Balfour, R. H.     
Robert Balfour, 2754095, was a Private in the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), 1st battalion. He was reported missing, and over a year later as having died on 11th June 1940. He is remembered on the Dunkirk Memorial in France.

He was the son of Thomas and Beatrice Louise Balfour, and the husband of Doris May Balour, of 26 Adrian Street, and later of Ramsgate, and the father of two young sons. 

Barnes, L. N.    
Leslie Norman Barnes, 5389400, was a Private in the 31st Independent Co, Reconnaissance Corps, RAC. He died by accident at Brecon on 17th June 1941, when he was 28. He is buried at Tenterden, St Mildred's, Kent, England.

His parents were William East and Elizabeth Barnes, and his wife was Lille Frances Barnes, nee Bodiam, from Dover.

June 1942

Barnett, R. J. W.    
Reginald James William Barnett was a Captain in the BOAC. He died as the result of a flying accident on 15th February 1943, when he was 33. He is buried in Asmara War Cemetery, Eritrea, 3 D 3

He was the only son of Mr and Mrs W. Barnett, formerly from Dover and Capel. He was educated at Godwynhurst College, Dover, and had been well known as secretary of the Dover Motor Cycle Club. He joined the RAF in 1930, and became Squadron Leader before joining Imperial Airways in 1936. He had been in Africa since 1940. He left a widow and three children, who were then living in Asmara. 

Bishop, S.      
Sidney (Sydney) William Bishop, P/JX 160338, was a Leading Seaman in the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Montgomery. He died on 10th March 1941 when he was 21, from wounds received in action, and was buried at sea. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial in the United Kingdom.

He was the son of Alfred and Clara (nee Knott) Bishop, formerly of Dover and from Shepherd's Bush in London, and the husband of Joyce Bishop

March 1942

Bliss, R. D.     
Raymond Dennis Bliss, 6402922, was a Private in the Royal Sussex Regiment, 4th battalion. He died on 14th April 1946, aged 28. He is buried at Charlton Cemetery, Dover, 3 R 27.

At the bottom of his headstone are the words:

Long days he suffered pain
To look for cure was in vain
God above saw what was best
And took him home to rest

He was the son of Harry and Lily Bliss from Dover, and the husband of Louise Emily Bliss, from Tower Hamlets, Dover.   .

Bowling, G. E.    
George Edmund Bowling, C/SSX 23484, was an Able Seaman in the Royal Navy, with HMS Vernon. He was killed by enemy action at the age of 27 on 2nd October 1941, at Military Hill, and was buried on 7th October in St James cemetery, Dover, 28a 1P, in the United Kingdom.

His parents were  Walter and Elizabeth Jane Bowling, from Dover, and he was the "beloved husband" of Ann R Bowling, from 44 Priory Hill, Dover.

"Resting where no shadows fall"

In Memoriam October 1942
 

For more about HMS Vernon, and the unfortunate demise of another casualty, see Thomas Baskerville

Brown, V. G. 
Victor George Brown, C/KX112512, was a Stoker, 1st Class, in the Royal Navy, with the HMS Niger. He died on 6th July 1942, aged 23. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

He was the "beloved husband" of Betty Brown, nee Robb, late of Dover.

"Sleep on, beloved"

Brownson, T.       
Thomas Brownson, C/KX 137610 was a Stoker, 1st Class, in the Royal Navy, serving aboard the HMS Welshman. He was killed in action on 1st February 1943, when he was 18, and is buried at the El Alamein War Cemetery, III A 5. 

He was the son of Edward Brownson and his wife Ethel, nee Walton, who lived at East Studdal, formerly at 27 East Cliff.

"He died that we might live", from his sister, Ethel.

Bryant, J. W.      
John William Bryant, 95991, was a Captain in the 6th battalion of The Buffs (HD). He died on 24 January 1940, aged 67, and is buried at St Mary's.  

Captain Bryant lived at Lismore, Lower Road, River, and died suddenly on the train at Folkestone, after he had finished his duties as adjutant of one of the National Defence Companies. He had had a long service career, having jonied the 1st South Wales Borderers at Gibraltar in 1895, serving with them in India and South Africa. He was also Paymaster Sergeant to the Boer POW camp at Kakeel until 1902. He was a Colour Sergeant in 1905, and during the Great War re-enlisted and became Regimental Sergeant Major for the 5th battalion,  training them and going with them to France in May 1915 as part of the 19th Division.

He was mentioned in dispatches and gained his commission in 1916 and was again mentioned in 1917 and1918.He was awarded the Croix de Guerre, with Palm. He brought the Cadre home for demobilisation at the end of the war, was promoted Captain, and went to the Army HQ Staff at Lille. From there he was demobilised in January 1920.  He came to Dover, and worked for the British Legion, being Hon Secretary from 1932 until he was called up. He was also Hon Secretary of the Dover Hospital Fete and Carnival Week, and worked for the St George's Society. .

The first part of Captain Bryant's funeral was held at the cemetery chapel, with the Rectors of St James and Buckland officiating, and the Chaplain to the Dover Branch of the British Legion reading the Exhortation. Many people attended his funeral, including the British Legion, for whom Mr W B Traynor, VC, was one of the escorts of the Standard, and The Buffs, who provided the firing party and the buglers. The Last Post and Reveille was sounded, and the British Legion dropped poppies into the grave.  

He left a widow, Mag, who laid a floral tribute "To my dear Love", and children.

Buckley, M. W.
Maurice William Buckley, 1380001, was a Sergeant (Observer) in the RAFVR, No 148 Squadron. He was an old County (now Grammar) School, and was with the Imperial Airways Corporation in the accounts branch before joining the RAFVR in 1940.

He had been in the Middle East since the beginning of January 1942, where his squadron were officially based in Egypt. However, on the night he died, elements of the squadron were operating from Malta when, on the evening of 23rd April 1942 at 20:45 hours, Vickers Wellington BB483 took off from Luqa in Malta to bomb the enemy airfield at Comiso in Sicily. During the early hours of 24th April 1942, the Wellington was shot down over the Island above Acate and all of the crew except the Captain, Flt/Lt Hayter were killed. Those who lost their lives are buried in the Catania War Cemetery in Sicily; Sergeant Buckley lies in collective grave IV 24.

The crew that night were:

Postscript:

Flight Lieutenant Hayter, after being taken prisoner, eventually ended up at the notorious Stalag Luft III Camp at Sagan in Poland and took part in the famous Great Escape of 24th/25th March 1944. Recaptured, Hayter was one of the 50 RAF escapees selected for execution on the orders of Hitler. On 6th April 1944 while he was imprisoned at Strasburg jail, a local Gestapo Officer by the name of Alfred Schimmel, ordered the removal of 23 years old Hayter from the jail. and his killing at Breslau. The Gestapo report stated "... the prisoner whilst relieving himself, bolted for freedom and was shot trying to escape." The Gestapo reports filed for each shot RAF escapee were nearly all identical in conclusion about how they died. Anthony Hayter's cremated remains were interred at Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery.

After the war Schimmel was arrested, tried, and hanged in Hamburg during February 1948 for the war crime of being concerned, "in violation of the laws and usages of war", in the killing of Flight Lieutenant Hayter.

RAF and postscript information with thanks to Dean Sumner

Butcher, R. A.      
Reginald Alfred Butcher, 1200354, was a Sergeant (Wireless Operator) in the RAFVR, No 3 Group Training Flight. He lived at 6 Sydney Terrace, Malvern Road, Dover.

On 6th January 1942 at 10:00 hours, Vickers Wellington L7863 took off from Newmarket Heath in Suffolk for a gunnery detail training flight. But as the aircraft climbed away after take-off, the port engine spluttered to a stop and the Wellington quickly lost height and crashed onto a nearby railway embankment before skidding into an adjacent building and bursting into flames. All of the crew were killed apart from 2 members who survived with injuries. Those who died were claimed by respective families and buried in their home towns. Reginald was buried at St Mary's cemetery in Dover, United Kingdom on 10th January 1942.

An Officer and NCOs of the RAF attended, and six members of his unit bore his Union Flag draped coffin. Many of his family were present, and his wife, Winifred Edith Butcher, left a floral tribute "In affectionate remembrance of a dear husband and daddy, from his loving wife and little daughter, Joan".

The flat stone reads:

In Sacred Memory of My Devoted Husband and Dear Daddy, Sergeant Reginald Alfred Butcher, who was Killed on Active Service 5th January 1942, aged 29 years.  "He gave his life that we might live"

The crew of L7863 were:

Note:-

photo and transcription with thanks to Joyce Banks
RAF information with thanks to Dean Sumner