The Airmen's Stories - P/O K B L Debenham

Kenneth Barry Lempriere Debenham, always known by his second name, was born in the second quarter of 1920 in Cambridge.

His father (later Professor) Frank Debenham (1883-1965) of New South Wales, Australia married Dorothy Lucy Lempriere (1888-1973) also of Australia, on 27th April 1917 in London.

Frank Debenham was educated at the University of Sydney, gaining arts and science degrees and specializing in geology. In 1910 he joined the British Antarctic Expedition 1910-13 (Terra Nova) as geologist and made extensive geological and topographical surveys of the mountains and glaciers west of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. He was also responsible for the photographic work of the expedition.

He returned to Cambridge to document the expedition but this was interrupted by service with the Oxford and Buckinghamshire (Ox and Bucks) Light Infantry as a Major. In action in Salonika, he was severely wounded.

He returned to teach at Cambridge and in 1931 was appointed the first Professor of Geography. Instrumental in founding the Scott Polar Research Institute in 1920, he was its first Director from 1926 until 1946.

Frank Debenham is commemorated in Antarctica by the Debenham Glacier, the Debenham Islands and by Debenham Peak.

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KBL Deebenham joined the RAFVR about April 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot. Called up on 1st September, he completed his training, was commissioned in late June 1940 and after converting to Hurricanes joined 151 Squadron at Martlesham Heath on 15th July.

He claimed a Me109 destroyed on 15th August and shared in the destruction of a Me110 on the 18th. Debenham was shot down on the 24th in combat with Me109s over Ramsgate and was seriously injured when his Hurricane, R4183, crashed and burned out. He was admitted to Ramsgate Hospital and later underwent surgery at the Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, making him a member of the Guinea Pig Club.

Above: Debenham (left) and W/Cdr. EN Woods.

Debenham took command of 126 Squadron at Grottaglie, Italy in November 1943. He was killed on 16th December aged 24. Aircraft searching for a missing pilot west of Bize, Albania sighted Me109s of 10/JG27 (operating from Kalimaki, northern Greece).

W/Cdr. EN Woods DFC in Spitfire Vc JK643 and Debenham in MA905 took off on their own initiative from Grottaglie to investigate. They were not heard from again and it is believed that they may have collided over the sea.

Debenham is commemorated on the Malta Memorial.

He is also commemorated by Barry Island, lying in the centre of the Debenham Islands, off the west coast of Graham Land, Antarctica.