Ordinary Seaman P/JX/372307, H.M.S. “Dasher”, Royal Navy. One of 379 men lost when the Escort Carrier was destroyed by an internal explosion south of the Cumbraes, off the West coast of Scotland 27 March 1943. Aged 19. Son of Robert Goodwin & Drucilla Almond of Kettering. No known grave. Commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Southsea.

Squadron Leader, No. 40 (Bomber) Squadron, Royal Air Force. Wellington Ic R1328 BL-T. Operating from Alconbury in a raid on Frankfurt. Aircraft suffered engine failure and crashed in Germany. Four crew taken prisoner, but two killed in the crash, including Squadron Leader Atkins, 12 September 1941. Aged 33. Son of James Benjamin and Florence Hannah Atkins. Husband of Elsie Ruth Atkins of Market Harborough. Buried in Reinberg War Cemetery, Germany. B 30

Sergeant (W/Op./Air Gunner) 1376372, 218 (Bomber) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Stirling I BF343 HA-H. Operating from Downham Market. Shot down over Dieppe returning from a raid on Stuttgart. Crew of 7 all killed in the crash 12 March 1943. Aged 23. Son of Reginald Stanley and Dorothy Mabel Collins of Kettering. Buried in Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery Hautot sur Mer

Extract from newspaper obituary:

KETTERING PARENTS

Sergeant 1162559, 83 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Handley Page Hampden. Died 6 November 1941. Aged 21. Son of William John and Maud Elsie Cotterell, of Kettering, Northamptonshire. Buried in ESBJERG (FOURFELT) CEMETERY, Denmark. Plot AIII. Row 11. Grave 4.

Fireman and Trimmer, S.S. Fort Mumford, Merchant Navy. Died 20 March 1943. Aged 37. Born 7 October 1906. Husband of Kathleen Louise (nee Gribbon) Cotterell. Boiler Man by trade. In the 1939 Register he was resident at 28 Springfield Road, Kettering M.B., Northamptonshire. No known grave. Commemorated on TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, London. Panel 50.

Sergeant 1578790, 630 Squadron (Lancasters), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 22 June 1944. Aged 29. Son of Albert Edward and Isabel Duck, of Kettering, Northamptonshire; husband of Doreen Marjorie Madeline Duck, of Kettering. Buried in EINDHOVEN (WOENSEL) GENERAL CEMETERY, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. Plot KK. Collective grave 85-88.

Signalman P/JX 190639, H.M. Trawler "St. Apollo", Royal Navy. Died 22 November 1941. Aged 23. Son of Arthur William and Mary Anne Fear, of Kettering, Northamptonshire. Mentioned in Despatches (MiD). No known grave. Commemorated on PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Hampshire. Panel 52, Column 1.

Sergeant 1157570, 90 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died 6 February 1943. Son of Charles and Lilian Greenaway; husband of Constance Audrey Greenaway, of Newport, Shropshire. No known grave. Commemorated on RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, Surrey. Panel 151.

Leslie

Gunner 1805904, 3 Heavy A.A. Regiment, Royal Artillery. Died 5 March 1943 on Ballale Island. Aged 20. Son of Mr. and Mrs. P. E. Johnson, of Kettering, Northamptonshire. No known grave. Commemorated on SINGAPORE MEMORIAL, Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore. Column 22.

Left Changi 18 October 1942, commandeered by Lt-Col. J. Bassett, R.A., 35 Light A.A. Died with 517 other gunners, the remains of those found are laid to rest at 12 mile north of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Raymond

Pilot Officer, 109 (Bomber) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Wellington 1c T2552. Based at Oakington. The aircraft crashed on take off during a training flight. Pilot Officer Lewin showed great courage in attempting to rescue other crew members, but sadly all six men were killed. P/O Lewin was awarded the George Cross. Son of Alfred George and Clara Frances Lewin of Kettering. Aged 26. Buried in KETTERING (LONDON ROAD) CEMETERY, Northamptonshire. Row OO. Grave 9.

George Cross Citation from the London Gazette of 11 March 1941

In November 1940 Sergeant Lewin was the captain of an aircraft which began to sink shortly after taking off on a bombing mission. It crashed into a hillside and burst into flames. Sergeant Lewin and three of his crew of four got free, but the second pilot was trapped. Despite a cracked kneecap and severe contusions on the face and legs, the Sergeant crawled under the blazing wing, in which full petrol tanks were burning, and dragged and carried the pilot to a hole in the ground some 40 yards from the aircraft, where he lay on him just as the bombs exploded. This superbly gallant deed was performed in the dark under most difficult conditions, and in the certain knowledge that the bombs and petrol tanks would explode.

Extract from another source:

"Sergeant Raymond Mayhew LEWIN G.C., Wellington pilot with Special Flight 451, born in Kettering. Northants, on 14th January 1915. About half an hour before midnight on the 3rd November 1940 a Flight of Wellington bombers prepared to take off from Luqa airfield each carrying a full load of bombs on a mission to attack the city of Naples.

The first aircraft became airborne and headed for Italy, the second Wellington (T2743) piloted by Sergeant Lewin failed to get higher than about 500 feet when it started to go down, and crashed in open ground near Tal Handaq, and burst into flames. Realizing that the aircraft had full petrol tanks and a number of bombs, he told his crew to get out of the area as quickly as possible.

He was injured with a smashed kneecap, and wounds to his legs and face, but went to the aid of Pilot Officer David Allen who was lying badly injured beneath one of the wings of the burning aircraft. He managed to pull his injured colleague into a hole about forty yards from the blaze and lay on top of him just as the bombs exploded.

For his bravery he was awarded the George Cross, but sadly Pilot Officer Allen died from his wounds. Three other members of the crew survived this horrendous event, Leading Aircraftsman John Hollingworth, Sergeant Archibald Hunter and Sergeant Thomas Reay

About half an hour later, the fourth Wellington in this Flight crashed onto houses in Qormi"

Marine PO/X/3386, Royal Marine Detachment HMS “Hood”, Royal Marines. Lost with most of the ships company (3 survivors) when the Battlecruiser blew up in action with the Bismarck and the Prince Eugene 24 May 1941. Aged 20. Son of Samuel and Selina Morgan of Burton Latimer No known grave. Commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial

Leading Airman FX673631, H.M.S. Nightjar, Royal Navy. Died 12th May 1945. Aged 20. Son of Arthur James Palmer and Edith Mary Palmer, of Kettering. Buried in LONDON ROAD CEMETERY, KETTERING. Row NN. Grave 6.

Stan Palmer, son of Arthur and Edith Palmer, lived in Shelley Road and went to Kettering Central School where he was considered to be an above average pupil. He joined The Royal Navy, the Fleet Air Arm to be exact, and was based at HMS Nightjar, a shore based station in near Elswick, Lancashire, on the Fylde coast. He was on anti-submarine work and had been recommended for promotion to Petty officer. He was killed in a flying accident over the Isle of Man on 12 May 1945, flying in a Fairey Barracuda bomber. The crew of three, including Stan, were all killed, 4 days after the war ended. He was 20 years old. Stan is buried in Kettering’s London Road Cemetery. At his funeral Bandmaster Munn spoke of Stanley's outstanding qualities, concluding with an appeal addressed especially to the younger members of the band - those at home as well as away - to endeavour to follow in his footsteps, and by their enthusiasm in the cause of the Army -"which Stanley dearly loved-to help make up for his loss.The following article is taken from the Salvation Army Kettering Citadel Band monthly Bulletin for bandsmen serving in the military:Alas, our first Bulletin after the VE Issue on a note of sadness, and it is with deepest regret that we report the death of Stanley Palmer killed on Saturday May 12th 1945 in a flying accident. Stan had passed for promotion to Petty Officer. Mrs. A.E. Munn wrote: Somehow we had never thought of Stanley as "being the first of our service lads to make the Supreme sacrifice, We shall miss him very much, also his pleasing smile, but our loss is his gain, we have no shadow of doubt about this. Stanley was a good lad, true to his principles, and his letters to the Bandmaster gave clear testimony to the fact that he was assuredly one of God's children, quite ready for the Home-call, sudden though it was. Mr. Russell, Headmaster Central School said: "Stanley was a pupil of the Kettering Central School from 1936 to 1940. His career at school proved that he possessed a first class brain. Had he been spared, it is certain he would have gone far, a fact well evident in his rapid progress in so short a time in the Fleet Air Arm. The School mourns with his parents the loss of a fine Centralian". His Fleet Air Arm mess-mates wrote to his parents: "I am writing on behalf of the Telegraphist-Air-Gunners in this Mess, who offer you both their deepest sympathy at the loss of your son Stanley. There are two or three of us who have been with him since our Vincent days and we got to know him very well indeed, so his passing came as a great shock when we heard the news yesterday. Both at Yarmouth, Novia Scotia and in the States, Stan proved the top lad of the course, and he was respected by us all for the way he upheld his religion wherever we have been stationed. (R.W, Miller. Leading-Airman). The funeral took place on Thursday morning and was a worthy turn-out. The band was practically 100% plus Joe Loveridge, Albert Batts, Cecil Caiger, John Ogilvie and Cliff Broom, who came to pay their respects on behalf of the servicemen and women. The service in the Hall, conducted by Major Beadle, was very impressive, quite a crowd of people assembled to pay their tribute. The cortege, headed by the Band, proceeded to the London Road Cemetery where again a large number of people had gathered. We feel sure the hearts of unbelievers must have been stirred as the march passed along the streets, One of the things which seemed a silent tribute of his follow bandsman was the salute they each gave as they filed past the open grave. Most of those present I am sure, writes Bandmaster Munn, gave themselves afresh to God for service in the Army which Stanley loved so well. At the request of the parents the band played "The Pilgrim’s Prayer in the Hall and at the Graveside - 'Rest'.

Seaman D/5892/D, HMS "Galatea", Royal Naval Reserve. Torpedoed and sunk by U557 off Alexandria 15 December 1941. 469 of the crew were drowned with about 100 survivors picked up by escorting Destroyers. Two days later U557 was rammed and sunk by mistake with all hands (43) off Crete by the Italian Corvette "Orione". Son of Mr and Mrs Richard Robinson. Husband of Mrs Susan Robinson of Kettering. John Robinson, a reservist, was 37. No known grave. Commemorated Plymouth Naval Memorial

Ordinary Seaman P/JX/162033, HMS "Hood", Royal Navy. Lost when the Battlecruiser was sunk in action with the “ Bismarck” and “Prince Eugene” in the Denmark Straits 24 May 1941. Aged 17. Son of Phyllis Elsie Rootham of Kettering No known grave. Commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial

Bombardier 5885710, 5th Battery, No. 3 Maritime Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery. Died at home 27 January 1942. Aged 23. Son of Bernard and Harriett Shatford. Husband of Elsie Joan Shatford of Kettering. Buried in KETTERING (LONDON ROAD) CEMETERY, Northamptonshire. Row OO. Grave 11.

Able Seaman C/JX/251953, HMS "Warspite", Royal Navy. One of 29 men killed when the Battleship was damaged by dive Bombers in the Eastern Mediterranean 22 May 1941. Son of William and Winifred Sore of Kettering. No known grave. Commemorated on Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent. Pnel 43, Column 3.

Sergeant (Flight Engineer) 1868639, 625 Bomber Squadron (Lancaster I), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. ME733 CF-Z. Operating from Kelstern, Lincs. Shot down over Germany during a raid on Braunschweig. Son of Samuel and Mary Eleanor Spooner. Husband of Doris Mary Spooner of Kettering. Sgt. Spooner was 34. Buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery

Marine PO/X/100028, Royal Marine Detachment, HMS "Hood", Royal Marines. Lost when the Battlecruiser blew up in action with "Bismarck" and "Prinz Eugene" in the Denmark Straits 24 May 1941. Aged 20. Son of Fred and Eliza Stubbings of Kettering No known grave. Commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial

Gunner 4808009, 6/3rd Maritime Regiment, Royal Artillery. Lost, with 3 comrades from the Regiment, while in transit when the SS "Empire Buffalo" was torpedoed and sunk by U125 off the Cayman Islands 6 May 1942 Most of the crew were rescued later by the Americans. No known grave. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial