The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. G W Rouse

Geoffrey Walter Rouse was born on 23rd August 1920 in Gravesend and educated at Gravesend Grammar School. After leaving he was employed as a papermakers assistant.

Rouse joined the RAFVR about March 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

Called up on 1st September, he completed his training and went to No. 1 (C) OTU Silloth on 12th August 1940.

After converting to Blenheims he joined 236 Squadron at St. Eval on 12th September.

Rouse was posted with his flight to RAF Aldergrove on 19th November 1940, where it combined with a flight from 235 Squadron to reform 272 Squadron on the 21st.

He flew his first sortie with 272 Squadron on the 24th.

His subsequent service is currently undocumented until he was commissioned from Warrant Officer in August 1942.

Rouse was awarded the DFC (gazetted 5th December 1944) as a Flight Lieutenant with 235 Squadron.

The citation read: 'Flight Lieutenant Rouse has completed two tours of operational duty. He has throughout displayed great gallantry and keenness and set a fine example to the other members of his squadron. In June 1944. while engaged in anti-shipping patrol, this officer participated in a most successful attack against an enemy force consisting of one 10,000-ton tanker, a 5-6,000-ton coastal vessel and 5 minesweepers’.

He was released from the RAF in 1946 as a Flight Lieutenant.

Rouse must have gone into civil aviation as he appeared in advertisements in the early 1950s (below).

He died in August 1997 in London.

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His brother F/Lt. Stanley Thomas Rouse was killed on 15th March 1945 whilst flying in Lancaster I PA214 9J-P of 227 Squadron, which was lost a raid against the Wintershall synthetic oil plant at Lutzkendorf.

Also lost were:

F/Lt. MW Bell
F/O GF Orry
F/O LS Smith
F/O HA Thomas
P/O PT Edwards
F/Sgt. GFC Stephenson
F/Sgt. RCS Wells

All are buried in Durnbach War Cemetery.