Royal Air Force War Grave Photos for Reference.

Discussion in 'War Grave Photographs' started by CL1, Sep 19, 2011.

  1. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    KELLY, JAMES FREDERICK
    Rank: Pilot Officer
    Trade: Pilot
    Service No: 49745
    Date of Death: 26/08/1942
    Age: 24
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 26 Sqdn. formerly Lt. Royal Artillery
    Grave Reference: Block F. Grave 68
    Hills Cemetery, Horsham 51.063814, -0.347563
    Son of James Francis William and Maud Gwendoline Kelly, of Manning's Heath. B.Sc. (Lond.); Liveryman of the Cutlers Company

    Kelly
    Kelly_JF.JPG
     
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  2. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    KNIGHT, FRANK HENRY
    Rank: Sergeant
    Trade: Wireless Op./Air Gunner
    Service No: 1380457
    Date of Death: 04/04/1943
    Age: 31
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 51 Sqdn
    Grave Reference: Block U. Grave 314
    Hills Cemetery, Horsham 51.063814, -0.347563
    Son of Edward James Knight and Ellen Eliza Knight, of Horsham.

    Knight
    Knight_FH.JPG
     
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  3. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    NIGHTINGALE, HAROLD CLIFFORD
    Rank: Sergeant
    Service No: 1256712
    Date of Death: 31/07/1944
    Age: 30
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 2810 Sqdn. R.A.F. Regt
    Grave Reference: Block U. Grave 4
    Hills Cemetery, Horsham 51.063814, -0.347563
    Son of Clifford Harold and Minnie Nightingale; husband of Marguerite Mary Nightingale, of Horsham
    Nightingale
    Nightingale_HC.JPG
     
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  4. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    PAYNE, STANLEY
    Rank: Flying Officer
    Trade: Pilot
    Service No: 158325
    Date of Death: 17/06/1944
    Age: 24
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 129 Sqdn
    Grave Reference: Block U. Grave 398
    Hills Cemetery, Horsham 51.063814, -0.347563
    Son of Frederick and Marion Payne; husband of Peggy Mary Payne, of Wood Green, Middlesex

    Payne
    Payne_S.JPG
     
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  5. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    PEARSON, WILLIAM CHARLES ROBERT
    Rank: Corporal
    Service No: 574943
    Date of Death: 21/08/1942
    Age: 20
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
    Grave Reference: Block T. Grave 146
    Hills Cemetery, Horsham 51.063814, -0.347563
    Son of Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Pearson, of Horsham
    Pearson
    Pearson_WCR 1.JPG Pearson_WCR 2.JPG
     
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  6. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    LUXFORD, JOHN
    Rank: Sergeant
    Trade: Pilot
    Service No: 657235
    Date of Death: 15/08/1942
    Age: 22
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force 131 Sqdn
    Stonegate (St Peter) Churchyard 51.030339, 0.374819
    Son of Montague John and Constance Edith Luxford, of Stonegate

    Luxford
    Luxford_J.JPG

    Kent & Sussex Courier, October 16, 1942
    LATE SERGT. PILOT J LUXFORD
    It is regret that we record the death of Sergeant-Pilot John Luxford, previously reported missing while on flying operations over the Channel nine weeks ago. His body was found off Bembridge, Isle of Wight, on Tuesday. Tragically enough, this would have been his 23rd birthday. The young man was the elder son of Mr and Mrs Montague J Luxford, of Hammerden Farm, Stonegate. He was well known and very popular in the district, and by his death the village has lost a potential leader in sporting and farming circles. Before the war he was captain of the Stonegate cricket eleven and a member of the Table Tennis and Squash Club. Sergt-pilot Luxford was a member of the widely known 131 County of Kent Squadron.

    The funeral took place in the peaceful little churchyard of St Peter’s, Stonegate, on Saturday, the Rev Andrew J Young officiating. The local Home Guard paraded under Major EG Bramall and Lieut JG Maynard, and a contingent of RAF, under Flight-Sergt Benson, attended. Miss E Griffiths was at the organ, and the service was fully choral. The coffin was borne by six men of the RAF and covered with the RAF Ensign.
     
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  7. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    EMERY, ALICK CHARLES RICHARD
    [EMERY, ALECK CHARLES RICHARD]

    Rank: Signaller II
    Service No: 1295723
    Date of Death: 11/11/1947
    Age: 26
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 115 Sqdn
    Grave Reference: Plot D. Row 8. Grave 19

    Selsey (St Peter) Church Cemetery
    [Located at St Wilfred’s Chapel, Church Norton 50.754910, -0.765423]
    Son of Charles Henry and Rose Lilian Emery, of Midland, Ontario, Canada

    Emery

    Emery_ACR.JPG

    Thetford & Walton Times, Saturday, November 22, 1947

    MID-AIR CRASH DURING MOCK BATTLE
    Last Moments Over Stanford of Bomber and Fighter

    The pilot of a Lancaster, the sole survivor of a mid-air collision between the bomber and a Hornet fighter over Stanford battle training area on Tuesday week, told the Coroner at the resumed inquest on the eight victims at Muntiford this Tuesday that the first conscious recollection he had after feeling the impact was of falling through space still strapped to his seat. “I pulled my parachute and then released the seat,” he said.
    The pilot, Flying Officer Peter Edward Clarke of 115 Squadron Bomber Command stationed at Stradishall, West Suffolk, landed uninjured between two and two and a half miles from the wrecked aircraft. He told the Diss District Coroner (Mr WCF Brundell), who was sitting with a jury, that he just felt the crash and then presumed he was unconscious for a few seconds.
    The eight victims were: Flight-Lieut Harold Owen Statchard (27), of Kenaly, Centre Drive, Newmarket; Flying Officer William Henry Gillespie (23) of Lower Road, Harrow, Middlesex; Navigator (II) David Owen Edwards (23) of Llangadock, Carmarthenshire; Signaller (II) Alec Charles Richard Emery (29), of Orchard Avenue, Selsey, Sussex; Gunner (II) John Moore (27), of Rowen Street, Belfast; Gunner (II) Geoffrey Alderson Allan (22), of Appleby, West Moreland; and Sqdn-Leader PH Humphreys of Littlehurst, Lymington, Hampshire, who were all in the bomber; and Flt-Sergt David M Steadman (25) of 19 Fighter Squadron, Church Fenton, whose home is at Birkby, Huddersfield, the pilot of the fighter.
    DUMMY ATTACKS
    Flying Officer Clarke, who comes from Pinner, Middlesex, said that with five other Lancasters he had carried out a high level bombing exercise with fighter escort. On return from the target they were flying in formation, with his machine third in position on the right, at a height of about 8000 ft and at 160 knots through clear skies between layers of cloud. The four fighters were carrying out dummy attacks on the bombers.
    Answering the foreman of the jury (Mr B Westwood), he said he did not see anything of the fighter. It must have struck him underneath or slightly behind him.
    Replying to the Coroner, Flying Officer Clarke said that when he found himself falling through space and had pulled the rip-cord, he looked but could see nothing of his aircraft.
    Marjorie May Loram, a forestry worker, of Ickburgh, who was working with a party in the forest plantation, said the bomber started to rise and collided with the fighter. The wing of the fighter came off.
    PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN
    One of the fighter pilots, Flying Officer Frederick Edward Smith, said that a photograph taken from another bomber of the formation showed the Lancaster with the fighter’s port wing near the bomber’s nose and beneath it. There was only a very small gap between the wing tip of the fighter and the bomber, and he was of the opinion that this photograph was taken almost immediately before the crash. Clouds, he said, were at 2000feet covered only about four-tenths of the sky and were about 500 feet thick. There was no cloud at the height of the aircraft and he did not think it had anything to do with the collision. He and another fighter were attacking from the sides and Steadman from the rear.
    Franciszek Jedrzczak, forestry foreman of Lynford Lodges, Lynford, said he saw the bombers with the fighters circling around the. He saw them going into the clouds and suddenly a fighter came spiralling to earth.
    Capt RJ Jones, of the British advisory staff to the Polish Resettlement Corps, Bodney, said that as he approached Buckenham Tofts Hall on his motor cycle after being told of the crash, he saw an aircraft in flames on the right and another aircraft, bomber, which then blew up and burst into flames near the hall itself.
    Sqdn Leader JW Reade, medical officer at Watton RAF Station, said Edwards, Statchard and Gillespie, who were found away from the wrecked bomber, died from multiple injuries, and the remainder from multiple injuries followed by burning.
    The jury returned a verdict of “Death by misadventure” in accordance with medical evidence.
    The foreman of the jury, the Coroner, and Supt Wicks, on behalf of the Norfolk Constabulary, expressed sympathy with the pilot of the bomber on his harrowing experience and with the relatives of the dead men.
     
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  8. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    SMITH, BERNARD CHARLES
    Rank: Sergeant
    Trade: Pilot
    Service No: 1293165
    Date of Death: 24/02/1942
    Age: 21
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 418 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn
    Grave Reference: Plot B. Row 5. Grave 15

    Selsey (St Peter) Church Cemetery
    [Located at St Wilfred’s Chapel, Church Norton 50.754910, -0.765423]
    Husband of Lillian Smith of Selsey
    Smith
    Smith_BC.JPG

    Chichester Observer, Saturday July 25, 1942
    Congratulations to Mrs Lily Smith on her 21st birthday and on the birth of her baby son. Unfortunately, after only ten months of marriage she became a widow through the death in action of her husband, Sergeant-Pilot Bernard Charles Smith, after whom the baby will be named.
     
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  9. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    FAIRWEATHER, REGINALD WILLIAM
    Rank :Leading Aircraftman
    Service No: 1808349
    Date of Death: 14/01/1947
    Age: 22
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Grave Reference: Sec. F. Grave 17
    Lewes Cemetery 50.870344, -0.001449
    Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Fairweather, of Lewes

    Fairweather
    Fairweather_RG.JPG
     
  10. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    upload_2017-5-9_23-29-59.png
     
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  11. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    GRAYSON, CHARLES
    Rank: Flight Lieutenant
    Trade: Pilot
    Service No: 46769
    Date of Death: 08/07/1945
    Age: 32
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force 228 Sqdn
    Grave Reference: Sec. J. Grave 3A
    Lewes Cemetery 50.870344, -0.001449
    Son of Charles Frederick and Ellen Grayson, of Lewes; husband of Emily Olive Grayson, of Pembroke

    Grayson
    Grayson_C.JPG

    Sussex Express Friday, July13, 1945

    A HERO OF THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN
    Lewes residents will regret to read that Flight Lieutenant Charles Grayson, eldest son of Mr CF Grayson, of 29 Leicester Road, Lewes, lost his life on Sunday in a flying accident. He was educated at St Anne’s School, Lewes, and he won a scholarship at Uckfield Grammar School, where he took his Cambridge School certificate. He passed the entrance examinations for RAF apprentices’ school at Halton, and after a three years course he passed out as a leading aircraftman. In 1935, when he was posted to Tangmere to a squadron of Hurricanes, he was promoted to sergeant pilot.

    He took an active part in the air evacuation of the British armies from Dunkirk, and went through the Battle of Britain and took part in night patrols. He was shot down, being saved by parachute and qualifying for the Caterpillar Club. After promotion to flight sergeant he was sent to Canada to train pilots under the Empire scheme. He was promoted to Warrant Officer (Class 1), and was later granted a commission as flight lieutenant. He was mentioned in dispatches.

    Flight Lieutenant Grayson returned to England after 2½ years service at Medicine Hat, Canada. He was posted to a Sunderland squadron, carrying out patrols over western approaches. Later he was transferred to a Liberator squadron for service in the Middle East. He was due for retirement next September after 15 years continuous service, ten of which were spent in flying service.

    He was fond of outdoor sports, and while at Tangmere he assisted the well-known champion hurdler, Finlay, during his training. Flight Lieutenant Grayson leaves a widow and a six year old son.

    The funeral service was arranged to take place yesterday (Thursday) at St Anne’s Church, followed by interment in the Lewes Cemetery.
     
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  12. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    JENNER, ENA MAY
    Rank: Aircraftwoman 1st Class
    Service No: 2006409
    Date of Death: 14/06/1942
    Age: 26
    Regiment/Service: Women's Auxiliary Air Force
    Grave Reference: Sec. F. Grave 4
    Lewes Cemetery 50.870344, -0.001449
    Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Beard, of Lewes; wife of Alan J. W. Jenner, of Lewes

    Jenner
    Jenner_EM.JPG
     
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  13. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    OLLIVER, WILLIAM JAMES
    Rank: Aircraftman 1st Class
    Service No: 1295038
    Date of Death: 03/11/1942
    Age: 22
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Grave Reference: Sec. F. Grave 8
    Lewes Cemetery 50.870344, -0.001449
    Son of William Henry and Muriel Constance Olliver, of Lewes

    Olliver
    Olliver_WJ.JPG
     
  14. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    STEER, GEORGE
    Rank: Sergeant
    Trade: Flight Engineer
    Service No: 922222
    Date of Death: 14/05/1943
    Age: 22
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 51 Sqdn
    Grave Reference: Row A. Grave 9
    WIERDEN GENERAL CEMETERY
    [Memorial in Lewes Cemetery 50.870344, -0.001449]
    Son of George and Caroline Edith Steer, of Lewes Sussex

    Steer
    Steer_G 01.JPG Steer_G 02.JPG

    Sussex Express, Friday, May 21, 1943

    Mr and Mrs G Steer of 139 High Street, Lewes, have received notification that their son, Flight Sergeant George Steer, aged 23, a flight engineer in the RAF, has failed to return from an operational flight. He joined the RAF in April 1940 as a fitter rigger and about 12 months ago volunteered for flying duties. On leaving school he was employed by Messrs WE Baxter Ltd, as engineer’s assistant, and after some time went to a Brighton firm as a toolmaker until he joined up. His sister Dorothy is an LACW in the WAAF. His father is well known in Lewes as the steward of the Lewes Constitutional Club.
     
  15. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    WEIR, HUGH
    Rank: Sergeant
    Trade: Observer
    Service No: 926306
    Date of Death: 24/10/1941
    Age: 25
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Grave Reference: Sec. B. Grave 92
    Lewes Cemetery 50.870344, -0.001449
    Son of Thomas Logan Weir and Anne Macdonald Weir; husband of Joan Louvain Weir, of Lewes

    Weir
    Weir_H.JPG

    Sussex Express, Friday, October 31, 1941
    LEWES AIRMAN’S DEATH
    Sergt-Observer Hugh Weir, husband of Mrs Joan Weir, of 28 Mountfield Road, Lewes, was killed early on Friday when the aeroplane in which he was acting as navigator, crashed following an operational flight. His three companions in the plane were also killed.
    The deceased, who was 25 years of age, and was well known in the Lewes District, was a son of Mr and Mrs TL Weir, of 64, North Street, Lewes. His father served in the Royal Flying Corps during the last war, and deceased was born while his father was on service in France. A native of Kent, Sergt-Observer Weir lived in Lewes for the greater part of his life, and he commenced his education at the Pells School. He gained a scholarship and completed his education at Brighton Grammar School, passing out with a Junior Cambridge scholarship. Soon after he left school he entered the employment of the Ringmer Building Works and became a costing and accounts clerk. In February last year he married Miss Joan Carter, daughter of Mr and Mrs F Carter of Southover, Lewes. His father in law has worked for many years for the Southern Railway Co at Lewes station. About 18 months ago Mr Weir joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and quickly became proficient. On one occasion, while on a bomb aiming and guunery course, he broke three records, and as a result of this fine performance was awarded a silver cup. He was a keen sportsman and a particularly swimmer.
    The body was brought home to Lewes on Tuesday and the funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon.
     
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  16. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    24 October 1941 Hampden P4301 Training
    Hit trees and crashed at Charlton
    Sergeant (Pilot) James Cornelius HILL RAFVR No. 778463
    Age 23 and the son of William Charles and Annie Francis Hill of Selukwe, Southern Rhodesia.
    He is buried in sec B grave 73 Upper Heyford Cemetery
    Sergeant (Observer) Hugh WEIR RAFVR No. 926306
    Age 25 and the son of Thomas Logan Weir and Anne Macdonald Weir husband of Joan Louvain Weir, of Lewes.
    He is buried in sec B grave 92 Lewes Cemetery
    Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) Robert Charles Dillon JONES RAFVR No. 777678
    Age 20 and the son of Robert Henry Jones and Helen Agnes Jones of Southern Rhodesia
    He is buried in sec B grave 72 Upper Heyford Cemetery
    Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) Reginald Hermon BRICKETT RAFVR No. 1262175
    The son of Richard Henry and Ada May Brickett of Southgate, Middlesex.
    He is buried in sec B grave 71 Upper Heyford Cemetery
    RAF Upper Heyford
     
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  17. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    DEARDEN, ROBERT
    Rank: Flight Sergeant
    Service No: 6555
    Date of Death: 23/08/1945
    Age: 56
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
    Awards: Mentioned in Despatches
    Warnham (St Margaret) Churchyard 51.090593, -0.346116
    Son of Robert Walter and Alice Dearden, of Brighton; husband of Beatrice Victoria Dearden, of Hove

    Dearden
    Dearden_R.JPG

    From RAF service records:
    18 Jul 1889 – Born at Brighton, Sussex
    25 Jun 1915 – Enlisted 2/AM
    1 Apr 1916 – Appointed 1/AM
    1 Jul 1916 – Promoted Corporal
    1 Sep 1916 – Promoted Sergeant
    1 Jul 1917 – Appointed F/Sergeant
    6 Jan 1918 – France
    1 Apr 1918 – Transferred RAF Ch. Mech
    31 Dec 1918 – Mentioned in Despatches
    13 Feb 1919 – Transferred to RAF Reserve
    30 Apr 1920 – Discharged
    27 Sep 1920 – Marriage to Beatrice Victoria Worster
    27 Mar 1939 – Enlisted Class E Reserve for 4 years, AC2, Personnel Despatch Cetre, Cardington
    28 Mar 1939 – Sergeant
    27 Aug 1939 – 13 Maintenance Unit, Henlow, Bedfordshire
    1 Oct 1939 – 49 Maintenance Unit, Faygate, Sussex
    1 Oct 1940 – Promoted F/Sergeant

    An entry records that he ‘Died at Warnham, Sussex on 23 August 1945 from natural causes.’
    A second note records ‘Died on active service 23 August 1945.’

    His RAF service form states that at the time of his enlistment (25 June 1916) his ‘Prior engagement in HM Forces – Westminster Dragoons, 8 months.’

    There is a ‘Territorial Force, attestation’ dated 19 February 1914 for:
    No. 1728 Robert Dearden
    2nd County of London Yeomanry
    Discharged as medically unfit 29 August 1914
     
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  18. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    BROWN, CHARLES HENRY JOHN
    Rank: Sergeant
    Service No: 1263748
    Date of Death: 04/01/1945
    Age: 33
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
    Grave Reference: Grave 1048
    Newhaven Cemetery 50.800361, 0.036165
    Son of Charles Frederick and Ann Elizabeth Brown; husband of Violet Eva Brown, of Newhaven.

    Brown
    Brown_CHJ.JPG
     
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  19. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    CASE, EMERSON EARL
    Rank: Sergeant
    Trade: Air Gunner
    Service No: R/183870
    Date of Death: 19/11/1943
    Age: 21
    Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Air Force 431 Sqdn
    Grave Reference: Grave 588
    Newhaven Cemetery 50.800361, 0.036165
    Son of Franklin Edward and Emma Rozella Case; husband of Eileen Muriel Case, of Woodstock, Ontario, Canada

    Case
    Case_EE.JPG
     
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  20. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    FORSYTH, CHARLES HENRY
    Rank: Flight Sergeant
    Trade: Wireless Op./Air Gunner
    Service No: 1290252
    Date of Death: 07/01/1944
    Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 180 Sqdn
    Grave Reference: Grave 627
    Newhaven Cemetery 50.800361, 0.036165

    Forsyth
    Forsyth_CH 01.JPG Forsyth_CH 02.JPG
     
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