Apart from the plaques in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery, there is not much to mark the passing of Leslie (Bill) Maffey. He is listed as "missing, presumed killed on active service" and I assume, after a length of time, his death would have been made official.
Bill Maffey joined the Royal New Zealand Navy and was embarked as an officer pilot on board the carrier HMS Trumpeter in 1945, flying the Fairey Barracuda, a single engined torpedo/ reconnaisance/bomber aeroplane for 821 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm. On February 22nd, nine planes took off to drop mines off Haugesand Fiord in Norway, part of the strategy of isolating what was left of German forces towards the end of the Second World War.
Two Barracudas were shot down by shore defences and no survivors were seen. Bill Mafffey's name can be found on the New Zealand Naval Memorial at the naval base at Devonport, Auckland.
ROLL OF HONOUR
MAFFEY. — In loving memory of Sergeant Harold Gilbert Ellyett (Anti-tank Regiment, N.Z.A.), killed in action, Libya, November 25, 1941 and of Leslie Walden Ellyett, Lieutenant (A) R.N.Z.N.V.R., killed on active service off Norway, February 22, 1945, sons of H. G. and J. R. Maffey, Silverstream, and brothers of J. E. Price, Dunedin. -Evening Post, 24/11/1945.
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| Northern Cemetery, Dunedin. |
Grandfather of June, Harold and Bill was married to my great, great aunt. She was his second wife, so step grandmother.
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