Closure possible for family of missing airman
Claudia Munson always hoped something of her late uncle’s would turn up that would lead her family to him.
She’d heard of people finding jewellery near remains, helping to identify a lost loved one.
But she never dreamed her family would be so fortunate.
Munson is the niece of the late Clare McWilliams. Her mother, Dorothy Rollins, is Mr. McWilliams’ sister. He was declared missing during the Second World War.
Mr. McWilliams was a wireless operator and air gunner with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He went missing on June 1, 1944 when his aircraft didn’t return to India after a supply-dropping mission over Burma.
The McWilliams family, who lived in Peterborough, was told Mr. Williams’ plane went down in the jungle and there were no survivors.
Recently, a group of hunters stumbled upon the crash site in the jungle in India. Remains were discovered along with a bracelet that belonged to Harold Tackaberry, Mr. McWilliams crewmate who was on board with him that day.
MattPoole,anamateurhistorianin the United States with an interest in the matter, contacted to help find Mr.McWilliams’s family to tell them the news.
Although Mr. McWilliams parents were dead, Poole wondered if his sisters Dorothy and Norma were still alive.
Norma passed two years ago, but Dorothy is still in the city. She’s 92. Dorothy was about 19 when her brother died. She went on to marry and have five kids. Norma married as well and had four kids.
One of Munson’s sisters discovered the article Tuesday morning, while reading online in Hawaii. She called her daughter, who contacted Munson.
“I was just blown away, it’s like a miracle,” said Munson, adding she was both shocked and happy.
With her mom experiencing some health issues, Munson said she had to tread lightly when breaking the news.
Munson brought the article to her mother, reading it to her.
“She couldn’t believe Munson.
The Peterborough resident said her mother was sad, but also took comfort in knowing her brother’s plane was found.
It’s unknown whether or not Mr. McWilliams’ remains are among the wreckage, though there’s good it,” said chance. He was one of seven men aboard the aircraft.
If her uncle’s remains are at the crash site, Munson hopes they’re collected and sent to the family so they can have a memorial service.
The McWilliams didn’t set up a gravesite for their son, but their congregation had a service for him one Sunday after he was delcared missing.
His name is on the war memorial in Confederation Park and on the memorial in Singapore.
Knowingheruncle’sremainscould be returned to the family brings Munson peace, because she knows it puts her mom’s mind at ease.
Rollins and her brother were close and she still remembers the last thing he said to Norma and her before he left for the war.
“Now you girls keep your nose clean and I’ll bring you back peanuts.”