Fujairah: A memorial stone was unveiled in Fujairah on Wednesday for a British airman who died in the eastern emirate during the Second World War.
Sergeant William Donnelly was one of five people on board a British Royal Air Force Wellington bomber that crash-landed at Seh Dhadnah on February 14, 1943.
Donnelly's niece June Botten and great-niece Lesley Botten were among the guests at the ceremony after being specially invited to attend by His Highness Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah.
Shaikh Hamad said: "The Second World War was the deadliest military conflict the world has ever seen with over 60 million people being killed. We in the UAE were fortunate not to be directly involved, although forces from Britain, the United States and other Allies made use of bases in the Emirates.
"I am pleased to be able to invite Sergeant Donnelly's niece and great-niece to visit Fujairah, to unveil a memorial of this long-lost casualty of the War. He, and the crash in which he died, are part of our history, in which Britain has played such a major role."
Relieved
June Botten said she knew very little about the circumstances of her uncle's death until very recently.
She said: "After all the years that have passed, years spent wondering about what really happened to Billy, we feel relieved and glad to know the truth.
The unveiling of the memorial stone follows research in three countries over a period of several years — the UAE, the UK and Peru, where Sergeant Donnelly was born.
Peter Hellyer, an Abu Dhabi-based historian, first discovered references to the crash and coordinated research and planning leading up to yesterday's memorial.
He said: "This has been a long story of luck and chance. Finally, after 67 years, there is a proper memorial to the only British and Commonwealth serviceman to have died on active service in the UAE during the Second World War. Without the help of Billy Donnelly's family, we would never have reached this moment.
"The British Embassy and the Royal Air Force have provided invaluable support, as have those who have undertaken research on the ground. Of most importance, though, has been the active support from Shaikh Hamad. Without his continued encouragement, this piece of the shared history of the UAE and Britain would have been lost forever."
Researchers say a local man called Abdullah Rashid, who was a boy at the time of the crash, was instrumental in helping to identify the crash site.
British Ambassador Edward Oakden said: "Just as today we enjoy excellent cooperation between the UAE and the UK, so too was the case during the Second World War. The UAE [then the Trucial States] was not directly involved, but British forces regularly used the RAF base in Sharjah as a staging post for their operations elsewhere in the region.
"Records tell us that His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Hamad Al Sharqi, the then ruler of Fujairah and the father of the present Ruler, arrived at the scene soon afterwards and provided assistance to the crew until they could be rescued."
Relatives welcomed
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, yesterday received June Botten, niece of the late British airman Sergeant William Donnelly, who died when a Royal Air Force Wellington bomber crash-landed in Fujairah during the Second World War.
Shaikh Mohammad welcomed the family of the airman, and highlighted the longstanding, historic relations between the UAE and UK.
The Donnelly family expressed gratitude to Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah, and to the Crown Prince for the warm reception and hospitality and for allowing the laying of a memorial stone at the crash site, which also contained the pilot's tomb.
