Photograph of the flight crew of air-collision Halifax during WWII
Black and white photograph of the crew of one of the Halifax aircraft of 518 Squadron, RAF Tiree, that collided in mid-air over Tiree on 16 August 1944 with the loss of both air crews. Back row L-R: Sgt “Bill” Graham, Arthur Marshall, “Norm” Power, “Warny” Creswell. Front row L-R: F/O “Harry” Oates, F/lt “Bill” Kemp, F/O K W Organ (donor`s father), F/O “Johnny ” Peterson. The photo was probably taken at RAF Brawdy in Pembrokeshire before their posting to Tiree. Kemp and Power did not follow the rest of the crew to Tiree, but were instead replaced by P/O BW Smith and Sgt PG Smith (not photographed). The accident happened only six days after they arrived on the island.
Enid Michelson (13.07.1924 – 06.04.2025), late, of Bald Hills, Queensland, made a heartfelt visit to the Caboolture Warplane Museum, Queensland, Australia in 2023. In her hands, she carried a treasured book, Tiree – War among the Barley and Brine, by Mike Hughes and John Holliday—a title that held deep personal meaning. With grace and quiet pride, Enid offered a handwritten story of her own, lovingly preserving a memory tied to her late husband’s service (Arthur Marshall), Squadron 518. The page she contributed, marked with a delicate pink ribbon, gently holds a glimpse of history and love for others to discover. Here’s her story…
“In late July 1944 my husband was given fourteen days leave from 518 Squadron Tiree, UK. All aircrew were allowed leave but was stopped for ground crew.
I was an F.M.E. (Flight Machines Engines) and was only allowed a sleeping-out pass. Arthur (I called him Ginge) was at my base to take me to a hotel in the nearest town, Rugby. Well, everywhere we went there was ‘no room at the Inn’. When one manager said, “it gives us a bad name to have a couple in uniform staying in our hotel.” That remark made my blood boil!
So, we got on the train to London to stay overnight with my parents. Next day, in civies, I went with Ginge to Yorkshire to see his mum, then onto Blackpool to stay with relatives and had a marvelous time dancing at the town ballroom until Ginge had to get back to Tiree. I got back into uniform to report back to Church Lawford, my base. When I got back, I was put under close arrest – sleeping in the guardroom, escorted to meals by two airwomen of the highest rank until I was court-martialled a couple of days later.
I got fourteen days jankers, loss of pay and of course, confined to camp.
Before the fourteen days were up, a telegram arrived and I was sent to the WAAF Co who informed me of my husband’s death and I could apply for compassionate leave. I did this, and first went home to mum and dad, then organized for Arthur’s remains to be sent to his mother’s home in Yorkshire so he could be laid to rest with his father – as he wanted. My mother came to Yorkshire with me, and Arthur’s coffin was in the ‘front room’. The smell was awful, the coffin nailed down, we had Dettol all around and that was the last time I used Dettol!
Two uncles got my mother to take me out so that they could open the coffin – I knew they often put bricks in because not all body parts could be found. Anyway, the uncles had such a shock that they quickly nailed it shut again. The family was well known in Todmorden (where Ginge was born). Shops and factories closed to watch the funeral procession, very moving!
Mother-in-law had plans for me to join her in opening a sweet shop in Blackpool after the war. Ginge had always said to me “don’t be a grieving widow for the rest of your life if anything happens to me. Find a nice guy and re-marry when you are ready.”
At the end of the War, I was fortunate to be asked to marry for the second time. This meant I was de-mobbed just after the war ended and enjoyed sixty-six years with my second partner.
Having to get back to my RAF base after the funeral was my salvation. It was hard for a while, but I had to get on with life.”
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Arthur Marshall, Flight Engineer (1037484), RAF, United Kingdom.
His name listed on the Roll of Honour in St Paul’s Cathedral, London.
Thank you for taking the time to relate this account.