The Airmen's Stories - P/O E W J Monk

Ernest William John Monk was born in 1914, the son of Ernest Frederick John Monk (1879-1939) and Mary Annie Monk (nee Jones 1876-1970) of Borstal, Kent.

Records of his birth claim that it was 'in the West Indies', however this is more likely to be Bermuda as his father was serving in the Queens Royal Regiment (West Surrey), which was stationed there 1912 - 1914.

His father went on to have a distinguished record in WW1 and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (below).

EWJ Monk returned to Borstal near Rochester with his family and was educated at Rochester Technical School. He joined the RAF in January 1930 as an Aircraft Apprentice and passed out in December 1932.

He later applied for pilot training and was selected. Monk is recorded as taking part in the Coronation flypast in May 1937 with 25 Squadron at Hawkinge.

Monk was still serving with 25 Squadron in August 1939, now as a Flight Sergeant. He married Eileen Mary Mayne in September 1939, she was an ambulance driver with the ATS.

Monk was commissioned in August 1940.

Monk was killed on 21st November 1940 when Beaufighter I R2068 crashed into the sea after taking off from Tangmere in fog. His gunner, Sgt. E Powell, was also lost.

Monk was 26 and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, panel 9.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner.