Rollins, James Leslie
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | James Leslie |
Surname | Rollins |
Gender | M |
Age | 27 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 08-04-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Cecil James Rollins and Lizzie Marion Rollins (née Craik), of Birdwood, Adelaide Hills, South Australia. Husband of Cecilia Maureen Bridget Rollins (née Lawrence), orginally of Hendon, whom he married in Hendon in March 1942. Father of Peter Rollins (born 1 May 1943; lerss than a month after James's death). |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ED590 |
Markings | EA-L |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 10. F. 4. |
Epitaph | LOVED I NOT HONOUR MORE |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 92 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 407036 |
Service | Royal Australian Air Force |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 49 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Australia |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Clement of Rome Church, Fiskerton, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Slate Tablet & 49 Sqn Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | In memory of all who served at RAF Fiskerton 1943-1945 |
Location | St. Clement of Rome Church, Fiskerton, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Slate Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of all who served at RAF Fiskerton 1943 - 1945 Per Erdua Ad Astra |
Location | Fiskerton Airfield (Disused) Reepham Rd, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stones with inscribed Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | RAF Fiskerton. This stone and tree are sited on the airfield in memory of those who served here during World War II |
Location | The National Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served on 49 Squadron 1916-1965 |
Miscellaneous Information
Born 4 December 1915, Adelaide. At the time of his death his wife Cecilia was living at 278 High Street, Langley, Bucks. She and Peter moved to Strathalbyn, South Australia in 1946, where she remarried. |
James enlisted in Adelaide 20 29 April 1940. After his training he boarded MV Memnon bound for UK, which was torpedoed and sunk by U-boat U-106 off the African coast. The survivors took to two lifebopatd and made land at Dakar. They were all arrested and interned by the Vichy French authorities. James escaped only to be recaptured but was released when an exchange of PoWs was set up- seven French PoWs and two gallons of petrol for each internee! They left via Gibraltar on Sunderland aircraft. |
James arrived on squadron on 4 April 1942 and flew his first op aboard Hampden AT180 to Hamburg on 8-9 april 1942. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/481/32 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/481/31 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 08-04-1943 |
End Date | 09-04-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Fiskerton |
Day/Night Raid | Night (18% moon) |
Operation | Duisburg |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by heavy flak from numerous batteries and crashed in the target area, near Hubbelrath, Germany, at 0001 hrs. The crew were intiially buried in Dusseldorf North cemetery and reinterred on 30 November 1946. |