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Murray, John Alan Colin, son of Capt. George Shirley Kilby and Gladys Grace, d. of Keith Wil­liam Murray, Portcullis Poursuivant, and grand-daughter of William Powell Murray (qv); b. 19 Apr. 1920; assumed the name of Murray in lieu of Kilby 1932; adm. Jan. 1933 (R); left Dec. 1934; HLI 1940-2 (Lieut.), attd Army Film Unit; killed in action (Middle East) June 1942.

John Alan Colin Kilby was born at Kensington, London on the 19th of April 1920 the only son of Captain George Shirley Kilby, 11th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Finsbury Rifles), and Gladys Grace (nee Murray) Kilby of 1, Winchester Court, Kensington in London. He assumed his mother’s maiden name of Murray in 1932, presumably because of his parent’s divorce in 1927. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from January 1933 to December 1934.
He attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry on the 20th of April 1940. He was later attached to the Army Film and Photographic Unit where he served with No. 1 Section.
On the 27th of May 1942, the Afrika Corps launched an attack on the left flank of the British held Gazala Line at Bir Hacheim. This was the first time the Army Film and Photographic Unit had found the opportunity to film a major battle. On the 30th of May, John Murray visited the Headquarters of 50th Division and when he returned to the unit he wrote the following: - “It is indeed most depressing to make every effort to take good filmic photographs and to go into places where it is by no means healthy, and know that with a “dual” camera the efforts may be worthless. Sgts. Travis and Berman both seemed in good spirits, though sorry that they could not be in the attack.”
By the 8th of June, he and his men were with the South African Division where they were taking both still photographs and cine film. On the 9th of June 1942, John Murray and Lieutenant Graham had been filming during heavy fighting in the area of the Knightsbridge Box when they returned to their jeep. While travelling in the rear area of the British lines they entered an unmarked minefield and their jeep ran over a mine. Lieutenant Graham was unhurt but John Murray had received a wound to his neck and was bleeding profusely. Graham tried to stem the bleeding but the wound was too deep and John Murray died a few minutes later from loss of blood.
He is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial Column 69.

Northcott, Richard Henry, son of Walter Wynne Northcott of Edinburgh and Maude Elsie, d. of Maj.-Gen. Arthur Hill; b. 26 Apr. 1910; adm. Sept. 1923 (R); left Dec. 1927; 2nd Lieut. The Welsh Regt Jan. 1932, Lieut. Jan. 1935, Capt. Jan. 1940, temp. Maj.; m. 7 Apr. 1941 Elizabeth Hope, d. of George Douglas Budge and sister-in-law of George Edric Nee (qv); killed in action (Nor­mandy) July 1944.

Richard Henry Northcott was born at Paddington, London on the 26th of April 1910 the only son of Walter Wynne Northcott and Maude Elsie (nee Hill) Northcott of 27, Craven Road, Paddington, later of Rochester House School, Edinburgh. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1923 to December 1927. He was a member of the 1st Rowing VIII in 1927 where he rowed at stroke. The Elizabethan wrote the following on his 1927 season: - “Rather short in the swing, but otherwise an excellent stroke, showing good judgement and an ability to rally his crew.” He served as a member of the Officer Training Corps and was promoted to Lance Corporal in September 1927.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 8th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment in the Territorial Army on the 29th of March 1930 before being commissioned with the same rank in the 1st Battalion, Welch Regiment in the regular army on 30th of January 1932. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 30th of January 1935 and to Captain in January 1940. He was married at Kensington on the 7th of April 1941 to Elizabeth Hope (nee Budge).
He was promoted to temporary Major on the 5th of February 1943 and joined the 1/5th Battalion of his Regiment as a company commander on the 29th of July 1943.
On the 16th of June 1944, an advance party from the Battalion left their base at Herne Bay and travelled by road to Canning Town. They were joined there by the main party and entrained for their marshalling area at Lingfield in Surrey. The main group began embarking at Newhaven at 2pm on the 24th of June and landed at the Jig Beach section of Gold Beach in Normandy at 1.30pm on the 26th of June 1944.
By the morning of the 21st of July 1944, the 1/5th Battalion, Welch Regiment was at the town of Baron. At 3pm that afternoon, enemy smoke and high explosive shells began landing in the Battalion positions with A Company, on the right of the line, soon reporting that they were under attack by four tanks accompanied by infantry. At 4pm a Platoon from B Company, which was positioned on the left of the Battalion and was on a line which ran along the Croie de Filandriers to Le Bon Repos road, was overrun by four enemy tanks supported by infantry. At 7pm two Squadrons of British tanks moved along the Battalion’s left flank in an attempt to bring the Germans under enfilade fire but this failed. At 8pm, A Company reported that the enemy tanks were now within 50 yards of their positions and by 9.30pm they were reported to be within 10 yards, after which there was no further communication from them. At 9.30pm C Company reported that the enemy force attacking them consisted of four Mk IV tanks with infantry and that they had knocked out two of the tanks, one with a PIAT and one with a six pounder anti tank gun. The Company was engaged in heavy fighting throughout the night, during which they were cut off and, with the enemy force within 50 yards of their position, they were ordered to withdraw at 6.30am the following morning.
C Company had suffered casualties of 25 men during the fighting while A Company was assumed to have been wiped out. Richard Northcott was among the dead.
He is commemorated on the Bayeux Memorial Panel 15, Column 3.

Pardoe, George Patrick Lefroy, brother of Stephen Walter Lefroy Pardoe (qv); b. 25 June 1916; adm. May 1930 (R); left July 1934; Aeronautical Engineering Coll. Chelsea, AFRAeS 1937; Vickers (Aviation) Ltd and Follando Aircraft Co.; Fleet Air Arm 1941-4 (Lieut. (A) RNVR), served Fighter Command UK and FAA Salerno; killed on active service 25 Jan. 1944.

George Patrick Lefroy “Pat” Pardoe was born at Purley, Surrey on the 25th of June 1916 the youngest son of Stephen George Pardoe, a newspaper manager, and Mabel Gertrude (nee Lefroy) Pardoe of 36, Foxley Lane, Purley in Surrey. He was christened at St James’ Church, Riddlesdown on the 22nd of October 1916. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from May 1930 to July 1934. He went on to the Aeronautical Engineering College, Chelsea and qualified AFRAc.S in 1937. He joined the staff of Vickers (Aviation) Ltd as an aeronautical technician, and later joined the Follando Aircraft Company. He was awarded a Royal Aero Club Certificate (No. 14607) at Brooklands Flying Club on the 18th of November 1936 while flying a DH Moth aircraft. He was elected as an Associate Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society in October 1941.
He enlisted in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1941 and was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant (A) on the 30th of July 1942. He joined 879 Naval Air Squadron on the 22nd of March 1943. He served for a time with Fighter Command before joining the Fleet Air Arm. He saw action during the landings at Salerno on board the escort carrier HMS Attacker (D02).
On the 29th of January 1944 Pat Pardoe was flying Seafire Mk IIC LR761 and was leading a formation of other aircraft on a low flying photo reconnaissance exercise when his aircraft crashed into a hillside at Glenarm near Larne in County Antrim, at 11.15am killing him.
His mother received the following telegram: - “From Admiralty. Deeply regret to inform you that your son Sub Lieutenant (A) G. P. L. Pardoe RNVR has been killed in an aircraft accident.”
He was posthumously promoted to Lieutenant (A) on the 17th of March 1944.
He is buried at Larne New Cemetery Section 10, Block F, Grave 899.

Pardoe, Stephen Walter Lefroy, son of Stephen George Pardoe, man. Canada Newspaper Co., and Mabel Gertrude, d. of Capt. Benjamin Langlois Lefroy RN, of Littlehampton, Sussex; b. 10 May 1911; adm. Sept. 1926 (R); left July 1930; Univ. of Lond., BSc 1933; AMICE 1938; public works contractors 1933-43; civil engineer Min. of Works S. Wales 1943-6; production engineer Min. of Fuel Newcastle-on-Tyne 1946-9, opencast dir. NW Region 1949-52; regional opencast gen. man. NCB 1952-61, transf. Newcastle 1962, retd 1976; MBE 1976; m. 18 Apr. 1947 Marjorie, d. of Joe Preston Wood FCA, of Burnley, Lancs.; d. 30 Aug. 1988.

Parker, David Shirley, son of John Anthony Parker, solicitor, of Bromley, Kent, and Ethelwyn, d. of Samuel Arthur Stanger of Bromley; b. 18 Dec. 1916; adm. Sept. 1930 (R); left Dec. 1933; arti­cled to a solicitor; RAFVR 1941-3 (Flt Lieut.), 51st Bomber Sqdn; m. 20 Aug. 1941 Moira McNeill of Kildonan, I. of Arran; killed on active service 24 Sept. 1943.

David Shirley Parker was born at Bromley, Kent on the 18th of December 1916 the only son of John Anthony Parker, a solicitor, and Ethelwyn (nee Stanger) Parker of “Packwood”, 10, Homefield Road, Bromley. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1930 to December 1933. He was a member of the 4th Rowing VIII in 1933. On leaving school he became an articled clerk to a firm of solicitors. He was a member of Bromley Cricket Club and was an Assistant Scout Master with the St John’s Troop, 14th Bromley Scouts. He was also a member of the local amateur dramatic group, the Quavers, appearing in several of their productions.
He attended No. 5 Air Crew Selection Board on the 3rd of July 1940 where he was selected for pilot training. He enlisted as Aircraftman 2nd Class 1255393 in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve at No. 1 Reception Centre, Uxbridge on the 6th of July 1940. Six days later he reported to Blackpool for his basic training. On the 6th of September 1940 he was posted to No. 3 Initial Training Wing at Torquay and completed his initial training on the 6th of November 1940 when he was promoted to Leading Aircraftman. He was posted to No. 3 Service Flying Training School at South Cerney where he trained on both single and twin engined aircraft. He was awarded his Wings and was promoted to Sergeant on the 14th of June 1941. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 15th of June 1941. He was then posted to No. 2 School of Air Navigation at RAF Squires Gate before being posted to No. 12 Operational Training Unit at RAF Benson on the 23rd of August 1941, but soon transferred to No. 19 Operational Training Unit at RAF Kinloss where he converted to Whitleys.
He was married on the 20th of August 1941 to Flight Officer Moira (nee McNeill) of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force.
He was posted to 51 Squadron on the 19th of November 1941 where he flew on his first operation against enemy shipping in the harbour at Brest on the 17th of December.
He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 15th of June 1942.
David Parker and his crew took off from RAF Chivenor 5.24am on the 20th of June 1942 in Whitley Mk V BD191 for an anti submarine sortie and was carrying a load of depth charges and bombs. At 8.05am they received a message diverting them to search for the crew of a Wellington aircraft which had come down in the sea. The aircraft was flying at 1,000 feet towards the Scilly Isles when the port engine developed a glycol leak. The aircraft descended to 500 feet where the bomb load was jettisoned and the port engine feathered. At 100 feet the aircraft stalled and hit the water with the crew managing to board the life raft before the aircraft sank four minutes later. They were rescued two hours later and were landed at St Mary’s on the Scilly Isle at 4.30pm.
On the 24th of September 1942, David Parker and his crew were having a rest day, having been stood down from operations for the day. That morning the operations room called to request a crew to take off and to search for a dinghy which had been reported as having been seen in the Bristol Channel, between Lundy Island and Cardiff. As Parker and two of his crew were nearby when the call came in to the flight office they quickly boarded Whitley Mk V Z9425 and called for two members of the ground crew to join them. They took off from RAF Chivenor and once airborne they began searching the Channel and working their way eastwards. Having been airborne for two hours the rear gunner reported that there was a glycol leak in the port engine and that white smoke was trailing past his turret. David Parker shut down the port engine to avoid it overheating. With the aircraft flying at 1,500 feet he decided to return to base and crossed the coast between Lynton and Porlock but before they had gone much further the starboard engine began to backfire and to overheat. He told the crew that he was going to make a forced landing and seeing a field ahead he warned them to brace themselves. The aircraft crash landed at North Horridge Farm near the village of Chelfham, and one mile to the east of Chelfham viaduct with the front half of the aircraft being reduced to a tangled mass of wreckage when it crashed through a hedge and into a sunken road, killing David Parker and the two ground crewmen who had been with him in the cockpit.
The rear gunner was in the bomb bay area when the aircraft crashed and was injured but was rescued and was assisted away from the aircraft by the son of the farmer who had seen the aircraft crash. Having placed the rear gunner a safe distance from the aircraft, he returned to it to find the wireless operator crawling out of it injured, but alive. The two injured men were taken to North Devon Infirmary.
The crew was: -
Flight Lieutenant David Shirley Parker (Pilot)
Corporal Robert Victor Doak (Ground Crew, 51 Squadron)
Corporal Harry Todd (Ground Crew, 51 Squadron)
Sergeant Eric Ford Goodwin (Rear Gunner) (Injured/Survived)
Sergeant Hugh Alan Roberts (Wireless Operator) (Injured/Survived) (Killed in action 13th May 1943)
He is commemorated on the Boy Scouts Roll of Honour.
He is commemorated at Plymouth City Crematorium Panel 5.

Philcox, Philip George, brother of Geoffrey Vincent Philcox (qv); b. 24 July 1909; adm. Apr. 1923 (R); left July 1927; Caius Coll. Camb., matric. 1927, BA 1930; a stockbroker; RNVR (A) 1939-40 (Lieut.); m. 27 June 1936 Constance, d. of John Hutton of Effingham, Surrey; accidentally killed on active service 12 Mar. 1940.

Philip George Philcox was born at Streatham, South London on the 24th of July 1909 the third and youngest son of George Ernest Philcox, a stock and share dealer, and Edith (nee Vincent) Philcox of 9, Aldrington Road, Streatham Park, later of Stone Court, Staplefield in Sussex. He was christened at St Alban’s Church, Streatham Park on the 3rd of October 1909.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from April 1923 to July 1927. He matriculated for Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge in 1927 from where he graduated with a BA in 1930. On leaving university he worked as a stockbroker’s clerk from 1933 before becoming a stockbroker and a Member of the London Stock Exchange. He became a Partner his father’s firm of Philcox & Co of 1, Copthall Chambers, Angel Court, London where he became prominent in the West African market and later in the South African market.
He was married at Holy Trinity Church, Brompton on the 27th of June 1936 to Constance (nee Hutton later Belchem) of South Lodge, Effingham, Surrey; they lived at Tunmore Farm, The Street, West Horsley in Surrey.
He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Reserve of Air Force Officers on the 19th of March 1928 and was promoted to Flying Officer on the 19th of September 1929. He passed onto the non active list on the 3rd of March 1935 and relinquished his commission on the 19th of March 1938, retaining the rank of Flying Officer.
Following the outbreak of war he was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant (A) in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on the 27th of September 1939 and was later promoted to Lieutenant (A). He was posted to 758 Naval Air Squadron and was attached to HMS Raven, the Royal Naval Air Station at Eastleigh as an instructor.
George Philcox took off from RNAS Eastleigh at 10am on the 12th of March 1940 in Proctor Mk 1A P6008 with trainee air gunner, Able Seaman Douglas Lucas, for a wireless training exercise. Shortly after taking off the aircraft experienced trouble with its engine and George Philcox decided to make a forced landing. Having made an attempt to land in a field which he had been forced to abandon he was making a turn at low level when the aircraft stalled, the port wing tip struck the ground and it crashed at Stanmore Lane, Winchester, to the south of Worthy Down airfield in Wiltshire. George Philcox was killed on impact with Douglas Lucas being mortally injured and dying later in the day.
His wife received the following telegram dated the 12th of March 1940: - “From Admiralty. Deeply regret to inform you that your husband Lieut. P.G. Philcox was killed in an aircraft accident this morning near Worthy Down.”
An inquiry was convened at RNAS Eastleigh under the chairmanship of Commander R. Poole RN to determine the cause of the accident and it reported its conclusions in a report dated the 18th of March 1940: - “The reason which caused the pilot to forced land cannot be definitely established from the evidence, but the Board is of the opinion that it was most probably due to the loss of engine revolutions or irregular running of the engine, which may have been caused by the water which was found in the petrol system on examination after the crash.”
The Surrey Advertiser wrote of him: “He was very popular in all sections of the “House “and was held in high esteem by all with whom he came into contact by his endearing nature and kindly disposition. His tragic and untimely death is deeply regretted.”
His funeral took place on the 16th of March 1940 in a service which was conducted by the Reverend W. A. Dengate.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at St Mark’s Church, Staplefield.
He is buried at St Mark’s Church, Staplefield.

Phillips, Godfrey Sidney Philip, son of Morris G. P. Phillips and Gretta Wharton; b. 21 Mar. 1921; adm. from Repton Sch. May 1935 (R); left Apr. 1938; RNVR (A) in WW2; killed in action in HMS Patia 27 Apr. 1941.

Godfrey Sidney Philip Phillips was born at Chelsea, London on the 21st of March 1921 the only son of Morris Godfrey Philip Phillips and Annie Margaretta “Gretta” (nee Wharton formerly White) Phillips of 3, Kensington House, Kensington High Street, Kensington in London.
He was educated at Repton School and at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from May 1935 to April 1938.
He enlisted in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve as a Leading Naval Airman 1st Class in the Fleet Air Arm before becoming an Ordinary Seaman. He was posted to the 5,500 ton naval auxiliary vessel HMS Paita which had been requisitioned by the Admiralty in September 1940 and had been fitted out as a aircraft catapult ship for the defence of convoys.
On the 27th of April 1941, HMS Patia, under the command of Commander David Marion Burton Baker RNR, set sail on her maiden voyage as part of a convoy. She was on her way to pick up a Hurricane Mk IA aircraft which was to operate from her. After nightfall HMS Patia was sailing near 20G Buoy off Coquet Island, some eight miles off Seaton Point in Northumberland when she was attacked by a Heinkel 111 bomber which dropped two 550lb bombs on her. The aircraft also fired on her with its machine guns, killing four of her crew. Both of the bombs fell short of the ship. Under heavy fire from HMS Patia’s gun crews the Heinkel turned for a second run and, although hit by anti aircraft fire, it dropped more bombs, one of which hit the ship causing a massive explosion. Hit by anti aircraft fire from the ship, the enemy aircraft was forced to ditch into the sea with the crew being taken prisoner.
HMS Patia had been badly damaged with many of her crew having been killed or wounded in the attack. As the stricken vessel began to sink the survivors climbed into lifeboats in the pitch black. The Boulmer lifeboat “Clarissa Langdon” was launched at 11pm and made for the site of the sinking where it found a great deal of wreckage but none of the crew. At daybreak they received a call from the local coastguard that three men had been seen on a life raft and these were rescued by the fishing boat “Primrose”. More men were later rescued and a number of bodies were recovered from the sea during the morning.
One of the lifeboats came ashore at Howick Burn with 41 survivors on board and another landed at Embleton Bay with 40 men on board, both making landfall at around 1am.
The Captain, seven officers and thirty one ratings had been killed during the attack.
He is commemorated on a brass plaque at Boulmer lifeboat station.
He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial 50,2.

Rogers, Patrick Heron Thorold, son of Arthur George Liddon Rogers (qv); b. 17 Oct. 1909; adm. Sept. 1923 (R); left July 1927; Balliol Coll. Oxf., matric. 1928, BA 1931 (1st class hons Jurispru­dence), LLB 1932; called to the Bar (Middle Temple) Jan. 1933 (1st class hons and cert. of hon­our Bar finals; BCL 1937; PO RAFVR Oct. 1941; m. 29 July 1937 Jacqueline, d. of Percy A. Sweetinburgh of Hampstead; killed in action Mar. 1942.

Patrick Heron Thorold Rogers was born at Barnet, Middlesex on the 17th of October 1909 the elder son of Arthur George Liddon Rogers OW, a civil servant for the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, and Emily Norah (nee Miller-Hallett) Rogers of “Mount Skippet”, Ramsden in Oxfordshire and of 17, Barkton Gardens, Earls Court in London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1923 to July 1927. He matriculated for Balliol College, Oxford in 1928 and was awarded a First Class BA in Jurisprudence in 1931. He was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in January 1933 having won First Class Honours and a Certificate of Honour in the final examinations for the Bar in 1937. He worked from chambers at 4, Paper Buildings, Temple and lectured at the Faculty of Law at King’s College, London University and at the Police College, Hendon.
He was married at Temple Church, Marylebone on the 29th of June 1937 to Bertha Jacqueline Alice (nee Sweetinburgh) of Berkley Court. He was the author of “Roger’s Questions and Answers on Criminal Law” and “The Effect of War on Contract”, published in 1940. He co-wrote “The Solicitor’s handbook of War Legislation” with Stanley Marks Krusin.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as an Observer and rose to the rank of Leading Aircraftman before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 4th of October 1941.
Patrick Rogers and his crew took off in Beaufort Mk II AW272 for an operational flight off the coast of Caithness. When it returned to base the aircraft was low on fuel and the crew was having trouble locating the airfield. The aircraft struck the Hill of Stemster near Achavanich at 10.30pm and crashed killing Patrick Rogers and injuring the rest of the crew.
The crew was: -
Pilot Officer Anthony Edgar Buchanan Barnard (Pilot) (Shock and an injured right arm) (Killed in action 13th April 1943)
Pilot Officer Patrick Heron Thorold Rogers (Observer)
Sergeant E. W. Hill (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) (Slightly injured, shock and minor abrasions)
Sergeant William Henry Parsons (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) (Seriously injured, fracture and dislocation of the spine)
William Parsons was taken to Stracathro Hospital where he died from his injuries at 7.40 on the 12th July 1942.
His mother received the following telegram dated the 14th of March 1942: - “Deeply regret to inform you that your son Pilot Officer Patrick Heron Thorold Rogers is reported to have lost his life as the result of air operations on 12th March 1942. The Air Council express their profound sympathy. His wife has been informed.”
His funeral took place on the 18th of March 1942.
A friend wrote of him: -
“In Patrick Heron Thorold Rogers, the Bar has lost one of its most brilliant young practitioners, and Westminster one of its most promising alumni. He was up Rigaud’s from 1923 to 1928, and was joint winner of the Vincent Prize in the latter year. Thence he passed on to Balliol, where he not only achieved a First in the School of Jurisprudence and another First in the postgraduate School of Civil Law, but also won the Winter Williams Scholarship. He obtained a First again in his Bar Examinations, and was awarded the Certificate of Honour for the Middle Temple. He also won the Barstow Scholarship, and was one of the Harmsworth Law Scholars for 1933. In practice he was well-known for his clear-headed advocacy; and for his keen grasp of the subtleties of his profession; though only 32 at his death he had been appointed Lecturer in Law at Kings College, London, and at the Police College, Hendon, and had written three books on legal matters connected with the war. No one would have cared to set any limit on his ultimate achievement. Believing that it was for him to share whatever danger might be the price of victory, he volunteered for flying duties with the R.A.F. On Thursday, March 12th, he was killed while returning from an operational flight. His loss is a public one, but to us, his friends and schoolfellows, it is all the more poignant for our memories of a character as striking as it was sincere. He was blessed with kindliness and courage, and he reaped his reward in success in his profession and complete happiness in his marriage. A life so richly lived and “So generously laid down” calls for no further epitaph.”
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Balliol College, Oxford and on the memorial at King’s College, London University. He is also commemorated on the memorial at the Middle Temple.
He is buried at St James’ Church, Ramsden.

Russell, Henry John Dashwood, son of Henry Alexander Russell of Leatherhead, Surrey, and Ada Emily, d. of Henry Dashwood of Gosport, Hants; b. 7 Nov. 1906; adm. Sept. 1920 (R); left July 1923; farming in NZ 1925; Govt Monopolies Dept. Malacca 1931-42, transf. Singapore 1942; m. 21 Nov. 1931 Evelyn Millicent Violet, sister of Egerton Shelley Walter Hanbury Leigh­ Hunt (qv); killed in action (Malaya) 13 Feb. 1942.

Henry Neville Dashwood Russell was born at Clapham, South London on the 7th of November 1906 the son of Henry Alexander Russell, a civil servant, and Ada Emily (nee Dashwood) Russell of 29, Deauville Mansions, Clapham Park in London. He was christened at St Saviour’s Church, Pimlico on the 15th of December 1906.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1920 to July 1923. He was a noted swimmer while he was at the school. In 1925 he moved to New Zealand where he worked as a farm hand and lived at 6, Baretta Street, Canterbury. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the East Surrey Regiment, Supplementary Reserve of Officers, on the 26th of June 1929. He was appointed as Probationary Assistant Controller for the Straits Settlements on the 12th of December 1929 and he served with the Government Monopolies Department at Mallacca from 1931 to 1942 and as King’s Harbour Master at Malacca.
He was married at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Singapore on the 21st of November 1931 to Evelyn Millicent Violet (nee Leigh-Hunt) and they had two daughters, one of which was Charmain Anne, born in 1932, and a son, born on the 23rd of February 1935. He was a member of a Malay Volunteer Regiment but following the Japanese invasion of Malaya he rejoined his old Regiment whose 2nd Battalion was serving in the colony. The Battalion was involved in heavy fighting following their invasion of Malaya on the 7th of December 1941 and throughout the retreat which followed. They suffered very heavy casualties during the campaign. On the 20th of December 1941 the survivors of the Battalion were merged with the remainder of the 1st Battalion, Royal Leicestershire Regiment to form the composite British Battalion. After further heavy fighting The Battalion withdrew to Singapore Island where Japanese forces began landing on the 8th of February 1942. Having come under a series of enemy attacks on the 12th of February, on the following day, the 13th of February 1942, the Battalion came under bombing and shelling with the unit protecting its left flank being forced to withdraw during the afternoon. During the day two groups of survivors were detailed to escape by boat from the colony but Henry Russell was not in either group and his fate is unknown.
When the Singapore surrendered two days later, the remaining 265 officers and men of the British Battalion passed into captivity.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Gray’s Inn.
He is buried at Kranji War Cemetery Collective Grave 34 D 15-17.

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.