Showing 393 results

People & Organisations
GB-2014-WSA-06795 · Person · 1907-1944

Elliston, Francis Albert Neville, son of Sir George Sampson Elliston MC MP, barrister-at-law, of Elmsett, Suffolk, and Alice Louise, d. of Joseph Causton DL of Bickley, Kent; b. 10 Mar. 1907; adm. Sept. 1920 (H); left July 1923; St Catb. Coll. Camb., matric. 1923, BA 1926, MA 1930; sec. Public Dental Assn of Gt Britain 1939; E. Lancs Regt 1940-3, Parachute Regt 1943 (Capt.); m. 22 Oct. 1935 Mary Muir, d. of Robert James Muir Wilson of St Helen's, Lancs; killed in action (Normandy) 8 June 1944.

Francis Albert Neville Elliston was born at Paddington, London on the 10th of March 1907 the second son of Sir George Sampson Elliston MC, MP, MA, DL, JP, barrister at law, and Lady Alice Louise (nee Causton) Elliston of 1, Warrington Crescent, Lancaster Gate, later of 40, Heathcroft, Golders green in Middlesex. He was christened at Christ Church, Lancaster Gate on the 11th of April 1907.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from September 1920 to July 1923 and rowed for the 2nd IV in 1923.
He matriculated for St Catharine’s College, Cambridge as a pensioner on the 23rd of October 1923 where he read History and Law. He rowed for the College at stroke in the second May Boat in 1925 and graduated with a BA on the 29th of June 1926. During his time at Cambridge he was a regular contributor of “witty and clever articles” to the Cambridge University student magazine, the “Granta”. He was also a keen member of the Oxford Group. He qualified as a barrister and worked at Lincoln’s Inn. He was awarded a MA on the 13th of June 1930.
He was married at The Church of St Mary the Great, Cambridge on the 22nd of October 1934 to Mary (nee Muir-Wilson) of Windle Grange, St Helens in Lancashire; they had a son, Robin, born on the 13th of October 1936.
He enlisted as a Private in the 1/7th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment in the Territorial Army in 1939 and rose to the rank of Corporal before attending the 168th Officer Cadet Training Unit from where he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the East Lancashire Regiment on the 10th of February 1940. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st of June 1943. He volunteered for airborne training and attended Course No. 72 at RAF Ringway from the 12th to the 23rd of July 1943. The instructors noted that Francis Elliston was a: - “Fine type of officer and a good parachutist”.
The 13th Battalion, Parachute Regiment landed at Drop Zone N, to the north of the village of Ranville, in Normandy at 12.50am on the 6th of June 1944. The Battalion assembled and moved off from their rendezvous point on the drop zone at 2.30am with Ranville reported as having been cleared of the enemy by 3am. The Battalion was still holding the area around Ranville on the 8th of June when Francis Ellison was shot in the chest and killed at 11.30am.
His Colonel wrote: - “All of us, officers and men, have lost one of our best friends and a most able and efficient comrade.”
The Westminster school magazine, the “Elizabethan”, wrote of him: - “At one time he was actively engaged in the services of the Oxford Group, in which, as indeed in all his work, his cheerful disposition and capacity for friendship won for him the deep affection of a wide circle.”
The St Catharine’s College magazine wrote: -
“He was educated at Westminster before coming to S. Catharine's where his cheerfulness and determination proved a potent force in College rowing. But at heart he was a crusader, and as one he went into the war. For a time he held a commission in The East Lancashire Regiment, then recruited mainly from his father's constituency, but he transferred to the Parachute Regiment and led the Normandy invasion. Less than forty eight hours after dropping he was killed.”
He is commemorated on the St Helens Roll of Honour and on the war memorials at Lincoln’s Inn and at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge.
He is buried at Ranville War Cemetery Plot IA, Row E Grave 12.

GB-2014-WSA-06848 · Person · 1890-1917

Estall, Arthur Cecil, only son of Thomas Estall, of Kensington, by Emily, daughter of George Tilly, of Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey; b. Oct. 3, 1890; adm. April 26, 1901 (H); left July 1902; readm. Sept. 28, 1905; left July 1909; became a clerk in the Bank of England and subsequently went into the bill broking business; joined the H. A. C. in 1909, and was promoted Corporal 1914; went out to the western front in Sept. 1914 and was invalided home in Jan. 1915; 2nd Lieut. A. S. C. March 22, 1915; Lieut. Sept. 16, 1915; Capt. May 2, 1916; returned to the front Sept. 18, 1916; d. Aug. 8, 1917, at the 7th Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, of wounds received in action, north of Ypres, Aug. 6, 1917; in 1935 his mother gave £1000 to the War Memorial Fund, the interest to be used in assisting in the education of boys at the school; unm.

GB-2014-WSA-06860 · Person · 1922-1942

Evans, David Christopher, son of Charles Evans, publisher, of Walton-on-the-Hill, Surrey, and Rose Elizabeth, d. of William Callaghan of Leytonstone, Essex; b. 28 Mar. 1922; adm. Sept. 1935 (G); left July 1940; PO RAFVR Mar. 1942; killed in action in a raid on Bremen June 1942.

David Christopher Evans was born at Walton-on-Thames, Surrey on the 28th of March 1922 the fifth and youngest son of Charles Seddon Evans, a publisher, and Rose Elizabeth (nee Callaghan) Evans of Bilders Farm, Ewhurst in Surrey.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from September 1935 to July 1940. 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 7th of March 1942. He was posted to No. 15 Operational Training Unit as an instructor.
On the night of the 26th/26th of June 1942, Bomber Command dispatched 472 Wellingtons, 124 Halifaxes, 96 Lancasters, 69 Stirlings, 51 Blenheims, 50 Hampdens, 50 Whitleys, 24 Bostons, 20 Manchesters and 4 Mosquitos for an operation on Bremen. The force was intended to be a “1,000 bomber raid” but, in the event, 960 aircraft were sent, which included some aircraft from Operational Training Units to make up the numbers. The force was to attack the Focke Wulf factory, the A.G. Wesser shipyard, the Deschimag shipyard as well as other areas of the town and its docks. 572 houses were destroyed during the raid with a further 6,108 damaged, the vast majority of which were in the southern and eastern quarters of the city. 85 people were killed on the ground with another 497 injured and 2,378 were bombed out of their homes. Six buildings at the Focke Wulf factory were seriously damaged and one assembly shop was completely destroyed. Damage was also caused to buildings at the Atlas Werke, the Vulcan shipyard, the Norddeutsche Hutte and the Korff oil refinery.
David Evans and his crew took off from RAF Harwell at 10.41pm on the 25th of June 1942 in Wellington Mk IC DV737 for the operation. While flying in the target area at a height of 7,000 feet at 1.45am the aircraft was hit by anti aircraft fire and exploded, killing the entire crew. Parts of the wreckage fell on to the house of Frau Hoeber at 37, Stoeversand Strasse in Sebaldsbruck with the rest falling into the garden of the house where it burned out.
The crew was: -
Pilot Officer David Christopher Evans (Pilot)
Sergeant Ronald Idris Coffin (2nd Pilot)
Sergeant Thomas Phillip Morgan (Observer)
Sergeant Alfred George Leyland (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Michael Sweeney (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant John McRewin Kennedy (Air Gunner)
Theirs was one of forty eight aircraft which failed to return from the raid.
His father received the following telegram date the 25th of September 1942: - “Deeply regret to inform you that according to information received through the International Red Cross Committee your son Pilot Officer David Christopher Evans is believed to have lost his life as the result of air operations on 26th June 1942. Letter confirming this telegram follows. The Air Council express their profound sympathy.”
David Evans’ body and those of two of his crew were found on the road in front of the house, with another being recovered from the bottom of the garden. Another body was found near to the air raid shelter. The bodies of the crew were collected by the local undertaker, Herr Stubbe.
The crew was buried with full military honours at Waller Cemetery near Bremen on the 2nd of July 1942. Their bodies were exhumed by No. 4 Missing Research and Enquiry Unit, Royal Air Force on the 23rd of January 1947 and were moved to their present location.
He is commemorated on his parent’s grave
He is buried at Becklingen War Cemetery Plot 26 Row G Grave 13.

GB-2014-WSA-06898 · Person · 1912-1945

Evers, Gilbert Davey, son of Harold Evers of Bromley; b. 11 Jan. 1912; adm. Sept. 1925 (B), (A) Sept. 1926; left Apr. 1929; RAFVR 1939-45 (Flt Serg., flying instructor); PO Jan. 1945; killed in air operations over Germany 28 Jan. 1945.

Gilbert Davey “Pop” Evers was born at Bromley, Kent on the 11th of January 1912 the younger son of Harold Evers, a chartered secretary, and Rhoda Skene (nee Heathcote) Evers of 6, Haven Green, Ealing in London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Busby’s from September 1925 and up Ashburnham from September 1926 to April 1929.
He was granted a short service commission in the Royal Air Force with the rank of Acting Pilot Officer on the 21st of October 1935 and was confirmed in his rank on the 21st of October 1936. He resigned his commission on the 11th of March 1937.
On the outbreak of war he was working as an instrument flying instructor and was lodging at 83, Grand Avenue, Hassocks in Sussex.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1940 where he rose to the rank of Warrant Officer before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 16th of January 1945.
On the 28th of January 1945, Bomber Command dispatched 153 Lancasters for an operation on the Gremberg railway marshalling yards at Cologne. The weather was clear and the target was hit but with some bombs overshooting.
Gilbert Evers and his crew took off from RAF Chedburgh at 10.46am on the 27th of January 1945 in Lancaster Mk I PD296 HA-B, as the Squadron’s lead aircraft for the operation. This was to be his 30th operation, the final one of his tour of operations. While the aircraft was in the target area it was hit by anti aircraft fire and crashed at 2pm at Bergisch-Gladbach, 14 kilometres to the east north east of the centre of Cologne, with the loss of all but one of the crew.
The crew was: -
Pilot Officer Gilbert Davey Evers (Pilot)
Sgt Ernest Noel James Francis (Flight Engineer)
Flying Officer Frederick J. Norton (2nd Navigator) (Wounded) (POW)
Flight Sergeant Anthony Morris (Navigator)
Flight Sergeant David Charles Allen (Air Bomber)
Flight Sergeant Eric Holland (Wireless Operator)
Sergeant Edward Bertram Barradell (Air Gunner)
Warrant Officer John Towns DFC (Air Gunner)
Theirs was one of four aircraft which were lost during the operation, one of which crash landed in liberated France.
The navigator, Frederick Norton, was the only member of the crew to survive. He had been wounded by shrapnel in the arm but landed safely by parachute and was captured. Had Gilbert Evers survived the operation he would have been stood down from further operations.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at the Church of Christ the Saviour, Ealing.
He is buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Plot 31, Row C, Grave 1.

GB-2014-WSA-06914 · Person · 1890-1921

Eyre, Gerard Layton Phipps, eldest son of Layton Eyre, of Hampstead, by Louisa, daughter ofJohn Forbes Moir, of Aberdeen; a nephew of Charles Lewis Eyre (q.v.); b. Oct. 5, 1890; adm. Jan. 14, 1904 (G); left July 1908; Lieut. 59th (2nd North Midland) Div. R. F. A. June 1, 1916; served on the western front from 1917 until he was gassed near Monchy in April 1918; discharged as permanently unfit July 1, 1919; d. from the effects of gas-poisoning May 4, 1921.

GB-2014-WSA-06918 · Person · 1920-1941

Eyre, Philip Colmer, brother of Ambrose Wright Eyre (qv); b. 24 Oct. 1920; adm. Sept. 1934 (H); left July 1938; Pearl Assurance Co.; Sgt Pilot RAFVR, killed in action while returning from a raid over Germany 7 Sept. 1941.

Philip Colmer Eyre was born at Bristol, Gloucestershire on the 24th of October 1920 the son of James Colmer Eyre, a wholesale stationer and bookbinder, and Annie Margaret (nee Gardner) Eyre of 142, Kensington Park Road, Kensington in London, later of 1, Landsdown Place, West Bath in Somerset. He was christened at the Wesleyan Church, Whiteladies Road, Bristol on the 12th of December 1920. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from September 1934 to July 1938. He was a member of the Cricket XI in 1937 and 1938. On leaving school he accepted a post on the staff of the Secretarial Department of the Pearl Assurance Company.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and was posted for pilot training to No. 2 Service Flying Training School. On completion of his training he joined 78 Squadron for operations in July 1941 and was transferred to 102 Squadron later the same year.
On the night of the 6th/7th of September 1941, Bomber Command dispatched 41 Whitleys, 18 Hampdens and 27 Wellingtons for an operation on the synthetic rubber plant at Huls, Krefeld in Germany. The weather was clear and good results were reported by the returning crews.
Phillip Eyre and his crew took off from RAF Topcliffe at 9.05pm on the 6th of September 1941 in Whitley Mk V Z6970 DY-R for the operation. The aircraft was carrying two 500lb general purpose bombs, six 250lb bombs and one hundred and forty 4lb incendiaries. The aircraft was flying to the south of Nijmegen, Holland when it was attacked by two night fighters, one flown by Unteroffizier Schienbein of 2./NJG1 and one by Oberfeldwebel Wilhelm Willi Schmale of III./NJG1. The aircraft was shot down and crashed at Sambeek near Vortum-Mullem, Noord Brabant, 26 kilometres to the north east of Helmond in Holland at 1.07am with the loss of the entire crew. Wilhelm Willi Schmale was credited with the victory, his third of an eventual eleven.
The crew was: -
Sergeant Phillip Colmer Eyre (Pilot)
Sergeant Leonard Albert Stock RCAF (Observer)
Sergeant Kenneth Pearson Withyman (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Thomas McGill (Air Gunner)
Theirs was one of eight aircraft which failed to return from the raid.
His mother received the following telegram dated the 2nd of October 1941: - “Regret to inform you that information just received through the International Red Cross states that your son Sergeant Philip Colmer Eyre 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.”
The crew was buried on the 9th of September 1941. Their bodies were exhumed for identification purposes by No. 2 Missing Research and Enquiry Unit, Royal Air Force on the 10th of May 1947 and were reburied at the same location.
One of his flying helmets was sold at auction on the 30th of January 2018.
He is commemorated on the Pearl Assurance war memorial.
He is buried at Woensel General Cemetery, Eindhoven Plot JJ, Grave 37.

GB-2014-WSA-06932 · Person · 1893-1916

Faire, Eric Leslie, brother of Washington Morley Faire (q.v.); b. Sept. 30, 1893; adm. Sept. 28, 1905 (G); left Easter 1909; went to Lausanne, Switzerland, for the purpose of studying languages; enlisted in 25th (Co. of London) Cyclist Batt. the London Regt. at the outbreak of World War I; went out to the western front inJuly 1916; acted as Interpreter for his own Batt. for a short time, but was afterwards transferred to the 9th (Co. of London) Batt. the London Regt. (Queen Victoria's Rifles); killed in action at Maurel Oct. 8, 1916; unm.

GB-2014-WSA-06989 · Person · 1898-1918

Faulkner, Eric William Scarlett, elder son of William Bowler Faulkner, of New Malden, by Louisa, daughter of James Scarlett, of Hanworth Park, Middlesex; b. Oct. 15, 1898; adm. Sept. 26, 1912 (A); non-resident K.S. 1913; joint Mure Scholar 1915; elected head to Ch. Ch. Oxon. July 1916; enlisted in the 5th (City of London) Batt. London Regt. (London Rifle Brigade) Oct. 20, 1916; went out to the western front Nov. 7, 1917, where he joined the 2nd Batt., and early in 1918 was transferred to the 28th Batt. (Artists' Rifles); d. July 26, 1918, at the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital at Dovelleris of wounds received in action at Aveling Wood, Englebelmer, near Albert, July 24, 1918; unm.

GB-2014-WSA-06990 · Person · 1897-1940

Faulkner, Gilbert Faulkner, son of Edmund William Abram, of Hampton, Middlesex, by Lucy, daughter of William Thomas Ashton, of Soulton Hall, Salop; b. June 23, 1897 (R); adm. May 4, 1911; left Easter 1914; 2nd Lieut. unattached July 19, 1916; Indian Army 2nd Lieut. Nov. 12, 1916 (acting Capt. July 2-13, 1917); Lieut. July 19, 1917 (acting Capt. Nov. 9, 1919 - July 18, 1920); Capt. July 19, 1920; served in Mesopotamia 1917, Mahsud 1919-20, and Waziristan 1920-2; Major July 19, 1934; acting Lieut.-Col. 8th Punjab Regt.; assumed the name of Faulkner in lieu of Abram July 12, 1936; m. Nov. 29, 1929, Santa Muriel, daughter of Major Frederick William Lillicrap, of Sutton, Surrey; killed on war service in Waziristan, Dec. 7, 1940; the Faulkner History Prize was founded in his memory by his brother officers.

Gilbert Faulkner Abram (later Faulkner) was born at the Inner Temple, London on the 23rd of June 1897 the son of Edmund William Abram, a journalist and author, and Lucy (nee Ashton) Abram of “Sylvans”, Peaslake in Surrey.
He was educated at Godstone School and at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from the 4th of May 1911 to Easter 1914.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on the Unattached List for the Indian Army on the 19th of July 1916 and was attached to the 42nd Deoli Regiment on the 8th of November 1916. He was promoted to Acting Captain from the 2nd to the 13th of July and to Lieutenant on the 19th of July 1917, while serving in Mesopotamia.
In 1919 and 1920 he served at Mahsud and was promoted to Acting Captain from the 9th of November 1919 to the 19th of July 1920, being promoted to Captain from the latter date. He served in Waziristan from 1920 to 1922 and was promoted to Major on the 19th of July 1934.
He was named in a divorce petition which was filed by Ronald St George Cole on the 24th of August 1923. It was alleged that during the month of June 1923 Gilbert Abram and Mrs. Santa Muriel Cole had committed adultery on several occasions at the Central Hotel, 123, Cromwell Street. Cole was granted a decree nisi on the 15th of April 1929.
He was married on the 29th of November 1929 to Santa Muriel (nee Lillicrap formerly Cole) of Haslemere in Surrey but the marriage ended in divorce. He changed his name by deed poll to Faulkner on the 12th of July 1936. He was later promoted to Acting Lieutenant Colonel and was appointed to the command of the 5th Battalion, 8th Punjab Regiment.
He was killed in action in Waziristan.
His medals were sold at auction on the 5th of March 2020.
The Faulkner History Prize was founded in his memory by his brother officers in 1945.
He is buried at Karachi War Cemetery Plot 12, Row D, Grave 13.

GB-2014-WSA-07027 · Person · 1881-1914

Featherstone, Reginald Benjamin, b. Nov. 28, 1881; adm. Sept. 24, 1896 (A); left Dec. 1898; 2nd Lieut. Devonshire Regt. from the Militia Dec. 4, 1901; Lieut. Dec. 7, 1904; Adjutant (T. F.) Nov. 18, 1909 - Nov. 17, 1912; Capt. Devonshire Regt. Oct. 3, 1914; served in the S. African War 1902; killed in action Dec. 18, 1914.