Appeal to trace relatives of young RAF serviceman accidentally killed 80 years ago

Aircraftman Frederick Stewart from the Cookstown area was just 22 when he was killed along with two others at RAF Newton, seven miles east of Nottingham on July 27, 1940.

A bomb apparently fell accidentally from a plane and exploded killing all three RAF personnel.

Aircraftman Stewart, a son of Robert and Rebecca Stewart, was later laid to rest in St Peter’s churchyard at East Bridgford, Nottingham. Inscripted on his headstone is: “Greater Love Hath No Man Than This, That A Man Lay Down His Life For His Friends”.

His name is listed among the fallen on Cookstown Cenotaph in the town centre.

East Bridgford Parish Council said they are planning to mark the 80th anniversary of the deaths.

Chairperson of East Bridgford Parish Council, Ms Phil Clarke said they would like to contact the Aircraftman’s family or relatives.

“This year is the 80th anniversary of that accident, and the year also coincides with the 75th anniversaries of VE and VJ days, and the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the war memorial in the churchyard,” she said.

“Every Remembrance Sunday and Feast Sunday at the end of June which was when the war memorial was dedicated originally the list of local dead is read out and at the end, the names of the three RAF men buried in the churchyard.”

Ms Clarke said although Covid-19 has affected many of the arrangements, a group is still working on how they could mark the 80th anniversary of the tragedy on July 27 as part of their on-going programme.

“Ideally, if any siblings, relatives or descendants of Frederick Stewart could be contacted we can keep them informed but we realise that may be very difficult,” she added.

Cookstown Royal British Legion branch said they would be “investigating the details” surrounding Frederick Stewart and would liaise with East Bridgford Parish Council.

Branch chairman Norman Espie said they would certainly make enquiries over the coming days to see if there are any surviving members of the young Aircraftman’s family alive and living in the Mid Ulster area.

Anyone who can help is asked to contact Phil Clarke at email [email protected] or write to her at East Bridgford Parish Council, 27 Ludgate Drive, East Bridgford, Notts, NG13 8NW.

--- A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.

You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Thank you