Flight Sergeant Anthony Joseph Gallagher (410595) served in the Royal Australian Air Force. He died aged 22 years old in a plane crash over Co. Galway, Ireland.
He was the son of James Daniel Gallagher and Margaret Ellen Gallagher of Nathalia, Victoria, Australia. Anthony is one of many Australian and New Zealander service personnel buried in Northern Ireland.
Flight Sergeant Gallagher was a wireless operator/air gunner of Handley Page Halifax EB134 on 7th November 1943.
The Halifax bomber took off from RAF Rufforth, Yorkshire. The crew from No. 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit, RAF was on a non-operational, night training flight.
Their destination was changed to RAF Marston Moor, North Yorkshire while completing the flight. The captain acknowledged the change of course but the Halifax never arrived at the airfield.
Crash of Halifax EB134
Around 2243hrs, the Halifax’s engines were heard by a lookout at Flat Head, Co. Cork. Several other lookout posts observed the plane on a northbound flight.
Just after 2350hrs, the bomber came down near Lavally, Bernaderg about 6 miles north of the Co. Galway town of Tuam. Mystery still surrounds the causes of the crash. Authorities recovered all 7 bodies of the aircrew from the plane. They returned them from neutral Ireland to Northern Ireland.
Remembering the Halifax Crew
Anthony Joseph Gallagher’s grave is in Grave 5 of Irvinestown Sacred Heart Churchyard, Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh. His name is on Panel 122 of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
At 1400hrs on 5th August 2007, the Old Tuam Society and Lavally Community held a ceremony to unveil a memorial to the crew of Halifax EB134. Throughout 2006-2007, Tuam historian Anne Tierney researched the plane and its crew. The memorial stands in a garden of remembrance at Ryehill, Tuam, Co. Galway. Families of the airmen attended along with Her Excellency Anne Plunkett – Australian Ambassador to Ireland. Also in attendance were John Banim of the Canadian Embassy and Brian Mahoney of the British Embassy.