O'Malley, Derek Keppel Coleridge, 1910-1940

Person

O'Malley, Derek Keppel Coleridge, 1910-1940

1910-1940

O'Malley, Derek Keppel Coleridge, son of Barrett Leonard Albemarle O'Malley, barrister-at­ law, of Richmond, Surrey, and Lorna Josephine, d. of John Coleridge of Snettisham, Norfolk; b. 7 Nov. 1910; adm. Sept. 1923 (G), non-res. KS 1925; left July 1929; Ch. Ch. Oxf., matric. 1929, BA 1932; called to the Bar (Inner Temple) Jan. 1933; PO RAFVR Nov. 1938, FO May 1940; m. 21 Oct. 1939 Rachel, d. of Andrew MacDonald of Hilton House, Inverness; killed in action Sept. 1940.

Derek Keppel Coleridge O’Malley was born at 14A, Northcote Avenue, Ealing on the 7th of November 1910 the only child of Barrett Lennard Albemarle O’Malley, a barrister at law and a correspondent for the Morning Post, and Lorna Josephine (nee Coleridge) O’Malley later of 24, Montague Road, Richmond in Surrey. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Grant’s from September 1923 and was a non resident King’s Scholar from 1925 to July 1929. He was appointed as a Monitor in 1928. He was a member of the 2nd Rowing VIII in 1927, where he rowed at bow, and was a member of the 1st Rowing VIII in 1928 where he rowed at No. 3 and won School Colours in the same year. The Elizabethan wrote the following on his 1928 season: - “Another oarsman who improved during practice. He is beginning to use his leg drive effectively, but the blade work must become more accurate. At present rather liable to lose the rhythm in rowing, and to lose his steadiness forward. The only cure for this is to get the feet on the stretcher at the recovery, and to keep them there by not letting the knees rise too easily at any time on the swing forward.”
He was away from the school for a period of time due to illness and when he returned he was a member of the 2nd Rowing VIII in 1929, where he rowed at stroke. He was a member of the 1st Rowing VIII in the same year where he rowed at No. 4. The Elizabethan wrote the following on his 1929 season: - “With only two days to in the boat before the race at Henley, he settled quickly into the swing of the crew, although he was not as fit as the others, after a long absence from the School, and only six days’ rowing in the Second Eight. He has lengthened his swing, and acquired more control and spring, and is likely to improve into a sound oarsman.”
He matriculated for Christ Church, Oxford in 1929 on a Westminster Scholarship where he read History and rowed for the College boat. He was a member of the Oxford University Air Squadron from 1929 to 1932. He was awarded a BA in 1932. On leaving university he studied for the Bar examinations and was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in January 1933. He worked from chambers at 5, Paper Buildings, Temple.
He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on the 1st of November 1938, trained as a pilot and was mobilised for active service on the 18th of September 1939.
He was married at Henley-on-Thames on the 21st of October 1939 to Rachel Mary Genevieve (nee Macdonald) of Wharfe House, Henley-on-Thames; they had a son, Stephen Keppel, born on the 21st of July 1940.
He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 1st of May 1940 and was posted to 264 Squadron on the 22nd of May 1940.
At 4pm on the 24th of August 1940 Derek O’Malley was taxiing his aircraft, Defiant Mk I L6996 at RAF Hornchurch for a Squadron scramble during an enemy air raid. A bomb burst close to the aircraft and the dust cloud obscured his vision. In the confusion his aircraft collided with Defiant Mk I L7006. He was unhurt but his air gunner, Pilot Officer Anthony O’Connell, was slightly injured.
On the night of the 4th of September 1940, 264 Squadron was scrambled due to a report of an enemy aircraft in the area. Derek O’Malley took off from RAF Kirton-in- Lindsey at 10pm in Defiant Mk I N1628 PS- with his air gunner, Sergeant Lauritz Andrew Woodney Rasmussen RNZAF, for the night interception patrol. After takeoff the aircraft remained at a very low level before crashing near Northorpe, some three miles to the west of the airfield at 10.05pm, killing both men.
His mother received the following telegram dated the 5th of September 1940: -“Deeply regret to inform you that your son Flying Officer Derek Keppel Coleridge O’Malley is reported as having lost his life as the result of air operations on Sept 4th /40. Letter follows. The Air Council express their profound sympathy. His wife not informed. Address not available. Repeat not informed.”
His funeral took place on the 8th of September 1940.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Christ Church, Oxford.
He is buried at Kirton-in-Lindsey Cemetery Block A, Grave 181.

Flying Officer 72475; 264 Squadron, Royal Air Force

GB 2014

International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) 2nd edition

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Prepared for import into AtoM by Westminster School Archive staff, 2019-2020. Updated by Bethany Duck, Archives Assistant, September 2022.

The Record of Old Westminsters: A biographical list of all those who are known to have been educated at Westminster School from Play 1919 to Election 1989, Volume 4, compiled by F.E. Pagan and H.E. Pagan, Padstow, 1992.

Westminster School Second World War Memorial by John C. Hamblin, 2022.