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| ADF Serials Message Board > Aircrew > Cadet Lieutenant, Reginald Kaye Duckworth |
| Posted by: Martin Edwards May 1 2013, 10:09 AM |
| This was recieved through our contact email Hello Gentlemen, I came across this lad over four years ago while carrying out research at Point Cook for my RAAF photographic project (Collection of Headstone and Memorial Photos) of WW1 & WW2 Australians who died in Australian and allied Air Forces around the world (11,700+) of which I now have 10,800. I noticed your name(s) (The author gratefully acknowledges the input from Grahame Higgs and Dean Norman (http://www.adf-serials.com).) as contributors to the story of Stuart Earl Mailer and Bertie Whicker. (Brighton General Cemetery website) Cadet Lieutenant, Reginald Kaye Duckworth was killed in flying practice on 16th November 1917 whilst piloting a Maurice Farman Shorthorn however I have not been able to confirm which serial of the five machines known, he died in that fateful day. CFS - 7, 16, 17, 19, or 20. He was therefore the first airman killed in military flyer training in Australia. (According to a witness “The machine fell headlong to the ground from 1000 feet”). Further research found that he was not listed on the CWGC database and the AWM did not recognize his death being military, as no corroborating evidence to his service, or signing up for overseas duty was held by the memorial. All my attempts to have him listed came to nothing even though I purchased his death certificate and Coroners report, details of his full Military funeral in his hometown of Sydney, numerous newspaper accounts and details of him being in the 6th AGA with a professional photo of him in uniform. In early 2010, I provided all this information to a friend in the UK who operates the “In from the Cold” project which works to have those service people who had not been included for one reason or another, listed on the CWGC database. In August last year, I received the news that their request had been granted and Reginald now appears on both the Australian Roll of Honour and the CWGC database. Reginald is another somewhat “unknown” link in the chain of early military aviation in Australia. Hope you find this of interest. Regards Geoff Swallow Loss Researcher of Australians WW2/RAAF/RAF & other Allied Air Forces WW1/AFC/RFC/RNAS/RAF Photo Collector of their Headstones and Memorials in 72 countries. |