Photo Brian Chandler
T.D. Purves
Flight Engineer
Royal Air Force
26th May 1944 Age 32
Longed for always
No morning dawns
No night returns
But we think of him.
Simon Glancey has submitted the following:
Sgt Purves is recorded as 'Died on Active Service' in Casualty Communique No. 422, Flight Magazine September 14th 1944, page 299. His death was registered at Trowbridge, Wiltshire.
The Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, Saturday 03/06/1944, page 5, reported details of the inquest into his death:
AIRMAN’S DEATH
Collision on Road at Night
An inquest was held at Melksham on Monday by Mr. Harold Dale (Wiltshire Coroner) on Flt-Sergt. Thomas Purves, who died as the result of injuries received when the cycle he was riding crashed into some men on the road.Evidence was given that three R.A.F. men were walking in the roadway near Hilperton in the early hours of the morning when Purves rode into the party from behind and fell heavily on his head. He was conveyed to hospital by a passing lorry, where it was found he had a fractured skull, death taking place soon afterwards.
Flt-Sergt. Purves’ home was at Wallsend-on-Tyne, Northumberland.
The Coroner returned a verdict of ‘Accidental Death.’
He is remembered in Berwick on B25.39 and at Wallsend on W7.06
