Back, L. J. R.     
Leslie Joseph R. Back, 121432, was the "dearly loved youngest son" of William James and Ethel Back, from 113 Priory Hill, Dover, brother to Harold, Cecil, and Ivy, and brother-in-law to Edith. He was a member of the Dover Cycling Club, and had worked at Messrs T. Francis as a signwriter and engraver.

He served as a Pilot Officer (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and a member of 223 Squadron.  He received his commission in January 1942.

On 23rd May 1942 he was on a raid to Derna, Libya. He took off from Landing Ground LG167 (Bir el Baheira No.2) near Bardia, Libya at 10.32 in Martin Baltimore AG708, to attack an enemy main landing ground at Derna near the northernmost coastline of Libya. At around midday near Ras el Tin the formation was attacked by Luftwaffe Messerschmitts.  Three Baltimores were shot down including AG708, which was possibly the victim of the famed 'Star of Africa' Oberleutnant Hans-Joachim Marseille from Jagdgeschwader 27, the top German air 'ace' of the North Africa conflict. (He himself died on 30th September 1942, bailing out over Sidi from his smoke-filled plane.)

None of the crew of AG708 survived, but Pilot Officer Back is buried in Tobruk War Cemetery, Libya, 1 B 11. The others are commemorated on Special Memorial C at Tobruk.

The crew were:

*Bailey, L. J.     
Probably Leonard John Bailey, 518453, who was a Flight Sergeant in the RAF, and who was killed by enemy action on 24th October 1942, aged 28, on the East Coast. He was probably attending an Offiers' Training School.

He was the son of Frederick John Bailey, and Amy his wife, nee Robinson, and the "dearly beloved husband" of Eileen Louise Bailey (nee Moor), of King's Heath, Birmingham, and father of little Gary John.

His body was taken to Birmingham and buried on Saturday, 31st October, at Brandwood End Cemetery, Sec B13 F C grave 453.. 

Possibly Leslie Joseph Knott Bailey, R/KX 117355, who was a Stoker, 2nd class, in the Royal Navy, with the HMS Tonbridge. He died on 22nd August 1941, and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial in the United Kingdom.

Baldwin, F. S.     
Frederick Sydney Bertie Baldwin BEM  was born on 12th June 1897. He had 12 years service and was a Seaman serving in the Merchant Navy, aboard the Cable Ship Alert. He was 47 when he died on 24th February 1945. He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London in the United Kingdom.

His parents were William and Elizabeth Baldwin, and his wife was Julia Edith Baldwin, from 46 Odo Road, Dover.  

"Silent thoughts and treasured memories of my dear husband and Mary's dad" (February 1946)

Balfour, R. D.     
Raymond(e) Derek Balfour, 1396828, was a Sergeant (Bomb Aimer) in  the RAFVR and a member of 101 Squadron. The son of V. Balfour and Edith M. Balfour, of Ashford, Kent, he was the nephew of Mrs A. W. Pike, of Dover.

On 27th April 1943 at 21:45 hours he took off in Avro Lancaster ED728 SR-Y from Home-on-Spalding Moor, Yorkshire,  for minelaying in the 'Elderberry' region (Bayonne, France). 160 aircraft took part in this, the largest minelaying operation of the RAF in the war so far, where 458 mines were laid off the Biscay and Brittany ports and the Frisian Islands.

Just one plane was lost - Sergeant Balfour's. It was presumed crashed in the target area in the early hours of 28th April 1943. None of the crew survived, and they are all buried in the Biarritz (Du Saboau) Communal Cemetery, France.

with thanks to Dean Sumner

Barron, A. V. M    
Alfred V. M. Barron, 1813827, was the son of John Thomas and Elizabeth Barron, from Dover, and was aged 19. He was a Sergeant in the RAFVR and a member of 158 Squadron. On 16th September 1943, he took off from Lisset, Yorkshire at 19:33 hours in Handley Page Halifax JN904 NP-K. They were to raid on the railway yards at Modane, France.

In the early hours of 17^th September, the plane crashed into a wood called le Bois due Rivoireau about 10 miles east of Vienne in France. Alfred Barron was 19. There were no survivors, and the crew are all  buried in Lyon French National Cemetery in France.

The crew were:

with thanks to Dean Sumner

Baston, R. G.     
Ronald George Baston, 943422, was a Lance Bombardier in the 118 Field Regiment of the Royal Artillery. He was 25 when he died on 12th September 1944. He is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial.

His parents were Sidney Lewis and Daisy Marion Bast on, from Dover.

Bates, H.    
Harry Bates was a Chief Steward on the Cable Ship "Alert". It was lost in the Channel on 24th February 1945. Harry was 47, the son of James and Elizabeth Bates and the husband of Alice. He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial in London, United Kingdom. 

Note: An Alice Emily Bates (nee Thompson), youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs H Thompson of 11 Wyndham Road, loving wife of Harry Bates of 20 Winchelsea Terrace, died on 8th May 1942, aged 42 years. "The sun doth but set to rise again"

(We Remember 06) (brother George Bates)

Beeston, W. R. H.    
William Ralph Humphrey Beeston, 307780, was a Lieutenant in the Royal Armoured Corps, attached to the Army Air Corps. He was 21 when he died on 19th November 1944. He is buried at Shaftesbury Borough Cemetery, Dorset, England, grave 820.

His parents were Humphrey Albert Beeston and his wife Audrey Muriel (nee Swannell), from Temple Ewell, Kent.

Bell, F.    
Frederick Bell, C/KX 599223, was a 1st Class Stoker in the Royal Navy, serving aboard the HMS Bullen. He died on 6th December 1044, when he was 22. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial in the United Kingdom.

His wife was Josephine E. Bell, from Dover.

Berry, L. W. C.     
Leonard William C Berry, C/SSX 28738, was an Able Seaman in the Royal Navy, serving with HM Submarine Unbeaten. He died on 11th November 1942, when he was 21, and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial in the United Kingdom.

He was the "dearly beloved eldest son" of Leonard William Charles and Caroline Nellie Berry, from 18 Adrian Street Flats, Dover.

Bingham, L. C.     
Leslie Charles Bingham was born in Dover in 1913. His parents were probably Arthur William Bingham and Esmeralda Frances, nee Pilcher.

Bliss, H.    
Harry Bliss, 650927, was the son of Mr and Mrs H Bliss, from Dover. He was in 218 ("Gold Coast") Squadron of the RAF. On 28th April 1943 at 21.05 he took off from Downham Market, Norfolk, in Short Stirling EF356 HA-O. They were on mine-laying operations in the 'Sweet Peas' area (Rostock, Germany). It was a large operation, carried out by 207 aircraft. Low cloud over the German and Danish coasts forced the minelayers to fly low to establish their positions.  Around Helogiland, the approaches to the River Elbe, and other sea areas, 593 mines were laid . This was the highest number of mines laid in one night, but the mission was also the most costly mine-laying mission of the war, as 22 RAF bombers were lost.

One was Stirling EF356, which, at around 00:35 hours on 29^th April,  was shot down by a Luftwaffe night-fighter. It crashed at Oddum,  to the north of Esbjerg in Denmark. All of the crew were killed except Sergeant Bliss, who survived to become PoW 1119. He went to Camp 357. otherwise known as Stalag 'Kopernikus' at Thorn (now known as Toruń) in Poland, about 180 miles northwest of Warsaw.

In late 1944 Russian forces advanced into Poland, and Camp 357 was relocated near to the existing Stalag XIB camp at Fallingbostal, about 50 miles north of Hanover. Conditions in the camp were bad; reprisals had removed from all British prisoners much of their furniture, their palliasses,  and many of their blankets, and recreation was forbidden. Many prisoners suffered from bronchitis and chilblains.  

It was in that camp that Harry Bliss died on 30th March 1945, just six weeks before the enemy surrender on 7th May. It was fewer than four weeks before repatriation of prisoners had begun. He was 25.

Harry Bliss is buried at Becklingen War Cemetery southeast of Soltau.

The crew were:

Sergeant Kenneth Sidney HAILEY	Captain (Pilot)	aged 21
Sergeant Andrew George SURTEES	Flight engineer	aged 21
Sergeant Arthur George Percival SINDREY	Navigator	aged 21
Flying Officer Sidney Michael HOLLIMAN	Bomb aimer	aged 21
Sergeant Ronald James BARTON	Wireless operator/Air gunner	aged 22
Sergeant Harry BLISS	Air gunner	PoW
Sergeant James Alfred HEAD	Air gunner	aged 20

with thanks to Dean Sumner

Bocutt, A. A.     
Alfred Arthur Bocutt, PO/21632, was a Marine with the Royal Marines. He served aboard the HMS Hood. He died when he was 38, on 24th May 1941, and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial in the United Kingdom.

He was the son of Alfred Arthur and the late Jessie Bocutt (of 30 Longfield Road), and the husband of Dorothy Ada Emily Bocutt, of Southsea, Hampshire.

His brother, Alexander Herbert Bocutt also died, as a civilian away from home.

Booker, F. J.     
Frederick Joseph Booker, C/KX 90859, was a Leading Stoker. He was in the Royal Navy and with the HMS Lynx. He died on 28th July 1941, when he was 24. His coffin was Union Flag draped, and borne by members of the Royal Navy. A naval chaplain officiated at his burial at St Mary's cemetery, Dover in the United Kingdom.

His parents were Alfred Edwin and Millicent Florence Booker, from the "New Mogul", Chapel Place, Dover, who laid a wreath "from his broken-hearted Mum and Dad". He was the youngest son, and he was brother to Robert, below.

July 1942

Booker, R. E.     
Robert Ernest Booker was a Stoker in the Merchant Navy. He was aboard the Cable Ship Alert. He was 29 when he died on 24th February 1945. He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial in London, United Kingdom.

His parents were Alfred Edwin and Millicent Florence Booker, and his wife was Joyce Booker, from Dover. He was brother to Frederick, above.

Booth, F. R.    
Frank Robert Booth, T/1024189, was a Driver in the 2nd Division of the Petrol Company, Royal Army Service Corps. He died at the age of 40 on 25th May 1940, and is commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial in France.

He was the son of John Luke and Margaret Booth, and the " dearly beloved" husband of Mary Booth, from Noah's Ark Road, Dover 

May 1941

In ever loving memory of my dear husband and our Daddy, Frank Robert Booth, who was killed in France, May 25th, 1940 His cheering ways, his smiling face, Are Pleasures to recall; But there's nothing left to comfort us But his photo on the wall. His loving Wife, Son and Daughter (Dover and South Wales)

 (Exhibition 06)

Brading, C. F.   
Charles Frederick Brading, 6286740, was in the 4th battalion of The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). He died on the night of 23 October - 24 October 1943, at the age of 24 (his brother says "23"). He was the son of Bert and Catherine Brading. He is commemorated on the Cassio Memorial, in Italy (article)

Bradish, B.     
Barrington Bradish was a Greaser in the Merchant Navy. He served aboard the SS Maid of Kent. He was 57 when he died on 21st May 1940, and is commemorated at Tower Hill, London in the United Kingdom.

He was the son of Stephen and Caroline Bradish, and the husband of Matilda Bradish, from 121 Clrendon Street, Dover.

May 1941

In ever loving memory of a dear husband and father, Barrington (Barry) Bradish, who was lost in the sinking of the hospital ship "Maid of Kent" in Dieppe Harbour, May 21st 1940. Quickly and sudden was the call, His sudden death surprised us all; Only those who have lost are able to tell The pain of a parting without a farewll. From his loving Wife, Sons, and Daughters

Brann, J. W.     
Joseph William Brann, S/147628, who was a Serjeant in the Royal Army Service Corps. He was captured in Italy, and became Prisoner of War number 269626 at Stalag 4B Muhlburg, on the Elbe. He died on 18th February 1945, and is buried at the Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, grave 10 K6 in Germany.

He was the son of Richard and Nellie Brann. The Branns once owned The Boar's Head, in Eaton Road, and The Terminus, at the Western Docks.

with thanks to Raymond Ellis
Note: Joseph is related to Richard Prescott, died 1916. Nellie Brann was cousin to Richard's father, Richard J. Prescott

*Brett, R. W.     
Raymond William Brett, 1807476, was a Sergeant Air Gunner, in the RAFVR, 44 Squadron. On 21st June 1944 he took off at 22.58 hours from Dunholme Lodge, Lincolnshire, as part of a force of 133 Lancasters detailed to attack a synthetic oil plant at Wesseling, south of Cologne, Germany.

Heavy cloud over the target made accurate bombing difficult, and Luftwaffe night-fighter aircraft destroyed many of the 37 Lancasters lost, with six of the losses coming from 44 Squadron. They included Sergeant Brett's Avro Lancaster ND552 KM-X. which crashed in the early hours of 22nd June onto a coalmine near the Belgian village of Lanklaar, where all of the crew are buried in the communal cemetery.

The crew were:

Note: F/O Smith of the Royal Australian Air Force was the son of Sidney and Alice Smith of Midland Junction, Western Australia.

with thanks to Dean Sumner for RAF information

Brewster, I. J.     
Ivor John Brewster, 7590648,  was a Craftsman in the 1st Airborne Divison Workshop of the REME. He was 20 when he died on 16th January 1945, and is buried at Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Netherlands. 

He was the son of Walter Lennos Brewster and Matilda Caroline Brewster, of Dover.

Note: just a short while before Ivor died, he was seen in the street by Maggie S-K's aunt, Dorne Easton. She said, "He looked so smart in his red beret. His grandparents lived in the stone cottage between Paul’s Place and Matthew’s Place. Recently, your uncle and I went out to visit his grave, but the area was fenced off because they were replacing the grass. So we bought a cross for Remembrance Sunday, and put it in the Garden of Remembrance by Dover Memorial, because we hadn't been able to put flowers on Ivor's grave."

Burdett, E. E. H.     
Edgar Ernest Henry Burdett, C/JX 150678, was an Able Seaman in the Royal Navy, aboard the HMS Arethusa. He was 22 when he died ("killed by enemy action in the Eastern Mediterranean") on 18th November 1942, and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial in the United Kingdom.

He was the "dearly loved" son of William and Beatrice Burdett, from 36 Chamberlain Road, Dover, and the dearly beloved husband of Gertrude Patricia Burdett (nee Huntley), from Enfield, in Middlesex, formerly of 4 Prioress Walk, Dover

"Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
"God be with you till we meet again." . 

Buzan, C. W.     
Charles Walter Buzan, 6292559, was a Bombardier in the Royal Artillery, with 331 battery, 100 Light AA Regiment. He died at the age of 28 on 25th February 1944. He is buried at Beach Head War Cemetery, Anzio.

His parents were Charles Edward and Emily (Elsie?) Buzan, of Dover, and he was married to Frances M Buzan, from Epsom, Surrey.

Flight Engineer Wilfred Claud Buzan, 1801432, from the RAFVR and of 103 Squadron, may have been Charles' brother (his parents are given as Charles Edward and Emily Florence Buzan, from Dover). On 26th November 1943, at 17.18 hours, he took off from Elsham Wolds in Lincolnshire in Avro Lancaster JB458 PM-C as part of a raiding force of  443 Lancasters during the period known as the 'Battle of Berlin'. This Battle began on 18th November 1943 and continued with many night raids by RAF Bomber Command until the end of March 1944. The intention was to destroy Berlin. During this particular night, against the target known as "The Big One", 38 Lancasters were lost, including JB458. It is estimated that some 800 Berliners are said to have died, and Berlin Zoo was hit, with many of the dangerous animals escaping into the streets.

The crew were:

Apart from Sergeant Wood, they are all buried in the Durnbach War Cemetery, to the south of Munich

with thanks to Dean Sumner for RAF information