Flight Sergeant Clarence Ray McLAREN
9 Oct 1921 – 2 Dec 1943
Clarence Ray McLAREN was born on the 9th of October 1921 in MEDINDIE the only son of Allan Bruce and Flora Nita McLaren (nee SCHENKE), of Waikerie. Allan McLAREN served with the AIF in World War 1. Clarence was known as Ray to his family and friends. He had a sister named Joan.
Clarence Ray McLAREN had been named for his uncle Sergeant Clarence Roy McLAREN who was in the AIF and was Allan McLARENs older brother. Clarence Roy McLAREN died in action at Pozieres in World War 1 on July 23rd, 1916.
Ray was educated at the Waikerie school, and was working for his father on their fruit block. He was keenly interested in sport, and was a popular all-round footballer, cricketer and tennis player for the Waikerie teams. He enlisted in the RAAF on the 6th December 1941 having gained his father’s permission to do so.
Ray commenced training at Victor Harbour and then was transferred to Victoria to continue his training as an air gunner. In May and July 1942, he spent time on leave back in Waikerie. In December 1942 he spent his pre-embarkation leave at home. The last time his family would see him.
Ray was transferred as aircrew in a Lancaster Bomber in 460 squadron based at Binbrook in England. He had completed a number of dangerous bombing missions over Berlin with his crew. On Thursday, 02 December 1943, Ray flew in an Avro Lancaster type III, (serial ED777 and code LE-Q). Their mission target, and that of the other crews and the aircraft of the 630 squadron (RAAF), was Berlin in Germany. There were 458 aircraft – (425 Lancaster, 18 Mosquitos, 15 Halifax) on this mission that day. They took off from an airfield in or near East Kirkby. Rays plane lifted off for the mission at 4:30pm.
There were no major diversions and the bombers took an absolutely direct route across the North Sea and Holland and then on to Berlin. The Germans identified Berlin as the target 19 minutes before Zero Hour and many fighters were waiting there. Incorrectly forecast winds scattered the bomber stream, particularly on the return flight, and German fighters scored further victories here. A total of 40 bombers – 37 Lancasters, 2 Halifaxes, 1 Mosquito – were lost, 8.7 per cent of the force. 460 (Australian) Squadron lost 5 of its 25 Lancasters on this raid, including an aircraft in which two newspaper reporters were flying. Unfortunately, one of these aircraft was Lancaster serial ED777-code LE-Q with Ray and his crewmates aboard, all were killed. Their average age was 22 years. In World War 2- a staggering 55,573 young men died flying with Bomber Command.
Witnesses spoken to after the war stated that the aircraft was shot down by night fighters and came down at “Gross Shulzendorf”, 7 km SE of the town of Ludwisfelde in Germany. All died on impact. Their bodies were recovered and buried in a communal grave with military honours. The grave was marked with a wooden cross bearing the inscription, “Here repose seven soldiers of the Allied Army.” The grave was tended by locals and flowers were occasionally placed by locals. The graves were subsequently relocated to Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery where they have been buried side by side. On Rays tombstone the McLARENs requested the inscription “LOVED SON OF MR. & MRS. A.B. McLAREN OF WAIKERIE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA”
Rays family and friends were obviously devastated. Allan died in April 1950 and Flo died in March 1952. They were buried in the Waikerie cemetery and when arranging their tombstone, their daughter Joan also added a tribute to their son, her brother, Ray.
Clarence Ray McLAREN is commemorated on the Australian War Memorial on the Roll of Honour, at the Bomber Command Memorial in England. He is also commemorated here on the 1939-1945 Honour Roll at the Waikerie Soldiers Institute Hall and at the National Memorial in Adelaide. Ray is also commemorated on the War Memorial and with a tree and plaque here in the WAIKERIE War Memorial Gardens.
