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Cumberland, Bentinck Howard, son of Walter Bertie Cumberland, GPO engineer, of Hendon, and Edith Howard, d. of Edmund Rawles of Hampstead; b. 6 Sept. 1917; adm. Apr. 1931 (R); left July 1936; The Loyal Regt 1940-3 (Capt.); killed in action (N. Africa) 30 Apr. 1943.

Bentinck Howard “Benty” Cumberland was born at Hampstead, London on the 6th of September 1917 the only son of Walter Bertie Cumberland, an engineer for the General Post Office, and Edith Howard (nee Rawles) Cumberland of 26, Shirehall Lane, Hendon in Middlesex. He was christened at St Mark’s Church, Marylebone on the 20th of October 1917. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from April 1931 to July 1936. He was a member of the 1st Rowing VIII in 1935 and 1936 where he rowed at No. 6. On leaving school he was articled to a firm of chartered accountants. He was elected as a member of the London Rowing Club in 1936.
He attended the 163rd Officer Cadet Training Unit (Artists Rifles) before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) on the 3rd of August 1940 where he was later appointed as Battalion Transport Officer.
On the 29th of April 1943 the 1st Battalion, The Loyal Regiment was near Djebel Rhaouas in Tunisia where they had been involved in heavy fighting the previous day and were preparing to renew their attack. At 6am that morning 14 enemy tanks passed through the Gabgab gap towards the Battalion but soon came under British artillery fire and withdrew at 8am. Later than morning B Company was ordered to join C Company to reinforce 117 Metre Hill where enemy tanks had been seen. At 1.30pm 20 enemy tanks managed to infiltrate a gap in the British positions and established themselves on a nearby ridge where they dominated the approaches to 117 Metre Hill. As soon as this move had been completed a further 20 enemy tanks, supported by infantry, advanced through the Gabgab Gap and headed towards The Loyals’ positions on 117 Metre Hill. C Company called down artillery fire on the enemy force but this did not deter them and they continued to advance. At 2.30pm, tanks of the 145th Royal Tank Regiment began moving forward to attack the enemy tanks but they lost six of their number in a short space of time and so they took up static positions some two miles from 117 Metre Hill where they fired in support of the infantry but this was largely ineffective.
The German force closed and overran the The Loyals’ Support Company on the western side of the hill, and destroyed most of the Battalion’s transport. The Battalion had also lost all of its anti tank guns. Having suffered very heavy casualties, the survivors formed into small groups on the perimeter of their position while the German tanks dug in where they were and continued firing on the British positions for the rest of the day. Just before dawn, rations were brought up to the forward British troops and it was at this time that Bentinck Cumberland was killed by mortar fire.
At dawn on the 30th of April 1943, the Germans began withdrawing through the Gabgab Gap and new anti tank guns were brought forward to defend the gap should they return.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at the London Rowing Club.
He is buried at Massicault War Cemetery Plot V, Row M Grave 3.

Davies, Kenneth Frederick, son of Frederick Albert Davies of Beaconsfield, and Ellen Florence, d. of Alfred George Phillips of Devonport; b. 16 Dec. 1918; adm. Sept. 1932 (R); left Dec. 1936; RAF in WW2 (Corpl Armourer); lost in HM Minelayer Welshman (Med.) 1 Feb. 1943.

Kenneth Frederick Davies was born at Acton, Middlesex on the 16th of December 1918 the son of Frederick Albert Davies, secretary to a public company, and Ellen Florence (nee Phillips) Davies of Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire. He was christened at St Martin’s Church, West Acton on the 21st of June 1919. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1932 to December 1936. On leaving school he worked as an Assistant Transport Superintendant and lodged at 9, Nevern Square, Kensington in London.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as an armourer and rose to the rank of Corporal.
In January 1943, Kenneth Davies boarded the cruiser minelayer HMS Welshman (M84) , under the command of Captain William Howard Dennis Friedberger DSO RN, which was transporting men and stores from Malta to Tobruk. At 5.45pm on the 1st of February 1943, HMS Welshman was struck by two torpedoes from of a spread of four which had been fired by the U Boat U-617, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Albrecht Brandt. The main deck area flooded and she capsized and sank two hours later with the loss of 163 of her passengers and crew. Several of the casualties were caused by exploding depth charges as she sank. 118 survivors were picked up after five hours in the water by the destroyers HMS Tetcott and HMS Belvoir and were taken to Alexandria. A further 6 survivors were rescued by small craft which had sailed out from Tobruk.
He is commemorated on the Malta Memorial Panel 9, Column 2.

de Bathe, Sir Christopher Albert, Bart., son of Capt. Patrick Wynne de Bathe, of Westminster, by Violet Lindsay, elder daughter of Nicholas Wood, M. P.; b. Sept. 17, 1905; adm. April 26, 1918 (R); left April 1919; went to Rugby School; 2nd Lieut. Highland Light Inf. 1925; retired 1927; Hon. Attache to the British Embassy at Constantinople 1930, and at Brussels 1931; correspondent for The Times in Persia 1932-3; succeeded his grandfather as 6th baronet Aug. 1940; Pilot Officer (A. and S. D.) R.A.F.V.R. Aug. 19, 1940; m. Jan. 11, 1932, Edna, daughter of Arthur Terrell, of Melbourne, Australia; killed on active service June 3, 1941.

Sir Christopher Albert de Bathe was born in London on the 17th of September 1905 the only son of Captain Patrick Wynne de Bathe Bt., HM Diplomatic Service, and Violet Lindsay (nee Wood later Compton) de Bathe of 121, Rue de la Commerce, Brussels, later of “Blackwater”, Lyndhurst in Hampshire. He was christened at St Paul’s Church, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge on the 17th of October 1905. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from the 26th of April 1918 to April 1919. He went on to Rugby School where he was in Cotton House from May 1919 to December 1921.
He attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst from 1923 before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry on the 29th of January 1925. He resigned his commission on the 19th of March 1927. He served as Hon Attaché in HM Diplomatic Service at Constantinople in 1930 and at Brussels in 1931. He was the Persia correspondent for the Times newspaper from 1932 to 1933.
He was married at St Michael’s Church, Pimlico on the 22nd of January 1932 to Edna Winifred (nee Terrell); they had a daughter, Charlotte Louise, born on the 24th of September 1934.
He succeeded to the Baronetcy on the death of his uncle in August 1940, becoming the 6th Baron de Bathe of Knightstown. He was a member of the Naval and Military Club.
He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on the 19th of August 1940.
On the 3rd of June 1941 Christopher de Bathe and a group of Royal Air Force officers were gathered on a golf course in Berkshire to watch some twin engined aircraft practicing dive bombing. He and three others were walking across the practice ground when he was struck and decapitated by the propeller of an aircraft which was flying at very low level.
His funeral took place at 3pm on the 10th of June 1941 and a memorial service was held in his memory at 3pm the following day at St Mark’s Church, South Audley Street, London.
He is buried at St Andrew’s Church, West Stoke.

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.

Graham, Hartley Brisco, son of Hartley Graham, solicitor, of Penrith, Cumbria, and Alice Emma, d. of George Arthur Rivington of Penrith; b. 20 Jan. 1911; adm. Sept. 1924 (R); left July 1929; adm. a solicitor Jan. 1935; practised at Penrith; RA 1939-42 (Lieut.); d. of wounds (Libya) 1 June 1942.

Hartley Brisco Graham was born at Penrith, Cumberland on the 20th of January 1911 the younger son of Hartley Graham, a solicitor, and Alice Margaret Emma (nee Rimington) Graham of “The Larches”, Penrith in Cumberland. He was educated at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith and at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1924 to July 1929. He served as a Lance Corporal in the Officer Training Corps. On leaving school he qualified as a solicitor and worked in his father’s business at Penrith.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in the Territorial Army on the 24th of May 1939.
He was posted to 72 (Northumbrian) Field Regiment which embarked on board the SS Empress of Asia at Liverpool on the 21st of April 1941 for service in the Middle East. The Regiment landed at Port Tewfik in Egypt on the 23rd of June and by April 1942 they were based at Bir Geff in Libya as part of the 150th Infantry Brigade. On the 21st of April they handed over these positions and relocated to Rotunda Ualeb, between the Trigh El Abd and Trigh Capuzzo, which formed part of the British defences known as the Gazala Line. Their position was known as the Sidi Muftah Box.
On the 30th of May 1942, General Erwin Rommel, commanding officer of the Afrika Corps, made a personal reconnaissance of the area leading to the Sidi Muftah Box with a view to making a major attack on it the following day. Later in the day his men began clearing lanes on the eastern side of the protective British minefields in preparation for the attack. Once this was completed a column of German motorised infantry attacked and penetrated the British positions before being thrown back by the infantry supported by tanks.
On the morning the 31st of May 1942, General Rommel made a formal request to General Cecil William Haydon, officer commanding 150th Infantry Brigade, for the surrender of his garrison. This demand was met without a response. A short time later a heavy artillery bombardment preceded an attack by elements of the German 90th Light Division and the Italian Trieste Division on the British positions. They forced their way forward “against the toughest British resistance imaginable” in intense close quarter fighting before being forced back with heavy losses several hours after their attack had begun. An hour later the attack resumed with the Axis infantry being supported by tanks and with several breaks in the lines being made, all of which were closed after bitter fighting. In spite of the hard fighting by the defenders, by nightfall, when both sides drew back, the size of the Box had halved in size.
On the morning of the 1st of June 1942, the beleaguered defenders were heavily bombarded by artillery and by Junkers 87 “Stuka” dive bombers before massed German and Italian infantry and tanks renewed their assault. After very heavy, often hand to hand, fighting the Sidi Muftah Box fell in the early afternoon with the capture of more than 3,000 prisoners and the destruction or capture of 124 guns and 101 tanks and armoured cars. Rommel came forward to congratulate General Haydon on the magnificent way his troops had fought, only find that his opponent had been killed by shellfire earlier in the day. Hartley Graham was one of the many casualties from the three days of fighting.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Penrith and on the memorial at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith.
He is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial Column 31.

Groves, Louis Grimble, son of Keith Grimble Groves, barrister-at-law, and Dorothy, d. of Louis Herbert Moore; b. 1 Apr. 1921; adm. Jan. 1935 (R); left Dec. 1938; Univ. of Glasgow; RAF in WW2 (Serg. Met. Air Observer); killed on operational duties 10 Sept. 1945.

Louis Grimble Groves was born at Chelsea, London on the 1st of April 1921 the only child of Major Keith Grimble Groves, a barrister at law, and Dorothy (nee Moore) Groves of 4, York House, Kensington in London, later of “The Varrey”, Kirk Maughold on the Isle of Man. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from January 1935 to December 1938. He went on to the University of Liverpool where he was studying naval architecture when the war broke out.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, trained in Canada and rose to the rank of Sergeant. On his return to the UK he was based at the Metrological Office at RAF Brawdy.
Louis Groves and his crew took off from RAF Brawdy on the 10th of September 1945 in Halifax B (Met) Mk III RG380 X9-N on an “Epicure” sortie, to gather information on the weather over the North Atlantic. On their return to base, they were diverted to RAF Weston Zoyland due to bad weather. There was fog over Weston Zoyland when they arrived there and the aircraft was seen to pass over the airfield but, due to radio interference, communications were poor and it turned away. The aircraft was flying at a height of 1,000 feet when it crashed in dense fog into an escarpment in the Quantock Hills above Crowcombe Hall, to the south west of Williton in Somerset at 7.54pm, killing all on board.
The crew was: -
Pilot Officer Keith Gordon Proverbs (Pilot)
Flying Officer John Joseph Frederick Hobden
Flying Officer Lindsay George McMillan
Flying Officer Patrick Alfred Bee
Warrant Officer Roy Donald Cartwright
Flight Sergeant Dennis Norman Everett
Sergeant Louis Grimble Groves (Metrological Observer)
Sergeant John Macilrick Bryce Gordon (Metrological Observer)
Flight Sergeant Robert William Vinton
His funeral took place on the 15th of September 1945.
A Correspondent wrote of him: - “Louis Grimble Groves was a fine young man, a fine sportsman and extremely popular with all who knew him. He spent all his holidays in the Isle of Man and his many friends here and elsewhere will deeply regret his untimely death.”
The L. G. Groves Award was established in his memory by his parents in September 1946. The award is made to recognise those who work to improve safety in the aviation industry. A memorial was placed at the crash site in 2016.
He is buried at St Maughold’s Church.

Herbert, Christopher Reginald Courtenay, son of Arthur Stewart Herbert of Cahirane, Co. Kerry, and Lady Theresa Selina, d. of Col. Gerald Edmund Boyle and sister of Admiral of the Fleet William Henry Dudley Boyle, 12th Earl of Cork & Orrery GCB GCVO; b. 23 Mar. 1906; adm. Sept. 1920 (R); left Dec. 1923; a stockbroker; m. 4 Sept. 1939 Celia Winifred, d. of Christopher Foulis Roundell CBE; PO RAFVR Nov. 1940, killed in action June 1941.

Christopher Reginald Courtenay Herbert was born at Montreux, Switzerland on the 23rd of March 1906 the younger son of Arthur Stewart Herbert, a director of the North London Railway, and Lady Theresa Selina (nee Boyle) Herbert of 6, Grosvenor Hill, Willow Lane, Wimbledon in South London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1920 to December 1923. On leaving school he worked as a solicitor in the City of London and later became a Partner. He achieved a Royal Aero Club Certificate (No. 16073) at the Airwork School of Flying, Heston on the 27th of July 1938 while flying an Avro Club Cadet aircraft. He was married at Paddington, London on the 4th of September 1939 to Celia Winifred (nee Roundel) and they lived at 8, Pelham Place, Kensington.
He enlisted as an Aircraftman 2nd Class in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve at the Uxbridge Depot where he trained as a pilot and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 30th of November 1940, with seniority from the 10th of November 1940.
On the night of the 26th/27th of June 1941, Bomber Command dispatched 30 Hampdens and 14 Wellingtons for an operation on Dusseldorf. The results of the bombing were not able to be observed.
Christopher Herbert and his crew took off from RAF Newton at 11.05pm on the 26th of June 1941 in Wellington Mk IC R1644 JN-L for the operation. The aircraft was hit by anti aircraft fire and crashed on farmland on the west bank of the River Maas near Grubbenvorst, 14 miles due north of Venlo, at 4am with the loss of the entire crew.
The crew was: -
Pilot Officer John Winston Sievers RNZAF DFC (Pilot)
Pilot Officer Christopher Reginald Courenay Herbert (2nd Pilot)
Pilot Officer Alan George St John Ross (Observer)
Sergeant Hector George Burgess (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant William John Grieve (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Francis Joseph Hart RCAF (Air Gunner)
Theirs was the only aircraft lost during the operation.
His wife received the following telegram dated the 19th of July 1941: - “Further information received through the International Red Cross states that your husband Pilot Officer Reginald Courtney Herbert 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. Letter confirming this telegram follows.”
Four of the crew’s bodies were found in the wreckage of the aircraft with two more being found a few hundred yards away. One of these had tried to bail out as his parachute was found near his body and was open.
The crew was buried at Ehrenfriedhof Cemetery, Venlo but their bodies were later exhumed by No. 5 Royal Air Force Missing Research and Enquiry Unit and were moved to their present location.
He is commemorated on a plaque in the Protestant Church at Killarney, Co. Kerry and on a memorial window at the King Henry VII Chapel, which was unveiled on the 10th of July 1947. .
He is buried at Jonkerbos War Cemetery Plot 3, Row H, Grave 3.

Johnston, Patrick Henry, brother of William Franklin Johnston (qv); b. 16 Jan. 1911; adm. Sept. 1924 (R); left July 1928; shipping business Peru 1930-5, Venezuela 1935-8, Trinidad 1938-42; 2nd Lieut RIASC Feb. 1944, served India, Burma and Malaya; d. at sea on his way home to be demobilised 4 Nov. 1946.

Patrick Henry Johnston was born at Santiago, Chile on the 16th of January 1911 the younger son of William Johnston, an engineer, and Ethel Gertrude (nee Turpie) Johnston of 19, Courtfield Gardens in London, later of “The Warren”, 223, Harefield Road, Uxbridge in Middlesex.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1924 to July 1928. On leaving school he entered the shipping business and was based in Peru from 1930 to 1935, in Venezuela from 1935 to 1938 and in Trinidad from 1938 to 1942. He was married at Hammersmith in 1938 to Marjorie A.L (nee Hall later Betts); they had two children one of which was Carolyn Jean, born on the 6th of November 1939.
He was in the army from February 1944 and served in India, Burma and Malaya. He was returning home to be demobilised when he died and was buried at sea.
He is commemorated on the Brookwood 1939-1945 Memorial Panel 25, Column 3.

Knowles, Ralph David, brother of Geoffrey Churton Knowles (qv); b. 25 June 1920; adm. Sept. 1933 (R); left Dec. 1937; articled to an accountant; RA (TA) 1938-44 (Capt.); MC (posth.) June 1944; killed (Italy) 20 Mar. 1944 while unloading a blazing truck full of high explosives.

Ralph David Knowles was born at Croydon, Surrey on the 25th of June 1920 the son of Ralph Geoffrey Knowles, an insurance official, and Winifred (nee Jackson) Knowles of “Nutscombe”, Detillens Lane, Limpsfield in Surrey, later of St Giles in Buckinghamshire.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1933 to December 1937. He was a member of the Officer Training Corps where he achieved Certificate A in March 1937 and was promoted to Sergeant in September 1937. He was a member of the 4th Rowing VIII in 1935 and of the 3rd Rowing VIII in 1936 where he rowed at No. 5. He was a member of the 2nd Rowing VIII in 1937 where he rpwed at bow. On leaving school he was articled to a firm of accountants. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in the Territorial Army on the 24th of July 1938 and was mobilised for war service on the 24th of August 1939. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st of January 1941 and to temporary Captain on the 1st of February 1941.
He was awarded the Military Cross which was announced in the London Gazette of the 29th of June 1944. The citation read: - "From the night 18th/19th January 1944 until midday 22nd January Capt. Knowles was Forward Observing Officer in continual support first of 1 Green Howards and later of 3 Coldstream Guards. At dawn on 19th January he advanced under a barrage with B Coy. 1 Green Howards into Minturno where he established an observation post on the roof of a house. From here he directed accurate concentrations on to enemy infantry and mortar positions. During this time his observation post was under heavy mortar and MG fire and was finally rendered untenable. Captain Knowles therefore advanced further into town to another house from which he continued to direct fire all that night in spite of continual mortar fire and sniping. On 20th January he again advanced with C Coy, 1 Green Howards under a barrage to Trimonsuoli, a further carry of wireless equipment of 4,000 yds. He then established his observation post within 300 yds of the enemy positions and with complete disregard for his own exposed and precarious position he directed the fire of his own and a medium regiment for the rest of the day. On 21st January he succeeded in maintaining his observation post in spite of fierce counter-attacks by enemy infantry and tanks. During the whole of this day he directed accurate fire on the enemy counter-attacks and was largely instrumental in breaking them up. For over 72 hours he was without rest or sleep, and showed complete disregard of personal safety. By his cool and gallant behaviour under heavy fire he rendered invaluable support to the infantry in the most difficult circumstances."
At 3pm on the afternoon of the 4th of March 1944, 92 Field Regiment embarked on ships at Pozznoli bound for Anzio. They landed there at 10am the following day where they began unloading their guns and equipment. On the 20th of March 1944 they were deployed in the Anzio beachhead and spent the morning firing on enemy batteries in the area. At 3.40pm E Troop's position was shelled which set an ammunition lorry on fire. This was successfully emptied but during this time more shells fell near the lorry killing two officers and one other rank and wounding two officers and six other ranks. Ralph Knowles was among the dead.
He was Mentioned in Despatches, which was announced in the London Gazette of the 11th of January 1945. His medals were sold at auction in London on the 19th of September 2003.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Limpsfield.
He is buried at Beach Head War Cemetery Plot VIII, Row D, Grave 8.

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.