Died: Douglas Boston aircraft lost over Libya
CWGC: Yes
Address / Local links: 31 Central Avenue Welling
Family / Relatives: Son of Robert and Eleanor M Airey, of Welling
Eric William Airey (known as Dave) was the second of three children born to Robert and Eleanor Maud (nee Eyre).
Robert and Maud married in 1909, at St Mark’s Church Plumstead Common. Robert was working as a horse collar maker and Eleanor as a nurse. They were both 24 years old. By 1911 their first child, Stanley, had been born and the family were living at 2 McLeod Road, Abbey Wood. Eric was born in 1913 and Joyce was born in 1920. Robert continued to work as a collar maker (leather work) throughout this time, at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, both in the Royal Carriage Department and later in the Royal Laboratory in the construction of vehicles. By 1921 the family were living at 50 Flaxton Road, Plumstead.
Little is known about Eric’s life. We know he was in South Africa in 1937 as he is listed as an incoming passenger on the steam ship, Arundel Castle, from Durban, South Africa to Southampton on 18 December 1937: his profession was listed as a schoolmaster and his address given as “Eacreet”, Brent Lane, Dartford. He was, by then, working as a teacher, probably at nearby Dartford Grammar Schoo, as he is listed on their war memorial, but he could also have been a former pupil. However, less than a month later, at the age of 24, on 14 January 1938, he set sail from Southampton to the South African Cape, on board the Stirling Castle. He listed his profession as a lecturer and we presume he went to start a new life there.
Eric enlisted in the South African Air Force and served in 12 Squadron, which served in the War in East Africa and the Western Desert as a medium bomber squadron, the planes designed to operate with medium-sized bombload over medium range distances. He held the rank of lieutenant (obs).
Sadly, Eric, known as Dave, was killed at just 29 years old when his Douglas Boston aircraft plane crashed on take-off. His grieving parents were, by then, living in Welling. He is buried in Tripoli War Cemetery. His grave is inscribed with the words: “His was a willing sacrifice. Rest in peace”.
The Dartford Grammar School War Memorial:
Eric’s’s parents lived at 31 Central Avenue, Welling.. His father, Robert, died in 1968 and his mother, Eleanor, died in 1974. Eric’s older brother, Stanley, worked as a shipping clerk and served in the Police War Reserve during the war, after which he joined the civil service.
Pictured are Eric’s name on the St. Michael’s East Wickham Church Memorial Tablet, and Central Avenue in Welling – the road where his parents lived during and after the war.
Also pictured are the 12 Sqdn badge (“Leads the Field”) and a 12 Sqdn Douglas Bomber being loaded in the Western Desert campaign.
If anyone is able to add any extra information, provide more family details, or suggest any corrections, please let us know – also, if anyone has any more photos of this individual listed on our memorial, please get in touch. Thank you.
Commemorated
- St. Michael’s East Wickham Church Memorial Tablet
- Tripoli War Cemetery, Libya
Links
This story has been researched by volunteers. We have taken every effort to ensure its accuracy. If you are related to Eric (Dave) Airey, or if you have any further information, please do get in touch.