Sevenoaks War Memorial, Kent

Ramacal, not to worry, I'm not expecting you to take time from your wonderful postings to answer "idle" questions.
Welshman had a complement of about 240 men. Various sources give differing figures for casualties but approx 150 to 160, however all seem to state only a "few" survivors.
Geoff's Search Engine gives 143 crew fatalities...
Sorry for drift....

 

KevinW4 - No question is irrelevant. I am venturing into new areas to learn more.

As always Peter, your input is invaluable.

Thank you both for your interest. All comments and extra information are very welcome.

Kind Regards - Rob

 

BUTCHER, LESLIE CHARLES
Rank: Sergeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Unit Text: 103 Sqdn.
Age: 20 Date of Death: 25/02/1941
Service No: 581496
Additional information: Son of Douglas and Edith Butcher, of Sevenoaks, Kent.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 40.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL


25-26 February 1941

103 Squadron
Wellington IC T2621 FM-
Op. Dusseldorf

The aircraft took off at 1815 hrs from Newton. It was believed to have exploded in the air. (No further details)

BCL Vol.2 - Chorley

 

COTTON, STANLEY HARRY
Rank: Flying Officer (Nav.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 140 Sqdn.
Date of Death: 18/03/1943
Service No: 106047
Additional information: Son of Margaret Cotton, of Sevenoaks.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. B. Gen. Grave 788.
Cemetery: SEVENOAKS (GREATNESS PARK) CEMETERY


18 March 1943

140 Army Cooperation Squadron
Blenheim IV N3612

Flash bomb exploded under the aircraft on release at Odstone bombing range blowing off the tail.

'The Bristol Blenheim' - Warner

 

DEWAR, GORDON JAMES MASTERTON
Rank: Flying Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Unit Text: 224 Sqdn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 09/12/1940
Service No: 41385
Additional information: Son of John G. N. and Winifred M. Dewar, of Haywards Heath, Sussex.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 5.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL


9 December 1940

224 squadron
Hudson I N7265 QX-J
Op. Stand Patrol

Took off at 1035 hrs from Leuchars. Failed to return. Possibly shot down by III/ZG76.


CC Losses Vol.1 - McNeill

 

EVANS, JOHN DAVID
Rank: Flight Lieutenant (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 487 (R.N.Z.A.F.) Sqdn.
Date of Death: 25/04/1945
Service No: 146716
Grave/Memorial Reference: Joint grave 27. J. 11-12.
Cemetery: BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY


25 April 1945

487 Squadron
Mosquito VI PZ332 'E'

Failed to return Emden ( Approx 2320 hrs)

'2nd tactical Air Force' Vol.3 - Shores/Thomas

 

FENTON, JOHN OLLIS
Rank: Pilot Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 235 Sqdn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 28/05/1941
Service No: 81679
Additional information: Son of John Edward and Ida Elizabeth Fenton, of Sevenoaks, Kent.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 32.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
29 May 1941

235 Squadron
Blenheim IV Z5968.
Op. Pirate Patrol.

Took off at 1850 hrs from Bircham Newton. Shot down between 2055 hrs and 2103 hrs by either Oblt K-H Lessmann or Lt K Rung, both of 2/JG52 operating from De Vlijt. The Blenheim crashed off Texel/Terschelling.

CC Losses. Vol.1 - McNeill

 

BARTHOLOMEW, JOSEPH WILLIAM FRANCIS
Rank: Pilot Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 907 Balloon Sqdn.
Age: 27
Date of Death: 12/11/1940
Service No: 78886
Additional information: Son of Joseph Etherington Bartholomew and Ethel Emily Bartholomew, of Sevenoaks. LL.B. Hons. Solicitor.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. A Cons. Grave 138.
Cemetery: SEVENOAKS (GREATNESS PARK) CEMETERY
Death registered in Islington, possible air raid casualty.

Name: Joseph W F Bartholomew
Death Registration Month/Year: 1940
Age at death (estimated): 27
Registration district: Islington
Inferred County: Greater London
Volume: 1b
Page: 517

 

Hi Nicks. Good catch.

I'm inclined to agree with you about the air raid scenario. Using Geoff's search engine, I found another 16 men killed same date, same unit on CWGC.


ARNOLD ML 78290 907 BALLOON SQDN 12/11/1940 RAFVR
BELL JJH 629670 907 BALLOON 12/11/1940 ROYAL AIR FORCE
BERNSTEIN M 1056202 907 BALLOON SQDN 12/11/1940 RAFVR
BEZZANT WE 845153 907 BALLOON SQDN 12/11/1940 RAF (AAF)
BURTON RJ 355278 907 BALLOON 12/11/1940 RAF
CHOPE AV 845095 907 BALLOON 12/11/1940 RAF (AUX)
COTTER PS 1056210 907 BALLOON SQDN 12/11/1940 RAFVR
DAVIDSON T 1056187 907 BALLOON SQDN 12/11/1940 RAFVR
GRANT AW 86735 907 BALLOON SQDN 12/11/1940 RAF
GREW L 844945 907 BALLOON SQDN 12/11/1940 RAF
HYNER HA 297123 907 BALLOON SQDN 12/11/1940 RAF
NICHOLSON L 844631 907 BALLOON SQDN 12/11/1940 RAF (AAF)
REEVES FC 844716 907 BALLOON SQDN 12/11/1940 RAF (AAF)
SANDS JRM 844529 907 BALLOON SQDN 12/11/1940 RAF (AAF)
TOWNSHEND CS 844509 907 BALLOON 12/11/1940 RAF (AUX)
WALKER F 1006638 907 BALLOON SQDN 12/11/1940 RAFVR

Adding details to original post.

Thanks again.

Regards - Rob

Death registered in Islington, possible air raid casualty.

Name: Joseph W F Bartholomew
Death Registration Month/Year: 1940
Age at death (estimated): 27
Registration district: Islington
Inferred County: Greater London
Volume: 1b
Page: 517

 

Photo here Barrage balloon, RAF Stanmore 1939 - World War Two - Media Storehouse of 907 (County of Middlesex) Balloon Sqdn in 1939 at Stanmore. They had more casualties in 1942. More hazardous than I thought! This was the night that Sloane square Station was hit, West End plus Kingston. 183 civilian dead that night...
5 Flights each of 9 balloons, based Haringey and Woodberry Down, near Finsbury Park.
On the Barrage Balloon Reunion Club site, Surname
are actually 16 members of 907 killed that night. I don't know too much about how they operated, but I didn't think 16 would be needed for one balloon, so bit of a mystery how so many were killed.
Anyway, thread drift, there I go again, pulling at one thread and it starts unravelling all over the place! .... sorry!

 

HODGES, HENRY FITZGERALD
Rank: Pilot Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 138 Sqdn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 04/11/1943
Service No: 158788
Additional information: Son of Henry Blomfield Hodges and Eileen Josephine Hodges, of Sevenoaks, Kent.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Row 1. Grave 1.
Cemetery: MARCOLS-LES-EAUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY


4 November 1943

138 squadron
Halifax II DT726 NF-H
Op. SOE

This aircraft was operating deep into south eastern France and it crashed in mountainous country about 10 Miles north west of Privas.

'Though Without Anger' - Cummings

 

KEVIS, ALLEN JAMES
Rank: Flight Sergeant (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 100 Sqdn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 17/12/1943
Service No: 1432344
Additional information: Son of William Henry and Margaret Daisy Kevis, of Sevenoaks.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. A. Cons. Grave 124.
Cemetery: SEVENOAKS (GREATNESS PARK) CEMETERY


16-17 August 1942

100 squadron
Lancaster III JB674 HW-Q
Op. Berlin.


Took off 1611 hrs from Grimsby. Collided in the air with another Lancaster from the Squadron, (Lancaster III JB678 HW-F) both bombers falling at 0040 hrs near Grimsby, Lincolnshire.

BCL. Vol.4 - Chorley

 

KNELL, ALBERT JOHN
Rank: Pilot Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 57 Sqdn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 12/08/1942
Service No: 115281 Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. T. H. Knell, of Sevenoaks, Kent.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 70.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL


11-12August 1942

57 Squadron Wellington III Z1656 DX-
Op. Mainz.

Took off 2255 hrs Feltwell. Presumed lost over the sea.

BCL. Vol.3 - Chorley

 

MOSS, EDWARD HENRY
Rank: Squadron Leader (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 61 Sqdn.
Age: 32
Date of Death: 31/03/1944
Service No: 106228
Awards: D F C
Additional information: Son of William Henry and Rose Winifred Moss, of Sevenoaks, Kent. B.A. (Oxon.): Schoolmaster.
Grave/Memorial Reference: 8. J. 6. Cemetery: HANOVER WAR CEMETERY


30-31 March 1944

61 Squadron
Lancaster I DV311 QR-P
Op. Nurnberg

Took off 2217 hrs Coningsby. Shot while outbound by a night-fighter and crashed at Rimbach on the west bank of the Fulda, 6km NNE of Schlitz.

BCL. Vol.5 - Chorley

 

NEVE, CECIL
Rank: Pilot Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 29
Date of Death: 22/08/1942
Service No: 118886
Additional information: Son of Walter Neville Neve and Sarah Eliza Neve; husband of Cecily Deborah Neve, of Benenden, Kent.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 70.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL


22 August 1942

10 OTU
Whitley V Z9294
Op. Anti Submarine Patrol.

Took off St.Eval. Lost without trace.

BCL Vol. 7 - Chorley

 

PAIN, ARTHUR DOUGLAS
Rank: Sergeant (Nav.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 57 Sqdn.
Age: 19
Date of Death: 22/06/1943
Service No: 1394734
Additional information: Son of Allan Walter and Eva Pain, of Sevenoaks, Kent.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot EE. Grave 2.
Cemetery: EINDHOVEN (WOENSEL) GENERAL CEMETERY


21-22 June 1943

57 Squadron
Lancaster I W4377 DX-
Op. Krefeld.

Took off 2316 hrs Scampton. Crashed 0250 hrs just to the north of Boxtel (Noord Brabant)

BCL Vol.4 - Chorley

 

MURPHY, ROGER WILLIAM
Rank: Flying Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Date of Death: 12/09/1944
Service No: 153830
Additional information: Husband of K. Murphy.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 208.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL


12 September 1944

1653 HCU

Stirling III LK499 'K'
Training

Took off Chedburgh for a cross country, base - Rugby - Bristol - Plymouth - Bude - St.Davids - Fishguard - Seagull Island - Aberystwyth - Granborough - Luton - base.
Nearing Plymouth something quite catastrophic overtook the crew at 2225 hrs debris and bodies were scattered over the south-west fringes of Dartmoor in the vicinity of Cadover Bridge, Lee Moor, 9 Miles from the city's railway station. Such was the force of the impact that two of the crew were either never found or could not be identified, F/O. Murphy being one of the two.

BCL Vol.8 - Chorley

 

SHELTON, JOSEPH WILLIAM (JOEY)
Rank: Sergeant (Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 115 Sqdn.
Age: 19
Date of Death: 21/01/1944
Service No: 1895713
Additional information: Son of Joseph William and Mary Agnes Shelton, of Worthing, Sussex.
Grave/Memorial Reference: 6. K. 2.
Cemetery: BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY


21-22 January 1944

115 squadron
Lancaster II DS777 A4-C
Op. Magdeburg.

Took off 2019 hrs Witchford. Shot down over the target area by a night-fighter.


BCL Vol.5 - Chorley

 

TOOTAL, JOHN STUART
Rank: Flight Lieutenant (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 462 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn
Age: 26
Date of Death: 24/02/1945
Service No: 116056
Additional information: Son of Ernest Albert and Edina Camille Tootal, of Lexden, Colchester, Essex; husband of Geraldine Winifred Tootal.
Grave/Memorial Reference: 3. J. 8.
Cemetery: RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY


24-25 February 1945

462 Squadron

Halifax III PN429 Z5-E
Op. Bomber Support.

Took off 1703 hrs Foulsham to mingle with a diversionary sweep heading towards northern France.

BCL Vol.6 - Chorley

 

TRIBE, WILLIAM FERNLY
Rank: Aircraftman 1st Class
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Date of Death: 21/12/1942
Service No: 1460752
Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot E. Row E. Grave 15.
Cemetery: LE PETIT LAC CEMETERY
Listed in 'Flight' of 1 April 1943 as Killed On Active Service.


[FONT=&quot]'Killed on active service' means that the individual died as a result of an accident or something similar whilst engaged on operational duties. Thus, if a person was killed on a training sortie, or a flight not engaged in operations against the enemy that would be classed as KOAS.

[/FONT]