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Zoephel, Peter Charles, son of Ernest Charles Zoephel of Chislehurst, Kent, and Dorothy Frances Gertrude, d. of Capt. William George Romeril MN, of Blackheath; b. 8 Sept. 1921; adm. Sept. 1935 (R); left Apr. 1939 and went to Milton Academy Boston, Mass.; Harvard Univ.; PO RCAF Ferry Command; lost at sea in the South Atlantic Jan. 1943.

Peter Charles Zoephel was born at Blackheath, Kent on the 8th of September 1921 the eldest son of Ernest Christopher Zoephel. Chairman and owner of the British Domolac Company Ltd, paint works of Woolwich, and Dorothy Frances Gertrude (nee Romeril) Zoephel of “Elmstead Garth”, Chislehurst in Kent, later of Little Common, Bexhill-on-Sea. He was educated at Carn Brea Preparatory School, Bromley from 1931 to 1935 and at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1935 to April 1939. He served as a Cadet in the Officer Training Corps from September 1935 to 1939. He went on to the Milton Academy, Wilton Massachusetts for a short time in 1939 before entering Harvard University later the same year as a member of the Class of 1943, where he read Economics and Languages, but left for Canada in late 1940 to volunteer for military service.
He attended a medical examination on the 4th of January 1941 where it was recorded that he was 5 feet 10 and 3/8ths of an inch tall and that he weighed 152lbs. It was also recorded that he had hazel eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion. He attested for service as an Aircraftman 2nd Class in the Royal Canadian Air Force for the duration of the war at the Royal Canadian Air Force Recruiting Station at Montreal on the 7th of February 1941. He was posted to No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School at Fingal, Ontario on the 2rd of March 1941 and to No. 1 Initial Training School at Toronto on the 29th of March 1941. He was promoted to Leading Aircraftman on the 20th of August 1941 and joined No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School at Hamilton, Ontario on the 21st of August 1941 where he trained as a pilot. Having ceased training as a pilot at his own request, he was posted to No. 10 Air Observers School at Chatham, New Brunswick on the 27th of October 1941 to receive training as a navigator. On the 15th of March 1942 he was posted to No. 29 Navigators School at Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick. He was promoted to Sergeant on the 14th of March 1942 and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 13th of April 1942. He was posted to No. 31 General Reconnaissance Squadron at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on the 9th of May 1942 and was attached to the Ferry Command, Royal Air Force at Dorval, Quebec on the 23rd of July 1942. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 13th of October 1942.
On the 16th of January 1943, Peter Zoephel and his crew boarded Liberator C87 41-11708, of 12 Squadron, 12th Ferry Group United States Transport Command, at Accra in Ghana as passengers, bound for the United States air base at Natal in Brazil and then on their base at Dorval. On board was a crew from the United States Air Transport Command, who had ferried a Boeing B-17 aircraft from Miami to Africa and were returning home. Also on board was a crew from Royal Air Force Ferry Command and four other passengers. The aircraft took off at 11.30pm that night but failed to arrive at its destination and all on board were lost.
The crew was: -
Captain Orval Eknes (Pilot)
Captain Felton Barton Lancaster (2nd Pilot)
Second Lieutenant Joseph F. Peoples (Navigator)
Master Sergeant Alvin A. Young (Radio operator)
Sergeant James N. Clauss (Crew Member)
Master Sergeant Charles W. McKain (Crew Chief)
The passengers were: -
The United States Air Transport Command crew was: -
First Lieutenant John Allen Byler (Navigator)
First Lieutenant Hugh Parker Minor Sr. USAAF (2nd Pilot)
Major Arthur Mills USAAF (Pilot)
Corporal Joseph P. Braniff USAAF
Corporal Grover Kirby Trees Jr. USAAF
The Royal Air Force Ferry Command crew was: -
Flight Lieutenant Herbert James Martin (RCAF) (Pilot)
Sergeant Harold Victor. Lamb RAAF (Wireless Operator)
Flight Sergeant John Henry Warman RCAF (Navigator)
Captain Paul Bleecker Makepeace (American Civilian Pilot)
Radio Officer Clinton Blackwell Berry (Canadian Civilian Wireless Operator)
Flying Officer Peter Charles Zoephel RCAF (Navigator)
Captain William Richard Nixon (Canadian Civilian Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Norman Patrick Drury (Radio Operator)
Flying Officer William Thomas Wright Smithson (Navigator)
Sergeant John Lowery Bell (Navigator)
Flying Officer Geoffrey Addison Clegg (Pilot)
Radio Officer Otway Cecil McCombie (Canadian Civilian Wireless Operator)
The passengers were: -
Lieutenant Colonel Russell Reed Brunner US Army (Pilot)
Colonel Douglas Cornell MacKeachie DSM US Army (Director of Procurement European Theatre of Operations)
Major Arthur Mills US Army
Air Commodore Desmond Herlouin De Burgh AFC
An extensive search was mounted which lasted until the 29th of January. On the 4th of February, the destroyer USS Kearney found a life raft some 60 miles from the coast of Brazil, to the east of Ponte Negro. It contained the body of one of the passengers. The following day another raft was discovered containing the body of Major Arthur Mills and with six life jackets on board. The evidence on board the raft led to the conclusion that there had been others on board who had died and had probably been buried at sea by others, other than the last man to have died.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Harvard University.
He is commemorated on the Ottawa Memorial Panel 2, Column 3.

Willmott, Bernard Bruce, son of Harry Russell Willmott, gen. man. I. of Wight Rly; b. 27 Aug. 1918; adm. Sept. 1929 (R); left Dec. 1932; FO RAF Dec. 1938, Flt Lieut. Sept. 1940, temp. Sqdn Ldr Sept. 1941; transf. RAFVR June 1942, temp. Wing Cdr July 1944; killed in action 26 Aug. 1944.

Bernard Bruce Willmott was born at Newport, Isle of Wight on the 27th August 1915 the son of Harry Russell Willmott, an engineer and manager of a railway company, and Ethel Lucy (nee Hewlett) Willmott of St Nicholas, Newport. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1929 to December 1932.
He was granted a short service commission as an Acting Pilot Officer on probation in the Royal Air Force on the 29th of June 1936. He was confirmed in his rank on the 4th of May 1937, which became effective on the 2nd of June 1937 and was promoted to Flying Officer on the 8th of December 1938. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 3rd of September 1940 and to Squadron Leader on the 1st of September 1941. He was posted to 36 Squadron based at Singapore.
At 9.30am on the 26th of January 1942, a Hudson reconnaissance aircraft spotted two Japanese cruisers, eleven destroyers and two 10,000 ton vessels surrounded by barges some 10 miles off Endau and heading towards the coast. The Royal Air Force was despatched to try to stem their advance and at 1pm 6 aircraft from 100 Squadron and 3 from 36 Squadron, escorted by 8 Hurricanes and 15 Buffalo fighters, attacked the Japanese transports and landing craft off the small port in cloudy conditions. In spite of the attentions of Japanese Zero fighters they pressed home their attack, losing five of their number.
At 3pm plans were made for the attack to be repeated by 9 Vildebeest and 3 Albacore aircraft from three different squadrons including 36 Squadron with each aircraft being loaded with six 250lb bombs; the bombers having been ordered to carry bombs as it was felt that the water was too shallow to use torpedoes. They were escorted by 4 Buffaloes and 8 Hurricanes and by this time the weather had cleared.
Bruce Willmott and his crew took off from RAF Seletar in Vildebeest Mk III K4188 for the operation. During the attack the aircraft was seen to be flying at low level while attacking enemy vessels at the mouth of the River Mersin. It was shot down by an enemy fighter and was seen to be going down in flames before being lost to sight.
The fighters’ fire had killed the observer and the air gunner and had wounded Bruce Willmott in the right foot. The aircraft became out of control and he was forced to bale out and land in the sea where he was picked up by the destroyer HMS Thanet.
In a statement written on his release from prisoner of war camp in 1945, Warrant Officer Ivor Raymond Jones reported that: - “In the Endau operation on 26 January 1942, my aircraft was flying next to that of Sergeant Hay. As we peeled off, I saw Hay’s aircraft hit in the petrol tank. It was diving to the deck with a fine spray coming out of the petrol tank. I lost sight of the aircraft after that.”
The crew was: -
Flight Sergeant George Ewen (RCAF) (Observer)
Sergeant Phillip Carlisle Hay RAAF (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Squadron Leader Bernard Bruce Willmott (Pilot) (Evaded)
His mother received the following telegram dated the 2nd of February 1942: - “Regret to inform you that your son Temporary Squadron Leader Bernard Bruce Willmott is reported missing as the result of air operations on 26th January 1942. All possible enquiries will be made and any information received will be communicated to you immediately. Should news of him reach you from any source please advise this department.”
6 Vildebeests and 2 Albacores had been shot down during the engagement with others being damaged and some of their crews wounded. The attacking force claimed to have sunk one enemy cruiser and two destroyers as well as hitting the transport ships of which one was set on fire. Casualties were caused among the Japanese troops both in their barges and on the beach. The enemy fighter escort had also suffered, losing twelve “Zeros” and with four more being damaged for the loss of two Hurricanes and one of the Buffaloes.
He was admitted to Alexandria Hospital at Singapore and was evacuated from the island on board the SS Empire Star during the first week of February. He was landed at Batavia from where he returned to England on board a hospital ship.
Small pieces of the wreckage and a Browning machine gun from his Vildebeest were found by an army search party in June 1946, about two miles into the jungle from the eight mile point of the Endau to Mersing Road. The bodies of his two crewmen were not found.
He transferred to the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on the 2nd of June 1942.
He was married in Wales in 1943 to Marjorie (nee Penny) of “Homefield”, Brighstone on the Isle of Wight.
He was promoted to Wing Commander on the 1st of July 1944.
On the 26th of August 1944, 143 Squadron made eight attacks on enemy E-Boats and other shipping at Boulogne and in the Le Touquet area causing significant damage. The operation was codenamed “Operation Swingate”.
Bruce Willmott and his Observer, Pilot Flying Officer William Snowden, took off at 11.15pm that night in Beaufighter TFX NE772 as one of eleven aircraft from the Squadron for the operation. They were seen to make an attack on enemy shipping but failed to return and their fate is unknown.
His was one of two aircraft that were lost during the operation.
The Vice Admiral commanding Dover wrote to the Squadron the next day: - “A considerable number of E Boats were out during the night, but thanks to the efficient air effort none got through to our convoys. None even made contact with the protecting forces. The E Boats were so well plastered they abandoned the job!”
He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 200.

Wade, Richard Thomas Christopher, son of Richard Ramsden Wade DM, of Hampstead; b. 24 Oct. 1921; adm. Sept. 1935 (R); left July 1939; PO RAF Regt Dec. 1941, FO Nov. 1942, temp. Flt Lieut. Sept. 1942; d. 27 Aug. 1944 after a road accident on active service.

Richard Thomas Christopher Wade was born in North London on the 24th of October 1921 the younger son of Richard Ramsden Wade, a commercial clerk, and Constance Irene (nee Lord) Wade of Lavender Cottage, Grayshott near Hindhead in Surrey. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1935 to July 1939. He enlisted as Aircraftman 2nd Class 1154480 in the Royal Air Force Regiment in December 1941 and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 20th of March 1942, with seniority from the 24th of December 1941. He was promoted to Flying officer on the 1st of October 1942.
He was killed in a road accident in Italy.
His brother, Officer Cadet Patrick Armigel Wade, Royal Armoured Corps, died on the 29th of July 1940.
He is buried at Biguglia War Cemetery Plot 2, Row C, Grave 1.

Titcomb, John Abbot, son of Harold Abbot Titcomb, mining engineer, of Farmington, Maine, USA, and Ethel, d. olJames Brignall of Wallington, Surrey; b. 27 Oct. 1910; adm. Jan. 1925 (R); left July 1929; Dartmouth Coll., BA 1932; Yale Univ. 1933-5; a mining engineer; Newmont Mining Corpn New York; US Marine Corps in WW2 (Capt.); rn. 3 Feb. 1940Janet, d. of Arthur Burling Foote of Grass Valley, California; d. I Mar. 1945 of wounds received in action, at Luzon, Philippines.

John Abbott “Jack” Titcomb was born at Newton, Massachusetts on the 27th of October 1910 the elder son of Harold Abbott Titcomb, a mining engineer, and Ethel (nee Brignall) Titcomb of High Street, Farmington, Maine and of 60, Addison Road, Kensington in London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from January 1925 to July 1929 and won the Junior Rouse Ball Prize for Mathematics in 1928. He rowed at bow for the 2nd IV in 1928. He went on to Dartmouth College where he studied Mining and Geology and graduated with a BA in 1932. He then studied at the Sheffield Mining School at Yale from 1933 to 1935 and later studied in Yugoslavia. On leaving university he worked for the Newmont Mining Corporation of New York and was an active member of the Ledyard Canoe Club. He was a skiing instructor and a ski racer.
He was married at Emanuel Church, Grass Valley, California on the 3rd of February 1940 to Janet Stanwood (nee Foote, later Micoleau). They had a daughter, Marian, born on the 11th of July 1942 and a son, Peter Abbot, born on the 9th of May 1944.
He was acting as the head of a Marine air-ground liaison party on Luzon in the Philippines when he was shot and killed by a Japanese sniper at San Fernando, La Union. He was awarded a posthumous Silver Star with Gold Star.
His father donated land in his memory for the Titcomb Memorial Ski Slope (now Titcomb Mountain) in Maine, which was named in his honour in 1949.
He is commemorated on a plaque at the base ski lodge at Titcomb Mountain.
He is buried at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Plot A, Row 9, Grave 164.

Taylor, Ian Birdwood van Someren, son of Richard van Someren Taylor, sales man. Schweppes Ltd, and Olivia Winn Bruce, d. of John Bruce Murray LLD DL, of Glasgow; b. 12 Jan. 1920; adm. Sept. 1933 (R); left Apr. 1936; Roy. Tank Regt 1940-1 (Lieut.); killed in action at Sidi Rezegh, Libya, 23 Nov. 1941.

Ian Birdwood van Someren Taylor was born on the 12th of January 1920 the only son of Birdwood van Someren Taylor, a sales manager for Schweppes Ltd, and Olivia Winn Bruce (nee Murray) Taylor of 87, Cromwell Road, South Kensington in London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1933 to April 1936.
He enlisted as a Trooper in the Westminster Dragoons, Royal Armoured Corps and attended the 102nd Officer Cadet Training Unit at Sandhurst before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Armoured Corps on the 4th of May 1940. He was posted to the 8th Royal Tank Regiment.
At 8.30pm on the night of the 22nd of November 1941, the 8th Royal Tank Regiment received orders to advance to relieve the 7th Armoured Brigade support group at Sidi Rezegh. They moved off towards the west at 3.30am on the 23rd of November and opened into desert formation at 5.30am. They discovered a short time later that they were advancing in the wrong direction and found themselves in the midst of the Afrika Corps Headquarters where they came under fire from enemy armoured cars and infantry. Two Troops of tanks were ordered forward and after a short engagement they had knocked out one enemy armoured car and eight staff cars as well as capturing several German and Italian prisoners.
The advance continued on the correct line, with C Squadron protecting the left flank. At 11.30am, C Squadron received orders to go to the aid of an infantry Battalion which had been held up by enemy fire and they set off half an hour later. They attacked in two waves and by 12.30pm the infantry had taken their objective. The tanks were due to retire to the rallying point ten minutes later but were still under fire by that time and had difficulty disengaging. By 3.30pm only four of the tanks had reached the rallying point with others returning during the afternoon, some of which were badly damaged and with wounded on board.
During the night, Ian Taylor’s crew walked back into the rallying point to report that their tank had been hit in the right idler wheel during the fighting and had stopped. They continued to fire on the enemy until their guns jammed, by which time they had been hit several more times and Ian Taylor had ordered them to abandon the tank. The crew took cover in a nearby trench for a long period of time before Ian Taylor left to make contact with the infantry and was not seen again.
Casualties suffered by the 8th Royal Tank Regiment during this action were one man killed with five wounded and twenty men missing, of which four were officers.
He is buried at Knightsbridge Cemetery Plot 2, Row H, Grave 18.

Russell, Henry John Dashwood, son of Henry Alexander Russell of Leatherhead, Surrey, and Ada Emily, d. of Henry Dashwood of Gosport, Hants; b. 7 Nov. 1906; adm. Sept. 1920 (R); left July 1923; farming in NZ 1925; Govt Monopolies Dept. Malacca 1931-42, transf. Singapore 1942; m. 21 Nov. 1931 Evelyn Millicent Violet, sister of Egerton Shelley Walter Hanbury Leigh­ Hunt (qv); killed in action (Malaya) 13 Feb. 1942.

Henry Neville Dashwood Russell was born at Clapham, South London on the 7th of November 1906 the son of Henry Alexander Russell, a civil servant, and Ada Emily (nee Dashwood) Russell of 29, Deauville Mansions, Clapham Park in London. He was christened at St Saviour’s Church, Pimlico on the 15th of December 1906.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1920 to July 1923. He was a noted swimmer while he was at the school. In 1925 he moved to New Zealand where he worked as a farm hand and lived at 6, Baretta Street, Canterbury. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the East Surrey Regiment, Supplementary Reserve of Officers, on the 26th of June 1929. He was appointed as Probationary Assistant Controller for the Straits Settlements on the 12th of December 1929 and he served with the Government Monopolies Department at Mallacca from 1931 to 1942 and as King’s Harbour Master at Malacca.
He was married at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Singapore on the 21st of November 1931 to Evelyn Millicent Violet (nee Leigh-Hunt) and they had two daughters, one of which was Charmain Anne, born in 1932, and a son, born on the 23rd of February 1935. He was a member of a Malay Volunteer Regiment but following the Japanese invasion of Malaya he rejoined his old Regiment whose 2nd Battalion was serving in the colony. The Battalion was involved in heavy fighting following their invasion of Malaya on the 7th of December 1941 and throughout the retreat which followed. They suffered very heavy casualties during the campaign. On the 20th of December 1941 the survivors of the Battalion were merged with the remainder of the 1st Battalion, Royal Leicestershire Regiment to form the composite British Battalion. After further heavy fighting The Battalion withdrew to Singapore Island where Japanese forces began landing on the 8th of February 1942. Having come under a series of enemy attacks on the 12th of February, on the following day, the 13th of February 1942, the Battalion came under bombing and shelling with the unit protecting its left flank being forced to withdraw during the afternoon. During the day two groups of survivors were detailed to escape by boat from the colony but Henry Russell was not in either group and his fate is unknown.
When the Singapore surrendered two days later, the remaining 265 officers and men of the British Battalion passed into captivity.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Gray’s Inn.
He is buried at Kranji War Cemetery Collective Grave 34 D 15-17.

Rogers, Patrick Heron Thorold, son of Arthur George Liddon Rogers (qv); b. 17 Oct. 1909; adm. Sept. 1923 (R); left July 1927; Balliol Coll. Oxf., matric. 1928, BA 1931 (1st class hons Jurispru­dence), LLB 1932; called to the Bar (Middle Temple) Jan. 1933 (1st class hons and cert. of hon­our Bar finals; BCL 1937; PO RAFVR Oct. 1941; m. 29 July 1937 Jacqueline, d. of Percy A. Sweetinburgh of Hampstead; killed in action Mar. 1942.

Patrick Heron Thorold Rogers was born at Barnet, Middlesex on the 17th of October 1909 the elder son of Arthur George Liddon Rogers OW, a civil servant for the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, and Emily Norah (nee Miller-Hallett) Rogers of “Mount Skippet”, Ramsden in Oxfordshire and of 17, Barkton Gardens, Earls Court in London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1923 to July 1927. He matriculated for Balliol College, Oxford in 1928 and was awarded a First Class BA in Jurisprudence in 1931. He was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in January 1933 having won First Class Honours and a Certificate of Honour in the final examinations for the Bar in 1937. He worked from chambers at 4, Paper Buildings, Temple and lectured at the Faculty of Law at King’s College, London University and at the Police College, Hendon.
He was married at Temple Church, Marylebone on the 29th of June 1937 to Bertha Jacqueline Alice (nee Sweetinburgh) of Berkley Court. He was the author of “Roger’s Questions and Answers on Criminal Law” and “The Effect of War on Contract”, published in 1940. He co-wrote “The Solicitor’s handbook of War Legislation” with Stanley Marks Krusin.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as an Observer and rose to the rank of Leading Aircraftman before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 4th of October 1941.
Patrick Rogers and his crew took off in Beaufort Mk II AW272 for an operational flight off the coast of Caithness. When it returned to base the aircraft was low on fuel and the crew was having trouble locating the airfield. The aircraft struck the Hill of Stemster near Achavanich at 10.30pm and crashed killing Patrick Rogers and injuring the rest of the crew.
The crew was: -
Pilot Officer Anthony Edgar Buchanan Barnard (Pilot) (Shock and an injured right arm) (Killed in action 13th April 1943)
Pilot Officer Patrick Heron Thorold Rogers (Observer)
Sergeant E. W. Hill (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) (Slightly injured, shock and minor abrasions)
Sergeant William Henry Parsons (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) (Seriously injured, fracture and dislocation of the spine)
William Parsons was taken to Stracathro Hospital where he died from his injuries at 7.40 on the 12th July 1942.
His mother received the following telegram dated the 14th of March 1942: - “Deeply regret to inform you that your son Pilot Officer Patrick Heron Thorold Rogers is reported to have lost his life as the result of air operations on 12th March 1942. The Air Council express their profound sympathy. His wife has been informed.”
His funeral took place on the 18th of March 1942.
A friend wrote of him: -
“In Patrick Heron Thorold Rogers, the Bar has lost one of its most brilliant young practitioners, and Westminster one of its most promising alumni. He was up Rigaud’s from 1923 to 1928, and was joint winner of the Vincent Prize in the latter year. Thence he passed on to Balliol, where he not only achieved a First in the School of Jurisprudence and another First in the postgraduate School of Civil Law, but also won the Winter Williams Scholarship. He obtained a First again in his Bar Examinations, and was awarded the Certificate of Honour for the Middle Temple. He also won the Barstow Scholarship, and was one of the Harmsworth Law Scholars for 1933. In practice he was well-known for his clear-headed advocacy; and for his keen grasp of the subtleties of his profession; though only 32 at his death he had been appointed Lecturer in Law at Kings College, London, and at the Police College, Hendon, and had written three books on legal matters connected with the war. No one would have cared to set any limit on his ultimate achievement. Believing that it was for him to share whatever danger might be the price of victory, he volunteered for flying duties with the R.A.F. On Thursday, March 12th, he was killed while returning from an operational flight. His loss is a public one, but to us, his friends and schoolfellows, it is all the more poignant for our memories of a character as striking as it was sincere. He was blessed with kindliness and courage, and he reaped his reward in success in his profession and complete happiness in his marriage. A life so richly lived and “So generously laid down” calls for no further epitaph.”
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Balliol College, Oxford and on the memorial at King’s College, London University. He is also commemorated on the memorial at the Middle Temple.
He is buried at St James’ Church, Ramsden.

Phillips, Godfrey Sidney Philip, son of Morris G. P. Phillips and Gretta Wharton; b. 21 Mar. 1921; adm. from Repton Sch. May 1935 (R); left Apr. 1938; RNVR (A) in WW2; killed in action in HMS Patia 27 Apr. 1941.

Godfrey Sidney Philip Phillips was born at Chelsea, London on the 21st of March 1921 the only son of Morris Godfrey Philip Phillips and Annie Margaretta “Gretta” (nee Wharton formerly White) Phillips of 3, Kensington House, Kensington High Street, Kensington in London.
He was educated at Repton School and at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from May 1935 to April 1938.
He enlisted in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve as a Leading Naval Airman 1st Class in the Fleet Air Arm before becoming an Ordinary Seaman. He was posted to the 5,500 ton naval auxiliary vessel HMS Paita which had been requisitioned by the Admiralty in September 1940 and had been fitted out as a aircraft catapult ship for the defence of convoys.
On the 27th of April 1941, HMS Patia, under the command of Commander David Marion Burton Baker RNR, set sail on her maiden voyage as part of a convoy. She was on her way to pick up a Hurricane Mk IA aircraft which was to operate from her. After nightfall HMS Patia was sailing near 20G Buoy off Coquet Island, some eight miles off Seaton Point in Northumberland when she was attacked by a Heinkel 111 bomber which dropped two 550lb bombs on her. The aircraft also fired on her with its machine guns, killing four of her crew. Both of the bombs fell short of the ship. Under heavy fire from HMS Patia’s gun crews the Heinkel turned for a second run and, although hit by anti aircraft fire, it dropped more bombs, one of which hit the ship causing a massive explosion. Hit by anti aircraft fire from the ship, the enemy aircraft was forced to ditch into the sea with the crew being taken prisoner.
HMS Patia had been badly damaged with many of her crew having been killed or wounded in the attack. As the stricken vessel began to sink the survivors climbed into lifeboats in the pitch black. The Boulmer lifeboat “Clarissa Langdon” was launched at 11pm and made for the site of the sinking where it found a great deal of wreckage but none of the crew. At daybreak they received a call from the local coastguard that three men had been seen on a life raft and these were rescued by the fishing boat “Primrose”. More men were later rescued and a number of bodies were recovered from the sea during the morning.
One of the lifeboats came ashore at Howick Burn with 41 survivors on board and another landed at Embleton Bay with 40 men on board, both making landfall at around 1am.
The Captain, seven officers and thirty one ratings had been killed during the attack.
He is commemorated on a brass plaque at Boulmer lifeboat station.
He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial 50,2.

Philcox, Philip George, brother of Geoffrey Vincent Philcox (qv); b. 24 July 1909; adm. Apr. 1923 (R); left July 1927; Caius Coll. Camb., matric. 1927, BA 1930; a stockbroker; RNVR (A) 1939-40 (Lieut.); m. 27 June 1936 Constance, d. of John Hutton of Effingham, Surrey; accidentally killed on active service 12 Mar. 1940.

Philip George Philcox was born at Streatham, South London on the 24th of July 1909 the third and youngest son of George Ernest Philcox, a stock and share dealer, and Edith (nee Vincent) Philcox of 9, Aldrington Road, Streatham Park, later of Stone Court, Staplefield in Sussex. He was christened at St Alban’s Church, Streatham Park on the 3rd of October 1909.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from April 1923 to July 1927. He matriculated for Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge in 1927 from where he graduated with a BA in 1930. On leaving university he worked as a stockbroker’s clerk from 1933 before becoming a stockbroker and a Member of the London Stock Exchange. He became a Partner his father’s firm of Philcox & Co of 1, Copthall Chambers, Angel Court, London where he became prominent in the West African market and later in the South African market.
He was married at Holy Trinity Church, Brompton on the 27th of June 1936 to Constance (nee Hutton later Belchem) of South Lodge, Effingham, Surrey; they lived at Tunmore Farm, The Street, West Horsley in Surrey.
He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Reserve of Air Force Officers on the 19th of March 1928 and was promoted to Flying Officer on the 19th of September 1929. He passed onto the non active list on the 3rd of March 1935 and relinquished his commission on the 19th of March 1938, retaining the rank of Flying Officer.
Following the outbreak of war he was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant (A) in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on the 27th of September 1939 and was later promoted to Lieutenant (A). He was posted to 758 Naval Air Squadron and was attached to HMS Raven, the Royal Naval Air Station at Eastleigh as an instructor.
George Philcox took off from RNAS Eastleigh at 10am on the 12th of March 1940 in Proctor Mk 1A P6008 with trainee air gunner, Able Seaman Douglas Lucas, for a wireless training exercise. Shortly after taking off the aircraft experienced trouble with its engine and George Philcox decided to make a forced landing. Having made an attempt to land in a field which he had been forced to abandon he was making a turn at low level when the aircraft stalled, the port wing tip struck the ground and it crashed at Stanmore Lane, Winchester, to the south of Worthy Down airfield in Wiltshire. George Philcox was killed on impact with Douglas Lucas being mortally injured and dying later in the day.
His wife received the following telegram dated the 12th of March 1940: - “From Admiralty. Deeply regret to inform you that your husband Lieut. P.G. Philcox was killed in an aircraft accident this morning near Worthy Down.”
An inquiry was convened at RNAS Eastleigh under the chairmanship of Commander R. Poole RN to determine the cause of the accident and it reported its conclusions in a report dated the 18th of March 1940: - “The reason which caused the pilot to forced land cannot be definitely established from the evidence, but the Board is of the opinion that it was most probably due to the loss of engine revolutions or irregular running of the engine, which may have been caused by the water which was found in the petrol system on examination after the crash.”
The Surrey Advertiser wrote of him: “He was very popular in all sections of the “House “and was held in high esteem by all with whom he came into contact by his endearing nature and kindly disposition. His tragic and untimely death is deeply regretted.”
His funeral took place on the 16th of March 1940 in a service which was conducted by the Reverend W. A. Dengate.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at St Mark’s Church, Staplefield.
He is buried at St Mark’s Church, Staplefield.

Parker, David Shirley, son of John Anthony Parker, solicitor, of Bromley, Kent, and Ethelwyn, d. of Samuel Arthur Stanger of Bromley; b. 18 Dec. 1916; adm. Sept. 1930 (R); left Dec. 1933; arti­cled to a solicitor; RAFVR 1941-3 (Flt Lieut.), 51st Bomber Sqdn; m. 20 Aug. 1941 Moira McNeill of Kildonan, I. of Arran; killed on active service 24 Sept. 1943.

David Shirley Parker was born at Bromley, Kent on the 18th of December 1916 the only son of John Anthony Parker, a solicitor, and Ethelwyn (nee Stanger) Parker of “Packwood”, 10, Homefield Road, Bromley. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1930 to December 1933. He was a member of the 4th Rowing VIII in 1933. On leaving school he became an articled clerk to a firm of solicitors. He was a member of Bromley Cricket Club and was an Assistant Scout Master with the St John’s Troop, 14th Bromley Scouts. He was also a member of the local amateur dramatic group, the Quavers, appearing in several of their productions.
He attended No. 5 Air Crew Selection Board on the 3rd of July 1940 where he was selected for pilot training. He enlisted as Aircraftman 2nd Class 1255393 in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve at No. 1 Reception Centre, Uxbridge on the 6th of July 1940. Six days later he reported to Blackpool for his basic training. On the 6th of September 1940 he was posted to No. 3 Initial Training Wing at Torquay and completed his initial training on the 6th of November 1940 when he was promoted to Leading Aircraftman. He was posted to No. 3 Service Flying Training School at South Cerney where he trained on both single and twin engined aircraft. He was awarded his Wings and was promoted to Sergeant on the 14th of June 1941. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 15th of June 1941. He was then posted to No. 2 School of Air Navigation at RAF Squires Gate before being posted to No. 12 Operational Training Unit at RAF Benson on the 23rd of August 1941, but soon transferred to No. 19 Operational Training Unit at RAF Kinloss where he converted to Whitleys.
He was married on the 20th of August 1941 to Flight Officer Moira (nee McNeill) of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force.
He was posted to 51 Squadron on the 19th of November 1941 where he flew on his first operation against enemy shipping in the harbour at Brest on the 17th of December.
He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 15th of June 1942.
David Parker and his crew took off from RAF Chivenor 5.24am on the 20th of June 1942 in Whitley Mk V BD191 for an anti submarine sortie and was carrying a load of depth charges and bombs. At 8.05am they received a message diverting them to search for the crew of a Wellington aircraft which had come down in the sea. The aircraft was flying at 1,000 feet towards the Scilly Isles when the port engine developed a glycol leak. The aircraft descended to 500 feet where the bomb load was jettisoned and the port engine feathered. At 100 feet the aircraft stalled and hit the water with the crew managing to board the life raft before the aircraft sank four minutes later. They were rescued two hours later and were landed at St Mary’s on the Scilly Isle at 4.30pm.
On the 24th of September 1942, David Parker and his crew were having a rest day, having been stood down from operations for the day. That morning the operations room called to request a crew to take off and to search for a dinghy which had been reported as having been seen in the Bristol Channel, between Lundy Island and Cardiff. As Parker and two of his crew were nearby when the call came in to the flight office they quickly boarded Whitley Mk V Z9425 and called for two members of the ground crew to join them. They took off from RAF Chivenor and once airborne they began searching the Channel and working their way eastwards. Having been airborne for two hours the rear gunner reported that there was a glycol leak in the port engine and that white smoke was trailing past his turret. David Parker shut down the port engine to avoid it overheating. With the aircraft flying at 1,500 feet he decided to return to base and crossed the coast between Lynton and Porlock but before they had gone much further the starboard engine began to backfire and to overheat. He told the crew that he was going to make a forced landing and seeing a field ahead he warned them to brace themselves. The aircraft crash landed at North Horridge Farm near the village of Chelfham, and one mile to the east of Chelfham viaduct with the front half of the aircraft being reduced to a tangled mass of wreckage when it crashed through a hedge and into a sunken road, killing David Parker and the two ground crewmen who had been with him in the cockpit.
The rear gunner was in the bomb bay area when the aircraft crashed and was injured but was rescued and was assisted away from the aircraft by the son of the farmer who had seen the aircraft crash. Having placed the rear gunner a safe distance from the aircraft, he returned to it to find the wireless operator crawling out of it injured, but alive. The two injured men were taken to North Devon Infirmary.
The crew was: -
Flight Lieutenant David Shirley Parker (Pilot)
Corporal Robert Victor Doak (Ground Crew, 51 Squadron)
Corporal Harry Todd (Ground Crew, 51 Squadron)
Sergeant Eric Ford Goodwin (Rear Gunner) (Injured/Survived)
Sergeant Hugh Alan Roberts (Wireless Operator) (Injured/Survived) (Killed in action 13th May 1943)
He is commemorated on the Boy Scouts Roll of Honour.
He is commemorated at Plymouth City Crematorium Panel 5.