View Single Post
  #3  
Old 9th September 2018, 20:37
Icare9 Icare9 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: East Sussex
Posts: 292
Icare9 is on a distinguished road
Re: One for our geneology experts

As you already know, 243 Squadron was equipped with the Brewster Buffalo, which fared very badly against the more experienced Japanese fighter pilots and more nimble aircraft.

On 12 March 1941, No.243 reformed at Kallang as a fighter squadron for the defence of Singapore. The shortcomings of its Buffaloes were soon apparent and when Japanese fighters came within range, the squadron suffered heavy losses and by the end of January 1942 was operating its surviving aircraft as part of a mixed force, the other Buffalo squadrons being in a similar state. Its identity was gradually lost to the evacuation of redundant personnel and by the time all fighters were withdrawn from the Singapore airfields, it no longer existed as a unit, having been disbanded on 20 January 1942.

As Mervyn has no known grave, it's possible he was one of the many Buffaloes shot down during the defence of Singapore, and may have crashed into the sea.

As regards Mervyn's sister, she was registered as AILEEN Dorothy Howey Baldwin and in 3rd Qtr 1923 she married a Leslie L Cockrell in Battle registration district.

I haven't found a link to the Baldwins being the vicar at St Andrews after 1936, those 2 vicars are mentioned by name in the History of St Andrews, Fairlight website, but must have been the incumbent at the time of the CWGC information.

There are several Family Trees with Aileen in them

EDIT to add
Page 4904 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 1 OCTOBER, 1946
Air Ministry, 1st October, 1946. The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the publication of the names of the following personnel who have been mentioned in despatches, in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Malaya, Hong Kong and the Netherlands East Indies during the operations against the Japanese terminating in March, 1942: — Sergeants. 771896 M. J. F. BALDWIN, R.A.F.V.R. (deceased).

Presumably not related to Air Marshal Sir John Eustice Arthur Baldwin, KBE, CB, DSO, DL (13 April 1892 – 28 July 1975)?
Reply With Quote