Graveyard

1 Richard Ernest Gray - Commonwealth war grave

Flight Sergeant 1332583.

Navigator /Wireless Operator  141 Squadron. RAF Volunteer Reserve.

Died Monday 29 May 1941, age 23.

 He died in an air training crash after taking off from RAF West Raynham, Norfolk. Only he, the observer, and the pilot, were in de Havilland Mosquito NF Mk II DD717 when the aircraft spun into the ground at North Farm, Clenchwarton, near Kings Lynnn. The son of Jesse and Ellen Gray, of 63 Summerleys, Eaton Bray, he had worked at Waterlow and Sons, Dunstable.

2 Reginald Hancox - family grave

The inscription reads:

…Also Flying officer Reginald Sidney Hancox R.A.F., killed in action over Germany August 12/13th 1944 aged 29 years

(details taken from "Memorial Inscriptions" by Keith Williams, for the Bucks History Society in 1985.) 

3 Frank Pearson - family grave

Private. 14659871.

1^st/7th Battalion, The Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey).

Died Thursday 29 June 1944, age 24.

The inscription to Frank reads:

…...Also Prvt. Frank William Pearson, killed in action 29 June 1944 aged 24.

He had been a member of the Home Guard before joining the army. His regiment was involved in heavy fighting following the Normandy landings as Commonwealth forces tried to advance from Bayeux in an encircling movement to the south of Caen. He was the son of Frederick and Edith Pearson of Corner Farm, Edlesborough.

Commemorated: Hottot-les-Bagues War Cemetery, Calvados, France. Ref IX.D.3.

4 Jean Cunison Nelson - family grave

Captain 248755. LRCP, MRCS, Royal Army Medical Corps. 

Killed, aged 30, in an air raid on 15^th August 1945, the last day of the war in Asia.

Daughter of William George Fraser Nelson and Evelyn Margaret Nelson, of Dagnall, Buckinghamshire.  They were living in Buckland at the time of her death and she is commemorated there. At the start of the war she had been an anaesthetist at University College Hospital, London. (Source Buckland Community Magazine)

Her parents were buried in Edlesborough graveyard and a plaque was placed on the grave to commemorate her life.

Buried: Delhi War Cemetery, India. Ref. 5. K.10. 

5 John James Morton

Gunner 917351. 148 (The Beds Yeomanry Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.

Died Tuesday 19 September 1939, aged 23 years.

He was the son of John and Rose Morton, of Leighton Road, Northall.

He died as he and four other soldiers were returning to the Territorial Army Drill Hall in High Street North, Dunstable after road block duties in the town centre. In the blackout, a speeding lorry owned by Hay’s Wharf Cartage Company hit them, killing John instantly and injuring the others. He was buried with full military honours. His coffin, draped with the Union Jack, and bearing his hat and belt, was drawn on a gun carriage from his home to the church, accompanied by an escort of over a hundred members of his regiment.There were also 12 representatives from the Stonehenge Brick Co, Leighton Buzzard, where he was employed before called up for his military service.The Parish Church was filled with mourners and Last Post and Reveille were sounded at the graveside.” (abridged from an unknown newspaper article)

6 Peter Cunningham - Commonwealth war grave

Sergeant 580784.

Observer, Royal Air Force, 99 Squadron .

Died Wednesday 1^st May 1940, age 22.

Son of Christopher Angus Cunningham and Dorothy Gilmore Cunningham, of Northall.

He was airborne from Newmarket to Stavenger. The aircraft crashed into the Wash, the cause was not established (From Bomber County Aviation Resource)