Edmund Foweather
Date of birth: 28.11.1922
Date of death: 13.9.1944
Area: Knottingley
Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Family information: Son of Walter and Alice Foweather (nee Baker)
Rank: Sergeant Navigator
Service number: 1620148
War Service
When looking online on the Knottingley Roll of Honour he is recorded as Sgt (Navigator) Edmund Foweather service number 1620148, 101 Squadron RAF(VR). He died on 13th September 1944 age 21, the son of Walter and Alice of Knottingley and is buried in Knottingley Cemetery grave 5525.
On 13 September 1944, flying in the Avro Lancaster MKIII No PB456 of 101 Squadron, the crew were on a cross country training Flight from Ludford Magna near Market Rasen on a route just over 800 miles from Base via Scunthorpe - Stirling - Huntley - Inverary - Mull of Kintyre - Carlisle - Scunthorpe - Base. The crew were briefed to climb to 2,000ft by the time they reached Stirling.Tthey were on leg SW to Huntley when the aircraft dived and crashed into the ground on Comic Hill near the southern end of Loch Lomond.
Before impact the aircraft broke up, with the forward and rear fuselage, tail-planes, outer wings and outer engines separating from main body. The aircraft had only flown 29 hours at the time of loss and an Aircraft Investigation Branch could not determine the cause. It was thought possibly the aircraft broke up as a result of the Pilot’s efforts to recover from the dive.
It was the first flight with 101 Squadron for the Pilot Clare Edward Brooks.
Pontefract & Castleford Express 29 September 1944 p6
“AIRMANS FUNERAL
The funeral took place on Friday of Sergeant Navigator Edmund Foweather (RAFVR) the younger son of Mr and Mrs W. Foweather of 5 Weeland Crescent, Knottingley, who was killed in an aircraft accident in Scotland on September 13th. Before he joined the RAF in October 1941 Sergt Foweather, who was 21 years old, was a fitter with the Crystal Glass Company, Knottingley. and his former workmates acted as bearers at the funeral. The Revd Musgrave performed the committal ceremony; and among the mourners were representatives of the RAF. Among many wreaths were two from his comrades of the RAF, and two from his fellow workers at Crystal Glass Works. Educated at the Ropewalk Council School, Knottingley, and the King’s School Pontefract, Sergt Foweather was a member of the Home Guard and ATC before he enlisted. His brother S/Sgt Walter Foweather is serving with the RAC in France.”
Family Life
Edmund Foweather was born on 28th November 1922 and was baptised on 7th December 1922. He was the son of Walter and Alice (nee Baker). Walter was a postman and his marriage to Alice was registered at Pontefract in the first quarter of 1908.
