Southern, Derek John Nigel
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Derek John Nigel |
Surname | Southern |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | AFM |
Date of Death | 08-04-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of John Coltman Southern and Helen Violet Southern, of Battersea, London. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ED590 |
Markings | EA-L |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 10. F. 12. |
Epitaph | WE FEW, WE HAPPY FEW, WE BAND OF BROTHERS (From Shakespeare's Henry V, Act IV: The St. Crispin's Day speech). |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 100 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 107910 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 49 |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Clement of Rome Church, Fiskerton, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Slate Tablet & 49 Sqn Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | In memory of all who served at RAF Fiskerton 1943-1945 |
Location | St. Clement of Rome Church, Fiskerton, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Slate Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of all who served at RAF Fiskerton 1943 - 1945 Per Erdua Ad Astra |
Location | Fiskerton Airfield (Disused) Reepham Rd, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stones with inscribed Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | RAF Fiskerton. This stone and tree are sited on the airfield in memory of those who served here during World War II |
Location | The National Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served on 49 Squadron 1916-1965 |
Miscellaneous Information
AFM published in London Gazette 30th September 1941 |
Born 23 March 1920, Willesden, Middx. In 1939 Derek and his Mother, Helen, were living with her mother at The Shubbery, Reculver Road, Herne Bay. Derek was working as a bank clerk. His AFM was awarded for his work in training new pilots to fly, Granted on 30 September 1941 Gazetted 26 September 1941, Page 5651, Issue 35291, Citation reads "Exceptional Keenness & Devotion to Duty". |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/481/32 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/481/31 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 08-04-1943 |
End Date | 09-04-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Fiskerton |
Day/Night Raid | Night (18% moon) |
Operation | Duisburg |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by heavy flak from numerous batteries and crashed in the target area, near Hubbelrath, Germany, at 0001 hrs. The crew were intiially buried in Dusseldorf North cemetery and reinterred on 30 November 1946. |