In Memory .......................
Eric Stanley Worden
a life cut short
Although I follow the Scottish clan tradition of accepting all that, by upbringing or adoption, take the name
Scott as membership, I was not born into the clan. If anything my affiliation was with clan Fraser through
my mother, Patricia Mary Simpson.
Genetically, my paternal genes originate with a family from the Preston area in Lancashire, England. My
paternal Grandfather was a George Stanley Worden and Grandmother Lilian May. My birth-father was
their son, Eric Stanley Worden.
Sergeant Eric Stanley Worden served with
Bomber Command in 630 Squadron flying
Lancasters. The squadron was based on East
Kirkby in Lincolnshire. My mother was, like so
many other young women in those uncertain
times, always ready to enjoy the dances that
were organised for the airmen’s recreation. So
it was that she met the airman who was to
become my father. On 17th June 1944, they
got the marriage licence (shown below) and
set a 24th June date to solemnise the
wedding with family and friends at Balderton.
On the night of June 21/22nd
Lancaster I LH118 LE-V took off
with 630 Squadron RAF to raid
Wesseling. The plane was shot
down by a nightfighter and crashed
4 km S of Boxtel (Noord-Brabant),
8 km ENE of Oisterwijk. All crew
members lie in Eindhoven
(Woensel) General Cemetery.
On the night of June 21/22nd
Lancaster I LH118 LE-V took off
with 630 Squadron RAF to raid
Wesseling. The plane was shot
down by a nightfighter and crashed
4 km S of Boxtel (Noord-Brabant),
8 km ENE of Oisterwijk. All crew
members lie in Eindhoven
(Woensel) General Cemetery.
That Operation was to have been the last before his
leave. So instead of a celebration of the joy of love, a
terrible sadness was visited on two families.
Seven months later I was born. I never was to know
my father. As far as I know I never met my paternal
grandparents although I was told they wanted to adopt
me. My mother turned this down just as she turned
down the suggestion that she should have an
abortion. I was all she had left of him. The RAF did
acknowledge my parentage, providing a pension to
me as his son.
In 1946 my mother married Sam Seastron Scott who was
to be the only father I would know. He was a good father
to me, never once treating me as anything but his own
son. I have often wondered, though, how things might
have turned out if my birth-father had lived. And I do
regret not knowing more about him and my paternal
relatives.
With his sisters .....
Joan, Barbara and May