Robert Edward Tofts (1921 - 1943)

Born 24 Apr 1921 in Edrom, Berwickshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Died 15 Jun 1943 at age 22 in Noord-Brabant, Nederland

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Biography

Robert Edward Tofts (son of Andrew Tofts and Jessie Learmonth) was born 24 Apr 1921 and was killed on 15 Jun 1943 during a raid on Oberhausen. His aircraft took off from Woodhall Spa at 23.15pm on 14 June.This was only the second operation his crew had participated in. He died along with six other RAF crewmen when his Lancaster aircraft was shot down by German fighter ace Hauptmann Hans-Dieter Frank over Noord-Brabant, Holland.

East Lothian Roll Of Honour ~ Dunbar War Memorial

Robert Edward Tofts

Sergeant (Flight Engineer) 1122560, 619 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 15 June 1943. Aged 22. Son of Andrew Tofts, and of Jessy Tofts, of Dunbar, East Lothian. Buried in EINDHOVEN (WOENSEL) GENERAL CEMETERY, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. Plot JJB. Grave 87.

Details from International Bomber Command Centre Losses Database

Name Sgt Robert Edward Tofts Gender M Age 22 Date of Death 15-06-1943 Next of Kin Son of Andrew Tofts, and of Jessy Tofts, of Dunbar, East Lothian.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION Aircraft Avro Lancaster III Serial Number ED980 Markings PG-

MEMORIAL INFORMATION Burial/Memorial Country Netherlands Burial/Memorial Place Eindhoven (Woensel) General Cemetery Grave Reference Plot JJB. Grave 87. Epitaph AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER HIM (From Verse 4 of the poem "For the Fallen" by Laurence Binyon) IBCC MEMORIAL INFORMATION Phase 1 Panel Number 107

ENLISTMENT INFORMATION Service Number 1122560 Service Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Group 5 Squadron 619 Trade Flight Engineer Country of Origin United Kingdom

FELLOW SERVICEMEN Forshaw H (F/O) McCulloch K (P/O) Richards N C (Sgt) Ruane P J (Sgt) Timms L (Sgt) van Camp R H (F/S)

LAST OPERATION INFORMATION Start Date 14-06-1943 End Date 14-06-1943 Takeoff Station Woodhall Spa Day/Night Raid Night Operation Oberhausen Reason for Loss Shot down by night-fighter (Hptm Frank, I./NJG1) & crashed nr. Schijndel, Holland.

14/15 June, 1943: OBERHAUSEN:

An all Lancaster force of 197, guided by 6 Oboe Mosquitoes made a successful attack on Oberhausen. Despite the target being cloud-covered, accurate sky-marking enabled the bombers to do considerable damage. The crews soon found themselves engaged in a savage battle from both flak and fighters which resulted in Bomber Command losing 17 aircraft.

Birth Register Entry -

TOFTS ROBERT EDWARD M 1921 738/ 15 Edrom

Death Register Entry -

TOFTS ROBERT EDWARD 22 1943 157/AF 173 Service Returns

Buried at Dunbar Parish Church

Inscription

Sacred to the memory of ANDREW TOFTS died 9th Nov. 1934 aged 52 years also JESSY LEARMONTH wife of the above died 6th April 1957 aged 77 years also Sgt. ROBERT E. TOFTS youngest son of the above killed on air operations 15th June 1943 aged 22 years interred Eindhoven, Holland also JOHN died in infancy also ISABELLA LEARMONTH TOFTS died 11th July 1986 aged 80 years & son JAMES JOSEPH aged 78 died 21st Jan. 1997, a dear husband of Mina Frazer & a much loved dad

Sources

• Scotland's People

• Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/18044960/robert-edward-tofts : accessed 17 June 2021), memorial page for Sergeant ( Flt. Engr. ) Robert Edward Tofts (1921–15 Jun 1943), Find a Grave Memorial ID 18044960, citing Woensel General Cemetery, Woensel, Eindhoven Municipality, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands ; Maintained by Remembering (contributor 46946602) .