Fevez, Robin Lewis Gronow, brother of David Grunow Eugene Fevez (qv); b. 7 Nov. 1920; adm. Sept. 1934 (G); left Dec. 1937; King's Coll. Lond. 1938, enlisted Aug. 1939; The Queen's Regt, served Iraq 1942, Eighth Army 1943 (Capt.); killed in action (Italy) Sept. 1943.

Robin Louis Gronow Fevez was born at “Eversleigh”, Addlestone, Chertsey, Surrey on the 7th of November 1920 the younger son of Eugene Leon Fevez OW, a director of a wholesale textile company, and his second wife, Ethel Gronow (nee Oliver) Fevez of Radley Cottage, Church Road, Addlestone, Chertsey, later of 24, Woodville Road, Bexhill-on-Sea in Sussex. He was educated at St George’s College, Weybridge and at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from September 1934 to December 1937. He went on to the Faculty of Science at King’s College, London University from 1938 to 1940 where he was a member of the London University Officer Training Corps. He had planned to become a research chemist but the outbreak of war intervened.
He enlisted as Private 6464127 in The Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey) on the 25th of September 1939 and was posted to No. 162 Officer Cadet Training Unit on the 22nd of November 1940. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Regiment on the 15th of March 1941. He was posted to the 2/5th Battalion of his Regiment and served in Iraq in 1942. He served as Acting Adjutant and as Battalion Itelligence Offier before being appointed to the command of D Company
On the 9th of September 1943, the 2/5th Battalion, The Queen’s Royal Regiment was in the leading wave of the Allied landings at Salerno for the invasion of Italy. The troops were loaded onto assault landing craft just after midnight and they headed for shore under a curtain of supporting fire from the naval guns offshore. The enemy returned fire and as the two leading landing craft approached the shore both were hit and damaged. Although there were a number of casualties in Robin Fevez’s boat, he was unhurt and landed on the beach shortly after 4am. The Battalion’s task was to land on the right of the 4,000 yard stretch of beach, to secure the beachhead and to advance a further 3,000 yards inland by first light. D Company, on the left of the Battalion’s attack, crossed bogs and ditches as they made their way inland where they secured their objective, a large agricultural college at Piccola a mile behind the beach. They had taken the position with few casualties and were in high spirits when a German tank was spotted some 300 yards to their front which heralded a counterattack by the 16th Panzer Division. C Company, which was the lead Company, suffered heavy losses but, with support from the other Companies the enemy attack was eventually driven off. At midnight on the 9th/10th of September the Battalion’s commanding officer received orders to resume the advance in order to attack before the Germans were able to reorganise.
A and D Companies began the advance in darkness with D Company moving up a road on the left. They moved forward for about an hour before they saw what looked in the gloom like an enemy tank in the middle of the road. A PIAT was ordered forward and knocked out what turned out to be an enemy self propelled gun and its half-track. A Platoon was then dispatched to investigate a nearby house on their right when the whole line came under heavy fire. Robin Fevez met Lieutenant Whitfield at a cross roads where the two men had to shout to hear each other due to the noise of the gunfire and of the tracer bullets whipping over their heads. He was ordered to dig in and to hold his position in preparation for an expected counterattack at first light. As daylight came it became clear that the Battalion was sited in the middle of an encampment of enemy tanks and the noise of their engines starting, coupled with heavy fire in all directions added to the confusion. Robin Fevez quickly realized that he and his men were about to find themselves in a desperate position with tanks attacking them from short range. He ordered his men to break out “as best as they could” but they were almost completely cut off from the rest of the Battalion. Only 20 men managed to get back to the Battalion with Robin Fevez being killed during the fighting withdrawal. The Battalion was relived the following day.
His brother, Pilot Officer David Gronow Eugene Fevez OW, 26 Squadron Royal Air Force was killed in action on the 5th of June 1940.
He is commemorated on the London University Roll of Honour
He is buried at Salerno War Cemetery Plot III, Row A, Grave 10.

Fisher, John Malcolm, elder son of the Rev. William Fisher, of Norwood, by Anna Maria Isabella, daughter of John Edward Hunt, of Douglas, Isle of Man; b. June 7, 1890; adm. Sept. 24, 1903 (H); left July 1908; 2nd Lieut. 5th Batt. York and Lancaster Regt. Aug. 14, 1914; temp. Lieut. April 1915; Capt. June 1, 1916; served on the western front April 13, 1915; - Nov. 11, 1918, on the staff Feb. 1, 1917 - Nov. 11, 1918; mentioned in despatches L. G. March 15, 1916; Dec. 11, 1917 and July 5, 1919; M.C. March 15, 1916; D.S.O. June 3, 1919; Major Feb. 16, 1928; Lieut.-Col. Feb. 16, 1933; T. D.; Brevet Col. Feb. 16, 1937; (Middle East) L. G. Dec. 15, 1942 and June 24, 1943; m. Nov. 13, 1919, Alice, youngest daughter of Sir William James Bell, D. L., of Godstone, Surrey; d. on active service in North Africa, May 18, 1943.

John Malcolm Fisher was born at Leeds, Yorkshire on the 7th of June 1890 the elder son of the Reverend William Fisher and Anna Maria Isabella (nee Hunt) Fisher of 24, Lunham Road, Norwood in Surrey, later of Kingham Rectory, Oxford. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from the 24th of September 1903 to July 1908.
Following the outbreak of the Great War he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 5th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment on the 14th of August 1914 and he joined them at their base at Rotherham. The Battalion was designated as the 1/5th Battalion and on the 13th of April 1915 they left York in two trains bound for Folkestone where they embarked later in the day and arrived at Boulogne at 11.30pm that night. They disembarked at 5am the following morning. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 9th of October 1915.
At 5.25am on the 19th of December 1915 the Battalion was in trenches near the canal bank at Ypres when the Germans began shelling their positions with heavy artillery fire. This lasted until 9am and continued intermittently throughout the day. Gas was released on the Battalion’s positions but no enemy infantry attack followed. Those of the enemy who showed themselves were shot by the Battalion snipers. Although the trenches only suffered minor damage from the shelling, three officers and six other ranks were killed by the gas with a further four officers and eighty seven other ranks suffering from the effects of it. Five other ranks were killed by bullets and shell fire with one officer and twenty three other ranks wounded. That night they were relieved by the 1/7th Battalion, The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (West Riding) and they marched to a rest camp.
For his actions that day John Fisher was one of three officers from the Battalion to be awarded the Military Cross, which was announced by the War Office on the 15th of March 1916. The citation for his award read: - “For conspicuous good service. During an enemy attack, when his senior Officer was incapacitated, he assumed command of his battalion, organised the ammunition supply, arranged for the relief for the night, sent in clear reports to Headquarters, and carried on generally in a manner to inspire confidence.”
He was promoted to temporary Captain on the 1st of June 1916 and to Captain on the 26th of June 1917, with precedence from the 1st of June 1916. He was appointed as a General Staff Officer 2nd Grade in early 1918 and served on the Staff of 49th Division.
He was Mentioned in Despatches on three occasions, which were announced in the London Gazette of the 15th of March 1916, the 11th of December 1917 and of the 5th of July 1919. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the King’s Birthday Honours List of the 3rd of June 1919. He applied for his medals on the 5th of January 1920.
He was married at All Souls Church, Marylebone on the 13th of November 1919 to Ailie (nee Bell) of Faygate, Sussex. Following the end of the war he remained in his old Battalion and was promoted to Major on the 16th of February 1928. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on the 16th of February 1933 when he was appointed to the command of his Battalion. He was awarded the Efficiency Decoration of the Territorial Army in February 1934 for his services in training anti-aircraft personnel. He was promoted to Brevet Colonel on the 16th of February 1937 and continued to the command his Battalion when it became the 67th (The York and Lancaster Regiment) Heavy Anti Aircraft Brigade, Royal Artillery. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire (Military Division) in the King’s Birthday Honours List, which was announced by St James’s Palace on the 9th of June 1938.
During the Second World War he was appointed to the command of the 13th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment and went with them to the Middle East in October 1940 where he saw action in Libya and at the siege of Tobruk. He served on the General Staff from April 1943 where he was involved in planning the defence of Egypt and was twice Mentioned in Despatches.
On the 18th of May 1943, John Fisher was at Tripoli and was entering his car when he died suddenly from heart failure.
He was created as a Commander of the British Empire, which was announced by St James’ Palace on the 14th of October 1943. The recommendation for the award read as follows: - “During the period under review Col. Fisher in addition to his normal A.A. defence duties which he has always carried out most efficiently, has had to organise the special precautions connected with the French Fleet. This for various reasons has required clear thinking, and decisions and untiring energy, all of which Col. Fisher has displayed. During the period of Eighth Army operating he maintained an efficient AA cover over Alexandria Harbour for which he received the thanks of and congratulations of RN.”
A friend wrote of him: - “We all knew him very well in Alexandria and were delighted when he came back the other day as our Brigadier. He will be greatly missed as he was not only our Brigade Commander but a warm friend to every one of us.”
He is buried at Tripoli War Cemetery Plot 6, Row G, Grave 12.

Myers, Julian Gilbert Keydell, son of Gilbert Percival Louis Myers (qv); b. 26 Nov. 1914; adm. Sept. 1928 (B); left Dec. 1931; apprentice Furniss Withy Line 1932-5, later asst master Moffats Sch. Hatfield, Herts; Sgt Pilot RAFVR, killed in action 9 Dec 1940.

Julian Gilbert Keydell Myers was born in Capetown, South Africa on the 26th of November 1914 the eldest son of Major Gilbert Percival Louis Myers OW, Army Service Corps, and, Ada Sallie (nee Hutchins) Myers of 83, Vernon Road, Feltham in Middlesex. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Busby’s from September 1928 to December 1931. He was a member of the 1st Football XI in 1930 and 1931 where he played as goalkeeper. On leaving school he was accepted as an apprentice with the Furniss Withy Line and worked for them from 1932 to 1935. He later became an assistant schoolmaster at Moffat’s School, Hatfield in Hertfordshire. He was married at Maldon, Essex in 1938 to Frances Ellison (nee Fletcher) of Witham, Essex.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as a pilot and rose to the rank of Sergeant.
On the 9th of December 1940 nine aircraft from 115 Squadron were detailed to attack enemy shipping in the harbours of Bordeaux and L’Orient.
Julian Myers and his crew took off from RAF Marham at 5.25pm on the 9th of December 1940 in Wellington Mk IC L7895 KO-G for the operation. Eight tons of bombs were dropped on the target “with good effect”.
The crew was: -
Pilot Officer Peter Bois (Pilot)
Sergeant Julian Gilbert Keydell Myers (2nd Pilot)
Pilot Officer Macdonald (Navigator)
Sergeant Livingstone (Wireless Operator)
Sergeant Longden (Front Gunner)
Sergeant Pryor (Rear Gunner)
Three aircraft from the Squadron were lost during the operation.
Having completed its mission the aircraft landed safely back at RAF Marham where the crew disembarked and made their way to a van which was to transport them back to the station buildings. While they were doing this a sharp crack was heard and a few moments later a member of the ground crew found the body of Julian Myers who had been hit by the port propeller. His body was taken to the station mortuary.
His funeral took place on the 14th of December 1940.
He is buried at Holy Trinity Church, Marham Grave 56.

Neal, Kenneth Guthrie, son of Lawrence Edward Neal, chairman and man. dir. Daniel Neal & Sons, and Jean Frances Guthrie-Smith, poetess, d. of John Guthrie-Smith, solicitor, of Kelvinside, Glasgow; b. 13 Nov. 1919; adm. Sept. 1932 (H); left July 1938; Magd. Coll. Oxf., matric. 1938; RA in WW2 (Lieut.); killed in action (France) Aug. 1944.

Kenneth Guthrie Neal was born at Glasgow on the 13th of November 1919 the elder son of Lawrence Edgar Neal, chairman and managing director of Daniel Neal & Sons, and Jean Frances (nee Guthrie-Smith) Neal, a poet, of 5, Holland Villas Road, Kensington in London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from September 1932 to July 1938. He boxed for the school in 1933. He was a member of the Cricket XI and of the Football XI in 1936, 1937 and 1938 where he played at half back. He was appointed as Captain of the Football XI in 1937. He won the Neale History Prize in June 1938. While at the school he was a keen sportsman, enjoying cricket and middle distance running and was a keen fly fisherman.
On leaving school he and four friends bought an old Sunbeam limousine and drove to Yugoslavia for the summer. He matriculated for Magdalen College, Oxford in 1938 where he was a member of the College Football XI and passed exams for History and Constitutional Law in 1939 and in English in 1940. He did not graduate as he left the College for military service after six terms. He was a poet and a book of his poems, “Poems of This War by Younger Poets” edited by P. Leward was published in 1942.
He attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on the 2nd of August 1941. He joined 68 Anti Tank Regiment on the 8th of October 1941 and was promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st of October 1942. The Regiment trained in Northern Ireland until the spring of 1944 when it moved to England in preparation for the invasion of France.
On the 24th of June 1944 68 Anti Tank Regiment embarked on board the MT7 “Samuel” at the Royal Prince Albert Dock and disembarked at Le Hamel in Normandy on the 28th of June. They were soon involved in heavy fighting in the Caen area and took part in Operation Charnwood and Operation Pomegranate.
On the 25th of July, the Regiment arrived at Les Saullets where they were to support on an attack towards Landelle and Noyers-Bocage and were then to support the crossing of the River Orne by 176 Brigade, codenamed Operation Bluecoat. A bridgehead was established across the Orne on the 6th of August 1944 with Kenneth Neal and E Troop, 270 Battery crossing the river into it. 271 Battery was positioned on the western slope of the near bank with support from 269 Battery covering their flank. A German counterattack later in the day caused E Troop to fall back to the bridge and further counterattacks over the next two days prevented their comrades from joining them. On the 7th of August E Troop reported that they were making a reconnaissance to find suitable positions for the other two batteries and there was no contact from them on the 8th of August. Kenneth Neal’s commanding officer ordered him, a Sergeant and two other ranks to take a carrier and to see if they could capture an enemy prisoner for interrogation and on the 9th of August 1944 E Troop reported that Kenneth Neal had been captured by the enemy. The following day the Regiment advanced to Ronde Fontaine where they found his body and those of three of his men. His carrier had received a direct hit from a German tank.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Magdalen College, Oxford.
He is buried at Bayeux War Cemetery Plot XXII, Row D, Grave 11.

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.

Skrender, John Brooke, son of Sigard Anne Skrender, paper merchant, of Kingston, Surrey; b. 25 June 1918; adm. Sept. 1931 (H); left July 1935; City & Guilds Coll. Lond., BSc 1940; RAFVR 1940-2 (FO); killed on night operations July 1942.

John Brooke Skrender was born at Sleaford, Lincolnshire on the 25th of June 1918 the elder son of Sigurd Arne Skrender, a paper merchant, and Gwendoline Ruby (nee Simpson) Skrender of 12, Liverpool Road, Kingston Hill in Surrey. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from September 1931 to July 1935. He went on to the City and Guilds College, London where he achieved a BSc.
On the outbreak of war he was serving as a member of the Civil Air Guard.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as a pilot and rose to the rank of Sergeant. He was posted to 150 Squadron.
John Skrender and his crew took off from RAF Snaith at 7.50pm on the 24th of September 1941 in Wellington Mk IC T2960 for an operation on Frankfurt. During the mission the aircraft was badly damaged by anti aircraft fire but was able to return to Snaith where it landed safely at 1.55am.
The crew was: -
Sergeant Wilkinshaw (Pilot)
Sergeant John Brooke Skrender (2nd Pilot) (Killed in action 22nd July 1942)
Sergeant Alfred Wilkinson (Navigator) (Killed in action 28th April 1942)
Flight Sergeant J. C. Leigh
Sergeant Franklin Burton Grundy (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) (Killed in action 28th April 1942)
Sergeant Ronald Marcus Sutton (Air Gunner) (Killed in action 28th April 1942)
He was promoted to Flight Sergeant before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 20th of March 1942.
On the night of the 21st /22nd of July 1942, Bomber Command dispatched 170 Wellingtons, 39 Halifaxes, 36 Stirlings, 29 Lancasters and 17 Hampdens for an operation on Duisburg. The cloud cover was 10/10ths from England to the Dutch coast but cleared over the mainland. Mist and industrial haze covered the target area where the bomber force encountered enemy night fighters and moderate anti aircraft fire. 253 of the returning aircraft reported that they had bombed the target but a number of the bombs had fallen on open country to the west of the city. 94 houses were destroyed with a further 256 being seriously damaged. The Tyssen steelworks and other industrial targets were also hit. 49 people were killed on the ground.
John Skrender and his crew took off from RAF Snaith at 11.25pm on the 21st of July 1942 in Wellington Mk III X3590 JN-L for the operation. The aircraft had completed its mission and was two nearly hours into its return journey and was flying at 11,000 feet when the oil pump in the starboard engine seized. John Skrender force landed the stricken bomber at about 2.30am at Burgervlotbruck in North Holland. He was killed in the crash.
The crew was: -
Pilot Officer John Brooke Skrender (Pilot)
Pilot Officer Ronald Watson (Navigator) (POW No. 42826 Stalag 344 and Stalag Luft III)
Sergeant William Edward Grimley (Wireless Operator) (Slightly wounded) (POW No. 25147 Stalag 344)
Sergeant Thomas George Richard “Tommy” Allaway (Rear Gunner) (Died of wounds 22nd July 1942)
Sergeant Donald Rupert Coleman (Front Gunner) (Wounded) (POW - repatriated September 1944)
Theirs was one of twelve aircraft which were lost during the raid.
The following telegram, dated the 11th of September 1942, was sent to Mr. J Morris: - “Deeply regret that according to information received through the International Red Cross Committee Pilot Officer John Brooke Skrender is believed to have lost his life as the result of air operations on 22 July 1942. The Air Council express their profound sympathy. His father is being informed.”
Although John Skrender had been killed in the crash landing, Donald Coleman had survived with a fractured skull as had William Grimley who was suffering from a broken arm.
The navigator, Ronald Watson, who had also survived, later reported that he was lying near the wreckage with the badly injured rear gunner, Thomas Allaway “Probably if we had been found sooner, after the crash Tommy would be alive, but it was about two in the morning and we weren’t found until eleven. I managed to have a few words with him while we were lying together near the machine.”
Donald Coleman made a statement on his repatriation to England in 1944: - “I am very vague as to what happened, but I will give you all I know. After we were hit, we flew very low over the Zuider Zee, when we struck land, and finally crashed. When I regained consciousness P.O. Skrender was lying near me, apparently dead, and for the next two hours I could hear someone moaning which I think was Sgt. Allaway. Later when I was being taken to the ambulance, one of the German orderlies said “Your comrades are dead” so I take it he saw them in the wreckage.”
He is buried at Bergen General Cemetery Plot 1, Row B, Grave 17.

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

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

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

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

Patterson, Basil Horace, son of Horace Harvie Patterson, accountant, of Muswell Hill, and Edith Emma. d. of Charles Clement Vyle of Muswell Hill; b. 31 Oct. 1919; adm. Sept. 1933 (H); left. July 1938; a clerk in Lloyds Bank; RASC 1940 (Staff Sgt-Major), served MEF; d. 4 Sept. 1947 as the result of injuries received on active service Palestme 1943.

Basil Horace Patterson was born at Hackney, London on the 31st of October 1919 the only son of Horace Harrie Patterson, an accountant for an insurance company, and Edith Emma (nee Vyle) of “St Albans”, 7, Beechwood Avenue, Finchley in North London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from September 1933 to July 1938. On leaving school he worked as a clerk for Lloyd’s Bank at the Cox’s and King’s Branch, 6, Pall Mall in London before enlisting in the Royal Army Service Corps in 1940. He served in the Middle East and was badly injured in Palestine in 1943.
His engagement to Daphne Margery Hayhow of Rosario, Argentine was announced on the 21st of July 1947.
He died from complications of his injuries.
His funeral took place on the 10th of September 1947.
He is commemorated on the Lloyds Bank 1939-1945 war memorial at 6, Pall Mall, London.
He is buried at East Finchley Crematorium Section Y4, Grave 112.

Scorer, Paul Geoffrey, only son of George Oakley Scorer, F.R.I.B.A., of Kensington, by Amy Lock; b. May 3, 1905; adm. Sept. 26, 1918 (H); left Easter 1922; manager of a Colonial import and export firm; Pilot Officer, R.A.F.V.R. April 1, 1942; Flying Officer Dec. 1, 1942; m. Feb. 26, 1939, Natasha, daughter of Prof. Simon Frank, of France; killed in action Aug. 27, 1943.

Paul Geoffrey Scorer was born at Kensington, London on the 3rd of May 1905 the only son of George Oakley Scorer FRIBA, an architect, and Amy (nee Lock) Scorer of 21, Warwick Gardens, Earle Court in London. He was christened at St Mark’s Church, Marylebone on the 7th of June 1905. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from the 26th of September 1918 to Easter 1922. On leaving school he became the manager of a Colonial import and export firm, dealing and shipping cocoa and sugar. He was married on the 26th of February 1939 to Natalie (nee Frank, later Norman) and they lived at 46, Corringham Road, Golders Green in Middlesex. They had two sons, Michael, born in 1940 and Peter, born on the 15th of October 1942.
Following the outbreak of war he volunteered as an Air Raid Warden.
He was commissioned as an Acting Pilot Officer on probation in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on the 1st of April 1942 was confirmed in his rank on the 1st of June 1942. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 1st of December 1942. He was posted to Y Service on board the sloop HMS Egret (L75), under the command of Lieutenant Commander John Valentine Waterhouse DSO RN, which was made up of Royal Air Force personnel who were monitoring the German’s use of an anti ship radio controlled missile system, the Henschel 293 glide bomb, which had been mounted on enemy aircraft and was being deployed against Allied shipping with some success. Paul Scorer and his team of two signallers were using the Enigma machine to intercept German signals in an attempt to give early warning of an attack. His commanding officer on board was Squadron Leader Cuthbert William Prideaux Selby, who acted as the coordinator between the ships and Coastal Command.
On the 27th of August 1943, HMS Egret was one of two sloops, two destroyers and three frigates which arrived in the Bay of Biscay, some 30 to the west of Vigo, to relieve ships of the 40th Support Group. Later in the day the group was attacked by eighteen Dornier 217 aircraft carrying the Henschel 293 bombs damaging the destroyer HMCS Athabaskan and scoring a direct hit on HMS Egret which was virtually cut in half and sank very soon afterwards. The destroyer HMS Grenville was also attacked but managed to out-turn the bomb and was not damaged.
In addition to Paul Scorer and Cuthbert Selby, one hundred and ninety four officers and ratings from the Royal Navy were lost when the ship went down. Thirty two survivors were picked up by HMCS Athabaskan.
He was Mentioned in Despatches, which was announced by the Air Ministry on the 14th of January 1944.
He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Panel 129.