases to research and also possibly newspaper reports. To get any further idea on where you should look we would need more detail

[Seusse]

His name

Daniel O’Rourke

Rank: Leading Aircraftsman
Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit:
Age:
Date of Death: 1st June 1944
Service No.1011735
Additional Information:
Grave: VII.A.21
Cemetery: Bari War Cemetery he was from Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire, *was Stirlingshire* and yes as far as we know he didnt die under enemy fire, not sure where he died im assuming it would maybe be where he is buried, this is all we know

[dothawkes31]

This could mean he was poisoned in the mustard gas explosions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Raid_on_Bari

[Seusse]

I dont know Dot, my mum always said there was something the family wasnt told so not sure

[Seusse]

Forgot to add my mum had mentioned he worked in the mail room or something like that.

[dothawkes31]

I have never heard of this tragedy before as far as I can recall, it is the only action that seems to have taken place in or around Bari during World War two
http://ahoy.tk-jk.net...atBariSouthernIt.html

[sandyRoe]

Didn't the ship go on fire and then explode? The gas it was carrying swept across the town.

[Seusse]

Yeah it might just be what happened because it was to be kept hush hush but got out in the end so yeah Dot this just might be the answer we have been looking for

[dothawkes31]

If you read that last article it mentions the 'secrecy' about the mustard gas incident. If he worked in a mail room and was not front line then there's more reason to think this is the incident the air force were told to keep quiet at the time.

[sandyRoe]

No. I see it was enemy action. ^^^

[craft1948]

If you want to order a copy of his death certificate it is GRO War Deaths RAF All Ranks 1944 Volume 11 Page 152.

[Seusse]

Thanx Craft, Theres none of his immediate family left, but i think mum would like to see it just for dads sake, thanx all for your help it was much appreciated

[Seusse]

sorry to bother you again Craft, but do you have a link for that GRO war deaths i cant seem to find anything :(