Sgt Charles Alfred Ream RAFVR - died 26/04/1947

The link explains how but you will need permission from the NOK if you can find them

RAF - Contacts

However as I said he might be eligible; just remember that his death may have had no link to his service

 

Hi Susan,

The details of Sgt Ream deaths reminded me, of a RAF officer commemorated on the Runnymede Mem.

67712 F/L Walter Harold COKE-KERR Pilot D.F.C RAF Died 11 March 1947 Runnymede Memorial Panel 289 Addenda

He served with 139 Sqn Mosquitoes 1944-45. He was released by the RAF (1945-46) and later died of cancer in New York. I am not sure where he was buried at the time, and I believe the RAF had the same problem hence him being commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Mark

 

Charles Alfred Ream was my father’s twin brother. Him and my father, Thomas Edward John Ream we’re both fighter pilots. Uncle Charlie contracted polio while posted out in Egypt, was invalided home, and died in 1947, an indirect war casualty. If you need any further information contact me at ginandlen@yahoo.co.uk
Virginia Smith (nee Ream)

 

I am Charles Alfred Ream’s next of kin, if you need further information.

 

Welcome

Assume by the time he died he had been invalided out of the RAF
Do you have his service records
Do you have his death cert

You dont need to be next of kin to apply
Get a copy of military service records

Regards
Clive

 

No, I have no records, I was born in 1948 so I never knew my uncle, but he and my father were twins, and their mother lived with us when I was young, they used to remember and talk of him often, especially on their birthday

 

This is incorrect, Charles Alfred Ream is being confused with his twin brother, Thomas Edward John Ream, who died of bowel cancer in 1980, and was my father. Charles Alfred, who was unmarried, contracted polio while out in Egypt with the RAF. He was invalided home, where my Granny looked after him until his death in 1947. My father, who was the married twin came back to the same house, where I was brought up. Charles was Sargeant Ream, father was Flying Officer Ream. I hope this clarifies matters, if not you can contact me at ginandlen@yahoo.co.uk. I am the only remaining next of kin of them both

 

No, Charlie died of polio caught in Egypt on active service, Thomas Ream his twin died of bowel cancer. I am their NOK

 

Hello Virginia


My query is re Charles:

Was he still in the RAF when he died?
Apply for his service records.via this link Get a copy of military service records
You require date of birth and death cert via this link https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/Login.asp

Once you have this info you will be able to ascertain if he a candidate for commemoration by CWGC

regards
Clive

 

Charles Alfred Ream (1916-1947) - Find A Grave...

 

for a quick check you can contact Air Historical Branch (RAF)
Send an email with Charles details they are very helpful

ahb.raf@btconnect.com

Air Historical Branch | Royal Air Force

 

I have recently had the family plot tidied up (at considerable expense!)I enclose a pic of it taken recently

 

I shall have to go and rephotograph his grave myself for my records. It looks 1000 times better than it did previously with the bush overgrowing the whole plot.

Incidentally, as an aside, when I saw your fathers name on the kerbstone I looked into his service, specifically with the mention that he served in the Battle of Britain. Now I am not questioning his outstanding service, but nowhere on any extensive listings of pilots who flew in the BoB does his name appear. I was flummoxed by that.

Could you elaborate at all?

 

Apparently I gather,he was in the BoB very briefly right at the end,the twin Charles was in in for longer, but I do not have any service records. I did have his flight log, and flying jacket, but I donated them to the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovilton, Somerset

 

For your completion you should really apply for their service records.

 

Ream, Charles Alfred Sgt BR 235 Sqn Died 1947
List of RAF aircrew in the Battle of Britain (O–R) - Wikipedia

 

It’s old but Coke Kerr is buried in Jamaica . Just not managed to find the grave in the Cemetery which is now in a hotels grounds . At the least he should be on the Ottawa memorial not the Runnymede memorial to me

 

Ream is an interesting case. The Grimsby Daily Telegraph (1 May 1947) printed an account of his funeral:


(FindMyPast)

His father was Private Alfred Denis Ream, 58625 Machine Gun Corps, killed in action during WW1: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/593803/alfred-denis-ream/

Alfred's pension card has details for both of his sons:


(Fold3)

 

As noted previously, Charles Alfred Ream died from the above on 26 April 1947, age 31:



He enlisted in the RAF on 23 August 1938, and was discharged physically unfit on 4 March 1943, but there doesn't seem to be enough evidence to make a case for commemoration.