POLICE have appealed for help to trace relatives of a war hero from Johnstone.


Officers are keen to hear from the family of Robert Woodhouse, who served in the police before he was listed as ‘missing, presumed dead’ during the Second World War.


The appeal for information comes ahead of a rededication at the Dundee Police War Memorial later this year.


Constable Woodhouse, who was unmarried, was the son of engineer William K. Woodhouse and Elizabeth Beck Woodhouse, of 65 High Street, Johnstone.


He was a member of the Police War Reserve in Renfrewshire between November 1940 and May 1941 prior to joining the police service in Dundee.


On July 15, 1942, Constable Woodhouse left the police to serve with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (218 Squadron) as a Pilot Officer.
He failed to make it home from a bombing mission to Germany on September 23, 1943.


He was one of a crew of seven flying in a Stirling Mark three bomber (number EJ104). Scheduled to attack Manheim in Germany as part of a squadron of 12 bombers, Constable Woodhouse’s aircraft took off from RAF Downham Market at 7.25pm. Same date records indicate that he was ‘missing presumed dead’.


Chief Inspector Alexander Brodie said: “We are already in contact with some family members however, we would like to contact relatives to invite them along to the ceremony.”


Any of his relatives or those who know someone who may be connected to Constable Woodhouse are asked to email the police via media.dundee@scotland.pnn.police.uk.