Showing 169 results

Southworth, Vincent Reginald Woodburn, son of Reginald Edward Southworth, advertisement man. Odhams Press Ltd, and Dorothy Alice Mary, d. of Walter Dillam of Saskatchewan; b. 28 Feb. 1925; adm. Jan. 1939 (B); left July 1942; Sergt RAFVR; killed in a flying accident 17 May 1945.

Vincent Reginald Woodburn “Reggie” Southworth was born on the 28th of February 1925 the son of Reginald Edward Southworth, an advertising executive for Odhams Press Ltd, and Dorothy Alice Mary (nee Dillam) Southworth of Gable End, Bushey Heath in Hertfordshire. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Busby’s from January 1939 to July 1942. While he was at the school he produced one of the house plays. On leaving school he worked at the Gainsborough Film Studios until he was old enough to join the armed forces. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as an air gunner and rose to the rank of Sergeant. He took part in operations on Berchtesgaden and on the Skoda Works at Pilsen.
Vincent Southworth and his crew took off from RAF East Kirkby on the 17th of May 1945 in Lancaster Mk I RF124 LE-S for a training exercise. The crew had recently joined 630 Squadron. The aircraft was flying over Wednesfield near Wolverhampton when it experienced engine trouble. It was seen descending rapidly with smoke coming from its engines and it is thought that the pilot was attempting a forced landing in a large field to avoid some houses. As the aircraft approached the field it struck overhead high voltage cables and crashed onto Lichfield Road, Wednesfield at 5.15pm where it exploded violently, causing a five foot crater and scattering the wreckage over a large area. All on board were killed.
The crew was: -
Flying Officer Bernard Hall (Pilot)
Flying Officer Victor Francis Dobell Meade (Air Bomber)
Flying Officer Ronald James O’Donnell (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant Gordon Leonard Rabbetts (Wireless Operator)
Sergeant Vincent Reginald Woodburn Southworth (Mid Upper Gunner)
Sergeant John Alfred Sills (Rear Gunner)
Sergeant Reginald Harry Smith (Navigator)
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Bushey.
He is buried at Watford North Cemetery Section A, Cons. Grave 1213.

Sprague, Richard Alfonso, brother of Louis Horatio Sprague (qv); b. 27 Oct. 1908; adm. May 1922 (H); left July 1926; RAF Coll. Cranwell, PO July 1928, FO Jan. 1930, Flt Lieut. Aug. 1934, Sqdn Ldr June 1938, temp. Wing Cdr Dec. 1940; DFC Mar. 1941, despatches Sept. 1941; killed on active service (Middle East) Nov. 1942.

Richard Alfonso “Joe” Sprague was born on the 27th of October 1908 the son of Colonel Louis Horatio Sprague, Royal Irish Rifles, and Frances Helena Mary (nee Ross) Sprague of 39, Gloucester Terrace, Paddington in London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from May 1922 to July 1926. He was a member of the Officer Training Corps and was promoted to Corporal in 1926.
He attended the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell before being granted a permanent commission as a Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force on the 28th of July 1928. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 28th of January 1930 and to Flight Lieutenant on the 1st of August 1934. He was promoted to Squadron Leader on the 1st of June 1938 and to Wing Commander on the 1st of December 1940. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross when he was serving with 208 Squadron, which was announced by the Air Ministry on the 28th of March 1941. He was Mentioned in Despatches which was announced by the Air Ministry on the 24th of September 1941.
Richard Sprague and his crew took off from Shandur at 8.40am on the 18th of November 1942 in Beaufort Mk I DE118 KU-S for a test flight and for deployment to RAF Gambut. The aircraft had undergone a 40 hour inspection and it was to fly to RAF Shallufa near Port Tefiq in Egypt and then on to RAF Gambut in Libya, if the aircraft’s performance was satisfactory during the first leg of the flight. The aircraft landed safely at RAF Shaluffa and, after being loaded with a torpedo, it took off again at 12.08pm. While it was on the second leg of its journey the aircraft flew into the ground some 50 miles to the south of Sidi Henseih at 12.45pm killing two of the crew.
The crew was: -
Wing Commander Richard Alfonso “Joe” Sprague DFC (Pilot)
Sergeant Alfred Leslie Augustinus RAAF (Observer)
Sergeant J.C.M. Lake RCAF (Wireless Operator) (Survived)
Flying Officer Claude Arthur Henry Collier (Air Gunner) (Survived)
Leading Aircraftman Frederick Douglas Isbell (47 Squadron Photographer) (Survived, slightly injured)
Statements were taken from the surviving members of the crew: -
Statement of Flying Officer Claude Arthur Henry Collier, 47 Squadron: - “I was Air Gunner briefed to fly with Wg. Cdr. Sprague to Gambut on detachment on 18th November 1942, in DE118, 47 Squadron Beaufort Mk I. En route to Gambut, I noticed that we passed over the half-way house at Wadi El Natrun and later LG100. We had been briefed, so I later learned, to fly 2 miles south of the railway, but Wg. Cdr. Sprague informed us that he would bear further to the south and look at the Quattara Depression. We flew along the northern cliff of the Depression for some miles, and when asked for course to steer, presumably for Gambut, I heard the observer give the captain a course of 280 degrees. There was a very heavy sandstorm blowing about 10 miles to starboard at this time, but was clear where we were and also ahead of us. I was under the impression that the wind was blowing from the starboard side, but I heard the observer say that it was a following wind. The crew found it difficult to hear everything that the observer had to say to the pilot, and on two occasions the pilot was heard to ask the observer to move back to the pilot’s side and to bring his maps. Just prior to the crash I heard Wg. Cdr. Sprague remark that the aircraft should be passing a certain track marked on the map in three minutes time, I gathered they were them looking at the map together. We had been flying normally at 800 to 1,000 feet all the time and as far as I can tell the engines were also behaving normally. I felt a change in temperature and noticed that we had lost height to approximately 300 feet. I was in the turret the whole time. When at 200 feet or so, I noted a slight yawing motion of the aircraft but didn’t pay particular heed to it. We continued to lose height in a tail down attitude until we hit the ground. It was then approximately two minutes after I had noticed by the increased temperature that we had lost height. After skidding along rough ground for about 150 yards, the aircraft stopped and I scrambled out through the turret top. The starboard engine was on fire, and the whole aircraft was soon enveloped in flames. I was dazed by a sheet of flame which had scorched my face and hands. Sgt. Lake and LAC Isbell joined me, and we ran clear of the flames when it was we realized that the torpedo would possibly explode, which did occur a few minutes later. There was a very violent explosion which scattered the wreckage, and I assume that the war-head had exploded.”
An investigation into the accident concluded that the primary cause was due to the pilot studying a map while losing height for low flying practise and hitting the ground as a result. Seemingly caught by surprise by the close proximity of the ground he pulled up but had insufficient speed to be able to climb above the high ground in front of the aircraft.
He is buried at El Alamein in War Cemetery Plot XXXI, Row D, Grave 10.

Stewart, Charles Duncan Stuart, son of Col. Charles Victor Stewart OBE MC RE, architect, of Sidcup, Kent; b. 19 Apr. 1918; adm. Sept. 1931 (A); left July 1932; Sgt Pilot Bomber Command RAF; killed in action Jan. 1942.

Charles Duncan Stuart Stewart was born at Kensington, London on the 19th of April 1918 the elder son of Colonel Charles Victor Stewart OBE, MC, Royal Engineers, later an architect, and Doris Stuart (nee Kettelwell) Stewart of 12, Cottesmore Gardens, Kensington. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from September 1931 to July 1932.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as a pilot and rose to the rank of Sergeant.
On the night of the 25th/26th of January 1942, Bomber Command dispatched 61 aircraft to attack enemy warships in Brest Harbour. 49 Squadron dispatched seventeen aircraft for the raid and they began taking off at 4.50pm. When they arrived over the target it was found to be covered by 10/10th cloud with most of the aircraft attacking alternate targets in the area of the docks, while eight returned without making an attack at all. All the aircraft returned to base.
Charles Stewart and his crew took off from RAF Scampton at 5.12pm on the 25th of January 1942 in Hampden AT129 EA-O for the operation. The aircraft was carrying a load of bombs and pyrotechnics. At the time, he had accumulated 238.20 hours of total solo flying time of which 159.20 were on Hampden aircraft. Two minutes after lifting off the aircraft crashed to the west of the airfield at the hamlet of Bransby, between the villages of Sturton and Saxilby at 5.10pm killing the entire crew.
The crew was: -
Sergeant Charles Duncan Stuart Stewart (Pilot)
Sergeant Albert Hibbet (Air Gunner)
Sergeant Kenneth Edward Northrop (Observer)
Sergeant Leonard Arthur Jardine (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
It is thought that the cause of the crash was due to ice having collected on the flying surfaces.
His funeral took place on the 31st of January 1942.
The crew are commemorated on a memorial in a wooden shelter at the Bransby Equestrian Centre.
He is buried at Sutton Cemetery, Section B, Grave 35.

Stickland, John Robert Antony, son of George Cuthbert Stickland, Egyptian Education Service, and Kathleen Mary, d. of J. A. Fossick of Gloucester; b. 17 June 1921; adm. Sept. 1934 (H); left July 1939; Cadet RN 1939, Sub-Lieut. RNVR June 1942, Lieut. Dec. 1943; killed in action Mar. 1944 in the loss of HMS Gould.

John Robert Antony Stickland was born at Fulham, London on the 17th of June 1921 the only son of George Cuthbert Stickland, Egyptian Education Service, and Kathleen Mary (nee Fossick) Stickland of “Sydenham”, Lewdown in Devon. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from September 1934 to July 1939. He was a member of the Photographic Society and was elected as Secretary of the Natural History Society in 1938.
On leaving school he entered the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve as a Special Entry Cadet on the 1st of September 1939 and was appointed as a Midshipman on the 31st of October 1940. He was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant in June 1942 and was promoted to Lieutenant in December 1943. He was posted to the frigate HMS Gould (K476).
On the 29th of February 1944, HMS Gould, under the command of Lieutenant Daniel William Ungoed RN, was on convoy escort duty when she was one of four frigates which located the U Boat U-358, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Rolf Manke, when some 450 miles to the north, north east of the Azores. In a series of attacks on the U Boat, which lasted throughout the night, the four ships dropped a total of 104 depth charges. The next day two of the frigates left for Gibraltar leaving HMS Gould and the frigate HMS Affleck (K362) to continue the pursuit of the enemy submarine. After 38 hours underwater and having been under continuous depth charge attacks, U-358 was forced to the surface at 7.20pm where she managed to fire a G7e “Gnat” torpedo from her rear tube which struck HMS Gould in the aft motor room at 7.21pm. The explosion broke her in two, with the stern section sinking very quickly. The forward section capsized and sank twenty five minutes later following a heavy list to starboard. Seven officers and one hundred and sixteen ratings were killed in the attack.
HMS Affleck closed with the U Boat at full speed and with all guns firing, scoring hits on the conning tower and on the hull of the enemy submarine. She then attacked with depth charges at close range and, after an explosion which broke the back of the U Boat, it sank at 7.39pm with only one survivor from its crew being picked up and taken prisoner. The frigate then rescued three officers and thirty two ratings from HMS Gould before taking them to Gibraltar. One rating died from his wounds during the journey and was buried at sea the following day.
His parents received the following telegram: - “From Admiralty. Deeply regret to inform you that your son Lieutenant J.R.A. Stickland RNVR has been reported missing presumed killed on active service. Letter follows shortly.”
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Lewdown.
He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 92, Column 3.

Strain, Alan Gordon, brother of John Loudon Strain (qv); b. 1 Dec. 1914; adm. Jan. 1928 (A); left July 1933; Caius Coll. Camb., matric. 1934, BA 1937; Sgt Army Educational Corps; d. on active service 10 Aug. 1943.

Alan Gordon Strain was born at Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey on the 1st of December 1914 the fifth and youngest son of Dr. William Loudon Strain MD CM and Dorothy Maud (nee Savory) Strain of 4, Hove Court, Raymond Road, Wimbledon in Surrey. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from January 1928 to July 1933. He matriculated for Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge in 1934 and was awarded a BA in 1937. On leaving university he went to work as a school teacher at Collington Rise Preparatory School, Bexhill-on-Sea in Sussex.
He enlisted in the Army Educational Corps where he rose to the rank of Sergeant. He was taken ill and was in a hospital at Epsom for three months before he died.
His brother, Captain John Loudon Strain OW, Royal Garrison Artillery, was killed in action on the 31st of July 1917.
He is buried at Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium Block I, Grave 363.

Stuttaford, Michael Charles, son of Charles Stuttaford and his second wife Nora Porter; half­ brother of Cyril Stuttaford (qv); b. 29 Sept. 1918; adm. Sept. 1932 (A); left July 1937; Merton Coll. Oxf., matric. 1937 (postmaster); Bombardier RA; d. 6 June 1944 in Palembang p.o.w. camp, Sumatra.

Michael Charles Stuttaford was born at Hampstead, London on the 29th of September 1918 the elder son of Charles Stuttaford, a gentleman, and his second wife, Nora Kathleen (nee Porter) Stuttaford of 34, Belsize Park Gardens, Hampstead. He was christened at All Saints Church, Knightsbridge on the 21st of November 1918. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from September 1932 to July 1937 where he won the Marshall Memorial Prize (Class VI) in 1935 and was a member of the Fencing team in 1936. He matriculated for Merton College, Oxford on a Postmastership in 1937 from where he where he graduated with a BA. Has Captain of the Oxford University Fencing Team in 1940.
He enlisted as a Gunner in the Royal Artillery and was rose to the rank of Bombardier.
He was captured by the Japanese at Tasikmalaya, Java on the 8th of March 1942 following the surrender of the Allied forces there.
He died at Palembang in Sumatra.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Merton College, Oxford.
He is buried at Jakarta War Cemetery Plot 4, Row A, Grave 13.

Swann, Graham Templer, son of the Rev. Arthur Henry Swann, Vicar of Christ Church, Fulham, Middlesex, by Agnes Jane, daughter of the Rev. Thomas William Graham, Vicar of St. Matthew's, Southborough, Kent; b. June 29, 1902; adm. Sept. 21, 1916 (G); left July 1921; Emman. Coll. Camb., matric. Michaelmas 1921; B.A. 1924; asst. master R.N. Coll. Dart­mouth Sept. 1924, and subsequently at Harrow; Pilot Officer (General Duties) R.A.F.V.R. July 19, 1938; transferred to A. and S.D.; Flying Officer Jan. 19, 1940; temp. Flight-Lieut.; killed on active service July 1941.

Graham Templer “Swanny” Swann was born at Southborough, Kent on the 29th of June 1902 the son of the Reverend Arthur Henry Swann, Vicar of Christ Church, Hampstead, and Agnes Jane (nee Graham) Swann of 45, High Street, Harrow-on-the-Hill in Middlesex. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from the 21st of September 1916 to July 1921. He was appointed as a Monitor in 1920. He was a member of the 1st Cricket XI in 1921 when the Elizabethan wrote the following on his season: - “Not a polished batsman: should have confined himself to hitting simply and solely. Could bowl at a pinch; chiefly distinguished himself by energetic and, at times, brilliant out fielding.” He was awarded his School Cricket Colours in 1921. He was a member of the 2nd Football XI in 1919 and of the 1st Football XI from 1919 to 1921 where he played at inside right. The Elizabethan wrote the following on his 1920/21 season: - “Looks a good player, but never seems to do the right thing, largely due to over anxiousness. Must be more calm and collected, and must use his intelligence more for spotting openings. Has a fine burst of speed, a most useful asset.” He was awarded School Colours for Football in 1921. He was a member of the Officer Training Corps and was promoted to Lance Corporal in September 1920.
He matriculated for Emmanuel College, Cambridge in 1921 and was awarded a BA in Modern and Medieval Languages in 1924. He was the first civilian member of Toc H. On leaving university he was appointed as an assistant modern languages master at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth and later at Harrow School. While at Harrow he accompanied boys from the Air Training Section of the Officer Training Corps to a RAF Camp.
He was awarded a Royal Aero Club Certificate (No. 10655) at Haldon Aerodrome on the 23rd of July 1932 while flying a Gypsy Moth aircraft.
He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on the 19th of July 1938 and was moblisied on the outbreak of war. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 19th of January 1940 and by June 1941 he was billeted at “Sand Green”, Crossfield Avenue, Porthcawl in Glamorganshire.
Graham Swann took off from RAF Stormy Down in Battle Mk I L5001, with his pilot, Pilot Officer Eric Geoffrey Kitching, for a co-operation exercise with a local Home Guard unit which was to take place at Margam Castle, Port Talbot. At the time, he had accumulated 840 hours of total solo flying time of which 698 were on Battle aircraft. As the aircraft was making a low level turn the pilot misjudged his height and the aircraft struck a 45 foot tree and crashed 200 yards further on in a field at Eglwysnunydd Farm on the Margam estate at 10.25am where it burst into flames on impact, killing both men. The wreckage was in three large pieces which were spread over an area of 60 yards. The bodies of the two men were taken to the mortuary at RAF Stormy Down.
His brother-in-law, the Reverend G.V. Hart, received the following telegram dated the 23rd of June 1941: -“Deeply regret to inform you that your brother in law Flight Lieutenant Graham Templar Swann is reported to have lost his life as the result of an aircraft accident on June 22nd 1941. The Air Council express their profound sympathy. His mother had been informed.”
His funeral took place on the 27th of June 1941.
The Harrow School magazine, the Harrovian wrote: - “Of the many hundreds of boys who have passed through Harrow while Swanny was on the staff, there must be very few who cannot claim to have been his friends. To be in his French or German Division was often but the prelude to such a friendship and a good prelude it was. His intimate resource in keeping the subjects alive was the envy of all his Modern Languages colleagues. In many spheres of activity outside the form room he played a prominent part. He was a tireless Rugger coach – self-taught – be it added. It is typical of his enterprise, for he came from a soccer school and played his first Rugger games as a Dartmouth master. If he was missed on the cricket field, it was because he was indispensible for the Sailng Club. He shared willingly his exceptionally wide and varied interests. One would find groups of boys in his study at all hours of the day, listening to Bach or Beethoven on his gramophone, enjoying his inexhaustible fund of photographs or his War Museum. This last, by the way, was but one of his many hobbies, and one had to see him at work to realise what hobbies could mean. He took greatest pride of all in the creation of the model railway club, which, even since he left Harrow to join up, has had perhaps the largest following of any school club. If the above record fails to picture him as more than an attractive Mr. Chips, a glance at his other activities will soon dispel the illusion. A great traveller, he visited during his holidays every corner of the earth. Titles of lectures to the school and on the wireless, “£17 to India”, “With £10 across America” etc., bear witness to his venturesome spirit, which was indeed one of his most attractive facets. “The harder of two alternatives” was his guiding principle, and he had the courage to carry it through. With his colleagues he was universally popular. It was not everyone who agreed with his opinions, for his conclusions, inflexible as they were, he formed after long and deliberate thinking. But no one could fail to enjoy his quick wit and genial humour, and he was the kindest of friends. It was the spirit of adventure that led him to take up flying. After much useful work with the Air Training Section of the School O.T.C., he joined the R.A.F.V.R. shortly before the outbreak of war, and was called up when hostilities began. But he spent much of his leave at Harrow and kept many of his friendships alive; and those boys who were privileged to be his guests during A.T.C. camps at the R.A.F. station to which he was attached, will long treasure the memory of that fearless pilot who worked unstintingly on their behalf, sparing no pains to make their visit a happy one. Seldom has the war been brought more vividly to Harrow as a whole than by the news of Swanny’s death.”
The Elizabethan wrote: - “His deep sympathy and insight into the character of his pupils, his sense of humour and the high standards he set himself and others evoked the respect and affection of all among whom he worked. He was fond of adventure and a great traveller, and is said to have completed a tour of 11,000 miles in one summer holiday.”
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Emmanuel College, Cambridge and on the memorial to Harrow School Masters at Harrow School.
He is buried at Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium Block D.4, Grave 343.

Talfourd-Jones, Paul, son of William Henry Talfourd-Jones MRCS, of Harlesden, Middx; b. 13 Mar. 1914; adm. May. 1928 (G); left July 1932; Emmanuel Coll. Camb., matric. 1933; South Wales Borderers (TA) 1938-45 (Capt.); killed on active service (Far East) 10 Oct. 1945.

Paul Talfourd-Jones was born in London on the 13th of March 1914 the only son of Dr William Henry Talfourd-Jones MRCS and Dora (nee Perkins) Talfourd-Jones of “West Point”, Craven Park, Willesden in Middlesex, later of Castle Grounds, Devizes in Wiltshire. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from May 1928 to July 1932. He was a member of the 1st Cricket XI in 1932. He matriculated for Emmanuel College, Cambridge to read Medicine in 1933, but left in 1936 and did not graduate. He boxed for Cambridge University and was awarded a Blue in 1935.
In 1938 he became an assistant sales manager for Thomas Edison Ltd of Victoria House, Southampton Row, London before joining Phoenix Ltd of Kentish Town as their sales manager in 1939. He was married at Willesden, Middlesex in 1939 to Rhoda Alice (nee Mannell) of Ebford in Devon; they had two daughters, Wendy Helen, born on the 3rd of October 1941, and Sara Hilary, born on the 23rd of October 1943.
He enlisted as a Private in the 9th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (60th Searchlight Regiment) in the Territorial Army on the 20th of April 1937 and was promoted to Corporal on the 3rd of September 1939. He attended the 166th Officer Cadet Training Unit based at Douglas from the 26th of March 1940 before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the South Wales Borderers on the 17th of August 1940. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion of his Regiment on the 23rd of August 1940 and served with them until the 22nd of August 1941 when he was posted to supervise at a prisoner of war camp at Cambridge until the 16th of January 1942. On the 17th of January 1942 he was posted to the 30th Battalion of his Regiment and served with them until the 16th of February 1943. He was promoted to Lieutenant in February 1942.
On the 17th of February 1943 he applied to join the Special Operations Executive as an instructor and underwent a period of instruction until April 1943. He was then posted to Beaulieu where he was an instructor on an industrial sabotage course. He was serving at No.17 Special Training School when he was posted to No. 44 Special Training School in January 1944. He was promoted to Acting Captain on the 1st of November 1943 and to temporary Captain on the 1st of February 1944, a rank he relinquished on the 24th of July 1945. On the 1st of May 1944 he was appointed as an explosives instructor and on the 9th of June 1944 he was posted to Force 136 in Ceylon where he worked as a paramilitary and as an air supply instructor. He returned to England on the 10th of June 1945 and, on the 14th of July, he was ordered to report to the Adjutant of the Westminster Garrison at noon on the 18th of July 1945. He attended a court martial on the 26th of July 1945 where he was charged on five counts of borrowing money from subordinates and of passing post dated cheques. He was cleared of four of the charges but was convicted of the fifth. Following his trial he was sent on leave to await further orders. He was later posted to the No. 21 Holding Battalion based at Newton Camp in Powys and was dismissed from the Special Operations Executive on the 6th of October 1945.
He was killed in a civilian motor accident at Newton.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
He is buried at Devizes Cemetery Section X.S., Grave 34.

Taylor, Ian Birdwood van Someren, son of Richard van Someren Taylor, sales man. Schweppes Ltd, and Olivia Winn Bruce, d. of John Bruce Murray LLD DL, of Glasgow; b. 12 Jan. 1920; adm. Sept. 1933 (R); left Apr. 1936; Roy. Tank Regt 1940-1 (Lieut.); killed in action at Sidi Rezegh, Libya, 23 Nov. 1941.

Ian Birdwood van Someren Taylor was born on the 12th of January 1920 the only son of Birdwood van Someren Taylor, a sales manager for Schweppes Ltd, and Olivia Winn Bruce (nee Murray) Taylor of 87, Cromwell Road, South Kensington in London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1933 to April 1936.
He enlisted as a Trooper in the Westminster Dragoons, Royal Armoured Corps and attended the 102nd Officer Cadet Training Unit at Sandhurst before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Armoured Corps on the 4th of May 1940. He was posted to the 8th Royal Tank Regiment.
At 8.30pm on the night of the 22nd of November 1941, the 8th Royal Tank Regiment received orders to advance to relieve the 7th Armoured Brigade support group at Sidi Rezegh. They moved off towards the west at 3.30am on the 23rd of November and opened into desert formation at 5.30am. They discovered a short time later that they were advancing in the wrong direction and found themselves in the midst of the Afrika Corps Headquarters where they came under fire from enemy armoured cars and infantry. Two Troops of tanks were ordered forward and after a short engagement they had knocked out one enemy armoured car and eight staff cars as well as capturing several German and Italian prisoners.
The advance continued on the correct line, with C Squadron protecting the left flank. At 11.30am, C Squadron received orders to go to the aid of an infantry Battalion which had been held up by enemy fire and they set off half an hour later. They attacked in two waves and by 12.30pm the infantry had taken their objective. The tanks were due to retire to the rallying point ten minutes later but were still under fire by that time and had difficulty disengaging. By 3.30pm only four of the tanks had reached the rallying point with others returning during the afternoon, some of which were badly damaged and with wounded on board.
During the night, Ian Taylor’s crew walked back into the rallying point to report that their tank had been hit in the right idler wheel during the fighting and had stopped. They continued to fire on the enemy until their guns jammed, by which time they had been hit several more times and Ian Taylor had ordered them to abandon the tank. The crew took cover in a nearby trench for a long period of time before Ian Taylor left to make contact with the infantry and was not seen again.
Casualties suffered by the 8th Royal Tank Regiment during this action were one man killed with five wounded and twenty men missing, of which four were officers.
He is buried at Knightsbridge Cemetery Plot 2, Row H, Grave 18.

Teed, Denis Theodore, brother of Geoffrey Wilmot Teed (qv); b. 12 May 1907; adm. Jan. 1921 (A); left July 1923; an incorporated accountant; Cpl RAF, killed on active service 24 Feb. 1941 in a workshop accident in Singapore.

Denis Theodore Teed was born at Camberwell, Surrey on the 12th of May 1907 the second son of Harry Williamson Teed, a gas examiner for the London County Council, and Ethel Sinclair (nee Rees) Teed of 158, Camberwell Grove, Camberwell, later of 34, Brodrick Road, Balham in London.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from January 1921 to July 1923. On leaving school he became an incorporated accountant.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force where he rose to the rank of Corporal and was posted to Singapore. He was serving at RAF Seletar when he was killed by an electric shock in an accident at a workshop.
He is buried at Kranji War Cemetery Plot 37, Row D, Grave 3.