The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. L C Withall

Latham Carr Withall of Perth, Australia was born on 25th May 1911 in Toodyay, Western Australia.

His family later settled in Melbourne and he was educated at Scotch College there. On graduating he took a job with a bank and devoted his spare time to gliding.

In 1935 he went with his family to England and he joined the RAF on a short service commission in October 1936. He was posted to 8 FTS Montrose on 16th January 1937 and joined 19 Squadron at Duxford on 7th August.

In October 1939 Withall went to 152 Squadron, then reforming at Acklington, as a Flight Commander.

He failed to return from combat with enemy aircraft south of the Isle of Wight on 12th August 1940 in Spitfire P9456.

He had married Beryl Ethel Simon on 20th January 1940 in Carshalton and his twin sons were born six weeks later on 25th September.

Withall is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 5.

Additional research courtesy of Kristen Alexander.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner.