6/7 Aug 1942 – 103 Squadron, RAF Elsham Wolds - Handley Page Halifax I - W1225 - P/O J N Gilby and crew - Op Duisberg.
Approximate Location - Just off the south coast of the Humber Estuary
Joe Gilby was an experienced pilot having flown 24 ops before he was killed on his 25th. He started his tour with 103 Squadron in Oct 1941 flying 3 ops as a co-pilot with Sgt Gorrie on Wellingtons. He was then given his own crew and flew his first op to Emden on the 28/29th Dec 1941. Gilby completed his ops on Wellingtons on the 25th June 1942 with an op to Bremen.
In July 1942 103 Squadron converted to Halifaxes and Gilby took over a completely new crew.
This consisted of :-
P/O Joseph Norman N Gilby RAFVR – Pilot
P/O Eric Arthur Cassidy RAFVR – Observer - ( pictured above )
F/S Issac Rutherford RAFVR – Wireless Operator / Air gunner )
Sgt R Reid RAFVR - Air Gunner
Sgt John Charles Lee RAF – Flight Engineer
Sgt Robert Frank Tidmarsh RAF - Observer
F/S William Maurice Crane RAFVR – Air Gunner
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Cassidy, Rutherford, Tidmarsh and Reid were experienced campaigners with 103 Sqn having regularly flown with Reggie Fulbrook. Eric Cassidy had also flown Richard “Taffy” Pugh. Both Fulbrook and Pugh were very experienced and capable captains.
Gilby’s final operation was on the night of the 6/7th August 1942 to Duisberg. This was flown in Halifax W1225. Sgt Reid was replaced by Sgt Jean Beaupre RCAF ( pictured below ) aged 24 who I believe hailed from Montreal, Canada.
103 Sqn detailed 4 crews for this operation. Opposition was moderate and inaccurate heavy flak with some searchlight activity. No night fighters were reported.
Whatever happened to Gilby’s aircraft is impossible to say. It certainly came down in the Humber Estuary on return. This was possibly quite near the shore as on investigation of the wreckage Eric Cassidy was found strapped into the pilot’s seat. That indicates that pilot Joe Gilby must have been wounded or killed and the aircraft must have sustained some damage. Cassidy had some pilot’s experience having started his RAF career training to be a pilot but then had been remustered as an Observer.
There is also some suggestion that Cassidy was attempting to ditch the aircraft in the vicinity of 2 ships.
The bodies of Gilby, Cassidy, Lee and Crane were recovered. The remains of Rutherford and Beaupre were found on the Lincolnshire coast some time later. The body of Robert Tidmarsh was never recovered.
P/O Joseph Norman N Gilby RAFVR – Pilot – 103 Sqn - Son of Stanley Provo Gilby and Emily Gilby; husband of Irene Ivy Gilby, of Shortlands, Kent - Brigg Cemetery, North Lincolnshire
P/O Eric Arthur Cassidy RAFVR – Observer – 27 - 103 Sqn - Son of Dennis and Clara Louisa Mary Cassidy, of Barking, Essex - Brigg Cemetery, North Lincolnshire
F/S Issac Rutherford RAFVR – Wireless Operator / Air gunner – 103 Sqn - Son of Isaac and Johanna Rutherford; husband of Madge Marie Rutherford, of Bentley Heath, Warwickshire. - North Cotes ( St Nicholas ) Churchyard, Lincolnshire.
W/O Jean Beaupre RCAF – Air Gunner – 103 Sqn - North Cotes ( St Nicholas ) Churchyard, Lincolnshire.
Sgt John Charles Lee RAF – Flight Engineer – 22 - 103 Sqn - Son of John Alfred and Nellie Lee, of Small Heath, Birmingham – Birmingham ( Yardley ) Cemetery, Warwickshire
Sgt Robert Frank Tidmarsh RAF - 20 – 103 Sqn - Son of Frank and Merrall Tidmarsh, of Upper Norwood, Surrey – Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial
F/S William Maurice Crane RAFVR – Air Gunner – 29 – 103 Sqn - Son of Clement T. Crane and Kate L. Crane, of Ipswich – Ipswich New Cemetery, Suffolk.
Joseph Gilby and Eric Cassidy now rest at Brigg Cemetery in North Lincolnshire.
Isaac Rutherford and Jean Beaupre rest at the St Nicholas Parish Church Cemetery at North Cotes, Lincolnshire.
John Lee rests at the Birmingham Yardley Cemetery.
William Crane rests in the Ipswich New Cemetery.
Robert Tidmarsh is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Item written by David Fell with special thanks to the Lee family and also Helen of the outstanding Ipswich War Memorial web site for permission to use the Beaupre photo.
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