I have been contacted by Victor Schutters in Brussels who with two friends is working on a
website concerning the work of the Comet Line which was a Belgian/French resistance
organisation involved in assisting shot down allied aircraft crew to reach neutral Spain
and repatriation to the UK.
He informs me that they have been contacted by a local group of aviation researchers who
intend to commemorate the crash site where William Francis Catley's aircraft fell to
earth and are seeking contact with family members with a view to inviting them to attend.
He was one of the three members of an RAF Halifax heavy bomber (crew of seven) who not
only survived being shot down in August 1943 over Belgium but also successfully escaped
capture and, aided by Comet, travelled across Belgium and France and into Spain and from
there, to Gibraltar and finally a flight back to the UK.
I am pretty sure that William was a member of the "Emery Catley of Midsomer
Norton" family tree being either born 2/4 1921 Bedwelty GRO or 4/4 1924 Greenwich GRO
and thus could be a son of 1) Ralph Catley and Margaret nee Evans or 2) William John L
Catley and Ethel Emma nee Burridge. Also noted is that Francis William Catley's death
is recorded:- GRO Aug 2001 Exeter.
If any Lister (Glynis?!) has contact with surviving members of Williams immediate family
(marriage to Humphrey's 1944 Croydon? etc etc) such as Christopher. R. b 1945 or Paul
W. R. b 1949 would they please put them in touch with me asap?
Regards
Tim