Purkiss, Royston Frederick
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Royston Frederick |
Surname | Purkiss |
Gender | M |
Age | 19 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 29-01-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Frederick Albert and Helena Maude Purkiss of Knowle, Bristol. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | JD165 |
Markings | DY-S |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 236. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 229 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1663282 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 102 (Ceylon) |
Trade | Flight Engineer |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Catherine's Church Barmby Moor, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Roll of Honour in wall mounted wooden case, Sqn Badge above |
Memorial Text | 102 (Ceylon) Sqn Roll of Honour and Sqn badge |
Location | Pocklington Gliding Club, Pocklington Airfield, Easy Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stylised Memorial with inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 102 (Ceylon) Sqn RAF and 405 (Vancouver) Sqn RCAF which served at RAF Pocklington during WW2 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/810/2 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/810/1 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 28-01-1944 |
End Date | 29-01-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Pocklington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (16% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 677 aircraft, 46 losses (6.8%). The diversionary raids drew off a significant number of fighters but the German controller was able to re-group the over the target and many aircraft were Lost as a result. The cloud was broken and some ground marking was possible and despite claims by Bomber Command that the bombing was concentrated, the local report says otherwise. Nevertheless, around 180000 people were bombed out and an unusually high proportion of public and administrative buildings were hit, including the Chancellery. |
Reason for Loss | Ditched in the North Sea and the survivors brought into Montrose, Angus |