This is a message which has been posted to Keighley Local History Society on their message boards..........I sincerely hope this finds the family of this man F/Sgt Harry DAWSON, killed in RAF 1945 Matt Poole F/Sgt Harry DAWSON, killed in RAF 1945 I am writing on behalf of the Canadian Directorate of History and Heritage, National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. Canada is currently planning a ground search in Burma for the remains of an RAF 4-engine Liberator bomber crew which was shot down at low level on 3 January 1945 while attacking a target along the notorious Burma-Siam Death Railway, built by POW and native slave labour at a terrible human cost. All 11 crewmen died, including the flight engineer, 33 year old F/Sgt Harry DAWSON of Keighley. It is my desire to find Harry's kin, in order to share details with them, should they desire such information. Harry, whose RAF service number was 1541705, was the "son of William and Mary Rebecca Dawson; husband of Margery Dawson, of KEIGHLEY." This quoted info comes from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, but I cannot be sure if only Harry's widow was from Keighley or if his parents were also residents of Keighley. I will assume that they all lived in Keighley. Eventually we hope to obtain more information from the RAF, such as last-known addresses, but for now the above basics are all I have to offer. I would be indebted to anyone who can establish such a link for me. Because 6 of the 11 aboard the bomber were Canadians, the Canadian government has recently embraced the opportunity to search for the remains after learning that a photo of the crew's original gravesite in the village of Anankwin, Burma was taken in September 1945 by a member of an Allied grave search team. I was able to positively correlate the loss of Harry Dawson's crew to this particular burial based on the detailed caption accompanying the photo. There is no doubt. Sadly, for unknown reasons, the bodies were never moved to a war cemetery, and the airmen's families were not even told of the original gravesite! The 11 men are officially listed as "missing, no known graves". It is this terrible oversight that we hope to rectify. Although I am an American, I am acting as chief researcher for the Canadians on this project, due to my expertise into RAF Liberator operations in the Far East. I have already found the kin of 5 of the 6 Canadians, but I need all the help I can get in locating Harry Dawson's family (as well as the kin of 4 other Englishmen). Canada has committed considerable resources to searching for the airmen's graves in Anankwin, with the goal of finally honoring these men with a full military burial in a hallowed war cemetery. This will not be an easy task, and no guarantees can be given. Diplomatic negotiations with the Burmese government have been initiated. I would be honored to share my information with the Dawson kin, including the 1945 grave photo taken in Burma. (This photo shows the Allied search team in prayer at the gravesite of the KH214 crew.) And from that point onward, the Dawson family could be kept apprised of the current investigation, via myself and/or Major McKillip. I have a long history of treating such kin of air casualties with the utmost respect and sensitivity. My own mother, from Liverpool, lost her first husband in an RAF Liberator shot down and killed with his crew over Rangoon, Burma, and I have researched this mystery and several other RAF Liberator crashes/missing airmen with great success. I only share details with those kin who wish to know more; I do not force information upon them, other than the most basic of details, such as presented here. I absolutely understand that some kin do not wish to face the demons of the past once again. My name and contact information: Matt Poole 12307 Middle Road Wheaton, MD 20906 USA Tel: 301-933-1727 (talk loudly to leave an answering machine message) E-mail: feb2944 AT aol.com (replace the "AT" with the "@" symbol). Wouldn't it be wonderful if Harry Dawson and his crewmates can soon receive the proper burial they have been denied for over 61 years? To reach the Dawson kin, however, I most certainly need help. Perhaps a Keighley-area historian can use his or her talents to find the Dawson kin? I would be most grateful for any assistance. Sincerely, Matt Poole Jan in Bronte Country List Admin - [email protected] www.keighleyhistory.co.uk http://www.tribalpages.com/tribes/janperkins -- ---------------------------------------- I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users. It has removed 744 spam emails to date. Paying users do not have this message in their emails. Try www.SPAMfighter.com for free now!