A former Washington Fireman told me, “ Matthew Docherty worked at Dryden Road Fire Station
in Gateshead as a civilian Clerk after being injured during active Fire Service.
While still in the Brigade he used to run a keep fit class.
I had no idea of his exploits during WW2. ”
Modest as well as Heroic!
{ Jim }

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Images:  Courtesy of Washington History Society

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE MILITARY MEDAL
include Corporals Beeson, Docherty & Rowles.

Corporal Beeson

Corporal Docherty & Corporal Rowles

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Citation Documents:  Courtesy of Washington History Society
( National Archives Reference: WO373/96/514 )

Sunderland Echo - 26 Sept 1942

Robert Durham's Wedding - March 1943

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Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede, Surrey.

Above Memorial Photographs:  Courtesy of Dr Ken Reay DSc.

( See What's Where / People. )

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Related Items Researched and Contributed by Wessington U3A War Memorials Project

( Website: wwmp.weebly.com )

Robert Durham served as Warrant Officer 937812, 12 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve until his death, aged 30, on 12/6/43.
He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Panel 134 and is listed on Washington Village Memorial.  Robert, born in the July-
September quarter of 1912 in the Chester le Street registration district, was the Son of Ralph and Mary Joan (sic) Durham of Cambridge. Ralph and Mary Joan (née Hann) had married in the Chester le Street registration district in October-December quarter of 1911.

In 1921 at 1 Hann Terrace – Ralph Durham 34 b Hebburn, a hewer at Usworth Colliery with wife Annie, 29 b Usworth, and sons Robert 8, b Usworth, Thomas 7, b Usworth, and James 5, b Usworth.

In 1939 at 2 Hann Tce, Ralph Durham 2/8/86 colliery stoneman below, ARP Warden born Washington, Annie (née Hann) his wife born 3/12/91, Robert 25/8/12 RAF No 937812, to undergo training as air pilot, Thomas 15/5/14 hewer, James 15/5/16 waggonway man below, Miles H 10/12/21 pony driver and Alan 6/6/31 at school.

Evening Chronicle 15/10/42 – Sgt Robert Durham of Bomber Command of the RAF, received the Distinguished Flying Medal. His home is at New Washington. Robert Durham married Mary Jane Oxenford (in 1939 a parachute inspector) at 74 Ridge Ave, Letchworth, at Cambridge in Jan-March 1943.

AIR 27/167/12 12 Squadron Activity Log
Notes that Lancaster DV 157 ‘g’ took off to bomb Dusseldorf at 2322 on 12/6/43 and was posted Missing. From the aircraft before and after in the log it seems it was loaded with one 4000lb bomb, 30 x 4lb ‘X’ incendiary bombs, 48 x 30lb ‘X’ Incendiary bombs and 690 x 4lb incendiary bombs. Flying at 22,000 ft at 148-150mph. No cloud, good visibility. Good concentration of fire round red and green markers, smoke up to 22,000 feet, nickels dropped, seemed a successful trip. The crew consisted of F/L Alfred William Doel (Capt, RNZAF), F/S Durham (Nav), Sgt Templeman (W/T), F/S Owen Kendrick Whyman (B/A), Sgt Riggs (W/E), F/O Owen Kenyon Jones (M/U RNZAF) and Sgt Thomas Robert Pagett (R/G). 238 RAF men died that night. Whyman is buried in Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery, Templeman and Riggs appear to have survived, Doel on Runnymede 197, Pagett on Runnymede 161, Jones in Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery.

‘Airmen died in WW2 ‘ website states, ‘Damaged by flak over the target during a raid on Dusseldorf and crashed into the sea west of Ijmuiden, 1 of the crew survived and was captured. Robert’s medal roll shows he was entitled to the 1939-45 Star and the War Medal and the Aircrew European Star.

WASHINGTON WINGS FOR VICTORY
In the Durham and Chester le Street Chronicle of 14/5/43, “With regard to the forthcoming Wings for Victory Week considerable progress in the arrangements has been made. On the opening day, June 19th, the saluting base is again to be the War Memorial and Wing Commander Kellett DSO, DFC is to be invited to take the salute.

At the open air meeting on the New Rows site Miss Ellen Wilkinson MP, is to be invited as the speaker, or failing her Sir Arthur Lambert, it being anticipated that Mr J Lawson MP would also be in attendance that day.

Efforts are to be made to obtain special leave during the week for 2 local airmen who have been awarded decorations during the war, namely Sgt R Durham DFM and Sgt R Glew DFM. Sadly, Robert Durham was killed a week before this event.

Robert Durham was listed on County Hall Memorial to Durham County employees with George Bolam and FW Stanners. In January 2026 through Washington History Society we had a contact from Martijn Visser, in Holland. Part of Robert’s Lancaster, the vertical stern section on the starboard side, washed ashore in the 1990s and has been put in their museum. We received photos of men on a beach carrying the part and also photos of Robert’s wedding and what may be his grave – it states ‘Unknown airman 24th June 1945,’ ie not the date of his death but perhaps the date of the discovery of his body.

On 24 June 1950 Mary Joan Durham, (daughter of Lawrence Ralph Kennedy Oxenford) widow, married William John Grey at Abington Pigotts, Cambridge. He was 30 and a lab technician, son of William Henry John Grey, a clerk. Their daughter Jane E was born in 1953.

Born in Eldon, County Durham, his father and brother, Matthew Henry Kellett and Alfred Henry Kellett,
were directors of the Washington Coal Company.  Roland survived the war and died in 1998.

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Evening Chronicle - 19 June 1943
[ This press cutting erroneously refers to Wing Commander Kellett as a Washington man. ]

Images:  Courtesy of Washington History Society

Evening Chronicle - 2 September 1942

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Flight Sergeant Roland Corner Glew D.F.M.
RAF Records

Images:  Courtesy of Washington History Society

Press Cutting:  Courtesy of Washington History Society

       HMS HOOD
Nation: Great Britain
Type: Battlecruiser
Shipyard: John Brown & Co. Clydebank
Laid Down: September 1, 1916
Launched: August 22, 1918
Commissioned: May 15, 1920
Sunk on May 24, 1940

[ Photograph: Public Domain.    Information: Thanks to Military / Naval Historian, Kennedy Hickman at www.thoughtco.com. ]