Sgt Watler John Lay, Question from Feedback Ticket

[Martin Edwards]

Hi,
I recently found buried on a Darwin beach a Dog Tag belonging to RAAF Walter John Lay who was killed when his Hudson plane crashed in Dutch East Indies. I have no idea how it ended up in Darwin but think that his body may have been removed from the wreckage and transfered to Darwin US Miltiary Hospital and his tag removed and tossed out in the rubbish which went over the cliff at Nightcliff Beach. There is large amounts of military items still at this site which are being uncovered with the weather.

I want to locate any living relatives of his and return the tag. Any idea how I can track this info down?
Regards,

Grant
0466 593 895

***1 Jan 1942 Hudson A16-29 13SQN Crew: FLGOFF John Turnbull 642, PLTOFF Robert Kelvin Allen 404945 and SGT Walter John Lay 408079 crashed into sea after an engine fire near Ambon, Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). from your website***

[Warhawk]

Hi Grant

We can only go by the records of the RAAF per below per location

The Casualty file will have his parents or wife's address at the time,....nearly 70 years on though.

Thereon, case of Births/Deaths and relatives research

Best
Gordy

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[Warhawk]

Also, a Pic of A16-29 when with 14Sqn RAAF

Notice two things; polished duco and normal roundels on wing

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[Warhawk]

Below is his NAA File



LAY Walter John - (Sergeant); Service Number - 408079; File type - Casualty - Repatriation; Aircraft - Hudson A16-29; Place - Haha, N E I; Date - 1 January 1942


Access status: Open Location: Canberra 1942 - 1957

1058366
Below is the excert from the 13Sqn Records per 01/01/42 and 28/01/42 stating there was a survivor, Sgt Hack. I imagined he was one of 62 evacuated on the 29/01/42 out of Laha

Best
Gordy

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[Martin Edwards]

From NT NEWS 24th july 2011

"A World War II dog tag found recently on a Darwin beach will be reunited with the sister of its war hero owner, thanks to a story in the Sunday Territorian.

The tag belonged to RAAF 13th Squadron Sergeant Walter John Lay, killed in a plane crash near Ambon, Indonesia, on New Year's Day 1942 six weeks before the bombing of Darwin. It was found on Nightcliff Beach by Grant Ashford who has been searching for relatives to give it to ever since.

Reader Maree Donovan, of Larrakeyah in Darwin, saw the story in last weekend's Sunday Territorian and the name of Mr Lay's sister Jessie rang a bell as being a family friend.

So she tracked her down and she was indeed John Lay's sister.

Jessie Macaulay, 95, who now lives in Wonthaggi, in Victoria's South Gippsland region, became "very emotional" when she heard about her brother's dog tag.

"It is a very significant and emotional find for her," Ms Donovan said.

In a tragic twist, Ms Macaulay's other brother Peter died two weeks ago.

"She said her brother would have loved to know about the dog tag," Ms Donovan said.

Mr Lay's Lockheed Hudson Bomber was on a reconnaissance mission flying at 100m above the sea near Laha, Ambon, Indonesia, when the engine failed. The pilot tried to jettison the bombs but the plane crashed into the sea, killing all but one of the crew members.

Your Say
"A wonderful human story. It can be very easily forgotton in today's ratrace... what others in the past sacrificed and fought for, it is worth more than these recent comments from readers of this tabloid paper. This country exists because of those who fought for freedom and values held dear by our forefathers, values soon becoming more and more forgettable. Especially by our young.Lest we forget!"
Trueblue

[Daniel Leahy]

Wow, a very interesting story...

Sgt Lay is still listed as missing (on the Ambon Memorial). Is there any chance that the dog tag somehow washed from the wreckage? Or could it have say been lost on the beach beforehand?