Remembering the Crew of Lancaster ND474

Bill's wife Bessie Joyce Harvey was born March 1922 in Maldon, Essex. She had one sibling, Robert G Harvey.

Before volunteering for the Royal Air Force, Bill, like his father and his elder brother, was a Lighterman on the River Thames. 

The Wireless Operator's station was just in front of the main spar, in the rear part of the cockpit section. In addition to his official duties related to the radio equipment, the Wireless Operator was also expected to have a working knowledge of the Navigator's equipment, understand the aircraft electrical and intercom systems,and administer first aid as necessary. 

In addition, he was generally on duty in the astrodome in the event of contact with enemy fighters and over the target. The Astrodome was a dome shaped piece of Perspex which protruded above the aircraft's fuselage, in order that the Navigator could take "Star Shots" as it provided an excellent observation point. 

The Wireless Operator radios were mounted on the left-hand end of the chart table, facing the rear of the aircraft. Behind these and facing towards, the wireless Operator sat on a seat at the front of the main spar. 

Behind the Wireless Operator were the two spars for the wing, which created a major obsticle for crew members moving down the fuselage even on the ground. The Wireless Operator had the warmest place in the aircraft, often he was overheated while other crew members were freezing. 

William (Bill) Edgar Hardy was 22 year old and had been married for less than a year, when on 15th March 1944, he boarded ND474 to Stuttgart. 

The Lightermen played an important role in the Port of London. Before docks were built, ships would moor in the middle of the River Thames and then transfer their goods ashore aboard Lighters. 

Lightermen would then ride the river's currents upstream, when the tide was coming in, downstream when the tide was out in order to transfer the goods to quays. They also transferred goods up and down the river from quays to riverside factories and vice-versa. This was an extremely skilled job, requiring an intimate knowledge of the river's currents and tides. It also demanded a lot of muscle power, as the lighters were unpowered; they relied on the current for motive force and on long oars, or "paddles" for stearing.