Royal Air Force Chaplains
The Fallen in WW1
Frederick William ASHTON
Chaplain, Royal Air Force
He died on 18 November 1918 at the Base Hospital, Ecclesall Road, Sheffield. He was 33.
He was the son of William Henry and Lucy Ashton.
He is remembered on the Screen Wall of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield and buried in Sheffield General Cemetery.
Additional Information
His address for Probate was 39 Newlyn Road, Woodseats, Sheffield. He was born at Plymouth.
Special note
the Rev F W Ashton was infact an Army Chaplain attached to the Royal Air Force as at the time of his death. The RAF had
not yet formed it’s own chaplains branch
The Fallen in WW2
Denis Edward Guy ASHILL
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, 15 Squadron, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 115690.
He died on 29 December 1942. He was 30.
He was the son of Orlando and Eleanor Mary Ashill of Erdington, Birmingham.
He is buried in grave 9540 of Cambridge City Cemetery
Additional information
He apparently died in a crash. There is no definition of crash
Arthur Cecil BAWTREE
Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 114203
He died on 5 July 1943. He was 38
He was the son of Percy and Margaret Elizabeth Bawtree of Cheam.
He is buried in plot O, row G, grave 37 in Bhowanipore Cemetery, Kolkata (Calcutta)
Additional Information
MA (Glasgow).
His address for Probate was 22 Shirley Avenue, Cheam
The Rev. George Adam Gordon CAMPBELL
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, 25 (SAAF) Squadron, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 106468
He died on 28 September 1944. He was 30
He was the son of George Gordon and Janetta Martine Ronaldson Campbell of Comrie, Perthshire.
He is buried in grave VII E 5 Bari War Cemetery, Italy
Additional Information
M.A.(Edin.).
Bari was an important Hospital Centre
He apparently drowned in an air crash
The Rev. James Ernest COX MiD
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, 45 Squadron, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 74806
He died on 28 April 1941. He was 32.
He was the son of Samuel James Cox and Minnie Cox of West Worthing.
He is remembered on column 239 of the Alamein Memorial
Additional Information
MA (Oxon.).
His address for Probate was Holy Trinity Vicarage, Redhill
William Richard DAVIES
Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAF no. 74649.
He died on 31 August 1944 at Station Hospital, Credenhill, Hertfordshire
He is buried in plot C grave 1003, Ynysymaerdy Cemetery, Neath
Additional information
I have not confirmed that he was a Chaplain
His address for Probate was 3 Gower Street, Briton Ferry, Glamorganshire
The Rev. Percy Gordon DUFF
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 76151
He died on 27 August 1941. He was 56
He was the son of Alfred and Mary Levy and the husband of Lady Mary Kathleen Duff of Cheltenham.
He is buried in plot 3, row B, grave 115 of St. Michael’s Churchyard, Halton
Additional Information
His address for Probate was St Mary Magdalene Rectory, St Leonards on Sea
I have not established why he apparently did not share his Parents' surname
The Rev. James Brendan GREANY
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 115692
He died on 8 February 1945. He was 38.
He was the son of John and Mary Greany of Mallow, Co. Cork.
He is buried in grave 39, Oblate Fathers Community Catholic Cemetery, Inchicore, Dublin
Additional Information
B.A. (National University of Ireland).
His brother John also died on service.
The Rev. Hubert James John HARRIES
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 88005.
He died on 18 October 1944 at Wymeswold, near Loughborough.
He was the husband of Josephine T Harries
He is buried in New part, row D, grave 4 of the churchyard of St. Paul's Church, Sketty, Glamorganshire
Additional Information
M.A. (Oxon.).
His address for Probate was Brentwood, Builth Wells, Breconshire
At the time of his death, RAF Wymeswold was a base for training crews for bomber and then transport squadrons
Alexander John HEPBURN
Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 191875
He died on 20 October 1946. He was 38.
He was the son of Alexander and Mary Hepburn and the husband of Daisy Hepburn of Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.
He is buried in plot O, row A, grave 1 in Bhowanipore Cemetery, Kolkata (Calcutta)
Additional Information
BD.
Avro 685 York MW208 of 51 Squadron took off at 07.27 hours from RAF Dum Dum, Calcutta. The port inner engine was not giving full power during take-off because the spark plugs were heavily coated with carbon and other substances. Consequently,
the aircraft did not get airborne, the pilot cut the engines and the aircraft crashed during an attempt to stop safely. Of the 18 persons on board, three were killed. See also Ian Taylor
The Rev. Dewi Henry JAMES
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 106645
He died on 7 November 1944. He was 28.
He was the son of Samuel and Margaret James of Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire and the husband of Megan James.
He is remembered on panel 200 of the Runnymede Memorial
Additional Information
The Landing Craft LST-420 left Dover on 7 November with a party of airmen, trucks and supplies for RAF personnel in Belgium. It was unable to enter the port of Ostend because of a severe storm and the captain decided to return to England. The ship was still within sight of Ostend when it hit and mine, split in two, and sank. Fourteen officers and 224 other ranks were lost.
Only 31 were saved. It was the greatest loss of lives on a British landing craft during the war. Above the wreck today is a marker buoy "LST 420."
See http://www.raf.mod.uk/chaplains/rafcms/mediafiles/2FE70489_1143_EC82_2ECC1BFF8A6ECA41.pdf for the full story
The Revd. Michael Gerard KELLY
Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAF no. 38088
He died on 30 August 1944. He was 49.
He was the son of John and Johanna Kelly of Limerick, Irish Republic.
He is buried in the churchyard of St Mary and St Philip Roman Catholic Church, Fordingbridge
The Rev. Thomas John KENNY
Chaplain Squadron Leader Royal Air Force RAFVR no. 155469
He died on 3 September 1945
He is remembered on screen wall, panel 2 in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.
Additional Information
He is buried in grave Garden sec. grave WG 90. This cemetery is also known as Prospect Cemetery
The Rev. Eric Walter McKEEMAN
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 136536
He died on 7 November 1944. He was 40
He was the son of Kennedy and Gertrude McKeeman and the husband of Winifred P McKeeman of Maidstone, Kent
He is remembered on panel 201 of the Runnymede Memorial
Additional Information
MA (Oxon), BD (Lond).
His address for Probate was 58 King Edward Avenue, Broadstairs
The Landing Craft LST-420 left Dover on 7 November with a party of airmen, trucks and supplies for RAF personnel in Belgium. It was unable to enter the port of Ostend because of a severe storm and the captain decided to return to England. The ship was still within sight of Ostend when it hit and mine and sank. 14 officers and 224 other ranks were lost. 31 were saved. It was the greatest loss of lives on a British landing craft during the war. Above the wreck today is a marker buoy "LST 420."
See http://www.raf.mod.uk/chaplains/rafcms/mediafiles/2FE70489_1143_EC82_2ECC1BFF8A6ECA41.pdf for the full story
The Rev. Bernard Charles McCLOSKEY
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 126136
He died on 16 December 1946
He is buried in the Churchyard of St. Joseph's (Catholic) Church, Ballyshannon
The Revd. Hugh McMULLAN
Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAF no. 144188
He died on 5 August 1947. He was 57.
He was the son of Hugh and Annie McMullan and the husband of Edith Maud McMullan of Swanage
He is buried in plot A, cons. grave 1287 Godlingston Cemetery, Swanage
Additional Information
MA.
His address for Probate was 14 Warbrond Road, Swanage
The Rev. Wilfred Claude NEWSOME
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 61908
He died on 19 April 1946 at RAF Hospital, Uxbridge. He was 41.
He was the son of Wilfred and Eliza Maude Newsome and the husband of Anne Farr Newsome of Windsor.
He is buried in grave 22 E 7 Brookwood Military Cemetery
Additional Information
His address for Probate was Marchington Vicarage, Uttoxeter
The Rev. Herbert Cecil PUGH GC
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force.
RAFVR no. 76558 He died on 5 July 1941. He was 42.
He was the son of Harry Walter and Jean Pugh and the husband of Amy Lilian Pugh of Bridgnorth.
He is remembered on panel 29 of the Runnymede Memorial
Additional Information
MA (Oxon.)
His address for Probate was 15 East Castle Street, Bridgnorth
Citation -The London Gazette of 1 April, 1947 The Revd. H. C. Pugh was on board HMT Anslem, bound for West Africa, when the ship was torpedoed in the Atlantic in the early hours of 5 July 1941.
Coming up on deck he seemed to be everywhere at once, doing his best to comfort the injured, helping with the boats, rafts,
and visiting different lower sections where men were quartered, When he learned that a number of injured airmen were trapped in the hold which had been damaged by the torpedo, which destroyed the normal means of escape, he insisted on being lowered in by a rope. Everyone demurred, as the hold was below the water-line, the decks were already awash, and to go down was to go to certain death. He simply explained that he must be where his men were. The hold now was so full of water that when he knelt to pray, the water reached his shoulders.
Within a few minutes the ship plunged and sank and Mr Pugh was never seen again. He had every opportunity of saving his own life but, without regard for his own safety and in the best tradition of the Service and of a Christian minister, he gave up his
life for others.
The Revd. Douglas Martyn Alexander Kenmure ROBERTS
Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 135070
He died on 26 April 1945. He was 32.
He was the son of Gordon K and Isabel H Roberts and the husband of L Hilda Roberts of Clacton-on-Sea
He is buried in grave XIII. D. 1. Bari War Cemetery, Italy.
Additional Information
MA
Douglas Roberts was killed in a motoring accident.
His address for Probate was Honeybrooke, Saffron Walden
The Revd. John Farrar SUTCLIFFE
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, 46 Squadron, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 38089
He died on 18 September 1942. He was 34.
He was the husband of Margaret Sutcliffe
He is buried in grave 3 H 10 Hadra War Memorial Cemetery, Alexandria
Additional information
He is listed as 'killed in action'.
Ian Wallace Moreton TAYLOR
Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 104278.
He died on 20 October 1946. He was 33.
He was the son of John Moreton Taylor and Mary Ann Taylor and the husband of Cecilia Mackie Robertson Taylor of Edinburgh.
He is buried in plot O, row A, grave 2 in Bhowanipore Cemetery, Kolkata (Calcutta)
Additional Information
Avro 685 York MW208 of 51 Squadron took off at 07.27 hours from RAF Dum Dum, Calcutta. The port inner engine was not giving full power during take-off because the spark plugs were heavily coated with carbon and other substances. Consequently, the aircraft did not get airborne, the pilot cut the engines and the aircraft crashed during an attempt to stop safely. Of the 18 persons on board, three were killed. See also Alexander Hepburn
The Rev. Philip Charles Alex USHER
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAF no. 87614
He died on 6 June 1941. He was 42.
He was the son of the late Thomas Charles and of Constance Emma Usher of Seend, Wiltshire.
He is buried in grave P 1 Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel
Additional Information
MA(Oxon). Scholar of Christ Church, Oxford. Warden of Liddon House.
Philip Usher died of a cerebral haemorrhage
The Rev. John Thirlwell WANLESS
Chaplain Squadron Leader Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 77336
He died on 30 June 1945. He was 40
He was the son of Thomas and Mary Wanless of Craghead, Durham
He is remembered on column 445 Singapore Memorial
Additional information
See http://www.raf.mod.uk/chaplains/rafcms/mediafiles/2FE70489_1143_EC82_2ECC1BFF8A6ECA41.pdf for the full story
He was one of the group of PoWs who made the 'Death March' from Sandakhan to Ranau in Borneo in the spring of 1945. This march took almost 2500 prisoners to their deaths. 641 of the prisoners were British. Those who managed to complete the death march found themselves at Ranau, where they either died from illness, exhaustion or starvation. The very few who survived were
executed just before the end of the war.
John Wanless died of enteritis and has no identified grave.
Arthur WHITMORE
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 132092.
He died on 31 August 1945 at Gipsy Green, Bednall. He was 44.
He was the son of Charles and Mary Ellen Whitmore and the husband of Elsie Ormrod Whitmore of Southport.
He is buried in sec 7, grave 180. Duke Street Cemetery, Southport
Additional Information
His address for Probate was 51 Lower Road, Hednesford
Frederick William ASHTON
Chaplain, Royal Air Force
He died on 18 November 1918 at the Base Hospital, Ecclesall Road, Sheffield. He was 33.
He was the son of William Henry and Lucy Ashton.
He is remembered on the Screen Wall of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield and buried in Sheffield General Cemetery.
Additional Information
His address for Probate was 39 Newlyn Road, Woodseats, Sheffield. He was born at Plymouth.
Special note
the Rev F W Ashton was infact an Army Chaplain attached to the Royal Air Force as at the time of his death. The RAF had
not yet formed it’s own chaplains branch
The Fallen in WW2
Denis Edward Guy ASHILL
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, 15 Squadron, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 115690.
He died on 29 December 1942. He was 30.
He was the son of Orlando and Eleanor Mary Ashill of Erdington, Birmingham.
He is buried in grave 9540 of Cambridge City Cemetery
Additional information
He apparently died in a crash. There is no definition of crash
Arthur Cecil BAWTREE
Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 114203
He died on 5 July 1943. He was 38
He was the son of Percy and Margaret Elizabeth Bawtree of Cheam.
He is buried in plot O, row G, grave 37 in Bhowanipore Cemetery, Kolkata (Calcutta)
Additional Information
MA (Glasgow).
His address for Probate was 22 Shirley Avenue, Cheam
The Rev. George Adam Gordon CAMPBELL
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, 25 (SAAF) Squadron, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 106468
He died on 28 September 1944. He was 30
He was the son of George Gordon and Janetta Martine Ronaldson Campbell of Comrie, Perthshire.
He is buried in grave VII E 5 Bari War Cemetery, Italy
Additional Information
M.A.(Edin.).
Bari was an important Hospital Centre
He apparently drowned in an air crash
The Rev. James Ernest COX MiD
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, 45 Squadron, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 74806
He died on 28 April 1941. He was 32.
He was the son of Samuel James Cox and Minnie Cox of West Worthing.
He is remembered on column 239 of the Alamein Memorial
Additional Information
MA (Oxon.).
His address for Probate was Holy Trinity Vicarage, Redhill
William Richard DAVIES
Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAF no. 74649.
He died on 31 August 1944 at Station Hospital, Credenhill, Hertfordshire
He is buried in plot C grave 1003, Ynysymaerdy Cemetery, Neath
Additional information
I have not confirmed that he was a Chaplain
His address for Probate was 3 Gower Street, Briton Ferry, Glamorganshire
The Rev. Percy Gordon DUFF
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 76151
He died on 27 August 1941. He was 56
He was the son of Alfred and Mary Levy and the husband of Lady Mary Kathleen Duff of Cheltenham.
He is buried in plot 3, row B, grave 115 of St. Michael’s Churchyard, Halton
Additional Information
His address for Probate was St Mary Magdalene Rectory, St Leonards on Sea
I have not established why he apparently did not share his Parents' surname
The Rev. James Brendan GREANY
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 115692
He died on 8 February 1945. He was 38.
He was the son of John and Mary Greany of Mallow, Co. Cork.
He is buried in grave 39, Oblate Fathers Community Catholic Cemetery, Inchicore, Dublin
Additional Information
B.A. (National University of Ireland).
His brother John also died on service.
The Rev. Hubert James John HARRIES
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 88005.
He died on 18 October 1944 at Wymeswold, near Loughborough.
He was the husband of Josephine T Harries
He is buried in New part, row D, grave 4 of the churchyard of St. Paul's Church, Sketty, Glamorganshire
Additional Information
M.A. (Oxon.).
His address for Probate was Brentwood, Builth Wells, Breconshire
At the time of his death, RAF Wymeswold was a base for training crews for bomber and then transport squadrons
Alexander John HEPBURN
Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 191875
He died on 20 October 1946. He was 38.
He was the son of Alexander and Mary Hepburn and the husband of Daisy Hepburn of Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.
He is buried in plot O, row A, grave 1 in Bhowanipore Cemetery, Kolkata (Calcutta)
Additional Information
BD.
Avro 685 York MW208 of 51 Squadron took off at 07.27 hours from RAF Dum Dum, Calcutta. The port inner engine was not giving full power during take-off because the spark plugs were heavily coated with carbon and other substances. Consequently,
the aircraft did not get airborne, the pilot cut the engines and the aircraft crashed during an attempt to stop safely. Of the 18 persons on board, three were killed. See also Ian Taylor
The Rev. Dewi Henry JAMES
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 106645
He died on 7 November 1944. He was 28.
He was the son of Samuel and Margaret James of Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire and the husband of Megan James.
He is remembered on panel 200 of the Runnymede Memorial
Additional Information
The Landing Craft LST-420 left Dover on 7 November with a party of airmen, trucks and supplies for RAF personnel in Belgium. It was unable to enter the port of Ostend because of a severe storm and the captain decided to return to England. The ship was still within sight of Ostend when it hit and mine, split in two, and sank. Fourteen officers and 224 other ranks were lost.
Only 31 were saved. It was the greatest loss of lives on a British landing craft during the war. Above the wreck today is a marker buoy "LST 420."
See http://www.raf.mod.uk/chaplains/rafcms/mediafiles/2FE70489_1143_EC82_2ECC1BFF8A6ECA41.pdf for the full story
The Revd. Michael Gerard KELLY
Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAF no. 38088
He died on 30 August 1944. He was 49.
He was the son of John and Johanna Kelly of Limerick, Irish Republic.
He is buried in the churchyard of St Mary and St Philip Roman Catholic Church, Fordingbridge
The Rev. Thomas John KENNY
Chaplain Squadron Leader Royal Air Force RAFVR no. 155469
He died on 3 September 1945
He is remembered on screen wall, panel 2 in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.
Additional Information
He is buried in grave Garden sec. grave WG 90. This cemetery is also known as Prospect Cemetery
The Rev. Eric Walter McKEEMAN
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 136536
He died on 7 November 1944. He was 40
He was the son of Kennedy and Gertrude McKeeman and the husband of Winifred P McKeeman of Maidstone, Kent
He is remembered on panel 201 of the Runnymede Memorial
Additional Information
MA (Oxon), BD (Lond).
His address for Probate was 58 King Edward Avenue, Broadstairs
The Landing Craft LST-420 left Dover on 7 November with a party of airmen, trucks and supplies for RAF personnel in Belgium. It was unable to enter the port of Ostend because of a severe storm and the captain decided to return to England. The ship was still within sight of Ostend when it hit and mine and sank. 14 officers and 224 other ranks were lost. 31 were saved. It was the greatest loss of lives on a British landing craft during the war. Above the wreck today is a marker buoy "LST 420."
See http://www.raf.mod.uk/chaplains/rafcms/mediafiles/2FE70489_1143_EC82_2ECC1BFF8A6ECA41.pdf for the full story
The Rev. Bernard Charles McCLOSKEY
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 126136
He died on 16 December 1946
He is buried in the Churchyard of St. Joseph's (Catholic) Church, Ballyshannon
The Revd. Hugh McMULLAN
Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAF no. 144188
He died on 5 August 1947. He was 57.
He was the son of Hugh and Annie McMullan and the husband of Edith Maud McMullan of Swanage
He is buried in plot A, cons. grave 1287 Godlingston Cemetery, Swanage
Additional Information
MA.
His address for Probate was 14 Warbrond Road, Swanage
The Rev. Wilfred Claude NEWSOME
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 61908
He died on 19 April 1946 at RAF Hospital, Uxbridge. He was 41.
He was the son of Wilfred and Eliza Maude Newsome and the husband of Anne Farr Newsome of Windsor.
He is buried in grave 22 E 7 Brookwood Military Cemetery
Additional Information
His address for Probate was Marchington Vicarage, Uttoxeter
The Rev. Herbert Cecil PUGH GC
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force.
RAFVR no. 76558 He died on 5 July 1941. He was 42.
He was the son of Harry Walter and Jean Pugh and the husband of Amy Lilian Pugh of Bridgnorth.
He is remembered on panel 29 of the Runnymede Memorial
Additional Information
MA (Oxon.)
His address for Probate was 15 East Castle Street, Bridgnorth
Citation -The London Gazette of 1 April, 1947 The Revd. H. C. Pugh was on board HMT Anslem, bound for West Africa, when the ship was torpedoed in the Atlantic in the early hours of 5 July 1941.
Coming up on deck he seemed to be everywhere at once, doing his best to comfort the injured, helping with the boats, rafts,
and visiting different lower sections where men were quartered, When he learned that a number of injured airmen were trapped in the hold which had been damaged by the torpedo, which destroyed the normal means of escape, he insisted on being lowered in by a rope. Everyone demurred, as the hold was below the water-line, the decks were already awash, and to go down was to go to certain death. He simply explained that he must be where his men were. The hold now was so full of water that when he knelt to pray, the water reached his shoulders.
Within a few minutes the ship plunged and sank and Mr Pugh was never seen again. He had every opportunity of saving his own life but, without regard for his own safety and in the best tradition of the Service and of a Christian minister, he gave up his
life for others.
The Revd. Douglas Martyn Alexander Kenmure ROBERTS
Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 135070
He died on 26 April 1945. He was 32.
He was the son of Gordon K and Isabel H Roberts and the husband of L Hilda Roberts of Clacton-on-Sea
He is buried in grave XIII. D. 1. Bari War Cemetery, Italy.
Additional Information
MA
Douglas Roberts was killed in a motoring accident.
His address for Probate was Honeybrooke, Saffron Walden
The Revd. John Farrar SUTCLIFFE
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, 46 Squadron, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 38089
He died on 18 September 1942. He was 34.
He was the husband of Margaret Sutcliffe
He is buried in grave 3 H 10 Hadra War Memorial Cemetery, Alexandria
Additional information
He is listed as 'killed in action'.
Ian Wallace Moreton TAYLOR
Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 104278.
He died on 20 October 1946. He was 33.
He was the son of John Moreton Taylor and Mary Ann Taylor and the husband of Cecilia Mackie Robertson Taylor of Edinburgh.
He is buried in plot O, row A, grave 2 in Bhowanipore Cemetery, Kolkata (Calcutta)
Additional Information
Avro 685 York MW208 of 51 Squadron took off at 07.27 hours from RAF Dum Dum, Calcutta. The port inner engine was not giving full power during take-off because the spark plugs were heavily coated with carbon and other substances. Consequently, the aircraft did not get airborne, the pilot cut the engines and the aircraft crashed during an attempt to stop safely. Of the 18 persons on board, three were killed. See also Alexander Hepburn
The Rev. Philip Charles Alex USHER
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAF no. 87614
He died on 6 June 1941. He was 42.
He was the son of the late Thomas Charles and of Constance Emma Usher of Seend, Wiltshire.
He is buried in grave P 1 Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel
Additional Information
MA(Oxon). Scholar of Christ Church, Oxford. Warden of Liddon House.
Philip Usher died of a cerebral haemorrhage
The Rev. John Thirlwell WANLESS
Chaplain Squadron Leader Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 77336
He died on 30 June 1945. He was 40
He was the son of Thomas and Mary Wanless of Craghead, Durham
He is remembered on column 445 Singapore Memorial
Additional information
See http://www.raf.mod.uk/chaplains/rafcms/mediafiles/2FE70489_1143_EC82_2ECC1BFF8A6ECA41.pdf for the full story
He was one of the group of PoWs who made the 'Death March' from Sandakhan to Ranau in Borneo in the spring of 1945. This march took almost 2500 prisoners to their deaths. 641 of the prisoners were British. Those who managed to complete the death march found themselves at Ranau, where they either died from illness, exhaustion or starvation. The very few who survived were
executed just before the end of the war.
John Wanless died of enteritis and has no identified grave.
Arthur WHITMORE
Chaplain, Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force. RAFVR no. 132092.
He died on 31 August 1945 at Gipsy Green, Bednall. He was 44.
He was the son of Charles and Mary Ellen Whitmore and the husband of Elsie Ormrod Whitmore of Southport.
He is buried in sec 7, grave 180. Duke Street Cemetery, Southport
Additional Information
His address for Probate was 51 Lower Road, Hednesford
