Barham, Geoffrey Cornelius Arthur, son of Cornelius Herbert Barham of Chiswick, Middlesex and Edith Mary Alice; b. Dec. 10, 1899; adm. Jan. 15, 1914 (G); left July 1915; served in the ranks of 28th Batt. London Regt. during Great War I; RAF during WW2; m. Mary Ellen; d. 27 May 1941.

Geoffrey Cornelius Arthur Barham was born at Leytonstone, Essex on the 10th of December 1899 the elder son of Cornelius Herbert Barham, a solicitor, and Edith Mary Alice (nee Long) Barham of 39, Forest Drive East, North Leyton in Essex, later of 29, Waldegrave Road, Upper Norwood, London SE19. He was christened at St Catherine’s Church, Leyton on the 14th of January 1900. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from the 15th of January 1914 to July 1915 and on leaving school he worked as a clerk.
He enlisted as Private 128277 in the Royal Flying Corps on the 13th of February 1918 and was posted for pilot training but was discharged on the 3rd of May 1918 as being unsuitable. He enlisted as Private 768243 in the 28th (County of London) Battalion (Artists Rifles) on the 5th of June 1918 and served with them until the 8th of February 1919. On the 12th of January 1921 he embarked at London on board the SS Glenapp bound for Yokohama but later returned to enlist in the Royal Air Force.
He enlisted at the RAF Depot, Uxbridge as Aircraftman 2nd Class 351156 in the Royal Air Force on the 31st of January 1922 for a period of eight years with a further four in the Reserve. At a medical examination, which was held on the same day, it was recorded that he was five feet ten and one half inches tall and that he had fair hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.
He worked as a storekeeper throughout his service, serving with No. 5 Flying Training School from the 12th of July 1922 and at an Electrical and Wireless School from the 11th of October 1922. On the 1st of February 1923 he transferred to 11 Squadron, based at Andover and four days later he moved to Y Group. He was posted to 45 Squadron based in Iraq on the 15th of September 1923 and was promoted to Leading Aircraftman on the 31st of December 1923. He was promoted to Corporal on the 31st of December 1927 and joined 208 Squadron on the 25th of October 1928. He was posted to the Seaplane Base Depot at Calshot on the 16th of February 1929.
He was married at Gosport, Hampshire in 1939 to Mary Ellen (nee Travers), a children’s nurse, and they lived at 15, High Street, Gosport.
He was appointed as an Assistant Clerk in the Air Service on the 22nd of December 1939 and later served as a Corporal in the Royal Air Force at No. 9 Recruits Training Centre, Technical Training Command based at Blackpool.
He is buried at St Swithin’s Church, Thorley, Isle of Wight.

Major, Peter Anthony, son of John Lewis Major, chemical manufacturer, of Eynsford, Kent, and Constance Theodora, d. of Surgn-Gen. Wyndowe of Uley, Gloucs; b. 10 Nov. 1917; adm. Jan. 1931 (R); left Dec. 1934; RAF Coll. Cranwell; PO RAF Dec. 1938, FO June 1940, Flt Lieut. June 1941; killed in action over the Channel May 1942.

Peter Anthony Major was born at Bournemouth, Hampshire on the 10th of November 1917 the adopted son of John Lewis Major, company director for a chemical manufacturer, and Constance Theodora (nee Wyndowe) Major of “Robsacks”, Eynsford in Kent. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from January 1931 to December 1934. He went on to the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell where he broke the Two Mile record in the inter services athletics match between Cranwell, Woolwich and Sandhurst in 1938. On the night of the 6th/ 7th of July 1938 he and some friends attended a dance at a dance hall in Free School Lane. When the dance had finished at 1am, Peter Major set out to drive his friend’s home. His car was at the junction of Free School Lane and Silver Street when he pulled out and was in collision with another car which was being driven by Mr George Graterick and was travelling in a westerly direction down Silver Street. He appeared in front of magistrates at Lincoln Police Court on the 27th of July 1938 where he stated that he had thought that he had enough time to turn before the other car reached him but, when he turned, he realised that he did not and stopped his car. His car was hit and overturned. He was found guilty of driving without due care and attention; his licence was endorsed and he was fined £1 plus £1 of costs. The College demoted him from the rank of Corporal and banned him from driving for the remainder of his time at Cranwell.
He received a prize for achieving the highest marks in Imperial and War Studies on passing out in December 1938.
He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force on the 17th of December 1938 and was posted to a bomber Squadron. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 17th of June 1940 and to Flight Lieutenant on the 20th of June 1941.
Peter Major took off from RAF Redhill at 10.30am on the 17th of May 1942 in Spitfire Mk Vb BM426 as Yellow 1 for an operation codenamed “Ramrod 33”. The Squadron was to provide an escort to twelve Boston bombers who were to bomb Boulogne.
Having completed the mission the Squadron turned for home. At 11.50am he was flying some seven miles to the north of Cap Gris Nez when his aircraft was attacked by a Focke Wulf 190 aircraft and he was forced to bail out into the sea. He was seen to be floating in the sea wearing his life jacket and Pilot Officer Dennehey from his Squadron dropped him a dinghy but he was unable to reach it. Squadron Leader Paddy Finucaine circled over him for 50 minutes until 12.40pm when he had to return as he was low on fuel. A high speed launch, which had been dispatched to the area to search for him, arrived at 1pm and recovered his body which was taken to RAF Hawkinge. It was established that he had died from exposure.
His father received the following letter dated the 29th of May 1942: - “Sir, I am commanded by the Air Council to express to you their great regret on learning that your son, Flight Lieutenant Peter Anthony Major, Royal Air Force, lost his life as the result of air operations on 17th May, 1942. The Air Council desire me to covey to you their profound sympathy in your bereavement”
His funeral took place on the 21st of May 1942.
A charity prize was later established in his name which closed in 2008.
He is buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery Plot 21, Row B, Grave 15.

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

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

Hicks, Richard George Vyvyan, son of Vyvyan George Hooper Hicks, solicitor, and Winifred Heyhoe, d. of Rev. Richard Warcup Pitt, Rector of Saxlingham, Norfolk; b. 28 Mar. 1923; adm. Jan. 1937 (H); left July 1941; Corpus Christi Coll. Camb., matric. 1941, BA 1944; REME 1944-5 (Lieut.); d. of typhoid fever (Bombay) 3 July 1945.

Richard George Vyvyan Hicks was born in Norfolk on the 28th of March 1923 the only son of Vyvyan George Hooper Hicks, a solicitor, and Winifred Heyhoe (nee Pitt) Hicks of “The Grove”, Scarning in Norfolk He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from January 1937 to July 1941. He matriculated for Corpus Christi College, Cambridge in 1941 and achieved a BA in 1944.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers on the 12th of February 1944.
He died of typhoid fever at the British Military Hospital, Bombay.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Scarning and on the memorial at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.
He is buried at Kirkee War Cemetery Plot 2, Row K, grave 9.

Hebblethwaite, Edwin Charles Long, son of Bernard Robinson Hebblethwaite FRIBA, of King­ston Lyle, Berks, and Margaret Austin, d. of George Austin-Hyslop of Glasgow; b. 19 Sept. 1915; adm. Sept. 1929 (B); left Apr. 1934; a journalist; RAFVR 1941-2 (FO), killed in action in a bombing raid over Hamburg May 1942.

Edwin Charles Long “Peter” Hebblethwaite was born at Dublin, Ireland on the 19th of September 1915 the only child of Bernard Robinson Hebblethwaite FRIBA, an architect, and Margaret Austin (nee Hyslop) Hebblethwaite, of Gaston Manor, Tisbury near Salisbury in Wiltshire. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Busby’s from September 1929 to April 1934. He was a member of the Colts Cricket XI in 1930 and 1931 and was a member of the 1st Cricket XI in 1932. He was a member of the Football XI in 1932, 1933 and 1934 where he played at outside left. The Elizabethan wrote the following on his 1932/33 season: - “A clever dribbler and good at the short passing game, but his left foot is not yet strong enough, and he is very weak with his head. Position play good, but often fails to make the most of an opening through hesitation.”
He was appointed as a member of the Monitorial Council in 1933.
On leaving school he became a journalist and a sub editor and worked in Grimsby.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as an observer and rose to the rank of Sergeant before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 9th of December 1941. He was promoted to Flying Officer in March 1942.
On the night of the 3rd/4th of May 1942, Bomber Command dispatched 43 Wellingtons, 20 Halifaxes, 13 Stirlings and 5 Hampdens for an operation on Hamburg. When the formation arrived at Hamburg it was found that the target was completely covered by cloud and only 54 of the aircraft bombed the target by estimating its position. 113 fires were started in the city of which 57 were classified as large. A large entertainment palace in the Reeperbahn was completely destroyed, as were a cinema and a theatre. A warehouse in the dockside area which contained vehicles and other goods was also destroyed. A 4,000lb bomb landed at a road junction in the historic residential area which caused 11 blocks of flats to collapse; another 11 buildings were severely damaged and 352 were slightly damaged. 77 people were killed on the ground with 243 injured and 1,624 people were bombed out of their homes.
Edwin Hebblethwaite and his crew took off from RAF Croft at 11.05pm on the 3rd of May 1942 in Halifax Mk II R9391 EY- for the operation. While in the target area the aircraft was coned by searchlights and was shot down by a night fighter flown by Feldwebel Hans Berschwinger of 4./NJG2 and crashed into the North Sea, some twenty kilometres to the north of Juist at 2.31am with the loss of the entire crew. This was Hans Berschwinger’s third victory of an eventual twelve before he was killed in action on the 15th of February 1944.
The crew was: -
Sergeant Thomas Percy Willoughby Davis (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Gilbert Murray Edwards (Rear Gunner)
Flying Officer Edwin Charles Long Hebblethwaite (Observer)
Pilot Officer John Robert “Jack” Kennedy RCAF (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Frederick Ross Mills (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant Eric Charles Smith (2nd Pilot)
Squadron Leader Albert John Drake Snow (Pilot)
Theirs was one of five aircraft lost during the raid.
His father received the following telegram dated the 31st of August 1942: - “Deeply regret to advise you that following information from the International Red Cross Committee and Germans sources that your son Flying Officer Edwin Charles Long Hebblethwaite is reported to have lost his life as the result of air operations on 3rd May 1942. Letter confirming this telegram follows. The Air Council express their profound sympathy.”
Edwin Hebblethwaite’s body was washed ashore on the Island of Sylt on the 16th of June 1942 and was buried at Buesum Cemetery, Westerland on the 18th of June 1942. His body was exhumed by No. 4 Missing and Research Unit, Royal Air Force on the 9th of July 1947 and was moved to its present location. John Kennedy’s body was washed ashore on the 10th of June 1942 and Eric Smith’s body was recovered from the sea by a boat on the 9th of May 1942.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Tisbury.
He is buried at Kiel War Cemetery Plot 3, Row E, Grave 14.

Herbert, Christopher Reginald Courtenay, son of Arthur Stewart Herbert of Cahirane, Co. Kerry, and Lady Theresa Selina, d. of Col. Gerald Edmund Boyle and sister of Admiral of the Fleet William Henry Dudley Boyle, 12th Earl of Cork & Orrery GCB GCVO; b. 23 Mar. 1906; adm. Sept. 1920 (R); left Dec. 1923; a stockbroker; m. 4 Sept. 1939 Celia Winifred, d. of Christopher Foulis Roundell CBE; PO RAFVR Nov. 1940, killed in action June 1941.

Christopher Reginald Courtenay Herbert was born at Montreux, Switzerland on the 23rd of March 1906 the younger son of Arthur Stewart Herbert, a director of the North London Railway, and Lady Theresa Selina (nee Boyle) Herbert of 6, Grosvenor Hill, Willow Lane, Wimbledon in South London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1920 to December 1923. On leaving school he worked as a solicitor in the City of London and later became a Partner. He achieved a Royal Aero Club Certificate (No. 16073) at the Airwork School of Flying, Heston on the 27th of July 1938 while flying an Avro Club Cadet aircraft. He was married at Paddington, London on the 4th of September 1939 to Celia Winifred (nee Roundel) and they lived at 8, Pelham Place, Kensington.
He enlisted as an Aircraftman 2nd Class in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve at the Uxbridge Depot where he trained as a pilot and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 30th of November 1940, with seniority from the 10th of November 1940.
On the night of the 26th/27th of June 1941, Bomber Command dispatched 30 Hampdens and 14 Wellingtons for an operation on Dusseldorf. The results of the bombing were not able to be observed.
Christopher Herbert and his crew took off from RAF Newton at 11.05pm on the 26th of June 1941 in Wellington Mk IC R1644 JN-L for the operation. The aircraft was hit by anti aircraft fire and crashed on farmland on the west bank of the River Maas near Grubbenvorst, 14 miles due north of Venlo, at 4am with the loss of the entire crew.
The crew was: -
Pilot Officer John Winston Sievers RNZAF DFC (Pilot)
Pilot Officer Christopher Reginald Courenay Herbert (2nd Pilot)
Pilot Officer Alan George St John Ross (Observer)
Sergeant Hector George Burgess (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant William John Grieve (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Francis Joseph Hart RCAF (Air Gunner)
Theirs was the only aircraft lost during the operation.
His wife received the following telegram dated the 19th of July 1941: - “Further information received through the International Red Cross states that your husband Pilot Officer Reginald Courtney Herbert previously reported missing is now reported missing but believed to have lost his life as the result of air operations. Any further information received will be immediately communicated to you. Letter confirming this telegram follows.”
Four of the crew’s bodies were found in the wreckage of the aircraft with two more being found a few hundred yards away. One of these had tried to bail out as his parachute was found near his body and was open.
The crew was buried at Ehrenfriedhof Cemetery, Venlo but their bodies were later exhumed by No. 5 Royal Air Force Missing Research and Enquiry Unit and were moved to their present location.
He is commemorated on a plaque in the Protestant Church at Killarney, Co. Kerry and on a memorial window at the King Henry VII Chapel, which was unveiled on the 10th of July 1947. .
He is buried at Jonkerbos War Cemetery Plot 3, Row H, Grave 3.

Johnston, Patrick Henry, brother of William Franklin Johnston (qv); b. 16 Jan. 1911; adm. Sept. 1924 (R); left July 1928; shipping business Peru 1930-5, Venezuela 1935-8, Trinidad 1938-42; 2nd Lieut RIASC Feb. 1944, served India, Burma and Malaya; d. at sea on his way home to be demobilised 4 Nov. 1946.

Patrick Henry Johnston was born at Santiago, Chile on the 16th of January 1911 the younger son of William Johnston, an engineer, and Ethel Gertrude (nee Turpie) Johnston of 19, Courtfield Gardens in London, later of “The Warren”, 223, Harefield Road, Uxbridge in Middlesex.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1924 to July 1928. On leaving school he entered the shipping business and was based in Peru from 1930 to 1935, in Venezuela from 1935 to 1938 and in Trinidad from 1938 to 1942. He was married at Hammersmith in 1938 to Marjorie A.L (nee Hall later Betts); they had two children one of which was Carolyn Jean, born on the 6th of November 1939.
He was in the army from February 1944 and served in India, Burma and Malaya. He was returning home to be demobilised when he died and was buried at sea.
He is commemorated on the Brookwood 1939-1945 Memorial Panel 25, Column 3.

Graham-Little, Esmond Birch, son of Sir Ernest Gordon Graham-Little MD MP and Sarah Helen, d. of Maurice Kendall; b. 9 Apr. 1915; adm. Sept. 1928 (B); left July 1933; Corpus Christi Coll. Camb., matric. 1933, BA 1936; called to the Bar (Gray's Inn) May 1938; RAFVR 1940-1 (FO); killed on active service 10 June 1942.

Esmond Birch “Bep” Graham-Little was born at Marylebone, London on the 9th of April 1915 the only son of Sir Ernest Gordon Graham-Little MD, FRCP, MRCS MP and Lady Sarah Helen (nee Kendall) Graham–Little of 19, Upper Wimpole Street, Marylebone and of 1, St George’s Gardens, Lynwood Road, Epsom in Surrey. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Busby’s from September 1928 to July 1933. He was awarded the Goodenough Medal for Modern Languages in 1933. He matriculated for Corpus Christi College, Cambridge in 1933 where he read Engineering and graduated with a BA in 1936. He later trained as a barrister and was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn in May 1938.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in May 1939 where he trained as a pilot and rose to the rank of Sergeant (754494) before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 7th of September 1940. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 7th of September 1941.
On the 10th of June 1942, Esmond Graham-Little took off from RAF Castle Camps in Mosquito NF Mk IIF DD603 with his observer, Warrant Officer Wilfrid Arthur Clement Walters, for a night flying exercise. The aircraft had been undertaking Air Indication exercises at around 10,000 feet and when the exercise was completed it turned and went into a shallow dive down through cloud towards the base. The cloud was 10/10ths with tops at between 4,000 and 6,000 feet. It was flying over Stansted Mountfitchet in Essex when it disintegrated in mid air and crashed at Bentfield Bury near Bishops Stortford at 5.05pm, killing both men.
The wreckage was spread over a large area with the aircrafts forward section and starboard engine both catching fire and burning out on the ground.
His funeral took place on the 13th of June 1942.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Grays Inn and on the memorial at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.
He is buried at Saffron Walden Cemetery Compt 39, Grave 10.

Namias, Richard Henry, son of Lea Namias of Streatham and Hilda, d. of Robert Diaz of Paris; b. 29 Oct. 1921; adm. Jan. 1935 (A); left July 1939; RAFVR 1941 (Flt Lieut.); killed in action 20 Sept. 1941.

Mayer Henry Richard “Dickie” Namias was born at Streatham, London on the 29th of October 1921 the only son of Lea Namias, manager of the Argonaut Marine Insurance Company, and Mathilda (nee Diaz) Namias of 27, Woodfield Avenue, Streatham, London SW16. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from January 1935 to July 1939. He was a member of the 1st Rowing VIII in 1939.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as a pilot and rose to the rank of Leading Aircraftman before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 13th of April 1941.
On the 28th of August 1941, 18 aircraft from 21, 88, 110 and 226 Squadrons were dispatched for a low level attack on enemy shipping in the docks at Rotterdam.
Mayer Namias and his crew took off from RAF Wattisham at 5.20pm for the attack. One of the Blenheims from his Squadron crashed on takeoff. Two squadrons of Spitfires joined them a short time after takeoff to act as their fighter escort. The formation crossed the Dutch coast and came under heavy anti aircraft fire as it approached the Nieuwe Waterweg, the canal leaving to the docks at Rotterdam. Having passed through the flak they were attacked by enemy fighters but these were chased away by the fighter escort. The Blenheims reduced their height to between 20 and 50 feet as they approached the docks, flying just above the rooftops in line abreast, all the time under machine gun fire and fire from light flak guns. Mayer Naimias dropped a bomb on a 10,000 tom ship which missed, bounced off the dockside and exploded under its stern, sinking it.
Seven aircraft failed to return from the raid.
On the 20th of September 1941, Bomber Command dispatched 48 Blenheims and 6 Hampdens for a series of daylight sweeps across the sea and for escorted attacks on targets just behind the French coast.
Mayer Namias and his crew took from RAF Wattisham on the 20th of September 1941in Blenheim Mk IV Z7310 with seven other aircraft from the Squadron for an anti shipping patrol. The aircraft was carrying two 500lb bombs and four 25lb incendiaries. During the mission they were flying off the coast of Holland when they spotted an enemy convoy of fourteen merchant ships, flying protective barrage balloons. Mayer Namias was the second aircraft to make its attack, the first having been lost when it was destroyed by the explosion of one of its own bombs. As the aircraft made its run towards one of the enemy ships, and was a quarter of a mile from the vessel, it was hit in the starboard engine by anti aircraft fire and it caught fire. Despite this, he dropped his bombs before ditching the aircraft into the sea. Although the aircraft appeared to make a “good landing” on the sea, and floated for a while, none of the crew or the aircrafts dinghy was seen.
The crew was: -
Sergeant Kenneth Frederick Hood (Observer)
Flight Lieutenant Mayer Richard Henry Namias (Pilot)
Sergeant John Joseph Robson (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
When the six remaining aircraft left the scene four of the merchant ships were seen to be emitting smoke with one having broken its back.
Theirs was one of three aircraft which were lost during these operations.
His father received the following letter dated the 27th of September 1941: - “Sir, I am commanded by the Air Council to express to you their great regret on learning that you son, Acting Flight Lieutenant Mayer Richard Namias, Royal Air Force, is missing as the result of air operations on 20th September, 1941. The only information available is that your son was captain of a Blenheim aircraft which was engaged by the enemy whilst over the sea off the coast of Holland and has failed to return. This does not mean that he is killed or wounded, and if he is a prisoner of war he should be able to communicate with you in due course. Meanwhile enquiries will be made through the International Red Cross Society and as soon as any definite information is received, you will be at once informed. If any information regarding your son is received by you from any source you are requested to be kind enough to communicate it immediately to the Air Ministry. The Air Council desire me to convey to you an expression of their sincere sympathy with you in your present anxiety.”
The bodies of Kenneth Hood and John Robson were recovered from the sea later that day and were buried at Crooswijk Cemetery, Rotterdam.
He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 29.

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

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