Commonwealth War Graves East Lawn Cemetery

East Lawn Cemetery contains 4 Commonwealth war graves from World War II.

Fred HODGE. 135701. Pilot Officer. RAF Volunteer Reserve. Died 05 Feb 1943. Aged 22.
John Richard LATOUR-EPPY. 135693. Pilot Officer. RAF Volunteer Reserve. Died 05 Feb 1943. Aged 20.
John Hickson Gordon MORIARTY. 135694. Pilot Officer. RAF Volunteer Reserve. Died 05 Feb 1943. Aged 21.
James Alexander PATERSON. 135695. Pilot Officer. Died 05 Feb 1943. Aged 25.

These 4 young men were among many sent to America for flying training. On a routine training flight out of Mather Air Force Base, Sacramento, the twin seat AT-6 aircraft they were crewing came into contact with each other and their wings became entangled and the planes crashed.
They were buried in the veterans plot in East Lawn Cemetery in a '2 twin seat aircraft formation', in soil from Britain, with full military honours.
Originally the grave markers were laid flat, but are noe in the more usual upright position.

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Source

• Text: Sharky Ward
• Photos: Anthony (Sharky) Ward