Weston pilot killed in action
Title
Weston pilot killed in action
Enfield airman awarded DFM
Description
Two newspaper cuttings, the first one records the award of the DFM to Patrick.
The second cutting records the death of a fellow crew member, Sergeant Harold Parrott, who had flown 13 operations with Patrick.
The second cutting records the death of a fellow crew member, Sergeant Harold Parrott, who had flown 13 operations with Patrick.
Date
1941
Temporal Coverage
Spatial Coverage
Language
Type
Format
Two newspaper cuttings on an album page
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
PGearyPC17010009, PGearyPC17010010
Transcription
ENFIELD AIRMAN AWARDED D.F.M.
Rear-gunner Patrick Clement Geary, of Carterhatch Road, Enfield, whose coolness and daring in shooting down two Me. 109’s which were attacking his Wellington in a recent daylight raid over Brest, has been recognised by the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.
Rear-gunner Geary, who worked with Ruberoid Ltd. before the War, is 30 years of age and engaged. He comes of a military family, his father having been a regular soldier who was badly wounded in the last war, and went through the Siege of Ladysmith. All the family are fighting: two sons are in the R.A.F. and a daughter in the W.A.A.F.
A fine record, and Rear-gunner “Patrick” has added fresh glories to the family history. Long may he continue to do so,
[page break]
WESTON PILOT KILLED IN ACTION.
SERGT.-PILOT HAROLD PARROTT.
The announcement in our last issue that Sergeant-Pilot Harold Parrott, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Parrott, of 10 Regent-street, had been reported killed following an operational flight over enemy territory occasioned widespread regret throughout Weston and the surrounding district, for he was widely known and popularly regarded by all.
[Photo]
Educated at “The College” he played Association football for the Y.M.C.A. while still at school, and later for several other teams. On one occasion he was given a trial to play for Swindon being transferred from his normal position at centre-half to centre-forward. He was a young man of splendid physique, on the alert for the slightest weakness in the defending side, and possessed a clever pair of feet which were a source of bewilderment to any opponent on the field.
On leaving school he joined his father as a fruiterer and greengrocer and later opened a business on his own account in Magdala Buildings. Later, he was appointed buyer by a High-street multiple firm, and early in June, 1940, volunteered for the Royal Air Force.
Here he speedily gained promotion and his wings, and about a month ago, after a number of highly successful operational flights over Germany and other enemy-occupied country, he was given command of a bomber. His only regret concerning this appointment was that it meant the break-up of his partnership with Sergeant Air-Gunner Pat Geary, who had been with him on thirteen of his other flights for, on being given command, he was provided with a new crew.
His Nineteenth Flight
His ill-fated flight was the nineteenth he had made over enemy territory. When home on leave a few weeks ago he was looking forward to studying for a commission, for which he had been recommended.
A letter received this week by Mr. and Mrs. Parrott, from their son’s Commanding Officer, states: “Will you please accept the sympathy of the Squadron and myself in the death of your son. He was very popular with us all and we shall miss him very much. . . . I hope it will be a comfort to you to know that your son was killed instantaneously and in performance of his duty.”
All will unite in extending sympathy to the bereaved parents and relatives.
Military Funeral.
The funeral took place in the Weston-super-Mare Cemetery on Tuesday, when the Rev. R.A. Down (Vicar of Emmanuel) officnated [sic].
The coffin, enshrouded in a Union Jack and surmounted by the deceased’s cap and bayonet, was carried by six R.A.F. non-commissioned officers. Members of the local Home Guard formed a guard of honour and lined the sides of the path as the cortege entered the Cemetery, while following the committal a firing party of thirteen members of the R.A.F. fired a salute and a bugler sounded the “Last Post” and “Reveille.” Whilst the interment was being performed an R.A.F. fighter ‘plane dipped in salute overhead.
The family mourners were : Mr. and Mrs. C. Parrott (father and mother), A/C G. Parrott and Mrs. G. Parrott (brother and sister-in-law), Mr. Douglas Parrott (brother), Mr. and Mrs. D. Chancellor (brother-in-law and sister), Miss L. Parrott (aunt), Mr. and Mrs. Albert Beake, Mr. and Mrs. F.C. Beake, Mr. and Mrs. A.V. Beake, Mr. and Mrs. C. Beake, and Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Holvey (uncles and aunts), Mr. O.A. Beake (uncle), Mrs. T. Parrott (aunt) Mr. W. Duffett, Mrs. S. White, Mrs. K. Pearce and Miss Pearce (cousins), Sergt. A/G Pat Geary, Sergt. A/G S. Bryant and Bombardier Robert Courtine.
Representing members of the Weston-super-Mare United Services Club were Mr. C. Phipps (President), Messrs. L. Coles (Hon. Social Secretary), J. Bell, T. Smart (also representing the British Legion), Messrs. E. Laver, T. Nash, R. Davies, C. Gibbs, R. Medicine, H. Zimmerman, D. Wolfe, C. Chambers, and A. Trunks. The Y.M.C.A. was represented by Messrs. R.S. Wort (Secretary), L. Jelly and H. Abrey.
Others present included Mrs. M. Payne, Mr. and Mrs. J. Barrett, Mrs. A. Price, and Misses I. and V. Price (Congresbury), Mr. and Mrs. W. Price, Mr. and Mrs. J. Frankcom and many others.
There were many floral tributes.
The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. W. Price, of Congresbury.
[page break]
[repeat image with second article folded]
Rear-gunner Patrick Clement Geary, of Carterhatch Road, Enfield, whose coolness and daring in shooting down two Me. 109’s which were attacking his Wellington in a recent daylight raid over Brest, has been recognised by the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.
Rear-gunner Geary, who worked with Ruberoid Ltd. before the War, is 30 years of age and engaged. He comes of a military family, his father having been a regular soldier who was badly wounded in the last war, and went through the Siege of Ladysmith. All the family are fighting: two sons are in the R.A.F. and a daughter in the W.A.A.F.
A fine record, and Rear-gunner “Patrick” has added fresh glories to the family history. Long may he continue to do so,
[page break]
WESTON PILOT KILLED IN ACTION.
SERGT.-PILOT HAROLD PARROTT.
The announcement in our last issue that Sergeant-Pilot Harold Parrott, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Parrott, of 10 Regent-street, had been reported killed following an operational flight over enemy territory occasioned widespread regret throughout Weston and the surrounding district, for he was widely known and popularly regarded by all.
[Photo]
Educated at “The College” he played Association football for the Y.M.C.A. while still at school, and later for several other teams. On one occasion he was given a trial to play for Swindon being transferred from his normal position at centre-half to centre-forward. He was a young man of splendid physique, on the alert for the slightest weakness in the defending side, and possessed a clever pair of feet which were a source of bewilderment to any opponent on the field.
On leaving school he joined his father as a fruiterer and greengrocer and later opened a business on his own account in Magdala Buildings. Later, he was appointed buyer by a High-street multiple firm, and early in June, 1940, volunteered for the Royal Air Force.
Here he speedily gained promotion and his wings, and about a month ago, after a number of highly successful operational flights over Germany and other enemy-occupied country, he was given command of a bomber. His only regret concerning this appointment was that it meant the break-up of his partnership with Sergeant Air-Gunner Pat Geary, who had been with him on thirteen of his other flights for, on being given command, he was provided with a new crew.
His Nineteenth Flight
His ill-fated flight was the nineteenth he had made over enemy territory. When home on leave a few weeks ago he was looking forward to studying for a commission, for which he had been recommended.
A letter received this week by Mr. and Mrs. Parrott, from their son’s Commanding Officer, states: “Will you please accept the sympathy of the Squadron and myself in the death of your son. He was very popular with us all and we shall miss him very much. . . . I hope it will be a comfort to you to know that your son was killed instantaneously and in performance of his duty.”
All will unite in extending sympathy to the bereaved parents and relatives.
Military Funeral.
The funeral took place in the Weston-super-Mare Cemetery on Tuesday, when the Rev. R.A. Down (Vicar of Emmanuel) officnated [sic].
The coffin, enshrouded in a Union Jack and surmounted by the deceased’s cap and bayonet, was carried by six R.A.F. non-commissioned officers. Members of the local Home Guard formed a guard of honour and lined the sides of the path as the cortege entered the Cemetery, while following the committal a firing party of thirteen members of the R.A.F. fired a salute and a bugler sounded the “Last Post” and “Reveille.” Whilst the interment was being performed an R.A.F. fighter ‘plane dipped in salute overhead.
The family mourners were : Mr. and Mrs. C. Parrott (father and mother), A/C G. Parrott and Mrs. G. Parrott (brother and sister-in-law), Mr. Douglas Parrott (brother), Mr. and Mrs. D. Chancellor (brother-in-law and sister), Miss L. Parrott (aunt), Mr. and Mrs. Albert Beake, Mr. and Mrs. F.C. Beake, Mr. and Mrs. A.V. Beake, Mr. and Mrs. C. Beake, and Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Holvey (uncles and aunts), Mr. O.A. Beake (uncle), Mrs. T. Parrott (aunt) Mr. W. Duffett, Mrs. S. White, Mrs. K. Pearce and Miss Pearce (cousins), Sergt. A/G Pat Geary, Sergt. A/G S. Bryant and Bombardier Robert Courtine.
Representing members of the Weston-super-Mare United Services Club were Mr. C. Phipps (President), Messrs. L. Coles (Hon. Social Secretary), J. Bell, T. Smart (also representing the British Legion), Messrs. E. Laver, T. Nash, R. Davies, C. Gibbs, R. Medicine, H. Zimmerman, D. Wolfe, C. Chambers, and A. Trunks. The Y.M.C.A. was represented by Messrs. R.S. Wort (Secretary), L. Jelly and H. Abrey.
Others present included Mrs. M. Payne, Mr. and Mrs. J. Barrett, Mrs. A. Price, and Misses I. and V. Price (Congresbury), Mr. and Mrs. W. Price, Mr. and Mrs. J. Frankcom and many others.
There were many floral tributes.
The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. W. Price, of Congresbury.
[page break]
[repeat image with second article folded]
Collection
Citation
“Weston pilot killed in action,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed March 18, 2025, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/40548.
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