Name
Alfred Ernest Marshall (DFC, DFM)
Conflict
Second World War
Date of Death / Age
27/11/1944
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Flight Lieutenant
47124
Royal Air Force
25 Sqdn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross, Distinguished Flying Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HITCHIN CEMETERY
N.W. Extn. Grave 381.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St. Mark’s Church Memorial, Hitchin, Hitchin Roll of Honour 1939 – 1945 (Book) St Mary’s Church, Hitchin
Biography
He was born in Portsmouth and educated at Worcester Grammar School. He joined the RAF. in 1931 as an aircraft apprentice straight from school. His Service Number was 47124.
He joined 73 Squadron in France in May 1940 and served there during the Dunkirk evacuation. On the 19th May as a Serjeant Pilot he shared in the destruction of an HE 111 and on the 11th June he destroyed a DO 17. His Squadron was the last to leave France and was later based at Church Fenton.
On 1st September 1940, during the Battle of Britain, the Squadron was moved to Debden. On the 7th September he probably destroyed a BF 110 but his Hurricane P3863 TP-C was badly damaged and he bad to make a forced landing at 5.20pm near Dammerwick Farm, Burnham. Marshes after his engine failed. He was slightly injured during this incident, but his aircraft was repairable.
In early November 1940 the Squadron was posted to the Middle East He went to Takoradi on H.M.S. ‘Furious’ and flew in stages to Helliopolis across Africa. He was then attached to 274 Squadron in the Western Desert. From January to April 1941 he destroyed several enemy aircraft in the Bardia and Benina areas. On the 23rd April 1941 he was shot up and wounded when he landed to refuel. He was awarded the D.F.M on the 6th June 1941. The citation read "This airman has displayed outstanding skill, courage and devotion to duty whilst engaged on active operations against the enemy. He has personally destroyed 15 enemy aircraft. On a recent occasion he took off to engage the enemy whilst a fierce ground attack was being made against the aerodrome". He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 11th August 1941 and returned to operations with 250 Squadron at Sidi Haneish in April 1942. On the 5th July he destroyed a BF 109 and an ME 202 and on the 8th July he destroyed another BF 109. He was rested from operations on the 1st August 1942 and returned to the U.K.
On the 12th August 1942 he was promoted to Flying Officer and was then posted to 51 O.C.T.U. as an instructor at Cranfield. On the 6th October 1942 he was awarded the D.F.C. On the 12th August 1943 he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and in July 1944 he joined 25 Squadron at Coltishall.
On the fine afternoon of the 27th November 1944 with bright sunshine and blue skies, he and his navigator, Flying Officer CA Allen, had completed their NFT in Mosquito HT 472, and decided to “beat up the airfield". They dived over ‘B’ Flight at great speed and pulled up sharply. Vapour trails came from the wing tips followed by a loud bang as both wing tips broke off outboard of the engines. The remainder of the aircraft continued to climb to about 15,000 ft where it turned over and fell to the ground and exploded. Both crew members; were killed instantly.”
He was buried in Hitchin Cemetery, Grave 381 north west extension and his memorial stone reads “Proud and glorious memories of" and is inscribed "Most cherished husband, son and darling daddy".
His home was at ‘Seletar’, Bearton Rd, Hitchin and he had married Miss Beatrice Hagel of Sunderland, and they had two young children. His parents were Alfred Ernest and Hilda Beatrice Marshall, and he was their only son.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines – ‘Hitchin’s Century of Sacrifice’, Paul Johnson - local historian, ‘Men of the Battle of Britain’ by K.G. Wynn, Herts and Beds Express dated 2nd Dec 1944
