Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hello,

My name is Jan Willems. I am a Belgian (Flemish) historian (so ... sorry for my language errors in this short message)
On June 02, 1942 a British bomber (Wellington-Vickers), on its way for bombing the city of Essen in Germany was shot by a German Messerschmitt and crashed in the fields of my hometown Brussegem. All five British young men (RAF-volunteers) died instantly.
One of them was Ernest CHADWICK. He was born in April-May-June 1916 at West Derby, Lancashire.
I have found that he had 2 brothers and 2 sisters :
David Chadwick : born West Derby in June 1920 (vol. 8b - pag. 663)
Dorothy Chadwick : born West Derby in September 1922 (vol. 8b - pag. 722)
Leslie Chadwick : born West Derby in September 1925 (vol. 8b - pag. 756)
Muriel Chadwick : born West Derby in March 1928 (vol. 8b - pag. 1047)

I am desperately searching for some living descendants of Ernest.
The children of his brothers/sisters (see above) will probably have been married between 1942 and 1950, .... which means that their children should have now the age of 65 until 75 years.
Therefore I would be very grateful if the children (probably between 65 and 75 years) of David, Dorothy, Leslie and Muriel CHADWICK should be so kind to contact me via this forum or (which I prefer) via my personal e-mail address : janwillems@telenet.be.

I realize that you haven't known your uncle Ernest because he passed away (in the crash) before you were born ... but maybe your father/mother told you something about his/her brother who was killed in the war ... maybe you (or your parents) have/had some photos of him ????

I really hope you will not hesitate to contact me, because I am writing a book about his air battle and I will ask our local authorities to erect next year (75 years after the crash) a memorial stone at the place where the bomber crashed).

Every little information of your uncle Ernest is very welcome !!!!!
(And of course, if neighbours or other persons would have some information of the family Chadwick ... I will welcome with open arms every little info about Ernest.

Thanks in advance.

Jan Willems
Brusselsesteenweg 97
1785 MERCHTEM
Belgium

Hi Jan,

For reference here is the discussion from September:-

https://www.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk/ ... hp?t=15441


In order to appeal to a wider audience you could contact a local Liverpool newspaper. “The Liverpool Echo” has a section called “Old Pals” where people ask for contact with old friends, relations and other people that they would like to correspond with. You could word a request as follows:-


I am a Belgian (Flemish) historian. On 2nd June 1942, a British bomber (Wellington-Vickers), on its way to bomb the city of Essen in Germany, was shot down by a German Messerschmitt and crashed in the fields of my hometown Brussegem. All five airmen died instantly. One of them was Ernest Chadwick from Liverpool. He was born in 1916 to parents Ernest and Ellen Chadwick. His parents lived in Anfield, Liverpool during WW2. He had four siblings: David, Dorothy, Leslie and Muriel. I would like to make contact with any living descendants of this family as I am writing about this incident and campaigning to get a memorial stone erected next year, 75 years on, where the bomber crashed. Please e-mail me, Jan Willems, via my personal e-mail address: [e-mail address] if you can help me in any way.


Here is the address for the Liverpool Echo:-

Liverpool Echo
Old Pals
PO Box 48,
Old Hall Street,
Liverpool
L69 3EB



Blue

Hi Blue,

Thank you for your reaction ...

I already contacted The Liverpool Echo (Chief Editor Alastair Machray and Paddy Shennan Specialist Writer).
They were so enthusiastic and sympathetic for my research that they have published a very nice article in their weekend edition of 19 November 2016 (see included hyperlink).
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/nos ... d-12179386
Unfortunately, up to now, I did not receive any reactions.

Jan

I would suggest that you spread your search a little wider than Liverpool - can you check what is the local newspaper for Chorley, Lancashire and try a similar plea in that. Perhaps the Chorley Guardian? http://www.chorley-guardian.co.uk/news or the Lancashire Telegraph http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/chorley/

A search of marriages on freebmd for Liverpool North throws up two Muriels and one Dorothy (plus one Leslie). (Others more familiar with Liverpool may suggest a more appropriate search.)

Muriel H. Chadwick married Arthur F. McOwen in Sep 1947
Dorothy Chadwick married Alfred Culshaw in Sep 1950
Muriel Chadwick married William Hoyles in Dec 1950

With females typically marrying in their local church, there must be a reasonable chance that one of the females was a sister of Ernest.

https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl