Charles Kenneth Fielder was born circa 1920, (there is a birth registered in Liverpool, Vol. 8b, Page 93), for a Charles K. Fielder with the mother’s maiden name as Hamer.
There is also a marriage on West Derby between a Charles A. Fielder and a Sarah L. Hamer in the March Quarter of 1920 (W.Derby Vol. 8b, Page 1055) and according to the Lancashire BMD’s, it was a Civil Ceremony.
We see the new family living at 58, Byrom Street, Liverpool, Lancashire on the 1921 census, that was taken on the 19th June 1921. Head of the household was Charles Fielder, 30 years and 6 months old; he was a Hawker (Fishmonger) on his own accountand had been born in Tottenham, London. His new bride, Sarah Louisa Ferguson was 24 years old and had been born in Denbighshire, North Wales. Charles Kenneth Fielder was 9 months old and had been born in Liverpool, probably confirming the above.
His brother John Arthur is recorded as going to Hawarden Grammar School: –
Hawarden Grammar School Admissions Register E/GS/1/10
2860 FIELDER, John Arthur Date of birth – 4th July 1925, 38, King Edward Street, Shotton, Father’s Occupation – Sailor, Queensferry, Date of Entry 16th September 1937, Cl., Date of leaving – 27th July 1939
The 1939 National Register, which was taken on the 29th of September 1939, shows some of the Fielder family, some are redacted because of ages, I believe. They are living at 28, King Edward Street, Shotton, at Sarah L. McMullen’s house, she was married and had been born on the 5th of October 1896 and was doing “Unpaid Domestic Duties.” Charles K. Fielder had been born on the 5th of September 1920 and was a Scrap Steel Worker. Joyce. A.L. Fielder* had been born on the 4th of April 1922, was single and a Coner at the Silk Works. John A.H. Fielder had been born on the 4th of July 1925 and was a Grocer’s Errand Boy. There was one redaction of possibly a member of the Fielder family, sadly, I don’t know who that was. There was also 4 other people listed for the household, they could have been Boarders.
*There is a connection though marriage of the Fielder and the Kettle family through the marriage of Joyce A.L. Fielder and Frederick Laurence Kettle in the December quarter of 1945 at St. Ethelwold’s Church, Shotton.
Charles Kenneth married Geraldine Margaret Neville on the 28th October, 1944 at St. Ethelwold’s Church, Shotton. Charles was 24, a Bachelor and Sgt in the R.A.F., his father was Charles Arthur Fielder a Fitter by trade. Geraldine Margaret was 19 years old and her father was Charles Clarence Neville, a M.T. Driver. Both resided at 38, King Edward Street, Shotton.
I do not know when Charles Kenneth joined the R.A.F. as I have been unable to find his Service Records, but I do know what happened to him and his crew on the night he died. I was able to find his Operational Records for the 2nd of March and the list of the crews from 640 Sqn. that flew that day on a raid to Cologne (Operations Order No. 644). (Downloaded from the National Archives)
Halifax Aircraft 111 (14) NP. 965 Y
“Up” at 07.40
F/L. K ROBINSON Pilot & Captain
P/O B.F. O’NEIL (Aus.) A/Bomber
P/O F.E. WATKIN (Aus.) Navigator
P/O H.H. WOLFSON (Aus.) W/Operator
F/S C.K. FIELDER R/Gunner
F/S J.H.W. TURNER MU/Gunner
F/S. D.N.J. TILEY F/Engineer
MISSING
This Aircraft took off at 07.40hrs.
It is believed to have crashed in France.
No definite news available.
Time over target 10.06 hrs.
No Cloud over England – 2-5/10 Cloud over France – 5/10 Cloud, tops 8-9,000 ft around Target but Target was clear. All Aircraft were able to identify the Target by Visual means.
A few ground-markers but most Aircraft bombed the Edge of Smoke as ordered by Master-Bomber.
The attack was well concentrated but appeared to be drifting to the South slightly.
14 minutes before E.T.A. several crew heard the M.B. advise main force to 2 minutes late.
This was evidently to let the cloud clear away from the Target Area.
Flak was moderate but accurate. No enemy fighter activity
All Aircraft carried cameras.
I received an email sent to the flintshirwarmemorial.com website to ask about Charles Kenneth on the 31st March 2018 from Vincent Pécriaux in Belgium, who asked me if I had any details of Charles Kenneth’s life and Service Records as he wanted to pay tribute to the crew of NP965 and as he said in his email, ”I am currently investigating the crash of Fielder’s aircraft just behind my house. Any info about the crew and their background will certainly help me in my search. Thank you for your help.”
I replied that I had only just started my research , but my friend Wendy Williams, from Connah’s Quay , who had been so invaluable with details of the Tuck brothers from Hawarden, who sadly died in WW1 and to whom Wendy was related, was also related to Charles Kenneth Fielder and also Cyril Kettle, who lost his life in WW2, as did Charles Kenneth (Please click on the links) and I said to Vincent that I would send what I had, which was a photograph of the wedding of Charles & Geraldine in 1944. Many thanks to Wendy and Gary, her husband for their unstinting generosity with information and photographs etc.
Since then, Vincent and I have communicated and it seems that he is almost there as far getting the service records of the other crew members and the family have sent for Charles Kenneth’s records. It seems that Vincent’s dream of erecting a memorial to the men who died that day in their aircraft behind his house may soon be realised.
An excerpt from one of Vincent’s emails: –
I have now a fairly clear idea of what happened that day, even though nobody can say that the aircraft was shot down (improbable because there is no report in the Luftwaffe’s archives) or hit by flak above Cologne. The reasons of the crash remain a mystery.
Since I would like to pay tribute to the crew of NP 965, I am particularly interested in their military careers and also personal lives. I hope that I can get the service records of the four British crew members (I have those of the three Australian crew members).
I am still gathering all the data I have about the crash, and I shall share with you what I have found.
Kind regards,
Vincent Pécriaux
The latest, which I publish an excerpt: –
I informed our new mayor about the research and our project of memorial. He did not know anything about the crash and was very interested. We’ll now discuss the project with the Tourist Office (they deal with historical issues regarding the village) and set up a group to make things move on. Everything should become more concrete next year as the project will normally be part of our commemorations of the end of WW2.
As I see it, the project should be threefold:
Memorial + ceremony (to be discussed next month)
- Exhibition with the artifacts (to be discussed next month). I’m still gathering data.
- Publication (web or paper). I have written most of the articles in French and translated them in English. I’ll have them reread by a native speaker to be sure everything is OK.
That’s all so far. I’ll send an update to all the families after our first meeting with the Tourist Office. I’m looking forward to your next mail.
Kind regards
Vincent
According to Vincent Charles’s nickname was “Deadshot.”
Charles Kenneth Fielder and Geraldine were married only 4 months when he was killed in France, age 25 years.
O’Neill, B.F., Turner, J.H.W., Tiley, D.H.G. and Charles Kenneth were all buried together circa 2nd March 1945 in Neuville-En-Condroz Military Cemetery (American) K/31, Belgium and then they were reburied on the 20th January 1947 in Heverlee War Cemetery in a collective grave I think
The CWGC website initially gave wrong information on Charles Kenneth’s nationality: –
FIELDER, CHARLES KENNETH
Flight Sergeant, 2206034, 640 sqd
Royal Australian Air Force, Australian *
Buried: Coll. grave 10. A. 2-5., HEVERLEE WAR CEMETERY
Killed in action
Incident: on Halifax NP965-C8Y fallen to Floreffe on 2/03/1945
*I wrote to the CWGC to correct them about Charles’s Nationality. 8/12/2018, this has now been done.
Likewise, the rest of the Crew – Robinson, K, Watkin, F.E. and Wolfson H.H. were buried circa 2nd March 1945 in Neauville-En-Condroz Cemetery and then reburied on the 19th April 1947 in Heverlee in separate graves.
Please also see: – http://www.belgians-remember-them.eu/crew-nam-flor.php where there is a tribute to the crew of NP965.
I have just received these communications from Vincent which will add to the story of Charles Kenneth and the crew.(16/08/2019)
Flight Sergeant Charles Fielder – 2206034 – rear gunner – Charles Kenneth Fielder was born on 5 September 1920 in Liverpool. Before he enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve he was an assistant shop keeper.
On 26 March 1943 he signed his enlistment documents at No. 3 Recruiting Centre, Padgate, to become a gunner on bombers. Three months later, on 21 June, he entered No. 1 Aircrew Reception Centre at the Lord’s Cricket Ground, Saint John’s Wood, London. The following month he carried out successively his initial training with No. 14 Initial Training Wing at Bridlington and his gunnery training with No. 1 Elementary Air Gunners School, also at Bridlington and, at the end of August, with No. 1 Air Gunners School at Pembrey. On 12 October 1943 he joined No. 21 Operational Training Unit at Moreton-in-Marsh. On 28 February 1944 he arrived at No. 41 Base Driffield to follow his Battle Course before being posted to No. 466 Squadron at RAF Leconfield on 19 June. After a last transfer he reported to No. 640 Squadron on 7 July 1944. The young gunner married Geraldine Neville at Shotton on 28 October 1944.
And:-
The last flight of NP965
On 2 March 1945, the sky was clear over East Yorkshire. At RAF Station Leconfield, the pale winter sun stretched the shadows of dozens of Halifaxes spread across the airfield. During most of the night, the heavy four-engined bombers had been the centre of the attention of numerous technicians and armourers who had prepared them for the raid planned that morning. Now in the belly of each aeroplane hang ten 500 lb Medium Capacity bombs and six 250 lb General Purpose bombs.
In the meantime, in the briefing room, the crews had been given all necessary information they would need to accomplish the mission. Target of the day: Cologne. No less than 858 aircraft, in two waves, would pound the German city.
After collecting their parachutes and life preservers and suiting up, the crews climbed aboard several canvas-topped lorries that drove them out to their respective aircraft. One of the vehicles stopped next to NP965. The plane had yellow chequerboard tails and sported on the fuselage the big C8 that identified 640 squadron. The individual letter behind the roundel was Y. Seven men, holding their parachutes, got off the lorry. Quickly, Frank, Benny, Ken, Jim, Hal and Don followed their pilot, Kenneth, into the freezing fuselage to reach their stations. The following minutes were devoted to the various preflight checks. Then, the pilot started up, one by one, the four Hercules engines. One after another, the bombers set off and headed to the runway. NP965 joined the impressive procession. Once at the threshold, the aircraft stopped. Then, with its engines running at full power, it ran down the long asphalt ribbon and took to the skies slowly. It was a bit more than 7.40 AM.
It took some time before the squadron’s fifteen Halifaxes could get to their assembly point over the coast and reach their operational ceiling of 19,000 feet (5,800 metres). All crossed the Dutch coastline without trouble. For some weeks, the Allies had almost acquired the total control of the sky, but in their turrets, the gunners remained vigilant. There were now more and more clouds over the Continent. Near the target, though, the sky began to clear again. Despite the intensity of the flak, the German anti-aircraft artillery, Benny, the eye firmly fixed on his bomb sight, waited for the right moment before pressing the button to release the bombs. The clock in the cockpit showed now 10.09. Freed from its deadly payload, the plane lifted up several metres. Now, they had to keep their heading for thirty seconds, the time necessary to take a photograph of the aiming point and the result of their bombing. Thirty seconds flying straight and level, an eternity in the middle of a deluge of fire and steel…
Nothing is known about what happened next to NP965. No aerial victory was claimed by the Luftwaffe. Maybe was it hit by the flak and did it sustain some major mechanical failure. Still, it headed West, for England. The aircraft lost altitude progressively and
it is likely that the crew looked for an airfield to land, an airfield they never reached. Towards the end of the morning, the damaged Halifax crashed at Floriffoux, in a field near an old colliery, leading to the death of all its crew.
The 2 March 1945 raid on Cologne was the last conducted by Bomber Command on the city that was taken by American troops four days later.
COMPLETING THE CIRCLE
Re the above story of the finding of the N965 aircraft by Vincent
A group of us flew out of Manchester on the 6th March to a rainy Brussells on our journey to complete the circle for the Charles Kenneth Fielder’s story for the family.
On the 7th March 2020, the sun shone all day, as if it knew how important a day this was for Wendy and Gary Williams, Dawn & Peter Baines-Williams and Ian & Pauline Fielder Shaw along with myself and my 2 daughters, Kerry & Shelley, we were privileged to be in the Heverlee Cemetery with the Vincent Pécriaux and the villagers of Floriffoux and representatives of Belgium, Australia and the UK, Officers of their Air Forces.
We were treated so well, and it was moving to see the Honour Guards and the length that they all went to honour these boys from Britain and Australia, whose families had flown thousands of miles to be there to remember their family members. Wendy laid a Poppy wreath for Connah;s Quay Town Council, Dawn laid one for Shotton Town Council and I laid one for Hawarden Community Council, who had all willing offered to give them when they heard the story of Charles and his crew. The Australian Royal Airl Force Officer laid one “From the Government and the People of Australia,” one was laid by the Belgium Air Force Officer “With Gratitude” and the Royal Air Force Officer laid a Poppy Wreath “In grateful and everlasting memory, On behalf of the United Kingdom.” – Group Captain Justin Fowler, British Defence Attache.
After the ceremony, we were all bussed to an Abbey, where they had made a little Museum of the finds and the stories of the crew of NP965, we were greeted with a lovely lunch of ham, cheese and salad baguettes, glasses of local beer and white wine.
We then boarded the bus again to go to the site of the crash of NP965 and when we alighted, there was the villagers of Floriffoux and children holding the photographs of the seven Crew who had perished at that spot, the Honour Guard also accompanied us as they had at the Abbey. Flags of the UK, Australia and Belgium as well as other flags and standard’s from their Armed Forces.
Vincent once again started the ceremony and we saw the wreaths again laid at the site by the above officers and they all made speeches as well as the local dignities, the then Ian, the Nephew of Charles and an Australian lady unfurled the flag that covered the Plaque and the stone that told the story of the demise of the PN965, they were facing the field where they crashed and died. Ian then went on to lay the wreath sent by the Connah’s Quay & Shotton Interservices Committee under the plaque that showed the photographs of the crew, including of course his Uncle., it was a very moving moment, as it was also in Heverlee.
After that we were again bussed to the Mayor’s House, and again we were regaled with wine and not just one glass, (I of course could only drink water!) and we were able to talk to some of the villagers, including Vincent’s wife, Sonia, who doesn’t speak English and their daughter Aurora, who translated for us. When it was ending, Sonia gave us all great big hugs and was weeping as she did so, I was just saying how kind they were and thank you, thank you, but I knew she didn’t understand anymore than I understood what she was saying either, but the message was clear. I have never known such hospitality, they really pulled out all the stops to make the day successful.
We then alighted the bus for the last time and before we went, Vincent came around and gave everyone one of us, the whole bus full, a little bottle of a Liqueur with a label attached – “Floriffoux Remembers – 2nd March 1945 – 7th March 2020.!
We flew home on a very rainy Sunday the 8th March, still in awe of how we had been treated – Thank you Floriffoux, I don’t know how to say thank you and I am privileged to have been part of this wonderful event. I had to see it through to the end.
Schoolboy Gerard Surin was an eyewitness of the crash on the 2nd March 1945, thanks to him, Vincent and his group for giving it to me, see below: –
ACCOUNT OF GERARD SURIN
We were in the school yard. First, we heard a plane that made a strange noise. Then we saw it. It came from above the woods. One of the wheels of the undercarriage was dangling, at least one propeller had been feathered and it trailed smoke. It was losing height and the teacher, Mr Bovy, told us: “This one is about to crash.”
We did not wait any longer and, through Emeree Street and the Old oak, we ran to the place where the aircraft had crashed. When I arrived, I saw a cloud of smoke. Then the aircraft began to burn. I came closer but some ammunition started to explode, and I moved back. About half an hour later, military trucks* came and we were pushed further back.
The Aircraft did not hit any buildings. It had landed straight and level, skimming the fence of the field. I remember the engines with their propellers completely bent. The fuselage was burnt but the flames had only partially damaged the cockpit. One day, I climbed on a wing and reached the cockpit where I sat. I remember seeing the control column and a big lever with a kind of ball on top. The nose of the aircraft had completely disappeared.
I do not know when the aircraft was taken away, but many people took parts of it. The blacksmith, for instance, salvaged a propeller and the local policeman cut off a tyre to make troughs for his hens and pigs.
*These were American Military trucks, and they took the bodies of the Crew to be buried at the American War Cemetery at Neauville-En-Condroz. They were then reburied on the 20th of January 1947 in Heverlee War Cemetery
- The 2 March 1945 raid on Cologne was the last conducted by Bomber Command on the city that was taken by American troops four days later.
P.S. “The Belgians Remember Them,” was a ceremony held last year on the 22nd May 2019 to remember the R.A.F. men who died in WW2.
Excerpt from the invitation last year: –
Silly, le 15 mars 2019
Concern: Ceremony of solemn tribute to RAF airmen who fell in Belgium – May 22, 2019, at 10 a.m., in Rebecq
Sir, Madam
Mr. Gilbert Beeckmans, President of the association “The Belgians Remember Them” and I are pleased to invite you to attend the solemn tribute that will be given at the ceremony on May 22, 2019 in Rebecq.
The ceremony will be done in the presence of the Representing of His majesty the King of the Belgians.On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the crashes of the 550 RAF Squadron North Killingholme aircraft, whose representative we are in Belgium, we have decided to organize a service of remembrance during which, a special tribute will be given to all the crew members of the Royal Air Force fallen in Belgium during the Second World War.
Wilfred Burie,
Secrétaire Général
