JAMES BRIAN SCOTCHMERE

Photographs courtesy of Lorenzo – https://number59squadron.com/

Born: 1921, Ipswich.

Died: 16:35hrs; 29th November 1940; age: 19; aircraft failed to return from the mission – Moon Patrol.

Residence: 12, Cliff Lane, Ipswich.

Rank: Sergeant/Wireless Operator; Service Number: 552935.

Regiment: Royal Air Force, 59 Squadron.

Memorial Reference:

Panel 19.

Runnymede Memorial,

Englefield Green,

Surrey.

Father: Richard Albert Scotchmere, born October 1891, Saxmundham, Suffolk. A Press Tool Maker – Fitter.

Mother: Helen Scotchmere ( nee Williams), born 1887, Battisford, Suffolk – died January 1929, 6, Cumberland Street, Ipswich.

Monday 22nd July 1940 – 6 Blenheims of 59 Squadron and one Hudson bombed invasion barges at Amsterdam.  On return, the undercarriage of Blenheim R3639 collapsed on landing at Thorney Island, West Sussex. The aircraft caught fire and burnt out but fortunately, the crew Pilot Officer Hovenier, Sergeant Magee and Sergeant Scotchmere escaped unhurt.

29th November 1940

Aircraft: Bristol Blenheim IV; Serial Number: N3614; Squadron Code: TR-E. Based at Thorney Island, West Sussex. Operation: Moon Patrol.  N3614 failed to return from the mission.

Crew:

Pilot Officer; Arthur Peter Hovenier; age 26; R.A.F., of Crosby, Lancashire.

Sergeant; Lewis Edward Magee; age 24; R.A.F., of Dublin, Republic of Ireland.

The Battle of Britain by Christer Bergstrom.

In his memoirs, Julius Meimberg, wrote: ‘Next day, in bad weather, we systematically scanned the sea area between Cherbourg and the Isle of Wight to try to find Wick. when I went out over the Channel for the second time, I quite surprisingly came across a Bristol Blenheim which I shot down at 16:35 hrs. This twin-engined aircraft is the first bomber that I shot down. In doing so, I kill Flying Officer Arthur P. Hovenier, Sergeant James B. Scotchmere and Sergeant Lewis E. Magee, all of whom follow their machine down into the Channel.

Several decades later, I found out who my victims were, and held photographs of them in my hands. Three young men in their early twenties – pilots like me, like Helmut Wick, the victor in 56 aerial combats who never was seen again.’

Helmet Wick’s death on the 28th November 1940 was a heavy blow to morale within the Luftwaffe. He was probably shot down by twelve-victory ace, Flight Lieutenant John Dundas, of No. 609 Squadron, though it is also possible that Wick fell victim to the Spitfire of Pilot Officer Eric Marrs of 152 Squadron.

A paragraph from the Battle of Britain: An Epic Conflict Revisited courtesy of the author Christer Bergström.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0176BBLTO/ref=dp-kindle redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1