Showing 169 results

Brackenbury, Christopher Charles (known at school as Christopher Charles Klein), son of Adrian Bernard Klein MBE, artist and inventor, of St John's Wood, and Angela Edith, d. of Admiral John William Brackenburv CB CMG RN; b. 2 Apr. 1917; adm. Jan. 1931 (R); left July 1934; RAFVR 1940-1 (PO); m. 1940 Rosemary, d. of Frank Struben of Pretoria, S. Africa; killed on active service May 1941.

Christopher Charles Buzz Klein was born at Hampstead, London on the 2nd of April 1917 the only son of Major Adrian Bernard Leopold Klein (later Cornwall-Clyne) MBE, FRPS, artist and inventor, and Angela Edith (nee Brackenbury later Cornwall-Clyne) Klein of 32, The Pryors, East Heath Road, Hampstead in London. He was educated at Westminster School, where he was known by the last name of Klein and was up Rigaud’s from January 1931 to July 1934. He later changed his surname to that of his mother’s maiden name.
He was married at Chelsea in 1940 to Rosemary Patricia (nee Struben).
On the outbreak of war he enlisted as an Aircraftman 2nd Class in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and rose to the rank of Leading Aircraftman where he trained as a pilot and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 23rd of November 1940, with seniority from the 14th of November 1940.
He was posted to No. 9 Elementary Flying Training School as a flying instructor.
On the 16th of May 1941, Christopher Brackenbury and his student, Leading Aircraftman Ronald Henry Morgan, took off in Tiger Moth Mk II T5712 for a training exercise. At the time he had accumulated a total of 353.25 solo flying hours of which 274.20 were on Tiger Moth aircraft.
During the flight the aircraft struck a balloon cable at Clifford Bridge Road near Walsgrave near Coventry and crashed into a field, killing both men.
His wife received the following letter dated the 20th of May 1941: - “Madam, I am commanded by the Air Council to express to you their great regret on learning that your husband, Pilot Officer Christopher Charles Brackenbury, Royal Air Force, lost his life as the result of an aircraft accident on 16th May, 1941.”
An inquiry into the accident concluded: - “No previous difficulties with the Coventry balloon barrage, the nearest site of which is three miles. The position of all balloons affecting this unit is well known to flying personnel who have continual reference to the situation. Error of judgement or mental preoccupation on part of pilot who was instructing at the time”
He is buried at St James’ Church, Anstey.

Brackenridge, Robert Robertson, son of James Hastie Brackenridge, textile manufacturer, of Wimbledon, and Margaret, d. of Robert Robertson of Larkhall, Lanarkshire; b. 23 Feb. 1918; adm. Sept. 1931 (A); left July 1935; RA 1940-4 (Capt.); d. of wounds in ltaly 30 May 1944.

Robert Robertson Brackenridge was born on the 23rd of February 1918 the younger son of James Hastie Brackenridge, a company director of a textile manufacturer, and Margaret (nee Robertson) Brackenridge of Lanark, Lanarkshire later of 9, Inner Park Road, Wimbledon Common in Surrey. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy where he was in Mackenzie House from 1929 to July 1931, and at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from September 1931 to July 1934. On leaving school he was employed as an apprentice surveyor with Knight, Frank & Rutley, Estate Agents.
He enlisted in the Royal Signals in November 1939 and attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on the 26th of October 1940. He served with Heavy Anti Aircraft and Light Anti Aircraft units in the UK, North Africa and in Italy and was promoted to Captain on the 3rd of January 1944.
On the 19th of May 1944, 75 Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery left the area of Trocchio and crossed the Rapido River the next day where it arrived at its new positions at 5pm. On the 21st of May 1944, the Regiment spent its time in reconnaissance and in ranging its guns in preparation for a planned attack on the Hitler Line which was due to begin two days later. During the afternoon the enemy began shelling the Cassino area and a shell struck the truck in which Robert Brackenridge was travelling, severely damaging it and badly wounding him. He was taken to hospital where he died from his wounds nine days later.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Edinburgh Academy.
He is buried at Naples War Cemetery Plot I, Row O, Grave 16.

Bright, Vernon Maxwell, son of Arthur Sydney Bright, HM Inspector of Schools; b. 9 Apr. 1916; adm. Sept. 1929 (R); left July 1932; RAF 1938-42 (Sqdn Ldr); m. 12 Oct. 1940 Monica, d. of A. P. Richards; killed on active service 24 Sept. 1942.

Vernon Maxwell Bright was born at Kenilworth, Warwickshire on the 9th of April 1916 the younger son of Arthur Sydney Bright, HM Inspector of Schools, and Jessie Elizabeth France (nee Carter) Bright of Graybrook Castle Road, Kenilworth, later of 14, Grove Terrace, St Pancras in London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1929 to July 1932.
He was granted a short service commission as an Acting Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force on the 29th of October 1938 and was confirmed in his rank on the 29th of August 1939. He was posted to 229 Squadron based at RAF Digby on the 6th of October 1939 where the Squadron was being reformed following the outbreak of war.
Vernon Bright took off in a Hurricane on the 29th May 1940 as Yellow 3 in A Flight for a patrol over the evacuation beaches at Dunkirk. While flying over Dunkirk at 9,000 feet at 5.10pm the Squadron encountered 45 Messerschmitt Bf109s which attacked them. He attacked one of them at a height of 6,000 feet, firing some 200 rounds from a range of 100 yards and claimed the enemy aircraft as having been destroyed. He was attacked by other enemy aircraft and his Hurricane was damaged but he managed to return safely to base. On his return he filed the following combat report: -
“At 1715 hours approx. Enemy attacked one wave of 25 from starboard ahead, second wave of about 20 from starboard astern. At 6,000’ I fired two bursts of short length into one Me109 inside which I was turning and he appeared to fall away. On completing the turn I could only see a dark puddle. One other Me109 dived straight past me into the sea. I was then chased at first by a section of three and later by only one enemy a/c for some considerable time, until I had eluded him. By then I had lost contact and returned to base, with two bullets in the port wing.”
On the 31st of May 1940 Vernon Bright took off in a Hurricane as part of A Flight for a patrol over Dunkirk. At 5.13pm the formation spotted 25 Messerschmitt 110s and a Ju 87 some three miles off Furnes at a height of 4,000 feet. He engaged one of the Me110s and fired a number of long bursts at it from a range of 150 yards which exhausted his ammunition. On his return to base he filed the following combat report: - “Anti aircraft fire located enemy fighters at 1715 hours between Dunkirk and Furnes. A Ju 87 was sighted at 1,000 feet soon after doing low dive attacks on a cargo ship. I chased this one but the ship or our own planes hit him since he burst into flames and hit the sea. I then found two Me110s turning for me as I climbed. The first one turned away and was shot down; the second one and myself circled for a long time until I got a quarter attack from above when he appeared to fall out of control. I did not see him hit the sea. The first one hit the sea near the Ju87. I then made for cloud and home as my ammunition was exhausted.”
He was promoted to Flying officer on the 3rd of September 1940. On the 9th of September 1940 229 Squadron received orders to move from their base at RAF Wittering and to continue operations from RAF Northolt to better protect the London area.
Vernon Bright took off from RAF Northolt at 3.20pm on the 11th of September 1940 in Hurricane Mk I P3710 RE-H as Red 2 with eleven other aircraft from the Squadron for a patrol over Biggin Hill. At 4pm they were flying at 20,000 feet near Reigate when they engaged a formation of 30 Heinkel 111s, 20 Messerschmitt Bf110s and their fighter escort of 40 Messerschmitt Bf109s. During the ensuing dog fight he destroyed a Heinkel 111. Pilot Officer Ravenhill from the Squadron was forced to bail out of his aircraft and Flight Rimmer suffered facial injuries when his windscreen was shattered by machine gun fire. On his return to base at 4.35pm he wrote the following combat report: -
“I was No. 2 Red section when enemy formation of HE111s with ME110’s behind and Me109s above and behind; Section attacked in line astern, making beam attacks on starboard side. I fired a burst of 5 seconds from 300 yds, closing to 100 yds. An Me110 attacked the CO who was leading, and a second Me110 came across my bow, firing from rear gun. I fired at him, turned right and down with a Me110 on my tail and shook him off. I then circled round one of our men who was descending by parachute until he was safe. Then I noticed a Hurricane in a steep dive with a He111 beneath him and I executed a vertical quarter diving attack on the He111 with a 3 second burst. The other Hurricane then made a dead beam attack. After breaking away I returned and carried out No. 1 attack from astern and E/A went down. I broke away and two minutes later saw E/A in flames on the ground just S.E. of Redhill between two railway lines, probably at Outwood. E/A flew straight and level throughout.”
Vernon Bright took off from RAF Northolt at 2pm on the 15th of September 1940 in Hurricane Mk I P3710 RE-H with eleven other aircraft from the Squadron for a base patrol. At 2.35pm he engaged a Heinkel 111 at 20,000 feet over south east London with another aircraft from No. 1 Canadian Squadron. He was credited with a one third share of the victory. On his return to base at 3.10pm he filed the following combat report: -
“After making beam attack on formation of 30 HE111’s at 20,000 ft I dived in an astern attack on a lone HE111 below me. After 5 second burst from 250 yds closing to 30 yds, I saw starboard engine stop. I broke away and finished off my ammunition in a quarter attack by which time about half a dozen Hurricanes and Spitfires had joined the fight. I went on doing dummy attacks and saw his port engine stopped by another fighter, before he crash landed on West Malling Aerodrome. This machine had three vertical pink stripes on the rudder. “
The enemy aircraft was Heinkel IIIH-I (2771) AI+AN of 5/KG53. During its forced landing at West Malling Obergefreiter E. Sailler and Gefreiter H. Lange were killed with Unteroffizier O. Zilling, Feldwebel R. Lichtenhagen and Feldwebel K. Behrendt being taken prisoner.
Vernon Bright took off from RAF Northolt at 2.55pm on the 27th of September 1940 as Red 2 in A Flight in Hurricane Mk I P3710 RE-H with eleven other aircraft from the Squadron for an the interception of an incoming raid on London by enemy bombers. They were accompanied by No. 1 Canadian Squadron. At 3.15pm they encountered an enemy formation flying at 16,000 feet over south east London and during the ensuing engagement he destroyed a Junkers 88 and shared in the destruction of a Heinkel 111 as well as probably destroying a Messerschmitt Bf109. During the engagement, Flight Lieutenant Reginald Frank Rimmer, flying Hurricane Mk I V6782 was shot down and killed while Flight Lieutenant William Alexander Smith was forced to crash land at Lingfield following damage to his aircraft during combat.
On his return to base at 4.05pm he filed the following combat report: -
“I was red 2 in Hurricane REH. We attacked the main enemy formation – 15 He111 bombers near London, and I went for one. He which was about 800 ft below me and a quarter of a mile behind the others. It had glycol coming from starboard engine. I gave him a two to three second burst from 300 yds closing to 50 yds from astern, followed by another two second burst. His port engine burst into flames – one man baled out and the aircraft dived steeply and crashed with an explosion in some trees by a house on the outskirts of London. (Croydon?). I returned to the main formation, and a Spitfire came down followed by a Me109. I turned to his port beam with three second burst from 150-100 yds. He went down on his back with brown and white smoke pouring from the engine about 10 miles south east of the first crash. I caught up with the remains of the bomber formation near the coast, consisting of three bombers, with twelve of our fighters attacking. I picked out a Ju88 which was attacked by one Hurricane and one Spitfire. I made two attacks from 150 – 50 yds from astern – pieces broke off and came past me, also oil from the engine. The Hurricane and Spitfire continued attacking then I made a final attack, and he crashed into the sea about 15 miles out from Bexhill. 2,580 rounds fired.”
The Junkers 88 was A-1 (7112 of 5/KG77. The enemy crew of Hauptman G. Zetsche, Feldwebel W. Mahl, Gefreiter A Burkhardt and Obergefreiter A Kuhn were all killed when the aircraft hit the sea.
Vernon Bright took off from RAF Northolt at 8.10am on the 29th of September 1940 for a weather test. While flying at 16,000 feet near Maidenhead at 8.50am he spotted a Dornier 215 aircraft flying below him at 9,000 feet. He attacked it, setting its port wing on fire and claimed it as probably destroyed. On his return to base at 9.10am he wrote the following combat report: -
“I left Northolt on a weather test at 0810 hours and after climbing to 16,000 ft near Luton when I was vectored north west from base. There was 10/10 cloud at 6,000 ft and I sighted a Do215 at 9,000 ft, when I was at 11,000 ft. I began with a quarter attack out of the sun, giving a 5 second burst from 300 to 200 yds. E/A went down to cloud level, and did S turns into the sun just above cloud. I stalked him just in cloud and opened fire from astern at 250 yds with another 5 second burst. Accurate tracer fire from the rear gunner forced me to take evasive action, but I renewed the attack until all my ammunition had gone. The rear gunner ceased firing – the port engine and wing were in flames and the starboard engine was covered in brownish black smoke. E/A fell into cloud apparently out of control in Maidenhead district. 2,640 rounds fired.”
Vernon Bright took off from RAF Northolt at 9.30am on the 15th of October 1940 as Yellow 3 in Hurricane Mk I P3710 RE-H with four other aircraft from the Squadron for a patrol. At 10am he was flying over Canterbury at 20,000 feet when he engaged a Messerschmitt Bf109 and damaged it. On his return to base at 10.50am he filed the following combat report: -
“I was Yellow 3 in Hurricane REH. After the first contact with the enemy I was behind seven other Hurricanes when two groups of Me109s came by and I made a climbing turn to attack the last one on the port side of second formation. Delivering a stern quarter attack from 250 yds for two seconds I noticed glycol followed by dirty brown smoke pour from the engine, and a piece break off the port wing. The Me109 went into a steep right hand turn and a warning shout over the R/T caused me to break off. 160 rounds of ammunition fired.”
Vernon Bright took off from RAF Northolt at 10.45am on the 12th of December 1940 at White 1 in Hurricane Mk I P3710 RE-H with five other aircraft from his Squadron for a patrol. He was flying at 19,000 feet over the Maidstone area at 11.50am when he attacked and shared in the destruction of a Messerschmitt Bf109. On his return to base he wrote the following combat report: -
“I was White 1, weaving, and saw a Hurricane on the tail of an E/A and bits falling from the E/A as the Hurricane fired. The Hurricane was one of the first two to go into the attack. I followed, and when the Hurricane broke away I fired two short bursts at the E/A from about 250 yards. I then lost the E/A which was climbing into the sun. I picked up another travelling south well below me and dived down on it. I fired a 4 second burst from astern at about 150 yards followed by several further bursts. I saw large pieces of the E/A fall away belonging apparently to the tail unit. The E/A turned over on its back, the hood fell off, and the pilot baled out. 1,440 rounds fired.”
The enemy aircraft was Messerschmitt Bf109E E-4 W.Nr 3708 of 7./JG26 and was flown by Unteroffizier Rufolf Lindemann who was wounded and taken prisoner. His aircraft was destroyed when it crashed at 12.10pm at Abbey Farm near Leeds Castle in Kent.
He was credited with a half share of the victory with Pilot Officer Ron Bary, also of 229 Squadron.
He was married in London on the 12th of October 1940 to Monica Alin Theodosia (nee Richards) of Regent’s Court, London; they had a daughter, Sandra Frances Monica born on the 26th of September 1942.
In March 1941 he was posted to No. 55 Operational Training Unit at RAF Aston Down as an instructor. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on the 3rd of September 1941 and was later promoted to Squadron Leader.
On the 24th of September 1942, Vernon Bright and Leading Aircraftman Robert Francis Brown took off from RAF Boscombe Down in Beaufighter Mk VIC EL329 “G” to undertake rocket (8 x 3.5 inch) projectile trials over the Compton Ranges. They were unable to complete the trial and as they flew over Bulford Camp they rocked their wings to indicate to those on the ground that they were returning to Boscombe Down due to low oil pressure. The aircraft was seen to head in the general direction of the airfield but was then seen to roll and dive into the camp parade ground at Bulford where crashed, killing both men.
An inquiry into the accident concluded that: - “Low oil pressure had caused the tests to be aborted but on the flight back to Boscombe Down No.5 cylinder seized causing the aircraft to swing and roll into the ground at low altitude”.
He is commemorated at Southampton Crematorium Panel 1.

Buckley, Edmund Graham, son of Edmund Frazer Buckley, of Chelsea, barrister-at-law, by Helen Margaret, daughter of Edward Castle, Q. C., of South Kensington and sister of Reginald Wingfield Castle (q.v.); b. May 5, 1901; adm. Jan. 14, 1915 (G); left July 1919; R. M.C. Sandhurst; 2nd Lieut. 3rd Batt. Rifle Brigade July 14, 1921; Lieut. July 14, 1923; seconded under the Colonial Office to the Iraq Levies May 14, 1923; Capt. 3rd (Assyrian) Batt. Iraq Levies July 4, 1923; mentioned in despatches for services in Iraq April-May 1927; M.B.E. 1933; Major Aug. 1, 1938; served with B. E. F. in Greece and as a liaison officer with Greek troops in Egypt; Gold Cross of Royal Order of George I with Swords 1942; m. Oct. 14, 1933, Margaret Elisabeth, daughter of Frank Bailey, of Chelsea; d. of wounds received in Greece Jan. 21, 1943.

Edmund Graham Buckley was born at Chelsea, London on the 5th of May 1901 the son of Edmund Frazer Buckley, a barrister at law, and Helen Margaret (nee Castle) Buckley of 2, Carlyle Gardens, Cheyne Row, Chelsea in London. He was christened at Holy Trinity Church, Chelsea on the 2nd of June 1901.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from the 14th of January 1915 to July 1919. He was a member of the 1st Cricket XI in 1918 and of the 2nd Football XI in 1917 and 1918. He was a member of the Officer Training Corps and was promoted to Lance Corporal in January 1918. He was appointed as a Monitor in September 1918. On leaving school he attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst from where he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own) on the 24th of July 1921. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 14th of July 1923 and was seconded to the Colonial Office for service with the Iraqi Levies on the 14th of May 1923, setting sail for Basrah on board the SS Rotenfels on the following day. He was promoted to Captain on the 4th of July 1923 and was attached to the 3rd (Assyrian) Battalion, Iraqi Levies.
He was Mentioned in Despatches for “distinguished services” during operations in the Penjwin area of Iraq for the period April to May 1927, which was announced by the Air Ministry on the 23rd of March 1928. He was awarded the MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List, which was announced in the London Gazette of the 6th of June 1933. He was promoted to Major on the 1st of August 1938
He was married on the 14th of October 1933 to Margaret Elizabeth (nee Bailey) and they lived at Old Rectory, Boscombe in Wiltshire. He was a member of the Cavendish Club.
During the Second World War he served in Greece and as a Liaison Officer with Greek troops in Egypt for which he was awarded Gold Cross of the Royal Order of George I with Swords (Greece) by King George of the Hellenes shortly before his death.
He was later appointed as the commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion of his Regiment.
He died at the Military Hospital for Head Injuries, St Hugh’s College, Oxford.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Boscombe.
He is commemorated at Oxford Crematorium on the left hand column.

Bune, John Cuthbert, son of Frank Cuthbert Bune, barrister-at-law, of Beckenham, and Gladys, d. of Henry Collins of Bromley, Kent; b. 17 Apr. 1914; adm. Sept. 1927 (A); left July 1932; St Cath. Coll. Camb., matric. 1933, BA 1936; Roy. Fusiliers 1939, transf. Parachute Regt (Maj.); m. Hilda Dorothy, d. of H. W. Thompson of Sydney, NSW; killed in action at Arnhem 17 Sept. 1944.

John Cuthbert Bune was born at Beckenham, Kent on the 17th of April 1914 the eldest son of Frank Cuthbert Bune, a barrister at law, and Gladys (nee Collins) Bune of 14, Oakwood Avenue, Beckenham, Kent, later of Lucas Grange, Haywards Heath in Sussex. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from September 1927 to July 1932. He was a member of the 1st Cricket XI in 1932. He served as a Lance Corporal in the Officer Training Corps and achieved a School Certificate in December 1930. He then attended St Thomas’ Hospital Medical School. He matriculated for St Catherine’s College, Cambridge on the 2nd of November 1933 where he read English and Law and graduated with a BA on the 23rd of June 1936. He won a Half Blue for Swimming in 1936 and was also a member of the University Water Polo team when they played Oxford in 1936. He went on to study law and was called to the Bar in 1941.
He was married at St Clement Danes, Strand on the 25th of November 1939 to Hilda Dorothy (nee Thompson) of Barton-on-Sea in Hampshire. They had two daughters, Susan S. born in 1940 and Alexandra J. C., born on the 9th of September 1943.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) on the 2nd of September 1939 and rose to the rank of Major before transferring to the Parachute Regiment on the 18th of April 1944. By September 1944 he had been appointed as second in command of the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment.
At 8pm on the 15th of September 1944 John Bune was called to an officer’s briefing to receive orders for the Battalion’s part in Operation Market Garden, an airborne operation in conjunction with land forces to secure a river crossing across the Lower River Rhine, which was due to begin just 36 hours later. All other personnel were briefed the following day.
On the morning of the 17th of September 1944, the Battalion moved to Barkston Heath airfield where they boarded transport aircraft and took off at 11.30am. They landed at Renkum Heath, to the west of the town of Arnhem, at between 2.03pm and 2.08pm and had assembled by 2.45pm with only three men missing. They moved off from the drop zone at 3.40pm. Twenty minutes later they arrived at a railway station where they were briefed by an officer of the Reconnaissance Corps that there were enemy troops further up the railway line to their east and tanks on the road to the north. Unable to get up the railway line, they set out up the Amsterdamseweg, by which time the enemy tanks had withdrawn. At 5pm R Company attacked strong enemy positions astride the road, inflicting heavy casualties among the enemy troops and forcing them back. The Company then advanced to the Wolfhezerweg junction, where they became heavily engaged with enemy tanks and infantry and were unable to disengage when the rest of the Battalion went around this obstacle. Contact with R Company was lost at 6pm.
At 7.30pm, John Bune was sent back to make contact with R Company, returning at 10pm with the second in command of the Company who reported that, although they had managed to disengage, forward progress was slow as half of his men had become casualties and were in need of evacuation. The Battalion Medical Officer was ordered to take all available jeeps to evacuate the wounded with John Bune joining this party for the return to R Company’s positions. Although the convoy of wounded later reached Oosterbeek and were delivered to the dressing station at the Hartenstein Hotel, John Bune’s group is believed to have run into an ambush in the vicinity of the Dreyenseweg during which he was killed. He was recorded as missing at 3am the following morning. His body was recovered and was buried alongside the Dreyenseweg but was later exhumed and moved to its present location.
The St Catharine’s Society Magazine wrote of him: -
“It has been said that soldiering was among the last professions that John Bune would have chosen, for by instinct he was independent and Bohemian, impatient of routine and of a systematic society; but once in arms he turned the circumstance to glorious account. For the first four and a half years of the war he was in the Royal Fusiliers, and reached the rank of Major. Then, fearing that the years of his training might go for nothing, he transferred and became, in April 1944, second in command of the 1st Battalion, the Parachute Regiment. And so to Arnhem. Bune came to S. Catharine's from Westminster, and gained his Half- Blue for swimming. Literature was, perhaps, his strongest interest, but, like his father, he turned to law, and in 1941 was called to the Bar. He leaves a widow and two daughters.”
He is commemorated on the war memorial at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge.
He is buried at Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery Plot 27, Row B, Grave 6.

Bunting, Paul Lidgett, brother of Christopher Evelyn Bunting (qv); b. 29 Dec. 1926; adm. Sept. 1941 (H); left July 1944; Trin. Coll. Camb., matric. 1944; RN (FAA); accidentally killed on active service 5 July 1946.

Paul Lidgett Bunting was born at Queen’s Road, Bayswater, London on the 29th of December 1926 the son of Sheldon Arthur Steward Bunting MA, MBE, MICE, BSc an engineer for the Indian Public Works Department, and Kathleen (nee Collett) Bunting of 33, Kingsley Way, Hampstead, London N2 and of Northleach, near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from September 1941 to July 1944. He matriculated for Trinity College, Cambridge on the 1st of October 1944 as a Royal Navy Officer Cadet. He was posted to the Royal Naval School of Music near Burford, Oxfordshire.
On the night of the 4th/5th of July 1946, Paul Bunting was one of a number of Marines who were traveling in a lorry while returning from leave in Cheltenham to their base at Burford. At midnight the lorry was in collision with a civilian lorry at Hangman’s Stone, near Northleach. He died at the scene from a fracture to the base of his skull; his body was taken to Northleach mortuary.
The dead and injured were: -
Musician Charles Walter Montgomery (Died from injuries at the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford) Musician G. De Peyer (Injured)
Musician Paul Lidgett Bunting
Musician B. Farmer (Injured)
Marine L. Midham (Head injuries)
Coporal C.W. Freeland

An inquiry was held into the accident which concluded that the naval lorry had been traveling over the centre line of the road at a speed of 30-35 miles per hour when the collision occurred. The Coroner concluded: - “There is no evidence here of undue speeding, and I think of the two drivers concerned, Ogden, the Royal Marine driver, was to blame for the collision. Whatever carelessness there was on his part amounts to nothing more than to justify me recording a verdict of misadventure.”
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Trinity College, Cambridge.
He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial Panel 94.

Burke, Edmund Seymour, son of Edmund Burke, of Kingston Hill, Surrey; b. 11 Aug. 1916; adm. Sept. 22, 1931 (R); left July 1935; Pembroke Coll. Oxon., matric. Michaelmas 1935; Sub-Lieut. (A) R.N.V.R.; killed in action 30 Jul. 1941.

Edmund Seymour Burke was born at Rathdown, Ireland on the 11th of August 1916 the elder son of Edmund “Edo” Burke, a company director, and Sylvia Jayne (nee Hardy) Burke of the Glenridge Hotel, Virginia Water in Surrey and of the Granby Court Hotel, 88/89, Queen’s Gate, Brompton in London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1931 to July 1935. He played the part of Jane West in the Rigaud’s House Play of “The Fourth Wall” in 1934. He matriculated for Pembroke College, Oxford on the 15th of October 1935.
On leaving university he worked as an assistant tea buyer. He appeared as an extra in “A Yank at Oxford”, released on the 18th of February 1938 and was credited for his role as the First Officer in the play “The Infinite Shoeblack”, which was released in 1939.
He was enlisted in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve where he trained as a pilot and was later commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant (A). He was posted to 800 Naval Air Squadron based on board the aircraft carrier HMS Furious.
On the 30th of July 1941, the Royal Navy launched Operation EF, an attack on enemy merchant shipping in the Norwegian port of Kirkenes and on the Finnish port of Liinakhamari in Petsamo. The aircraft on board the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious would attack the Norwegian port while those on board HMS Furious would attack the port at Petsamo. The operation was intended to catch the enemy by surprise but the fleet was spotted by a German aircraft and their presence was relayed back to the two ports. When the formation arrived over Petsamo little shipping was present in the port. Instead the aircraft attacked the harbour installations, hitting jetties, a warehouse and an oil tank, which was set on fire. They met enemy fighter opposition and heavy anti aircraft fire in the target area.
Edmund Burke and his Observer, Leading Airman Arthur James Beardsley, took off from HMS Furious in Fulmar Mk II N4029 one of six aircraft from the Squadron which were to form the fighter escort for the operation on Petsamo. On its way to the target the aircraft was flying over the Barents Sea when it suffered an engine failure and was forced to crash land on to the sea. The two men were seen to swim clear of the aircraft and pull themselves into their life raft. HMS Furious was unable to pick the two men up due to the presence of enemy aircraft and submarines in the area.
Theirs was one of sixteen aircraft which were lost during the two operations.
His father received the following telegram: - “From Admiralty. Deeply regret to inform you that your son Sub Lieutenant (A) E.S. Burke is reported missing on active service.”
In 2017 a Russian journalist contacted the British Consulate in Moscow to say the he had found two graves marked “two unknown English airmen” on the Rybachy Peninsular in Northern Russia. It was discovered that the two bodies had been found in their dingy by nomadic travellers who had buried them on the beach. It is believed that they had died from hypothermia. Their bodies were exhumed, identified and reburied at their present resting place in July 2017 with an honour guard made up of British and Russian servicemen.
His brother, Pilot Officer Ian Campbell Burke OW, 142 Squadron, Royal Air Force, was killed in action on the 20th of September 1941.
He is buried at Vaida Bay Military Cemetery Grave 5.

Burke, Ian Campbell, brother of Edmund Seymour Burke (q.v.); b. Aug. 14, 1917; adm. Sept. 22, 1931 (R); left April 1935; Pilot Officer, R.A.F.V.R. Jan. 5, 1941; killed in action 20 Sept. 1941.

Ian Campbell Burke was born at 89, Lower Sagget Street, Dublin on the 14th of August 1917 the younger son of Edmund Burke Edmund “Edo” Burke, a company director, and Sylvia Jayne (nee Hardy) Burke of Glenridge Hotel, Virginia Water in Surrey in Surrey and of the Granby Court Hotel, 88/89, Queen’s Gate, Brompton in London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from the 22nd of September 1931 to April 1935.
On leaving school he was articled to a firm of Chartered Accountants and later worked as a tea salesroom assistant. He achieved a Royal Aero Club Certificate (No. 19921) at the Horton Kirby Flying Club on the 28th of August 1939, while flying a DH Moth, Gypsy Mk I. On the outbreak of war he was a member of the Civil Air Guard.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he rose to the rank of Leading Aircraftman before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 11th of January 1941, with seniority from the 5th of January 1941.
On the night of the 19th/20th of September 1941, Bomber Command dispatched 70 aircraft, most of which were Wellingtons, for an operation on Stettin. 60 aircraft reached and bombed the target but most crews had trouble locating the industrial targets allocated to them.
Ian Burke and his crew took off from RAF Binbrook before landing at RAF Mildenhall to refuel, from where they took off again at 10.58pm on the 19th of September 1941 in Wellington Mk II W5384 QT- for the operation. During the outward flight the port engine failed and the aircraft aborted its mission. It continued flying using only its starboard engine for most of the return flight. When its remaining engine also failed the aircraft was forced to ditch in the sea some eight miles to the east of Orford Ness, Suffolk at 3am. Five of the crew failed to get to the dinghy and were lost with only one of the crew being rescued.
The crew was: -
Pilot Officer Ian Campbell Burke (Pilot)
Sergeant Alexander Carstairs (Navigator)
Sergeant John Graham Jones (Wireless Operator)
Sergeant Trevor Gordon Lister (2nd Pilot)
Sergeant David John Mackintosh (Air Gunner)
Sergeant T.J. Rayment (Rear Gunner) (Injured)
Theirs was one of two aircraft which were lost during the raid.
The only survivor, Sergeant Rayment, later related that the port engine had failed two hours into the flight and before the aircraft had reached the target. The pilot turned the aircraft around and jettisoned the bomb load over enemy territory before flying for home at between 2,000 and 3,000 feet. While close to the Suffolk coast the starboard engine suddenly failed and a “good” landing was made on the sea. All of the crew were standing by to evacuate the aircraft and it not known why the remaining members of the crew did not survive. Sergeant Rayment was rescued and taken to the Naval Sick Bay at Ipswich where he was treated for exposure. It is thought that the port engine failed due to a leak in its coolant system but the failure of the starboard engine remains unexplained.
The body of John Jones was washed ashore on the 29th of September and was taken to the mortuary at RAF Martlesham where it was discovered that he had been killed by bullet wounds to the head and neck.
His brother, Sub Lieutenant (A) Edmund Seymour Burke RNVR OW, 800 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm was killed in action on the 30th of July 1941.
He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Panel 31.

Buttar, Charles Philip, son of Charles Buttar (q.v.); b. Jan. 26, 1902; adm. April 29, 1915 (G); left Dec. 1918; Midshipman R. N. Jan. 8, 1922; Sub-Lieut. Dec. 15, 1923; Lieut. (E) Feb. 15, 1926; Eng.-Lieut.-Cdr. Feb. 15, 1934; Commander June 30, 1938; m. July 17, 1930, Margaret Elaine, daughter of Major William Stanford; lost in the sinking of H. M. S. Dorsetshire by Japanese aircraft in the Bay of Bengal, April 5, 1942.

Charles Philip Buttar was born at Bayswater, London on the 26th of January 1902 the son of Dr Charles Buttar MD OW and Georgianna Isabel (nee Syrett) Buttar of 10, Kensington Square Gardens in London. He was christened at Bayswater on the 7th of April 1902. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from the 29th of April 1915 to December 1918.
He entered the Royal Navy on a Special Entry Cadetship on the 8th of September 1920 and was appointed as a Midshipman on the 8th of January 1922. He joined the battleship HMS Valiant for engineering training on the 15th of January 1922 and went on to the Royal Naval Engineering College, Keyham for further engineering training on the 4th of May 1922. He was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant on the 15th of December 1923. He was promoted to Acting Lieutenant (E) on the 15th of February 1926 and to Engineer Lieutenant Commander on the 15th of February 1934.
He was married at St Philip’s Church, Kensington on the 17th of July 1930 to Margaret Elaine (Goodfellow, nee Stanford) and they lived at 131, Banbury Road, Oxford. They had a daughter, Susannah, born on the 15th of August 1933. He was serving on board HMS Coventry at the time and was later posted to the heavy cruiser HMS Dorsetshire (40). He was promoted to Commander (E) on the 30th of June 1938.
At the beginning of April 1942, HMS Dorsetshire, under the command of Captain Augustus Willington Shelton Agar VC, DSO RN, was undergoing a refit at Colombo, Ceylon, in order to increase her anti aircraft armament, when she was ordered to put to sea as British Intelligence had warned her that a Japanese battle fleet was approaching Ceylon from the east.
At 10pm on the evening of the 4th of April 1942, HMS Dorsetshire, and the heavy cruiser HMS Cornwall (56) set sail from Colombo and headed towards the Maldives where they were to rendezvous with other ships at 4pm the following day. At dawn on the 5th of April 1942 they were sailing in waters some 300 miles to the south west of Ceylon when action stations were sounded.
At 1pm a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft was spotted which was followed a short time later by 53 Japanese “Val” dive bombers which had been launched from enemy aircraft carriers and began to attack the ship from out of the sun at 1.40pm. In spite of fierce resistance from the crew, HMS Dorsetshire was struck ten times by 250lbs and 500lbs bombs and had several near missies. Her magazine was struck during the attack and she sank in just eight minutes. HMS Cornwall was also sunk. Captain Agar survived the sinking but Charles Buttar was one of two hundred and twenty-seven of his crew who did not. The survivors of both ships were in the water for some thirty hours before being picked up by the cruiser HMS Enterprise and the destroyers HMS Paladin and HMS Panther.
He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 63, Column 1.