We are assembled here today to pay tribute to the crews of two flying boats that had been based on Lough Erne during World War 11. Well might the question be asked how did it come that after 60 years interest has arisen in that period of the history of Fermanagh. Initially the interest commenced ten years ago in 1993 with the publication by Breege McCusker of her book, “ Fermanagh and Castle Archdale in World War 11”.
Many homes have either an attic or a cellar; in these places are hidden family treasures waiting for the day to come when they will be discovered by a younger generation. Likewise in the brain’s of our people there are stored some wonderful memories of days and years gone past. The book by Breege became the key that unlocked these memories for many people including myself. Often at gatherings conversations took place - I remember this incident - I was there when that happened.
A few short years ago our son-in law Phil Weir was checking something on his computer, information on Catalina Flying Boats came up. Knowing of my interest in the subject, Phil investigated further; this led him into contact with former R.A.F. Ground Engineer Sergeant George Smith now living in Jersey Island. Soon George and myself were in contact, my wife and myself visited George in Jersey. As a result of all this George returned to Fermanagh for the first time in 60 years. Here he visited his old base at Castle Archdale and other parts of Fermanagh.
The information that George had on his website expanded rapidly as indeed did the number of people using it to learn about members of their family who had served here or to learn about those who died while serving here. Of the many families that George has helped we are delighted to have here with us today members of the family of Warrant Officer Ernest Slack. Antony, grandson of Ernest, resides with his father Peter in Hong Kong. His discovery of George led him to Breege and myself, in turn this led on to having the memorial stone erected here. The rest of the story you now know.
Catalina JX242 took off from Lough Erne on Sunday 19th November 1944 to go on an operations flight over the Atlantic Ocean. On it’s return journey in the early hours of Monday morning the 20th November, due to poor visibility it crashed on a little lake named Lough An Laban. Another twenty feet higher and it would have cleared a shelf of rock at the north end of the lake. The crash happened at 7-15am on a cold winters morning. There were two survivors, Warrant Officer C. Moore, who was not a regular crewmember; he had gone on the flight to gain some experience. The second survivor was Flight Sergeant Charles Bowater, I am happy to say that Charles is still alive in England. Charles lost one of his boots in he crash, although minus the boot, suffering from shock and other injuries he set off across the rugged mountain top in search of help.
His only guide being the rising sun, he knew that it rose in the general direction of his base at Castle Archdale. There were no roads then, he would have passed near the spot we now stand on, this being the only part of the hillside that he could climb down to the shore of Lough Erne. Below us we can see still standing the little cottage where the Walmsley family lived. The late Mrs. Walmsley remembered being out in her garden at the back of the house and seeing this man in uniform. Charles still has very clear memories of that fateful day. His daughter Gloria has kindly given me her father’s account of it. “My father made his way down the mountain, minus his left boot, saw the little cottage and noticed that there was a lady hanging out washing on the line. He approached her and asked for a drink of water. She took a look at him and must have been so shocked at what she saw that she screamed and ran into the house - not to be seen again. My father said he was in such a mess he can’t blame her.
He made his way to the road, which was nearby, a vehicle stopped, but he refused the first offer of a lift. He said he didn’t want anything to do with mechanical devices. This was probably due to the shock. After a while a civilian car stopped and probably because he was so tired he accepted a lift. He was taken to hospital, he thinks in Irvinestown. He remembers that he could see the mountain, where the crash occurred, through the hospital window as he lay in bed. When he was discharged from hospital he remembers going back to the Nlssen hut that he had shared with his crewmembers. He was a nervous wreck having to go alone back to the hut he had once shared with his friends, so as to help alleviate the loneliness he remembers staying in the mess every night for as long as he possibly could, before being thrown out. Although it was such a long time ago he still dreams often of his lost crewmates. If only he was well enough to come to the ceremony he certainly would be here. My father has told us of the wonderful people of Northern Ireland and the lovely countryside and he always meant to return with us one day, but some how the years have passed and he has not managed to make it.
Pupils at Roscor school recall seeing a man in uniform sitting on the wall outside. From there a car possibly the police car from Belleek collected him.
About midday a rescue party from Castle Archdale arrived at the house of Bennie Campbell and asked him to guide them up to the top of the mountain and the crash scene. When they arrived there the second airman was missing, they carried out a search until at 4pm a message came from Castle Archdale saying that he had returned to base.
Recently I spoke to a survivor of a wartime aircraft crash. He said to me with deep feeling, "It is not nice to crash, but Fermanagh is the best place that it could have happened to me".More on this
The second aircraft that we remember today is Sunderland W4036 of 201 Squadron; which crashed into Lough Erne off the point of Maghoo just beneath us. It was on a training exercise on Thursday 18th November 1943 practicing take off’s and landing’s. The port wing struck the surface of the lake causing the plane to crash and go on fire. Members of the Walmsley family witnessed the crash and could see the fuel burning on the surface. They could hear members of the crew calling for help. A rescue launch was soon on the scene and the injured were taken ashore to ambulances and taken to hospital. Unfortunately one of the six survivors died, he was Sergeant Elvet Parry. He is buried in Flintshire, Wales. Sadly two of the crew did not escape from the wreckage, their bodies are still on board. They were Flight Lieutenant D.J. Dolphin, R. C. A. F. and Sergeant John Green. R.A.F. This is one of two recognized war graves in Lough Erne.
In the month of May 1946 a moving ceremony took place on the lake. One of the rescue barges used at Castle Archdale had an altar made on its deck. The Altar was covered with the R.A.F. ensign and the Maple Leaf flag of Canada, a cross shaped wreath was made from maple leaves taken from a tree in the garden of a home in Toronto; they were specially flown in from there. On board the barge were officers from Castle Archdale and other dignitaries. The Rev. John Switzer conducted a memorial service. When the barge reached the place where Sunderland W4036 now rests the Canadian wreath was placed in the water by C.B. Dolphin from Toronto, he was the father of Flight Lieutenant Douglas Dolphin. It was Mr. Dolphin’s wish then that a permanent memorial should some day be placed on the shore of Lough Erne in memory of his son and all the other young men who had died in Lough Erne. Today that wish has now been fulfilled.
I will conclude with a poem that will be quoted by another speaker today.
THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED 2/9/03
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