Squadron Leader Jack Blair DFC DFM: his family’s story.

Introduction

This article has been submitted by Joseph Ritson, a volunteer story-gatherer for the BBC “People’s War” website on behalf of the BBC Radio Cumbria CSV Action Desk. The author has read and understands the terms of the “People’s War” website.

I have written previous articles about Squadron Leader Jack Blair DFC DFM and posted them to the “People’s War” website. A list of these linked stories is given at the end of this article. This particular account is based information given by Jack’s son Eddie Blair, and included with his permission.

Jack’s medals on display in Egremont British Legion

Jack Blair served in Bomber Command of the RAF in World War Two. Unfortunately, he was killed while on a mission to Duisburg, Germany on 22 May 1944. He is buried at Molensgraaf in the Netherlands. According to Eddie, the first time he read through his father’s wartime history in much detail was in the mid 1980s when he looked through the documents, newspaper cuttings and photographs his mother Selina had kept.

A few years later, shortly after the 50th Anniversary of the end of World War Two, a gentleman from the Egremont area called Mike King mounted Jack Blair’s medals, photograph and citations and these were placed on the wall at Egremont Royal British Legion. At the same time as Jack Blair‘s tribute was mounted at Egremont British Legion, similar framed tributes were made for two other local airmen decorated for gallantry in World War Two: Flight Lieutenant J.W. Strain DFM, and Cadet Corporal J. Wells BEM.

The gentleman who made the display frames of the photographs and medals is called Mike King, and he should be credited for a fine job. Eddie Blair also told me that a local historian by the name of Alan Read has written about his father in a published book about Thornhill, a small district on the southern outskirts of Egremont.

Family and friends remember a brave airman

After it was confirmed his father had been killed in the war, Eddie and his mother Selina moved from Thornhill into Egremont town to live with Selina’s parents, John and Orazetta Braithwaite. The Braithwaite family used to run the Castle Cinema in Egremont. When Jack Blair’s death was announced in ‘The Whitehaven News’ in June 1944, staff at the Castle Cinema made a contribution of £1 to the ‘The Whitehaven News’ ‘Comforts Fund’ in his memory.

Later on, Selina received information from the Burgomaster of Molensgraaf where Jack is buried explaining all about the burial in the churchyard. Originally, each of the graves of the aircrew buried in Molensgraaf Churchyard was marked by a wooden cross. The graves have since been taken into the care of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the wooden crosses have been replaced by one of the CWGC headstones.

As is usual for those Commonwealth personnel who lost their lives in the World Wars, Jack Blair is also commemorated on the CWGC website. This gives Selina’s name as next of kin, and additionally, names Jack’s parents: John Edward Blair (Senior) and Elizabeth Blair.

Eddie has visited Molensgraaf to visit his father’s grave, and has taken photographs. At the time of writing this article (December 2005) Eddie’s mother Selina had been widowed for more than 60 years. The family remain proud of Jack and his achievements in World War Two.

Conclusion

There is more detailed information about Jack Blair’s wartime achievements in the linked stories on the “People’s War” website listed below, so I have not repeated that information here. Egremont British Legion has made a fine lasting tribute to Jack Blair and other local men given gallantry awards while serving in the armed services.

I would like to thank Eddie Blair for sharing some of the Blair family memories of one of Egremont’s most celebrated heroes. Jack Blair’s sacrifice, and that of his family, should not be forgotten.

Related “People’s War” articles about Squadron Leader Jack Blair:

“Egremont’s most famous airman”: Squadron Leader Jack Blair DFC, DFM
(Article Reference: A5541716, posted 5 September 2005)

2. 156 Squadron bombing mission to Duisburg, 21 — 22 May 1944
(Article Reference A6519873, posted 29 October 2005)

3. Egremont Royal British Legion honours the town’s ‘most famous airman’
(Article Reference: A7584023, posted 6 December 2005)

4. DFM and DFC Citations for Squadron Leader Jack Blair from Egremont, Cumbria
(Article Reference: A7584096, posted 6 December 2005)

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.