John Edward Estell 1924–1945 – Whos Your Daddy? Wikigenealogy

Who's Your Daddy?
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John Edward Estell, 1924–1945 (aged 21 years)

Name

John Edward Estell

Name: John Edward / Estell/
Surname: Estell
Given names: John Edward

Sex Male

Date differences

Family with parents
father	Links Birth: 29 November 1898 — Plattsburg, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia Occupation: Railway Clerk — from 26 June 1916 to 28 February 1964 Death: 10 August 1976 — Chatswood, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Leah Madge Fitzalan John Edward Estell John William Estell 1898–1976 Birth: 29 November 1898 — Plattsburg, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia Death: 10 August 1976 — Chatswood, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
mother	Links Birth: 21 March 1902 28 23 — Delegate, New South Wales, Australia Occupation: Hotel Proprietor Death: 17 May 1969 — Hornsby, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Burial: Chatswood, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse John William Estell John Edward Estell Leah Madge Fitzalan 1902–1969 Birth: 21 March 1902 28 23 — Delegate, New South Wales, Australia Death: 17 May 1969 — Hornsby, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
himself	Links Birth: 18 January 1924 25 21 — Haberfield, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Occupation: Student — 1942 — Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Military Service: Flt Lt 100 Sqn RAF 14th Field Regt AMF — from 20 June 1942 to 1 July 1945 — United Kingdom Description: 5' 8", 137lb, chest 30.5/35", brown eyes, black hair Death: 1 July 1945 — La Ferté-Saint-Cyr, Loir-et-Cher, Centre-Val de Loire, France Religion: C of E Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships John Edward Estell 1924–1945 Birth: 18 January 1924 25 21 — Haberfield, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Death: 1 July 1945 — La Ferté-Saint-Cyr, Loir-et-Cher, Centre-Val de Loire, France
sister	Gwendoline Mary Estell …–

Events of close relatives
Birth	18 January 1924 25 21 Haberfield, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation	Student 1942 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Address: Sydney Grammar School, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Military Service	Flt Lt 100 Sqn RAF 14th Field Regt AMF from 20 June 1942 to 1 July 1945 United Kingdom
Death of a maternal grandfather	Edward Sidney Fitzalan 16 August 1943 Newtown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Cause: Disease of the heart (Coronary). Address: 337 King Street, Newtown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Burial of a mother	Leah Madge Fitzalan Chatswood, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Address: North Shore Cemetery, Chatswood, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Description	5' 8", 137lb, chest 30.5/35", brown eyes, black hair
Death	1 July 1945 (aged 21 years) La Ferté-Saint-Cyr, Loir-et-Cher, Centre-Val de Loire, France Cause of death: Air Battle.
Religion	C of E
Last change	13 February 2023 – 08:15:48 Author of last change: Danny

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Note	Enlisted RAAF 20 June 1942 No 2 ITS Lindfield Born Haberfield aged 18 years and 5 months Student Served about 2 months 14th Field Regt AMF and 5 years with Senior Cadets Flew DH82 Oxford Wellington Halifax and Lancasters Embarked 15/6/1943 Disembarked UK 15/6/1943 I have a recollection that he and his father were at Bondi the day the sandbar collapsed and they were almost swept out to sea. He apparently put up his age to join the Army, but his mother managed to track him down and he was sent back to school. It is likely that he would have ended up in the 8th Div at Singapore, if she hadn't got him back. On his service records it shows he spent 2 months in 14th Field Regiment AMF- not second AIF(artillery?) He owned a car called "Bidomac" which he drove his mates around in. He once drove it down the Galston Gorge with the engine off to save petrol during the war. On Christmas holidays at Newport he and his friends switched the signs between the Bank of NSW and the Fish and chip shop next door. No conviction was recorded as a first offence. He won a bicycle pennant (lost) at Ariah Park??? Prefect Sydney Grammar School Played 1st 15 on the Wing and had his spleen split against Newington by a Prince of Tonga Name on WWII Memorial in SGS main hall 11 letters Official Telegram notifying death 08/03/1945 Lancaster LL958 HW H "Avro Lancaster - The Definitive Record" / by Harry Holmes,1997, AIRLIFE PUBLISHING LTD, Photographs of grave at Laferte Saint Cyr Letter from Marius Thouvais dated 6/2/1945. He witnessed and described the crash. Apparently wrote a letter to RAAF Headquarters in England 2/12/1944 describing the crash Pilot Officer 100 Sqn RAF No 423087 Memorial panel 121 AWM148 Roll of honor cards 1939-1945 War, Air force Flying Log Book 19/5/1943 - 30/6/1945 Waltham Lincs. 27/6 Ops to Vaires 29/6 Ops to Domleger 30/6 Ops to Vierzom Ma has his old Photo Album Royal Air Force Station Grimsby Lincs 1 July 1944 Dear Mr. Estell Further to the Notifications you will have received from the Air Ministry, it is with the deepest regret that I write to you confirming that up to the present, no news has been received of your son, Pilot Officer John Edward Estell, who did not return from an operational sortie on the night of 30th June/1st July 1944. I am afraid I have very little information, as nothing was heard from the aircraft after it took off from base about 10.25 pm on the night of 30th June 1944, to attack targets in Vierzon, France. We can only hope that the crew were able to abandon their aircraft, and are safe, as prisoners of war, or even still at large. John had only been with us a week or two, but he had already begun to show skill and ability as a Pilot and captain of aircraft, and his crew had the utmost confidence in him. The coming days of anxiety will be hard to bear, but there is nothing we can do but wait, hoping to hear good news shortly. John had already made friends on the Squadron, and they have all asked to join me in expressing our very deepest sympathy with you during these anxious times. Yours sincerely RVL Pattison Wing Commander Mr. JW Estell 37 Northcote Street Haberfield New south Wales Australia Secret P.419560 100 Squadron RAF Grimsby Lincs 4th July 1944 100/S.702094/P.L. Sir, LANCASTER I AIRCRAFT NO.LL.958 MISSING NIGHT OF 30TH JUNE./1ST JULY.1944 TARGET VIERZON I have the honour to refer to signal reference 0.221 dated 1st July , 1944, sent from this Unit in connection with the above aircraft, and to render the following circumstantial report. 2. The aircraft took off from Base at 22.24 hours on the 30th June, 1944, but no further news was received from it. 3. The route recommended to and from the target was as follows BASE - HEADING 5030N 0030W - 4944N 0015E - 4738N 0127E - TARGET 4708N 020'E - 4706 N 0158E - 4738N 0125E 530N 0030W - READING 5320N 0050E - MABLETHORPE - BASE 4. 18 other aircraft were detailed for this trip. One other aircraft was missing and the remainder returned safely to this illegible. Special operation laid on and Bomber Command effort limited by adverse conditions at base, therefore allowing enemy fighter opposition to concentrate on this effort. 5. The members of the crew were as follows CAPTAIN A423087 P/O ESTELL, John Edward F/NENG 1679646 SGT MARKS William James NAVIGATOR R.181436 SGT OBEROFF, William Wayne AIR BOMBER A423833 F/S MILES, Norman Walter WOP/AIR A413761 F/S CORY John Keith AIR GUNNER A419149 F/S ROUTLEY Anthony John REAR GUNNER A.429630 F/SGT HOLLANDS, James Albert I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant, for Wing Commander, Commanding 100 Squadron RAF Grimsby The Under Secretary of State Air Ministry Copies to HQ No 1 Group, HQ No 12 Base JR Note under Article 17 of the Empire Air training scheme a crew with a majority of Australians should have been posted to an RAAF squadron. 460 was the only Lancaster RAAF Squadron in England, and he should have been posted to it. Not that it would have done him much good. They had one of the highest casualty rates of any squadron in bomber command. MARIUS THOUVAIS Le February 6th, 1945. La Ferte-Saint -Cyr (Loir Cher). Dear Madam I have just received your telegram and I am entirely at your service to give you all, the information I know about your son, and am ready to help you If I may be useful to you. But I should like to hear what you already know, and who gave you my address? From what you way in your cable I guess that one of my letters must have been passed on to you in which I spoke of the aircraft that was shot down here last summer? I should like to hear what has already reached you so that I might complete your information. When I saw your Son I noticed he was an Australian, I took his name, as well as his six comrad's and later on, when the germans were swept out of France and when, and we were allowed for the first to send postcards abroad, I immediately informed a good friend of mine, an Australian too, Mr. Chas. Harrison of Melbourne, who lives in England for over twenty years and, with whom I learnt English through corresponding. As soon as my friend got my card he immediately jumped to the Air Ministry and to the Australian Royal Air Force Headquarters and gave them the information. These two officers wrote me at once to ask me to send them every information could gather about the aircrew members. I sent to both of them a two page letter telling about all I knew. So if it in the content of one of those two letters (dated December 2nd and 3rd) which has reached you I. think you have most of the information I could give, except of course more personnal matter with regard to your son. Here is how the sad thing happened: in the middle of the night of July 1st, we were awakened by heavy aircraft noise, together with machine gun fire, I did not take particular notice as we began to be used to such a life, when. suddenly the fight, came quite close to us, I rose and went out and as soon an I was in the street, I saw a big aircraft taking fire. and flying straight towards us…it passed just over our heads and a few seconds later dropped a few hundred meters from my house All the men who wore there hurried. up towards the fire that had started but there was nothing to be done the plane had dropped almost in the middle of a big pond and we could not approach, seeing nothing but a huge fire a hundred meters the shore. Machine gun bullets exploded for a quarter of an hour, followed by the blowing up of a big tyre… we had to wait till daybreak. At dawn we caught sight of something white above the water, it was a parachute some young men entered the water and brought back the first airman…. Your son… He did not seem to be Injured, in, fact he was the only one not to be badly crashed, his face was clean and unhurt, and he seemed to be the only one of the 7 who had jumped out but he had obviously done so too late, and much too low. We searched all the morning but it is only in the afternoon that another man was found, crashed, several hundred meters away from your son Then germans who had been called by the Maire came up and we had to clear away. They only glanced at the two deads and at the smoking wreck in the pond and got away after having taken your Son’s parachute Our researches were resumed on the following days (we had to empty the pond) and one by one the seven bodies were found. Each one of these 7 braves is buried in his own coffin with a cross and his name on it . On each side of them, lies the members of another aircrew shot down three weeks before. and those of another one shot down on the same night. Unfortunately we have no names of those deads who ware all too badly crashed and burned. A fortnight later while the germans ware still there on the 14th July (our National Day) we made a seditious manifestation to honour your brave men after having neatly dressed the big grave where lies 21 heroes we put; the following Inscription with grass in plain French "Pour la Liberte" and once more all the inhabitants defilated before the grave again bringing prohibited flowers I live quite close to the cemetery so My wife and several neighbours keep the tomb always clean. After the germans were gone away in the middle of September on "Liberation Day" a ceremony took again place in the cemetery and the grave was again covered with no more prohibited flowers . In the middle of the big grave I put an Australian Flag In memory of your Son. And thinking that, you would doubtless like it I took some photographs of the tomb (on the 14th July and on Liberation Day) I'll get some more prints of them and will send them along in my next letter I believe that some people must have found some identity photographs of your Son, so I will endeavour to find back some of them for you. In the meantime I beg to assure you that I remain entirely at your service for whatever you may have to ask me for, for whatever information you may want, any service etc. I shall only be too glad if I may be of use to you. Your telegram was in French but do not bother for translation, if I dont write very good English at least I can speak and understand it fairly well and read it quite like French, write me in English please. I am expecting your answer, and when I am replying I’ll send you the photos of the grave together with any further information you will ask for. I present you with our condolence and all our sympathy, we share your great loss… May God bless your son most sincerely yours. MARIUS THOUVAIS http://www.cwgc.org.uk/detailed1.asp?casualty=2695296 In Memory of JOHN EDWARD ESTELL Pilot Officer 423087 Royal Australian Air Force who died on Saturday 1 July 1944 . Age 20 . Additional Information: Son of John William and Leah Madge Estell, of Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. Cemetery: LA FERTE-ST. CYR COMMUNAL CEMETERY Loir-et-Cher, France Grave or Reference Panel Number: Plot 3. Grave 4. Location: La Ferte-St. Cyr is a village and commune 26 kilometres north-east of Blois, and 13 kilometres south-east of Beaugency. The cemetery lies on the southern side of the village. Historical Information: There are 20 Commonwealth burials of the 1939-1945 war here.

Show all notes

Note

Enlisted RAAF 20 June 1942 No 2 ITS Lindfield
Born Haberfield aged 18 years and 5 months Student
Served about 2 months 14th Field Regt AMF and 5 years with Senior Cadets
Flew DH82 Oxford Wellington Halifax and Lancasters
Embarked 15/6/1943
Disembarked UK 15/6/1943

I have a recollection that he and his father were at Bondi the day the sandbar collapsed and they were almost swept out to sea.
He apparently put up his age to join the Army, but his mother managed to track him down and he was sent back to school. It is likely that he would have ended up in the 8th Div at Singapore, if she hadn't got him back. On his service records it shows he spent 2 months in 14th Field Regiment AMF- not second AIF(artillery?)

He owned a car called "Bidomac" which he drove his mates around in. He once drove it down the Galston Gorge with the engine off to save petrol during the war.

On Christmas holidays at Newport he and his friends switched the signs between the Bank of NSW and the Fish and chip shop next door. No conviction was recorded as a first offence.

He won a bicycle pennant (lost) at Ariah Park???
Prefect Sydney Grammar School
Played 1st 15 on the Wing and had his spleen split against Newington by a Prince of Tonga
Name on WWII Memorial in SGS main hall
11 letters Official Telegram notifying death 08/03/1945
Lancaster LL958 HW H
"Avro Lancaster - The Definitive Record" / by Harry Holmes,1997, AIRLIFE PUBLISHING LTD,
Photographs of grave at Laferte Saint Cyr
Letter from Marius Thouvais dated 6/2/1945. He witnessed and described the crash. Apparently wrote a letter to RAAF Headquarters in England 2/12/1944 describing the crash
Pilot Officer 100 Sqn RAF No 423087 Memorial panel 121
AWM148 Roll of honor cards 1939-1945 War, Air force
Flying Log Book 19/5/1943 - 30/6/1945 Waltham Lincs.
27/6 Ops to Vaires
29/6 Ops to Domleger
30/6 Ops to Vierzom
Ma has his old Photo Album

Royal Air Force Station
Grimsby Lincs
1 July 1944
Dear Mr. Estell
Further to the Notifications you will have received from the Air Ministry, it is with the deepest regret that I write to you confirming that up to the present, no news has been received of your son, Pilot Officer John Edward Estell, who did not return from an operational sortie on the night of 30th June/1st July 1944.
I am afraid I have very little information, as nothing was heard from the aircraft after it took off from base about 10.25 pm on the night of 30th June 1944, to attack targets in Vierzon, France. We can only hope that the crew were able to abandon their aircraft, and are safe, as prisoners of war, or even still at large.
John had only been with us a week or two, but he had already begun to show skill and ability as a Pilot and captain of aircraft, and his crew had the utmost confidence in him.
The coming days of anxiety will be hard to bear, but there is nothing we can do but wait, hoping to hear good news shortly. John had already made friends on the Squadron, and they have all asked to join me in expressing our very deepest sympathy with you during these anxious times.
Yours sincerely
RVL Pattison
Wing Commander

Mr. JW Estell
37 Northcote Street
Haberfield
New south Wales
Australia

Secret P.419560
100 Squadron RAF Grimsby
Lincs
4th July 1944
100/S.702094/P.L.
Sir,
LANCASTER I AIRCRAFT NO.LL.958 MISSING NIGHT OF 30TH JUNE./1ST JULY.1944 TARGET VIERZON
I have the honour to refer to signal reference 0.221 dated 1st July , 1944, sent from this Unit in connection with the above aircraft, and to render the following circumstantial report.
2. The aircraft took off from Base at 22.24 hours on the 30th June, 1944, but no further news was received from it.
3. The route recommended to and from the target was as follows BASE - HEADING 5030N 0030W - 4944N 0015E - 4738N 0127E - TARGET 4708N 020'E - 4706 N 0158E - 4738N 0125E 530N 0030W - READING 5320N 0050E - MABLETHORPE - BASE
4. 18 other aircraft were detailed for this trip. One other aircraft was missing and the remainder returned safely to this illegible. Special operation laid on and Bomber Command effort limited by adverse conditions at base, therefore allowing enemy fighter opposition to concentrate on this effort.
5. The members of the crew were as follows
CAPTAIN A423087 P/O ESTELL, John Edward
F/NENG 1679646 SGT MARKS William James
NAVIGATOR R.181436 SGT OBEROFF, William Wayne
AIR BOMBER A423833 F/S MILES, Norman Walter
WOP/AIR A413761 F/S CORY John Keith
AIR GUNNER A419149 F/S ROUTLEY Anthony John
REAR GUNNER A.429630 F/SGT HOLLANDS, James Albert
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
for Wing Commander, Commanding
100 Squadron RAF Grimsby
The Under Secretary of State
Air Ministry
Copies to HQ No 1 Group, HQ No 12 Base

JR Note under Article 17 of the Empire Air training scheme a crew with a majority of Australians should have been posted to an RAAF squadron. 460 was the only Lancaster RAAF Squadron in England, and he should have been posted to it. Not that it would have done him much good. They had one of the highest casualty rates of any squadron in bomber command.

MARIUS THOUVAIS Le February 6th, 1945.
La Ferte-Saint -Cyr
(Loir Cher).

Dear Madam

I have just received your telegram and I am entirely at your service to give you all, the information I know about your son, and am ready to help you If I may be useful to you. But I should like to hear what you already know, and who gave you my address? From what you way in your cable I guess that one of my letters must have been passed on to you in which I spoke of the aircraft that was shot down here last summer? I should like to hear what has already reached you so that I might complete your information.

When I saw your Son I noticed he was an Australian, I took his name, as well as his six comrad's and later on, when the germans were swept out of France and when, and we were allowed for the first to send postcards abroad, I immediately informed a good friend of mine, an Australian too, Mr. Chas. Harrison of Melbourne, who lives in England for over twenty years and, with whom I learnt English through corresponding.

As soon as my friend got my card he immediately jumped to the Air Ministry and to the Australian Royal Air Force Headquarters and gave them the information. These two officers wrote me at once to ask me to send them every information could gather about the aircrew members. I sent to both of them a two page letter telling about all I knew. So if it in the content of one of those two letters (dated December 2nd and 3rd) which has reached you I. think you have most of the information I could give, except of course more personnal matter with regard to your son.

Here is how the sad thing happened: in the middle of the night of July 1st, we were awakened by heavy aircraft noise, together with machine gun fire, I did not take particular notice as we began to be used to such a life, when. suddenly the fight, came quite close to us, I rose and went out and as soon an I was in the street, I saw a big aircraft taking fire. and flying straight towards us…it passed just over our heads and a few seconds later dropped a few hundred meters from my house All the men who wore there hurried. up towards the fire that had started but there was nothing to be done the plane had dropped almost in the middle of a big pond and we could not approach, seeing nothing but a huge fire a hundred meters the shore. Machine gun bullets exploded for a quarter of an hour, followed by the blowing up of a big tyre… we had to wait till daybreak. At dawn we caught sight of something white above the water, it was a parachute some young men entered the water and brought back the first airman…. Your son…

He did not seem to be Injured, in, fact he was the only one not to be badly crashed, his face was clean and unhurt, and he seemed to be the only one of the 7 who had jumped out but he had obviously done so too late, and much too low.

We searched all the morning but it is only in the afternoon that another man was found, crashed, several hundred meters away from your son

Then germans who had been called by the Maire came up and we had to clear away. They only glanced at the two deads and at the smoking wreck in the pond and got away after having taken your Son’s parachute

Our researches were resumed on the following days (we had to empty the pond) and one by one the seven bodies were found.

Each one of these 7 braves is buried in his own coffin with a cross and his name on it . On each side of them, lies the members of another aircrew shot down three weeks before. and those of another one shot down on the same night. Unfortunately we have no names of those deads who ware all too badly crashed and burned.

A fortnight later while the germans ware still there on the 14th July (our National Day) we made a seditious manifestation to honour your brave men after having neatly dressed the big grave where lies 21 heroes we put; the following Inscription with grass in plain French "Pour la Liberte" and once more all the inhabitants defilated before the grave again bringing prohibited flowers

I live quite close to the cemetery so My wife and several neighbours keep the tomb always clean.

After the germans were gone away in the middle of September on "Liberation Day" a ceremony took again place in the cemetery and the grave was again covered with no more prohibited flowers . In the middle of the big grave I put an Australian Flag In memory of your Son. And thinking that, you would doubtless like it I took some photographs of the tomb (on the 14th July and on Liberation Day) I'll get some more prints of them and will send them along in my next letter

I believe that some people must have found some identity photographs of your Son, so I will endeavour to find back some of them for you.

In the meantime I beg to assure you that I remain entirely at your service for whatever you may have to ask me for, for whatever information you may want, any service etc. I shall only be too glad if I may be of use to you. Your telegram was in French but do not bother for translation, if I dont write very good English at least I can speak and understand it fairly well and read it quite like French, write me in English please.

I am expecting your answer, and when I am replying I’ll send you the photos of the grave together with any further information you will ask for.

I present you with our condolence and all our sympathy, we share your great loss… May God bless your son
most sincerely yours.

MARIUS THOUVAIS

http://www.cwgc.org.uk/detailed1.asp?casualty=2695296

In Memory of

JOHN EDWARD ESTELL

Pilot Officer
423087
Royal Australian Air Force

who died on
Saturday 1 July 1944 . Age 20 .

Additional Information: Son of John William and Leah Madge Estell, of Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia.
Cemetery: LA FERTE-ST. CYR COMMUNAL CEMETERY Loir-et-Cher, France
Grave or Reference Panel Number: Plot 3. Grave 4.
Location: La Ferte-St. Cyr is a village and commune 26 kilometres north-east of Blois, and 13 kilometres south-east of Beaugency. The cemetery lies on the southern side of the village.
Historical Information: There are 20 Commonwealth burials of the 1939-1945 war here.