Gerald John James Ashpole

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher. The photos are courtesy of Gravesend Grammar School.

Gerald John James Ashpole was born in 16 November 1925 in the Registration district of West Ham, the son of George W. & Frances Lilian Lottie Ashpole (née Osborn), the youngest of their four children.

We see Gerald’s parents on the 1921 census, which was taken on the 19th of June 1921, in the registration District of Mutford which spans the boundaries of the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk. It states that George W. Ashpole is head of the household and they were living at 2, Brunswick Road, Leyton, Essex & London. He is 24 years and 11 months old, born in Stratford, London, a Foreman in the Iron & Steel Dismantling Dept., of Thos. W. Ward Ltd., Thames Road, Silvertown, London. His wife, Frances L.L. Ashpole was 25 years and 7 months old, born in Somerleyton, Suffolk. Their children were Allen G.O. Ashpole, 5 years and 10 months old, born in Somerleyton, Suffolk and Ena O.A. Ashpole, 4 years and 5 months old and Peggy M.V. Ashpole, age 2 years and 1 month old, both born in Leyton, London. Sadly, the family were to lose Baby Peggy Ashpole the following year.

Gerald Ashpole attended Jubilee School in Bury St Edmunds and in 1938 the County School for Boys – now known as Gravesend Grammar School. His home address when he first registered at school was 24 Gatwick Road, Gravesend but the 1939 National Register, which was taken on the 29th of September 1939, shows the family split up in different parts of England. Frances L.L. Ashpole is see living with her daughter, Ena O.A. Tweed, at 27 Guildhall Street, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Ena had married in 1938 to Peirre C. Tweed in the September quarter. There are 2 redacted records and I believe that one of these could be Gerald who would have been 14 years old. Meanwhile George W. Ashpole was away working in Bath, Somerset as a manager for a demolition contractor, in charge of men who were removing Tramway overhead wire.

Gerald left school in 1940 and worked at Martin’s Garage, Singlewell Road, Gravesend. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves on the 17th May 1943. But just over a year later he was killed on D-Day.

The squadron's Operations Record Book states that they took off at 03.08 on 6th June and then reports they were 'Missing. Nothing heard of this aircraft after take-off.'

Squadron Leader J Hugham, commanding Gerald's squadron, 97 (Straits Settlements) Squadron, wrote to Gerald's father the day after he was posted as having failed to return from operations. He gave brief details about the nature of the operation he was on and the hope that he and the rest of the crew were safe. The letter shows Gerald was thought well of in the squadron even though he had only recently joined them.

"Your son had not been with us very long, but during that time he showed exceptional keeness and ability in his work. He was flying with a crew of five Norwegians and one Canadian and the reports from their training centres were outstanding. Your son was very well liked and will be greatly missed by us all.... "

The local newspaper published an article to say he had been posted as missing following bombing operations.

It was not until October 1944 that Gerald's father received confirmation of his death. It said he had been killed in action but the family couldn't get complete closure as his father was told that, at that moment in time, they hadn't been able to identify his body as it was one of two that had been found.

"We have now received from France a report, unfortunately of a sombre nature, which gives some information about his Lancaster and two of the crew. Two airmen from an aircraft, identified by a metal place as your son's Lancaster, are buried in Bayeux Military Cemetery. The two airmen have not been identified and, as we have no other information, we cannot tell which two of the seven they are. Enquiries are still being made and any further information will be passed to you. Meanwhile, may I offer you our sympathy in your prolonged anxiety and distress"

At first he was recorded as an ‘Unknown British Airman’ and was buried in the same grave as an ‘Unknown Norwegian Airman’.

Photo taken in 1950 (source: https://internationalbcc.co.uk/)

 

The body of the unknown Norwegian was later repatriated and buried as an ‘Unknown Norwegian Airman’ in the Western Cemetery in Oslo. But Gerald was eventually identified and his gravestone was replaced with the CWGC one we see today.

Source: Ingo Dierck, FindaGrave