Page 106 - Sylvia Malt - Side by Side

HUGH POWELL SANDS, Flying Officer/Navigator
75 Squadron, RAF/Royal New Zealand Air Force
1917 - 23rd September 1943

Although born 1917 in Norfolk, the second son of gardener, Ernest Sands and his wife
Kathleen, Hugh Sands was now a New Zealand citizen. On 25th October 1924, aged just
seven, he had emigrated with his parents to New Zealand. Departing the port of Liverpool,
the family set sail for their ultimate destination of Auckland on the New Zealand Shipping
Company's Ship Ruapshu. They left behind in England their 23-year-old son, Terence
Norman Sands, who later settled with his wife in Kent, residing in Palm Avenue, Foots
Cray.

However, when Europe was again at War, Hugh Sands was sent to England with 75
Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force.

The New Zealand Squadron

Thousands of former British citizens chose to join the mother country in their fight for
survival and on 4th April 1940, the New Zealand Squadron was renamed No. 75 Squadron
with the letters (NZ) being added in brackets after the number. This was the first
Commonwealth squadron to be so created in the Second World War.

Although often referred to, then and since as an RNZAF unit, 75 Squadron was equipped
and controlled by the RAF until VJ Day (Victory in Japan).

75 (NZ) Squadron rejoined No. 3 Group and was first based initially at RAF Feltwell, then
RAF Mildenhall, RAF Newmarket and RAF Mepal in Cambridgeshire. It saw action over
France, Norway, Belgium, Italy, Sweden and Germany.

It is more than possible, of course, that during the War whilst Hugh was stationed in
England he managed to visit his older brother in Foots Cray.

On 23rd September 1943 Hugh Sands' was killed when his aircraft came down over Westfal,
Germany. Other crew members who lost their lives were Flying Officer Arthur Howlett,
Flying Officer Laurence Kirkpatrick, Pilot Officer Francis Poole and Pilot Officer Harvey
Prins. The men were all New Zealanders.

Hugh Sands’ brother, Terence, was determined that his contribution should not be
forgotten and ensured that his name was on the St. James' Memorial.

Flying Officer Hugh Powell Sands, whose home was in Walkare, Dunedin, New Zealand, left
a widow, Doris, who later moved to Christchurch, New Zealand.

In Memoriam: Hugh Sands and his fellow crew members are buried in the Rheinberg War
Cemetery in Nordrhein-Westfal, Germany.

106