HANNAY, Herbert (Bertie)

Flight Sergeant (Pilot), 51 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service No: 754380
Died: 12/06/1941
Age: 21

Mentioned in Despatches 

Interred in Eindhoven (Woensel) General Cemetery, Holland
Remembered on family memorial in Bangor Cemetery

Hertbert Hannay is recorded on the
Second World War Memorial Window
in First Bangor Presbyterian Church

Herbert Hannay (known as Bertie) was born on 28 February 1920 at 37 Prospect Road, Bangor. He was the son of William Herbert Hannay, a farmer, and his wife Rosa Hannay (nee Curragh).

His parents were married in 1911 in First Presbyterian Church, Donaghadee and Herbert was the youngest of their four known children his siblings being: William Henry Montgomery (b1911); Sarah Montgomery (b1913); and Jenny Winifred (b1915).

Bertie attended Main Street Boys’ Public Elementary School and Bangor Grammar School (where he was a scholarship student) after which he worked for the Century Insurance Company in Belfast.

Herbert joined the RAFVR in 1939 at No. 24 Elementary & Reserve Flying Training School (E & RFTS) which was operated by Short & Harland on behalf by the Ministry of Defence at Belfast Harbour Airport (now the George Best City Airport).

The Northern Ireland RAFVR had a basic programme, which consisted of the students attending lectures, marching drills and other military exercises twice a week at the RAFVR Headquarters at Saxone House in Donegall Place, Belfast and at weekends they attended No. 24 E & RFTS at Sydenham for flying training.

Over 300 young men joined the RAFVR between the 1 January 1939 and 1 May 1940. On 3 September 1939, 140 of them, including Herbert and his brother William (who served as a Sergeant-Observer), were called into full time service and posted to various RAF stations in England for further training. 92 of them were Killed in Action. Forty-eight of them survived.

A Roll of Honour for them was unveiled at Royal Belfast Academical Institution (RBAI) in May 2019. 

On 10 June 1940, Herbert married Thomasina Eleanor (Ena) Weir in Whitewaltham Parish Church, Maidenhead, Berks. Ena's  parents were Mr and Mrs Robert Weir of Farnham Street, Belfast.

An Armstrong Whitworth Whitley in flight c1940

At 23:06 hours on 11 June 1941, Bertie was the co-pilot and one of five crew members on board an Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mark V aircraft (Z6657) that took off from Dishforth airfield in Yorkshire.  Just over four hours later they were shot down by a German night-fighter and they crashed near Noord-Brabant in Holland. The five crew members who died were:
   Sergeant John BRADSHAW (1355770) Wireless Op [RAF]
   Sergeant James Edward GITTINS (937720) Observer [RAF]
   Flight Sergeant Herbert HANNAY (754380) Pilot [RAF]
   Sergeant Cyril Gerrard HUMBLE (939951) Wireless Op [RAF]
   Pilot Officer Paul Edward SNYDER (J/3732) Pilot [RCAF]

Writing in Bangor Grammar School's Gryphon Magazine, Maurice Wilkin's, a former headmaster, wrote: "Herbert (Bertie) Hannay was also a scholarship holder, a boy of genial and attractive character, who took part with zest in every school activity and was universally beloved..."

A silver bowl bearing the inscription "Hannay Memorial Bowl" was presented to Bangor Grammar School by his parents to be awarded annually for the best performance in the Ulster Schools Sports competition.

ROLL OF HONOUR

HANNAY — In proud and loving remembrance of our dearly loved youngest son (Bertie), Flight/Sergeant/Pilot Herbert Hannay, R.A.F.V.R., killed in action over Holland, June 12, 1941,
"Ever in our thoughts.”
Always remembered by his loving Father; Mother, Brother, Willie and Sister, Sadie, 39 Prospect Road, Bangor.
HANNAY — Treasured memories of my brother (Bertie) Flight/Sergeant/Pilot Herbert Hannay, R.A.F.V.R., killed in action, June 12, 1941.
“Beautiful memories, dearer than gold.”
Ever remembered by his Sister and Brother-in-law, Jean and George Mattthews, Groomsport Road, Bangor.

Co Down Spectator, 13 June 1953