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Holmes, Robert Edward Ingram, son of J. W. Holmes, of Wallington, Surrey; b. Dec. 7, 1898; adm. Jan. 18, 1912 (G); left April 1917; 2nd Lieut. 5th (Res.) Batt. Grenadier Guards; Ch. Ch. Oxon., matric. Michaelmas 1919; B.A. 1922; silver medallist, R. Academy of Drama­tic Art; an actor; frequently appeared on the London stage and was a regular member of the Repertory Players; 2nd Lieut. R. A. Sept. 21, 1939; d. of wounds July 10, 1945.

Robert Edward Ingram Holmes was born at Wallington, Surrey on the 7th of December 1898 the second son of James Wallace Holmes, an East India merchant, and Edith Mary Annie (nee Ingram) Holmes of “Cotleigh”, 5, Stanley Park Road, Wallington in Surrey. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from the 18th of January 1912 to April 1917. He was appointed as Monitor in January 1917.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 5th (Reserve) Battalion, Grenadier Guards during the Great War and served overseas. He matriculated for Christ Church, Oxford in 1919 and graduated with a BA in 1922. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, where he won a Silver Medal, and became an actor with frequent appearances on the London stage as well as being a regular member of the Repertory Players. He played Laertes in the modern dress version of Hamlet at the Kingsway Theatre, London in 1925. He appeared in the film drama “The Rosary”, directed by Guy Newall in 1931, in the part of Concannon in the comedy film “Hyde Park Corner”, directed by Sinclair Hill in 1935 and in the part of d’Allery in the comedy film “The Gay Adventure” also directed by Sinclair Hill in 1936.
Following the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Royal Artillery and rose to the rank of Lance Bombardier before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on the 21st of September 1939. He was dismissed from the army on the 16th of December 1942 following a Court Martial.
He died at “'Houghton”, Petworth Road, Wormley, Godalming, Surrey
His death is not recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as he was no longer in the army at the time of his death.

Hunter, Colin Havard, brother of Francis Trevor Hunter (qv); b. 27 Aug. 1912; adm. Apr. 1926 (G); left July 1930; an aeronautical engineer, AFRAeS 1933; RAFVR 1940-4 (acting Sqdn Ldr), killed in action 8 May 1944.

Colin Havard Hunter was born at Briton Ferry, Neath, Wales on the 27th of August 1912 the son of His Honour Judge Trevor Havard Hunter KC and Ethel Ruth (nee Griffiths) Hunter of 6, Hereford Mansions, Hereford Road, Paddington in London. He was christened at Briton Ferry on the 29th of September 1911. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from April 1926 to July 1930.
On leaving school he became an aeronautical engineer and qualified AFRAeS in 1933. He was awarded a Royal Aero Club Certificate (No. 10534) at the Herts and Essex Aero Club on the 7th of June 1932 while flying a DH Moth aircraft.
He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on the 14th of September 1940 and was promoted to Flying Officer on the 14th of September 1941. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on the 14th of September 1942. He trained at No. 1654 Conversion Unit prior to becoming operational.
On the night of the 7th/8th of May 1944, Bomber Command dispatched 58 Lancasters and 9 Mosquitos for an attack on an ammunition dump at Salbris as part of ongoing operations in preparation for the planned invasion of France. It was to be his eighteenth operation and he had completed 133.48 hours of operational flying up to that time.
Colin Hunter and his crew took off from RAF Dunholm Lodge at 9.46pm on the 7th of May 1944 in Lancaster Mk III ND741KM-K for the operation. Shortly after midnight the aircraft was attacked by a Messerschmitt Bf110 night fighter flown by Leutnant Fred Hromadnik of 9/NJG4 and it caught fire. The crew abandoned the aircraft at low level but only Flight Engineer Fred Cooper’s parachute deployed in time, with the remaining six crew members being killed when they hit the ground. The aircraft crashed at 12.30am into the village of Herbilly, a few kilometres to the west of the River Loire and some twenty kilometres to the north east of Blois. It exploded when it hit the village, destroying several buildings and killing thirteen civilians in their homes. Theirs was the fourth of an eventual six victories for Fred Hromadnik.
The crew was: -
Squadron Leader Colin Havard Hunter (Pilot)
Pilot Officer Richard Colton Alexander (Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Alfred Greenwood (Navigator)
Pilot Officer George Robert Miles (Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer Frederick Arthur Salmon (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Gordon Keith Willis RCAF (Air Bomber)
Sergeant Frederick Stanley Cooper (Flight Engineer) (POW No. 13 Dulag Luft)
Theirs was one of seven aircraft which failed to return from the operation.
While Colin Hunter was fighting to control the aircraft to give his crew time to bail out, Fred Cooper escaped from the aircraft out of the top hatch and was the first member of the crew to get out. His parachute opened just in time and he hit the side of the roof of a house before sliding off and landing on a green house where he suffered cuts to his head. He was taken into hiding by locals but when the Germans threatened to begin shooting the villagers he gave himself up and was taken prisoner. He was later taken by the Germans to the crash site where he was able to identify the bodies of George Miles, Colin Hunter and Alfred Greenwood.
He is buried at Orleans Main Cemetery Plot 1, Row A, Collective Grave 16-27.

Laurie, Anthony Roger, son of Albert Stevenson Laurie of Amendas, S. Rhodesia, and Kathleen Komareck, d. of Bretton Priestley of Wrotham, Kent; b. 22 July 1918; adm. May 1932 (G); left July 1934; Wye Agricultural Coll.; enlisted RAF Sept. 1940; Sub. Lieut. (A) RNVR 1941, Lieut. (A) Aug. 1942; DSC (Arctic Convoy) 1942; lost in HMS Avenger, torpedoed after North African landings Nov. 1942.

Anthony Roger Laurie was born at Kodiakanal in South India on the 22nd of July 1918 the son of Albert Stephenson Laurie, an engineer, India Public Works Department, and Kathleen Komareck (nee Priestley) Laurie of 62, Vanburgh Park, Blackheath in London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from May 1932 to July 1934. He went on to Wye Agricultural College after which he worked as a representative. He was awarded a Royal Aero Club Certificate (No. 18891) at Horton Kirby Flying Club on the 28th of June 1939 while flying a DH Moth aircraft. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force in 1940 but transferred to the Fleet Air Arm and was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant (A) in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1941. He was posted to 802 Naval Air Squadron based on board the escort carrier HMS Avenger (D14) and was promoted to Lieutenant (A) on the 15th of August 1942.
On the 2nd of September 1942, HMS Avenger left Loch Ewe to provide an escort to Convoy PQ-18 as the first escort carrier to escort an Arctic convoy. The convoy sailed to Seidisfiord in Iceland where it was joined by more vessels, swelling its numbers to forty merchantmen accompanied by a large number of escorts. On the 6th of September an enemy Focke Wulf 200 Condor attacked HMS Avenger with bombs but missed. British Naval Intelligence identified the enemy forces ranged against the convoy as consisting of twenty U-Boats, ninety two torpedo bombers and one hundred and twenty bombers, the largest force assembled against an Arctic convoy at that point in the war. Over the next week, the enemy threw great numbers of bombers and torpedo bombers against the convoy during which time Anthony Laurie was credited with the destruction of two Heinkel 111s and with damaging one other. The bulk of the surviving ships from PQ18 arrived at Archangel on the 21st of Spetember 1942.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his work on Arctic convoys, which was announced in the London Gazette of the 1st of December 1942.
On the 16th of October 1942, HMS Avenger, under the command of Commander Anthony Paul Colthurst RN, left Scapa Flow for Greenock with Sea Hurricane Mk IIb aircraft from 802 Squadron and 833 Squadron on board and with three Swordfish aircraft from B Flight, 833 Squadron. She was tasked with providing air cover for one of the convoys carrying troops and supplies for Operation Torch, the Allied landings at Algeria. When the ship arrived off the Algerian coast on the 8th of November her aircraft supported the landings by flying some sixty missions over the bridgehead. Aircraft from the carrier attacked enemy coastal defences as well as the airfields at Maison Blanche and at Blida.
The following day HMS Avenger was attacked by a Heinkel III which made a torpedo attack which narrowly missed the ship. On the 10th of November she transferred her aircraft to the escort carrier HMS Argus before docking at Algiers for repairs to be made to her engines. On the early morning of the 12th of November she set sail, joining Convoy MKF-1A, which was comprised mostly of empty ships which had taken part in the operations and were heading home. The convoy reached Gibraltar on the morning of the 14th of November and set sail once again at 6pm that evening bound for the UK.
At 3.05am on the 15th of November 1943, HMS Avenger was sailing some 45 nautical miles to the south of Cape Santa Maria, to the west of Gibraltar when the convoy received orders to make an immediate turn to starboard as a U-Boat had been detected in the area. Shortly afterwards the convoy was attacked by the U Boat U-155, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Adolf Piening, which fired three torpedoes. The first one hit the American transport ship USS Almaack with the second hitting the passenger transport ship HMTS Ettrick. The third torpedo hit HMS Avenger amidships on the port side at 3.20am which struck the bomb room and caused the ammunition stored there to explode. This secondary explosion broke the back of the ship and she sank in under five minutes
Anthony Laurie was one of five hundred and sixteen men who died when the ship sank. Only twelve members of her crew were rescued by the destroyer HMS Glaisdale (L44) after searching all night.
Lieutenant Commander N.F. Kingscote, Commanding Officer of the infantry landing ship HMS Ulster Monarch, wrote the following in a letter to the Admiralty: -
"At 0315, a vivid reddish flash appeared on the starboard side of Avenger stretching the whole length of the ship and lasting for about 2 seconds. This flash made a perfect silhouette of the ship, and was followed by a pall of black smoke. After the flash, nothing more was seen of Avenger but one or two small twinkling lights were observed in the water, obviously from floats. HMS Ulster Monarch passed over the position of Avenger within 3 minutes and nothing was seen...."
He is commemorated on the Lee-on-Solent Memorial Bay 3, Panel 7.

May, John Seaburne, son of John May, of Kensington by Lucy Mary, daughter of John Hey­wood, of Manchester; b. Feb. 26, 1896; adm. Sept. 22, 1910 (G); left Easter 1911; served in Great War I; Lieut. R.F.A. March 14, 1914; resigned his commission on account of ill health Jan. 29, 1916; secretary of Phyllis Court Club, Henley-on-Thames; served in Great War II as Lieut, R.N.V.R., in command of a trawler; wounded; acting Lieut.-Cdr. (Admn.) Dover; invalided for a disability contracted in Great War I; m. June 8, 1944, Evelyn Betty, daughter of Henry Chapman, of Wetherby Mansions, South Kensington; d. of disabilities contracted on active service Dec. 15, 1945.

John Seaburne May was born at 8, Kensington Court Place, Kensington, London on the 26th of February 1896 the son of John William Freckleton May, a gentleman, and Lucy Mary (nee Heywood) May of 8, Kensington Court Place, Kensington, later of 59, West Cromwell Road, Kensington. He was educated at Wykeham House School, Worthing and at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from the 22nd of September 1910 to Easter 1911. He went on to Bloxham School where he served as a Private in the Officer Training Corps until the 24th of December 1912. On leaving school he went to work as an apprentice engineer at the Vickers Ltd Works at Erith.
He applied for a commission in the 4th Home Counties (Howitzer) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery on the 13th of November 1913, in an application which recorded that he was 5 feet 10 inches tall and that he weighed 140lbs. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery on the 14th of March 1914. He was mobilised on the outbreak of war and was promoted to Lieutenant on the 17th of October 1914. In December 1914 he was posted to the 5th Kent Howitzer Battery based at Sheerness. On the 7th of December 1914 he applied for a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps but, receiving no response, he wrote again on the 7th of March 1915. He was attached to the Royal Flying Corps and was posted to South Harrow on the 5th of May 1915. He obtained a Royal Aero Club Certificate (No. 23699) at the Military School, Ruislip on the 8th of July 1915 while flying a Maurice Farman biplane. He was involved in an aircraft accident the following month in which he sprained his right wrist. A Medical Board, which sat at Caxton Hall reported that he had undergone an examination at Ruislip on the 30th of July 1915 which had revealed that he had a very enlarged heart and a double murmur which had been aggravated by his service in the Royal Flying Corps.
He was released from the Royal Flying Corps on the 14th of August 1915 and returned to his unit as it was considered that he would not make a suitable pilot on account of his health.
A Medical Board, which sat at Sevenoaks on the 15th of December 1915, reported that he had been examined at Woolwich Hospital on the 11th of August 1915 and had been diagnosed with hypertrophy and that he had a pulse rate of 120. He was also suffering from anaemia and they concluded that he was “totally unfit for service at home or abroad.” He resigned his commission in the Royal Artillery on the grounds of ill health on the 29th of January 1916.
He was commissioned as a Flight Sub Lieutenant the Royal Naval Air Service on the 18th of June 1916. He was attached to HMS President II on the 8th of July 1916 and was posted for flight training to Chingford on the same date. His appointment was terminated on the 9th of October 1916 as he had lost his nerve for flying and he left HMS President II the following day. He applied to be reinstated but this was declined on the 30th of October 1916.
He applied for a regular commission in the Royal Garrison Artillery on the 11th of November 1916. He was commissioned in the Royal Garrison Artillery on the 5th of December 1916 and was seconded for service with the Tank Corps in June 1917. He served as a workshop officer at Woolwich in October 1917 and with J Battalion at Bovington Camp in November 1917. He embarked for service in France at Portsmouth on the 24th of December 1917, landing at Rouen on the 26th of December where he joined the 10th Battalion, Tank Corps in the field. He was based at Bapaume when he was taken ill on the 7th of April 1918 suffering from chronic endocarditus.
He left his unit on the 8th of April and was evacuated back to England from Calais on the 12th of April, landing at Dover later the same day. He was admitted to Kitchener’s Military Hospital at Brighton the following day where a Medical Board sat on the 11th of June 1918 to report on his case: - “Began with severe diarrhoea – followed by constipation, headache, pains in limbs, no joint involvement. Also shortness of breath. Admitted KMH April 13th 1918. No fever or diarrhoea since. Heart enlarged to left fingers breadth one beyond left nipple line. Evidence of sortie incompetence with possibly mild grade of stendosis as well, also at apex – a soft blowing systolic transmitted to axills. Patient kept at rest for some weeks iv Digitalia and symptoms subsided.”
A later Medical Board, which sat on the 14th of August 1918, found him to be fit for military service and was released from hospital on the 20th of August. On leaving the army he returned to work as an engineer and later became a salesman.
He was married at Preston Parish Church, Sussex on the 15th of March 1919 to Helen Olga (nee Morris) of Hove and they lived at 4, Lyndhurst Corner, Hove and later at Grenville Cottage, Keymer in Sussex. They had a son, Ivan Heywood, born on the 4th of December 1921. They lived together until September 1926 when he left the marital home on the grounds that she was converting to Roman Catholicism. She later moved to Villa Botticelli, Via Cortivallo, Lugano Baso from where she filed for divorce on the 25th of May 1928 on the grounds of his regular cohabitation with Hilda Hahn at 79, King’s Head Road, Brighton and at the Peacehaven Hotel, Peacehaven between June 1927 and February 1928. She was granted a Decree Nisi on the 19th of November 1928 and a Decree Absolute on the 4th of June 1929. He had paid no maintenance or child support to her since he had left and she was awarded a sum of £200 per annum by the court on the 13th of November 1929; he was employed by Frigidaire Ltd of King’s Road, Brighton at the time.
He was re-married at Steyning Registry Office on the 18th of June 1929 to Hilda Theresa (nee Hahn) of Brighton. They lived at 56a, Ship Street, Brighton and had a daughter Mary Ann, born on the 17th of July 1930. By 1935 he was workings as a commission salesman for Louis J. Ford Ltd, builders merchants, of 69, Church Road, Hove.
On the 13th of May 1937, his wife filed for divorce on the grounds of his adultery with an unknown woman at the Hotel Victoria, Westminster on the 26th of February 1937. The divorce was granted later that year. He was married once again, on the 8th of June 1944, to Evelyn Betty “Boo” (nee Chapman) and they had son, John Derek Seaburne, born on the 28th of May 1945.
He was recalled for service on the outbreak of the Second World War and was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He was placed in command of a Trawler and was wounded in action. He was appointed as an Acting Lieutenant Commander in administration at Dover but was invalided out of the service by a disability contracted during the Great War.
He died at in a train corridor at Cambridge and was cremated at Cambridge on the 19th of December 1945.
His death is not recognised by the Commonwealth War Grave Commission as he had left military service at the time of his death.

Newman, Charles Edward, son of Kenneth Edward Newman (qv); b. 7 Sept. 1921; adm. Sept. 1935 (G); left July 1938; Sgt RAFVR, killed in action (Libya) 7 Dec. 1941.

Charles Edward Newman was born at Shanghai, China on the 7th of September 1921 the son of Kenneth Edward Newman, a solicitor, and Phyllis Louise (nee Budd) Newman of 593-11, Amherst Avenue, Shanghai, China and of 9, Maxwell Road, Northwood in Middlesex. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from September 1935 to July 1938.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as a wireless operator/air gunner and rose to the rank of Sergeant.
Charles Newman and his crew took off from Kabrit on the 9th of December 1941 in Wellington Mk II Z8333 to bomb enemy motor transport at Derna Landing Ground in Libya. The aircraft failed to return from the raid.
The crew was: -
Sergeant Hyman Freeman (Air Gunner)
Flying Officer Derek Lahee Skinner DFC (Pilot)
Sergeant Norman Maddox (Observer)
Sergeant James Marsland (2nd Pilot)
Sergeant Charles Edward Newman (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Richard Malcolm Douglas McLeod (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Hyman Freeman’s body was found on a beach between Derna and Mrassa Wells, some seven miles from Tobruk in February 1942. He was buried there but the grave site was subsequently lost.
He is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial Column 243.

O'Malley, Derek Keppel Coleridge, son of Barrett Leonard Albemarle O'Malley, barrister-at­ law, of Richmond, Surrey, and Lorna Josephine, d. of John Coleridge of Snettisham, Norfolk; b. 7 Nov. 1910; adm. Sept. 1923 (G), non-res. KS 1925; left July 1929; Ch. Ch. Oxf., matric. 1929, BA 1932; called to the Bar (Inner Temple) Jan. 1933; PO RAFVR Nov. 1938, FO May 1940; m. 21 Oct. 1939 Rachel, d. of Andrew MacDonald of Hilton House, Inverness; killed in action Sept. 1940.

Derek Keppel Coleridge O’Malley was born at 14A, Northcote Avenue, Ealing on the 7th of November 1910 the only child of Barrett Lennard Albemarle O’Malley, a barrister at law and a correspondent for the Morning Post, and Lorna Josephine (nee Coleridge) O’Malley later of 24, Montague Road, Richmond in Surrey. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from September 1923 and was a non resident King’s Scholar from 1925 to July 1929. He was appointed as a Monitor in 1928. He was a member of the 2nd Rowing VIII in 1927, where he rowed at bow, and was a member of the 1st Rowing VIII in 1928 where he rowed at No. 3 and won School Colours in the same year. The Elizabethan wrote the following on his 1928 season: - “Another oarsman who improved during practice. He is beginning to use his leg drive effectively, but the blade work must become more accurate. At present rather liable to lose the rhythm in rowing, and to lose his steadiness forward. The only cure for this is to get the feet on the stretcher at the recovery, and to keep them there by not letting the knees rise too easily at any time on the swing forward.”
He was away from the school for a period of time due to illness and when he returned he was a member of the 2nd Rowing VIII in 1929, where he rowed at stroke. He was a member of the 1st Rowing VIII in the same year where he rowed at No. 4. The Elizabethan wrote the following on his 1929 season: - “With only two days to in the boat before the race at Henley, he settled quickly into the swing of the crew, although he was not as fit as the others, after a long absence from the School, and only six days’ rowing in the Second Eight. He has lengthened his swing, and acquired more control and spring, and is likely to improve into a sound oarsman.”
He matriculated for Christ Church, Oxford in 1929 on a Westminster Scholarship where he read History and rowed for the College boat. He was a member of the Oxford University Air Squadron from 1929 to 1932. He was awarded a BA in 1932. On leaving university he studied for the Bar examinations and was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in January 1933. He worked from chambers at 5, Paper Buildings, Temple.
He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on the 1st of November 1938, trained as a pilot and was mobilised for active service on the 18th of September 1939.
He was married at Henley-on-Thames on the 21st of October 1939 to Rachel Mary Genevieve (nee Macdonald) of Wharfe House, Henley-on-Thames; they had a son, Stephen Keppel, born on the 21st of July 1940.
He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 1st of May 1940 and was posted to 264 Squadron on the 22nd of May 1940.
At 4pm on the 24th of August 1940 Derek O’Malley was taxiing his aircraft, Defiant Mk I L6996 at RAF Hornchurch for a Squadron scramble during an enemy air raid. A bomb burst close to the aircraft and the dust cloud obscured his vision. In the confusion his aircraft collided with Defiant Mk I L7006. He was unhurt but his air gunner, Pilot Officer Anthony O’Connell, was slightly injured.
On the night of the 4th of September 1940, 264 Squadron was scrambled due to a report of an enemy aircraft in the area. Derek O’Malley took off from RAF Kirton-in- Lindsey at 10pm in Defiant Mk I N1628 PS- with his air gunner, Sergeant Lauritz Andrew Woodney Rasmussen RNZAF, for the night interception patrol. After takeoff the aircraft remained at a very low level before crashing near Northorpe, some three miles to the west of the airfield at 10.05pm, killing both men.
His mother received the following telegram dated the 5th of September 1940: -“Deeply regret to inform you that your son Flying Officer Derek Keppel Coleridge O’Malley is reported as having lost his life as the result of air operations on Sept 4th /40. Letter follows. The Air Council express their profound sympathy. His wife not informed. Address not available. Repeat not informed.”
His funeral took place on the 8th of September 1940.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Christ Church, Oxford.
He is buried at Kirton-in-Lindsey Cemetery Block A, Grave 181.

Percy-Pitt, Patrick George, son of Percy Pitt, composer, and Margaret, d. of G. H. Bruce of Syd­ney NSW; b. 13 July 1919; adm. May 1933 (G); left Apr. 1935; 2nd Lieut. RE (TA) Sept. 1938, transf. RA Aug. 1940 (Lieut.); accidentally killed on active service 27 July 1941.

Patrick George “Pat” Percy-Pitt was born in London on the 13th of July 1919 the only son of Percival George “Percy” Pitt, a conductor, and Ivy Margaret (nee Bruce) Pitt, a professional singer, of 19, Eton Villas, Hampstead, later of 43, Portland Court, Great Portland Street in London.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from May 1933 to April 1935. He enlisted as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers in the Territorial Army and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 26th (London Electrical Engineers) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers on the 23rd of September 1938. He transferred to the Royal Artillery at the same rank on the 1st of August 1940 when his unit was transferred from the Royal Engineers to the Royal Artillery and was re-designated as a Searchlight Regiment.
On the night of the 28th of July 1941, George Percy-Pitt was riding a motor cycle near Chelmsford, Essex when he was in collision with an “unlit road obstruction”. He was taken to Clacton Hospital where he died from his injuries the following day. An inquest into the accident recorded a verdict of accidental death.
His funeral took place at 11am on the 1st of August 1941.
He is remembered on his father’s grave at Hampstead Cemetery.
He is buried at St Mary’s Church, Frinton Row B, Grave 18.

Reed, Roland Anthony, brother of Richard Gordon Reed (qv); b. 29 Dec. 1920; adm. Sept. 1934 (G); left Dec. 1938; RMC Sandhurst, 2nd Lieut. Roy. Tank: Regt May 1940, Lieut. Nov. 1941; killed in action (Libya) 31 Dec. 1941.

Roland Anthony Reed was born at Clifton Campville, Staffordshire on the 29th of December 1920 the second son of the Reverend Roland William Reed and Claudia Mary (nee Poore) Reed of The Rectory, Clifton near Tamworth in Staffordshire. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from September 1934 to December 1938. He entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst in 1939 before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Tank Regiment on the 11th May 1940. He was posted to the 8th Royal Tank Regiment and was promoted to Lieutenant on the 11th of November 1941.
On the 30th of December 1941, the 8th Royal Tank Regiment was in camp at Bir Bu Tabel when they received orders at 6pm to make an attack on Bardia Fortress the following morning in support of the 3rd South African Infantry Brigade. A, B and C Squadrons left camp a short time later in three columns and arrived at their assembly point at 8.45pm that night.
The supporting artillery barrage began at 4.15am on the morning of the 31st of December 1941 with C Squadron arriving at the forward assembly area at 5.15am. Their tanks began moving forward though gaps in the minefields, which had been cleared by the Royal Engineers, at 6.30am. A short time later they received a message from B Squadron reporting that the infantry were being held up by enemy machine guns and were requesting assistance. Two tanks, those of Richard Reed and Major Peter Norman Veale, went forward to attack the enemy positions but when they arrived there the enemy appeared to have withdrawn and they returned to rejoin the Squadron. At 9am, it was reported that two of the three main enemy strong points had been silenced but that a third was still active and the infantry could not locate its exact position. A soon as Richard Reed’s tank went forward to assist it received a direct hit from the enemy strong point and caught fire. The tank commanded by Sergeant Barrett met the same fate immediately afterwards. Sergeant Barrett ran across to Richard Reed’s burning tank and managed to rescue the driver and the radio operator before making for cover. The rest of the crew perished. The enemy gun position was knocked out by Peter Veale a few minutes later. With no infantry support available from the South Africans, the rest of C Squadron withdrew.
The Regiment’s objectives were taken by noon but an enemy counterattack began at 12.40pm, which was driven off by 5pm after heavy fighting. The surviving tanks from the Regiment withdrew for the night at 11.30pm.
He is buried at Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery, Joint Grave 3 E 9.

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.