ELIZABETH MARY STEVENS. Leading Wren N/29193 on HMS Lochinvar.
Born 02 December 1927 at Enstone, Oxfordshire.
Died 26 January 1948 age 20 years of pulmonary tuberculosis at Osler Pavalion Sanatorium, Headington, Oxfordshire
The following three was flying in a Grumman Avenger KE441 of 703 Squadron, Lee-on-Solent) when it crashed into Divis Mountain overlooking Belfast 03 November 1948. All died at the scene
ELIZABETH OLWEN GLADSTONE. Wren Meteorological Observer, 69333 WRNS at Fleet Air Arm at RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet) Northern Ireland.
Born 14 May 1929 of Hatfield Hertfordshire Died age 19 years.
Lieutenant (A) William Valentine HOLLIDGE born 14 August 1924 lived at Whitton Middlesex he was age 24 years
Lieutenant (A) William David VINE Born 03 March 1924 lived at Henleaze, Bristol, he was age 24 years Her served in the Mediterranean and the Far East during the war.
Lieutenant Hollidge and Vine were stationed on HMS Daedalus
Wren, Gladstone and Lieutenant Vine are at rest in St Canice, Faughanvale nr Eglinton, County Londonderry Northern Ireland
Image of headstone of Wren Olwen credited to Sean Wilson (Find a Grave) and permission granted for use. It is very much appreciated.
The following extract is taken from Belfast News Letter dated Thursday 04 November 1948.
PLANE CRASH ON DIVIS MOUNTAIN.
Searchers brave storm to find bodies.
Rescue parties struggled through driving rain on Divis Mountain outside Belfast last night in search for a Royal Naval Air Service two seater Avenger which crashed in the Ballygomartin area on the east side of the mountain. Both of the crew were dead when a weary R.A.F. party stumbled at last on the wreckage.
Heard explosion
The search for the missing plane which was on a routine flight from England to Eglinton air base near Londonderry, was begun shortly after 6 p.m., when a civilian reported to the police in Belfast that he had seen a plane flying low over Divis and that he later heard the sound of an explosion.
The air control officer at Aldergrove was immediately informed and search parties were organised.
One of the occupants of the plane was found to have been thrown clear of the machine before his death while the other appeared to have been pinned to his seat as the machine struck the ground.
Wren Gladstone was found later.
DIVIS PLANE INQUEST
Extract of inquest taken from The Irish Weekly and ULSTER EXAMINER dated 20 November 1948.
It was revealed at an inquest held in Crumlin Road Courthouse Belfast on the victims of the air crash on Divis Mountain November 3 that in his last message the pilot of the plane said that he was flying into cloud.
Squadron Leader Raymond B Barrett R.A.F. Aldergrove said on Wednesday November 3, radio contact was made with an Avenger aircraft flying from Hatfield Herts to Aldergrove. The aircraft was flying below the cloud and was due to land at Aldergrove at 6 pm. Ay 5-30 pm the pilot reported that he was flying at 2000 feet over Belfast and asked was he clear to descend to 1000 feet.
“I warned him that there was a 1.500 feet hill in the vicinity of Belfast said witness. I told that he was clear to come down slightly, but suggested that he maintain his height of 2000 feet until her saw the lights at Aldergrove. The pilot reported he would remain at 2000 feet”
At 5.25 the last message from the plane was received.
MARGARET COOK. Wren Cook Nore/81767 WRNS on HMS Daedalus. Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire.
Born 26 May 1926 at Hebburn-on-Tyne, County Durham.
Died 06 June 1948 of 1. Heart failure. 2. Bronchial pneumonia. 3. Pulmonary Tuberculosis at Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, Portsmouth, Hampshire.
At rest in Egham, Surrey
Wills and Admin, Ancestry
Margaret Cook of 19 Apbert Road, Englefield Green, Surrey, spinster. Died on date and place stated. Her effects went to Ellen Trumper, wife of Victor Lewis Evelyn Trumper.
DOROTHY MARY STONE. Wren N/58501 on HMS Nuthatch.
Born 30 July 1919 at Portsmouth, Hampshire to John Henry and Millie Marion Stone, nee Simm
1939 residing at 36 Vale Grove, Gosport Hampshire, occupation wallpaper pattern book maker.
Died 10 June 1948 age 29 years of multiple injuries as the result of a road accident at Chestnut Hill, Keswick, Cumberland.
Extract from Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer dated 11 June 1948
Keswick, Thursday night. A Wren was killed when a 30 seater Royal Naval Air Service bus crashed into a wall on Chestnut Hill on the main Windermere road
At rest at St Michael’s Churchyard, Bowness, Cumberland. Her name was given as Stone. The bus was returning after a tour of the Lake District to the Royal Naval Air Service Station at Anthorn on the Solway Firth at Anthorn. Several of the rating were injured but none seriously and all were able to return to their station.
HONOR/HONOUR MAY LAWRENCE. Wren Steward (O) 69106 WRNS HMS Dauntless at Burghfield near Reading, Berkshire.
Born 02 August 1921 at Neath, Glamorgan.
Died 13 June 1948 as the result of an epileptic fit on H.M.T.E. Dauntless, Burghfield
Shore base HMS Dauntless, Burghfield
(From 1945 until 1981, a collection of war-time huts built to accommodate munition workers in 1942, became the new entry training establishment for the Women's Royal Naval Service. It was named HMS Dauntless and was a situated at Burghfield near Reading in Berkshire.)
GLADSTONE Elizabeth Olwen. Wren Meteorological, 69333 Royal Navy on HMS Gannet. Born 14 May 1929. Died in an air crash 03 November 1948 age 19 years. At rest in St Canice, Faughanvale nr Eglinton, County Londonderry Northern Ireland
Image credited to Sean Wilson (Find a Grave) and permission granted for use. It is very much appreciated
ELIZABETH MARY STEVENS. Leading Wren N/29193 on HMS Lochinvar.
Born 02 December 1927 at Enstone, Oxfordshire.
Died 26 January 1948 age 20 years of pulmonary tuberculosis at Osler Pavalion Sanatorium, Headington, Oxfordshire
