This post is one in a series of posts on the crash of an Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Z9362, which crashed in the sea 2-miles from Saltcoats Harbour on the 2nd of May, 1943.
David Shedden, Saltcoats fisherman, rescuer and World War 1 soldier
David Shedden was a fisherman working out of Saltcoats harbour. After Whitley Z9362 spun out of control and crashed into the sea in the middle of the night, David and a companion, not yet identified but probably a fishing colleague, saved the life of Sergeant Leslie Noel Atkinson who baled out and came down in the sea.
This is a photo of David Shedden with his wife Annie and either his mother or mother-in-law.
Uncle Davy Shedden is written on the back of the photograph below. Names are not provided for the other two men.
The writing on the back of this photograph states ‘Annie Shedden, wife of Uncle Davy’.
David Shedden’s Military Service
In World War 1 (WW1), David Shedden saw combat with the 5/6th Battalion, Scottish Rifles (more commonly known as the Cameronians), Regimental Number 39715.
His great niece Julie Newland Thomson used to visit him regularly on a Sunday in his flat at The Braes in Saltcoats, but he never discussed his war service or his role in the rescue of the crew of Whitley Z9362, although she was aware that he had suffered a leg injury in WW1.
David Shedden’s medals (left to right): (a) Defence Medal WW2 (b) Victory Medal UK WW1 (c) British War Medal WW1.
Note that the name Sheddon is shown on the Identification Tag, but the Medal Roll and Medal Index Card entries shown above record the name Shedden.
Photographs and other information relating to David Shedden provided by Julie Newland Thomson. Research on David Shedden’s service history and medals carried out by Flying Officer David McKay, Adjutant 1138 (Ardrossan) Squadron, Air Training Corps.
These posts were researched and kindly contributed by John & Ian McCallum and Sandra Colley, with support from Flying Officer David McKay of 1138 (Ardrossan) Squadron Air Training Corps and Paul Coffey, President of the Royal British Legion Scotland Saltcoats, Ardrossan and Stevenston Branch.