Pilot Officer Roy Alwin DURIE (42112)
59 Squadron Royal Air Force

Date of birth: 12th October 1920
Date of death: 18th May 1940

Died of wounds aged 19
Buried at Tournai Communal Cemetery Allied Extension Plot VI Row C Grave 9
He was born at Eastbourne on the 12th of October 1920 the second son of Major James Alfred Durie MC, farmer, and Winifred Martin (nee Short) of "Vimy", Pyrford in Surrey.

He was educated at Stone House, Broadstairs and at the King's School Canterbury from May 1935 to December 1936 where he was in School House.

He was commissioned as an Acting Pilot Officer on probation in the Royal Air Force on the 13th of May 1939 on a five year short service commission.
He was graded as a Pilot Officer on probation on the 6th of November 1939 and was confirmed in that rank on the 13th of March 1940. He was posted to 59 Squadron which went to France on the 1st of October 1939 flying Blenheim IVs and taking part in photographic reconnaissance of harbours bridges and convoys.

On the 18th of May 1940 Roy Durie and his crew took off from Vitry-en Artois in Blenheim Mk IV R3702 on a mission to attack an enemy convoy. They spotted the enemy convoy and dived to the attack but, as they ran in to their target, they came under fierce machine gun fire from the enemy units on the ground which killed his Observer and badly wounded Roy Durie. In spite of his wounds he managed to force land the aircraft at Maubray at 10.15am but died a short time later.

The crew was: -
Pilot Officer Roy Alwyn Durie (Pilot)
Sergeant Robert Burns (Observer)
Aircraftman First Class William George Murdoch (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) (Evaded)

He and Robert Burns were buried in the grounds of Tournai Military Hospital later that day. William Murdoch managed to get back to England ten days later.

Roy Durie's mother received the following telegram dated the 29th of May 1940: -

"Regret to inform you Pilot Officer Roy Alwin Durie reported missing on 22nd May 1940 (sic). Any further information will be immediately communicated with you."

She received a further telegram dated the 31st of May 1940: -

"Regret information received states that your son Pilot Officer R.A. Durie died as a result of injuries received on 22nd of May 1940 (sic) Confirmation is awaited. His father, Mrs M.E. Stevens and G.A. Durie Esq. have been informed."

On his return to England William Murdoch wrote to the Royal Air Force from his home at 36 The Butts, Frome in Somerset, in a letter dated the 29th of May 1940:-

"Sir, I have the honour to report that on Saturday May 18th 1940, I took off on an operational flight with P/O Durie SGT/OBS Burns 515576. While attacking an enemy convoy the pilot was wounded and the observer killed by ground machine gun fire. At 10.15 the pilot force landed at Maubray, Belgium. I made contact with our army at Tournai and sent a message to my Wing Headquarters, but it evidently did not reach them there because I have been since reported missing. From May 18th until yesterday I have been travelling with different units of the army trying to get back to my squadron and when I learned they had returned to England, I joined with a party of G.H.Q. and was taken off from Belgium early yesterday morning. This party was taken immediately to Devizes, and as my home was so near and I required a change of clothing, I proceeded here to wait instructions. P/O Durie died soon after we landed, and he and Sgt. Burns were buried at Tournai the same day."
I am awaiting instructions and have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant W.G. Murdoch AC1

The two men were later exhumed and their bodies were moved to their present resting place.
School House

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