LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Clement James WALSH
Service No: 425470
Born: Townsville QLD, 3 February 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 28 February 1942
Unit: No. 5 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Training Unit (RAF), RAF Station Tern Hill
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 5 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Training Unit Anson aircraft N4934), near Tern Hill, 7 November 1943, Aged 21 Years
Buried: Chester (Blacon) Cemetery, Cheshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Adam and Amelia Walsh, of Sandgate, Queensland. Australia
Roll of Honour: Townsville QLD
Remembered: Panel 132, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
At 1350 hours on 7 November 1943, Flight Sergeant Rothwell took off from Tern Hill in Anson N4934 detailed to carry out a ground controlled interception exercise. He carried as supernumeraries Flight Sergeant Walsh and Flight Lieutenant McDonald, both for navigation experience, of whom Walsh was flying voluntarily. Also on board was Corporal Manners, flying voluntarily. Pilot Officer Cross and Flight Sergeant Carter took off from the same airfield at 1325 hours in Master EM281 to practice ordinary circuits and landings. The visibility was good, with some haze near the ground, and a strong sun with a light wind. The Anson took off normally and turned 90 degrees and was still in a climbing turn to port when the collision occurred at about 1405 hours. The Master aircraft caught the port wing of the Anson, and both aircraft crashed and both crews were killed.
The crew members of Anson N4934 were:
Corporal Lawrence Allen Manners (1485911) (RAFVR) (Wireless Equipment Mechanic) (Supernumerary)
Flight Lieutenant Verdun Frederick McDonald (J/3711) (RCAF) (Supernumerary)
Pilot Officer John Rothwell (413990) (RNZAF) (Instructor Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Clement James Walsh (425470) (Pilot under instruction)
The crew members of Master EM281 were:
Flight Sergeant Denis Frank Carter (658594) (RAF) (Pilot under instruction)
Flying Officer James Orville Cross (J/24116) (RCAF) (Instructor Pilot)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/43/406