The Airmen's Stories - P/O A Kershaw

Anthony Kershaw, one of three brothers from Macclesfield, was born in December 1919 in Prestwich, the son of Harold Slaney Kershaw CBE and Pleasance Kershaw (nee Holt).

His father was a solicitor and a director of Joseph Holts Brewery which was founded in 1849 by a forbear of his wife. The Holt family were long-time philanthropists in the Manchester area.

Anthony was educated at St. Peters Court, Broadstairs and Rugby School. He was in the school Rugby XV and the Cricket XI, making a century against Marlborough at Lords in 1937 and another against Clifton in 1938.

He also represented Rugby when the school won the Public Schools Rackets Championship at Queens Club in 1938. He played cricket for the Lancashire Second XI in 1939.

Kershaw joined 613 Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force on 13th May 1939 as an officer designate and began flying training on 5th June as a pupil pilot.

He was to go up to Christ Church, Oxford in October 1939 but was called to full-time service on 26th August and commissioned.

He went to No. 1 EFTS Hatfield on 30th October and later to RAF College FTS Cranwell for intermediate and advanced training. He completed his course there on 13th July 1940 and rejoined 613 Squadron.

All images courtesy of Richard Kershaw (nephew).

Kershaw was posted to No. 1 School of Army Co-operation at Old Sarum on 12th August for further training. He arrived at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge from there on 4th September 1940. After converting to Hurricanes he joined No. 1 Squadron at Wittering on the 21st.

With two other pilots Kershaw mounted the squadron’s first offensive operation, strafing German installations between Calais and Boulogne on 1st January 1941.

On a convoy patrol on 19th March 1941, Kershaw was shot down by a Me109 in Hurricane II Z2759. He baled out but was too low. His body was recovered and landed at Newhaven the next day.

He was 21 and was cremated at Manchester Crematorium.

His older brother John had been killed on 16th July 1940 serving with 4 Squadron (see below).

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John Kershaw's Lysander N1205 came down near East Barnby, NW of Whitby. It had been on a coastal reconnaissance when a heavy sea mist formed. It is thought that he was trying to let down below the mist believing he was still over the sea. Sgt. JH Fletcher was also killed.

John was also cremated at Manchester Crematorium.

Above: a Lysander.

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