HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2007-10-17, Page 16Crossroads
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Times -Advocate
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Flying Officer Brown laid to rest after 60 years
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — Over 60 years after his
plane was shot down over Poland, the
remains of Flying Officer Harold
Leonard Brown of Crediton, along
with his crewmates of Halifax JP -
276A, were laid to rest Oct. 4 in a
ceremony in Krakow, Poland, attend-
ed by family members of Brown, as
well as Canadian military and diplo-
matic officials.
Taking part in the ceremony as part
of Canada's official delegation were
first cousin Claire Wright of Centralia,
who was accompanied by wife Mary
Lou Wright and first cousin Donald
Kernick of Goderich who was accom-
panied by John Spence.
Flying Officer, Wireless Air Gunner
Brown was a crew member on Halifax
JP276A, which along with 23 other
planes took off from Brindisi, Italy,
Aug. 4, 1944, to drop supplies to
members of the Polish resistance who
were engaged in combat operations
against the German army.
Brown was born Dec. 3, 1923 and
died at the age of 20.
He received the following recogni-
tions: 1939-45 Star, Italy Star,
Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45,
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
and Clasp.
On Jan. 20, 1947, he was posthu-
mously awarded RCAF Operational
Wings in recognition of gallant ser-
vice in action against the enemy.
On April 12, 1996, the Polish gov-
ernment posthumously awarded
Brown the Polish Home Army Cross
Medal, the highest award for bravery
in the struggle to liberate Poland.
The remains of the crew were found
at the crash site by Polish resistance
fighters hours after the plane was
shot down.
The crew members were buried in
secret in a state cemetery at
Dabrowa,Tarnowska, by the Polish
underground, who were subsequently
punished by the Gestapo for their
actions.
Following the war the remains of
the crew of Halifax JP276A were
moved to Krakow Rakowicki
Cemetery.
The wreckage of the plane was
found last year by Piotr Sliwowski,
who is the head of the history depart-
ment at the Warsaw Uprising
Museum.
Sliwowski said he was contacted by
one of the members of the under-
ground who had operated in the area
in 1944 and knew of the location of
the crashed Halifax in a field outside
of Dabrowa Tarnowska.
Using ground penetrating radar,
Sliwowski said they were able to
locate the wreckage.
"The printouts showed there was an
object 20 metres long and two metres
high lying three metres below the
ground."
In addition to five Canadian crew
members, two members of the Royal
Air Force, Sergeants Kenneth James
Ashmore and Frederick George
Wenham, were also killed in the
crash.
The recovered remains were initial-
ly buried in one grave at a local
cemetery near the crash site.
In 1948, the grave was exhumed
and the remains transferred to
Rakowicki Cemetery, a
Commonwealth War Graves
Commission Cemetery in Krakow.
After the wreckage was found, it
was confirmed that it was Halifax
JP276A by comparing DNA taken
from Kernick.
But Wright said what confirmed it
was a Smith and Wesson pistol found
that was identified through its serial
number to a pistol issued to Brown.
The Canadian delegation left
Canada Oct. 1 and took part in sever-
al functions in Poland, including the
rededication ceremony as well as vis-
its to the crash site of the Halifax and
the original grave site.
The group also visited the Warsaw
Rising Museum before departing
Poland Oct. 7.
Wright described the ceremony as
"very moving," and that it brought
closure after so many years.
"This was part of Canada in
Poland."
Paying respects —The remains of Flying Officer
whose plane was shot down over Poland in 1944, were laid to rest in a rededica-
tion ceremony Oct.4 in Poland after the wreckage of his plane was found last
year.Attending the ceremony and laying a wreath were family members Claire
Wright (middle) of Centralia and Donald Kernick (right) of Goderich.(photos/sub-
Harold Brown of Crediton,
Historic site — Family members of the crew of Halifax JP276A visited the site
of the crash, which had been filled back in after the wreckage was excavated last
year.Accompanying the group was Piotr Sliwowski (middle in white), head of the
history department at the Warsaw Uprising Museum and who led the excavation
team. (photo/submitted)