Hoare, William Patrick - Sergeant

(No soldier photo available)

15 O.T.U.,

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Died 21 April 1943

Age 20

Sergeant William Hoare was attached to No.15 O.T.U. (Operational Training Unit) at Harwell, Oxfordshire, six miles south of Abingdon. On Good Friday, 21 April, he was taking part in a flying formation exercise in a Wellington bomber, when there occurred a complete fracture of the starboard engine cylinder block. The aircraft crashed. at Wychbold, near Droitwich, Worcestershire, and completely burnt out. All the six crew, including William, were killed instantly.

William was the son of David and Susan Hoare of Haslingden. He was 20. He attended St.James the Less Roman Catholic Day School and Church, Rawtenstall. He joined the R.A.F.V.R. in 1941 and trained in Canada under the Empire Air Training Agreement.

William's body was brought to his home in Rawtenstall for burial. His funeral took place on Tuesday 27 April in Rawtenstall Borough Cemetery. Services at the cemetery church, and by the graveside, were conductecd by the Revd. Father McGinnell. Amongst the many floral tributes from family and friends, was one from No.15 O.T.U. An officer from the unit was also present. There are 20 1914-1918 War graves and 18 from the 1939-1945 War in the cemetery. William lies in the R.C. Plot, Grave 928.