Batten, Harold Royston
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Harold Royston |
Surname | Batten |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Date of Death | 11-11-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Gilbert & Jessie Winifred Batten. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax V |
Serial Number | EB129 |
Markings | MA-W |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | St. Desir War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | VII. A. 14. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 128 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1333486 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 161 (Special Duties) |
Squadron Motto | Liberate |
Trade | WOp/AG |
Country of Origin | Newfoundland |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Green, Tempsford, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial with inscribed Marble Tablets |
Memorial Text | In honour of the men and women of Special Duties Sqns stationed at RAF Tempsford |
Location | Gibraltar Farm Barn, Tempsford, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Framed Scrolls |
Memorial Text | In memory of 161 Sqn, RAF Tempsford February 1942 - June 1945 |
Location | Church of St. Peter, Tempsford, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Brass Plaques & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | In memory of the men and women of 161 Sqn, RAF Tempsford including those of the Royal Australian Air Force, and SOE agents killed during WW2 |
Miscellaneous Information
Born in Newfoundland of Canadian father, British mother. |
His brother, Sgt Gilbert Herbert McDonald Batten was killed on 20 October 1943 serving with 115 Sqn (see https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/201578) |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1068/6 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1068/5 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 10-11-1943 |
End Date | 11-11-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Tempsford |
Day/Night Raid | Night (98% moon) |
Operation | Special Operations Executive- Operations Trainer 38/ Melpomene/ Penny-farthing, for France |
Reason for Loss | Lost control in cloud at 3000' and crashed near Brunelles, France |