Flight Sgt L Warren-Smith

More than a “Few” South Africans

The Lancaster became operational during the second Essen Raid. The first loss on March 24th 12 involved an 8-man crew, there were no survivors and casualties included 22-year-old Navigator Sgt Alistair Fraser Murdoch who was educated at Queens College in the Eastern Cape, Rhodesian pilots, Flight Sgt Lyster Warren Smith who was educated at St John’s College and Sgt Richard Marston.

The Dreaded Telegram

Two Eastern Cape families received bad news on separate occasions regarding sons who lost their lives in the air, all educated at Queens College.The small community of Seymour some 160 km northwest of East London shared the news that James and Alice Murdoch’s youngest son twenty two-year-old Alistair an RAFVR Sgt and No 44 Squadron Lancaster Navigator was among eight crew members including Rhodesians Flight Sgt Lyster Warren Smith who was educated at St John’s College and Sgt Richard Marston, who lost their lives on March 24th 1942 during a mine laying sortie in the first Lancaster loss of the war. Their eldest son Ronald, a SAAF flying instructor lost his life nine months earlier in training accident on June 6th, 1941.