Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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654640   Wireless Operator William Edward Griswold
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Dated added: 01/01/2016   Last updated: 11/10/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 214 Squadron, Royal Air Force (British Air Force)
Died: 08/01/1941 (Died by accident)
Age: 22
Summary      
William Edward Griswold was the only son of Edward and Mary Griswold. He was born about 1919. He was educated at Magherafelt Technical School. Teddie Griswold enlisted in the Royal Air Force about November 1939. On the morning of 8th January 1941, the Wellington Mark I bomber (Serial no T2956) took off from Stradishall (west of Ipswich) on a test flight. The aircraft is believed to have iced up while flying in cloud and crashed near Haverhill, Suffolk. All the crew perished in the crash.
Further Information
William Edward Griswold was the only son of Edward and Mary Griswold.
Edward Griswold, or Teddie as he became known as, was born about 1919.
He was educated at Magherafelt Technical School.
He was a grandson of Mr S B Caldwell, J.P., Avongarth, Magherafelt.
Teddie Griswold enlisted in the Royal Air Force about November 1939.
By 1940, his mother was living at Garden Street in Magherafelt.
After ten months he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Air Gunner Wireless Operator.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 27th July 1940: Magherafelt
William Edward Griswold (better known as ‘Teddie’), only son of Mrs Griswold, Garden Street, Magherafelt, after only ten months’ service in the Royal Air force, has been promoted to the rank of Sergeant Air Gunner Wireless Operator. He is a past pupil of the Magherafelt Technical School, and a grandson of Mr S B Caldwell, J.P., Avongarth, Magherafelt.
On the morning of 8th January 1941, the Wellington Mark I bomber (Serial no T2956) took off from Stradishall (west of Ipswich) on a test flight.
The aircraft is believed to have iced up while flying in cloud and crashed 12:40 at Great Wratting, two miles NNE of Haverhill, Suffolk. All the crew perished in the crash including Wireless Operator William Edward Griswold. The crew were:
bullet Sergeant Ronald CAIN (638553) Wireless Op
bullet Sergeant William Edward GRISWOLD (654640) Wireless Op
bullet Sergeant Peter Robert PEART (740666) Pilot
bullet Sergeant Archibald Sinclair ROBERTS (746816) Air Gunner
bullet Pilot Officer Tom Eric TIMMINS (79164) Pilot
bullet Pilot Officer Charles Norman WALKER (78863) Pilot
Wireless Operator William Edward Griswold was serving with 214 Squadron of the Royal Air Force when he died as the result on an accident on 8th January 1941. He was 22 years old.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 28h July 1945: Marriages
WILLIAMS - GRISWOLD – 18th June 1945, at 1st Magherafelt Presbyterian Church, by Rev W Gaston, B.A., Castledawson; Leading aircraftman (L.A.C.) Kenneth Williams, Royal Air Force, son of Mr and Mrs Williams, Penarth, South Wales, to Joan Olive Griswold, daughter of the late Edward Griswold, Nova Scotia, Canada and Mrs Griswold, Garden Street, Magherafelt.
William Edward Griswold remains’ were brought home and he is buried in Magherafelt First Presbyterian Churchyard.
A plaque in 1st Presbyterian Church, Magherafelt commemorates Sergeant William Edward Griswold:
In Memory of W E Griswold, Wireless Operator, Royal Air Force, Killed in Action 1941
The CWGC record Wireless Operator William Edward Griswold as the son of Edward and Mary Griswold of Magherafelt.
Read more
Relevant Magherafelt Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Magherafelt 1st Pres. Church Magherafelt Town Buried in Magherafelt 1st Pres. Church 54.754468 -6.605743
2 Garden Street Magherafelt Town Newspaper lists parent at Garden Street 54.757526 -6.610500
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 214 Squadron Details of accident in which Wireless Operator Griswold died
2 Bomber Command Details of flight and crash
3 National Archives UK Official details of crash
4 RAF Commands Brief details of Wireless Operator Griswold
5 War Graves Photographic Project Photo of Wireless Operator Griswold's grave can be purchased here
Magherafelt District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2014-2023