Name
Edward Francis Edwin
1916
Conflict
Second World War
Date of Death / Age
14/11/1940
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant Pilot
742166
Royal Air Force (VR)
61 Squadron.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LUTON GENERAL CEMETERY
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Aldbury WW2 Memorial Plaque, Luton Vauxhall Motors War Memorial
Pre War
Edward Francis Edwin was born in Luton, Bedfordshire in the July quarter of 1916, son of James Edwin, The Manager of a Grocer’s Shop and Sarah Edwin (nee Sherfield). The youngest of their three children. His parents were married in late 1893.
The 1921 Census records Edward aged 4, living with his parent’s, brother Frederick (24) and sister Laura (22) at 85 High Town Road, Luton, Beds.
His mother Sarah died on 30th December 1933, in Luton, Beds, aged 61 years.
The 1939 Register records his widowed father James living at 3 Maltings Lane, Aldbury, Herts.
Edward married Clarice Daisy Perry the daughter of Walter and Daisy Perry of Luton, in the July quarter of 1939, in Luton, Beds. They lived at 131 Turners Road, Luton, Beds.
Wartime Service
Edward enlisted in the Royal Air Force (Volunteer Reserve) issued with the service No. 742166 and posted to 61 Squadron, at RAF Hemswell, West Linsey, Lincolnshire. He served as a Seargent (Pilot).
On the night of 14th November 1940, he took-off in his Handley Page H.P. 52. Hampden Aircraft serial number X3006: QR, (with a crew of four) for a night bombing raid on Hamburg, Germany, his aircraft hit a hut on take-off and crashed, Edward and Flight Lieutenant Alexander Moncriff were both killed, Sergeant’s R. A. Arboreal and J. G. Donnelly survived although injured.
Edward is buried in Luton General Cemetery, Luton, Beds. Grave 1903B.
Additional Information
His widow Claire remarried on 19th April 1947, in Luton, to George John Warren.
The CWGC additional information; records his mother as Sarah Edwin (nee Fairfield) marriage records give SHERFIELD.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
