Oil on Board, W 95cm x H 60cm.
Excited as my portrait of my late father’s first cousin, F/O James Joseph Battle and his co-pilot F/O Alfred Campbell Briant has been selected in the Gallipoli Art Prize 2024.
I was inspired to capture the spirit of loyalty, respect, love of country, courage and comradeship shown by James Joseph Battle ‘Aka Jimmy’ and his co-pilot Alfred Campbell Briant in the Royal Australian Airforce, (RAAF) while assigned to the RAF in June 1944. Jimmy was at this time about 29 years old and Alfred just 21.
I commenced the double portrait in October 2023 and structured my painting to show a close-up of the men crouched on their De Havilland Mosquito aircraft. They were stationed at Predannack Airfield, near Cornwall in the UK, and died heroically only two weeks after ‘D’ Day, (June 6, 1944), on the 23 June 1944.
I painted the men wearing their service dress uniforms. I understand they would have been issued the RAF uniform whilst in their Squadron 151. To ensure the accuracy of my work and particularly the distinctive markings of their uniforms and the aircraft, I researched online and contacted many different resources. I spoke with and examined the impressive research conducted over eight years by pilot and local resident of La Fleche, Gregoire Beraud. I also contacted Monica Walsh Research Curator in the RAAF in Australia as well as the De Havilland Mosquito Museum in the United Kingdom, Peter Roberts President of the Mosquito Aircraft Association of Australia, and the Australian War Memorial Research Centre. I found some excellent images through contacting various institutions including the Imperial War Museum in London; the National Archives of Australia and many other sources (Refer to my special thanks and resource links below).
My late father Harry Judge, was with Jimmy when he enlisted. My younger brother recalls our father telling him that he advised Jimmy to join the Airforce. Our father was always extremely proud of Jimmy and his bravery during the War. Both Jimmy/Jim and Harry Judge, my late father, grew up in the same suburb in Brisbane, Jimmy with his mother Mary Ellen Battle (nee Breheny) and his sister Bridy at Grant Street, Ashgrove Brisbane and Harry and his older brother Jim living as boarders at the Marist College in Ashgrove, Brisbane, Australia. Bill was born in Ballarat, Victoria and if you see the Last Post Ceremony for Bill (YouTube link below) you will learn even more.
James Battle was known as ‘Jim or Jimmy’ and Alfred known as ‘Bill’. READ MORE BELOW about their last mission together flying in a Mosquito NF Mk XIII, in Squadron 151.
Photo above (R-L) RAAF 410624 Flight Officer Briant, Alfred Campbell Captain ‘Aka Bill’ (Pilot) Born 24 May 1923 Ballarat, VIC. Bill served in 151 Squadron RAAF, ATT RAF U.K. (Source: AWM148 Roll of Honour cards, 1939 – 1945 War, Air Force.) Alfred was the son of Leslie Pateman and Gladys Buchanan Briant (nee Serjant, a Nurse) of Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia.
RAAF 426250 Flight Officer Battle, James ‘Aka Jim or Jimmy’ Jospeh (Navigator/Radio Operator) (Born 28 October 1914, Mount Morgan, Australia). Served in 151 Squadron RAAF, ATT RAF U.K. (Source: AWM148 Roll of Honour cards, 1939 – 1945 War, Air Force.) Jimmy was the son of Timothy John and Mary Ellen Battle (Nee Breheny of Ballaghaderreen, County Mayo Ireland), living at Grant Street, Ashgrove Brisbane Queensland, Australia.
ABOUT THEIR ‘LAST MISSION’
Two weeks after ‘D’ Day, 10.55am on the morning of 23 June 1944, Jimmy and Bill would have attended their mission briefing meeting for Squadron 151. They took off in their De Havilland Mosquito MM447 (NFK.XIII) (Codenamed ‘Sweeney 39’) at 11.07 hours from RAF Predannack, near Helston, Cornwall, Lizard Peninsula in the United Kingdom. Accompanied by a second mosquito, nicknamed ‘Sweeney 33’ (MM438) piloted by Flight Lieutenant W.A. Lindsay and Flight Officer Aubrey Norman BRODIE. Note : Their commanding officer was Acting Wing Commander Geoffrey Horace Goodman, DFC (70799).
The aim of their mission was to strategically attack the Railway Stations of Ploermel, Redon, Chateaubriant, Saumur and La Fleche, in order to block the advance of the German troops in Normandy. Note: La Flèche was kind of a ‘strategic network’ for railways at that time and to confirm which may have been the first target, there is some logic that they crashed on the way back to Saamur.
The flight from the UK to France would have taken around 1.50 minutes approximately, it is about 250 miles distance.
‘Jimmy’ was the radio operator and navigator sitting on the right-hand side of Bill. Flying approximately 650 km per hour. Each Mosquito held a big machine gun (4 guns) and flying exceptionally low, approximately 150 metres off the ground, they opened fire on their target at 1pm, shooting at the German locomotives and railway wagons. The German gun or ‘Flak’ post had not been marked on their map. Bill had been flying in Squadron 151 since January and was close to completing his tour of duty.
On the ground the German Anti-Aircraft machine gun fired. As the second aircraft ‘Sweeney 33’ was about to start firing to join the attack, the leading Mosquito announced on the radio that it was hit and Jimmy is reported to have declared, “The plane has been hit, and the starboard engine had stopped, and the plane was also emitting smoke“. Radio communications between the two aircraft confirmed that the aircraft was going home and shortly afterwards rapidly losing altitude.
A few minutes later, ‘Sweeney 39’ was seen by Sweeney 33 to have crashed two kilometers north of Bazouges-sur-Le-Loir, (a small river) near the castle of Renardiere, specifically between the farms of Branzeau and Robinieres. Bazouges is approximately 24 miles south-west of Le Mans.
The MM447 immediately burst into flames on the ground. ‘Sweeney 33’ flew over the crash site quickly to avoid attracting the attention of the Germans and confirmed to its English base that the pilots had not escaped. ‘Sweeney 33’ continued its mission, bombing the station of Laval before returning to Cornwall, where it landed in the middle of the afternoon.
James ‘Jimmy’ Joseph Battle was about 29 years of age, and Flight Officer Alfred Briant ‘Bill’ was 21. The aircraft I’m told had a sliding entry on the roof of the aircraft and when the plane crashed only Bill managed to escape from the cockpit. Records indicate that he died of his injuries in the ambulance on its way to La Fleche hospital.
May they forever rest in peace!
Quote : “Like a breath of wind gone in a fleeting second only the memories now remain. Spare a thought for those who flew from England and failed to return”.
MY RESEARCH NOTES
My special thanks to all those who took the time to speak with me, email me and share information to help me accurately complete my painting over the past twelve months. I’ve shared a list of these people and organisations who assisted me in a research resources list with links below.
ABOUT THE DE HAVILLAND MOSQUITO AIRCRAFT
The De Havilland Mosquito is a British twin-engine, multirole combat aircraft, introduced in 1942 during the Second World War. Its frame was constructed mostly of wood hence it was nicknamed the “Wooden Wonder” or “Mossie”.
The total production of Mosquitoes was 7,781 of which 6,710 were built during the war. There were four main types:
- Reconnaissance
- Bomber
- Fighter Bomber
- Night Fighter
In 1943, RAF created a hybrid of the fighter and bomber model, the [Mk FB VI] mosquito fighter bomber.
The aircraft Jim and Bill flew on the 23 June 1944 was the Mosquito NF Mk XIII which was equipped with a centimetric radar. It entered service in the autumn of 1943. NF stands for Night Fighter.
The design of the aircraft was based on the Mosquito Fighter Bomber Mark VI, also having the capability to hold under wing fuel tanks. Jim and Bill flew many night missions as recorded in their logbook.
The logbook or ‘ORB’ showed that most of the operations that Bill and Jimmy flew were at night, but it can be seen that some of their Ranger operations were during the afternoon. This information is taken from the ‘Detail’ Report; the ‘Summary’ Report notes, that many of the aircraft returning from afternoon Rangers were damaged. HK505 (flown by them on 23 May) was lost on 10 June when flying with Bill and Jimmy on such a sortie, and Bill and Jimmy were lost around midday also on a Ranger. (Rangers were freelance patrols over enemy territory, looking to shoot up anything of value to the enemy). The sortie of 15 June was also probably a Ranger, but at Section strength. On the 11 May it looks like they suffered some sort of problem with their aircraft and returned to base to get another aircraft. (Source Mr. Peter Roberts – De Havilland Mosquito Aircraft Association of Australia).
The RAF built some 280 NF Mark XIII. These “centimetric” radar sets were mounted in a universal “bull nose” radome, which required the machine guns to be dispensed with.
Note One: Part of Bill and Jimmy’s Mosquito plane was retrieved from the field in 2015 and there is a photo of Monsieur Chouteau holding it. Mr Chouteau lived at the farm of the Robinieres and as a young boy witnessed the crash on 23 June 1944. One piece is over one metre long.
Note Two : Madame M.A. Kolliker was a lady who tended the grave of the two young Australian officers during the occupation of France. I believe she worked in La Fleche at the Prytanée national militaire, which is a French military school, where the students are the children of officers. Madam Kolliker took refuge in La Fleche after her home of Valciennes (northern France) was under heavy bombardment by the Germans. She had previously lost her brother in the war and out of respect for him and the many other brave officers who gave their lives, chose to maintain Bill and Jimmy’s graves.
Note Three: On the 25 August 1944, France was liberated by the Allied Forces.
ABOUT SQUADRON 151
The majority of the information about Squadron 151 I have sourced from : A Diary History of 151(F) Squadron RAF and www.151squadron.org.uk websites.
My notes from researching these sites included:
- 151 Squadron operated the Mosquito from April 1942 to October 1946.
- 151 Squadron used the code DZ from Sep 1939 – Oct 1946
- The rangers formed in 1942 and Squadron 151, I believe would lead intruder missions.
- In late 1943 Squadron 151 were stationed at Colerne, moving to Predannack 24 March 1944, to Castle Camps on 7 October 1944 and Hunsdon on 19 November 1944.
- Individual code letters were assigned by the Squadron and there was no official record. They changed individual codes as aircraft were lost or replaced.
- Known codes are ‘DZ-N’ for W4097 in 1943, ‘DZ-W’ for HK183 in 43/44 and ‘DZ-F’ for NT536 in late 44 NB. The only way to identify individual codes is principally from photos and logbooks.
- In Feb 1944 a special detachment of Mark 18 Tsetse Mosquitos with 618 Squadron joined Squadron 248 at Predannack.
- Squadrons were usually equipped with 18 aircraft, 12 for operations and 6 reserve, split into two Flights, ‘A’ and ‘B’ Flight, and each Flight was usually split into two sections of three aircraft.
- Each Squadron had their own identifying code letters marked on their aircraft, usually two letters; 151 Squadron used ‘DZ’. Aircraft in the Squadron also had their own individual letters, with ‘A’ Flight aircraft usually using letters from the first half of the alphabet, and ‘B’ Flight the second half. Mosquito MM437, which Bill and Jimmy Battle flew, is described as being coded ‘DZ-F’ – ‘DZ’ tells us it was used by 151 Squadron, and ‘F’ tells us that it was an ‘A’ Flight aircraft.
- The aircraft Bill and Jimmy flew in June 1944 would have been the Mosquito marked MM437, and was coded ‘DZ-F’. By this time aircraft were equipped with camera guns – cameras that recorded when the pilot fired his guns. The Imperial War Museum in London, England has many of these films, and there is some footage of Bill and Jim dated 15 June 1944, possibly when they flew their Section ‘Ranger’.
- The serial number is in front of the tailplane, and just on the left edge of the photo. The codes for night fighters were usually in dull red, the serial in black, and the overall camouflage was medium sea grey with a disruptive pattern of dark green on the upper surfaces – this pattern was to a standard scheme.
- The aircraft has Type C1 roundels on the fuselage – yellow outer, then blue, white and a red centre. The roundels on the upper wing would have been Type B, blue with a red centre, and the fin flash would have been the later type – short with red, white and blue stripes, the red to the front and the white thin.
Note: The black and white stripes on the wings and the aircraft main fusalage, were applied before D-Day as a recognition feature and would have been carried throughout June.
According to the website www.151squadron.org.uk regarding Instep patrols, the Squadron was divided into three sections. F/O James Battle and F/O Alfred Briant were in “B” Flight Section 1, reporting to Wing Commodore Geoffrey Horace Goodman and F/0 W.F.E. Thomas.”
What I found online about Wing Commodore Goodman is as follows: “Awarded Distinguished Service Order Medal Wing Commander Geoffrey Horace Goodman, DFC (70799) R.A.F.O. NO.151 SQUADRON (see photo IWM) News article 4.4.1944 “Acting Wing Commander Geoffrey Horace GOODMAN (70799), Reserve of Air Force Officers, No. 151 Squadron. This officer has commanded the squadron for the past 6 months and has proved himself to be a gallant and successful leader, whose sterling qualities have proved most inspiring. He has destroyed three enemy aircraft, two of which he shot down one night in March, 1944.”
PREDANNACK AIRFIELD
Squadron 151 was stationed at Predannack Airfield on Lizard Point between March and October 1944.
“The base was isolated and yet ideally positioned for Squadron 151 to operate patrols over the Bay of Biscay, known as ‘Instep’ patrols. The base also held a Liberator Squadron manned by Czechoslovakian personnel, and Squadrons of Spitfires.”
THE GRAVESITE
Jimmy Battle had written a letter which arrived prior to his death to Jim Coleman. The story goes that the day of his death he came to visit his cousin in spirit and shake his hand. According to Jim Coleman, he got such a fright he remembered jumping up onto of his bed the day it happened, and he thinks that was about the time Jimmy Battle passed away. He thought this may have been a dream, but sometime shortly afterwards he heard the tragic news about his cousin.
James ‘Jimmy’ Joseph Battle is buried next to Alfred Campbell Briant in Row 3. Grave 7. at the cemetery ‘Cimetiere’ of La Flèche, a small town (2015 has population of 17 thousand) in the Western Loir Valley. From Paris this is a two and a half hours drive to 3-5 Rue Raymond Verdier, La Flèche, or 42 kilometres south-west of Le Mans.
The communal cemetery is on the western side of the town, on the N.23 road to Durtal at its junction with the N.159 road to Laval. There are two Commonwealth burials of the 1939-1945 war here, in the military plot in the southeastern corner. OAWM148 Toll of Honour Cards 199-945 War, Air Force.
Other members of the brave RAAF Squadron 151 are commemorated at Pornic Commonwealth War Cemetery, in the South of France, four hours’ drive from Paris close to Nantes.
OAWM148 Toll of Honour Cards 199-945 War, Air Force.
Other members of the brave RAAF Squadron 151 are commemorated at Pornic Commonwealth War Cemetery, in the South of France, four hours’ drive from Paris close to Nantes.
GERMAN RECORDS TRANSLATED IN 2023
WW2 – 1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945
ITEMS = GEGENSTAEDNE
Date: 23/6/1944
Taken from the hostile/enemy pilot – James Joseph Battle ID 423572
1 Camera
1 x Packet of band aids
1 x Film Celluloid
1 x Wristwatch
1 x Personal ID
3 x Photographs
1 x Pipe
1 x Pocketknife
2 x Tissues
1 x Logbook
1 x Balaclava
1 x Jacket
2 x cuff buttons
GELD = Money
5 Bills of 1-pound notes
1 Bill of 10 Schilling
20 Bills of 100 Francs
There are various coins
8 silver coins
5 copper coins
Identification mark = Enkennungsmarte
Ubergehen = handed over to Ubernommen = Acceptal / Witness By…………..
……………………….
ITEMS = GEGENSTAEDNE
Taken from the Enemy pilot – Alfred Campbell-Briant ID AUS 4L0624
Born 24/5/1923
ID 423571
1 x Identification (Kenntcarte) of the American pilot (#4235H)
1 x Cuff button
Photo taken in the June of 1944 and these are the people who had to deal with the crash. Photo C/- Gregoire Beraud.
REFERENCE SOURCES
MY SPECIAL THANKS TO
French pilot and researcher, Gregoire Beraud and his News Article: The Arrow. The story of the two Australian airmen.
Speech by Gregoire Beraud, Memorial Service in La Fleche Graveyard
Squadron Operation Records Book (ORB), which I’ve read through in detail and highly recommend checking out as it is very interesting reading.
The Kelsy Family and their father’s research and writing about Squadron 151 – See www.151squadron.org.uk
Sqn Histories 151-155_P (rafweb.org)
Commonwealth Graves Commission
RAAF World War 2 fatalities / compilation Alan Storr. RAAF
Honour Role AWM – 148 Roll of Honour cards, RAAF, Second World War.
The National Archives of Australia – National Archives of Australia
Nation Archives Kew UK – National Archives Kew
Fighter command – Anzac Portal (dva.gov.au)
Monica Walsh Research Curator in the Royal Australian Air Force – Home | Air Force
Imperial War Museum, London, UK – https://www.iwm.org.uk
President Peter Roberts at the De Havilland Mosquito Aircraft Association of Australia – Home (aussiemossie.asn.au)
The de Havilland Mosquito page
Gallipoli Art Prize for inspiring me to find a good subject for my entry in their Australian annual painting competition. – Gallipoli Art Prize Gallipoli Art Prize
Australian War Memorial Volunteers for their great knowledge and sharing- Australian War Memorial (awm.gov.au)
RESOURCE LINKS
Squadron Photo June 1943 – C/- Sqn Histories 151-155 (rafweb.org)
Squadron Photo – June 1944 www.151squadron.org.uk
Squadron Photo – June 1945 – www.rafweb.org
RAF Ranks in Order
Sergeant
Flight Sergeant – non-commissioned officer above sergeant and below warrant officer.
Warrant Officer
Pilot Officer Pit Off
Flying Officer Fg Off
Flight Lieutenant Flt Lt
Squadron Leader Sqn Ldr
Wing Commander Wg Cdr
Group Captain Gp Capt
Air Commodore Air Cdre
Air Vice-Marshall AVM
Air Marshal Air Mshl
Air Chief Marshal Air Chf Mshl
Marshal of the Royal Air Force
RAF CODE WORDS
Code words used by the Royal Air Force during World War II:
Angels – height in thousands of feet.
Bandit – identified enemy aircraft.
Bogey – unidentified (possibly unfriendly) aircraft.
Buster – radio-telephony code phrase for ‘maximum throttle’ or full power climb.
Salvo’- clear the airway away from the aircraft before dropping bombs.
VIDEO LINKS
Sarthe : des pilotes australiens tombés pour la France (2.16mins) https://youtu.be/0bFjUKNA_dE?si=f2jt91FUTF2Lc8P3
YOU TUBE : The `Mosquito’ Bomber That Terrorised The German Air Force | Battlefield Mysteries | Timeline (47.31mins) https://youtu.be/NQSPXTNR2OA?si=UyOMtDk1lxBG0yXy
YOU TUBE : Manufacturing in Australia 1944 (3 mins) https://youtu.be/co6FLHRCP9Q?si=NDCeJfi5-fcCOv9U
YOU TUBE : De Havilland Mosquito: The wooden fighter-bomber that could do it all (3.18mins) https://youtu.be/JTsnMKzmdWs?si=JbPxkFpp9Rov2GX7
YOU TUBE : Airshow World The Mosquito De Havilland (4.30mins) https://youtu.be/O5cxeAvAzdQ?si=PExs0DFpw1seUwlu
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