When Peter John Ratcliffe was born on 22 April 1923 in New South Wales, Australia, his father, Augustine, was 40 and his mother, Mara, was 34. The family eventually consisted of five sons and three daughters.
It is not known where in Woollahra, NSW, he was born but most references to an address referred to the family residence as at 227 Avoca Street, Randwick.
Staunch Roman Catholics, at least three of the boys attended Marcellin College in Randwick. Peter attended from 1935 to 1939 and passed both the Intermediate and Leaving Certificates. After leaving Marcellin, Peter attended Sydney Technical College, Ultimo, studying a Local Government Engineering Diploma (Stage 1). He was employed as a Cadet Engineer, Department of Main Roads, 39 Castlereagh Street, Sydney while studying.
"It is worth recalling the memory of a few of those who died. Of the three Ratcliffe brothers who served in the RAAF, Vince was killed in June 1943, in a raid over France - he had been mentioned earlier in dispatches for his exploits - and Peter was killed five months later; Harry went on to win the DFC."
On A Winner - A History of Marcellin College Randwick 1923 - 1998 - Charles McGee, Pages 15-16.
On 12th December 1941, Peter completed the “Application for Air Crew” form which is where we find his academic record and description. At the time he was 5’10”, 157 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Not unexpectedly for a young man of 18 he had acne scars on his face and shoulders along with a birthmark and scar above and on his right knee.[i] His application was signed by his father and two witnesses.
Two days before Christmas of 1941, Peter was formally enrolled in the Royal Australian Air Force Reserve at the age of 18 years and 8 months.
He took and signed the oath that was administered.
Peter formally enlisted in the R.A.A.F. 20/6/1942 as Air Crew V and underwent initial training at Bradfield Park. (2.I.T.S. ) On 12/9/1942 he was a Leading Aircraft Man (L.A.C.) and on 5/10/1942 he embarked at Brisbane to travel to Canada for further training and then operational duty in the UK with the RAF.
On 19/2/43, he was Sgt/T and awarded his Air Bomber badge. He left Canada and landed in the UK on 17.3.1943 following which, he attended 6 Air Observers School, followed by I.I.O.T.U which would appear to be initial officer training.
On 10/9/1943 Peter, now with the rank of Flight Sergeant (19/8/1943), was posted to Squadron 622 located at RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, England and his fate was sealed.
No 622 Squadron was formed at Mildenhall from C Flight of No 15 Squadron, on 10 August 1943. It was operational the same night it was formed, part of the main force of 3 Group Bomber Command. It conducted attacks on German industrial targets until April 1945. Between this and disbanding on 15 August 1945, No 622 dropped food to the Dutch, repatriated POWs and ferried troops back to Britain from Italy.
The 622 Squadron was based at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, England and flew Stirling III, Lancaster I and Lancaster IIIs.
The age limits set for enlistment in the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in 1939 were 20 to 35 for recruits, higher for officers and some NCOs. The maximum was raised to 40 in 1940, and the minimum lowered to 19 in 1941, and 18 in 1943; written parental consent was required for anyone under the age of 21.
The Short Stirling Aircraft was described in the Brisbane Courier-Mail on 28.1.1942 as follows:
STIRLING IS BOGEY PLANE TO NAZIS
The Nazis are trying to design a prototype of the giant British four-engined Short Stirling bomber, the world’s heaviest operational aircraft.
The Stirling, which weighs 30 tons, fully loaded, has an exceptional wing loading, which enables it to dump eight tons of bombs on to the heart of Germany.
On a visit to a factory where the giants are assembled, I was told that Nazi pilots had been instructed to do their utmost to bring down a Stirling in good condition, but although subjected to the heaviest fire, the bombers time after time have successfully reached their bases.
One landed recently with both port engines silenced and another had its tail shot off.
Members of the R.A.F. declare that the Germans will not attack Stirlings unless at least four Messerschmitts are in position. Even against these odds, the bombers can hold their own.
The Stirling often chases German fighters.
THE DESIGNER
The Stirlings were designed by Mr. A. Gouge, a one-time carpenter at the Short factory, of which he now is deputy-chairman. When the Air Ministry issued specifications for a high speed long distance bomber, Mr Gouge adapted one of the well-tried Empire flying boats.
“After the war,” he said, “it will be possible to modify the Stirling into an Empire mail carrier, with a range of 3000 miles.”
Production of these powerful aircraft has been stepped up considerably in recent months. At the unit which I visited, you would need binoculars to see from one end of the assembly line to the other.
YOUNGSTERS HELP
The output of each unit which took a year when production began has been speeded up to three days.
Men, women, boys and girls are working long hours to produce the machines which the Germans fear.
The youngsters are doing a splendid job. Their spirit is typified by the 14-year-old Frank Deely who is working a 64-hour week.
“My two brothers,” he said, “are flying in the Far East alongside the Aussies. I am going to be an R.A.F. flyer too. Until I am old enough, I am filling in the time helping to make Stirlings.”
The
Stirling is 87 feet 3 in long, has a wingspan of 99 feet 1 in and is 22 feet 9
in high. The crew number seven, and
there are three-gun turrets in which are mounted eight Browning guns. The maximum speed is 300 miles an hour and
the range more than 2000 miles.[i]
The dangers faced by Bomber Command aircrew have been well documented over the years. Perhaps an underestimated or reported danger was the British weather. A high proportion of young men went to their deaths due to the unpredictable weather, in particular the poor visibility during the winter months. Tragically this was the case for six of the young men aboard Stirling EF123, GI-A on 19th November 1943. Arriving on 622 Squadron in the autumn of 1943, Pilot Officer Peter Francis Hughes from Melbourne Australia had assembled a predominately Commonwealth crew. Whether this was by choice or by the process of ‘crewing up’ unique to Bomber Command is unknown. The crew who arrived at RAF Mildenhall were:
Pilot: Plt Off Peter Francis Hughes RAAF, Nav: Flt Sgt Charles William Hannah RNZAF,B/A, Flt Sgt Peter John Ratcliffe RNZAF, W/op: Flt Sgt Leslie Joyce RAAF, MUG, Sgt James McSpaden RAF, R/G, Flt Sgt Charles Frank Thomas RNZAF F/E:, Sgt Arthur Taylor RAF
Newly posted in pilots had to complete a ‘2nd dicky’ operation with an experienced pilot. Flight Sergeant Hughes accompanied Sqn Ldr Bould DFC, the ‘A’ flight commander on an operation to attack the railway yards at Modane on 16th September. The first operation as a crew occurred on 24th September when they undertook a mining operation to the Baltic. Six more operations were completed including another mining trip to the Baltic and heavily defended targets such as Kassel, Bremen and Mannheim, before tragedy struck.
On 19th November 1943 Pilot Officer Hughes lifted Stirling EF123, GI-A off the runway at Mildenhall to attack the city of Leverkusen along with 266 other Bomber Command aircraft. The operation was successfully completed. On nearing the English coast Flt Sgt Joyce received a communication informing the crew that they should divert to Bradwell Bay in Essex to avoid foggy conditions at base. Shortly after changing course another communication was received from base rescinding the order and a new course was set to land back at base. At approximately 22:00 hours, whilst descending through the foggy conditions, EF123, GI-A crashed at Flint Farm, Isleham seven miles SE of Ely, Cambs. Six members of the crew were killed and Sgt James McSpaden was badly injured in his mid-upper turret position.
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Five of the crew rest in Cambridge War Cemetery. The cemetery is maintained by the CWGC; the grass and gardens are perfectly manicured. The attention to detail is a mark of respect to all young men who failed to return home from operations against the enemy.
Charles Thomas and the other Commonwealth aircrew rest a long way from their native soil, a testimony to the sacrifice they made to keep Europe free from tyranny. Perhaps the most tragic aspect to this story is the fact the crew lost their lives due to the British winter weather. Having faced the adversity of the German defences they were undoubtedly looking forward to a meal and a good sleep. They would find sleep in the presence of the almighty.
FELLOW SERVICEMEN
To also remember the rest of the crew that were on board and deceased/injured.
Name | Rank | Number | Outcome |
HUGHES, Peter Francis | Pilot Officer | 409971 | Deceased |
JOYCE Leslie | Sergeant | 420816 | Deceased |
HANNAH C W | Flight Sergeant | 417053 - RNZAF | Deceased |
THOMAS C F | Flight Sergeant | 422001 - RNZAF | Deceased |
TAYLOR A | Sergeant | 966000 - RAF | Deceased |
McSPADYEN J | Sergeant | 527682 - RAF | Badly Injured |