Robert Reginald George Appleby
Attended Queen Elizabeth School from 1928 to 1934.
He was a prefect at the school and was a member of the Cricket IX for 3 years and also gained colours in football. He also played cricket for Ollerton Village and Thoresby Colliery.
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- Family History
- Military history
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Son of Robert Wylie Appleby and Mary Appleby (nee Taylor) of Harworth House, Southwell Road, New Ollerton.
Robert snr was an animal food agent also dealing in treatments for sheep.
He married Kathleen May Higginbottem from Durham in 1941.
According to The Old Elizabethans Service Roll book Robert lost his life on his 44th operational raid. He had volunteered in in 1940 and was called up in November 1940 and his initial training was in England. In June 1941 he went to train at Tuscaloosa, Gunter and Maxwell Fields in America.
He returned home in March 1943 and was posted to Lissett Airfield near Bridlington as a pilot of a Halifax bomber. He made 15 operational flights from there and was commissioned in May 1943. Transferred to the Pathfinders at Graveley, Huntingdonshire where he made many more operational flights on Halifax bombers.
He was awarded the D.F.C. (Distinquished Flying Cross) in September 1943
"He was a captain of great meritand had excuted his tasks with a determination which had won the high praise. One night in August 1943 he took part in an operation against Berlin and accomplished with great skill and coolness. P.O. Appleby had inveriably displayed great courage and devotion to duty"
IBCC: Handley Page Halifax. Serial number JP123, Markings TL-F
Flew from Graveley on the 5th January 1944 as part of 358 aircraft raid over Stettin (now Szczecin in Poland) Last heard on wireless transmission by another aircraft indicating one engine out but maintaining height.
The raid was to assist the Russian advance against the Germans and against the naval bases on the Baltic Sea.
Ronald is buried in the 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Berlin: plot 2.F.21
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