Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Francis Thomas Belford and Gladys Frances Belford, of Taree, New South Wales, Australia.

"HE, BEING DEAD,- YET SPEAKETH"

Missing— but Now Safe
ACTING F/LIEUT. NOEL BELFORD.
On Monday last Mr. and Mrs. Frank Belford, of Taree, received the following letter from the casualty section of the Department of Air: —
I refer to your son, Acting Flight Lieutenant William Noel Belford. This letter is to inform you that your son was reported missing as a result of air operations on 6th January, 1944,  but was later reported safe. The details available are that your son was the captain of a Lancaster aircraft which was carrying, out an operational flight on 5th January, 1944. The  first cable received in this department stated that your son's aircraft had been sighted over the North Sea, and at that time it was not known whether the crew were safe. A further cable was received from the Air Ministry, London, almost iimnediately, however, which stated that your son and his entire crew had been rescued and were all uninjured. No further details are known in this department, but I presume you will receive direct communication from your son in the near future.
This information is conveyed to you to allay any unnecessary anxiety which you may be caused by any reports from unofficial sources. 

By the death of Flight-Lieutenant William Noel Belford Taree has lost another gallant citizen. He was reported missing a year ago, and since no information has been received  about him in the interval the Air Board has informed his parents (Mr. and Mrs. Frank Belford, of Victoria Street, Taree) that his death is assumed.

He was born in Taree 23 years ago and attended primary and high schools here (says the 'Times.') Afterward he entered the service of the Bank of New South Wales, and he was  stationed at Gloucester when he enlisted in the Air Force about four years ago. He was trained in Australia and Canada and in January, 1943, was sent to England, where he was appointed to a Royal Air Force squadron of Lancasters. Flight-Lieut. Belford had been engaged en an operational flight over Berlin on the day he was reported missing, January 27,  1944. While in England he took keen in terest in sport and played football for the Air Force. In Australia, while stationed at Newcastle, he was captain of a second-grade cricket  team and also played tennis. 

Only one brother (Bruce), who is at Taree High School, and a sister (Miss Marcia Belford), of the Bank of New South Wales, survive besides his mother and father. Another brother (Frank), who was a member of the A.I.F., was reported to have died in February, 1942. His other brother (John) died in Taree some years ago.

Genuine sympathy Will be felt for Mr. and Mrs. Belford and family.

LATE NOEL BELFORD
PARTICULARS OF DEATH
IN GERMANY
Mr F. T. Belford, of Victoria Street, Taree, has received the following letter from the Department of Air concerning his late son, Flight-Lieut. William Noel Belford:
"A report, has just been received by this Department from the Missing Research, and Enquiry Service operating in Germany, and although I regret to have to inform you of the  details contained in the report, it is considered you would prefer to know all available information. The report, which is based on investigations made at the scene of the crash and  interviews with local inhabitants, states that your son's aircraft was shot down by an enemy night fighter at 10.40 pm on January 27, 1944, near Klingelbach, Germany. After crashing the aircraft exploded and the wreckage was strewn over a wide area.
The bodies of your son and five other members of the crew were recovered from the wreckage, but unfortunately, individual identification of only two members, Flight Sergt. Gould (Royal Australian Air Force) and Sergt. J. C. Lee (Royal Air Force) could be established. It is hoped that you will derive some small comfort in the knowledge that your son and his  comrades lost their lives instantly.
The report further states that your son and his comrades were buried in a communal grave in the Klingelbach cemetery, which is approximately 18 miles east, south east of  Koblenz. At the time of the investigations the grave which, is No 1 in row 8 was being well cared for and had been planted with bulbs for the spring. The grave will be marked with  a cross bearing the names and service particulars of your son and his comrades and taken over and cared for in perpetuity by the Imperial War Graves Commission. Permit me to  assure you of the continued sympathy of this Department in the great loss which you have suffered."