Francis Seymour Haden (1914 - 1942)

Born 1914 in New Zealand

Ancestors

Husband of Joan Mary Haden (Laffey) Ward — married 1941 in New Zealand

Died 17 Nov 1942 at about age 28 in Buckinghamshire, England

Biography

Francis Haden is an Anzac who served in World War Two.

Francis Seymour Haden was born in New Zealand in 1914, the eldest son of Jane Lydia (neé Blennerhassett) and Harry Haden. ^[1] He was educated at Takapuna Grammar School and Auckland University. ^{[2] [3]} He was in the First Eleven at Grammar School, and a keen Cricketer while at University.

Francis Seymour Haden and Joan Mary Laffey were married in New Zealand in 1941; they lived at 88 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna, Auckland. Joan later married Sir Joseph George Davidson Ward.

Following the declaration of war in Europe, he was one of the recruits from the Auckland Province instructed by the Air Department to report at the Royal New Zealand Air Force ground training school at Levin in December 1940; ^[4] graduating from No. 108 War Course at Woodbourne in June 1941. ^[5]

Flying Officer (Pilot) Francis Seymour Haden NZ404867 Royal New Zealand Air Force ^[6] lost no time in organising an Air Force team to play against other Service teams. ^[7]

He served with Bomber Command in England; training at No:11 Operational Training Unit; based at RAF Westcott in Buckinghamshire.

A Vickers Wellington Mk2 of 104 Squadron, Royal Air Force

On the 17th November 1942, he was pilot of the bomber Vickers Wellington ICS X9614. They took off at 11.30 am from RAF Westcott. As the aircraft became airborne, the port engine burst into flames. He tried to force-land the bomber immediately, but unfortunately there were trees straight ahead and while trying to lift the nose of the aircraft to clear the trees, he lost control and crashed. He was killed in the crash; others in the crew killed were Sergeant Ivor Pestell Bygrave, Pilot Officer William Roderick Taylor and Sergeant Ronald James Walker. Pilot Officer Williams was admitted to hospital. Sgt. Noel Edward Langton (Royal Artillery) was awarded the BEM (British Empire Medal) for his attempts to rescue the crew from the burning aircraft. He pulled P/O David Stuart Williams from the plane, smothering William's burning clothes before returning to pull out three other crew members, sadly already dead. ^[8] Francis Seymour Haden was just 28 years old.

Timaru Herald 27th November 1942 page 4 ^[9]

ROYAL AIR FORCE - New Zealand Casualties

The following R.N.Z.A.F. casualties were announced to-day - Killed on Active Service --

Collett, Sgt. Henry William Amner. Father, Mr H. C. Collett, Waipawa.

Haden, Flying Officer Francis Seymour. Wife, Mrs F. S. Haden, Auckland.

Burial - St Marys Churchyard, Westcott, Aylesbury Vale District, Buckinghamshire, England - Grave 1. ^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ short obituary New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24442, 27 November 1942, Page 5
2. ↑ University Entrance matriculation - Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 20, 24 January 1931, Page 12
3. ↑ Degree passes Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 305, 24 December 1932, Page 5
4. ↑ New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23833, 7 December 1940, Page 14
5. ↑ image of class 108, F.S. Haden (Auckland) seated centre front row. Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23354, 13 June 1941, Page 10
6. ↑ Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph - Francis Seymour Haden
7. ↑ Northern Advocate, 7 May 1942, Page 3
8. ↑ Aircrew Remembered Archive report: Allied Forces - 17.11.1942 No. 11 O.T.U. Wellington IC X9614 F/O. Francis S. Haden
9. ↑ Timaru Herald, Volume CLII, Issue 22440, 27 November 1942, Page 4
10. ↑ Commonwealth War Graves Commission Flying Officer Francis Seymour Haden

• New Zealand Government Dept. Internal Affairs Births, Deaths, Marriages - Birth Registration: 1914/24200 : Hayden Francis Seymour - parents : Jane Lydia & Harry Frank (note: name incorrectly transcribed as Hayden)
• New Zealand Government Dept. Internal Affairs Births, Deaths, Marriages - Marriage Registration: 1941/3472 : Joan Mary Laffey & Francis Seymour Haden
• New Zealand Government Dept. Internal Affairs Births, Deaths, Marriages - Death registration: 1945/45786 : Haden Francis Seymour aged 28 years
• Death - "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVCH-DM65 : 4 September 2014), Francis S Haden, 1942; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
• New Zealand War Graves Project - Francis Seymour Haden
• FindAGrave Memorial ID: 59076923 - Francis Seymour Haden