Fleming, T (Thomas)

Fleming, T (Thomas)

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Aircraftman 1st Class Thomas Fleming was the son of the late James and Jeannie Fleming, of 64 Main Street, Garvagh. His funeral took place from his mother’s home on the 16th of April 1944 at 4pm.

Thomas was serving with 207 Squadron as an armourer at RAF airfield, Spilsby, which is located three miles east of the market town of Spilsby in Lincolnshire. The squadron was equipped with Lancaster bombers.

On the 10th of April 1944, at 19:55, in the bomb bay at RAF Spilsby, a 1000lb bomb with a delayed fuse, prematurely exploded. There were five other unstable bombs in the area.

As all the men in the area were within 20 yards of the explosion, it was to everyone’s surprise that anyone could survive such a blast, but they did. With the danger of more explosions and with great bravery, the injured personnel were rescued from the scene and taken to the Station’s Sick Quarters.

Luckily though the next explosions were not until 04:30 in the morning, hours after the rescues. Two more bombs exploded, followed at 06:30 by another two. The last bomb remained unexploded.

The commanding officer of 702 Squadron reported that four men lost their lives and a fifth was seriously wounded. In reality it was ten men who died (three bodies were never to be found) and six were wounded.  Aircraftman 1st Class Thomas Fleming was one of these men who died in this tragic accident. Six of the dead were RAF Spilsby station airmen and the other four were airmen serving with 207 Squadron.

The casualties were Aircraftman 1st Class John Richard Archer[1] RAF(VR) Armourer, age 26, Lance Corporal Alfred Gallagher Barrett[2] RAF(VR) Armourers Assistant, age 31, Aircraftman 1st Class, Walter Clews[3] RAF(VR) Armourer, age 20, Lance Corporal Trevor Ewart Davidson[4] RAF(VR) Armourers Assistant, age 37, Aircraftman 1st Class Frank Haworth[5] RAF(VR) Armourers Assistant, age 40, Aircraftman 1st Class Idris Eufryl Jones[6] RAF(VR) NKG Armourer, age 21, Lance Corporal Edward Thomas Roullier[7] RAF(VR) Armourers Assistant, age 24, Aircraftman 2nd Class Edward Rourke[8] RAF(VR) NKG Armourers Assistant, age 23, Aircraftman 1st Class Thomas Wright[9] RAF(VR) NKG Armourers Assistant, age 37 and finally the airman from Garvagh Second Presbyterian Churchyard, Aircraftman 1st Class Thomas Fleming RAF(VR) Armourers Assistant, age 20.

In addition to the men killed, the following were wounded: Aircraftman 1st Class W Brent, Aircraftman 2nd Class F Walls, Corporal A Vigus, Aircraftman 1st Class W Caldwell, Lance Corporal R Wylie, and Sergeant KD Cooper of RAF Spilsby.

Date of Death: 10/04/1944 (Aged 20)

Service: Aircraftman 1st Class, 207 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

Service Number: 1795114

Burial Location: Garvagh Second Presbyterian Churchyard, Grave 167.


[1] AC1 John Richard Archer was the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Archer; husband of Elizabeth Archer, of Old Radford, Nottingham., Service Number: 1095103, buried in Nottingham Northern cemetery, England.

[2] LAC Alfred Gallagher Barrett was the son of Andrew and Agnes B. Barrett; husband of Agnes F. Barrett, of Baillieston, Service Number: 1018655, buried in Old Monkland Cemetery, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

[3] AC1 Walter Clews was the son of Walter and Winifred Clews, of Sutton Coldfield. Service Number: 1584554. Buried in Boldmere (St. Michael) Churchyard, Warwickshire, England.

[4] LAC Trevor Ewart Davidson was the son of William and Emily Bertha Davidson, of Sutton. Service Number: 1227419. Buried in Cheam (St. Dunstan) Churchyard, Surrey, England.

[5] AC1 Frank Haworth was the husband of Phyllis Haworth, of Rawtenstall. Service Number: 1699416. Buried in Newchurch-In-Rossendale (St. Nicholas) Churchyard, Lancashire, England.

[6] AC1 Idris Eufryl Jones was the son of Arthur and Annie Jones, of Llanelly, Carmarthenshire. Service Number: 1661195. His body was never found.

[7] LAC Edward Thomas Roullier was the son of Edward and Margaret Roullier, of Carshalton, Surrey. Service Number: 1253688. Buried in Cambridge City Cemetery, England.

[8] AC2 Edward Rourke was the son of Francis and Mary Rourke, of Dundee. Service Number: 1699385. His body was never found.

[9] AC1 Thomas Wright was the son of Fred and Eliza Wright; husband of Rhoda Wright, of Levenshulme, Manchester. Service Number: 1026044. His body was never found.

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