I found Kenneth Edward Ewen Sillitoe’s death in the Chester Chronicle dated 29th July 1944, and as far as I know he is not remembered locally or possibly in Leeds, so he must be remembered.
Kenneth Edward Ewen Sillitoe was born in the March quarter of 1922 (Reading Vol. 2c Page 590) the only son of Edward Alma & Margaret Gertrude Sarah Sillitoe (nee Johnson). They married in the Reading Registration District in the March quarter of 1918 (Reading Vol. 2c Page 837).
Edward Alma Sillitoe’s father, Company Quartermaster Serjeant Ewen Sillitoe, had been with the 1st Bn. Royal West Kent Regiment. He had been in the Army since he was 18 and a half years old, enlisting in 1880, (I have two of his Attestation papers, also his Discharge papers, from the Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Admissions and Discharges, 1715-1925 in 1902), before enlisting, Ewen had been a Compositor. He died on the 12th April 1919, he is remembered on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database – https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/410320/ewen-sillitoe/ – Also his name is on a plaque in the Lawnswood Cemetery, Leeds.
It does seem that Edward Alma was in the forces as well, as on the 1911 census, he is seen at Kensington Barracks, age 19, Single, a Canteen Waiter (Army Contractor) and born in Sudbury, Suffolk
I cannot find either Edward Alma nor Margaret Gertrude Sarah Sillitoe on the 1921 census, which was taken on the 19th June 1921.
Edward Alma Sillitoe, Kenneth’s father, had been born in Southport, as his baptism at Christ Church, Southport on the 8th November 1896, suggests, living at 166, Sefton St., Southport. His parents were Ewen & Rose Sillitoe, Ewen being a Colour-Sergeant. However I wondered if, perhaps, he had been born there, in the family home town of Sudbury, and then Baptised in Southport, as the address on the Parish Registers was 166, Sefton Street, Southport, and perhaps that was where Ewen was stationed at the time. Any help with this conundrum would be appreciated.
It then explains why the family seem to have moved so often, seeing that they were a generational Service family.
Margaret Gertrude Sarah Johnson is seen on the 1911 census living with her family at 14, Hilcot Road, Reading, Berks. Her father, Charles Johnson, 39 and a Caretaker at Elm Park Hall had been born in Wallingford, Berks. Alice Johnson, 31, his wife, had been born in Warborough, Oxfordshsire. They tell us that they had been married 19 years and 4 children had been born, but sadly 1 had died. Their 3 daughters were – Alice Annie, 18, and born in Wallingford, Berks, Ellen Fanny, 14 was a Domestic Servant and Margaret G. Johnson, 12 was in School. Both had been born in Reading Berks. On the 1901 census Charles Johnson had been a House Painter.
I have since found out from the Bedfordshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1986 that Edward Alma Sillitoe* was living at “The Old Vicarage,” in the Parish of Shefford in 1929. *Described as a Naval or Military Voter, so must have been in Lodgings.
So by the 29th September 1939, when the National Register was taken, Margaret G.S. Sillitoe is seen living at “Silverdene,” Welsh Road, Queensferry. There is a closed* or redacted record, which may be Kenneth’s entry in the Register. He would have been 17 years old in 1939.
*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.
Therefore, it led me to believe that Edward Alma Sillitoe was stationed at Sealand Camp or at Hawarden. The newspaper cutting below, states that when recording Kenneth’s death, Mr. & Mrs. E. Sillitoe, formerly of Welsh Road, Queensferry, had received news that their only son, Pilot Officer Kenneth Sillitoe had been killed in action, he was age 22 years.
I have no details of Kenneth’s early life or teenage years, so any information would be gratefully received. Nor have I any information on when Kenneth enlisted into the R.A.F., but he was to be mentioned in the London Gazette twice: –https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36178/data.pdf – (Page 4181) and
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36351/data.pdf – (Page 536)
Kenneth is also remembered on the website: –http://www.rafcommands.com/database/wardead/details.php?qnum=41295 – Flying Officer Kenneth Edward Ewen SILLITOE (155368) of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Wireless Op./Air Gunner. Circumstances of Death: Lost in aircraft Lancaster III ND464. IBCC (International Bomber Command Centre) – Death of Death 1944-07-16 Age : 21 years. Served in 83 Sqdn.
It appears that Kenneth was on a training flight (Lancaster III ND464), taking off from Conningsby airfield on the 16th July 1944 and crashing at 23.48 while on a night bombing practice flight, the flight partially abandoned following total engine failure. Crashing 3 miles SE of Conningsby airfield. Three Crew members survived.
Two other crew members were killed that night, Warrant Officer Michael Govier CROSS (1314932) Air Gunner, buried at St. John’s Churchyard E., Manchen. ([Ref : Row J. Grave 2.] and Flying Officer Dermot John HEGARTY (420561), buried at Cambridge City Cemetery [Ref : Grave 14305.]
By the time Kenneth’s parents were filling out details of their son to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, they had moved to Leeds, as can be seen on Kenneth’s CWGC Citation. Their loss would have been overwhelming.
I believe that Edward Alma Sillitoe died on the 31st March 1949, and buried in the Lawnswood Cemetery and Crematorium, Borough of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England (Plot 7, 86) on the 5th of April, 1949.
So far as I know, Kenneth Edward Ewen Sillitoe is not remembered on any local WW2 War Memorial, he must be remembered for his sacrifice.
Another member of the Sillitoe family had earlier died on a mission, in 1943, and is remembered on this website, https://www.bude-today.co.uk/news/nephew-of-pilot-killed-during-ww2-makes-poignant-visit-to-the-site-where-he-died-534555. Many thanks to Janet George for her help in my research, she kindly allowed me to publish photographs of the family
GOD GRANT US STEADFAST FAITH, HIGH COURAGE, GREAT LOVE, THAT WE MAY NOT FAIL
