REASON FOR LOSS:

Extract from No.414 Squadron ORB

F/O Steeves & F/O Mossing took off on a Rhubarb, weather was good for operation but patches of fog mist & rain had been reported. They were instructed to turn back if weather doubtful. When flying to South Coast they ran into dense fog. F/O Steeves was No.1 and said "climb" over R/T. F/O Mossing climbed in fog and approximateley one and a half minutes later heard leader say "return to base". F/O Mossing emerged from cloud at 6000 feet and called for a homing from Tangmere, he did not hear from F/O Steeves again. At 1610 hours F/O Steeves crashed into the side of a hill North of Brighton and was instantly killed.

28th March 1943:

Bright warm day, weather too good for Rhubarb. Major O'Reilly, F/Lt Clarke and F/O Macmillan drove to Brighton to investigate crash. Interviewed police at Hassocks, visited the scene of the accident. Aircraft completely broken up, crashed through some trees and hit the side of a hill, bounced about 300 yards, burned and exploded. RAF Station Brighton very co-operative.

Arranged for local funeral contractors to remove body of F/O Steeves from Hassocks and prepare for burial. Funeral

Funeral Tuesday March 30th at 1500 hours, Internment at Brookwood Cemetery

F/O. Hugh "Steevie" Steeves (Christopher Clarke & Brenda Burroughs)

No.414 pilot line up - On the prop: Chick Davidson

Standing L to R: Gordon Zetterstrand, F/L Miskelly, Bill Blakney, George Burroughs, Stuart Chapman, Charles Stover, Larry Doherty, Frank McQuoid, Ludwig Bernhardt, Lou Theireault, Steevie Steeves.

Seated: Fred Clarke, Jack Godfrey, Roy Begg, Jack Amos,Bod Sanderson (Christopher Clarke).

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Original grave marker at Brookwood Cemetery(Clarke)ccccccccccccccHugh's grave today (Clarke)cccccccccccc

Burial Details:

F/O. Hugh "Steevie" Steves. Brookwood Military Cemetery Grave 34.C.1.

Acknowledgments: Compiled & researched by Melvin Brownless With special thanks to Mr. Christopher Clarke in Canada and also the daughter of George Burroughs, Brenda for the supply of information and the superb photographs.

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