The Airmen's Stories - P/O G H Batchelor

Gordon Herbert Batchelor of Higham, Kent was born on 20th August 1918, the son of Herbert Henry Batchelor (1888-1951) and Frances Batchelor (nee Powell 1890-1976).

He joined the RAFVR in June 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot.

Batchelor was called up on 1st September 1939, went to FTS Cranwell till 20th September then 7 OTU on 23rd September.

After completing his training he was posted to 54 Squadron at Catterick on 14th October 1940.

He damaged a Ju88 on 27th October 1940.

He was still with the squadron when he was shot down near Lens in Spitfire Va R7269 on Circus 96 on 9th July 1941 and taken prisoner.

Batchelor died aged 23 from a bone disease while a PoW at Oflag VIB on 15th April 1942. There is a detailed account from Red Cross records here

The link is https://genealogyjude.com/2020/06/27/ww2-prisoner-of-war-records-from-the-archives-of-the-red-cross/

He is buried in Hamburg Cemetery, Ohlsdorf, Germany.

Above image courtesy of Dark Poet.