The Airmen's Stories - P/O G C T Carthew

Gerald Charles Trewalla Carthew was born on 16th April 1921 at Mountain Park, Alberta, Canada where his father was working as a surveyor in mines.

Carthew's mother returned to the UK when he was very young and Carthew and his sister accompanied her. Carthew attended Southdown College, Eastbourne and Hastings Grammar School.

He never went back to Canada but retained Canadian citizenship throughout his life.

He joined the RAF on a short service commission and began training on 26th June 1939. With his training completed, he arrived at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge on 5th April 1940, converted to Hurricanes and then joined 17 Squadron at Hawkinge on 12th May.

He moved briefly to 213 Squadron at Biggin Hill, then joined 229 Squadron on 20th May, went to 85 Squadron at Debden on the 25th and finally to 253 Squadron at Kirton-in-Lindsey on 6th June.

Carthew shared in the destruction of a Do17 on 11th September. He returned to 85 Squadron at Castle Camps on the 24th for further training. He went to 145 Squadron at Tangmere on 14th October. He flew his last sortie with the squadron on 16th October. There is no further mention of Carthew in the 145 Squadron ORB.

He married Zena M Tyrrell in June 1941 in Hastings, Sussex.

Transferred to the Administrative Branch in 1942, Carthew was released from the RAF in 1946 as a Flight Lieutenant. He worked postwar as an accountant.

Carthew died on 12th July 2013 in Hastings.

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An uncle, Lieutenant William Morden Carthew was killed on 3rd June 1916, serving with the 49th Battalion, Canadian Infantry and is buried at La Brique Military Cemetery No 2. Mount Carthew near Pincher Creek, Alberta was named after him.