Date of Birth: 12th of July 1908, at Waipukurau
Personal Details: Henry was the son of Percy Wallace Sampson and Jeannie Palmer Sampson, of Te Miro, Cambridge (who later moved back to Waipukurau, Hawke's Bay). As of yet I've found no record of where Henry Sampson went to school. After school he became a farmer, and was by the 13th of December 1939 (when he applied to join the RNZAF) a farm manager.

He enjoyed playing polo, swimming and tennis, and his hobby was hunting. He joined the Territorials during 1930-31 and was a member of the East Coast Mounted Rifles.

Henry was also the brother of Richard Sampson, who also joined the RNZAF and both were sadly killed in action.

Service Details: Though Henry was very keen to join the RNZAF, his education standard was not considered at the minimum level, so he underwent a preliminary education course at night school. He was eventually enlisted at RNZAF Station Ohakea on the 29th of April 1941, where he was to perform ground duties. The exact nature of these duties is unknown, but possibly with an Aerodrome Defence Unit, or of a more general nature such as the work of a Aircrafthand/General Duties.

His wait was finally over on the 12th of May 1941 when he was posted to the Initial Training Wing at RNZAF Station Levin, to begin training as an Air Gunner.

Once this ITW course was completed satisfactorily, he left for Canada on the 18th of June 1941. Upon arrival there he proceeded to No. 3 Wireless School at Winnipeg, Manitoba, beginning his posting there on the 5th of July. He then moved to Trenton, Ontario on the 9th of January 1942, where he continued his training.

On the 31st of January 1942 he moved to the next phase of training, at No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School at Fingal, Ontario, where he trained aboard Fairey Battle aircraft. he completed the course on the 2nd of March 1942, when he was awarded his Air Gunner's badge and received promotion to the rank of Sergeant.

On the 11th of March he arrived at No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, to await transportation to the United Kingdom on a troopship.

Henry arrived in England on the 28th of March, and was sent to No. 3 Personnel Reception Area at Bournemouth. A month later he began operation training at No. 11 OTU, Bassingbourn, in Hertfordshire where he honed his skills aboard Vickers Wellington bombers.

He completed his training and was posted on the 2oth of July 1942 to No. 149 Squadron, who were flying Short Stirling bombers from Lakenheath, Suffolk. He took part in three operational sorties with the squadron. One was to Hamburg, another to Saarbrucken, Germany.

Details of Death: At 00:01hrs on Thursday the 30th of July 1942, Henry took off from RAF Syerston, Nottinghamshire, in Short Stirling I R9161/T of 149 Squadron. The bomber was making its way to make a raid on Saarbrücken, Germany. The raid included 291 aircraft, 10 of which were lost.

Henry's Stirling was shot down over France by a night-fighter. It crashed at Regniowez, 15km west of Revin. Everyone on board was killed except for an RAF Sergeant who survived the crash but was taken prisoner. Henry was aged 34

Commemorated at: The six crew members who died were buried in a collective grave in the Communal Cemetery at Regniowez, but later were re-interred to a collective grave ( Collective grave 1A. A. 1-6.) at the Choloy War Cemetery, 28km west of Nancy, France.

Connection with Cambridge: Henry Sampson is commemorated on the Rugby Park Memorial Gates in Cambridge, suggesting that he must have lived in the district and possibly even played rugby for Cambridge or Hautapu. There is a connection with his parents farming at Te Miro, Cambridge, and his brother Richard also lived and farmed in Cambridge. So it is very likely he lived in the town for a period prewar. If anyone can confirm any further links with the town, I'd appreciate it.