JOHN ALISTAIR STEWART
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Photograph courtesy of Kate
JACKIE
Born: 1923, Ipswich.
Died: 30th May 1943; age: 20; killed when aircraft crashed in the vicinity of Monchengladbach.
Residence: ‘Hazeldene’ Heath Road, Ipswich.
Rank: Sergeant/Rear Gunner; Service Number: 1391507.
Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 102 Squadron.
Re-buried along with the rest of the crew, side by side on the 6th August 1946.
Grave Reference:
2.G.25.
Germany.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Hazel Ivy Stewart & stepson of Sidney Walter Webb, of Ipswich.
Father: Alistair McCauley Stewart, born 1901, Ipswich – died 1925, Ipswich.
Mother: Hazel Ivy Webb (nee Bassingthwaighte (1st marriage Stewart)), born September 1904, Norwich, Norfolk.
Stepfather: Sidney Walter R. Webb, born November 1895, Ipswich.
ENGLAND & WALES REGISTER 1939.
John lived with his mother and stepfather at their home – ‘Hazeldene’ Heath Road, Ipswich.
Sidney Webb, Butchery Branch Manager.
Hazel Webb, unpaid Domestic Duties.
1 other.
John is also remembered on the war memorial at Rushmere St. Andrew, Suffolk.
29th/30th May 1943
Aircraft – Halifax II W7934 Dy-J took off 29th May 1943, at 22.58 from R.A.F. Pocklington, East Yorkshire, as part of a total force of 719 heavy bombers. Operation: Wuppertal. Crashed in the vicinity of Monchengladbach. The bodies of the crew were recovered on the 31st May 1943 and interred locally. After the war they were re-interred at Rheinburg War Cemetery side by side.
Crew:
Sergeant/Pilot; Ronald Aslin Ward; age 21; R.A.F.V.R.
Navigator/Flying Officer; Reginald Edward Charles Allen; age 23; R.A.F.V.R.
Flight Engineer/Sergeant; Robert Leslie Hoddle; age 22; R.A.F.V.R.
Bomb Aimer/Sergeant; Philip Hudd Sheerman; age 21; R.A.F.V.R.
Wireless Operator/Sergeant; John Martland; age 23; R.A.F.V.R.
Mid-Upper Gunner/Sergeant; Peter Smith; age 21; R.A.F.V.R.
One Comment
Thank you for sharing this information, my husband is the great nephew of Philip Hudd Sheerman who was also on this plane and we have been researching what happened. We visited the graves at Rheinberg, and the location recorded as the crash site, to pay our respects to all last week, visiting the Graves of each of the 7 on the flight.