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JAMES ANDERSON.
LOCAL WW1 MEMORIAL: Kirkby Wharfe.
Too many James Andersons gave their lives in WW2.
Can You Help.
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HARRY HARDY.
LOCAL WW1 MEMORIAL: Kirkby Wharfe.
Too many Harry Hardys on record.
Can You Help.
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LANCE SERJEANT AIR GUNNER KENNETH LAWRY.
SERVICE NUMBER: 15/1450070.
UNIT: 158 Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 11/04/1944. AGE: 20.
CEMETERY: Poix-De-Picard Churchyard Somme France. GRAVE: Row B Grave 9.
LOCAL WW1 MEMORIAL: Kirkby Wharfe.
CWGC States:
"Son of John and Lilian Lawry, of Grimston Park, Yorkshire."
Kenneth was more than likely shot down in this area of France.
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HUMPHREY METCALFE.
LOCAL WW1 MEMORIAL: Kirkby Wharfe.
Cannot be certain there is a Humphrey Wilkinson metcalfe on record son of Reverand Godfrey Metcalfe could this be him.
Can You Help.
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WING COMMANDER JAMES BRINDLEY NICOLSON.
SERVICE NUMBER: 39329. UNIT: 355 Squadron Royal Air Force.
BORN: Hampstead London 1917. GAVE HIS LIFE: 02/05/1945. AGE: 29.
CEMETERY: Singapore Memorial. PANEL: 445.
LOCAL WW1 MEMORIAL: Kirkby Wharfe.
AWARDS: VC. DFC.
CWGC States:
"Son of Leslie Gibson Nicolson and Dorothea Hilda Nicolson; husband of Muriel Caroline Nicolson, of Kirkby Wharfe, Yorkshire."
Here are a few facts regarding James Brindley Nicolson:
James was the son of Son of Leslie Gibson Nicolson and Dorothea Hilda Nicolson, Shoreham-by-Sea , he married Muriel Caroline Nicolson, of Kirkby Wharfe Tadcaster, they had one son.
James was educated Yardley Court Preparatory School, Tonbridge, kent and Tonbridge School.
He joined the RAF in October 1936 and was posted to 72 Squadron in August 1937, in May 1939 James joined 249 Squadron where he won his VC (SEE BELOW).
He saw service in India and in 1943 lead fighters in Burma.
His wife Muriel lays at rest in Kirby Wharfe Cemetery close to many brave RAF men who also gave their lives.
London Gazette 15 November 1940.
"On August 16th, 1940, during an air battle near Southampton, four cannon shells hit wing Cdr. Nicolson's aircraft, two wounding him and one setting fire to the gravity tank.
When about to abandon his plane he sighted an enemy fighter which, despite the flames in his cockpit, he attacked and brought down.
In so doing he incurred serious burns on his hands, face and neck.
In continuing to engage the enemy although wounded and with his aircraft on fire, wing Cdr. Nicolson displayed exceptional gallantry and disregard for his own life."
James was the only member of Fighter Command to be awarded the VC in WW2.
A corgi replica of the plane a Hawker Hurricane MkIA - P3576, GN-A, flown by James can be purchased from Corgi toys with the followinG information:
"F/Lt James Nicolson , a Yorkshire man was Fighter Command's only VC, he had won his award flying with No 249 Squadron over Southampton.
On August the 16th 1940 Nicolson in his Hurricane (P3576) with two other pilots from No 249 Squadron, attacked enemy Messerschmitt 110's near Southampton.
The three RAF planes were in turn attacked by Bf 109's.
After recovering from his severe burns and other injuries (other injuries included being shot in the buttock's by a trigger happy Local Defence Volunteer as he descended in his parachute), Nicolson returned to flying in April 1941 as a Squadron Leader.
Tragically, he went missing while flying as a passenger in a Liberator over the Bay of Bengal on the 2nd of May 1945."
A commemorative blue plaque and clock dedicated to Wing Commander Nicolson was unvailed on the 16th August 1984 at his familys former home in Buckingham Road shoreham, it was left to James when his father passed away in 1943.
Wing Commander Nicolson's Victoria Cross raised a record £110,000 when it was auctioned in 1983. It is now on display at the RAF Museum in Hendon, London.
A Royal Air Force VC 10 was named in honour of James which i flew on many times whilst posted to 10 Squadron at Brize Norton in the early 90's.!!
In 1991 a book was writen about James's life by Peter D Mason, and another book was published in 1993 by Phillip Wilkinson.
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LANCE SERJEANT BENJAMIN PICKERING.
SERVICE NUMBER: 612453. UNIT: Royal Air Force.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 17/11/1942. AGE: 22.
CEMETERY: Dely Ibrahim War Cemetery Algeria. PANEL: 3. H. 10.
LOCAL WW1 MEMORIAL: Kirkby Wharfe.
CWGC States:
"Son of Robert and Ethel Pickering, of Ackworth, Yorkshire."