Read the forum code of contact
By: - 20th January 2003 at 18:30 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
Dont know anything specific but got this form The Commonwealth War Graves Commission. It has a little information on him which I havent often seen on the CWGC. You usually fin the service number, place of burial and often the mother and fathers name with the place they came from but his entry goes a little further but not much.
Here is the direct quote from the CWGC website.
***
Debt of Honour Register
In Memory of
PERCY LESLIE MOXEY
Pilot Officer
121570
Obs.
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died on
Friday 7 August 1942 . Age 27 .
Additional Information: Son of William Charles James Moxey and Lily Moxey, husband of Barbara Clare Moxey, of Norwich. Included in R.A.F. Rugby Football Teams, 1940-41-42, and Welsh International Rugby Trials, 1935-36-37.
Cemetery: GREAT YARMOUTH (GORLESTON) CEMETERYNorfolk, United Kingdom
Grave or Reference Panel Number: Sec. U. Grave 121.
***
Hope this is of use and someone else can pick up the trail from there.
Merlin
By: - 20th January 2003 at 20:03 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 20-01-03 AT 08:07 PM (GMT)]Hi, Moggy.
Do you have any idea of the circumstances of his death? Or who he was serving with? A quick scan of a couple of weeks before his death reveals nothing in either fighter or bomber command losses. It seems possible that your best bet would be a letter to the Air Historical Branch of the MOD or check the death notices in the Gt Yarmouth press.
I have a First World War pair of medals to a Pte Moxey of the Dorset Regiment in my collection but I haven't been able to get his service details yet.
Interesting thought. If he is listed as being from Norwich try their local press, but, why was he buried in Gt Yarmouth cemetery? What were the nearest airfields to Gt Yarmouth? Perhaps he was killed or died while serving on one of those airfields?
Hope you're keeping well.
Regards,
kev35
By: - 20th January 2003 at 21:34 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
Moggy - I am not far from Gorleston (8 miles I guess). If I remember, i'll nip over at the weekend, and try and find the grave. Can email you a snap etc.
Any idea what squadron? Was perhaps a Yarmouth boy, but parents moved to Norwich by the time the details were taken. Thats what happened with Johnny Wiseman. He may have crashed around Yarmouth,but there were plenty of airfields around. Ludham springs immediately to mind.
By: - 27th January 2003 at 10:05 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
Here we are Moggy. I found Mr Moxey. The stone could do with a scrub. Many stones in that cemetery, WW1 and WW2, and all need a clean. There are also Civilian war grave stones, but these have weathered really badly and are mostly illegible. Also found a lighthouse keeper, and a grave with 2 regimental badges on it.
Can send you a larger file if you wish, via email. I've inserted the inscription from the bottom of the stone as well.
Attachments:
By: - 27th January 2003 at 10:25 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
Lovely Snapper, thanks.
There wasn't an associated pilot buried nearby was there?
Moggy
By: - 27th January 2003 at 11:23 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
Not that I saw - certainly not in the immediate vicinity. There were loads scattered about the cemetery, mostly Naval and Civilian graves, but I may go back again sometime. I had my daughter with me, and she was getting a bit grumpy by the time I *FINALLY* found the stone (She's 51/2 months). I might take a bucket and sponge too.
Here's the memorial cross:
Attachments:
By: - 27th January 2003 at 12:16 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
A couple of things.
Moggy,
have you any idea how P/O Moxey met his death? Or any other information which might give us a lead?
Snapper.
I don't like to see graves overgrown but I don't mind the discolouration which comes with age, in some cemeteries/churchyards where many of the stones have suffered the effects of ageing, the green deposits of lichen, the gradual greying and mottling of the stone, and in some cases the stones turn a sandy, beige colour. It somehow seems appropriate.
If I remember rightly, the cross in your photo is known as the 'Cross of Sacrifice' and are located at sites where there are a certain number of graves. I can't remember the qualifying criteria but it may be on the CWGC website. The oblong stone at large military cemeteries, you have an excellent photo on your D-Day thread, is I believe, called the 'Stone of Rememberance.'
Regards,
kev35
By: - 27th January 2003 at 15:10 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
No sorry Kev,
I picked up the original request from the EDP forum (local paper) and put in my posting all the info that exists.
I was rather hoping that somebody had a reference, but it isn't looking promising.
What do you make of the use of the word 'Observer' as late as 1942. It's a term that I'd associate with earlier in the war.
Moggy
By: - 27th January 2003 at 15:17 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
Just had the idea of entering 7th August 1942 into Google.
Unless our Percy was killed at Staligrad, Guadacanal or in the Western Desert there doesn't seem to have been much happening that day.
However did find this little gem
http://www.rifty.fsnet.co.uk/saaf/index.htm
Moggy
By: - 27th January 2003 at 16:53 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
I sometimes find it helps to work out all the things we don't know about a person and then try to fill in the gaps. Now with P/O Moxey...
We don't know whether he was killed in action or as a result of enemy action or whether he died from an illness, in a flying accident or just stepped in front of a bus. I can find no mention of him in either Fighter or Bomber Command losses but that still leaves Coastal and Training Commands. If anyone has a copy of the last volume of the 'Bomber Command Losses' series can they please check if he appears among the OTU losses?
He was a Pilot Officer at the age of 27. Another long shot but he may have been in the RAF prior to the war. Again, if anyone has access to the RAF list for 1937-1939 it may yield another clue.
His mention on the CWGC website doesn't give a Squadron for him but I know it does for many others. Does this perhaps mean that he was not attached to a squadron at the time of his death?
Moggy mentions the term Observer being used in 1942. Was this still commonplace and does it perhaps indicate a possible lengthy period of service?
As usual there are far more questions unamswered than answered but I find it intriguing. Somebody out there must know who he is and how he met his death.
Regards,
kev35
By: - 28th January 2003 at 00:33 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
With a wife in East Anglia it is possible he died elsewhere and was brought home for burial - so maybe the desert isn't totally out of the question.
But then his trials for the Welsh rugby team seem to indicate his origins are further West. (In those days children, you had to come from the area of the team you played for. Current premiership football teams make me laugh in that respect.)
Looks like he joined the RAF between 37 and 40, though even that isn't certain
Enigma.
Moggy
By: - 29th January 2003 at 20:01 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
Moggy,
I don't think the RAF, or indeed the Government, had a policy of returning the bodies of those killed in action from overseas theatres of war, but it is possible he may have been wounded overseas and died at home as a result of his wounds.
You mentioned the use of the term Observer. This does seem to indicate that he qualified in that role early in the war as I don't think the term was used after late 1941/2. Keithmac might be able to help with that one as I seem to remember a discussion about aircrew designations some time ago but I can't find the thread.
Finally, do you mind if I dig a little deeper as I am very intrigued and would be very interested to know more?
Regards,
kev35
By: - 30th January 2003 at 10:23 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
I'd be delighted Kev.
A couple of weeks back I'd never heard the name, now here we have one 'insignificant' casualty amongst millions whose sacrifice is sort of slipping away.
Good luck
Moggy
By: - 30th January 2003 at 23:18 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
Moggy.
I think Scott (Merlin) posted a request for info on P/O Moxey on the 12 o'clock high board. And there has been a response courtesy of Doug Cuthbertson. The substance of his reply is as follows:
"P/O Moxey was a Navigator on Wellington R1075 of 16 OTU, Upper Heyford. A/C flew into a ballon cable over Erdington Birmingham. Three baled out, three others killed."
So, there it is. Thanks to Mr. Cuthbertson and to Scott for trying 12 OCH.
I live about nine miles from Erdington and know some parts of it well. I'll see if I can find anything in the local press next week.
Regards,
kev35
By: - 30th January 2003 at 23:22 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
Bloody Hell! Well done Scott. I saw the post a short time ago, so that info is still warm! Thanks for letting us know Kev.
By: - 31st January 2003 at 09:51 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
More information!
I received an email this morning from Doug Cuthbertson which contained the following details:
The pilot was P/O Maura who baled out along with two other unnamed crewmembers. The other two who died were Sgt. N G Crabtree 1263387 RAF(VR), Wop/AG who is buried in Witton Cemetery. The other casualty is LAC R L Smith, 1252106 RAF(VR) who was a passenger. He is buried at Middleton Stoney Churchyard, Oxon.
Thanks again to Doug who is a member of the Bomber Command E-group.
Regards,
kev35
By: - 31st January 2003 at 09:54 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
Brilliant - what a triumph.
Not a gallant sacrifice in the teeth of enemy action, just a pointless accident. Somehow even sadder.
Thanks guys I'll pass it on to the original enquirer.
Moggy
By: - 31st January 2003 at 20:57 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
Yes, Moggy, a brilliant result but I don't think we're finished with this one just yet. I hope to search the Birmingham Post archive in the next week and letters have gone off today to DORIS at the RAF museum and to the Air Historical Branch of the MOD. I pass Witton Cemetery fairly often but it is a huge place. When the legs feel up to it I'll try to find Sgt Crabtree's grave.
Seeing as P/O Moxey is buried in Norfolk, could one of our members from the area please give me a clue as to the address/phone number of the local history society/group. I want to find out which paper his death notice would have been in. There might be a picture.
Fingers crossed.
Regards,
kev35
By: - 31st January 2003 at 21:43 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
It would be in The Great Yarmouth Mercury, and Eastern Daily Press, if anthing was written up locally. Perhaps his name will be on a church memorial in Gorleston (its only a small town). The memorial cross in the cemetery has no names on it. Gorleston Library has, probably, a records office bit - certainly Norwich has, and Lowestoft (where I live) may have something in theirs. (Gorleston is not really that far from Ludham by the way - did you mention visiting it or something?) I don't know any historical societies addresses / phone numbers, but the local libraries would know them.
Question Moggy - what was the interest of the original enquirer?
Kev - who is Doris, an Ashley equivalent that you are keeping to yourself you swine? LOL. (Incidentally, I would appreciate any bits you can come up with re: Johnny Wiseman, that I don't have already.)
By: - 31st January 2003 at 22:42 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
RE: Percy Leslie Moxey
Hi, Snapper.
Thanks for the leads. I'll give them a try tomorrow or monday. DORIS, happens to be the Department of Research and Information Services. Send us an email re Johnny Wiseman. What is it you're looking for?
Gorleston is near Ludham? I feel a pilgrimage coming on.
Regards,
kev35
Posts: 16,832
By: Moggy C - 20th January 2003 at 13:21
Moxey was a pilot officer in the RAFVR. Sadly he died on 7th August 1942.
Somebody locally has asked for further information on him.
Anybody out there got any references to his career?
Moggy