Frederick Ronald Duxbury was born in the December quarter of 1920 the son of John Leonard Booth Duxbury and Florence Loreli Chilton, who married in St. Andrew’s Parish Church, Southport on the 17th July 1918. John Leonard Boothe Duxbury was 24, a bachelor and Theatre Manager, his address was 19, Albert Road, Southport, and his father was Henry Arthur Duxbury. Florence Loreli Chilton, 22 and a spinster, lived at 97c, Eastbank Street, Southport and her father was Frederick Chilton (deceased), previously a Furrier. They married by Licence and their witnesses were Harold? Booth, Martha Chilton & Margaret Frances Matthias.
I found Florence on the 1911 census living at 69, King Street, Southport, Lancashire. (10 Rooms) with Mary Jane Norton, 42, married 7 years, a Boarding House Keeper, born in Chester. Martha Chilton, sister to Mary Jane, had been married 10 years, 1 child had been born and was still living, she was a Dressmaker on her own account, at home, and had been born in Chester. Florence was Mary Jane’s niece, and I believe Martha’s daughter, age 15 and at school, but born in Manchester.
John Leonard Booth Duxbury, Regtl. No.79036, 26th Labour Coy., enlisted on the 6th December 1915 at Seaforth, age 21 years and 286 days and he was a Clerk. He was 5’ 7,” Chest Measurement was 36 inches and range of expansion was 3 inches. His Next of Kin was his father Henry Arthur Duxbury, address Tan House Farm, Tasker’s Lane, Penbold? This address was crossed out and 8, Leicester St. Southport was written in its place. John was “Home” from the 9th of December 1915 to the 13th of July 1917. “Home” being the UK. His Medical History Sheet tells us some sad things about John. On the 30th of November 1916 at Seaforth, he was examined, and his health was classed as poor, his weight was 108 and a half pounds, and his chest measurements was as above. By the 30th December 1916 he had lost ¼ of an inch, his weight had dropped to 103 and 1/2 pounds. And his chest expansion had dropped to 1 and ½ inches. He was 17 pounds under weight.
His congenital peculiarities were noted as Curvature of the spine and Pigeon chested. He also needed Dental Treatment.
On the 13th of July 1917 he was discharged as being no longer physically fit for War Service. Sadly, John died in 1924 age 29 years old.
The 1921 census brings a mystery, as Frederick Ronald Duxbury, born according to the Birth, Marriages & Deaths on Free BMD, states that he was born in the December quarter of 1920, he was the only Frederick R. Duxbury with the mother’s maiden name of Chilton recorded. Therefore, he should have been recorded on the 1921 census, which is below, however, he is not, so either he was in another household or perhaps hospital, or they thought that as a baby they did not have to put his name on the census, I really don’t know, but I cannot find him on the 1921 census. Any help would be appreciated.
The 1921 census, which was taken on the night of the 19th of June 1921*, sees the couple together on a census for the first time. They are still at 97 C Eastbank Street, Southport. They are living with Florence’s mother, Martha Chilton, who was head of the family, she was 63 years and 2 months old, widowed and was a Ladies Tailor & Furrier on her own account, she had been born in Chester, Cheshire. Florence Loreli Duxbury was classed as a visitor, she was 25 years and 3 months old, and she had been born in Manchester, Lancashire and was doing ‘Home Duties’ at home. Her husband John Leonard Booth Duxbury, also a visitor was 27 years and 4 months old, born in Oldham, Lancashire and was a Theatrical Manager for Hanaway Bros, Theatrical Proprietors C/O The “Stage”, 16, Covent Garden, London, W.C. 2. He was ‘Out of Work.’ Martha’s sister Margaret Estha Norton was also in the household, she was 60 years and 5 months old, a spinster, born in Chester and Housekeeper for her sister at home.
* https://ukcensusonline.com/census/1921/
- The 1921 Census should have been taken on 24 April but was delayed by nearly two months in the wake of the Black Friday strike by railwaymen, coal miners and transport workers. This is the one and only time that the census date was changed.
Frederick Ronald Duxbury was aged about 3 years old when his father John Leonard Booth DUXBURY died in 1924 and it wasn’t till 1948 before Florence Loreli DUXBURY was to get Probate from her husband’s Will. Please see his probate – DUXBURY, John Leonard Booth of 31 Park-crescent Southport, Lancashire died 12th February 1924 at 20 Park-road, Southport. Administration London 3rd May 1948 to Florence Loreli DUXBURY, Widow.
I do not know anything about Frederick Ronald’s early life or teenage years, so any information would be gratefully received.
I found Florence & Frederick Duxbury on the 1939 National Register which was taken on the 29th September 1939. This source gives us the dates of birth of each individual. They were living at ”Fireze” Stryt Isa, Hope, Caer Estyn, Hawarden, Flintshire in the household of Sarah Norton who was born on the 7th May 1856 and single, Martha Chilton, born the 15th April 1858 and widowed, also Margaret C. Norton born the 13th January 1861 and single as well as Mary J. Forrest, also born the same day as Margaret, the 13th January 1861, and also a widow. Women on this register who did not have a job were described as doing “Unpaid Domestic Duties “. All these ladies above were labelled as such and I believe were possibly sisters. Florence Duxbury, who I believe is Martha’s daughter, was born on the 28th March 1896, widowed and a Factory Supervisor, her son Frederick R. Duxbury had been born on the 18th November 1920 was single and a Motor Salesman.
I do not know where or when he met Monica but I do know that he married Monica Ivy King in the June quarter of 1942 and thanks to Joyce Malone, who sent me a copy of their wedding day photograph. Sadly they were only to be together for not even a year. Their marriage was a Civil Marriage or Registrar Attended in Chester (Cheshire West ROC/94/250).
Monica Ivy King was living at 104 Cliveden Road, Chester, Cheshire on the 29th September 1939 and is seen on the National Register taken that day. She was living with Arthur and Violet Ellen Croft with, I believe, their daughter Vera V.E. Croft and a schoolboy, Harold Allsop, there is also a redacted or closed record.* Monica’s entry is first, as though she is head of the household and her name is entered as Ivy Monica. Her date of birth is given as the 4th April 1924, she is described as single and an Assistant Hairdresser. Also this source gives us the clue to her later marriage after Frederick Ronald’s death in 1943.
*For individual people, records remain closed for a century after their birth (the 100-year rule), unless it can be proven that they passed away before this milestone.
So we know that in the September of 1939 he had not enlisted, or at least was not, at that point, in the R.A.F. However when he did enlist in the R.A.F. he was posted to the 542 Squadron.
We do know that he was engaged in defending our country when he married in 1942 as he is seen in his uniform on his wedding photograph and below are a few websites that may help build a picture of what he went through.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._542_Squadron_RAF
No. 542 Squadron RAF
History
Formation in World War II
The squadron formed at RAF Benson on 19 October 1942 from A and E Flights of the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit. For a period, it used nearby RAF Mount Farm as its operational base. The squadron was equipped with the Spitfires with to fly photo reconnaissance missions over Europe. Originally equipped with the Spitfire IV, it received the Mark VII in November, the Mk IX in February 1943, the Mk XI in April, the Mk XIX in May 1944, and the Mk X in July. After the end of the war, No. 542 Squadron was disbanded on 27 August 1945.[1]
https://www.nationalcoldwarexhibition.org/research/squadrons/542/
Royal Air Force Museum
No.542 Squadron
Formed 19 October 1942 – Disbanded 01 October 1958
Established on 19 October 1942 at Benson, No. 542 Squadron was formed from elements of the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit. The squadron used several marks of Spitfire during the war.
Initially No. 542 Squadron flew coastal reconnaissance missions, but from May 1943 began co-operation with Bomber Command, taking photographs of targets for use in bomber crew briefings and after raids for damage assessment. Early in 1944 No. 542 Squadron urgently began to survey V-1 flying bomb launch sites in order for attacks to be planned.
After photographing invasion approaches No. 542 Squadron concentrated on the tactical situation on the Continent, surveying the route ahead of the advancing ground forces. After the war No. 542 Squadron flew diplomatic mail deliveries until it was disbanded on 27 August 1945.
https://www.rafweb.org/Squadrons/Sqn541-598.htm
Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation
Equipped with Spitfires, it operated from nearby Mount Farm conducting reconnaissance sorties over Europe throughout the rest of the war, disbanding on 27 August 1945.
(There are photographs of some 542 Squadron personnel below)
On the 6th March 2 Spitfires went up on a reconnaissance mission, F/Sgt. Frederick Ronald Duxbury was flying Spitfire B.S. 501 and took off at 14.00 to Essen, but failed to return, the other one, was flown by F/O F.H.C. Efford in B.S 502 took off at 14.30 and returned at 15.10 and then again at 15.30 returning at 18.45 his Object was Kiel, Flensburg, Cuxhaven & Brunsbuttel, the result was that all targets were covered by film u/s owing to poor photographic light.
I looked back on the Operational Records I had downloaded from the National Archives, and found a flight on the 8th of February 1943 where Frederick Ronald took off in A.A. 918 on a Photo Rece at 09.45 and touched down at 10.30 his objects were Boulogne, Calais, Marquis, Aerodromes Dunkirk, the result – U/S oil pressure trouble. He also flew on the 13th of February in A.A. 785, again on a Photo Rece and took off at 09.30 returning at 11.15, his object was Cherbourg, the result was he had photos of Cape-la-Hague, Cherbourg. On the 16th February in B.S. 497, he took off as before on Photo Rece, taking off at 12.00 and returning at 15.16, his object this time was Lorient D.A. St. Nazaire D/A., the result was successful on both. On the 18th February he flew in B.S. 502, taking off at 09.17, returning at 12.45, his Object this tiem was again Lorient D/A, the result was Yew Islands, Noirmontier Island. On the 24th February he flew in B.P. 926, taking off at 15.25 and returning at 17.50, his Object was Florennes Stomer Clairmarnis A/D – Result – Boulogne, Stomer/Claimarais A/D/ Merville A/D Marquis. The 27th February saw Frederick Ronald in B.P. 926 again, taking off at 13.00 and returning at 14.20 , the Object this time was A/D’s Cambrai Niergnies, Ypres, Florennes, Boulogne – Result – W/T No.7. The next day, the 28th February, he flew in B.S. 502, the aircraft that he was to lose his life in, taking off at 13.15 and returning at 16.09, his Object this time was Rennes D/A Cherbourg. Result – Photos of Target. The Summary of Events at the end of the Februat Record of Events has this written – Weather: Cloudy. Visibility good. Winds mainly light, north Easterly. Two operational sorties, both unsuccessful. F/Sgt. F.R. Duxbury “B” Flight failed to return.
Florence passed away on the 17th March 1960 – Her Probate – Duxxbury, Florence Loreli otherwise Florence of Fireza, Stryte Issa, Hope, Wrexham, Denbighshire widow died 17th March 1960 at Maelor General Hospital, Wrexham. Probate London 8th July to Ivy Monica HEDGES, married woman. So Florncee acknowledged Ivy Monica’s new marriage.
I believe that Frederick & Monica had a daughter in 1943, but whether he saw his daughter I do not know.
Frederick Ronald Duxbury’s Probate tells us his new home address, ‘The Rest,’ Llanferris, Nr. Mold, and that he included both Monica Ivy and Florence in his Will. It is notable that Frederick Ronald Duxbury’s Probate is printed on the same page as his father’s, John Leonard Booth Duxbury’s Probate in 1948.
I believe that Monica Ivy Duxbury was to remarry in the September quarter of 1950 at Harrow to John Hedges.
Florence was to suffer his great loss as well as Monica Ivy, as they had only been married a short while, as well as his family, who made sure that he would be remembered for his sacrifice for us all to be free. They added his name to the Hope WW2 War Memorial for perpetuity.
WE LONG FOR THE TOUCH OF A VANISHED HAND – THE SOUND OF A VOICE THAT IS STILL
