Wirral soldiers’ remains may have been discovered in Malaysian jungle after almost 60 years

Dec 10 2008 by Sue McCann, Birkenhead News

THE remains of two Wirral soldiers who disappeared almost 60 years ago may have been discovered in the Malaysian jungle.

The British Army is now trying to track down relatives of the two men – Oliver Goldsmith and Ray Wilson – to carry out DNA testing to identify the remains.

Royal Army Service Corps Dispatchers Goldsmith and Wilson were in Malaysia fighting in a conflict known as the Malayan Emergency.

It is believed the pair, who were both aged 21, were among 12 people who died when an aircraft crashed into a ravine on August 25, 1950.

Rescue parties took over a week to reach the crash site on foot and, on September 3, the bodies found were buried nearby due to the difficult terrain and the prevailing security situation in the area.

But last month, over 58 years after the crash, the wreckage of the aircraft was finally identified.

Two recent expeditions – carried out in July and November this year – have helped to confirm the identity of the wreckage as that of the missing RAF Dakota.

Lynne Gammond, of the Army’s HQ Land Forces, said: “We are pleased to have found the missing aircraft and we now hope to be able to identify the remains found nearby.”

It is hoped these remains will be re-interred in due course at the nearest Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Cheras Road, Kuala Lumpur.

Those travelling on the RAF Dakota aircraft included a pilot, crew and passengers, some of whom were Malayan.

Army’s HQ Land Forces have limited information about the two Wirral soldiers.

l Does anyone have information about soldiers Oliver Goldsmith and Ray Wilson? Contact Wirral News on 288 7645 or email newsdesk@wirralnews.co.uk