The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. M T Kirkwood

Mark Tyzack Kirkwood was born on 18th May 1915 in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, the son of John Tyzack Kirkwood (an Old Shirburnian) and Victoria May Kirkwood.

His father was an articled law clerk who qualified as a solicitor. He died in 1945 but his former wife who had remarried (MT Kirkwood's mother, born in 1897) lived until 1993.

Mark Kirkwood attended Fairfield Preparatory School at Malvern in Worcestershire before going to Sherborne School (Abbeylands House) from January 1929 to July 1932.

He became a cadet in the Merchant Navy but went on to join the RAF on a short service commission in October 1936. His first posting was to 10 FTS Tern Hill on 16th January 1937 and he then joined the staff at 3 Armament Training Station at Sutton Bridge on 4th May 1938.

In early 1940 Kirkwood was serving with 4 Ferry Pilot Pool, he was posted to 7 OTU Hawarden on 6th September. After converting to Spitfires he joined 610 Squadron at Acklington on the 22nd.

He was reported 'Missing' on 8th November serving with 603 Squadron at Hornchurch. He failed to return from combat with Ju87s and Me109s east of Deal in Spitfire P7285.

Kirkwood is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 4.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner.

Additional research courtesy of Sherborne School Archives.

A notice in the Daily Telegraph on 26th May 1941 announced "Kirkwood - Missing since November 1940, now officially presumed killed in action, Flying Officer Mark Tyzack Kirkwood, beloved son of Victoria Morgan, Bramber St, St George's Hill, Weybridge."