An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 9 IRISH WARTIME PILOT REMEMBERED IN TANZANIA by ANToNy SHAW A Second World War pilot from Dublin was remem- bered in August when a ceremony was held for the 70th Anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) in Tanzania. The tribute brought together defence attach- es, ex-service personnel from the international community and members of the british Legion Tanganyika Club (bLTC), a social club which proudly remembers its military heri- tage from the british imperial forces that were stationed in the former capital of the old protectorate territory. At the ceremony to remember all the 1939-45 service- men buried at the city's main Commonwealth War Graves, co-organiser Antony Shaw offered a tribute at the grave of William McElroy, the son of Samuel and Ellen McElroy of Sandymount, Dublin. William's brother George, who was awarded the Military Cross and two Bars plus the Distin- guished Flying Cross and Bar, was a leading ace fighter pilot in the Great War. He was killed in 1918 on the Western Front. William followed his brother's footsteps by becoming a pilot following the outbreak of the Second World War. He was first post- ed to the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm in Arbroath, Scotland, in 1941 with 753 Squadron initially flying Sharks, later replaced by Albacore, Swordfish and finally ASV Barracuda torpedo bombers as the war progressed. He then transferred to the Royal Navy Air Station in Tanga, Tanganyika, in 1944 where 796 Squadron flew Albacore, Swordfish and Walrus aircraft. He died of illness while serving in the British Protectorate and was buried in Dar es Salaam. He is commemorated at St Mary's Church of Ireland War Memorial, Donnybrook, Dublin. At the cemetery's main memorial a wreath was laid by Lt Col Mark Culber- son, Military Attaché at the US Embassy in Tanzania, during a special ceremony where William's name was read out by US Defence Liaison officer Mike Culber- son along with the names of all 1939-45 servicemen buried in the cemetery. Comdt Ray o'Shea (Retd Irish Army Ranger Wing) recited The Ode taken from the fourth stanza of the 1914 poem For the Fallen by poet Laurence Binyon and the Epitaph found at the Kohima Commonwealth War cemetery in India that was written by poet John Maxwell Edmonds and inspired by the verse of the ancient Greek poet Simonides of Ceos. Speeches were made by senior Legion members whose families had served with the 11th East African Division during the gruelling offensives against the Japanese in Burma. The day concluded with sundowners, seafood and bagpiping at the BLTC. Antony Shaw is an associate member of the Irish Guards Association (London), and a member of the Irish Society of Tanzania. He is the author of 'Ireland in Your Pocket' and 'Por- table Ireland'. "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will re- member them." - Laurence Binyon A Fairey Albacore fleet reconnaissance aircraft. Wing Commander Mike Smith (RAF Retd) leads a tribute on VJ Day 2015 at the Commonwealth War Graves in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Next to him is WO1 Justin Hollands (British High Commission, Nairobi). Looking on is Comdt Ray O'Shea (Retd) and Lt Col Mark Culberson. Comdt Ray O'Shea (Retd), third from the left in the main row, at the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. War Memorial Cross in St. Marys, Donnybrook, Dublin.

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