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Joseph Fyvie |
Surname |
Christian Names |
Service Number |
Rank |
Regiment |
Fyvie |
Joseph |
403439 |
Sgt (Pilot) |
9 SFTS, RNZAF |
Born |
Age |
Enlisted at |
Address |
Glasgow |
25 |
|
RAF Hullavington |
Date of Death |
Where killed |
Cause of Death |
19/09/1941 |
Priory Farm, Kington
St Michael, Chippenham, |
Aircraft crash |
Cemetery |
Plot |
Country |
Chippenham (London Road) Cemetery |
Sec. 1. Row H. Grave
11 |
England |
Next of Kin |
Next of kin address |
Town |
Charlotte May Fyvie |
Epsom |
Auckland City, New
Zealand |
Notes |
Son of Joseph Hall Fyvie
and of Jean Fyvie (nee Clark); husband of Charlotte May Fyvie, of Epsom,
Auckland City, New Zealand.
The following details were sent to me by Mr Kenneth Weston who now owns
Fyvie's medals. Ken travels to Chippenham each ANZAC Day to leave a cross on
Fyvie's grave.
Sgt Joseph Fyvie RNZAF
12 July 1916 - 19 September 1941
Joseph Fyvie was born on 12 July 1916 in Glasgow, Scotland and came to New
Zealand with his parents at the age of 10. He received his secondary
education at Mount Albert Grammar School, Auckland where he passed the New
Zealand University entrance examination and at night school, he studied for
the New Zealand Society of Accountants. Sports in which he was actively
involved included football, cricket, tennis and golf, being a member of a
number of associated clubs.
He applied to join the Royal New Zealand Air force on 21 September 1939 and
was enlisted on 29 September 1940 with the rank of Aircraftsman Second
class.
At the time of this application he was employed as a clerk with R & W
Hellaby Livestock in Auckland.
After completing ground training at Levin on 26 October 1940, he was
promoted to Leading Aircraftsman and commenced pilot training at 2 EFTS.
On 20 December he commenced advanced pilot training at 3 FTS at Ohakea until
22 March 1942, when he was promoted to Sergeant. He was awarded his flying
badge on 10 February.
He married Charlotte May Doel on 26 March 1941 at St David’s church,
Auckland. She was a work colleague at Hellaby.
Charlotte May Doel was the sister of NZ39907 Flt Lt Alfred William Doel who
was posted missing in action on 12 June 1943 flying his 38th mission as a
captain of a Lancaster, DV157, coded Z with 12 Squadron flying out of
Wickenby, Lincs.
Fyvie embarked on the "Awatea" for Canada on 29 April 1941, disembarking in
Vancouver on 14 May. He then travelled by train to No 1 "M" Depot at Derbert
where he arrived on 20 May and then embarked for England. He arrived at No 3
Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on 29 June. On the 23 July, he was
posted to 9 SFTS at RAF Hullavington. There he continued his training on
Miles Magister advanced trainers.
The RAF board of enquiry into the aircraft accident said that 0n 19th
September Fyvie:
"Was practising ZZ approaches with Fg Off Scragg, RAFO (Reserve of Air Force
Officers) as safety pilot - and in reasonable weather - when the aircraft
was seen at about 1500 feet in the beginning of a spin. Control appears to
have been regained at about 500 feet but the aircraft was then in a vertical
dive from which it did not recover."
The aircraft crashed in the middle of a field at Priory Farm, Kington St
Michael, Chippenham, around mid afternoon. A local farmer and his son were
attracted by the loud noise, went quickly to investigate and found the
damaged aircraft with the two crew still inside. Even though the aircraft
did not catch fire or break up there was nothing to be done for the
occupants.
The finding of the investigating officer was that:
"The accident was due to collision with the ground following an involuntary
spin from which partial control was regained too late. That the cause of the
accident was controversial, but possibly due to an error of judgement when
changing from hooded to visual flight."
An inquest held on 22 September determined that Fyvie’s death was caused a a
result of "fracture of the skull and other injuries sustained when the
aircraft in which he was flying crashed from causes unknown."
He was buried in Chippenham cemetery on 23 September. Fg Off Martin Francis
Scragg was buried in his home town of Bedford. He is buried under a family
headstone on which his brother Flt Sgt Alban Frederick Scragg is also
commemorated. Flt Sgt Scragg was reported missing in action on 30 November
1940 with the crew of a Whitley MkV T4219 (YG-P) of 502 squadron when on an
anti submarine patrol.
Joseph Fyvie was entitled to the War Medal and the New Zealand War Service
Medal. These were posted to his widow at her home address in Epsom, Auckland
in 1950.
Charlotte May Fyvie never remarried and lived in the same address until
shortly before her death on 19 September 2004. Her ashes were interred in
the Doel family grave in Purewa cemetery, Auckland. |
Photo courtesy of Kenneth Weston
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Last updated -
14/01/2011
If you have any more details about this person, please
contact me and I will update the page.
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