Showing 393 results

Bompas, Eric Ainsley, son of Cecil Henry Bompas (qv); b. 22 Sept. 1915; adm. Sept. 1929 (G); left Dec. 1933; a clerk in the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank; 1st Mountain Battery Hong Kong and Singapore RA 1940-1, despatches (posth.) Apr. 1946; killed in action on reconnaissance behind Japanese lines Dec. 1941.

Eric Ainsley Bompas was born at Calcutta, India on the 22nd of September 1915 the younger son of Cecil Henry Bompas OW, Indian Civil Service, and his second wife, Nita Frances (nee Goode) Bompas of 26, West End Avenue, Pinner in Middlesex, later of Rookery Lane, Broughton in Hampshire. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from September 1929 to December 1933. He boxed for the school in 1933. He was a member of the 2nd and of the 1st Football XIs in 1933 and was a member of the 2nd Cricket XI in the same year. He was appointed as a School Monitor in 1933. He was a member of the Officer Training Corps and was promoted to Sergeant in September 1933.
On the 24th of October 1936 he boarded the RMS Lancastria at Liverpool and sailed to New York where he joined the staff of the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank as a clerk. After a brief return to London in November 1937 he travelled to Hong Kong to work for a branch of the bank in the colony.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on the 12th of February 1940 and was attached to the 1st Mountain Battery, 1st (Hong Kong) Regiment, Hong Kong and Singapore Artillery.
At 10am on the 7th of December 1941 the 1st (Hong Kong) Regiment received orders to man its war stations following the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong earlier in the day. The 1st Mountain Battery was deployed to the New Territories on the mainland and established its Headquarters at the north end of Waterloo Road. The 1st Mountain Battery, which consisted of four 3.9 inch howitzers based at Customs Pass, was in support of the 5/9th Rajput Regiment. They came into action on the 9th of December when they were called upon to bring fire on a number of small groups of enemy infantry which were advancing to their front. The following the day the defenders began to fall back under the enemy attacks and on the morning of the 11th of December the 2nd Mountain Battery and the 25th Medium Battery were ordered to withdrawn to Hong Kong island. On the morning of the 12th of December 1941, Eric Bompas joined the Battery and immediately went to the Battery observation post near Devils Peak. During the evening an enemy attack was driven off by the Rajputs with supporting artillery fire and that night the order was given to evacuate Devils Peak and fall back to the island. The Regiment had suffered five casualties during the fighting but had lost a large amount of ammunition and equipment.
On the night of the 18th of December 1941 the Japanese began landing on the north shore of Hong Kong Island. That night Eric Bompas and his men were manning a howitzer at a position on a hillside above Island Road near San Wan Fort. The gunners of No. 1 Section, 5th Battery, Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force, who were stationed at the fort itself, had been caught by surprise by the Japanese who had killed their sentries and then attacked the fort. Those who surrendered were executed with bayonets by their captors three hours after capitulating.
Their commanding officer, Captain Bosanquet, and a few of his men fell back from their positions and withdrew down the slope to Island Road where they met Eric Bompas and two of his men who had escaped when their gun position had also been overrun. This small group then moved down Island Road where they gathered more stragglers from their Regiment and spent the night deployed along Island Road in an attempt to stop the Japanese advancing southwards towards Tai Tam Gap.
By the morning of the following day all that stood in the way of the Japanese advance was two 3.7 inch howitzers of the 1st (Hong Kong) Regiment, Hong Kong and Singapore Artillery and a small number of troops from the Hong Volunteer Defence Force. Eric Bompas was placed in command of the two 3.7 inch howitzers based on a knoll at Gauge Basin. At 5.30am Captain Penn arrived with a force of around thirty men which he deployed around the gun facing Sanatorium Gap, from where the Japanese advance was expected. Later in the morning Captain Penn saw the Japanese advancing along a ridgeline towards Jardine’s Lookout where they were in pursuit of the Allied defenders there who were falling back. At 9.30am the Japanese turned their attentions to the position at Gauge Basin and about 25 to 30 of them brought the area under small arms fire from their position on another knoll, some 400 yards to the rear. The howitzer itself began to come under mortar fire at the same time. During this exchange of fire and having suffered a number of casualties among his gunners, Eric Bompas ordered his men to manhandle their guns into a position to face the enemy threat and brought the Japanese troops under fire over open sights. The Japanese ceased firing at 10.30am. At 11am, with Allied troops falling back around, them the Gauge Basin guns began firing rapidly in anticipation of an order to withdraw and at about the same time a message arrived saying that he and his men were to fall back to new positions at Stanley. The two guns at Gauge Basin were spiked and abandoned.
On the 21st of December 1941, a British counterattack was planned in an attempt to reunite the Eastern and Western Brigades which had been separated by the Japanese advance. The remaining artillery was ordered to fire in support of the attacks on Red Hill and Bridge Hill. When the attack began, the leading Bren gun carriers were approaching the driveway to “Erinsville”, a villa near Turtle Cove, when they came under heavy fire from Red Hill on their right flank. When one of the men in the leading carrier was killed the remaining carriers ground to a halt where the men abandoned them and took cover. The enemy fire was coming from an abandoned British gun position on Red Hill and a party of infantry was assembled under the command of Eric Bompas and Lieutenant William S. Fry, Royal Rifles of Canada, with orders to clear the crest of Red Hill. The patrol moved down the hillside towards “Erinsville” before beginning to move up hill towards the crest of Red Hill with the support of covering fire from Allied machine guns. As they neared the top of the hill both Fry and Eric Bompas were killed. The fighting in the area died down at about 1pm.
He was Mentioned in Despatches: -“In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the defence of Hong Kong in 1941”, which was announced by the War Office on the 4th of April 1946.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Broughton.
He is buried at Stanley Military Cemetery Plot 6, Row C, Grave 11.

Bonas, Peter David, son of Lionel and Sheila Bonas of Maida Vale; b. 22 Nov. 1914; adm. Sept. 1928 (R); left July 1931; worked in the film industry; RN 1940-2 (AB), discharged for ill-health May 1942; d. 1 Sept. 1945 of disabilities contracted on active service.

Peter David Bonas was born at Paddington, London on the 22nd of November 1914 the only son of Lionel Maurice Bonas, a film representative, and Sheila (nee Spero) Bonas of 16, Lauderdale Mansions, Maida Vale in London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1928 to July 1931. He was a member of the 2nd Football XI in 1930 and of 1st Football XI in 1930 and 1931 where he played at left back. The Elizabethan wrote the following on his 1930/1931 season: - “He has played so often for the Eleven that he deserves a mention. His main fault lies in his slowness of foot, but he is young and should be much faster next year. He has a good tackle when he is in time with it, and kicks well.” On leaving school he went to work in the film industry for the United Arts Film Corporation. He was married at Plymouth in 1941 to Hilda May Hope (nee Dunstone) of North Wembley.
He enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1940 but was invalided out of the service in May 1942 due to ill health from an illness which he had contracted while on active service.
He is commemorated at Golders Green Crematorium Panel 1.

Bone, Alexander Drummond, son of Drummond Bone of Buenos Aires and Jane Johnstone, d. of David Hume of Enniskillen, co. Fermanagh; b. 22 Dec. 1914; adm. Sept. 1928 (B); left July 1929; re-adm. Sept. 1931 (H); left July 1933; Univ. of Lond., MB BS MRCS LRCP 1939; RNVR 1940-3 (Surg. Lieut.); served in HMS Dorsetshire at the sinking of the Bismarck, torpedoed in HMS Lively; DSC (Med.) Nov. 1942; lost with HMS Dulverton 13 Nov. 1943.

Alexander Drummond Bone was born at Battersea, Surrey on the 22nd of December 1914 the only son of Drummond Bone, a consulting engineer, and Jean Johnston (nee Hume) Bone of 64, Prince of Wales’ Mansions, Battersea, later of 122, Sloane Street in London. He was christened at St Mary’s Church, Wandsworth on the 3rd of March 1917.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Busby’s from September 1928 to July 1929. He was readmitted in September 1931 when he was up Homeboarders until July 1933. He went on to the St Thomas’ Hospital, University of London from 1933, achieving MB BS MRCS and LRCP in 1939. On the outbreak of war he was working as a House Physician at St Thomas’ Hospital in London. He was commissioned as a Surgeon Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on the 14th of May 1940.
He was serving on board the heavy cruiser HMS Dorsetshire when she was involved in the sinking of the Bismarck in May 1941. He was serving with the destroyer HMS Lively when she was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean on the 11th of May 1942. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross: - “For bravery and devotion to duty while serving in HM Ship Lively in the Mediterranean.” which was announced in the London Gazette of the 17th of November 1942.
He was later posted to the destroyer HMS Dulverton (L63).
In October 1943 HMS Dulverton, under the command of Commander Stuart Austen Buss MVO DSC RN, formed part of a force which was supporting the capture the islands of Kos and Leros from the Germans. On the 22nd of October she fired on shore targets at Levitha and she transported troops and stores to Leros on the 27th of October when she came under sustained attack from enemy aircraft and E Boats before she returned to Alexandria.
On the 12th of November HMS Dulverton returned to the area to support the garrison on Leros, which had just been attacked by German paratroopers. At around 1.45am on the 13th of November 1943, she was some five miles off the coast of Kos when she was attacked by Do217 aircraft of KG 100 which were using Hs 293 glider bombs. During the attack she was hit abreast of the bridge by one of the bombs, which blew off her bow section and started a number of fires on board. While the destroyer HMS Echo (H23) began rescuing the survivors, the escort destroyer HMS Belvoir (L32) continued firing on the enemy aircraft. By 3.20am the now abandoned destoyer was burning fiercely and orders were given to HMS Belvoir to scuttle her with a torpedo. HMS Dulverton was hit by the torpedo and sank at 3.33am. Six officers and one hundred and fourteen ratings had been rescued but three officers and seventy five ratings had been lost in the attack. Alexander Bone was among the dead.
He is commemorated on the St Thomas’ Hospital Roll of Honour
He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 84, Column 2.

Bonser, Winfield Joyce, only son of the Right Hon. Sir John Winfield Bonser, of Eaton Place, London, sometime Chief Justice of Ceylon, and subsequently a member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, by his first wife Bertha M. L., second daughter of John Nanson, of Carlisle; b. Jan. 12, 1886; adm. as Q.S. Jan. 18, 1900; left July 1904; Christ's Coll. Camb. (adm. pensr. Oct. 1, 1904, scholar Nov. 7, 1906); 1st class (div. 3) Classical Tripos, part 1, 1907; B.A. 1907; called to the bar at the Inner Temple June 28, 1911; 2nd Lieut. 11th (Service) Batt. Rifle Brigade Sept. 25, 1914; Lieut. 12th (Service) Batt. Feb. 3, 1915; Capt. March 12, 1915; went out to the western front in July 1915; killed in action at Fauquisert, near Estaires, Sept. 25, 1915.

Bowes-Scott, Harry George Rodney, only son of Henry Bowes-Scott, of Chelsea, by Alice Henrietta Rodney, eldest daughter of Sir Hugh Owen, Bart., by his second wife; b. May 15, 1887; adm. Sept. 26, 1901 (A); left Easter 1903; a civil engineer at Calcutta; 2nd Lieut. Infantry Reserve of Officers, Indian Army, Aug. 7, 1915; attached 29th Punjabis Sept. 4, 1915; killed in action at Soko River, German East Africa, March 21, 1916.

Bowman, Arthur William, son of the Rev. Arthur Gerald Bowman, Vicar of St. Mark's, Kensington; b. May 1, 1887; adm. from Eton Jan. 17, 1901 (A); left July 1905; New Coll. Oxon., matric. Michaelmas 1905; joined the army in Aug. 1914; served on the western front as Corporal 23rd Batt. London Regt.; m.; d. a prisoner of war at Valenciennes April 12, 1918, of wounds received in action.

Brackenbury, Christopher Charles (known at school as Christopher Charles Klein), son of Adrian Bernard Klein MBE, artist and inventor, of St John's Wood, and Angela Edith, d. of Admiral John William Brackenburv CB CMG RN; b. 2 Apr. 1917; adm. Jan. 1931 (R); left July 1934; RAFVR 1940-1 (PO); m. 1940 Rosemary, d. of Frank Struben of Pretoria, S. Africa; killed on active service May 1941.

Christopher Charles Buzz Klein was born at Hampstead, London on the 2nd of April 1917 the only son of Major Adrian Bernard Leopold Klein (later Cornwall-Clyne) MBE, FRPS, artist and inventor, and Angela Edith (nee Brackenbury later Cornwall-Clyne) Klein of 32, The Pryors, East Heath Road, Hampstead in London. He was educated at Westminster School, where he was known by the last name of Klein and was up Rigaud’s from January 1931 to July 1934. He later changed his surname to that of his mother’s maiden name.
He was married at Chelsea in 1940 to Rosemary Patricia (nee Struben).
On the outbreak of war he enlisted as an Aircraftman 2nd Class in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and rose to the rank of Leading Aircraftman where he trained as a pilot and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 23rd of November 1940, with seniority from the 14th of November 1940.
He was posted to No. 9 Elementary Flying Training School as a flying instructor.
On the 16th of May 1941, Christopher Brackenbury and his student, Leading Aircraftman Ronald Henry Morgan, took off in Tiger Moth Mk II T5712 for a training exercise. At the time he had accumulated a total of 353.25 solo flying hours of which 274.20 were on Tiger Moth aircraft.
During the flight the aircraft struck a balloon cable at Clifford Bridge Road near Walsgrave near Coventry and crashed into a field, killing both men.
His wife received the following letter dated the 20th of May 1941: - “Madam, I am commanded by the Air Council to express to you their great regret on learning that your husband, Pilot Officer Christopher Charles Brackenbury, Royal Air Force, lost his life as the result of an aircraft accident on 16th May, 1941.”
An inquiry into the accident concluded: - “No previous difficulties with the Coventry balloon barrage, the nearest site of which is three miles. The position of all balloons affecting this unit is well known to flying personnel who have continual reference to the situation. Error of judgement or mental preoccupation on part of pilot who was instructing at the time”
He is buried at St James’ Church, Anstey.

Brackenridge, Robert Robertson, son of James Hastie Brackenridge, textile manufacturer, of Wimbledon, and Margaret, d. of Robert Robertson of Larkhall, Lanarkshire; b. 23 Feb. 1918; adm. Sept. 1931 (A); left July 1935; RA 1940-4 (Capt.); d. of wounds in ltaly 30 May 1944.

Robert Robertson Brackenridge was born on the 23rd of February 1918 the younger son of James Hastie Brackenridge, a company director of a textile manufacturer, and Margaret (nee Robertson) Brackenridge of Lanark, Lanarkshire later of 9, Inner Park Road, Wimbledon Common in Surrey. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy where he was in Mackenzie House from 1929 to July 1931, and at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from September 1931 to July 1934. On leaving school he was employed as an apprentice surveyor with Knight, Frank & Rutley, Estate Agents.
He enlisted in the Royal Signals in November 1939 and attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on the 26th of October 1940. He served with Heavy Anti Aircraft and Light Anti Aircraft units in the UK, North Africa and in Italy and was promoted to Captain on the 3rd of January 1944.
On the 19th of May 1944, 75 Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery left the area of Trocchio and crossed the Rapido River the next day where it arrived at its new positions at 5pm. On the 21st of May 1944, the Regiment spent its time in reconnaissance and in ranging its guns in preparation for a planned attack on the Hitler Line which was due to begin two days later. During the afternoon the enemy began shelling the Cassino area and a shell struck the truck in which Robert Brackenridge was travelling, severely damaging it and badly wounding him. He was taken to hospital where he died from his wounds nine days later.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Edinburgh Academy.
He is buried at Naples War Cemetery Plot I, Row O, Grave 16.

Bright, Vernon Maxwell, son of Arthur Sydney Bright, HM Inspector of Schools; b. 9 Apr. 1916; adm. Sept. 1929 (R); left July 1932; RAF 1938-42 (Sqdn Ldr); m. 12 Oct. 1940 Monica, d. of A. P. Richards; killed on active service 24 Sept. 1942.

Vernon Maxwell Bright was born at Kenilworth, Warwickshire on the 9th of April 1916 the younger son of Arthur Sydney Bright, HM Inspector of Schools, and Jessie Elizabeth France (nee Carter) Bright of Graybrook Castle Road, Kenilworth, later of 14, Grove Terrace, St Pancras in London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1929 to July 1932.
He was granted a short service commission as an Acting Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force on the 29th of October 1938 and was confirmed in his rank on the 29th of August 1939. He was posted to 229 Squadron based at RAF Digby on the 6th of October 1939 where the Squadron was being reformed following the outbreak of war.
Vernon Bright took off in a Hurricane on the 29th May 1940 as Yellow 3 in A Flight for a patrol over the evacuation beaches at Dunkirk. While flying over Dunkirk at 9,000 feet at 5.10pm the Squadron encountered 45 Messerschmitt Bf109s which attacked them. He attacked one of them at a height of 6,000 feet, firing some 200 rounds from a range of 100 yards and claimed the enemy aircraft as having been destroyed. He was attacked by other enemy aircraft and his Hurricane was damaged but he managed to return safely to base. On his return he filed the following combat report: -
“At 1715 hours approx. Enemy attacked one wave of 25 from starboard ahead, second wave of about 20 from starboard astern. At 6,000’ I fired two bursts of short length into one Me109 inside which I was turning and he appeared to fall away. On completing the turn I could only see a dark puddle. One other Me109 dived straight past me into the sea. I was then chased at first by a section of three and later by only one enemy a/c for some considerable time, until I had eluded him. By then I had lost contact and returned to base, with two bullets in the port wing.”
On the 31st of May 1940 Vernon Bright took off in a Hurricane as part of A Flight for a patrol over Dunkirk. At 5.13pm the formation spotted 25 Messerschmitt 110s and a Ju 87 some three miles off Furnes at a height of 4,000 feet. He engaged one of the Me110s and fired a number of long bursts at it from a range of 150 yards which exhausted his ammunition. On his return to base he filed the following combat report: - “Anti aircraft fire located enemy fighters at 1715 hours between Dunkirk and Furnes. A Ju 87 was sighted at 1,000 feet soon after doing low dive attacks on a cargo ship. I chased this one but the ship or our own planes hit him since he burst into flames and hit the sea. I then found two Me110s turning for me as I climbed. The first one turned away and was shot down; the second one and myself circled for a long time until I got a quarter attack from above when he appeared to fall out of control. I did not see him hit the sea. The first one hit the sea near the Ju87. I then made for cloud and home as my ammunition was exhausted.”
He was promoted to Flying officer on the 3rd of September 1940. On the 9th of September 1940 229 Squadron received orders to move from their base at RAF Wittering and to continue operations from RAF Northolt to better protect the London area.
Vernon Bright took off from RAF Northolt at 3.20pm on the 11th of September 1940 in Hurricane Mk I P3710 RE-H as Red 2 with eleven other aircraft from the Squadron for a patrol over Biggin Hill. At 4pm they were flying at 20,000 feet near Reigate when they engaged a formation of 30 Heinkel 111s, 20 Messerschmitt Bf110s and their fighter escort of 40 Messerschmitt Bf109s. During the ensuing dog fight he destroyed a Heinkel 111. Pilot Officer Ravenhill from the Squadron was forced to bail out of his aircraft and Flight Rimmer suffered facial injuries when his windscreen was shattered by machine gun fire. On his return to base at 4.35pm he wrote the following combat report: -
“I was No. 2 Red section when enemy formation of HE111s with ME110’s behind and Me109s above and behind; Section attacked in line astern, making beam attacks on starboard side. I fired a burst of 5 seconds from 300 yds, closing to 100 yds. An Me110 attacked the CO who was leading, and a second Me110 came across my bow, firing from rear gun. I fired at him, turned right and down with a Me110 on my tail and shook him off. I then circled round one of our men who was descending by parachute until he was safe. Then I noticed a Hurricane in a steep dive with a He111 beneath him and I executed a vertical quarter diving attack on the He111 with a 3 second burst. The other Hurricane then made a dead beam attack. After breaking away I returned and carried out No. 1 attack from astern and E/A went down. I broke away and two minutes later saw E/A in flames on the ground just S.E. of Redhill between two railway lines, probably at Outwood. E/A flew straight and level throughout.”
Vernon Bright took off from RAF Northolt at 2pm on the 15th of September 1940 in Hurricane Mk I P3710 RE-H with eleven other aircraft from the Squadron for a base patrol. At 2.35pm he engaged a Heinkel 111 at 20,000 feet over south east London with another aircraft from No. 1 Canadian Squadron. He was credited with a one third share of the victory. On his return to base at 3.10pm he filed the following combat report: -
“After making beam attack on formation of 30 HE111’s at 20,000 ft I dived in an astern attack on a lone HE111 below me. After 5 second burst from 250 yds closing to 30 yds, I saw starboard engine stop. I broke away and finished off my ammunition in a quarter attack by which time about half a dozen Hurricanes and Spitfires had joined the fight. I went on doing dummy attacks and saw his port engine stopped by another fighter, before he crash landed on West Malling Aerodrome. This machine had three vertical pink stripes on the rudder. “
The enemy aircraft was Heinkel IIIH-I (2771) AI+AN of 5/KG53. During its forced landing at West Malling Obergefreiter E. Sailler and Gefreiter H. Lange were killed with Unteroffizier O. Zilling, Feldwebel R. Lichtenhagen and Feldwebel K. Behrendt being taken prisoner.
Vernon Bright took off from RAF Northolt at 2.55pm on the 27th of September 1940 as Red 2 in A Flight in Hurricane Mk I P3710 RE-H with eleven other aircraft from the Squadron for an the interception of an incoming raid on London by enemy bombers. They were accompanied by No. 1 Canadian Squadron. At 3.15pm they encountered an enemy formation flying at 16,000 feet over south east London and during the ensuing engagement he destroyed a Junkers 88 and shared in the destruction of a Heinkel 111 as well as probably destroying a Messerschmitt Bf109. During the engagement, Flight Lieutenant Reginald Frank Rimmer, flying Hurricane Mk I V6782 was shot down and killed while Flight Lieutenant William Alexander Smith was forced to crash land at Lingfield following damage to his aircraft during combat.
On his return to base at 4.05pm he filed the following combat report: -
“I was red 2 in Hurricane REH. We attacked the main enemy formation – 15 He111 bombers near London, and I went for one. He which was about 800 ft below me and a quarter of a mile behind the others. It had glycol coming from starboard engine. I gave him a two to three second burst from 300 yds closing to 50 yds from astern, followed by another two second burst. His port engine burst into flames – one man baled out and the aircraft dived steeply and crashed with an explosion in some trees by a house on the outskirts of London. (Croydon?). I returned to the main formation, and a Spitfire came down followed by a Me109. I turned to his port beam with three second burst from 150-100 yds. He went down on his back with brown and white smoke pouring from the engine about 10 miles south east of the first crash. I caught up with the remains of the bomber formation near the coast, consisting of three bombers, with twelve of our fighters attacking. I picked out a Ju88 which was attacked by one Hurricane and one Spitfire. I made two attacks from 150 – 50 yds from astern – pieces broke off and came past me, also oil from the engine. The Hurricane and Spitfire continued attacking then I made a final attack, and he crashed into the sea about 15 miles out from Bexhill. 2,580 rounds fired.”
The Junkers 88 was A-1 (7112 of 5/KG77. The enemy crew of Hauptman G. Zetsche, Feldwebel W. Mahl, Gefreiter A Burkhardt and Obergefreiter A Kuhn were all killed when the aircraft hit the sea.
Vernon Bright took off from RAF Northolt at 8.10am on the 29th of September 1940 for a weather test. While flying at 16,000 feet near Maidenhead at 8.50am he spotted a Dornier 215 aircraft flying below him at 9,000 feet. He attacked it, setting its port wing on fire and claimed it as probably destroyed. On his return to base at 9.10am he wrote the following combat report: -
“I left Northolt on a weather test at 0810 hours and after climbing to 16,000 ft near Luton when I was vectored north west from base. There was 10/10 cloud at 6,000 ft and I sighted a Do215 at 9,000 ft, when I was at 11,000 ft. I began with a quarter attack out of the sun, giving a 5 second burst from 300 to 200 yds. E/A went down to cloud level, and did S turns into the sun just above cloud. I stalked him just in cloud and opened fire from astern at 250 yds with another 5 second burst. Accurate tracer fire from the rear gunner forced me to take evasive action, but I renewed the attack until all my ammunition had gone. The rear gunner ceased firing – the port engine and wing were in flames and the starboard engine was covered in brownish black smoke. E/A fell into cloud apparently out of control in Maidenhead district. 2,640 rounds fired.”
Vernon Bright took off from RAF Northolt at 9.30am on the 15th of October 1940 as Yellow 3 in Hurricane Mk I P3710 RE-H with four other aircraft from the Squadron for a patrol. At 10am he was flying over Canterbury at 20,000 feet when he engaged a Messerschmitt Bf109 and damaged it. On his return to base at 10.50am he filed the following combat report: -
“I was Yellow 3 in Hurricane REH. After the first contact with the enemy I was behind seven other Hurricanes when two groups of Me109s came by and I made a climbing turn to attack the last one on the port side of second formation. Delivering a stern quarter attack from 250 yds for two seconds I noticed glycol followed by dirty brown smoke pour from the engine, and a piece break off the port wing. The Me109 went into a steep right hand turn and a warning shout over the R/T caused me to break off. 160 rounds of ammunition fired.”
Vernon Bright took off from RAF Northolt at 10.45am on the 12th of December 1940 at White 1 in Hurricane Mk I P3710 RE-H with five other aircraft from his Squadron for a patrol. He was flying at 19,000 feet over the Maidstone area at 11.50am when he attacked and shared in the destruction of a Messerschmitt Bf109. On his return to base he wrote the following combat report: -
“I was White 1, weaving, and saw a Hurricane on the tail of an E/A and bits falling from the E/A as the Hurricane fired. The Hurricane was one of the first two to go into the attack. I followed, and when the Hurricane broke away I fired two short bursts at the E/A from about 250 yards. I then lost the E/A which was climbing into the sun. I picked up another travelling south well below me and dived down on it. I fired a 4 second burst from astern at about 150 yards followed by several further bursts. I saw large pieces of the E/A fall away belonging apparently to the tail unit. The E/A turned over on its back, the hood fell off, and the pilot baled out. 1,440 rounds fired.”
The enemy aircraft was Messerschmitt Bf109E E-4 W.Nr 3708 of 7./JG26 and was flown by Unteroffizier Rufolf Lindemann who was wounded and taken prisoner. His aircraft was destroyed when it crashed at 12.10pm at Abbey Farm near Leeds Castle in Kent.
He was credited with a half share of the victory with Pilot Officer Ron Bary, also of 229 Squadron.
He was married in London on the 12th of October 1940 to Monica Alin Theodosia (nee Richards) of Regent’s Court, London; they had a daughter, Sandra Frances Monica born on the 26th of September 1942.
In March 1941 he was posted to No. 55 Operational Training Unit at RAF Aston Down as an instructor. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on the 3rd of September 1941 and was later promoted to Squadron Leader.
On the 24th of September 1942, Vernon Bright and Leading Aircraftman Robert Francis Brown took off from RAF Boscombe Down in Beaufighter Mk VIC EL329 “G” to undertake rocket (8 x 3.5 inch) projectile trials over the Compton Ranges. They were unable to complete the trial and as they flew over Bulford Camp they rocked their wings to indicate to those on the ground that they were returning to Boscombe Down due to low oil pressure. The aircraft was seen to head in the general direction of the airfield but was then seen to roll and dive into the camp parade ground at Bulford where crashed, killing both men.
An inquiry into the accident concluded that: - “Low oil pressure had caused the tests to be aborted but on the flight back to Boscombe Down No.5 cylinder seized causing the aircraft to swing and roll into the ground at low altitude”.
He is commemorated at Southampton Crematorium Panel 1.

Bristowe, Vivian Ernest John, brother of Leonard Syer Bristowe (q.v.); b. June 12, 1874; adm. Sept. 24, 1885 (H); left July 1892; became a stock jobber and went out to South Africa shortly before Great War I; enlisted in the South African Medical Corps in Nov. 1915, and joined the East African Expeditionary Force in Jan. 1916; d. while on active service at Rug, Rufigi River, East Africa, April 14, 1917; unm.