Showing 393 results

People & Organisations
GB-2014-WSA-07084 · Person · 1919-1940

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.

GB-2014-WSA-07079 · Person · 1924-1943

Ferrers-Guy, John Humphrey, son of George Norman Ferrers-Guy (qv): b. 21 Mar. 1924; adm. Sept. 1937 (B); left July 1941; Midshipman (A) RNVR; killed on active service 16 Sept. 1943.

John Humphrey Ferrers-Guy was born on the 21st of March 1924 the only son of George Norman Ferrers-Guy OW, a company director, and Madeline Alice (nee Lubbock) Ferrers-Guy of 8, Vicarage Gate, Kensington in London, later of 11, Ship Street, Oxford. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Busby’s from September 1937 to July 1941. He was a member of the Colts Cricket XI in 1938 and of the 1st Cricket XI in 1941.
On leaving school he joined the Royal Navy where he trained as a pilot and was appointed as a Midshipman (A) in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on the 14th of May 1943.
On the 16th of September 1943, John Ferrers-Guy took off from RNAS Yeovilton in Sea Hurricane Mk 1B AE967 for a training exercise. At 1.45pm, he was flying close to Irwerne Minster near Shaftesbury when he attempted a slow roll of the aircraft at a height of 200 feet and it dived into the ground, killing him instantaneously.
His mother received the following letter dated the 17th of September 1943: - “Madam, I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to state that they have been informed that your son Temporary Midshipman (A) John Humphrey Ferrers-Day, RNVR, lost his life on Thursday, 16th September, 1943, as the result of an aircraft accident at Iwerne Minster, near Blandford in Dorset. My Lords desire me to express to you their deep regret at receiving this intelligence and their profound sympathy in the great loss which you have sustained.”
He is buried at Yeovilton Royal Navy Cemetery Row C, Grave 4.

GB-2014-WSA-07066 · Person · 1890-1915

Ferguson, John White, second son of John Ferguson, of Regent's Park, by Katherine Pickersgill; b. May 13, 1890; adm. as K.S. Sept. 22, 1904; left July 1908; apprenticed to his father in the shipbuilding trade 1908; Lieut. R. N. V. R. (Clyde Div.) April 2, 1913; served in the Antwerp Expedition Oct. 1914; D. C. M. 1915; attached to the Hood Batt. R. N. R. in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force March 1915; killed in action near Krithia, in the Gallipoli Peninsula, June 7, 1915; unm.

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.

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-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-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-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-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-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.