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Nares, Geoffrey Owen, brother of David Owen Nares (qv); b. 10 June 1917; adm. Sept. 1930 (G); left Apr. 1934; an actor and stage designer; first appeared (under his father's management) in The Winning Post at the Globe Theatre Dec. 1934; 2nd Lieut. RASC Oct. 1940, transf. 12 Lancers Aug. 1941; d. on active service 20 Aug. 1942.

Geoffrey Owen Nares was born at Hampstead, London on the 10th of June 1917 the younger son of Owen Ramsey Nares, an actor, and Marie (nee Polini) Nares, an actress, of 35, Hamilton Terrace, Westminster and of Highmoor in Oxfordshire. He was christened at St Augustine’s Church, Paddington on the 17th of November 1917. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from September 1930 to April 1934. He won a Sir Henry Lucy Prize for Art in 1931. On leaving school he became an actor and a theatre designer, his first appearance being in the part of a stable boy in “The Winning Post”, starring Lawrence Olivier at the Adelphi Theatre on the 17th of December 1934. In June 1935 he played Kim Oldham in “Grief Goes Over” at the Globe Theatre and he played Martin Hilton in “Call it a Day” at the Glove Theatre, London in October of the same year which ran for more than a year; his father was also a member of the cast. As well as being an actor he was a designer of scenery for the stage and designed sets for “Candida”, “The Constant Wife”, ”Gaily We Set Out”, and “Blondie White”.
He enlisted as a Driver in the Royal Army Service Corps before being attending an Officer Producing School and being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on the 26th of October 1940. He transferred to the 12th Royal Lancers in August 1941 and was posted to the Middle East where he contracted pappataci (sand fly fever) and died from a brain tumour in hospital at Cairo.
He is buried at Heliopolis War Cemetery Plot 2 Row D grave 14

Nash, Alexander Desmond Michael Flight Lieutenant 102131
258 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 19th of December 1943 aged 21
Alexander Desmond Michael Nash was born on the 22nd of November 1922 the son of Captain Christopher Michael Nash, a rubber planter, and Ethelinda Jarman (nee Clarke) Nash of 17, Mount Avenue, Ealing in Middlesex. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from September 1936 to July 1939.
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 23rd of July 1941. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 23rd of July 1942 and to Flight Lieutenant on the 23rd of July 1943. He was posted to 285 Squadron.
Alexander Nash took off at 2.45pm on the 19th of December 1943 in Hurricane Mk IIB BG688 with five other aircraft from his Squadron for a patrol over Dohazari. As they were climbing out after takeoff his aircraft collided with Hurricane Mk IIB PJ785 flown by Pilot Officer Peter Ireland Hickes. Both aircraft crashed and both pilots were killed. The remaining four aircraft completed their mission and returned to base at 4.20pm.
He is buried at Chittagong War Cemetery Plot 6, Row A, Grave 12.

Barrett-Lennard, John Archdale, son of John Barrett-Lennard CBE, of Kew, Surrey; b. 6 Sept. 1917; adm. Sept. 1931 (G); left July 1935; RAAF (Sergt), killed in action; d. Aug. 1941.

John Archdale Barrett-Lennard was born at Pinner, Middlesex on the 6th of September 1917 the only son of John Barrett-Lennard CBE, an army officer and a director of Imperial Airways, and Winifred Mary Lennard of 16, Brunswick Gardens, Kensington in London, later of 88, Styvechale Avenue, Coventry in Warwickshire. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from September 1931 to July 1935 and was a member of the Fencing team in 1935.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force volunteer Reserve where he trained as an observer and rose to the rank of Sergeant. He was serving with 21 Squadron when he was involved in an accident while taxiing towards the flare path. He later transferred to 9 Squadron.
On the 26th of February 1941 he and his crew were flying just to the south of Cologne in Wellington Mk 1C WS-Z R1341 when the aircraft was hit by anti aircraft fire. On its return to England the aircraft was diverted to RAF East Wrethem where it landed safely with no injuries amongst the crew.
On the night of the 12th/13th of August 1941, Bomber Command dispatched 65 Wellingtons and 13 Hampdens for an operation on Hannover.
John Barrett-Lennard and his crew took off from RAF Honington at 9.20pm on the 12th of August 1941 in Wellington Mk IC R1341 WS-Z for the operation. The aircraft was carrying a bomb load of three 500lb general purpose bombs, three hundred and fifty 4lb incendiaries and two flash bombs. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after takeoff. It was attacked and shot down by Messerschmitt Bf110 D-3 G9+FP flown by Feldwebel Ernst Kalinowski and Unteroffizier Zwickl of 6./NJG 1. The aircraft crashed between Grafel and Anderlingen near Rotenburg to the east of Bremen at 1.56am with the loss of the entire crew. Theirs was one of an eventual four victories for Ernst Kalinowski before he was killed on active service on the 21st of March 1944.
The crew was: -
Sergeant Hugh Forster Barron (Wireless Operator/Front Gunner)
Sergeant George Barry “Don” Smith RCAF 2nd Pilot
Sergeant Ronald Ramsey Passmore RNZAF (Rear Gunner)
Sergeant Eric Lewin (Pilot)
Sergeant John Archdale Barrett-Lennard (Observer)
Flight Sergeant Charles William Albert Wells (Wireless Operator)
Thiers was one of four aircraft which were lost during the operation.
The crew was buried at Rotenburg Cemetery but their bodies were exhumed on the 6th of July 1946 and moved to their present location.
He is buried at Becklingen War Cemetery Plot 12, Row B, Grave 13.

Young, Patric Peregrine Wilkie, son of Horace Edward Wilkie Young (qv); b. 13 Sept. 1913; adm. May 1927 (G); left July 1931; Trin. Coll. Camb., matric. 1932, BA 1935; textile machinery industry; Middx Regt 1940-2 (Lieut.); d. of wounds (Middle East) Dec. 1942.

Patrick Peregrine Wilkie Young was born at Chelsea, London on the 13th of September 1913 the only son of Horace Edward Wilkie Young OW, Levant Consular service, and Agnes Margaret (nee Anson later Gladstone) Young of 16, Carlyle Mansions, Chelsea in London. He was christened at St Luke’s Church, Chelsea on the 16th of October 1913. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from May 1927 to July 1931. He was a skilled fencer with foil, epee and sabre and served as Hon. Secretary of the Fencing team from 1931 to 1932. He was appointed as the first Secretary of the Old Westminsters Fencing Club and was Secretary of the Graham-Bartlett Cup Committee. He matriculated for Trinity College, Oxford on the 7th of October 1932 where he was admitted as a commoner and was awarded a BA in 1935. On leaving university he went to work in the textile machinery industry and lived at Alston Londes, Waterhead near Oldham in Lancashire.
Following the outbreak of war he enlisted as a Private in the Lancashire Fusiliers and attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Middlesex Regiment on the 11th of February 1940.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Trinity College, Oxford.
He is buried at Benghazi War Cemetery Plot 6, Row B, Grave 33.

Woodward, Norman, son of Benjamin Douca Woodward of New Jersey, USA; b. 6 Jan. 1912; adm. Sept. 1925 (G); left July 1928; PO RCAF; killed in action over Holland Sept. 1941.

Norman Woodward was born at 60, Craigie Road, Perth, Scotland on the 6th of January 1913 the younger son of Benjamin Duryea Woodward, a banker, and Gladys (nee Piver) Woodward of 26, Pembroke Gardens in London W8, later of 41, Royston Park Road, Hatch End in Middlesex and of 7, Rue des Alpes, Geneva, Switzerland. He was educated at Mr Gibb’s School, London from 1921 to July 1925 and at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from September 1925 to July 1928. He was a member of the 3rd Rowing VIII in 1928 and served as a Private in the Officer Training Corps from 1926 to 1928. He also took part in swimming and field athletics whilst at school. His hobbies included sailing, shooting and photography. On leaving school he worked as a reporter for the Press Association in London from 1930 to 1932 and as a sound recordist for Gainsborough Studios in London from 1932 to 1935. He worked as manager of the Lawns Club at Usk, Monmouthshire from 1935 to 1936 after which he emigrated to the United States where his mother had been born. He moved to San Francisco where he began work as an assistant editor on the Shipping Register in 1936 which was published by his mother’s family. He lived at 635, Montgomery Street in the city.
He attended an interview with a view to joining the Royal Canadian Air Force on the 13th of November 1939 but was probably considered to be too young. He enlisted for the duration of the war as an Aircraftman 2nd Class at the Royal Canadian Air Force Recruiting Centre at Vancouver, British Columbia on the 12th of July 1940. At a medical examination, which took place on the same day, it was recorded that he was six feet and one half of an inch tall and that he weighed 171 pounds. It was also recorded that he had a medium complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair.
A letter of reference in support of his application was written by Robin Kinkead of Reuters: - “Dear Sir, I have known the bearer of this letter, Mr. Norman Woodward, for six years. I first met him in London, in the latter part of the year in 1933, while I was working with Reuters Ltd. I have found Mr. Woodward to be a young man of unusually sterling character. I have had an opportunity of observing his conduct under various conditions, both in England and later here in San Francisco, where I have known him fairly regularly since 1937. I can attest in all sincerity to his presence of mind, sobriety, quick-wittedness, and ready understanding. I might add that his sense of humour is well developed, whether or not that may be considered as an asset. I should say his distinctive character trait is a strong sense of initiative and responsibility, together with a more than average intelligence. I have always found him a friend to rely upon, and can certify my profound conviction that he has what it takes.”
He was posted for training on the 16th of August 1940 and joined No. 2 Initial Training School at Regina on the 1st of September 1940. He was promoted to Leading Aircraftman on the 12th of October 1940 and was posted to No. 3 Air Observers School at Regina on the 19th of October. On the 6th of January 1941 he was transferred to No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School at Mossbank, Saskatchewan and was promoted to Sergeant on his qualification as an Air Observer on the 16th of February 1941. He embarked for service in England on the 6th of April 1941.
He disembarked on the 19th of April 1941 and was posted to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre at Uxbridge until the 28th of April when he joined No. 10 Operational Training Unit at RAF Abington. Having completed his training he was posted to 77 Squadron on the 17th of July 1941.
On the night of the 6th/7th of September 1941, Bomber Command dispatched 41 Whitleys, 27 Wellingtons and 18 Hampdens to attack a chemical plant at Huls. The weather was clear and the returning bombers claiming good results with their bombing.
Norman Woodward and his crew took off from RAF Leeming at 7.54pm on the 6th of September 1941 in Whitley Mk V Z6824 KN-W for the operation. While flying near Amseterdam the aircraft was coned by searchlights and was attacked and shot down by a Messerschmitt Bf110 flown by Oberleutnant Hans-Karl Kamp of 8./NJG 1. The aircraft crashed at Haarlo, near Borculo in Holland at 11.15pm with the loss of all but one of the crew. Theirs was one of an eventual twenty three victories for Hans-Karl Kamp before he was killed in action on the 31st of December 1944.
The crew was: -
Squadron Leader Alexander John Hannigan (Pilot)
Sergeant David Thomas (2nd Pilot) (POW No. 9578 Stalag 357 and Stalag VIIIB)
Pilot Officer Norman Woodward RCAF (Observer)
Sergeant Charles Max Evans (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Ernest Charles Edward Myers RCAF (Air Gunner)
Theirs was one of seven aircraft which were lost during the operation.
His mother received the following telegram dated the 3rd of October 1941: - “Regret to inform you that information received through the International Red Cross Society states your son Pilot Officer Norman Woodward is reported missing and believed to have lost his life as the result of air operations on 6th/7th September 1941. Any further information will be immediately communicated to you.”
2nd pilot David Thomas was the first member of the crew to bail out of the aircraft and was the only one to survive when the aircraft exploded in mid air soon after he had left it. In a letter from prisoner of war camp dated the 9th of November 1941 David Thomas wrote the following on the events that night: -
“Dear Sirs, As regards your enquiry about P/O Woodward, I’m afraid I can give little information. On the night of Sep. 6 we were attacked by a night fighter off Amsterdam. The aircraft burst into flames, and I as second pilot, was the first to abandon the aircraft. At the time of the attack P/O Woodward was in the front turret. After having been captured I was told the aircraft had exploded in the air – whether P/O Woodward was killed during the attack, or whether he was killed by the subsequent explosion, I’m afraid I don’t know, but he did not leave the aircraft, because I was the only one seen to leave the aircraft. The time of the accident was about 2300 hours British Summer time. Would you please be kind enough to forward my deepest sympathies to his mother in her great loss.”
He is buried at Borculo General Cemetery Plot U, Collective Grave 1-5.

Wilde, David Scott, son of Sidney Algernon Wilde, chartered survevor, and lris Scott, d. of Wal­ter Scott-Thomson; b. 17 June 1923; adm. Sept. 1935 (G); left Dec. 1939; Ordinary Seaman RNVR; killed in action in HMS Coventry 14 Sept. 1942.

David Scott Wilde was born at Radlett, Hertfordshire on the 17th of June 1923 the son of Sidney Algernon Wilde, a chartered surveyor, and Iris Scott (nee Thomas) Wilde of 78, Carlisle Mansions, Westminster in London and of “Crowtrees”, 49, Watford Road, Radlett in Hertfordshire. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from September 1935 to December 1939.
He enlisted in the Royal Navy and was posted to the light cruiser HMS Coventry (D43).
On the 14th of September 1942, HMS Coventry, under the command of Captain Ronald John Robert Dendy RN, was taking part in Operation Agreement, a commando attack on the harbour at Tobruk. At 11.40am she was sailing to the north of Marsa Matruh as part of “Force D” with her escorts, the destroyers HMS Belvoir, HMS Dulverton, HMS Hursley and HMS Croome, when the group was attacked by enemy aircraft. The enemy formation consisted of 16 Junker 88 aircraft each of which was armed with one 500lb bomb and three 250lb bombs. In the ensuing attack HMS Coventry was the focus of the enemy’s attack with four direct hits being scored on her. Three of the bombs fell in the ship’s engineering area while one wrecked the bow. She was set on fire and came to a dead stop in the water. The survivors were taken off and she was scuttled by the destroyer HMS Zulu at 3.15pm. Sixty three of her crew had been killed during the attacks with David Wilde being among the dead. HMS Zulu was also later in the day and the survivors were transferred to HMS Croome. HMS Zulu was taken under tow by HMS Hursley but sank at 7pm.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Radlett.
His brother, Pilot Officer Sidney John Scott Wilde, 115 Squadron, Royal Air Force, was killed in action on the 3rd of August 1940.
He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial Panel 66, Column 2.

Walker, Ian Patrick Goold, son of Maj. George Goold Walker DSO MC FSA, secretary HAC, and Lilian Sophie, d. of F. C. P. Clarke of St Helier, Jersey; b. 15 Feb. 1914; adm. Sept. 1927 (G); left Apr. 1932; film industry; Northants Yeomanry Dec. 1940, transf. Queen's Bays (Capt.), served El Alamein; d. 6 July 1945 of wounds received in Italy Oct. 1944.

Ian Patrick Goold Walker was born at Kensington, London on the 15th of February 1914 the only son of Major George Goold Walker DSO, MC, FSA, Secretary of the Honourable Artillery Company, and Lilian Sophie (nee Grant) Walker of 29, Westbourne Terrace in London and of L’Etacq, Jersey in the Channel Islands. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from September 1927 to April 1932. On leaving school he entered the film industry and he enlisted in the Honourable Artillery Company in 1939, serving with their anti aircraft battery.
He attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry on the 7th of December 1940. He was attached to the Queen’s Bays and served with them in the North African campaign from El Alamein to Tunis. He was selected for a Staff training course but refused the offer as his Regiment was under orders to move to Italy.
He was wounded on the 13th October 1944 during the fighting for the Gothic Line and died from his injuries nine months later.
He is commemorated on the Coveney Roll of Honour.
He is buried at Almorah Cemetery, St Helier Grave 22/13F.

Usher, Philip Charles Alexander, son of Thomas Charles Usher, of Melksham, Wilts, by Constance Emma, daughter of Alexander Bell, of Highbury, London; b. March 18, 1899; adm. Sept. 26, 1912 (G); elected to Ch. Ch. Oxon. July 1917, matric. Trin. 1919; B.A. 1922; M.A. 1925; 2nd Lieut. R.G.A. (S.R.) Feb. 25, 1918; served at Salonika 1918-9; ordained 1923; Domestic Chaplain to the Bishop of Gloucester 1923-4; Chaplain of the Collegiate Church of St. George the Martyr, Jerusalem, 1924-5, of H.M. Legation at Athens 1926-30; domestic Chaplain to the Bishop of Gloucester 1930-7; Warden of Liddon House, London, 1937; Sqdn.-Ldr. (Chaplain) R.A.F.V.R. Nov. 12, 1940; d. on active service at Jerusalem June, 1941.

Philip Charles Alexander Usher was born at Trowbridge, Wiltshire on the 18th of March 1899 the only son of Thomas Charles Usher, of the Wiltshire Brewery, and Constance Emma (nee Bell) Usher “Sunny Croft”, Trowbridge, later of Seend Green House, Seend, Melksham in Wiltshire. He was christened in Wiltshire on the 25th of May 1899. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from the 26th of September 1912 to July 1917. He was a member of the Debating Society from 1916 and was appointed as a Monitor in January 1917. He had won a place at Christ Church, Oxford but deferred it, instead he attended an Officer Cadet Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery on the 25th of February 1918. He served overseas and relinquished his commission on the 1st of April 1920.
He matriculated for Christ Church, Oxford on a MAM Scholarship in 1919 and was awarded a BA in 1922. He was ordained in 1923, was appointed as Assistant Curate of All Saints Church, Gloucester and also served as Domestic Chaplain to the Bishop of Gloucester at the same time. He was awarded a MA in 1925. He was appointed as the Chaplain to St George’s Cathedral, Jerusalem in 1924 and, from 1928 to 1930, he served as Chaplain to HM Legation in Athens where he ministered to the British Community there. He was fluent in Greek and could converse with people of: - “every class, occupation and type of culture”. He became a great student of Greek life, its language and of the Greek Orthodox Church.
He invalided home to England in 1930 where, on his recovery, he once again became Domestic Chaplain to the Bishop of Gloucester. He chaired the Committee on Relations with Episcopal Churches and was appointed as an Honorary Secretary to the Council on Foreign Relations in 1932. A short time later he was appointed as Warden of Liddon House, where Orthodox clergy would stay while in London, from where he led large Anglican delegations abroad including to Romania in 1935 and to Bulgaria in 1940. He served as the Editor of the “Church Quarterly Review” for nine years. In 1937, he was appointed as the Chaplain of Grosvenor Chapel, South Audley Street.
After war broke out in 1939 he worked for the Interior Ministry as an advisor on the Eastern regions. However, having become - “increasingly dissatisfied with staying at home', he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he had hoped to serve in Greece. He was commissioned as a Squadron Leader in the Chaplains Branch of the Royal Air Force Reserve on the 12th of November 1940 and was posted to Palestine.
He died from a cerebral haemorrhage in a hospital at Jerusalem.
A memorial communion service was held in his memory at the Grosvenor Chapel at 11am on the 13th of June 1941. The Philip Usher Memorial Fund was established in his memory to - “Give others an opportunity of living in an Orthodox country in order to absorb its ideological atmosphere”.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Christ Church, Oxford.
He is buried at Ramleh War Cemetery Row P, Grave 1.

Talfourd-Jones, Paul, son of William Henry Talfourd-Jones MRCS, of Harlesden, Middx; b. 13 Mar. 1914; adm. May. 1928 (G); left July 1932; Emmanuel Coll. Camb., matric. 1933; South Wales Borderers (TA) 1938-45 (Capt.); killed on active service (Far East) 10 Oct. 1945.

Paul Talfourd-Jones was born in London on the 13th of March 1914 the only son of Dr William Henry Talfourd-Jones MRCS and Dora (nee Perkins) Talfourd-Jones of “West Point”, Craven Park, Willesden in Middlesex, later of Castle Grounds, Devizes in Wiltshire. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from May 1928 to July 1932. He was a member of the 1st Cricket XI in 1932. He matriculated for Emmanuel College, Cambridge to read Medicine in 1933, but left in 1936 and did not graduate. He boxed for Cambridge University and was awarded a Blue in 1935.
In 1938 he became an assistant sales manager for Thomas Edison Ltd of Victoria House, Southampton Row, London before joining Phoenix Ltd of Kentish Town as their sales manager in 1939. He was married at Willesden, Middlesex in 1939 to Rhoda Alice (nee Mannell) of Ebford in Devon; they had two daughters, Wendy Helen, born on the 3rd of October 1941, and Sara Hilary, born on the 23rd of October 1943.
He enlisted as a Private in the 9th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (60th Searchlight Regiment) in the Territorial Army on the 20th of April 1937 and was promoted to Corporal on the 3rd of September 1939. He attended the 166th Officer Cadet Training Unit based at Douglas from the 26th of March 1940 before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the South Wales Borderers on the 17th of August 1940. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion of his Regiment on the 23rd of August 1940 and served with them until the 22nd of August 1941 when he was posted to supervise at a prisoner of war camp at Cambridge until the 16th of January 1942. On the 17th of January 1942 he was posted to the 30th Battalion of his Regiment and served with them until the 16th of February 1943. He was promoted to Lieutenant in February 1942.
On the 17th of February 1943 he applied to join the Special Operations Executive as an instructor and underwent a period of instruction until April 1943. He was then posted to Beaulieu where he was an instructor on an industrial sabotage course. He was serving at No.17 Special Training School when he was posted to No. 44 Special Training School in January 1944. He was promoted to Acting Captain on the 1st of November 1943 and to temporary Captain on the 1st of February 1944, a rank he relinquished on the 24th of July 1945. On the 1st of May 1944 he was appointed as an explosives instructor and on the 9th of June 1944 he was posted to Force 136 in Ceylon where he worked as a paramilitary and as an air supply instructor. He returned to England on the 10th of June 1945 and, on the 14th of July, he was ordered to report to the Adjutant of the Westminster Garrison at noon on the 18th of July 1945. He attended a court martial on the 26th of July 1945 where he was charged on five counts of borrowing money from subordinates and of passing post dated cheques. He was cleared of four of the charges but was convicted of the fifth. Following his trial he was sent on leave to await further orders. He was later posted to the No. 21 Holding Battalion based at Newton Camp in Powys and was dismissed from the Special Operations Executive on the 6th of October 1945.
He was killed in a civilian motor accident at Newton.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
He is buried at Devizes Cemetery Section X.S., Grave 34.

Swann, Graham Templer, son of the Rev. Arthur Henry Swann, Vicar of Christ Church, Fulham, Middlesex, by Agnes Jane, daughter of the Rev. Thomas William Graham, Vicar of St. Matthew's, Southborough, Kent; b. June 29, 1902; adm. Sept. 21, 1916 (G); left July 1921; Emman. Coll. Camb., matric. Michaelmas 1921; B.A. 1924; asst. master R.N. Coll. Dart­mouth Sept. 1924, and subsequently at Harrow; Pilot Officer (General Duties) R.A.F.V.R. July 19, 1938; transferred to A. and S.D.; Flying Officer Jan. 19, 1940; temp. Flight-Lieut.; killed on active service July 1941.

Graham Templer “Swanny” Swann was born at Southborough, Kent on the 29th of June 1902 the son of the Reverend Arthur Henry Swann, Vicar of Christ Church, Hampstead, and Agnes Jane (nee Graham) Swann of 45, High Street, Harrow-on-the-Hill in Middlesex. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from the 21st of September 1916 to July 1921. He was appointed as a Monitor in 1920. He was a member of the 1st Cricket XI in 1921 when the Elizabethan wrote the following on his season: - “Not a polished batsman: should have confined himself to hitting simply and solely. Could bowl at a pinch; chiefly distinguished himself by energetic and, at times, brilliant out fielding.” He was awarded his School Cricket Colours in 1921. 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 inside right. The Elizabethan wrote the following on his 1920/21 season: - “Looks a good player, but never seems to do the right thing, largely due to over anxiousness. Must be more calm and collected, and must use his intelligence more for spotting openings. Has a fine burst of speed, a most useful asset.” He was awarded School Colours for Football in 1921. He was a member of the Officer Training Corps and was promoted to Lance Corporal in September 1920.
He matriculated for Emmanuel College, Cambridge in 1921 and was awarded a BA in Modern and Medieval Languages in 1924. He was the first civilian member of Toc H. On leaving university he was appointed as an assistant modern languages master at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth and later at Harrow School. While at Harrow he accompanied boys from the Air Training Section of the Officer Training Corps to a RAF Camp.
He was awarded a Royal Aero Club Certificate (No. 10655) at Haldon Aerodrome on the 23rd of July 1932 while flying a Gypsy Moth aircraft.
He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on the 19th of July 1938 and was moblisied on the outbreak of war. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 19th of January 1940 and by June 1941 he was billeted at “Sand Green”, Crossfield Avenue, Porthcawl in Glamorganshire.
Graham Swann took off from RAF Stormy Down in Battle Mk I L5001, with his pilot, Pilot Officer Eric Geoffrey Kitching, for a co-operation exercise with a local Home Guard unit which was to take place at Margam Castle, Port Talbot. At the time, he had accumulated 840 hours of total solo flying time of which 698 were on Battle aircraft. As the aircraft was making a low level turn the pilot misjudged his height and the aircraft struck a 45 foot tree and crashed 200 yards further on in a field at Eglwysnunydd Farm on the Margam estate at 10.25am where it burst into flames on impact, killing both men. The wreckage was in three large pieces which were spread over an area of 60 yards. The bodies of the two men were taken to the mortuary at RAF Stormy Down.
His brother-in-law, the Reverend G.V. Hart, received the following telegram dated the 23rd of June 1941: -“Deeply regret to inform you that your brother in law Flight Lieutenant Graham Templar Swann is reported to have lost his life as the result of an aircraft accident on June 22nd 1941. The Air Council express their profound sympathy. His mother had been informed.”
His funeral took place on the 27th of June 1941.
The Harrow School magazine, the Harrovian wrote: - “Of the many hundreds of boys who have passed through Harrow while Swanny was on the staff, there must be very few who cannot claim to have been his friends. To be in his French or German Division was often but the prelude to such a friendship and a good prelude it was. His intimate resource in keeping the subjects alive was the envy of all his Modern Languages colleagues. In many spheres of activity outside the form room he played a prominent part. He was a tireless Rugger coach – self-taught – be it added. It is typical of his enterprise, for he came from a soccer school and played his first Rugger games as a Dartmouth master. If he was missed on the cricket field, it was because he was indispensible for the Sailng Club. He shared willingly his exceptionally wide and varied interests. One would find groups of boys in his study at all hours of the day, listening to Bach or Beethoven on his gramophone, enjoying his inexhaustible fund of photographs or his War Museum. This last, by the way, was but one of his many hobbies, and one had to see him at work to realise what hobbies could mean. He took greatest pride of all in the creation of the model railway club, which, even since he left Harrow to join up, has had perhaps the largest following of any school club. If the above record fails to picture him as more than an attractive Mr. Chips, a glance at his other activities will soon dispel the illusion. A great traveller, he visited during his holidays every corner of the earth. Titles of lectures to the school and on the wireless, “£17 to India”, “With £10 across America” etc., bear witness to his venturesome spirit, which was indeed one of his most attractive facets. “The harder of two alternatives” was his guiding principle, and he had the courage to carry it through. With his colleagues he was universally popular. It was not everyone who agreed with his opinions, for his conclusions, inflexible as they were, he formed after long and deliberate thinking. But no one could fail to enjoy his quick wit and genial humour, and he was the kindest of friends. It was the spirit of adventure that led him to take up flying. After much useful work with the Air Training Section of the School O.T.C., he joined the R.A.F.V.R. shortly before the outbreak of war, and was called up when hostilities began. But he spent much of his leave at Harrow and kept many of his friendships alive; and those boys who were privileged to be his guests during A.T.C. camps at the R.A.F. station to which he was attached, will long treasure the memory of that fearless pilot who worked unstintingly on their behalf, sparing no pains to make their visit a happy one. Seldom has the war been brought more vividly to Harrow as a whole than by the news of Swanny’s death.”
The Elizabethan wrote: - “His deep sympathy and insight into the character of his pupils, his sense of humour and the high standards he set himself and others evoked the respect and affection of all among whom he worked. He was fond of adventure and a great traveller, and is said to have completed a tour of 11,000 miles in one summer holiday.”
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Emmanuel College, Cambridge and on the memorial to Harrow School Masters at Harrow School.
He is buried at Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium Block D.4, Grave 343.

Reed, Roland Anthony, brother of Richard Gordon Reed (qv); b. 29 Dec. 1920; adm. Sept. 1934 (G); left Dec. 1938; RMC Sandhurst, 2nd Lieut. Roy. Tank: Regt May 1940, Lieut. Nov. 1941; killed in action (Libya) 31 Dec. 1941.

Roland Anthony Reed was born at Clifton Campville, Staffordshire on the 29th of December 1920 the second son of the Reverend Roland William Reed and Claudia Mary (nee Poore) Reed of The Rectory, Clifton near Tamworth in Staffordshire. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from September 1934 to December 1938. He entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst in 1939 before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Tank Regiment on the 11th May 1940. He was posted to the 8th Royal Tank Regiment and was promoted to Lieutenant on the 11th of November 1941.
On the 30th of December 1941, the 8th Royal Tank Regiment was in camp at Bir Bu Tabel when they received orders at 6pm to make an attack on Bardia Fortress the following morning in support of the 3rd South African Infantry Brigade. A, B and C Squadrons left camp a short time later in three columns and arrived at their assembly point at 8.45pm that night.
The supporting artillery barrage began at 4.15am on the morning of the 31st of December 1941 with C Squadron arriving at the forward assembly area at 5.15am. Their tanks began moving forward though gaps in the minefields, which had been cleared by the Royal Engineers, at 6.30am. A short time later they received a message from B Squadron reporting that the infantry were being held up by enemy machine guns and were requesting assistance. Two tanks, those of Richard Reed and Major Peter Norman Veale, went forward to attack the enemy positions but when they arrived there the enemy appeared to have withdrawn and they returned to rejoin the Squadron. At 9am, it was reported that two of the three main enemy strong points had been silenced but that a third was still active and the infantry could not locate its exact position. A soon as Richard Reed’s tank went forward to assist it received a direct hit from the enemy strong point and caught fire. The tank commanded by Sergeant Barrett met the same fate immediately afterwards. Sergeant Barrett ran across to Richard Reed’s burning tank and managed to rescue the driver and the radio operator before making for cover. The rest of the crew perished. The enemy gun position was knocked out by Peter Veale a few minutes later. With no infantry support available from the South Africans, the rest of C Squadron withdrew.
The Regiment’s objectives were taken by noon but an enemy counterattack began at 12.40pm, which was driven off by 5pm after heavy fighting. The surviving tanks from the Regiment withdrew for the night at 11.30pm.
He is buried at Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery, Joint Grave 3 E 9.