Clarke, E G (Edward George)
Warrant Officer Edward Clarke was the son of Eric William and Olive Marion Clarke; husband of Vivian Myrtle Clarke, of Banyo, Queensland, Australia.
Living in a house on the Drumavoley Road, Glenshesk, Ballycastle, was a Charles Blaney, his wife, Josephine, their five children and a young lady called Josephine McGroarty, who was from Donegal. On the 18th of October 1943, she had been standing outside of the house with her boyfriend John Greer from the town.
A few hours earlier at approximately 19:40 hours an Avro Anson[1] (N5372) plane took off from RAF Squires Gate, Blackpool, Lancashire. It was taking part in a night-time navigational exercise.
When approaching a mountain range near Ballycastle called “Knocklayde” during the last leg of their flight, the pilot dropped the flying height from 2400 to 2000 feet as he was slightly off course and wished to avoid other aircraft. At the time there was a strong downdraft caused by the mountains slopes and the plane could not get enough height to clear the slope and struck the side of the mountain, although damaged it was still partially flyable and still in the air.
The Anson was now in serious trouble, but still flying. The crew though prepared for ditching as they followed SOS[2] procedures. The plane continued to fly in the direction of Ballycastle but was losing height quickly. The pilot did not have much control. As they got closer to the ground, in the vein hope of landing they unfortunately hit a tree. The plane then swerved towards a house in Ballycastle, which they unfortunately hit.
John Greer who was outside the house with Josephine McGroarty, was thrown away when the Anson struck the building. This saved his life, and he would survive, uninjured. Unfortunately for Josephine, she did not. Although initially wounded, when her body was recovered it was obvious to those there that she was dying. She passed away a short time later.
At the same time the Pilot, Flying Officer Cooper, was thrown from the cockpit and landed in the children’s room. He was injured, but luckily the 5 children who lived in the house were also unharmed, as were their parents.
Including the pilot, there were four men onboard. One of them was a Free-Polish officer, Wing Commander Heller. Also onboard was Flight Lieutenant J H Dunn and this airman, Warrant Officer Edward Clarke from Australia.
Wing Commander Heller[3] and Warrant Officer Edward Clarke were killed in the crash. Lieutenant J H Dunn was wounded and survived the ordeal.
Date of Death: 18/10/1943 (Aged 26)
Service: Warrant Officer, Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number: 404206
Burial Location: Grave 27.
[1] Avro Anson is a multi-role plane, primarily used for training that first flew during March 1935. Going into service the following year.
[2] S.O.S. is a universally used term for anyone in distress. It is an abbreviation for “save our souls.”
[3] Wing Commander Heller was laid to rest in Movilla Cemetery, Newtownards, Co Down.