Halse-Hearne, William Edward, son of William Frederick Halse-Hearne, RN stores officer, and Esther, d. of James Alexander Crofton; b. 22 July 1917; adm. Apr. 1931 (A), (B) Jan. 1933; left Dec. 1933; Drummond's Bank; 2nd Lieut. Wilts Regt 1943, transf. Commandos (Capt.); m. 18 June 1940 Margaret Horner; d. of wounds (Burma) Nov. 1944.

William Edward Halse-Hearne was born in North London on the 22nd of July 1917 the only son of William Frederick Halse-Hearne RN, a naval stores officer, and Esther (nee Crofton) Halse-Hearne of 17, King’s Road, Wimbledon in Surrey. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from April 1931 and up Busby’s from January 1933 to December 1933.
He joined the staff of Drummonds Bank in London in 1934 where he worked as a clerk. He enlisted in the Honourable Artillery Company in 1938 where he served with B Battery and he was mobilised for war service in September 1939.
He was married in Surrey on the 18th of June 1940 to Margaret Gertrude (nee Horner).
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Wiltshire Regiment on the 4th of June 1943 and was later attached to No. 1 Commando where he was appointed to the command of No. 4 Troop.
In November 1944, No 1 Commando was based at Teknaf in the Maungdaw Hills of Burma from where they were carrying out patrols against Japanese troops in the area. On the 11th of November 1944, No. 4 Troop, No. 1 Commando was briefed for a patrol to investigate a report of the presence of Japanese troops in the area of the village of Ywathitke. The patrol was to consist of eighteen other ranks, commanded by William Halse-Hearne, accompanied by Lieutenant Paterson and by an Intelligence Officer. It was to take a route on the outward journey of Nurutlapara –Chiradan West - Ywathitke to Thavengonbaung and return by the same route. The patrol set out at midday and was due to return at 6pm.
They advanced down the main road to a river crossing where they received updated information that enemy troops were in Thavengonbaung and in a another village to the north of it. On receiving this information they split into two groups, one under Lieutenant Paterson and the other under William Halse-Hearne, with one advancing towards through the villages towards Thavengonbaung and the other continuing down the main track where the two groups were to rendezvous. Both groups reached the rendezvous point without incident where they were informed by a native boy that the Japanese were in the village where they were commandeering millet from the locals. They continued their advance towards the village in open order with C Section, under Lieutenant Paterson, on the left and with D Section, under William Halse-Hearne, on the right. They reached the south end of the village where they found the approach to it was across 100 yards of scrub with a further 100 yards of forward slope and then 800 yards of open paddy fields beyond. Having covered the 200 yards to the village they came under fire from an enemy light machine gun and from rifle fire from their right and from snipers on their left. The two sections took cover but William Halse-Hearne had been wounded and was lying on the open ground. He was brought in by his men under heavy fire who were then forced to fall back when they were brought under 2 inch mortar fire. C Section also withdrew having kileld three enemy snipers. William Halse-Hearne was carried to Thavengonbaung and then taken on an improvised stretcher to Chiradan West. He died from his wounds during the journey when the party was approximately a mile from Thavengonbaung.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at the Royal Bank of Scotland branch at 36, Andrew Square, Edinburgh
He is buried at Taukkyan War Cemetery Plot 3, Row G, Grave 4.

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

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

Leeman, Patrick Ian, son of Percival Garmany Leeman MC MB, of Derby, and Clare Grace Ellen, d. of Robert MacGregor of Durban; b. 8 Apr. 1922; adm. Sept. 1935 (R); left Apr. 1939; Sgt Pilot RAFVR, killed in action 8 Nov. 1941.

Patrick Ian “Paddy” Leeman was born at Derby, Derbyshire on the 22nd of July 1922 the son of Dr. Percival Garmany Leeman MC, MB and Clare Grace Ellen (nee Macgregor) Leeman of 100, Douglas Street, Osmaston Road, Derby, later of “The Lawn”, Burton Road, Littleover in Derbyshire.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1935 to April 1939. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1940 where he trained as a pilot and rose to the rank of Sergeant.
On the night of the 7th/8th of November 1941, Bomber Command dispatched 101 Wellingtons, 42 Whitleys, 17 Stirlings and 9 Halifaxes for an operation on Berlin. The weather forecast over the North Sea was very poor with storms, thick cloud, icing and hail. This led the commanding officer of No. 5 Group to insist that his crews be sent to Cologne instead of Berlin but his request was ignored. 73 aircraft reached Berlin where were unable to observe the results of their bombing but they reported seeing a number of fires on the outskirts of the city. The authorities in Berlin reported widespread damage with 1 industrial building, 2 railways, 30 houses and 2 public buildings being damaged or destroyed. A gasometer at Saaken was burnt out. 11 people were killed on the ground with 44 injured and 637 people were bombed out of their homes.
Patrick Leeman and his crew took off from RAF Mildenhall at 5.26pm on the 7th of November 1941 in Wellington Mk IC X9878 OJ-A for the operation. Having completed their mission they were on the return leg of their journey and were in the area of Essen when they were hit by anti aircraft fire but were able to continue. A short time later the aircraft was flying at 8,000 feet near Wesel when it was hit again, twice in the nose and in the rear turret. It was then attacked and shot down by a Messerschmitt Bf110 night fighter flown by Oberfeldwebel Wilhelm Engel of 7./NJG1. The aircraft crashed near to Isselburg at 12.47am local time with the loss of all but one of the crew. Theirs was one of an eventual 18 victories for Wilhelm Engel who survived the war.
The crew was: -
Pilot Officer Herbert Roy Crowe RCAF (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Stanley William Dane (Pilot)
Sergeant Albert Charles Arthur Davis (Observer)
Sergeant Patrick Ian Leeman (2nd Pilot)
Sergeant John Charles Pengelly (Air Gunner)
Sergeant Frederick Jenkinson (Rear Gunner) (POW No. 6439 Stalag Luft VII)
Thiers was one of twenty one aircraft which were lost during the raid.
The crew was buried at North Cemetery, Dusseldorf but their bodies were exhumed in July 1946 by No. 4 Missing, Research and Enquiry Unit, Royal Air Force and moved to their present location.
The only survivor, rear gunner Frederick Jenkinson, later reported that he managed to get out of the damaged rear turret with great difficulty after using an axe. He related that he saw no one in the fuselage and that he and William Dane were both onboard when Dane crash landed the aircraft. Dane was killed in the crash with Jenkinson being injured and taken prisoner.
Due to the heavy losses it would be another fourteen months before Bomber Command launched another raid on Berlin.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Littleover.
He is buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Joint Grave 11 B 7-8.

Lewis, Clive, son of John Thomas Lewis of Cape Town and Lilian Blanche, d. of Charles Street of Hadley Wood, Herts; b. 18 Apr. 1914; adm. May 1928 (H); left Dec. 1932; Pemb. Coll. Camb., matric. 1933, BA 1936; Scots Guards 1940-3 (Lieut.); m. 15 July 1939 Anne Allison, d. of J. Douglas Stewart of Woking; killed in action (N. Africa) Apr. 1943.

Clive Lewis was born in South Africa on the 18th of April 1914 the only son of John Thomas Lewis and Lilian Blanche (nee Street) Lewis of Southern Rhodesia and of 24, Campden House Chambers, Kensington in London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from May 1928 to December 1932. He was a member of the Officer Training Corps and was promoted to Lance Corporal in September 1931. He was a member of the 2nd Rowing VIII in 1931, where he rowed at No. 3 and of the 1st Rowing VIII in 1932 where he rowed at No. 2. The Elizabethan wrote the following on his 1932 season: - “One of the most improved oars of the crew, and very quick at learning anything suggested to him. Next year he should aim at a longer draw.”
He matriculated for Pembroke College, Cambridge in 1933 and graduated with a BA in 1936. He received a Trial Eights Cap for rowing in 1935.
He was married at Worplesdon Surrey on the 15th of July 1939 to Anne Allison (nee Stewart) of Hook’s Heath, Woking, Surrey and they honeymooned in the South of France. They had a daughter, Gillian, born on the 14th of May 1941.
He attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Scots Guards on the 21st of September 1940.
On the 26th of February 1943, the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards embarked on board the passenger liner RMS Samaria at Gourock in Scotland bound for North Africa. They set sail from the Clyde on the 1st of March and landed at Algiers on the 9th of March.
At 10pm on the night of the 22nd of April 1943, the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards marched forward from a wadi behind Grenadier Hill in preparation for an attack the following morning. Their objective was the capture and clearance of a series of enemy strong points to the south of the Gab-Gab gap in Tunisia. These were known as Points 150, 145, 151 and 187 and their capture was part of a wider assault to break through the German front lines which ran from Grich el Oued on the banks of the Mejerda River.
At 3.30am on the 23rd of April 1943, 550 guns opened fire in support of the attack and at dawn the Left Flank Company attacked what they thought to be Point 150. In fact they had attacked Point 156, but had strayed to their right in the darkness. In spite of heavy casualties and assisted by the Right Flank Company, they carried the enemy position after heavy fighting and were eventually relieved by C Company later in the day. The Right Flank Company then disengaged and made for the objective which they occupied without loss. This too was the wrong position and they were overlooked by Point 168, which was still held by the enemy. At around noon Clive Lewis was killed. The Regimental history records: - “A grievous loss. He had given excellent service during the night march and had served the Brigade well in passing back vital information.
He is buried at Massicault War Cemetery Plot IV, Row B, Grave 18.

Kidner, Richard Daymond, brother of Roger Wakely Kidner (qv); b. 20 Dec. 1920; adm. Sept. 1933 (A, non-res. KS); left July 1939; Ch. Ch. Oxf., matric. 1939; RA 1941-6 (Capt.); d. after a traffic accident in Trieste 15 Feb. 1946.

Richard Daymond Kidner was born at Bexley, Kent on the 30th of December 1920 the son of Arthur Richard Kidner, Director of Postal Services at the Royal Mint, and Mabel (nee Wakely) Kidner of “The Oaks”, Station Road, Bexley in Kent, later of “Starfell”, Southdown Road, Seaford in Sussex. He was christened at Holy Trinity Church, Bexley on the 15th of February 1921.
He was educated at Merton Court School, Foot’s Cray and at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham as a non resident King’s Scholar from September 1933 to July 1939. He won both the Ireland Prize for Latin Verse and the Ireland Prize for Greek Verse in 1938. He matriculated for Christ Church, Oxford in 1939 on a Weston Exhibition and was there for two years. He was awarded a BA. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on the 18th of October 1941.
On the 15th of February 1946, Richard Kidner left the Regiment’s base at Gradisca by car to attend a course at Perugia. During the journey he was seriously injured in a traffic accident at San Giorgio. He was taken to the British General Hospital in Trieste where he died from his injuries during the evening.
His funeral took place the following day.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Christ Church, Oxford and on the memorial at Merton Court School.
He is buried at Udine War Cemetery Plot III, Row D, Grave 12.

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

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

Instone, David Simon Theodore, brother of Ralph Bernard Samuel Instone (qv); b. 7 May 1921; adm. Sept. 1933 (H); left Dec. 1937; Ch. Ch. Oxf., matric. 1940; lntell. Corps (Corporal), d. on active service (Italy) Mar. 1945.

David Simon Theodore Instone was born at Kensington, London on the 7th of May 1921 the younger son of Captain Alfred (formerly Einstein) Instone JP, a ship owner and coal exporter, and Phyllis Hilda (nee Goldberg) Instone of 4, Cottesmore Court, Kensington in London and of Corner Cottage, Smock Alley, West Chiltington in Sussex. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from September 1933 to December 1937. He matriculated for Christ Church, Oxford in 1940 where he spent a year before enlisting for military service.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Christ Church, Oxford.
He is buried at Cesena War Cemetery Plot II, Row H, Grave 13.

Marchand, Roy Achille, son of René Marchand, co. director, and Constance Jane, d. of Evan William Dean of Bromley, Kent; b. 24 Aug. 1918; adm. May 1932 (A), (B) May 1934; left July 1936; PO RAF May 1939; m. 4 May 1940 Jean Angela Cullen; killed in action over the Thames estuary 15 Sept. 1940.

Roy Achille “Dim” Marchand was born at Bromley, Kent on the 24th of August 1918 the only son of Rene Marchand, a company director, and Constance Jane (nee Dean) Marchand of 6, Hayes Road, Bromley in Kent. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from May 1932 and up Busby’s from May 1934 to May 1936. He went on to King’s College, London University to study Medicine but he met a Squadron Leader while on holiday in the South of France in 1938 which inspired to him to join the Royal Air Force in March 1939. He was posted to No. 30 Elementary Flying and Reserve Flying Training School based at Burnaston for pilot training before going on to No. 15 Flying Training School based at RAF Lossiemouth. He was commissioned as an Acting Pilot Officer on probation on the 27th of May 1939 and was awarded his Wings in August 1939. He was promoted to Pilot Officer on probation on the 18th of November 1939. He was then posted to No. 11 Group Pool for further training after which he was attached to No. 2 Ferry Pilot Pool at Filton in December 1939 as a reserve pilot for service in France. He was offered the opportunity to go to Canada as an instructor but declined it, preferring instead to join a fighter Squadron. In early 1940 he was posted to 73 Squadron based at Rouvres and was confirmed in his rank on the 17th March 1940.
Roy Marchand took off from Rouvre at 11.50am on the 23rd of March 1940 in a Hurricane as Blue 2 with two other aircraft from the Squadron for a patrol at 20,000 feet over the Metz area. He intercepted and attacked two Messerschmitt Bf109s over Herzig and claimed to have damaged both of them. On his return to base at 1.10pm he filed the following combat report: -
“Sir, I, Pilot Officer Marchand, have the honour to report that at 11.50 hours on 23.3.40, I took off after blue leader to intercept enemy aircraft above Metz. I lost blue leader on the way so headed for these 4 streaks. Arriving at 22,000 feet to the north of Metz I circled trying to see these enemy aircraft also blue leader and blue 3. During my circling I suddenly saw a 4 Do17s at 24,000 feet east of the Moselle. I chased after them, but was very slow in overtaking them. I eventually caught up a little on a tight turn as they changed direction turning north at the same time changing formation from wide Vic to line astern. Eventually when I was almost in range I saw two Me109’s on my port slightly behind and level with me. I immediately executed a climbing turn to the right and eventually succeeded in getting on their tails. They retained a fairly close formation and altogether I put two bursts into each of them, using deflection. Their avoiding action was medium turns to the right and left. I was about to continue the action, being still on their tails, when I noticed two more Me109’s about 500 feet above me on my tail. I broke off the attack and dived towards some cloud and flew back to the aerodrome. The action took place over Herzig.”
Roy Marchand took off at 3.40pm on the 21st of April 1940 in a Hurricane with two other aircraft from the Squadron as part of B Flight for a standing patrol over the French lines. They were flying at a height of 26,500 feet when they encountered enemy aircraft. During the engagement he attacked a Messerschmitt 110 and fired five bursts atit of between 2 and 4 seconds before it went down. He landed at 5.50pm when he claimed the enemy aircraft as having been destroyed. He filed the following combat report: -
“Sir, I have the honour to report that on the afternoon of the 21st instant at about 16.30 hrs I observed a Messerschmitt 109 falling in flames. At about 16.55 the patrol encountered 6 Me110s about 10 miles N. of Trier. The leading section turned to attack them and I singled out the rearmost Me110. He did a turn to the right and I tried a deflection shot from about 250 yards. I gave it too much for I saw the bullets going ahead of the E/A. I gave it another burst with less deflection and hit the starboard engine which immediately gave out clouds of white smoke. The E.A. straightened up and I gave him another burst on the port engine. This was hit and also gave out clouds of white smoke. The E.A. then went into a shallow dive. I closed to within 100 yards following it down giving it short bursts. During this the rear gunner took a shot at me and I saw tracer going over my starboard wing. I gave it another burst in the middle of the fuselage and the gun was silenced. As I finished all my ammunition it went into a vertical dive with the smoke still pouring from both its engines.”
On the 21st of April 1940, Roy Marchant took off in a Hurricane as one of nine aircraft from the Squadron to patrol between Konisenaoken-Bouzonville at 26,500 feet. The weather was partly cloudy. At 12.20 pm they were flying over Herzig when they sighted twelve enemy aircraft flying at 13,000 feet and they dived to attack four of them. He opened fire on one of these from a range of 200 yards firing a three second burst of fire at it from astern before engaging two more and firing two more bursts of three seconds at one of these from astern and causing black smoke to come from it. Having lost sight of the enemy aircraft and coming under anti aircraft fire from a nearby enemy airfield he dived into cloud and flew back to base
On his return to base he filed the following combat report: -
“Sir, I have the honour to report that on the 21st instant, I was in a section of a flight of 9 aircraft, patrolling Konisenaoken-Bouzonville at 26,500 feet when we engaged 12 enemy aircraft in an indefinite formation, flying north. I singled out one Me109 and gave him a burst. He turned to the right and on following him I saw another Me109 much nearer to me so attacked that one instead. At the same time I saw another Hurricane closely following an Me109 from which something came out from the cockpit and twisted round the tail. The Me109 spun out of my line of vision. After a long burst, he climbed straight up and fell on his right side as if he was doing a stall turn to the right. He spun off that and I followed him down to 10,000 feet firing all the time until I observed a continuous stream of black smoke coming from his underside. This continued and I stopped following him at 10,000 feet for I thought another enemy aircraft might be following me. After satisfying myself that there were none, I looked round for the Me109 but lost it. I was over the top of Saarlautern Aerodrome ad experienced a certain amount of indifferent anti aircraft fire. I observed another Hurricane flying south west so followed it back and landed.”
He returned to England on leave where he was married at Bromley on the 4th of May 1940 to Jean Angela (nee Cullen, later Pelham-Jones); they had a daughter, Carol.
Roy Marchand took off from Rouvres at 5.55am on the 13th of May 1940 in Hurricane Mk I L1673 TP-P with three other aircraft from the Squadron for a patrol. While flying near Reims they engaged a formation of Messerschmitt 110s and Dornier 17s. During the action he claimed to have shot down a Dornier 17 but in the attack his aircraft was hit by return fire from one of the enemy aircraft and was hit by a tracer bullet through the flesh of his left shoulder and received a wound from shattered Perspex splinters under his left eye. With his oil and glycol tanks hit he was to crash land the aircraft near the village of Betheniville at 6.30am. He was evacuated to England for treatment.
His father received the following telegram dated the 17th of May 1940: - “Sir, I am directed to inform you that your son Pilot Officer Roy Achille Marchand was slightly wounded in action on 13th of May 1940. As his injuries are not serious no further reports are expected, but should any be received you will be notified as quickly as possible.”
While on sick leave after his release from hospital, he was treated at the Royal Cornwall Infirmary for treatment for a lacerated elbow when he and his wife were involved in a car accident at Mawes Road, near Truro on the 4th of June 1940. He rejoined his Squadron at RAF Church Fenton, North Yorkshire in July 1940.
On the 5th of September 1940, 73 Squadron flew south to RAF Debden and a moved the satellite airfield at RAF Castle Camps.
The following day, the 6th of September 1940, Roy Marchant took off from RAF Castle Camps at 8.50am in a Hurricane with orders to patrol “Monkey” at 15,000 feet. He was flying in as Blue 2 in B Flight. At 9.21am they spotted 80 to 100 Messerschmitt Bf109s flying in Vic formation and circling at various heights between 15,000 and 25,000 feet
At 9.30am Blue Section attacked 9 of the enemy fighters which were circling at 22,000 feet and made a beam attack in lines astern on the enemy formation which developed into an astern attack. Roy Marchant picked out one of the enemy aircraft some 10 miles to the north east of Maidstone and fired two bursts of three seconds each at it. He saw black smoke pouring from it and followed it down to 10,000 feet by which time flames were coming from its engine and the fuselage had also caught fire. He was forced to break away from the combat when another enemy aircraft attacked his but he managed to shake it off and, running short of fuel, he landed at Penshurst near Tonbridge. On his return to Castle Camps he filed the following combat report: - “I was Blue 2 and my section sighted E/A at 9.21 flying in vic formations and in circles. No unusual markings or camouflage. I picked out three E/A which appeared to be straggling a little and I attacked one Me109 using deflection (22 degrees approx.). No enemy fire experienced. Range 200 yds. Two bursts of 3 secs. each. Clouds of black smoke almost immediately came from engine and E/A went into steep dive. I followed him down to 10,000 ft, by which time flames as well as smoke were coming from underneath the engine. I did not follow further down, in case other E/A were on my tail, but after stopping – satisfying myself thatn o other E/A were about I tried without success to find my victim. My R/T was very poor and I was not receiving and was getting short of fuel. Landed at Penshurst Landing Field. No A.A. fire seen.”
The Squadron diary recorded the following on that date: - “... P/O Marchand destroyed a 109, 10 miles N.E. of Maidstone, thus opening the Squadron’s score in that category. He landed at Penshurst having run short of petrol and rather lost his way. He got back in the evening his smiles even as large as if his wife had walked suddenly into Freddie 1. It was a tonic to see him but when he came to make out his individual combat report, the I.O. noticed that he had only claimed a “probable”. Even more pleased was he when told it obviously came into the “destroyed” class.
Roy Marchand took off from RAF Castle Camps at 5.38pm on the 11th of September 1940 as one of twelve aircraft from the Squadron with orders to rendezvous over Debden where they were to join aircraft from 17 Squadron and then to patrol over Rochford at 15,000 feet. He was flying with Blue Section as Blue 2. At 4.15pm they spotted 12 to 15 Messerschmitt Bf110s in a straggling formation flying to the east of them near Herne Bay at 10,000 feet. The Hurricanes descended a little and began circling the enemy aircraft. Roy Marchand spotted two of the Me110s flying towards Margate and attacked one of them from astern with two to three second bursts fire from a range of 300 yards closing to 100yards. He hit the port engine which gave out white smoke clouds with intermittent black clouds. This turned into a stream of black smoke and the enemy aircraft dived into cloud to evade him where it executed as series of diving turns to escape from him. He followed it three miles out to sea off Margate when he saw black smoke pouring from the middle of the enemy aircraft. He abandoned the chase five miles further on and thought it was unlikely that the Me110 made it back across the Channel.
He landed back at base at 4.55pm and filed the following combat report: -
“Enemy sighted about 1615. Saw 2 Me110s proceeding towards Margate from Sheerness. Me110s were light gray on top and greenish blue underneath, black crosses on white background. Enemy was flying straight and level, and an astern attack was delivered. E/A’s port engine was hit, and gave out white smoke in which were intermittent puffs of black smoke until ultimately the whole port engine was giving a stream of black smoke. No enemy aircraft fire was experienced. The E/A dived into cloud for evasive action, and executed steep turns. Result of combat was E/A’s port engine was giving out black smoke which the E/A was diving, and flying level and diving again. Attack was stopped about 8 miles off Margate with the E/A still going down. Last observed E/A’s height at 4,000 feet. Weather was one large patch of 8/10th cloud over Herne Bay. Sun was in the west. Took off 1540. Landed 16.55. Shellbursts assisted in intercepting enemy aircraft but burst too close to our aircraft for comfort. Fire was opened at 300 yds closing to 100yds. Bursts of 3 seconds.
Roy Marchand took off from RAF Castle Camps at 11.05am on the 15th of September 1940 in Hurricane Mk I P3865 TP-K as one of ten aircraft from A and B Flight with orders to rendezvous with 19 Squadron over Debden and then to patrol over Chelmsford at 15,000 feet. He was flying with Yellow Section.
With large numbers of enemy aircraft reported to be crossing the English coast the formation was vectored to the south of the Thames estuary to intercept them on their approach to London. At 12.05pm they spotted 12 Messerschmitt Bf109s flying at 18,000 feet with 10 more above them at 22,000 feet. The enemy aircraft were flying in a south easterly direction at 230 mph in a scattered formation over Medway near Canterbury.
The enemy aircraft were engaged over Maidstone with the Squadron pilots claiming to have destroyed 3 Me109s and to have damaged one other.
During the dog fight a fellow pilot from his Squadron saw Roy Marchand’s aircraft shot down. It crashed at Nouds Farm, Lynstead near Sittingbourne where it burned out, killing Roy Marchand. His body was taken to Sittingbourne Mortuary.
His pregnant wife was on the airfield in the dispersal area to await news of him from the returning pilots when she was told of his death by Flying Officer Michael Beytagh (acting Commanding Officer) and Pilot Officer Hoole, the Squadron Intelligence Officer.
She received the following telegram dated the 17th of September 1940: - “Deeply regret to inform you that your husband Pilot Officer Roy Achille Marchand is reported to have lost his life as the result of air operations on September 15th 1940. Letter follows. The Air Council express their profound sympathy.”
His funeral took place at St Mark’s Church, Bromley.
The Squadron diarist wrote that night: - “P/O Marchand was an excellent pilot and a charming and unassuming boy who was never ruffled by anybody or anything. We will sorely miss him.” The record for the day was closed with the words, “The Squadron feels that to some extent the death of gallant Marchand today has been avenged by the day’s good work.”
His mother wrote of him: -“He was the loveliest and most precious gift that God could bestow on any mortal on earth, and I, his mother, shall mourn him all the rest of my days.”
He is commemorated on an obelisk at Nouds Farm, Lynsted, Kent.
He is buried at Bromley Hill Cemetery Block I, Grave 230.

Matthews, Michael Harrington, son of Very Rev. Walter Robert Matthews KCVO DD, Dean of St Paul's, and Margaret, d. of William Bryan; b. 26 Apr. 1914; adm. Sept. 1927 (A); Capt. of the school 1932; left July 1932; Ch. Ch. Oxf., matric. 1933, played cricket against Cambridge 1936 and 1937, BA 1937 (1st class hons Litt. Hum. 1937, Jurisprudence 1939); an accomplished pia­nist; Sub-Lieut RNVR; m. 2 Dec. 1939 Loveday, d. of Evelyn Robins Abbott CIE JCS, of Moulsford, Berks; killed in action May 1940.

Michael Harrington Matthews was born at Wandsworth, London on the 26th of April 1914 the elder son of the Very Reverend Walter Robert Matthews KCVO DD, Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, and Margaret (nee Bryan) Matthews of the Deanary, St Paul’s in London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from September 1927 to July 1933. He won the Vincent Junior Prize in 1930. He played the piano solos “Reminiscence” and “The Stranger” by Schumann at an informal concert at the school in 1928 and the piano solo “Intermezzo”, his own composition, in an informal concert in 1931. He also played the viola solos “Rondo l’agreable” and Le Basque” by Marais in the same concert. He played cricket at Lord’s for C. F. Tufnell’s XI on the 26th of August 1929 when he scored 27 in the first innings and 8 in the second and his team won by six wickets. He was a member of the 1st Football XI from 1930 to 1933 where he played at left back and was awarded School Colours in 1930. The Elizabethan wrote the following on his 1930/1931 season: - “Lack of years and stamina has handicapped him, but his position play is sound, and the defects will remedy themselves next year. But if he is to be a really good back he must develop a longer and less erratic kick.” They wrote the following at the end of the 1931/1932 season: - “His methods are somewhat crude, but he is a player of indomitable perseverance and pluck, and was a most valuable member of the side.” They wrote the following on his 1932/33 season: - “A really good positional player and possessed of a fine determination. Had many good wingers to cope with and always did it well. Used his head well (in both senses), but never acquired the art of kicking a football properly. Understood the game probably better than anyone else on the side.”
He was runner up in the Long Distance race on the 8th of March 1932.
He was a member of the Cricket XI from 1930 to 1933, kept wicket in his last two years and was appointed as Captain in September 1930, winning his School Colours in the following year . The Elizabethan wrote the following on his 1931 season: - “(Captain) He was very young for his job, and had, as I have explained, an almost impossible task; but the experience will have been of great value to him, and he will approach next season with much more confidence. His Wicket keeping was of a high order, but was sometimes, not unnaturally, affected by his responsibilities. We shall look to him to make more runs too, next season.” They wrote the following on his 1933 season: - “I have already referred to his wicket keeping and captaincy. His batting was too impetuous to be successful.” He was appointed as a Monitor in September 1931 and as Editor of the Elizabethan in September 1932. He played the piano solo “Menuet”, from “Sonatine” by Ravel at an informal concert at the school in early 1933. He was appointed as Head of Ashburnham and as Captain of School in September 1932 and was awarded the Knapp Fisher Music Prize in 1933. He matriculated for Christ Church, Oxford in 1933 on a Westminster Classics Scholarship and was a member of the Oxford University Cricket XI making twenty three first class appearances for the university from the 9th of May 1934 to 5th of July 1937 and playing against Cambridge as wicket keeper in 1936 and 1937. His highest score with the bat was a score of 68 against the Minor Counties and his batting average while playing for the university was 13.10. He was awarded a “Blue” in 1936. He was awarded a Second in Classical Moderations and a First Class in Litterae Humanories in 1937 and achieved a First Class in the Honour School of Jurisprudence in 1939. He read for the Bar at Gray’s Inn. He was an accomplished pianist.
Following the outbreak of war he was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on the 10th of November 1939.
He was married at Wallingford, Oxfordshire on the 2nd of December 1939 to Loveday Elizabeth (nee Abbott later de Manio) of Moulsford, Berkshire.
He was posted to the destroyer HMS Greyhound (H05), under the command of Commander Walter Roger Marshall-A’Deane DSO DSC AM RN on the 2nd of January 1940 and saw action with her during the Norwegian campaign.
On the 20th of May 1940, HMS Greyhound was deployed to Dover for duties in the Channel and in the North Sea. On the 25th of May she and the destroyer HMS Grafton provided gunfire support against a German artillery battery to the east of Sangatte near Calais.
At 2pm on the on the 27th of May the two destroyers established a patrol between Fairy Bank and the Kwinte Buoys. During the night HMS Greyhound received orders from Dover Command to assist in the evacuation of troops of the British Expeditionary Force from the beaches at La Panne as part of Operation Dynamo. At 1am on the 28th of May, she sent boats ashore to begin picking up troops and by 6.15am the beaches had been cleared. She then returned to Dover, with around 700 troops on board, where she docked at Admiralty Pier and unloaded the men at 12.30pm. As soon as the troops were ashore she set sail again for Dunkirk where she embarked 681 men from alongside the pier there and returned to Dover at 12.30am the following morning.
At 4.30am on the 29th of May 1940, HMS Greyhound set sail for Dunkirk once again and arrived off the beaches at La Panne where she sent her whaler and other small boats ashore to evacuate more troops. At 4pm she came under attack from enemy aircraft and, on the fourth attack, the bombers achieved two near misses which sent shell splinters across the ship, killing twenty of the men on board and wounding seventy others. Michael Matthews was among the dead.
She attempted to sail towards North Goodwin but the Captain was concerned about losing all the fresh water on board due to a cut steam pipe and there was some flooding in the third boiler room. She requested the assistance of a tug when she arrived at North Goodwin and was taken in tow by tugs and by the Polish destroyer Blyskawica. She docked at Admiralty Pier at 2.45am on the 30th of May where 432 men were disembarked. She was later repaired at Chatham dockyard.
His father later wrote: - “‘I now come to the great sorrow of our lives, the event after which nothing was quite the same. Our eldest child, Michael Harrington Matthews, Sub-Lieutenant R.N.V.R. was killed on H.M.S Greyhound, the destroyer which was the first to reach Dunkirk, on May 28th, 1940. The little boy who had clung to his mother Margaret in 1916 during a Zeppelin raid crying, “But you aren’t frightened, Mummy, are you?” was shattered by a bomb from a German plane as he stood on the bridge of H.M.S Greyhound in 1940. Margaret and he were close together. They were in many ways alike and understood each other. Her words when the telegram of death came were characteristic of both: ‘Well, poor boy, he can’t disappoint himself now’. “
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Christ Church, Oxford and on the memorial at Gray’s Inn.
He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial Panel 44, Column 2.

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.