Ernest Russell Lyon ( 1923-1944)

[puffin]

There has been publicity today for this story in the week after Remembrance Day, firstly an article in my local newspaper, and which is also online at:

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/ci ... 4a6a67.lpf

Then the story was fed via a news agency into other media:

It is online also on BBC Scotland where the link is:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edi ... 098279.stm

I have been interviewed by the local radio station Q103 this morning and over the weekend Anglia TV are also filming and interviewing me.

So this is all good news for the the memory of Russell and for the part played in the story by www.talkingscot.com

Puffin

[puffin]

And I now see another online report, this time the press appear to have spoken directly to the CWGC and if the reporting is correct what is said might be a little more encouraging than I heard a week or so ago.

The link is:

http://www.midlothianadvertiser.co.uk/l ... 3496274.jp

Puffin

[Anne H]

Hi Puffin,

Thanks for keeping us updated on your progress. It's been wonderful following your story, and the news articles are a fascinating read...what a remarkable chain of events! Here's hoping all your hard work and research will come to fruition very very soon.

Regards,
Anne H

[Muriel]

The story made it into today's Herald, albeit as a small para on an inside page.

Muriel

[puffin]

Thanks Anne and Muriel,

There is a small piece in The Times today.

Also I have found further links to online reports in the scottish media, all with a broadly similar content:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolpda/ukfs_news/ ... ?page_id=6

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1817082007

http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh.cfm?id=1816762007

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinb ... 1817082007

Puffin

[puffin]

This is just another update after a busy weekend with the local radio, Regional TV and newspaper media wanting more on the story.

Another longer feature is now in the Edinburgh Evening News today, the link to the online version is:

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/featu ... 1836842007

I am told that in the paper hard copy version there are more photos. I am being sent one in the post by the journalist so will have to be patient before that appears.

Another feature article may also appear in another Scottish Newspaper and I will post this as and when, together with other news updates.

I have had a letter a week or so ago from someone who was born in 1926 a house just a door or two away from Russell in Colinton, Edinburgh, who had read one of the articles that I had written on the subject for the Colinton Parish Church Newsletter, so another person's memory of Russell appeared into the story.

Puffin

[puffin]

This is just a wee update before Christmas......

In early December I received a copy of the annual review, (a glossy magazine) " Le Cahiers du Pays de Ploemeur within which my good friend Jean Yves LeLan,'s, article on " Le crash d'un Spitfire a Kercaves" appears, with 6 pages of text and illustration on this story.

Seeing this made me very proud to be Russell's nephew.

Thanks to Andrew P. for his photos from Colinton Kirkyard that appear in that article.

There will be another feature article in the Scottish press due to appear soon, this time in the Daily Record, I am not told the date yet, but perhaps in the next ten days.

Also I have received a letter from the widow of one of Russell's Scout Troop best friends, mentioned earlier on this success story thread, ie from around 1938-40, and have since been in further correspondence with exchange of information. She saw the small report in The Times of 17th November and then contacted me.

I have also commissioned a researcher to look into the remaining german archives (many were destroyed before surrender of the Lorient area in May 1945), and which are located in Freiburg, as I will not forgive myself if this is left undone. This is part of other research I have undertaken, with the help of Jean-Yves, into the wider context of the burials of Allied casualties in all the cemeteries in the Lorient area during WW2. This, by itself is a little morbid, but has thrown up two inportant facts, firstly that Guidel was the major cemetery in use in the area around Lorient from 1943 onwards, and secondly the "unknown" grave of the RAF Officer dated 29.7.1944 is the last burial of an RAF casualty in this cemetery in WW2. That context helps our overall presentation to the Enquiry, and helps to rule out the grave being a grave of anyone else.

The Enquiry continues but it will be well into 2008 before any conclusion is reached.

In January 2008 there is a family history programme on BBC Radio Scotland (date not yet made known to me) in which interviews with myself, a pilot buddy of Russell's, and Jean-Yves LeLan are included.

With best wishes to all on the forum for Christmas and the New Year, and, if 2008 is as good as 2007 to me then I will be a very happy person. This story can only get better.

Puffin

[LesleyB]

Hi Puffin
It has been marvellous and so very satisfying to read your updates and be made aware of so many of pieces of a jigsaw coming together, brought about by your unstinting, ongoing and very determined research. Well done! =D>

I sometimes think there is not much gets in the way of a determined researcher and as we are all aware the answers are very often out there somewhere, but they do not always just drop into your lap nor is it easy to come by them - it can take a lot of hard work and just pure sticking power. You're an example to us all! My congratulations on the work you have done to illuminate and bring recognition to Russell's life.

Best wishes
Lesley

[puffin]

Thanks to all who are visiting this string for your interest.

On Sunday next (20th Jan. 11.05am to 12noon) the programme Digging up your Roots on BBC Radio Scotland will be featuring a short piece on this subject.

Recordings have been made with interviews with Jean Yves LeLan, from Ploemoeur, with Sqdrn. Ldr. Alan Frost (who knew and flew with Russell), with a representative of the CWGC, giving information on how to find family history information from their records and website, and finally an interview with myself.

This will all be edited down to fit in with other subjects being aired.

We still await the final outcome of the MOD enquiry.

A reseacher is presently looking into such German records that remain in an archive held in Freiburg to see if we can find anything recorded on the final hours between the shooting down of Russell's Spitfire at 19.54 hrs. on 27.7.1944 and the burial of an "unknown" RAF Officer on 29.7.1944 to help establish 100% proof that the grave at Guidel is that of Russell.

Thanks to Talkingscot for being an important part of this story.

Puffin

[LesleyB]

Hi Puffin
...and many thanks to you for sharing all this with us here on TS. Looking forward to the "Digging up your Roots" feature. =D>

Best wishes
Lesley