The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. T E Westmoreland

Thomas Emrys Westmoreland was born at Huddersfield on 5th June 1913, the son of Thomas Gladstone Westmoreland and Annie Westmoreland.

After leaving school he joined the engineering company Metropolitan-Vickers as an apprentice in January 1934. On completion of his apprenticeship in June 1938 he joined the staff of the Railway Signals Engineering Department.

Thomas had obtained a civil pilot's licence at his own expense on 5th January 1937 and joined the RAFVR as a Sergeant on 8th May 1938.

He was called up on 1st September 1939, completed his training and joined 616 Squadron at Leconfield in early July 1940.

Above: 616 Squadron - (Standing) F/O R Marples, F/O HSL Dundas, F/O HC Laycock, F/Lt. DE Gillam, P/O TB Murray, P/O LH Casson, Sgt. PT Wareing

(Sitting) Sgt. TE Westmoreland, Sgt. J Hopewell, F/Sgt. FP Burnard

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Above image courtesy of Colin Brown.

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He claimed a Ju88 destroyed on the 15th August 1940.

He failed to return from combat with Me109s over Canterbury in Spitfire R6966, no trace of the aircraft or his body was ever found.

Westmoreland is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, panel 20.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner.

He is also commemorated on a family grave in Wellhouse Methodist Graveyard, Kirklees, West Yorkshire.

Above images courtesy of Mrs P.