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.

Tyler, Eric Douglas, son of Henry Herbert Tyler, shoe factor, of Leicester, and Agnes Cleopatra, d. of Frederic Sharpe of Sileby, Leics.; b. 30 Mar. 1917; adm. Jan. 1931 (B); left Dec. 1934; dyeing industry; Flt Sgt RAF Bomber Command, killed in action over Germany 8 July 1941.

Eric Douglas Tyler was born at Leicester, Leicestershire on the 30th of March 1917 the son of Henry Herbert Tyler, a shoe factory manager and company director, and Agnes Cleopatra (nee Sharpe) Tyler of “High Barn”, The Broadway, Stoughton Drive, South Oadby in Leicestershire. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Busby’s from January 1931 to December 1934. On leaving school he worked in the dyeing industry. He was serving a Sergeant in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on the outbreak of war and was later promoted to Flight Sergeant.
On the night of the 12th/13th of May 1941, Bomber Command dispatched 42 Wellingtons, 41 Hampdens, 17 Whitley and 4 Manchesters for an operation on Mannheim and Ludwigshaven. It is thought that only 10 aircraft from the attacking force had bombed the two targets with damage being light. 5 people were killed on the ground during the raid with a further 3 injured. 26 aircraft reported that they had bombed alternative targets with Cologne reporting industrial buildings and an army barracks being hit with the death of 92 soldiers at the barracks.
Eric Tyler and his crew took off from RAF Waddington at 10pm on the 12th of May 1941 in Hampden Mk I X2982 KM - for the operation. Having completed their mission they were returning to base the aircraft was diverted to another airfield to the north. During this leg of their journey the aircraft ran out of fuel and the crew were forced to bail out. The aircraft crashed at 6.52am close to Catterick Bridge.
The crew was: -
Sergeant Eric Douglas Tyler (Pilot) (Killed in action 8th July 1941)
Sergeant Charles Forrest Greig (2nd Pilot) (Killed on active service 19th June 1941)
Sergeant Kenneth George Betts (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) (Killed in action 8th July 1941)
Sergeant Campbell (Wireless Operator)
On the night of the 8th/9th of July 1941, Bomber Command dispatched 45 Hampdens and 28 Whitleys for an operation on the railway marshalling yards at Hamm. In the event only 31 aircraft reported to have bombed the target.
Eric Tyler and his crew took off from RAF Waddington at 10pm on the 8th of July 1941 in Hampden Mk I AE153 KM- for the operation. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after takeoff and it is thought to have crashed into the sea with the loss of the entire crew.
The crew was: -
Sergeant Foster Wilson Black (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Eric Douglas Tyler (Pilot)
Sergeant Mortimer Livis RCAF (Observer)
Sergeant Kenneth George Betts (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Theirs was one of seven aircraft which were lost during the operation.
Foster Black’s body found in the sea by the German Patrol Boat 1207 on the 18th of August 1941 and was recovered. After identification, it was recommitted to the sea with full military honours.
He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Panel 37.

Tyson, Hampson John Philip, son of Eric James Tyson (qv); b. 23 Sept. 1916; adm. Sept. 1929 (A); left July 1934; RAFVR 1942 (FO); killed in action 19 Dec. 1942.

Hampson John Phillip Tyson was born at Balham, South London on the 23rd of September 1916 the son of Major Eric James Tyson DSO MC OW, Royal Flying Corps, and Cora Florence Gladys (nee Davies) Tyson of 4, Balham Park Road, Balham, later of “Rosemary”, Ashford Avenue, Worthing in Sussex. He was christened at St Mary’s Church, Balham on the 10th of December 1916. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from September 1929 to July 1931. He joined the Metropolitan Police as Police Constable 125385 on the 30th of March 1937 where he served in B Division (Westminster) and later left the police service to join the armed forces. He was married in Dorset in 1942 to Desiree Yvonne (nee Zunino) and they lived at “Stillwaters”, Chaddesley Green, Canford Cliffs, Bournemouth in Hampshire. They had a child.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as a pilot and rose to the rank of temporary Flight Sergeant before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 4th of January 1942. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 1st of October 1942.
At 7.39am on the 19th of December 1942, Hampson Tyson and Pilot Officer O’Neill were briefed for a flight to the satellite airfield at Souk-el-Arba. They took off at 8.20am. At 4.45pm Pilot Officer O’Neill arrived back at Bone by road and reported that after landing at Souk-el-Arba that morning he was taxiing his aircraft when the oleo of his undercarriage had buckled due to the soft ground and both the propeller and the mainplane of his aircraft had been damaged.
Hampson Tyson had taken off from Souk-el-Arba at 12.30pm in Hurricane Mk IIC HV697 for the return flight to Bone in poor weather conditions. By 5.30pm that afternoon he had still not arrived and it was decided that in view of the weather and of the gathering darkness that a search and rescue flight would not be undertaken that night. The wreckage of his aircraft and his body was found the next day near Morriss. The cause of the crash is not known.
His father, Major Eric James Tyson DSO MC OW, 5 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, died of wounds on the 12th of March 1918.
He is buried at Bone War Cemetery Collective Grave VIII G 1-13.

Waite, Peter Wilfrid, son of Wilfrid Fabian Waite, barrister-at-law, and Dorothy, d. of Edward James Ebden ICS; b. 18 June 1922; adm. Jan. 1936 (H); left. Apr. 1941; Lance-Cpl The Queen's Regt; killed in action (ltaly) 9 Sept. 1944.

Peter Wilfrid Waite was born at Chelsea, London on the 18th of June 1922 the only child of Wifrid Fabian Waite, a barrister at law and Counsel to the Board of Trade, and Dorothy (nee Ebden) Waite of 201, Hood House, Dolphin Square, Westminster in London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from January 1936 to April 1941. On leaving school he enlisted as a Private in The Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey) on the 5th of May 1941 and was later promoted to Corporal.
On the afternoon of the 8th of September 1944, the 2/6th Battalion, The Queen’s Royal Regiment was detailed to make an attack on the left of their Brigade to clear the village of Poggio of its German defenders and to capture a hill, codenamed “Soldier” to the west of Gemmano. At the same time, the 2/7th Battalion was to make an attack on the right to capture the village of Gemmano and the adjoining hamlet of Borgo. The 2/7th Battalion moved into the attack at 2.30pm with the 2/6th Battalion following a short time later.
As the 2/6th Battalion climbed the first hill towards their objective they came under very heavy enemy fire from the wooded slopes rising up to Gemmano village. In spite of this C Company captured Poggio, losing their company commander and two other officers in the process. As night fell the Battalion waited in the area around Poggio for news of progress of the 2/7th Battalion. The area was lit up by the light from burning haystacks which enabled enemy snipers to bring them under fire.
After nightfall D Company advanced and captured “Soldier” hill but they too lost their company commander in the attack. The Germans immediately counterattacked with A and B Companies being ordered forward to reinforce the defenders. As they moved up the hill they came under intense enemy fire and were forced to go to ground. D Company held onto its gains throughout the following day and during the fighting they captured forty enemy prisoners and badly mauled a party of enemy troops who were bringing up supplies using mules and wheelbarrows. By the afternoon of the 9th of September, D Company was almost completely surrounded and was ordered to fight its way out and back to the lower slopes. By the end of the night the survivors had rejoined their comrades on the slopes below to the south and east of their objective.
Peter Waite was killed during the fighting: -“The only remaining member of his section, he died attacking a German position, alone in a vital and successful action in which he played an important part.”
He is buried at Coriano Ridge Cemetery Plot XX, Row E, Grave 6.

Wilde, David Scott, son of Sidney Algernon Wilde, chartered survevor, and lris Scott, d. of Wal­ter Scott-Thomson; b. 17 June 1923; adm. Sept. 1935 (G); left Dec. 1939; Ordinary Seaman RNVR; killed in action in HMS Coventry 14 Sept. 1942.

David Scott Wilde was born at Radlett, Hertfordshire on the 17th of June 1923 the son of Sidney Algernon Wilde, a chartered surveyor, and Iris Scott (nee Thomas) Wilde of 78, Carlisle Mansions, Westminster in London and of “Crowtrees”, 49, Watford Road, Radlett in Hertfordshire. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from September 1935 to December 1939.
He enlisted in the Royal Navy and was posted to the light cruiser HMS Coventry (D43).
On the 14th of September 1942, HMS Coventry, under the command of Captain Ronald John Robert Dendy RN, was taking part in Operation Agreement, a commando attack on the harbour at Tobruk. At 11.40am she was sailing to the north of Marsa Matruh as part of “Force D” with her escorts, the destroyers HMS Belvoir, HMS Dulverton, HMS Hursley and HMS Croome, when the group was attacked by enemy aircraft. The enemy formation consisted of 16 Junker 88 aircraft each of which was armed with one 500lb bomb and three 250lb bombs. In the ensuing attack HMS Coventry was the focus of the enemy’s attack with four direct hits being scored on her. Three of the bombs fell in the ship’s engineering area while one wrecked the bow. She was set on fire and came to a dead stop in the water. The survivors were taken off and she was scuttled by the destroyer HMS Zulu at 3.15pm. Sixty three of her crew had been killed during the attacks with David Wilde being among the dead. HMS Zulu was also later in the day and the survivors were transferred to HMS Croome. HMS Zulu was taken under tow by HMS Hursley but sank at 7pm.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Radlett.
His brother, Pilot Officer Sidney John Scott Wilde, 115 Squadron, Royal Air Force, was killed in action on the 3rd of August 1940.
He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial Panel 66, Column 2.

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.

Willmott, Bernard Bruce, son of Harry Russell Willmott, gen. man. I. of Wight Rly; b. 27 Aug. 1918; adm. Sept. 1929 (R); left Dec. 1932; FO RAF Dec. 1938, Flt Lieut. Sept. 1940, temp. Sqdn Ldr Sept. 1941; transf. RAFVR June 1942, temp. Wing Cdr July 1944; killed in action 26 Aug. 1944.

Bernard Bruce Willmott was born at Newport, Isle of Wight on the 27th August 1915 the son of Harry Russell Willmott, an engineer and manager of a railway company, and Ethel Lucy (nee Hewlett) Willmott of St Nicholas, Newport. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1929 to December 1932.
He was granted a short service commission as an Acting Pilot Officer on probation in the Royal Air Force on the 29th of June 1936. He was confirmed in his rank on the 4th of May 1937, which became effective on the 2nd of June 1937 and was promoted to Flying Officer on the 8th of December 1938. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 3rd of September 1940 and to Squadron Leader on the 1st of September 1941. He was posted to 36 Squadron based at Singapore.
At 9.30am on the 26th of January 1942, a Hudson reconnaissance aircraft spotted two Japanese cruisers, eleven destroyers and two 10,000 ton vessels surrounded by barges some 10 miles off Endau and heading towards the coast. The Royal Air Force was despatched to try to stem their advance and at 1pm 6 aircraft from 100 Squadron and 3 from 36 Squadron, escorted by 8 Hurricanes and 15 Buffalo fighters, attacked the Japanese transports and landing craft off the small port in cloudy conditions. In spite of the attentions of Japanese Zero fighters they pressed home their attack, losing five of their number.
At 3pm plans were made for the attack to be repeated by 9 Vildebeest and 3 Albacore aircraft from three different squadrons including 36 Squadron with each aircraft being loaded with six 250lb bombs; the bombers having been ordered to carry bombs as it was felt that the water was too shallow to use torpedoes. They were escorted by 4 Buffaloes and 8 Hurricanes and by this time the weather had cleared.
Bruce Willmott and his crew took off from RAF Seletar in Vildebeest Mk III K4188 for the operation. During the attack the aircraft was seen to be flying at low level while attacking enemy vessels at the mouth of the River Mersin. It was shot down by an enemy fighter and was seen to be going down in flames before being lost to sight.
The fighters’ fire had killed the observer and the air gunner and had wounded Bruce Willmott in the right foot. The aircraft became out of control and he was forced to bale out and land in the sea where he was picked up by the destroyer HMS Thanet.
In a statement written on his release from prisoner of war camp in 1945, Warrant Officer Ivor Raymond Jones reported that: - “In the Endau operation on 26 January 1942, my aircraft was flying next to that of Sergeant Hay. As we peeled off, I saw Hay’s aircraft hit in the petrol tank. It was diving to the deck with a fine spray coming out of the petrol tank. I lost sight of the aircraft after that.”
The crew was: -
Flight Sergeant George Ewen (RCAF) (Observer)
Sergeant Phillip Carlisle Hay RAAF (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Squadron Leader Bernard Bruce Willmott (Pilot) (Evaded)
His mother received the following telegram dated the 2nd of February 1942: - “Regret to inform you that your son Temporary Squadron Leader Bernard Bruce Willmott is reported missing as the result of air operations on 26th January 1942. All possible enquiries will be made and any information received will be communicated to you immediately. Should news of him reach you from any source please advise this department.”
6 Vildebeests and 2 Albacores had been shot down during the engagement with others being damaged and some of their crews wounded. The attacking force claimed to have sunk one enemy cruiser and two destroyers as well as hitting the transport ships of which one was set on fire. Casualties were caused among the Japanese troops both in their barges and on the beach. The enemy fighter escort had also suffered, losing twelve “Zeros” and with four more being damaged for the loss of two Hurricanes and one of the Buffaloes.
He was admitted to Alexandria Hospital at Singapore and was evacuated from the island on board the SS Empire Star during the first week of February. He was landed at Batavia from where he returned to England on board a hospital ship.
Small pieces of the wreckage and a Browning machine gun from his Vildebeest were found by an army search party in June 1946, about two miles into the jungle from the eight mile point of the Endau to Mersing Road. The bodies of his two crewmen were not found.
He transferred to the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on the 2nd of June 1942.
He was married in Wales in 1943 to Marjorie (nee Penny) of “Homefield”, Brighstone on the Isle of Wight.
He was promoted to Wing Commander on the 1st of July 1944.
On the 26th of August 1944, 143 Squadron made eight attacks on enemy E-Boats and other shipping at Boulogne and in the Le Touquet area causing significant damage. The operation was codenamed “Operation Swingate”.
Bruce Willmott and his Observer, Pilot Flying Officer William Snowden, took off at 11.15pm that night in Beaufighter TFX NE772 as one of eleven aircraft from the Squadron for the operation. They were seen to make an attack on enemy shipping but failed to return and their fate is unknown.
His was one of two aircraft that were lost during the operation.
The Vice Admiral commanding Dover wrote to the Squadron the next day: - “A considerable number of E Boats were out during the night, but thanks to the efficient air effort none got through to our convoys. None even made contact with the protecting forces. The E Boats were so well plastered they abandoned the job!”
He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 200.

Strain, Alan Gordon, brother of John Loudon Strain (qv); b. 1 Dec. 1914; adm. Jan. 1928 (A); left July 1933; Caius Coll. Camb., matric. 1934, BA 1937; Sgt Army Educational Corps; d. on active service 10 Aug. 1943.

Alan Gordon Strain was born at Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey on the 1st of December 1914 the fifth and youngest son of Dr. William Loudon Strain MD CM and Dorothy Maud (nee Savory) Strain of 4, Hove Court, Raymond Road, Wimbledon in Surrey. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from January 1928 to July 1933. He matriculated for Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge in 1934 and was awarded a BA in 1937. On leaving university he went to work as a school teacher at Collington Rise Preparatory School, Bexhill-on-Sea in Sussex.
He enlisted in the Army Educational Corps where he rose to the rank of Sergeant. He was taken ill and was in a hospital at Epsom for three months before he died.
His brother, Captain John Loudon Strain OW, Royal Garrison Artillery, was killed in action on the 31st of July 1917.
He is buried at Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium Block I, Grave 363.

Stuttaford, Michael Charles, son of Charles Stuttaford and his second wife Nora Porter; half­ brother of Cyril Stuttaford (qv); b. 29 Sept. 1918; adm. Sept. 1932 (A); left July 1937; Merton Coll. Oxf., matric. 1937 (postmaster); Bombardier RA; d. 6 June 1944 in Palembang p.o.w. camp, Sumatra.

Michael Charles Stuttaford was born at Hampstead, London on the 29th of September 1918 the elder son of Charles Stuttaford, a gentleman, and his second wife, Nora Kathleen (nee Porter) Stuttaford of 34, Belsize Park Gardens, Hampstead. He was christened at All Saints Church, Knightsbridge on the 21st of November 1918. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from September 1932 to July 1937 where he won the Marshall Memorial Prize (Class VI) in 1935 and was a member of the Fencing team in 1936. He matriculated for Merton College, Oxford on a Postmastership in 1937 from where he where he graduated with a BA. Has Captain of the Oxford University Fencing Team in 1940.
He enlisted as a Gunner in the Royal Artillery and was rose to the rank of Bombardier.
He was captured by the Japanese at Tasikmalaya, Java on the 8th of March 1942 following the surrender of the Allied forces there.
He died at Palembang in Sumatra.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Merton College, Oxford.
He is buried at Jakarta War Cemetery Plot 4, Row A, Grave 13.

Taylor, Ian Birdwood van Someren, son of Richard van Someren Taylor, sales man. Schweppes Ltd, and Olivia Winn Bruce, d. of John Bruce Murray LLD DL, of Glasgow; b. 12 Jan. 1920; adm. Sept. 1933 (R); left Apr. 1936; Roy. Tank Regt 1940-1 (Lieut.); killed in action at Sidi Rezegh, Libya, 23 Nov. 1941.

Ian Birdwood van Someren Taylor was born on the 12th of January 1920 the only son of Birdwood van Someren Taylor, a sales manager for Schweppes Ltd, and Olivia Winn Bruce (nee Murray) Taylor of 87, Cromwell Road, South Kensington in London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1933 to April 1936.
He enlisted as a Trooper in the Westminster Dragoons, Royal Armoured Corps and attended the 102nd Officer Cadet Training Unit at Sandhurst before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Armoured Corps on the 4th of May 1940. He was posted to the 8th Royal Tank Regiment.
At 8.30pm on the night of the 22nd of November 1941, the 8th Royal Tank Regiment received orders to advance to relieve the 7th Armoured Brigade support group at Sidi Rezegh. They moved off towards the west at 3.30am on the 23rd of November and opened into desert formation at 5.30am. They discovered a short time later that they were advancing in the wrong direction and found themselves in the midst of the Afrika Corps Headquarters where they came under fire from enemy armoured cars and infantry. Two Troops of tanks were ordered forward and after a short engagement they had knocked out one enemy armoured car and eight staff cars as well as capturing several German and Italian prisoners.
The advance continued on the correct line, with C Squadron protecting the left flank. At 11.30am, C Squadron received orders to go to the aid of an infantry Battalion which had been held up by enemy fire and they set off half an hour later. They attacked in two waves and by 12.30pm the infantry had taken their objective. The tanks were due to retire to the rallying point ten minutes later but were still under fire by that time and had difficulty disengaging. By 3.30pm only four of the tanks had reached the rallying point with others returning during the afternoon, some of which were badly damaged and with wounded on board.
During the night, Ian Taylor’s crew walked back into the rallying point to report that their tank had been hit in the right idler wheel during the fighting and had stopped. They continued to fire on the enemy until their guns jammed, by which time they had been hit several more times and Ian Taylor had ordered them to abandon the tank. The crew took cover in a nearby trench for a long period of time before Ian Taylor left to make contact with the infantry and was not seen again.
Casualties suffered by the 8th Royal Tank Regiment during this action were one man killed with five wounded and twenty men missing, of which four were officers.
He is buried at Knightsbridge Cemetery Plot 2, Row H, Grave 18.