SMYTH, John Stanley

Pilot Officer John S. Smyth

Pilot Officer (Navigator), 51 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service No: 139301
Died: 26/07/1943
Age: 29

Interred in Castricum Protestant Churchyard, Holland
Remembered on family memorial in Bangor Cemetery

John Stanley Smyth was born on 18th April 1914 at 16 Victoria Road, Bangor, to John Smyth, a grocer, and Sara Smyth (nee McClean).

He was educated at Main Street P.E.S. and Bangor Grammar School being a playing member of the School Rugby XV. (later playing for Bangor Rugby Club) and gained the Q.U.B. Matriculation in 1931.

On leaving school, John became an apprentice in the pharmacy business of Mr. R. M'Cutcheon, Bangor. He qualified as a Member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland and was later in the employment of Mr. R. Morrow, Conway Square, Newtownards.

In August 1941, he married Olive Perry of Londonderry, and their son was born on 9th December 1943.

He joined up in July, 1942, and on completing his training in England and the U.S.A., he received his commission as Pilot Officer in March, 1943.

His younger brother, Sergeant Bertie Smyth, R.A., was captured at Tobruk in June, 1942.

His bomber was shot down in July 1943 and his body was recovered from the sea and was buried in August in the cemetery at Castrium, North Holland.

KILLED ON ACTIVE SERVICE
SMYTH — Pilot-Officer John Stanley Smyth, R.A.F.V.R., second son of the late John Smyth and of Mrs. Smyth Finlay, 20 Hamilton Road, Bangor, and beloved husband of Olive M. Smyth, 78 Beechwood Avenue, Londonderry. Buried Castrium, N. Holland, August, 1943.

Co. Down Spectator, 29th January 1944

WATERSON, Henry

Henry Waterson

Private, 1st Royal Marine Batt., Royal Naval Divison, Royal Marine Light Infantry
Service No: CH/1261(S)
Died: 02/03/1917
Age: 22

Interred in St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen
Remembered on family memorial in Bangor Cemetery

Henry Waterson was born in Groomsport on the 27th December 1894. He was the youngest child of William Waterson and his wife Jane Waterson (nee Malone). His father was a fisherman and after his education Henry followed in his father's footsteps taking up fishing as his occupation.

He enlisted on the 24th November 1915 and embarked with the Royal Marine Brigade on 28th June 1916. He was drafted to the BEF and joined the 4th Entrenching Battalion on 10th November 1916 before transferring to the 1st Royal Marine Battalion on the 25th November 1916. At the end of February 1917 he received a gun shot wound to the left leg resulting in a compound fracture of tibia which required amputation. He died of his wounds in 11th Stationary Hospital, Rouen, on 2nd March 1917.

Portrait photograph courtesy of Nigel Henderson, Great War Newspaper Clippings.

MacCALLUM, John Evelyn Matier

Group Captain, Royal Air Force
Date of Death: 16/10/1943
Age: 37

Interred in Bangor Cemetery

John "Lyn" MacCallum was born on the 3rd October 1906 in Longstone Street, Lisburn. He was the son of William MacCallum, a teacher, and his wife Charlotte MacCallum (nee Williams).

After his education he entered the R.A.F. in 1923. Later gaining a cadetship at Cranwell, he was commissioned as a pilot officer in December 1927.

In 1931 he married Patricia Bishop in Ismailia, Egypt.

Until 1932 he was employed on flying an air pilotage duties with Army co-operation squadrons at home and in the Middle East. After three years as a flying instructor at home training schools he was with bomber squadrons in England in 1935-36. He then joined the Far East Command, and was subsequently appointed for personnel staff duties at its head-quarters in Singapore, where he was still serving in 1939.

He was promoted squadron leader in August, 1937, and wing commander, in June, 1940.

MacCALLUM -- In October, 1943, Group-Captain John Evelyn MacCallum, R.A.F., second son of Harry and Lottie MacCallum, Castle Street, Portadown, and husband of Corporal Mollie MacCallum, W.A.A.F.

Belfast Newsletter, 20th October 1943