Name
John Charles Welch
Conflict
Second World War
Date of Death / Age
25/06/1943
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Flight Sergeant
1251211
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
106 Sqdn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Panel 139.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St. John's War Memorial, St. Mary's Church, Hitchin, Hitchin Roll of Honour 1939 – 1945 (Book) St Mary’s Church, Hitchin, Hitchin Boys’ Grammar School Memorial (WW2)
Biography
He attended St. Mary's School, Hitchin and was in the choir of St. Mary's Church for several years. He won a scholarship to Hitchin Grammar School where he stayed from 1931-1937. He obtained his School Certificate and went into the sixth form and secured the Board of Education's Certificate of Commerce. He was remembered as a slightly built lad with a quiet manner and cheerful smile which endeared him to all those who knew him. After leaving school he became a telegraphist and sorting clerk at the Hitchin Post Office.
He had been in the R.A.F.V.R. before call-up and went into the R.A.F. in July 1940 with the Service Number 1251211 and did his training in Rhodesia and Kenya. He then went to Egypt and on to Malta in whose active defence he shared during the blitz of the island On one occasion his plane was shot down, but he survived and was later returned to Britain.
He was soon engaged again in operations, this time over Europe. On his 49th operational flight, the plane in which he was the air-gunner did not return from a flight over Germany. This was on the 25th June 1943, and his parents were informed in February 1944 that their only son must be presumed killed.
At the time of his death he was Rear Gunner in a Lancaster Mkl W.4367 of 106 Squadron, having taken off from Syerston, near Nottingham, to bomb Gelsenkirchen which had a synthetic oil plant. It was part of a raid by 473 aircraft and 30 were lost during the attack. He was not heard of after take-off, but the aircraft must have reached the coast of mainland Europe, as some of the crew were washed up a few days later on the Dutch coast.
He has no known grave but is remembered on Panel 139 of the R.A.F. Memorial to the Missing at Runnymede, Egham in Surrey.
A photograph of him appeared in the Pictorial newspaper dated 19th August 1941. His parents were Harry and Violet Welch of 3, Kendale Rd, Hitchin.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines – ‘Hitchin’s Century of Sacrifice’, Hitchin Grammar School Chronicle, Hitchin Grammar School Registers, Paul Johnson - local historian, ‘Bomber Command Losses’ by W.R. Chorley, Herts & Beds Express dated 4th March 1944, Herts Pictorial dated 19th Aug 1941
