Oswald Austin Reid

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

REID, Oswald Austin (Reg. No 1035)

Captain (later Major) 1st Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment attached tom the 6th Battn. The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.

London Gazetted on 8th June 1917.

Born on: 2nd November 1893 at Johannesburg, South Africa.

Died on: 27th October 1920 at Johannesburg, South Africa.

Memorial at Braamfontein Cemetery, Johannesburg, S. Africa.

Digest of Citation reads: On 8/10 March 1917 at Dailah River, Mesopotamia, Captain Reid consolidated a small post with the advanced troops on the opposite side of the river to the main body, after his lines of communication had been cut by the sinking of the pontoons. He maintained this position for 30 hours against constant attacks by bombs, machine-guns and rifle fire, with the full knowledge that repeated attempts at relief had failed and that his ammunition was all but exhausted. It was greatly due to his tenacity that the crossing of the river was effected the next night. During the operation he was wounded.

Additional information: Oswald Austin Reid was the son of Harry Austin Reed, one of the pioneers of Johannesburg and his wife Alice Gertrude Reid. He was formerly a Captain in the C-in-C's Bodyguard. (Lord Roberts' Regiment.) His mother, Gertrude was a pioneer of both Johannesburg and Kimberley. She was the daughter of the Mayor of Kimberley, George Bottomly, Justice of the Peace. Oswald Reid was educated at the Diocesan College in Cape Town; St. John's College in Johannesburg and Radley College. He was senior prefect as well as being the Captain of the Football and cricket teams at Radley College. In 1913 he played against the MCC for the Public Schools Eleven as captain. On the 14th August 1914 he joined the 4th Battalion of the Liverpool Regiment as a 2nd Lieutenant where he went to fight in the European War (WW1) He was wounded in April 1915 and on his recovery he was joined the 1st Battalion of the Reiment only to be wounded again a year later. The death of his CO in the line prevented him being Mentioned in Despatches on two occasions. He went to Peshawar, serving in the Mohmand operations. At the formation of the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force he was serving with the 6th Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment seeing action at Kut, Baghdad and Samarah. In December 1917 he was Mentioned in Despatches for his part in the capture of Baghdad by Sir Frederick Stanley Maude. He was wounded again in October 1917. In April 1919 he went to Russia. His Father was presented with a sword for Captain Reid VC by the people of Johannesburg. He also held the King of Italy's Silver Medal for Military Valour. He Died on the 27th of October 1920, six days before his 27th birthday. He is buried in the Braamfontein Cenetery in Johannesburg, South Africa.

REID, William. (Reg. No. 1036.) Acting Flight Lieutenant 61 Squadron The Royal Air Force VR.

London Gazetted on 14th December 1943.

Born on 21st December 1921 at Glasgow, Scotland.

Died on 28th November 2001 Memorial not yet known Digest of Citation reads: On 3 November 1943 on the way to Dusseldorf, Germany, Flight Lieutenant Reid's was shattered by fire from a Messerschmitt and the gun turrets and cockpit badly damaged. Saying nothing of his multiple injuries, he comtinued on his mission and soon afterwards was attacked again, his navigator being killed and the wireless operator fatally wounded. He was wounded again, and also the flight engineer, while the Lancaster received more serious damage. Pressing on to his target, Flight Lieutenant Reid released his bombs, then set course for home and in spite of growing weakness from loss of blood, managed to land his crippled aircraft safely.

Additional information: His VC was presented a few days before his 22nd Birthday. He continued to serve as a pilot through several more raids on enemy targets before being shot down on the 31st July 1944. Reid and the radio operator were the only survivors and they were taken as prisoners of war. He was the third son of William Reid, blacksmith of Glasgow (Baillieston). He was educated in Coatbridge secondary-school up in Baillieston. He joined the RAF V R in 1940. four He has one of the founder members of the Aircrew Association and was made a vice-president for life. In 1972 he went to Africa on promotional tour for the VC 10. After the war he stuDied on and Glasgow University, graduating in 1949. In 1952 he married Violet Campbell Gallagher. It is said that she knew nothing of his Victoria Cross until they were married. He joined the MacRobert Trust Farms Ltd and went to Australia, America, Canada, India and New Zealand to see their agricultural installations. He continued his work with the MacRobert Trust for nine years as an adviser on agriculture. (1950-9) for 20 years he worked for Spillers, running the milk production trial in London and Kenilworth at the National Dairy Event. On his retirement in 1988 he moved Crieff . He appeared on several occasions in public. He was last reported as one of the last 21 living VCs and was seen on TV in the 'Heroes' programme. Two of the survivors from the raid on November 3rd 1943 were also decorated. Flight Sergeant James Norris, the flight engineer, got the CGM and Flight Sergeant Alfred Emerson, one of the aircraft's gunners got the DFM. Flight Lieutenant Reid flew operations against V1 Rocket sites that were based in Occupied France.