The Airmen's Stories - F/O A N C Weir

Archibald Nigel Charles Weir was born in Hythe, Kent on 2nd June 1919, the son of Wing Cdr. Archibald Graham Weir (1886-1941) and Mary Evelyn Oldfeld Weir (nee Bartlett 1887-1972).

His father was a career soldier, serving with the 1st Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. However at the start of WW1 he transferred to the RFC, arriving in France in June 1915.

He went on to serve with 189 (Night) Training Squadron. After the end of the war he went to Oxford as the first adjutant of the University Air Squadron there.

As a Wing Commander he was OC Troops aboard the SS Nerissa, which was en route from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada to England when it was torpedoed on 30th April 1941 by U-552, commanded by Erich Topp, NW of Ireland.

The ship was carrying Canadian troops and a mix of Allied and civilian personnel, 207 were lost.

Weir's body was found washed ashore at Corraun Point, Blacksod Bay, County Mayo in Ireland and was buried on 5th July 1941 at Kilcommon Erris Church of Ireland cemetery, Belmullet, County Mayo.

Above image courtesy of Aircrew Remembered.

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ANC Weir was educated at Abberley Hall, Worcester and Winchester College.

In 1937 Weir went up to Christ Church, Oxford, where he read Modern Greats. He learned to fly with the University Air Squadron.

Commissioned in the RAFVR in June 1939, Weir was called to full-time service at the outbreak of war. He completed his training at 2 FTS Brize Norton and in late February 1940 he went to the Harvard Flight there for operational training. On 8th April Weir was posted to Penrhos for bombing and gunnery exercises, after which he was briefly with 504 Squadron before joining 145 Squadron at Tangmere on 12th May.

Above: Weir fourth from left with 145 Squadron.

Near Dunkirk on 1st June 1940, Weir shared a Me110 and probably another. On 18th July he shared a He111, on the 22nd shared a Do17 and on 8th August claimed two Me109s and a Ju87 destroyed. On 11th August Weir's aircraft was damaged in combat with enemy fighters south of Swanage and he made a forced-landing near Christchurch, unhurt.

He was awarded the DFC (gazetted 30th August 1940).

Weir was lost on 7th November 1940, when he was shot down into the sea off Ventnor by a Me109 of JG2. His Hurricane, P2720, sank immediately.

He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 6. His portrait was made by Cuthbert Orde, though it has not been traced.

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Weir was the author of Verses of a Fighter Pilot, published by Faber in 1941.

Weir's younger brother, Major AJA Weir, was killed in action with the Scots Guards at Anzio on 28th February 1944. He lies in Beach Head War Cemetery, Anzio.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner.