LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Wilfred SHAPCOTT
Service No: 419503
Born: Richmond VIC, 14 November 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 14 August 1942
Unit: No. 4 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit (RAF), RAF Station West Freugh
Died: Injuries from an Aircraft Accident (Anson DG755), England, 6 September 1943, Aged 22 Years
Buried: Bristol (Arnos Vale) Cemetery, Gloucestershire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Thomas Coomb Shapcott and Daisy May Shapcott, of Richmond, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Richmond VIC
Remembered: Panel 130, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On 17 August 1943, Anson DG755 stalled and hit the ground after one of its engines failed due to a lack of fuel. Three crew members were killed and two including Sergeant Shapcott, a Wireless Air Gunner, were fatally injured. He was admitted to Lucknow Hospital, West Frough, dangerously ill and he died on 6 September 1943.
The crew members of DG755 were:
Sergeant Leonard Alan Bell (1487603) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Warrant Officer Stanley John Darnell (1271748) (RAFVR) (Pilot)
Sergeant John Robson (1580263) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Flight Sergeant George Henry Scully (638726) (RAFVR) (Staff Wireless Operator) Severely injured, Died: 17 August 1943
Sergeant Wilfred Shapcott (419503) (Wireless Air Gunner under instruction) Severely injured, Died: 6 September 1943
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/37/177; A705, 166/5/217 (Bertuch 401294) Page 30