Rank: Flight Lieutenant
Trade: Pilot
Service Number: 37791
Service: Royal Air Force, 253 Squadron
Died: 6th September 1940. Age: 28 years old.
"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." (Winston Churchill, 20th Aug 1940) William was one of these 'Few', who participated in 'The Battle of Britain' during the Second World War.
William was born on the 19th December 1911 in Howrah, West Bengal, India and baptised there on the 4th February 1912. He was the son of Sidney John and Agnes Helen Cambridge. His father was an Engineer with the Civil Service. William was sent back to England to be educated at Bromsgrove School. On completion of his schooling he returned to India where he was employed in the sugar industry.
William joined the Royal Air force in February 1936 on a short service commission and began his training a month later. He was posted to No.10 Flight Training School at Ternhill on the 16th May and after completing his training joined 29 Squadron at Debden on the 25th December 1936.
By the end of 1938 he was 'B' Flight Commander. Detached to HQ 11 Group on 28th June 1939 on Air Intelligence duties, promotion to Acting Flight Lieutenant followed on the 6th September 1939. Posted from 11 Group on the 24th May 1940 to 253 Squadron, then re-equipping at Kirton-in-Lindsey after returning from the heavy fighting in France, he was appointed 'B' Flight Commander. He was detached to the AFDU at RAF Northolt on the 4th June for a ten-day course on Air Fighting.
On the 30th August 1940 he claimed a Me110 destroyed. The next day, after Squadron Leaders Starr and Gleave were killed and badly burned respectively, William assumed command of 253 Squadron, being then the senior Flight Commander. On the 1st September 1940 he damaged two Me110s and on the 4th he destroyed another.
William flew his last sortie on 6th September 1940. Flying Hurricane P3032, he took off at 08.30hrs for a routine Squadron patrol. He is believed to have been shot down by return fire when attacking a German Ju88 aircraft. William managed to bail out but his parachute failed and he was killed. His Hurricane crashed at Kingsnorth, near Ashford, Kent.
On the 8th July 1939 at St Peter's Church, Caversham, Reading, William had married Mary Margaret Blackwell Monypenny. When William died, Mary was living at Caversham so she arranged for her husband to be buried on the 12th September 1940 in Henley Road Cemetery, Reading, close to her home.
William is commemorated at the following locations:
WW2 War Memorial at Bromsgrove School.
Battle of Britain Monument in London.
Battle of Britain Memorial in Weymouth.
Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel le Ferne, Folkestone.
In April 1945, William's widow Mary married Wilfred Washington Fry and moved to the USA. She died in Tacoma, Washington State, USA in 1980.
(Sources: CWGC, Ancestry, Find My Past, Kenneth G Wynn: The Men of the Battle of Britain, Battle of Britain London Monument, Kenley Revival, Bromsgrove School, Airmen died in WW2 1939-1946).
(Bio: Woose)
Trade: Pilot
Service Number: 37791
Service: Royal Air Force, 253 Squadron
Died: 6th September 1940. Age: 28 years old.
"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." (Winston Churchill, 20th Aug 1940) William was one of these 'Few', who participated in 'The Battle of Britain' during the Second World War.
William was born on the 19th December 1911 in Howrah, West Bengal, India and baptised there on the 4th February 1912. He was the son of Sidney John and Agnes Helen Cambridge. His father was an Engineer with the Civil Service. William was sent back to England to be educated at Bromsgrove School. On completion of his schooling he returned to India where he was employed in the sugar industry.
William joined the Royal Air force in February 1936 on a short service commission and began his training a month later. He was posted to No.10 Flight Training School at Ternhill on the 16th May and after completing his training joined 29 Squadron at Debden on the 25th December 1936.
By the end of 1938 he was 'B' Flight Commander. Detached to HQ 11 Group on 28th June 1939 on Air Intelligence duties, promotion to Acting Flight Lieutenant followed on the 6th September 1939. Posted from 11 Group on the 24th May 1940 to 253 Squadron, then re-equipping at Kirton-in-Lindsey after returning from the heavy fighting in France, he was appointed 'B' Flight Commander. He was detached to the AFDU at RAF Northolt on the 4th June for a ten-day course on Air Fighting.
On the 30th August 1940 he claimed a Me110 destroyed. The next day, after Squadron Leaders Starr and Gleave were killed and badly burned respectively, William assumed command of 253 Squadron, being then the senior Flight Commander. On the 1st September 1940 he damaged two Me110s and on the 4th he destroyed another.
William flew his last sortie on 6th September 1940. Flying Hurricane P3032, he took off at 08.30hrs for a routine Squadron patrol. He is believed to have been shot down by return fire when attacking a German Ju88 aircraft. William managed to bail out but his parachute failed and he was killed. His Hurricane crashed at Kingsnorth, near Ashford, Kent.
On the 8th July 1939 at St Peter's Church, Caversham, Reading, William had married Mary Margaret Blackwell Monypenny. When William died, Mary was living at Caversham so she arranged for her husband to be buried on the 12th September 1940 in Henley Road Cemetery, Reading, close to her home.
William is commemorated at the following locations:
WW2 War Memorial at Bromsgrove School.
Battle of Britain Monument in London.
Battle of Britain Memorial in Weymouth.
Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel le Ferne, Folkestone.
In April 1945, William's widow Mary married Wilfred Washington Fry and moved to the USA. She died in Tacoma, Washington State, USA in 1980.
(Sources: CWGC, Ancestry, Find My Past, Kenneth G Wynn: The Men of the Battle of Britain, Battle of Britain London Monument, Kenley Revival, Bromsgrove School, Airmen died in WW2 1939-1946).
(Bio: Woose)
Rank: Flight Lieutenant
Trade: Pilot
Service Number: 37791
Service: Royal Air Force, 253 Squadron
Died: 6th September 1940. Age: 28 years old.
"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." (Winston Churchill, 20th Aug 1940) William was one of these 'Few', who participated in 'The Battle of Britain' during the Second World War.
William was born on the 19th December 1911 in Howrah, West Bengal, India and baptised there on the 4th February 1912. He was the son of Sidney John and Agnes Helen Cambridge. His father was an Engineer with the Civil Service. William was sent back to England to be educated at Bromsgrove School. On completion of his schooling he returned to India where he was employed in the sugar industry.
William joined the Royal Air force in February 1936 on a short service commission and began his training a month later. He was posted to No.10 Flight Training School at Ternhill on the 16th May and after completing his training joined 29 Squadron at Debden on the 25th December 1936.
By the end of 1938 he was 'B' Flight Commander. Detached to HQ 11 Group on 28th June 1939 on Air Intelligence duties, promotion to Acting Flight Lieutenant followed on the 6th September 1939. Posted from 11 Group on the 24th May 1940 to 253 Squadron, then re-equipping at Kirton-in-Lindsey after returning from the heavy fighting in France, he was appointed 'B' Flight Commander. He was detached to the AFDU at RAF Northolt on the 4th June for a ten-day course on Air Fighting.
On the 30th August 1940 he claimed a Me110 destroyed. The next day, after Squadron Leaders Starr and Gleave were killed and badly burned respectively, William assumed command of 253 Squadron, being then the senior Flight Commander. On the 1st September 1940 he damaged two Me110s and on the 4th he destroyed another.
William flew his last sortie on 6th September 1940. Flying Hurricane P3032, he took off at 08.30hrs for a routine Squadron patrol. He is believed to have been shot down by return fire when attacking a German Ju88 aircraft. William managed to bail out but his parachute failed and he was killed. His Hurricane crashed at Kingsnorth, near Ashford, Kent.
On the 8th July 1939 at St Peter's Church, Caversham, Reading, William had married Mary Margaret Blackwell Monypenny. When William died, Mary was living at Caversham so she arranged for her husband to be buried on the 12th September 1940 in Henley Road Cemetery, Reading, close to her home.
William is commemorated at the following locations:
WW2 War Memorial at Bromsgrove School.
Battle of Britain Monument in London.
Battle of Britain Memorial in Weymouth.
Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel le Ferne, Folkestone.
In April 1945, William's widow Mary married Wilfred Washington Fry and moved to the USA. She died in Tacoma, Washington State, USA in 1980.
(Sources: CWGC, Ancestry, Find My Past, Kenneth G Wynn: The Men of the Battle of Britain, Battle of Britain London Monument, Kenley Revival, Bromsgrove School, Airmen died in WW2 1939-1946).
(Bio: Woose)
Trade: Pilot
Service Number: 37791
Service: Royal Air Force, 253 Squadron
Died: 6th September 1940. Age: 28 years old.
"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." (Winston Churchill, 20th Aug 1940) William was one of these 'Few', who participated in 'The Battle of Britain' during the Second World War.
William was born on the 19th December 1911 in Howrah, West Bengal, India and baptised there on the 4th February 1912. He was the son of Sidney John and Agnes Helen Cambridge. His father was an Engineer with the Civil Service. William was sent back to England to be educated at Bromsgrove School. On completion of his schooling he returned to India where he was employed in the sugar industry.
William joined the Royal Air force in February 1936 on a short service commission and began his training a month later. He was posted to No.10 Flight Training School at Ternhill on the 16th May and after completing his training joined 29 Squadron at Debden on the 25th December 1936.
By the end of 1938 he was 'B' Flight Commander. Detached to HQ 11 Group on 28th June 1939 on Air Intelligence duties, promotion to Acting Flight Lieutenant followed on the 6th September 1939. Posted from 11 Group on the 24th May 1940 to 253 Squadron, then re-equipping at Kirton-in-Lindsey after returning from the heavy fighting in France, he was appointed 'B' Flight Commander. He was detached to the AFDU at RAF Northolt on the 4th June for a ten-day course on Air Fighting.
On the 30th August 1940 he claimed a Me110 destroyed. The next day, after Squadron Leaders Starr and Gleave were killed and badly burned respectively, William assumed command of 253 Squadron, being then the senior Flight Commander. On the 1st September 1940 he damaged two Me110s and on the 4th he destroyed another.
William flew his last sortie on 6th September 1940. Flying Hurricane P3032, he took off at 08.30hrs for a routine Squadron patrol. He is believed to have been shot down by return fire when attacking a German Ju88 aircraft. William managed to bail out but his parachute failed and he was killed. His Hurricane crashed at Kingsnorth, near Ashford, Kent.
On the 8th July 1939 at St Peter's Church, Caversham, Reading, William had married Mary Margaret Blackwell Monypenny. When William died, Mary was living at Caversham so she arranged for her husband to be buried on the 12th September 1940 in Henley Road Cemetery, Reading, close to her home.
William is commemorated at the following locations:
WW2 War Memorial at Bromsgrove School.
Battle of Britain Monument in London.
Battle of Britain Memorial in Weymouth.
Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel le Ferne, Folkestone.
In April 1945, William's widow Mary married Wilfred Washington Fry and moved to the USA. She died in Tacoma, Washington State, USA in 1980.
(Sources: CWGC, Ancestry, Find My Past, Kenneth G Wynn: The Men of the Battle of Britain, Battle of Britain London Monument, Kenley Revival, Bromsgrove School, Airmen died in WW2 1939-1946).
(Bio: Woose)
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