Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (British Air Force)
Died:
14/09/1942 (Died by accident)
Age:
20
Summary
John Edwin Charles Averell Steele-Nicholson was the son of Robert Charles Henry and Lydia Mary Noel Amelia Steele-Nicholson. He was born about 1922. Sergeant John Edwin Charles Averell Steele-Nicholson served with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in World War Two.
On 14th September 1942, Sergeant (Air Gunner) John Steele-Nicholson was on board Liberator AL-624 when it took off from R.A.F. Burn at 1100 hours. It was detailed to carry out a non-operational cross-country training flight. It failed to return. The aircraft descended through cloud and struck a hill near Millfore in Kirkcudbright. All of the crew were killed in the accident.
Further Information
John Edwin Charles Averell Steele-Nicholson was the son of Robert Charles Henry and Lydia Mary Noel Amelia Steele-Nicholson. They were married about 1920.
John Steele-Nicholson was born about 1922.
It has been stated that his father, Robert Steele-Nicholson, was a tea planter in Assam, which is a state in north-eastern India.
Sergeant John Edwin Charles Averell Steele-Nicholson served with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in World War Two.
On 14th September 1942, Sergeant (Air Gunner) John Steele-Nicholson was on board Liberator AL-624 when it took off from R.A.F. Burn at 1100 hours. It was detailed to carry out a non-operational cross-country training flight. It failed to return. The aircraft descended through cloud and struck a hill near Millfore in Kirkcudbright, near Cairnryan in Scotland. All of the crew were killed in the accident. They were:
Sergeant John Churley FREESTONE (1311904) Observer
Sergeant John Edwin Charles Averell STEELE-NICHOLSON (1591275) Air Gunner
Sergeant Victor Frederick TALLEY (1320265) Air Gunner
Sergeant Derek Eaton WARNER (655996) Pilot
Sergeant John Steele-Nicholson is buried in Kirkinner Cemetery. His inscription reads: OF BALLOW, BANGOR, N.IRELAND AND THIS IS THE PROMISE THAT HE HATH PROMISED US, EVEN ETERNAL LIFE
Sergeant John Steele-Nicholson is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial and Moy War Memorial.
The CWGC record Sergeant John Edwin Charles Averell Steele-Nicholson as the son of Robert Charles Henry and Lydia Mary Noel Amelia Steele-Nicholson of Ballow, Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland.
At this time it is not known what his connection was with Moy.
Pilot Officer Ivan Harold BETTS (109064) Pilot
