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.

Fevez, David Gronow Eugene, son of Eugene Leon Fevez of Esher and his second wife Ethel Gronow, d. of Frederick William Oliver (qv); half brother of Derek John Fevez (qv); b. 12 Jan. 1919; adm. Sept. 1932 (G); left July 1936; PO RAF, killed in action over France June 1940.

David Gronow Eugene Fevez was born at “Eversleigh”, Addlestone, Chertsey, Surrey on the 12th of January 1919 the elder son of Eugene Leon Fevez OW, a director of a wholesale textile company, and his second wife, Ethel Gronow (nee Oliver) Fevez of “Eversleigh”, Addlestone, Chertsey, later of 24, Woodville Road, Bexhill-on-Sea in Sussex. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s’ from September 1932 to July 1936. He attended the Flying School at Gatwick airfield on the 8th of August 1939 and was commissioned as an Acting Pilot Officer on probation in the Royal Air Force on the 9th of October 1939. He was posted to No. 3 Initial Training Wing at Hastings, Kent on the 9th of October 1939 for pilot training and to No. 3 Service Flying Training School at RAF South Cerney on the 21st of October 1939. He was promoted to Pilot Officer on probation on the 28th of April 1940 and was posted to No. 1 School of Air Cooperation on the same day. He was posted to 26 Squadron on the 29th of May 1940, who had been based at Authie airfield in France before moving to RAF Lympne on the 20th of May 1940.
David Fevez and his Observer/Air Gunner, Sergeant Robert Donald Keiler Cochrane, took off from Boos near Rouen on the morning of 5th of June 1940 in Lysander Mk II N1211 for a reconnaissance of the Somme area. The aircraft was flying to the south west of Abbeville when it was attacked and shot down by Hauptmann Muller of 4./JG3. The aircraft crashed near Ercourt at 12.10pm killing both men.
His mother received the following telegram dated the 6th of June 1940: - “Regret to inform you that your son Pilot Officer David Gronow Fevez is reported missing as the result of air operations on 5th June 1940. Letter follows. Any further information received will be immediately communicated to you. Should information reach you from any source please inform this department.”
One of the bodies of the crew was found by the Germans close to the wreckage of the aircraft and was buried at the crash site. Two months later another body was found in a wood some 200 yards from the crash site and was wearing an unopened parachute. He was buried with his comrade. In 1941 some locals moved them to the village cemetery and marked them both as unknown airmen. In 1946 No. 1 Missing Research and Enquiry Unit, Royal Air Force exhumed the bodies, identified them and reburied them at the same location.
His brother, Captain Robin Louis Gronow Fevez OW, 2/5th Battalion, The Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey) was killed in action on the 10th of September 1943.
He is buried at Ercourt Churchyard Cemetery, France.

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.

Nadin, Richard Eric Dorning, son of Eric Dorning Nadin of Lymm, Cheshire, and Agnes Rob­erts Georgina. d. of John Richard Spaven of Levenshulme, Manchester; b. 7 Sept. 1914; adm. Sept. 1928 (KS); left July 1931; a bank clerk; London Scottish in WW2, transf. Army Air Corps and trained as glider pilot; killed in a flying accident 13 Oct. 1942.

Richard Eric Dorning Nadin was born at Bucklow, Cheshire on the 7th of September 1914 the son of Eric Dorning Nadin and Agnes Roberta Georgina (nee Spaven) Nadin.
He was educated at Stoneygate School, Leicester and at Westminster School where he was a King’s Scholar from September 1928 to July 1931. On leaving school he worked as a bank clerk. His parents were divorced in 1921 and his mother was later remarried to Richard T. Berry. He lived with them at 30, Porchester Road, Bournemouth in Hampshire.
Following the outbreak of war he enlisted as a Private in the London Scottish Regiment before later transferring to the Glider Pilot Regiment. He was posted to No. 21 Elementary Flying School for pilot training.
On the 13th of October 1942, Richard Nadin took off in Tiger Moth Mk II T6444 for a training flight with his flying instructor Sergeant Harold Owen Thomas. During the flight the aircraft struck high tension overhead cables causing the aircraft to crash at Dock Farm, Meadle near Princes Risborough, killing both men. The cause of the accident was attributed to the instructor flying below the authorised height for the exercise.
He is buried at Wimbourne Road Cemetery, Bournemouth Section T.2, Grave 6.5.

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.

Mellor, Philip Evert McIlvaine, brother of Anthony Wright Camac Mellor (q.v.); b. Feb. 5, 1903; adm. May 2, 1917 (H); left July 1921; St. John's Coll. Camb., matric. Michaelmas 1921; played football (assoc.) against Oxford 1925; B.A. 1925; inspector, Sudan Plantations Syndicate Ltd., Oct. 1925; 2nd Lieut. Leicestershire Regt. May 11, 1940; transferred to 1st Batt. Parachute Regt. Aug. 1, 1942, and was one of the pioneers of parachuting; Capt.; M.C. Feb. 12, 1943; killed in action in North Africa, Feb. 1943.

Philip Evert McIlvaine Mellor was born at Kensington, London on the 5th of February 1903 the third and youngest son of Sir Francis Hamilton “Frank” Mellor Kt. BA LLB KC, a barrister at law and judge, and Lady Elizabeth Markoe (nee Camac) Mellor of 53, Victoria Road, Kensington in London and of “Woodvale”, Rotherfield Greys, Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. He was christened at St Stephen’s Church, Kensington on the 14th of March 1903. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from the 2nd of May 1917 to July 1921. He was a member of the 1st Cricket XI in 1921 and the Elizabethan wrote the following on his season that year: - “Bowls a good off break but does not vary his pace enough. A poor bat, because his left leg is never anywhere near the pitch of the ball; should make more use of his wrists and less of his forearms.” He was a member of the 2nd Football XI in 1919 and of the 1st Football XI from 1919 to 1921 where he played at left half. The Elizabethan wrote the following on his 1919/20 season: - “A splendid tackler, who never knows when he is beaten. Feeds his forwards well, but apt to give his passes too much in the air. Marks his wing man very closely, but might with advantage converge more into the centre when play is near his own goal.” They wrote the following on his 1920/21 season: - “A sound and reliable half back. But has the great fault of lying too far back and thus concentrating on defence to the entire exclusion of attack.” He was awarded School Colours for Football in 1921.
He matriculated for St John’s College, Cambridge in 1921 on a Marquess of Salisbury Exhibition and graduated with a BA in 1925. He was awarded a “Blue” for Association Football against Oxford in 1925. On leaving university he joined the staff of the Sudan Syndicate Ltd in October 1925, where he was appointed as an inspector.
He enlisted as a Private in the Scots Guards before attending the Officer Cadet Training Unit at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst from where he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Leicestershire Regiment on the 11th of May 1940. He transferred to the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment on the 1st of August 1942 where he was one of the pioneers of military parachuting.
In November 1942, the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment embarked for overseas service on board the passenger liner Arundel Castle and set sail from Clydeside. They disembarked at Algiers from where they marched to the airfield at Maison Blanche.
On the 16th of November 1942 the Battalion boarded aircraft at Maison Blanche and took off at 11am for an operation to capture the airfield at Souk-el-Arba which was thought to be held by Vichy French forces. It was not known whether the French would oppose the landing. The Battalion landed on the airfield at 1.30pm where they were met by a French officer and no opposition was met. At 5pm they formed up and mounted transport to move to Beja from where they mounted patrols over the next two weeks. On the 17th of November, S Company set out from Beja to the area of Sidi N’Sir from where they were to attack enemy outposts around Mateur. The following day they planned an ambush on an enemy column which had been seen at 7am that morning heading for Sidi N’Sir and was expected to return along the same route. The paratroopers were in position at 7.30am and at 10.30am the German column, which was made up of three eight wheeled armoured cars and three light reconnaissance cars, returned. Mines had been laid across the path of the returning vehicles and the paratroopers held their fire until the first vehicle struck a mine. Philip Mellor and his men rushed forward with Gammon bombs and quickly knocked out two of the armoured cars as well as two of the scout cars and killed their occupants. Those Germans who had not been killed or wounded in the first five vehicles surrendered without a fight and eight prisoners were taken.
At 8pm on the night of the 29th of November Philip Mellor led a patrol out along the Mateur Road to capture enemy prisoners for interrogation. As they advance on foot on either side of the road at 12.43am they came under fire from automatic weapons and a light machine gun from their left. They returned fire and threw grenades at the enemy who quickly fled back to their armoured car and left hurriedly. Mellor then sent half his men back to base and continued on with the other half. The patrol was three and a half miles from Mateur when they ran into an enemy road block. During an exchange of fire Philip Mellor’s helmet was perforated by a bullet but he was unharmed.
On the 1st of December 1942, the Battalion attacked enemy positions at Coxen’s Farm near Medjez-el-Bab. The following day a report was received that enemy troops were arriving in trucks on the Mateur Road and Philip Mellor’s Platoon was sent to investigate. When he and his men arrived there they met heavier opposition that had been expected and after a short fire fight, in which they suffered three casualties, they were forced to disengage. On the night of the 11th of December 1942, Philip Mellor led a patrol which attacked enemy 88mm gun positions. They killed a number of the enemy and returned with five prisoners.
For his actions since landing in North Africa he was awarded the Military Cross, which was announced by the War office on the 11th of February 1943. The recommendation for his award read as follows: - “For most conspicuous gallantry. Throughout all operations and actions between 17 Nov., and 24th Dec., Lieut. Mellor’s conduct has been an outstanding example to all ranks under his command and to the Battalion as a whole. On no less than four occasions he has displayed gallantry of the highest order and a total disregard for his own safety. On the morning of 18th Nov., an ambush was laid on the S’nsir – Mateur rd., to destroy a strong armoured patrol of the enemy. This officer led a strong group of bombers to attack the armoured vehicles. He attacked and immobilised one armoured vehicles, and destroyed and killed the occupants personally of one scout car at a range of about five yards. On the 29/30 Nov., Lieut. Mellor was in command of a fighting patrol which was ordered to raid enemy positions in Tunisia. The patrol encountered and destroyed an enemy section post. The patrol then withdrew and Lieut. Mellor went forward alone to within three miles of Mateur and brought back valuable information as to enemy dispositions on the road. On the 2nd December Lieut. Mellor was ordered to take two sections in carriers to attack enemy troops which were seen in the area of a farm. On arriving at the farm he attacked but was forced to withdraw owing to intense machine gun fire. On withdrawing under cover he found that one man was missing and without a thought for his own personal safety he returned and brought back the missing man. On the 10/11 Dec., Lieut. Mellor was in command of a fighting patrol which was ordered to attack and destroy an enemy A.A. gun position and bring back prisoners. He attacked the position and captured five prisoners and damaged the gun. The attack was made in the face of heavy machine gun fire and it was only by the personal courage and leadership of Lieut. Mellor that the post was taken and invaluable information obtained. On many different occasions Lieut. Mellor has taken part in long daylight reconnaissances in and behind the enemy positions & brought back information of extreme value concerning the enemy positions and by his courage & inspiration set an example of the highest order to all ranks.”
On the 3rd of February 1943, the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment was to attack enemy positions on two hills at Djebel Mansour. R and T Companies were to lead the attack with S Company in support. Once the position had been secured they would be relieved by the 3rd Battalion, Grenadiers Guards. As the two leading Companies began to climb the steep slopes in the dark it began to rain. They were following white tapes which had been laid to help them find their way in the dark. S Company, which was following, was also following the white tapes but, by the time they passed up the hills, the tapes had been cut and they headed off in the wrong direction.
R and T Companies managed to get very close to the enemy positions without being spotted and then rushed them at the point of the bayonet. After heavy hand to hand fighting they had secured both of the positions of Djebel Mansour and Djebel Alliliga. Meanwhile, S Company had run into a minefield where it is thought that Philip Mellor had trodden on a mine as he was seen to have lost a leg and to have been wounded by machinegun fire. The Company continued on and launched its attack. Philip Mellor was last seen crawling towards the enemy machine guns firing his pistol and it was reported that when his body was recovered it had seventeen bullet wounds. He was buried where he fell but the site was lost in the subsequent fighting.
Sergeant Eric Seal of S Company later wrote of the fighting: - “In the battle for Djebel Mansour, S Company suffered very heavy casualties, including Lieutenant Mellor who was killed attacking a machine gun post, which was typical of the man; thus died an irreplaceable soldier.”
He is commemorated on the war memorial at St John’s College, Cambridge.
He is commemorated on the Medjez-el-Bab Memorial Face 34.

O'Brien, Michael William, son of Capt. George William O'Brien MC, The Border Regt, of Grange-over-Sands, Lancs; b. 13 Nov. 1921; adm. Jan. 1935 (KS); Capt. of the school 1939; left July 1940; elected to Ch. Ch. Oxf., but did not matriculate; RAFVR 1941-5 (Sqdn Ldr), DFC Oct. 1944; killed in action 22 Mar. 1945.

Michael William O’Brien was born at Hyderabad, India on the 13th of November 1921 the eldest son of Lieutenant George William O’Brien MC, 1st Battalion, Border Regiment, and Enid Mary (nee Perry) O’Brien of 31, Mayfield Road, Sutton Coldfield in Warwickshire. He was educated at St Dunstan’s School, Burnham-on-Sea and at Westminster School where he was admitted as a King’s Scholar from January 1935 to July 1940. He was elected as Captain of Chess and was appointed as an Assistant Librarian in 1938. He represented the School at Squash in 1938 and 1939 and at Lawn Tennis in 1939. He was appointed as Captain of School in 1939 and was appointed as Joint Editor of the Elizabethan from September 1939 to July 1940. He won a Scholarship to Christ Church, Oxford in 1940 but did not matriculate, instead he volunteered for military service.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on the 12th of August 1940 where he rose to the rank of Leading Aircraftman before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 26th of June 1941. He was posted to No. 14 Service Flying Training School based at RAF Twinwood Farm on the 26th June. 1941 and was posted to No. 2 School of Air Navigation based at RAF Cranage on the 5th of July. The following month he was posted to No. 9 Service Flying Training School based at RAF Hullavington and he was posted to No. 2 Advanced Flying Unit based at Brize Norton on the 30th of March 1942. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 26th of June 1942. On the 21st of July 1942 he transferred to No. 3 Glider Training School based at RAF Stoke Orchard and in November 1942 he was posted to No. 1 Glider Training School based at RAF Croughton.
From the 18th of February 1943, he was based at HQ No. 51 Group based at Moorfield House, Leeds and at the end of June he moved to the Headquarters of Flight Training Command at Shinfield Park, Reading. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on the 26th of June 1943. By late in October 1943, he was flying Mosquitoes with 139 Squadron based at RAF Wyton.
He joined 192 Squadron, based at RAF Foulsham in January 1944 and while he was serving with them he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross which was announced by the Air Ministry on the 13th of October 1944. In August 1944 he transferred to 1692 Bomber Support Training Unit, based at RAF Great Massingham, as an instructor. He returned to operations when he joined 23 Squadron based at RAF Little Snoring on the 5th of February 1945 and was appointed as the commanding officer of B Flight.
Michael O’Brien took off from RAF Little Snoring at 7.35pm on the 22nd of March 1945 with his navigator, Flight Lieutenant Philip Allan Disney, in Mosquito FB Mk VI RS577 YP-T for an intruder operation over the enemy airfield at Handorf and Münster. During the operation the aircraft crashed onto the airfield and both men were killed.
They were buried in the Waldfriedhof Lauheide at Handorf but were later exhumed and moved to their present location.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Christ Church, Oxford.
He is buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Plot 18, Row E, Grave 17.