Ellis, P.W.
Percy William Ellis was a Seaman in the Merchant Navy. He was lost with the Cable Ship Alert on 24th February 1945, when he was 38.  He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial in London, United Kingdom.

He was the husband of Ruby Dorothy Ellis (nee Croft), then aged 29, of 8 Glenfield Road, Dover, and father of Malcolm, then aged 5. Malcolm would later try to discover what had happened. The telegram, dated February 26th, that his mother received stated, "Regret to inform you that Alert in which your husband (Percy William Ellis) was serving is missing and there is no knowledge of survivors - Ramsay, staff controller engineering department Post Office". Chief Officer Evans of the Alert, who had been on leave when she was sunk, had later flown over the wreck, discovering that she was split in two, with the two sections at an angle to each other, the bow pointing north and the stern half to the east. At around 10.30 to 11.00 on the fatal morning, the official report stated that the Alert may have been torpedoed, or may have struck a mine unretrieved by the minesweepers. "Seehunds" were operative off Ramsgate that morning.

Three bodies, with death probably caused by exposure, were later discovered from a raft which drifted ashore at De Haan, Belgium. They were probably 2nd Officer J Dixon, Chief Engineer H C Fisher, also from Dover, and L C Taws, the 4th Officer. One body, that of Norman MacLeod, was recovered from the sea and now lies at Calais. There were also two bodies washed up at Harwich.  

Malcolm and his mother narrowly escaped death themselves, as, after the tragedy, they lived for a short time in Randolph Road. This is still spoken of by many Dovorians today, as it was to be devastated on 12th June 1941 by a parachute mine. Two crew members of the Alert, who had been off duty when she was sunk, became two of the only three casualties out of 69 men when the sister ship, Monarch, was sunk two months later off Orford Ness.

"Silent thoughts and sweet memories of a dear husband and Daddy" (February 1946)

with thanks for Joyce Banks for information supplied in a newspaper cutting (source uncertain - identification welcomed).

Elworthy, B. P.
 Bernard Patrick Elworthy, EC/7103, was a Lieutenant in the 14th Prince of Wales's Own Cavlary (Scinde Horse), I A C. He died on 22nd June 1944, when he was 22, and is buried in the Sidon War Cemetery, Lebanese Republic.  

He was the son of Henry Albert and Hilda Mary Elworthy, of Dover.

Emery, F. P.
Francis Patrick Emery, 2325293, was a Corporal in the Royal Corps of Signals. He was 22 when he died on 12th February 1944, and is commemorated on the East Africa Memorial, Kenya.

Everall, F. J.
Freeman James Everall was born on 24th Feburary 1993. He had 22 years service and was a Seaman Cable Hand, lost with HMTS Alert on 24th February 1945. He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London

His brother was Mr R J Everall, from 19 Vale View Road, Dover.  

"In loving memory of dear Free, who lost his life ... on his 52nd birthday" from Lily (February 1946)

Fisher, H. C.
Herbert Charles Fisher was born on 13th August 1898. He had ten years service and was in the Merchant Navy, working as a Chief Engineer Officer. He was lost with the Cable Ship Alert on 24th February 1945, when he was 46. He is buried at Oye-Plage Communal Cemetery, row 5, grave 18, fhaving been washed ashore dead, probably from exposure, on a raft from the Alert. 

His wife was Mrs F E Fisher, from 36 Balfour Road, Dover

Fittall, R. E.
Ronald Ernest Fittall, 1897158, was the son of Edwin James and Kate Fittall, from Martin in Kent. He was an Air Gunner Sergeant in the RAFVR, serving in the 463 RAAF Squadron.

He took off in Avro Lancaster DV280 JO-S from Waddington, Lincolnshire at 23:05 hours on 21st June 1944 for a raid on the synthetic-oil plant at Scholven-Buer, Germany. Lancaster DV280 was shot down by a Luftwaffe night-fighter in the early hours of 22nd June and crashed in a polder area at Berghem about 3 miles northeast of Oss, Netherlands. Apart from P/O Forth who survived to become a PoW, the rest of the crew were killed and are buried in Uden War Cemetery, Netherlands (AGS Fittall in grave 5 B 10)

The raid was carried out by 123 Lancasters of which 8 were lost including DV280. The raid was moderately successful, causing a 20% loss in production at the oil plant.

 The crew were:

Notes:- 

Flight Lieutenant Smith was the son of Horatio Joseph and Janie Parks Smith, of Mount Lawley, Western Australia.
Flying Officer Gossip was the son of Harold Edwin and Millicent Gossip, of Wamberal, New South Wales, Australia.
Flying Officer Raynham was the son of Harry Lucas Raynham and Johannah Louisa Raynham, of Lobatsi, Bechuanaland (Botswana)
Flight Sergeant Jones was the son of Humphrey and Hilda Alice Jones, of Welling. Kent.

with thanks to Dean Sumner

Flisher, L. C.
Leonard Charles Flisher, 564186, was the son of Harry William and Rose Flisher, from Guildford, Surrey, and was a Sergeant Observer in the RAF, with the 218 ("Gold Coast")Squadron (This was part of the Advanced Air Striking Force (AASF) in France, being the RAF's reaction force to any enemy assault).

On 12th May 1940, two days into the Wehrmachts 'Blitzkreig' upon the West, Fairey Battle K9353 took off from a landing ground at Auberive-sur-Suippes, France (about 25 miles east of Reims), for an attack on enemy forces at Bouillon, Belgium. During the course of the operation K9353 was shot down, and crashed at Sensenruth, about two miles north of Bouillon. All of the crew were killed and are buried at Sensenruth (Curfoz) Communal Cemetery, Belgium (collective grave 3-4).

The crew were:

Flight Sergeant John Bland Horner	Pilot	aged 24
Sergeant Leonard Charles Flisher	Observer	aged 26
Leading Aircraftman Leslie Douglas Davies	Air gunner	aged 21

Note:
Number.218 Squadron was formed at Dover on 24th April 1918 as a light day-bomber squadron. It was disbanded in 1919, but reformed in 1936.

with thanks to Dean Sumner

Fox, J. H. E.
John Henry Edward Fox, C/JX 149694, was a Leading Seaman on the HMS Cornwall, in the Royal Navy. He went missing, presumed killed, when he was 31, on 5th April 1942. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial in the United Kingdom.

He was the only son of John Edward and Lilian Clara Rose Fox, and his wife was Freda Lilian Fox (nee Larkins), from 14 Snargate Street, Dover, Kent.