Second World War Commonwealth War Grave - First Officer David Russell Hayward, Air Transport Auxiliary

 

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 in Adelaide, Australia, to Edwyn Walton (Jim) Hayward C.B.E. O.B.E., a director at John Martin & Co, and Australian department store, and his wife Eileen Frances Russell. David and his family moved to England when he was five years old.

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

David's father Edwyn was to pass away on 30th August 1933, following a heart attack

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

David had previously enlisted with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, Air Fleet Arm from 27 May 1940, but was dismissed as unfit for service on 4th September 1944, due to constant sea sickness. Later David joined the Air Transport Auxiliary. during his time with the A.TA., David was involved in two accidents, the first taking place on 15th December 1943 when he undershot the runway during a forced landing of his Walrus HD916 after engine failure in bad weather.  David was injured and was treated in a hospital in East Grinstead for head injuries and concussion.

First Officer David Hayward

The second accident on the 21st April 1945 was to prove fatal, David was in command of a Fairchild 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.

Fairchild Argus II