Bury St Edmunds historian appeals to find out more about airman Alois Mzourek

Around this time each year, the words ‘We will remember them’ are uttered, sometimes without fully appreciating the impact of the ultimate sacrifice on loved ones.

John Saunders is one of the deputy poppy appeal organisers for the Royal British Legion, who co-ordinates collections in several of Bury St Edmunds stores, which last year raised nearly £65,000.

“It’s the primary way of fund-raising to support the Legion’s aims in providing real help to those affected by conflict,” he said.

“Around 40,000 volunteers nationwide distribute 40 million poppies, the emblem that not only remembers those who have given their lives in serving their Country but reinforces a commitment to world peace.”

John and David Bowden are members of St Edmund’s Catholic Parish History Group and over time they have researched those whose names appear on the memorials in the Catholic churches at Bury and Lawshall. Each year, to remind the congregation, they provide the brief history of the war dead and read out the names during remembrance services.

This year, they have an additional name to remember.

John said: “With the closure of the Bury Record Office, we were able to retrieve all the deposits that had been made by the church – a total of 12 boxloads of documents.”

John’s intrigue as a local historian led him to read all of the contents during which he noted the name of Alois Mzourek as having been killed in the Second World War. This was a name that was missing from the church memorial plaque.

John, David and others set about researching how Alois came to be mentioned in the records of St Edmund’s Church, identifying that he was born on 12 April 1915 at Hospozin, Czechoslovakia. He trained as a car mechanic in that village of Hospozin before moving in 1932 to Libkovrice in the Czech Republic.

By 1936 he was a qualified pilot having volunteered under the 1,000 Pilots for the Republic campaign and his military service took him to Poland and France before being sent to England in July 1940 performing duties at Liverpool, Cosford, Honington and Bassingbourne.

Having met Joy Turner of West Road, Bury St Edmunds, he married her at St Edmund’s Church on 24 December 1942. Their son, Richard, was born on 16 May 1944 and baptised in the church.

An experienced airman, Alois was killed on active service in a flying accident at Gatwick on 16 October 1944.

His body was brought back to Bury St Edmunds because his wife resided here. His funeral, attended by a full congregation, took place at St Edmund’s Church on 19 October 1944.

Alois is buried in Bury St Edmunds Cemetery. He was decorated with military honours and his name appears on war memorials at Litinov Cemetery, Hospozin, Marianske Radcice and is recorded in various memorial books. The omission of his name from the church plaque appears to have been an oversight and John is optimistic that this can be added during 2026.

His widow, Joy, went to live in the Czech Republic and remarried. Despite many enquiries, nothing is known of their son Richard or current links to the past.

By coincidence, another name on the church memorial is that of another airman who originated from Czechoslovakia.

Karel Valach was born on 26 January 1918 and performed military service there. He eventually came to Bury and on 10 December 1940 whilst serving as Flight Sergeant (Air Gunner) with the Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve he married Doreen Todd of Langton House, Bury St Edmunds.

Karel died on 22 June 1941 at the age of 23 during a bombing mission, aboard a Wellington bomber which was shot down by German aircraft at Nieuwe Niedorp in the Netherlands. It was not until 2021 that excavations by the Royal Netherlands Army Salvage and Identification Service recovered the wreckage of the Wellington and minute human remains, leading to DNA identification of the five airman who had perished.

The remains were placed in one casket and interred on 23 June 2022 (the 81st anniversary of the crash) at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Bergen op Zoom cemetery. Each of the airmen was commemorated by an individual headstone. Descendants of Karel Valach were able to be present at this moving event.

Karel was ultimately decorated by the authorities of France, Poland, Czechoslovakia and UK, becoming the holder of medals for gallantry, twice being awarded the Czech War Cross 1939 and the UK Distinguished Flying Medal.

Research also revealed the friendship between the families of Alois and Karel. Doreen Valach became Richard Mzourek’s godmother and she was also amongst the mourners at the funeral of Alois.

But as John explained: “There is much more that we want to find out about Alois so if any Bury Free Press readers can help, please e-mail jes767894@btinternet.com ”

John concluded: “The story highlights the courage and dedication of allies from Poland and Czechoslovakia, many of whom gave their lives. Sadly, post-war many English people turned against survivors, accusing them of causing unemployment by taking jobs that they felt should have been given to our countrymen.

“It is our absolute duty to remember them alongside all who gave their lives and to keep in mind their families who suffered loss.”