Perry, William Neilson
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | William Neilson |
Surname | Perry |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 07-02-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of William James Perry and Alpha Mary Perry, of Charlton Kings. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | |
Serial Number | |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Charlton Kings Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Sec. 2. Grave 193. |
Epitaph | REMEMBRANCE IS THE SWEETEST FLOWER IN THE GARDEN |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 225 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 154799 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 218 (Gold Coast) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Green, Chedburgh, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Monument with Inscribed Marble Tablets |
Memorial Text | In memory and honour of the Royal Air Force and Polish Air Force Squadrons who were based at RAF Chedburgh 1942 - 1946 |
Location | St. Mary's Church, Bexwell, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of the squadrons based at R.A.F. Downham Market and those who have their lives during the 1939 - 1945 war |
Location | All Saints Church, Chedburgh, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | RoH and Sqn Crest |
Memorial Text | Roll of Honour and scroll remembering the members of the Royal and Polish Air Forces who served at RAF Chedburgh 1942 - 1946 |
Miscellaneous Information
F/O Jim Griffin, bomb aimer in the crew of F/O D Banton recalls: On the afternoon of February 7th both Bill and I went into Bury to go to the cinema, that night there was an auction of cakes and other goodies being held during the interval. This was to raise money for the “Salute the Soldier week”. Both Bill and I paid £2 10 0d- quite a sum in those days for cakes. When we came out of the cinema I suggested we go back to base by bus, but Bill said “Let’s go to the cafe and have a cup of tea and we will catch the station wagon at the rail station”. Off we marched with our cakes for a cuppa. We caught the wagon back which was as usual very full resulting in us having to stand at the back. When we got back to Chedburgh the wagon stopped at the Guard room, Bill jumped out over the tail gate and just as he did so the driver went into reverse knocking Bill over and reversed over him, killing him almost instantly. I was struck numb, only hours before he was laughing and full of life. I threw the cakes over the hedge and walked towards the officer’s mess. I was so traumatised I did not tell anyone that I had been with Bill, not even when his parents came to collect his body, I just could not meet them. |
F/O Griffin's recollection taken from "From St. Vith to Victory" by Stephen C. Smith (Pen & Sword Aviation) |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 30-11--0001 |
End Date | 30-11--0001 |
Takeoff Station | Chedburgh |
Day/Night Raid | |
Operation | |
Reason for Loss | Killed when a station wagon in which William returning from a night out unexpectedly reversed after he had just jumped out of the tail gate. The incident took place outside the guard room at Chedburgh. |