Last Post - Kenneth Battensby, 5 year old Civilian War Casualty

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Last Post Kenneth Battensby

Source: http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers

In Memory of Civilian KENNETH BATTENSBY

Civilian War Dead who died age 5 on 05 August, 1944
Son of Robert Henry and Audrey Battensby, of 53 Gresham Road, Middlesbrough.

Died at Skipton-on-Swale.
Remembered with honour
THIRSK, RURAL DISTRICT

Battensby War Graves Certificate

Above is the certificate issued in honor of Kenneth Battensby by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Howard Cowperthwaite, 433 Squadron has kindly provided these images of the cairn erected in their memory on May 19, 1984.

Plaque on Cairn erected at Skipton on Swale

Image courtesy of Howard Cowperthwaite, 433 Squadron, Skipton-on-Swale

Skipton Cairn - this was their finest hour.

Image courtesy of Howard Cowperthwaite, 433 Squadron, Skipton-on-Swale

Image courtesy of Howard Cowperthwaite

Image courtesy of Howard Cowperthwaite, 433 Squadron

Kenneth Battensby is a 5 year old boy who was killed in the plane crash that also took the lives of 2 airmen. Kenneth Battensby was showered with debris from the crash. The Halifax Bomber was returning damaged from a mission overseas. The Halifax III missed the runway and crashed into the bridge.

Ops Report Aug 5, 1944

172 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432, 433, and 434 squadrons were joined by 52 Lancasters from 408, 419 and 428 squadrons on an attack of a V-1 storage site at St. Leu D’Esserent. The crews were over the target at between 14,000 and 17,000 feet, releasing 2,553,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was good and damage was caused.  F/O J. Harrison RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-828 coded BM-H, returned on 3 engines. On their first attempt they overshot the airfield. On the second try, they lost control and crashed at Skipton Bridge. The pilot, F/O J. Harrison RCAFsmall poppy image and Flt/engineer Sgt D. Whitbread, RAFsmall poppy image, were killed and the rest were injured.  JB note, Kenneth Battenby, small poppy, age 5, was killed when showered with debris.

Source: www.rcaf.com. Click here to read the entire report.

The inscription on F/E Whitbread's certificate was selected by poet Rudyard Kipling who also lost a son in battle. He selected words based on Ecclesiasticus 44:14 "Their bodies are buried in peace, but their name liveth forevermore."