Cemeteries and graveyards, full of love, betrayal, tragic deaths, murder, and suicide. What will you find?

Wednesday 28 August 2013

War Grave Wednesday: ATA First Officer David Russell Hayward

 
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.


First Officer David Russell Hayward was born on 7th June 1920 to Edwyn Walton (Jim) Hayward and his wife Eileen Frances Russell.

On 22n March 1941 David married Peggy Alice Georgina Farmer.  David and Peggy had a son together in 1943.

After the outbreak of World War Two, David joined the Air Transport Auxiliary Service, an Air Force service that ferried aircraft between airfields.

On the 21st April 1945 David Russell was in command of an Argus II HB595 at Lasham Airfield, Hampshire in what was to be a moonlight take off.  The Argus's engines cut soon after take off and the aircraft crashed and burned not far from Lasham Hill Farm.  A later investigation found that the petrol cocks were only half on at the point of impact.

David was an avid cricket player during his time at Oxford University.  He also played for Middlesex.







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