RAY, Frederick Harry

Credit: Gary Newman

Flight Sergeant (Pilot)

156 Squadron

RAF Volunteer Reserve

Frederick was born 1917, his birth registered in South Stoneham, Hampshire, to Frederick George & Amelia Kate (nee HIGGINS) RAY, who were living a 6, Nelson Road in Newport around the time of Fredericks death on the 29th of September 1943 aged 26.

Frederick was flying a Lancaster bomber aircraft which took off at 1824 on the 29th of September from Warboys, Cambridgeshire. His aircraft crashed on return from Bochum, Rhine, Germany in bad weather, coming down at Wimbotsham 2 miles NNE of Downham Market, Norfolk. All 6 crew were killed.

Frederick's body was recovered from the wreckage & returned to the Island for burial. Originally buried beneath a Private Memorial, his name became unclear and in order to maintain appropriate commemoration permission was sought by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and granted, to install a Pedestal Marker on Frederick's grave.

CWGC Casualty Record

Cemetary

Carisbrooke Cemetery

Location

Carisbrooke Cemetery, often referred to as 'Mount Joy' Cemetery is located on Whitcombe Road, Carisbrooke PO30 1DW. The cemetery was established in 1858 on land purchased by the Carisbrooke & Gatcombe Burial Board, because St. Mary's Churchyard in Carisbrooke was becoming full. The cemetery is now managed by the Bereavement Services Department of the Isle of Wight Council.
The cemetery contains 32 War Graves from the 1st & 2nd World Wars.