I see that Squadron Leader Percival Harold (Percy) DFC, AE,Ld'H RAFVR (retired) passed away on 25 June 2016 aged 99 in Bath. He flew as a Spitfire pilot with the rank of P/O during the Battle of Britain while serving on 64 Squadron. A Canadian,he is categorised as RAFVR which suggests he was a member of the prewar "weekend flyers AAF whose squadrons were incorporated into the RAF regular structure on 3 September 1939 although No 64 Squadron was not an AAF squadron....difficult to see that he could have joined the RAF as VR from 3 September 1939 and be an operational pilot less than a year later. No doubt his official obituary will be released by the media in the next few days. Per Ardua ad Astra Percy
Harry, many thanks for raising this With Bristol and Canadian connections, this must be a relative? BEAKE, PERCIVAL HAROLD. Rank: Private. Service No: 418095. Date of Death: 23/03/1916. Age: 19. Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry 42nd Bn. Grave Reference: Sp. Mem. Cemetery: SANCTUARY WOOD CEMETERY. Additional Information: Son of Oliver Alfred and Rosina Beake, of 26, Short St., St. Philip's Marsh, Bristol, England. Alan, your hyperlink seems broken but has this (and a photo) Percival Harold Beake was born in Quebec, Canada in 1917, his family had emigrated there from Bristol. He returned to the UK and was educated at Victoria Park School and Bristol Grammar School. He joined the RAFVR in April 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot. When he was called to full-time service on 1st September 1939 he had flown almost fifty hours in Tiger Moths at 33 E&RFTS Whitchurch, near Bristol. Beake was posted to 3 ITW Hastings and went on to 15 EFTS Redhill on 26th March 1940. Two months later Beake went to 15 FTS Middle Wallop, finishing the course at its Advanced Training Squadron at Chipping Norton. On 31st August Beake was commissioned and posted to 7 OTU Hawarden to convert to Spitfires. He joined 64 Squadron at Leconfield on 22nd September. Beake was posted 92 Squadron at Biggin Hill on 27th June 1941. He damaged a Me109 on 27th September. Beake left 92 and went to 601 Squadron at Duxford on 29th December 1941. He came off operations in late March 1942 and went to 58 OTU Grangemouth as an instructor. He did an instructors course at 7 FIS Upavon in April 1942, after which he returned to Grangemouth, later moving to Balado Bridge. Returning to operations, Beake joined 193 Squadron, then forming at Harrowbeer, on 22nd December 1942 as a Flight Commander. He went to RAF Charmy Down on 10th June 1943 for a short course at the Fighter Command School of Tactics, afterwards returning to his squadron. On 8th February 1944 he destroyed a Fw190. Another short course at the Fighter Leaders School Milfield came in March 1944 and after a short spell at 84 Ground Support Unit at Aston Down, Beake took command of 164 Squadron at Thorney Island on 30th May 1944. Beake destroyed a Fw190 on D-Day, 6th June. The squadron moved to France in mid-July. He was posted back to the Fighter Leaders School on 10th September 1944, this time as an instructor. He received a Mention in Despatches (gazetted 8th June 1944). Beake was awarded the DFC (gazetted 5th September 1944), the citation stating that he was credited with two enemy aircraft destroyed. He was released from the RAF on 21st January 1946 as a Squadron Leader and went to work for an animal feed company. http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Beake.htm EDIT to add confirmation of family link https://www.british-genealogy.com/archive/index.php/t-24821.html
Kevin, Thanks for your comprehensive detail of the Squadron Leader Beake's service career and family background.....like so many families who settled overseas in the days of the British Empire.
