Friday 24 April 2015

Woodhouse, Arthur Sgt

(No soldier photo available)
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Died 2 April 1943

Sergeant Arthur Woodhouse was one of six crew of a Wellington bomber which took off from No.16 O.T.U. (Operational Training Unit) at Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, at 20.35 hours on a high level exercise. A staff pilot also flew with them as a passenger. Before completing the duty, the pilot called the base to report the air-speed indicator was unserviceable. At 21.50 hours, the aircraft crashed at Vicarage Farm, Kirklington, nine miles from Oxford. All the crew, and the passenger died. Three men were buried in Middleton Stoney, Oxfordshire, and a fourth in Elsworth, Cambridgeshire. The remaining three men were taken to their home towns for burial.

Arthur was the son of John and Clara Woodhouse. He was the husband of Florence. They had two children. Arthur was aged 30. Before he joined the R.A.F.V.R. he was employed by Messrs. Drake, the builders and contractors, where he was known as "an industrious worker".

Arthur's coffin, draped in a Union Jack, arrived in Haslingden on Thursday, 8 April 1943, and he was interred in Holdens Hall Cemetery the following day. Amongst the many floral tributes was one from the officers and men of No. 16 O.T.U. Arthur lies in Plot C, Grave 863.