Sleep, Alfred Burford
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Alfred Burford |
Surname | Sleep |
Gender | M |
Age | 32 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 30-08-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Albert George and Amy Gertrude Sleep, of Deal, Kent. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | LM128 |
Markings | WP-Y |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Golders Green Crematorium |
Grave Reference | Panel 3. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 242 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1189174 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 90 |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Roadside location, Tilbury Juxta Clare, Essex |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Memorial |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Airmen of XC Sqn, No 3 Bomb Group flying operations from here with the Mk 1 Stirling Bomber December 1943 until May 1943 |
Location | St. Mary & All the Saints Church, Little Walsingham, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
Memorial Text | In loving memory of Henry Philip Lee Warner AFC DFC. Only Son of Philip Henry & Mary King Lee Warner. Actg S/L RAFVR killed in action over Germany Aug 26th 1944 in his 32nd year |
Location | Village Green, Tuddenham, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial atopped with Inscribed Silver Sun-Dial |
Memorial Text | For all those who served their country as part of XC Sqn RAF |
Location | St. Mary's Church, Tuddenham, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Framed Sqn Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | They grow not old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the Sun and in the morning, we will remember them |
Miscellaneous Information
He penned the following poem two days before he was killed, and handed copies out to the other crew members that fateful night: "LAST LANDING. Oft this earth I leave behind, And soar God's heavens. Till sun and stars I find, And fence the towering clouds With others of my kind. Fear not if I should lose my way, Nor keep sad hearts For my returning day. 'Tis that I flew the heavens too high And reached God's guiding hand, And heard him answer to my cry: "Your journey's done - now land" |
Ironically, his brother, S/L R.M. Sleep of Squadron, was one of the target markers on this operation. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/732/16 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/732/15 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 29-08-1944 |
End Date | 30-08-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Tuddenham |
Day/Night Raid | Night (80% moon) |
Operation | Stettin |
Reason for Loss | Returning to base, emerged from low cloud and crashed 0714 near Freckenham, about 12 miles WNW of Bury St. Edmonds and practically within sight of the airfield some 4 miles away to the east. Three crew died in the crash. |