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Eynsford

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Eynsford civic war memorial is located in the High Street, Eynsford, at its

junction with Bower Lane. The memorial was unveiled and dedicated on

Thursday15 July 1920; the service of dedication was conducted by the Vicar

of the parish church of St. Martin, Eynsford, the Reverend Thomas Frederick

James Mummery M.A. whose 19 year old son Victor Mummery is amongst

the Eynsford Great War casualties that are commemorated on the war

memorial. As is regrettably the same situation with the vast majority of the

different forms of rememberance of the victims of war in Kent, and

elsewhere, the Eynsford civic war memorial has a number of natives and

residents of the parish that are not commemorated on it, and they have been

added below as ‘Lost Men.’ The civic war memorial bears the inscription:-

TO OUR GLORIOUS DEAD 1914-1919 1939-1945

The Great War 1914 -1919

BALDWIN, KIPPS. Gunner, 76500. 48th Battery, 36th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Died 14 September 1914. Born Dartford, Kent. Enlisted London. Son of Kipps Baldwin and Annie E. Baldwin. Buried Vendresse British Cemetery, Aisne, France. Grave Ref: III.E.4. A regular soldier, Kipps was posted to France on 16 August 1914. BLACKGROVE, REGINALD. J. Boy, 156491. Royal Flying Corps. Died 12 February 1918. Born Walworth, London. Son of James E. Blackgrove and Louisa Blackgrove. Brother of Rose L. Blackgrove of Farningham, Kent. Buried Eynsford, Kent, Baptist Churchyard. Grave Ref: 21. BLAKE, CHARLES. Private, 242785. 1st/5th (Territorial Force) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 23 November 1918. Born Bermondsey, London. Enlisted Swanley, Kent. Resided Eynsford, Kent. Commemorated on the Kirkee 1914-1918 Memorial, India. Face B. Unfortunately, as is applicable to not an insignificant number of casualties from both the world wars, who are commemorated on many civic war memorials or other forms of their rememberance at different locations, with the initial C or G, Charles has been commemorated on the Eynsford civic war memorial with the initial of his Christian name incorrectly shown as G, as opposed to C.

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BUCKWELL, ALFRED ALBERT. Driver, 74719. “O” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery. Died 10 December 1917. Aged 21. Born Shoreham, Kent. Enlisted Woolwich, Kent. Son of Alfred and Alice Buckwell of 2, Alexandra Villas, Perry Hall Road, Orpington, Kent. Buried Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, Manancourt, Somme, France. Grave Ref: VII. A. 20. COLES, HAROLD JAMES. Private 1st Class, 82991. Royal Air Force. Died 12 November 1918. Aged 23. Son of Frank Coles of Eynsford, Dartford, Kent. Buried St. Martin Churchyard, Eynsford, Kent. Grave Ref: In east part. CRICKENDEN, HARRY. Rifleman, S/26321. 7th (Service) Battalion, Rifle Brigade. Died 3 May 1917. Aged 33. Born Eynsford, Kent. Enlisted Woolwich, Kent. Resided Dartford, Kent. Son of William and Annie Crickenden (née David) of 9, Willow Terrace, Eynsford, Kent. Husband of Emily Caroline Crickenden (née Dunk) of 4, Marriott Road New Town, Dartford, Kent. Commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 9, and on the Dartford, Kent civic war memorial, unfortunately on the latter form of his rememberance, Harry’s surname is spelt Crickenham. GASTON, ALFRED WILLIAM. Gunner, 74319. 130th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died 21 March 1918. Aged 33. Born and resided Eynsford, Dartford, Kent. Enlisted Woolwich, Kent. Son of William and Emily Gaston of 12, Willow Terrace, Eynsford, Kent. Buried Serre Road Cemetery, Somme, France. Grave Ref: XVII. H. 9/10. Alfred enlisted in the army ‘For the Duration of the War,’ on 10 April 1916, at which time he stated that he was 30 years and 90 days old, employed as an Electrician, and residing at 12, Willow Terrace, Eynsford, Dartford, Kent, naming his mother as his next of kin. On being posted to serve in the British Expeditionary Force, Alfred sailed from Southampton on 30 August 1916, and arrived at the French post of Harve the following day. He joined the 130th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery in the field on 3 September 1916. From 25 November 1917 to 9 December 1917, Alfred was granted a period of leave to the United Kingdom. Alfred was killed in action on the first day of the German 1918 Spring Offensive.

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GATES, ALFRED. Private, G/7533. “D” Company, 8th (Service) Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died Monday 18 June 1917. Aged 38. Born Little Chart, Ashford, Kent. Enlisted Swanley Junction, Kent. Resided Eynsford, Dartford, Kent. Son of Samuel and Hannah Gates. Husband of Annie Agnes Gates of 2, Bank Cottages, Eynsford, Dartford, Kent. Commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 45, as shown above. GRIFFITHS, ERNEST ALFRED. Rifleman, R/56005. King's Royal Rifle Corps, posted to the 6th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Rifles). Died 9 August 1918. Aged 19. Born Barking, Essex. Enlisted Dartford, Kent. Resided Farningham, Kent. Son of Edward Griffiths and Sarah Elizabeth Griffiths of Fort Cottages, Farningham, Dartford, Kent. Buried Villiers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Somme, France. Grave Ref: XVIII. C. 6. Formerly Private, TR/9/25841, 45th Training Reserve Battalion.

HAINES, WILLIAM RICHARD. Private, L/8069. 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died 30 October 1914. Born St. Pauls, Deptford, Kent. Enlisted Maidstone, Kent. Resided Bromley, Kent. Son of George Haines of St. Pauls Cray, Kent. Commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Berks Cemetery Extension, Comines Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium. Panel 2, as shown above. Formerly Private, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). William enlisted in the army as a regular soldier on 21 December 1903, at which time he stated that he was 18 years and 7 months old, and employed as a Labourer. He was attested to serve in the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), and at some point in time William had been transferred to serve in The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), possibly in the 2nd Battalion. On 7 September 1914 William was posted to France, at which time he was serving as a member of the 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment).

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HOLDSTOCK, JAMES. Born Kingsdown, Kent. Son of Charles and Alice Holdstock of Eynsford, Dartford, Kent. At the time of the 1901 census, the Holdstock family resided at 7, Church Alley, Eynsford, Kent. Head of the house was 46 Year old Tenterden, Kent naïve Charles Holdstock, who was employed as an Agricultural Labourer. James was recorded by the census enumerator as being an 8 year old native of Kingsdown, Kent. He was gassed during the Great War, and died as the result of same at Kings College Hospital, London in 1921. In need of more in-depth research at the time of adding the Eynsford commemorated casualties on the www.kentfallen.com website, but it is possible that James was also known as Joe. The death of a Joe Holdstock was registered in the Lambeth, London, Registration District during the second quarter of 1921. If James and Joe are indeed one and the same person, his case will be submitted by us to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, to hopefully at long last enable him to be officially commemorated as a Commonwealth casualty of the Great War. KNIGHT, WILLIAM HENRY. Private, PW/3983. 26th (Service) Battalion, Middlesex Regimen, (3rd Public Works Pioneers). Died 8 January 1919. Aged 38. Husband of Eliza Knight of Hulbury Corner, Swanley Junction, Kent. Buried Batoum British Cemetery, Georgia. Commemorated on the Haidar Pasha Memorial, Haidar Pasha Cemetery, Istanbul, Turkey. The prefix PW on William’s regimental number is indicative of being a member of either the 18th, 19th or 26th Public Works battalions of the Middlesex Regiment. LAWRENCE, ARTHUR. Private, 282946. 1st/4th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers). Died 7 October 1916. Born and resided Eynsford, Dartford, Kent. Enlisted Woolwich, Kent. Son of George and Sarah Lawrence of Eynsford, Kent. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 9 D and 16 B. MUMMERY, VICTOR FREDERICK. Gunner, 625930. 2nd Battery 126th Brigade, Honourable Artillery Company. Died 31 August 1918. Aged 19. Born Eastbourne, Sussex. Resided London. Son of the Reverend Thomas Frederick James Mummery M.A. and Mrs. Mummery of The Vicarage, Eynsford, Dartford, Kent. Buried Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, Aubigny-en-Artois, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Ref: IV. G. 44. Having been the Vicar of the parish church of St. James, Gravesend, Kent from 1912 to 1917, Victors father then became the Vicar of Eynsford.

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MACKRETH, WILFRED J0HN. Private, 463326. 54th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment). Died 3 April 1918. Aged 26. Born Eynsford, Dartford, Kent 12 October 1891. Son of John and Annie MacKreth (née Hampton) of 4, Mill Lane, Eynsford, Kent. Buried Haney Maple Ridge Cemetery, British Columbia, Canada. Grave Ref: North half, Lot 4. B.20 (South-East corner). Commemorated on page 461 of the Canadian First World War Book of Remembrance, and on the Maple Ridge Cenotaph which is located in Maple Ridge Memorial Peace Park, just off 224 Street, Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada. Wilfred enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Vernon, British Columbia, Canada on 24 August 1915. MILLS, WALTER GEORGE. Rifleman, R/33581. 17th (Service) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps. Died 5 August 1917. Born Farningham, Kent. Enlisted Bexleyheath, Kent. Resided Sidcup, Kent. Son of George Mills and Annie M. Mills. Buried New Irish Farm Cemetery, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave Ref: XIII. E. 7. Also commemorated on the Sidcup, Kent civic war memorial. Formerly Rifleman, S/22487, Rifle Brigade, and TR/13/38523, 112th Training Reserve Battalion. HEAD, DONALD JAMES. Private, 42230. 9th (Service) Battalion, Essex Regiment. Died 13 October 1918. Aged 19. Born Crewkerne Somerset. Enlisted Greenwich, Kent. Resided Blackheath, Kent. Son of Albert Head and Sylvia Annie Head of 71, Old Dover Road, Blackheath, London. Buried Douai British Cemetery, Cuincy, Nord, France. Grave Ref: F. 10. Formerly Private, 47560, Northamptonshire Regiment. Two Great War casualties are commemorated by the CWGC that might have been this casualty. Further checking revealed that the other casualty shown as D. Head, who died of on 12 November 1918, was actually Albert D. Head. PANKHURST, FRANK. Lance Corporal, 19043. 10th (Service) Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), (Kent County). Died 13 February 1917. Aged 25. Enlisted Maidstone, Kent. Resided Eynsford, Kent. Son of James and Elizabeth L. Pankhurst of Fern Bank, Eynsford, Kent. Buried Dickebusch New Military Cemetery, Dikkebus, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Grave Ref: M. 32. Formerly Corporal, 2166, West Kent Yeomanry (Queen's Own).

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POCOCK, WILLIAM HENRY. Private, 50673. 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Died 13 May 1917. Born Eynsford, Dartford, Kent. Enlisted Dartford, Kent. Son of William and Eliza Pocock. Buried Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Ref: I. F. 28. Formerly S/4/158535, Army Service Corps. PAYNE, LEONARD LEWIS. Rifleman, S/31763. 7th (Service) Battalion, Rifle Brigade. Died 1 May 1917. Aged 19. Born Shoeburyness, Essex. Enlisted Woolwich, Kent. Resided Eynsford, Kent. Son of Phoebe Payne of Station Road, Eynsford, Dartford, Kent. Buried Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Ref: I. D. 3. PAYLIS, FRANK WILLIAM. M.M. Private, G/1962. 7th (Service) Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died 15 July 1918. Born and enlisted Bromley, Kent. Resided Eynsford, Dartford, Kent. Son of the late Charles and Ann Paylis of Eynsford, Kent. Buried Cologne Southern Cemetery, Germany. Grave Ref: XV. A. 51. ROBSON, HARRY STUART. Lieutenant. 10th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment, (Hackney). Died 8 August 1918. Aged 26. Son of Harry and Charlotte Robson of 116, Calabria Road, Highbury, London. Husband of Laura Amy Robson of Birling House, Eynsford, Dartford, Kent. Commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 10. STANFIELD, WILLIAM BOWMAN. Lieutenant. 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. Died 26 September 1915. Aged 27. Born Greenwich, Kent 14 July 1888. Son of the late William Samuel Stanfield and Mary Adelaide Stanfield. Buried Noeux-les-Mines Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Ref: I. K. 10. William was baptised in the parish church of St. Barnabas, Rotherhithe, Surrey on 28 August 1889, as was his sister Maud Mary Stanfield who was born on 13 June 1889. At the time of their baptisms, the Stanfield family resided at 45, Elgar Street, Rotherhithe, Surrey. William was gazetted as a Second Lieutenant in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, on 6 February 1915.

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WHIFFIN, CYRIL. Private, G/5492. 10th (Service) Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died 23 March 1918. Aged 25. Born and resided Eynsford Dartford, Kent. Enlisted Gravesend, Kent. Son of George and Louisa Whiffin of Eynsford Dartford, Kent. Commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 2. Formerly Private, 3796, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment).

The Great War 1914 -1919

Lost Men

BOOKER, ERNEST. Private, 12728. 6th (Service) Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died 17 January 1918. Aged 34. Born Eynsford Dartford, Kent. Son of Owen and Elizabeth Booker of Railway Cottage, Swanley Kent. Buried Merville Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France. Grave Ref: III. B. 35. ROSE, DOUGLAS NORMAN. Private, 1737. 1st/4th (Territorial Force) Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. Died 17 April 1916. Aged 21. Born and enlisted Wells, Somerset. Resided Wookey Hole, Somerset. Son of Arthur and Eliza Annie Rose of Mill House, Eynsford, Dartford, Kent. Commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq. Panel 12.

The Second World War 1939 – 1945

BOWERS, CHARLES WILLIAM. Pilot Officer, 56414. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 524 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died 4 March 1945. Aged 30. Son of Josiah and Phyllis Bowers (née Webb). Husband of Muriel Beatrice Bowers (née Phillips) of Gillingham, Kent. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Panel 268. Charles’s birth was registered in the Dartford, Kent, Registration District during the first quarter of 1915. His marriage to Muriel Beatrice Phillips was registered in the Hollingbourne, Kent, Registration District during the first quarter of 1940. 524 Squadron, Royal Air Force was formed at Oban, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, on Wednesday 20 October 1943, for the purpose of obtaining operational experience with Martin Mariner flying boats. The type was not adopted for Royal Air Force service and the squadron disbanded on Tuesday 7 December 1943. On Friday 7 April 1944, Charles’s squadron reformed at R.A.F. Davidstow Moor,

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Camelford, North Cornwall, and was equipped with Wellington aircraft, for patrols against enemy E-Boats off the French coast. Once located, these were the targets of strike squadrons which worked closely with the Wellingtons, though occasionally the squadron took part in bombing attacks on enemy shipping. CHESTER, ARTHUR JOHN. Sergeant, 1254680. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 466 (Royal Australian Air Force) Squadron. Died 14 January 1943. Aged 26. Son of George and Mable Beatrice Chester of Eynsford, Dartford, Kent. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Panel 145. Arthur was amongst the seven crew of Wellington bomber HE152 HD-L, which was being flown by 23 year old Raymond V. Babington, of Hanwell, Middlesex, when it took off from R.A.F. Leconfield, Beverley, Yorkshire, at 1621 hours on 14 January 1943. The Wellington was one of seven Wellington bombers of No.4 Group that were taking part in a minelaying operation in the Nectarines Region of the Frisian Islands. Arthur’s aircraft was shot down by Kriegsmarine flak, and crashed at 1742 hours into the sea west of Ameland. The body of 19 year old Flight Sergeant (Navigator) Herbert W. Stewart, R.C.A.F. of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, was recovered from the sea, and laid to rest at Vlieland General Cemetery, Oostvlieland, Friesland, Netherlands. The rest of the bombers crew have no known graves and are all commemorated on Runnymede Memorial. Wellington bomber HE152 HD-L was the only aircraft that failed to return from the operation which cost Arthur his life, and was also his squadron's first operational loss since its formation at Driffield, Yorkshire, on 15 October 1942. CROSBY, RICHARD HARFORD. Captain, 105162. Royal Army Service Corps. Died 2 May 1941. Aged 30. Born London. Resided Kent. Son of Harry and Agnes Ethel Crosby. Commemorated at Golders Green Crematorium, Hoop Lane, (off Finchley Road), London, NW11 7NL. Panel 2. GIGGER, DERRICK JOHN. Pilot Officer (Pilot), 173328. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 625 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died 16 March 1944. Aged 21. Son of John Henry and Elsie Winifred Gigger (née Hussey) of Eynsford, Kent. Buried Dannes Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Ref: Row B. Grave 2. Prior to his war service, Derrick had been employed in the Public Assistance Department of the Kent County Council. Derrick was the pilot of Lancaster bomber W4833 CF-J, which took off from R.A.F. Kelstern, Lincolnshire at 1855 hours on 15 March 1944, taking part in a raid on the German city of Stuttgart by 863 aircraft of R.A.F. Bomber Command. The bomber force was comprised of 617 Lancasters, 230 Halifaxes, and 16 Mosquitos. The R.A.F. bomber force flew over France nearly as far as the Swiss

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frontier before turning north-east to approach Stuttgart, a tactic which delayed the German fighters contacting the bomber stream. The German fighter controller split his forces into two distinct parts, and when the German fighters did arrive, just before the target area was reached, the usual fierce combats ensued. 27 of the Lancasters, and 10 Halifaxes were lost, due to a number of reasons during the operation, and 2 of the Lancasters force-landed in Switzerland. Adverse winds delayed the opening of the attack and the same winds may have been the cause of the Pathfinder marking falling back well short of the target, despite the clear weather conditions. Some of the early bombing fell in the centre of Stuttgart but most of it fell in open country to the south-west of the city. The Akademie was damaged in the centre of Stuttgart and some housing was destroyed in the south-western suburbs. Derrick’s aircraft was presumed to have crashed in the sea somewhere off the coast of France. Like Derrick, the body of his Flight Engineer, 22 year old Sergeant (Flight Engineer) Robert F. McNeill of Broxburn, West Lothian, Scotland, was later recovered from the sea. Robert is at rest at the Abbeville Communal Cemetery, Somme, France, and the other five members of the crew of Derrick’s Lancaster whose bodies were not recovered, are all commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. INSTON, JOHN. Flying Officer, 151635. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 106 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died 30 January 1944. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Panel 207. Formerly 1394542, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, John was commissioned R.A.F. (V.R.) on 19 march 1943. John was one of the seven crew of Lancaster bomber ND336 ZN-Q, which was being flown by 26 year old Pilot Officer Kenneth H.W. Kirkland R.A.A.F. of Bellingen, New South Wales, Australia, when it took off from R.A.F. Metheringham, Lincolnshire at 1719 hours on 30 January 1944. The Lancaster was in a force of 534 R.A.F. Bomber Command aircraft which was comprised of 440 Lancasters, 82 Halifaxes, and 12 Mosquitos which were taking part in a raid on the German city of Berlin. There were no preliminary diversions carried out on this raid, and the attempt by the German controllers to intercept the bomber stream over the sea failed. The bombers were well on the way to Berlin before meeting any enemy fighter aircraft, but the Germans were then able to follow the bomber stream until well into the return flight. A total of 32 Lancasters and 1 Halifax were lost during the raid, most of which were shot down by German fighters. John’s aircraft is known to have crashed in the North Sea. On 5 March 1944, the body of Kenneth Kirkland was discovered on the northern shores of Vlieland, which is one of the Frisian Islands lying off the north coast of Holland. Kenneth was laid to rest in the Vlieland General Cemetery, Oostvlieland, Friesland, Netherlands, the day after he had been found. The other six members of Lancaster ND336 ZN-Q are all commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

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MAJOR, PETER ANTHONY. Flight Lieutenant, 33352. Royal Air Force. 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died 17 May 1942. Aged 24. Adopted son of John Lewis Major and Constance Theodora Major of Eynsford, Dartford, Kent. Buried Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey. Grave Ref: 21. B. 15. Peter was killed when his Spitfire (No. BM426), was shot down by an enemy Focke-Wulf Fw190 fighter off the coast of Cap Gris Nez, Pas de Calais, France during Ramrod 33 sortie. Ramrod was a bomber raid that was escorted by fighters and was aimed at the destruction of a specific target in daylight, the Ramrod sorties were all numbered consecutively. During the course of the operation which cost Peter his life, whilst escorting 27 R.A.F. Bomber Command aircraft to Boulogne, the escorting fighter aircraft paid a heavy price, as at least 11 were reported as having been lost, which had also included another Spitfire (No. BM114) from 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron, Royal Air Force, which was flown by 23 year old Flight Sergeant, Gwilym Willis of Old Hill, Staffordshire. Unlike Peter whose body was recovered from the sea off Cap Gris Nez, Gwilym was never found, and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Wellington bomber DV806 DX-?, which was one of the bombers on the operation to Boulogne, had taken off from R.A.F. Feltwell, Thetford, Norfolk at 2245 hours on 17 May 1942, was forced to ditch in the English Channel off the coast of Dungeness, Kent due to mechanical failure, but fortunately none of the crew were lost. MARTIN, FREDERICK VICTOR. Sergeant (Observer), 1375907. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. B Flight, 25 Operational Training Unit, Royal Air Force. Died 10 September 1941. Aged 25. Born Maidstone, Kent. Son of William Thomas Martin and Mary Jane Martin (née Crayford) of Eynsford, Dartford, Kent. Buried St. Martin Churchyard, Eynsford, Kent. Grave Ref: Grave 186. Frederick was numbered amongst the six crew of Wellington bomber X9872, which was being flown by 26 year old Flight Lieutenant (Pilot), David J. Bassett of Swansea, which took off from R.A.F. Finningley, Doncaster, South Yorkshire for night bombing training. At 2145 hours the Wellington flew into farm buildings near the fenland village Southrey, which located about some 4 miles to the north west of Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire. All members of the crew of the aircraft were killed in the crash, and were laid to rest in cemeteries within the United Kingdom. At the time of the crash, one member of the bombers crew; Flight Sergeant (Wireless Operator) Thomas Highton D.F.M. of Lancaster, Lancashire, had already completed a tour of operations with 83 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Details of the award of Thomas’s Distinguished Flying Medal were published in The London Gazette on 18 April 1941. Thomas is at rest at Lancaster Cemetery, Lancashire. Grave Ref: Grave B. 531.

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MASTERSON, STANLEY HERMANN. Sick Berth Attendant C/MX 83473. Royal Navy, H.M.S. Walney. Died 8 November 1942. Aged 30. Son of John Charles Masterson and Ethel May Masterson (née Hicks). Husband of Marjorie Stewart Masterson (née Scott) of Hawkenbury, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Panel 64, Column 1, as shown above. OVENDEN, FREDERICK GEORGE. Leading Aircraftman, 1626444. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died Wednesday 6 December 1944. Aged 26. Son of George and Lucy Ovenden. Husband of Phyllis Violet Ovenden of Dartford, Kent. Commemorated on the Ottawa Memorial, Green Island, City of Ottawa, Canada. Panel 3. Column 3. Prior to his military service, Frederick had been employed in the County Police by the Kent County Council.

PEARSON, EDWARD HENRY. Sergeant (Air Gunner), 1628361. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 49 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died 13 June 1943. Aged 19. Son of Edward H. and Rosina B. Pearson of Wilmington, Dartford, Kent. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Panel 161, as shown above. Edward was amongst the seven crew of Lancaster bomber ED584 EA-U, which was being flown by Pilot Officer John Huchison, when it took off from R.A.F. Fiskerton, Lincolnshire at 2237 hours on 12 June 1943. The Lancaster was amongst a R.A.F. Bomber Command formation of 503 aircraft, which was comprised of 323 Lancasters, 167 Halifaxes, and 11 Mosquitos which were taking part in a raid in the Ruhr area on the German city Bochum. The raid took place over a completely cloud-covered target area, but accurate Oboe skymarking enabled the Lancaster and Halifax Main Force bombers to cause severe damage to the centre of Bochum. Edward was serving as the mid-upper turret gunner on his aircraft, which was amongst the 14 Lancasters and 10 Halifaxes lost on the raid. The Lancaster came down on farmland belonging to Mr J. Duteweert near Marienheem, Overijssel which is a hamlet near Raalte, Holland. The bodies of Edward and his Pilot were not recovered, and both are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. The other five members of the crew are buried in Raalte General Cemetery, Overijssel, Netherlands. Although Edward’s Lancaster had taken part in several operations since it was delivered to 49 Squadron, Royal Air Force on 7 February 1943, but the crew were all killed on only their second operation together.

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The Second World War 1939 – 1945

Lost Casualties

ANDERSON, SIDNEY LYNE (PETER). Lieutenant, 274816. 1st Battalion, The London Scottish, Gordon Highlanders. Died 28 February 1944. Aged 31. Born and resided South West London. Son of S. L. and Ellen Anderson. Husband of Winifred D. Anderson of Eynsford, Dartford, Kent. Buried Portella Military Cemetery, Italy. Commemorated at Cassino War Cemetery, Italy. Ref: Special Memorial. Pre war member of The London Scottish (Donside). CATLEY, FREDERICK NORMAN COLIN. Sergeant (Pilot), 745724. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 49 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Died 29 September 1940. Aged 21. Son of Frederick and Gertrude Ellen Catley of Eynsford, Dartford, Kent. Buried Scampton, Lincolnshire, (St. John the Baptist) Churchyard. Grave Ref: Old Part. Grave 10. ROWE, BLANCHE. Died 4 February 1943. Aged 51. Wife of Alfred Rowe of 1, Albert Cottages, Eynsford, Dartford, Kent. Commemorated at Bybrook Cemetery, Canterbury Road, Ashford, Kent. Blanche died at Ashford Hospital, Kent.

Post Second World War

STRICKLAND, ERIC ALBERT THOMAS. Aircraftman 2nd Class, 2529020. Royal Air Force. Died 5 December 1951. Aged 18. Born 7 May 1933. Buried St. Martin Churchyard, Eynsford, Dartford, Kent. At the time of his death, Eric, who was a National Serviceman was stationed at No. 11 School of Recruit Training, R.A.F. Hednesford, Cannock, Staffordshire.

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Old Postcard of Eynesford civic war memorial