Masefield, Sir Peter Gordon, son of William Gordon Masefield CBE MRCS LRCP JP, of Brentwood, Essex, and Marian Ada, d. of Edmund Lloyd-Owen, civil engineer, of Brisbane, Australia; b. 19 Mar. 1914; adm. Jan. 1928 (R); left Dec. 1928 because of ill-health and went to Chillon Coll., Switzerland; Jesus Coll. Camb., matric. 1932, BA 1935, MA 1939; an aeronautical engineer, CEng GIMechE; Fairey Aviation Co. 1935-7; tech. editor The Aeroplane 1938-43; air correspondent Sunday Times 1940-3; war correspondent RAF and US Army 8th Air Force 1941-43; sec. War Cabinet Committee on Air Transport 1943-5; Civil Air Attaché Brit. Embassy Washington 1945-7; Dir.-Gen. Long-term Planning Min. of Civil Aviation 1946-9; chief exec. BEA 1949-55; man. dir. Bristol Aircraft Ltd 1955-60; dir. Pressed Steel Co. 1960-4; chairman BAA 1965-71; dep. chairman Brit. Caledonian Airways 1971-87; dir. Nationwide Building Society 1971-84; FCIT; hon. FRAeS, Pres. 1959-60; FRSA 1961, Vice-Pres. 1979-; Kt Jan. 1972; chairman Lond. Transport 1980-2, dir. Lond. Transport International 1981-; author of To Ride the Storm (the story of airship RIOI) 1982; m. 9 May 1936 Patricia Doreen, d. of Percy Harold Rooney of Wallington, Surrey; d. 14 Feb. 2006.
Marzetti, Neville, son of Arthur Marzetti, of Surbiton, Surrey, a member of the London Stock Exchange; b. Feb. 5, 1893; adm. Jan. 16, 1908 (R); left Dec. 1910; enlisted in 28th Batt. London Regt. and served in Great War I; d. 1990.
Martin, William James Royle, son of William Henry Martin, of St. Johns Wood, solicitor; b. April 19, 1891; adm. May 4, 1905 (R); left Dec. 1908; Capt. 22nd (Serv.) Batt. City of London Regt. Oct. 18, 1916; served in Great War I; M.C. Nov. 14, 1916.
Martin, Cecil Philip Creswell, son of James Cecil Martin MICE and Jessie, d. of Henry Louis Creswell of Edinburgh; b. 12 July 1909; adm. Apr. 1923 (R); left July 1927; Sun Insurance Ltd 1929; AAF 1938, PO RAF RegtJune 1942, Flt Lieut. Nov. 1943; m. 24 June 1950 Lavender Evelyn Trelawny, d. of Capt. Leonard Treise Morshead RE; d. Jan. 2005.
Marten Hale, Edward Norman, brother of Cyril Frederick Marten Hale (qv); b. 8 Dec. 1907; adm. Jan. 1922 (R); left July 1924; RASC in WW2 (Capt.); m. 19 Feb. 1938 Patricia Barbara Cicely, d. of G. L. Smythe; d. 1986.
Marten Hale, Cyril Frederick, son of Frederick Marten Hale, explosives expert, of Bromley, Kent, and Honor E. Glover; b. 30 June 1906; adm. Apr. 1920 (R); left July 1922; PO (A & SD) RAFVR Afr. 1943, retd for ill-health Oct. 1943; m. 10 Sept. 1930 Kathleen Nellie, d. of George Griffith of Sydenham, Kent; d. Jun. 1994.
Marcus, L. Marcel, son of Dr. Lascar Marcus; b. Feb. 2, 1902; adm. Sept. 21, 1916 (R); left July 1917; d.
Marchetti, Alexander, younger son of George Marchetti, of Paddington, by Alexandra, daughter of Eustracio Petrocochino, of Paddington; b. Dec. 15, 1893; adm. April 30, 1908 (R); left Dec. 1912; enlisted in P. S. Batt. Royal Fusiliers Dec. 1914; 2nd Lieut. 5th Batt. (Res.) the Rifle Brigade May 19, 1915; went out to the western front March 1916; killed in action in France March 15, 1916; unm.
MAN, EDWARD JAMES FOWLE GARNET, eldest son of Edward Garnet Man, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, barrister, Assistant Commissioner Bengal, and Catherine Jane, dau. of James Matthews, Manchester Square, London, partner, Grindlays & Co, colonial agents; b. 28 Apr 1869; adm. 26 Jan 1881 (R); left 1886; a merchant at Rangoon, Burma; subsequently farmed in Kent; 2nd Lieut., 4th bn. East Kent Regt., 16 Aug 1915; temp. Lieut., 11th bn. Beds. Regt., 6 Feb 1917; served in 1914-18 war; m. 10 Sep 1902 Beatrice Angela, youngest dau. of Rev. John David Macbride Crofts, Vicar of Mountfield, Sussex; d. 28 Dec 1933.
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.