Operation: Training

Date: 25th June 1942 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 55 Operational Training Unit. 81 Group

Type: Hurricane I

Serial: N2666

Code: -

Base: RAF Annan, Dumfieshire

Location: Easton, Cumberland

Pilot: Sgt. Sydney Alcock NZ/39979 RNZAF Age 23. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Training exercise to 18,000 ft. Taking off at about 09:10 hrs.

Towards the end of the exercise at 10:30 hrs. the aircraft struck trees and crashed at Easton in Cumberland. The young New Zealand lost his life.

Pilots course No. 20b. No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School, RNZAF Station Harewood. 1941

L-R: Rear; Alfred William Burge NZ/414238, Thomas Bernard Burrowes NZ/414239 (killed 03rd September 1942, TTW Green, Raymond Francis Connor NZ/414311 (killed 03rd February 1943, Sydney Alcock NZ/39979 (killed 25th June 1942), Robert Alexander Banks-Martin NZ/414226 (killed 09th January 1943), Terence Douglas Blewett NZ/414376) killed 17th January 1945), Walter Ian Charteris NZ/414246 (killed 29th October 1942), Beryck Phillip William Dalcom NZ/414261 Albert Farmer NZ/414270 Alexander Stuart Keith NZ/414300, IG Grant, EW Wildey, Leslie Cormac Maunsell NZ/414318 (killed 26th May 1943), FE Coates.

3rd row; Arthur David Leese NZ/413943, RT Johnston, CL Clare, DF Blackmore, Gordon Keith Claris NZ/414250 (killed 31st December 1941), Douglas Robert Bannerman NZ/414380 (killed 21st December 1942), DL Shears, AC Kenning, GK Malcomson, Douglas Haig Mann NZ/414316, Richard Hilary Woodhouse NZ/413925, Mervyn Jack Mills NZ/414321 (killed 19th November 1942), Robert John Kemp NZ/414302, Melville Collinson Baynes NZ/4144229 (killed 22nd October 1943).

2nd row; FM Downs, Ray Clark NZ/4211622, HLF Downs, William Tidswell Ellis NZ/413703 (killed 22nd June 1943), Lindsay Keith Goodwin NZ/413992, D Jackson, Noel Buchanan Daniel NZ/414262 (killed 29th 1943), Raymond Chesney NZ/414247, WR Craig, George Thomas Couttie NZ/414253, Murray Metcalfe NZ/413876 (killed 16th September 1943), Malcolm Kirk Jackson NZ/414297 (killed 15th February 1943), FL Welford, Raymond Ernest Joseph Hogg NZ/414292, Leicester George Smith NZ/414352.

Front; Nelson Whittington Watts Warner NZ/411479 (killed 26th March 1943, Horace Robert Harrap NZ/414286 (killed 14th March 1943), Herbert James Dalzell NZ/414263, James Gough Polson NZ/414339 (killed 06th August 1942), Frederick George Shears NZ/413489 (killed 02nd July 1942), JW Morris, Maxwell Wintringham Dixon, NZ/414265 (killed 06th December), Charles William Hildreth NZ/414291 (killed 31st December 1941), DJ Galbraith, James Henry Wright NZ/414717 (killed 20th December 1943), Norman John Rowe NZ/414344 (killed 09th September 1942), George James Mee NZ/414318 (killed 27th April 1944), Douglas Moultrie NZ/414324 (killed 25th February 1944), Thomas Otto Metcalfe NZ/414386 (killed 11th September 1942), Colin Bruce Muir NZ/413459 (killed 04th December 1943.

Burial details:

Sgt. Sydney Alcock. Annan Cemetery. Sec. R. Extn. 2. Grave 33. Born 01st April 1919 at Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Moved to New Zealand when he was 6 years old. Worked as a factory assistant for Brownlees Ltd at Wellington prior to service. Enlisted at Osaka on the 24th October 1939. Trained at No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School joining on the 07th September 1941. Then to No 2 Flying Training School joining on the 09th November 1941. Pilots badge awarded on the 20th December 1941 and promoted to sergeant on the 31st January 1941. Embarked for England on the 14th February 1942. Joined 55 Operational Training Unit on the 19th May 1942, Son of James and Edna Marjorie Alcock (nee Sissons), of Seatoun, Wellington, New Zealand. A total of 190 flying hours logged with 105 of these solo and 8 on the Hurricane.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

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