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The Airmen's Stories - P/O R A L DuVivier

 

Note: due to incomplete records and the existence of a Belgian airman with the same surname this airman was regrettably recorded on the monument as P/O R A L DUVIVER

 

Reginald Albert Lloyd DuVivier was born on 9th November 1914, the son of James and Carolina Du Vivier.

He attended Malvern College 1933-37.

At some time before the war he married Beryl Mary O'Neill.

DuVivier joined the RAFVR in January 1938 as an airman under pilot training. He was called up on the 1st September 1939, completing his training and was then commissioned in May 1940. His first posting was to 229 Squadron, operating Hurricanes from Wittering, in June 1940.

He served with 229 Squadron throughout the Battle and into 1941.

 

Above: 229 Squadron - L to R:

P/O RAL Duvivier, F/O WA Smith, F/O VM Bright, Sgt. RR Mitchell , F/O M Ravenhill, P/O RE Bary,

F/O AS Linney, F/O RC Brown, Sgt. SW Merryweather

*******************

 

On 31st March 1941 DuVivier, in Hurricane W9307, and F/O JMF Dewar in V6872 took off from their base at Speke for a standing patrol over Prestatyn at 15,000 feet.

At 14:20 hours radio communication ceased with the two aircraft and at 14:28 hours the Observer Corps reported a loud explosion in the sky. A search was carried out over the sea in the patrol area and the land behind Prestatyn but no trace could be found of the two aircraft or pilots.

It was believed that both aircraft collided in mid air and crashed into the Irish Sea off Prestatyn, no trace of the pilots was found.

Later the Hoylake coastguard found washed-up wreckage that had markings consistent with DuVivier's Hurricane W9307.

He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, panel 32.

 

 

(Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner).


Battle of Britain Monument