The Airmen's Stories - P/O T Genney

Terence Genney was born in Grimsby on 3rd June 1896, the son of Alfred Genney (1870-1943) and Florence Genney (nee Sinclair 1871-1914).

He was educated at Louth School. He served in the 1914-18 war in the Lincolnshire Regiment, was commissioned in October 1914 and awarded the MC (gazetted 18th January 1918). The citation read:

T./Lt. Terence Genney, R.F.A (Temporary Lieutenant, Royal Field Artillery)

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He took command of a battery when all the officers had become casualties and kept it in action on two occasions under heavy shelling.

Above: Genney, presumably at enlistment as he is not yet wearing an officer's uniform.

Below: Genney (left) with his brother John (centre) and their father Alfred (right).

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He married Kathleen May Armstrong in late 1919 in Lincolnshire.

Genney appears in the 1939 Census as 'dairy manager' at Hendon. He joined the RAF as a direct-entry Air Gunner in early May 1940.

After completing his gunnery training Genney joined 604 Squadron at Northolt in June and served throughout the Battle. He teamed up with F/Lt. AS Hunter. When the squadron began re-equipping with Beaufighters in September 1940, Genney retrained as a Radio Observer.

On 6th February 1941 Hunter and Genney took off from Middle Wallop in the dark for a delayed air test. Their Beaufighter R2054 went into a spin as it approached to land. Both men were killed.

Genney was 44. He is buried in St. Nicolas churchyard, Grainsby, Lincolnshire.

Additional research courtesy of Barry Hannington.

Terence Genney is also commemorated within the church (below).

His stepbrother Sgt. Malcolm Howard Genney is also commemorated (below), he was killed on 18th December 1941. He was in Blenheim IV V5576 of 70 OTU which collided with another Blenheim, Z6430 of the same unit, near Nakuru, Nairobi, Kenya. F/O Alex Thomas Darling was also killed. Z6430 landed safely. Malcolm Genney is buried in Nakuru North Cemetery.