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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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600 Squadron Crest
08.08.1940 600 (City of London) Squadron, RAuxAF Blenheim IF L8665 BQ-A F/O. Dennis Neve Grice

Operation: Airborne Interception (A.I.) Radar Test

Date: 8 August 1940 (Thursday)

Unit: 600 'City of London' Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force)

Squadron Badge: City of London Arms overflown by an eagle. (See below for further details)

Type: Bristol Blenheim IF

Serial: L8665

Code: BQ-A

Base: RAF Manston, Kent

Location: In the sea off Ramsgate, Kent

Pilot: F/O. Dennis Neve Grice 70266 RAFVR Age 28 - Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Francis John Keast 801399 RAFVR Age 31 - Killed

Radar Operator: AC 1. John Benjamin William Warren 628804 RAF Age 19 - Killed

600 - THE SQUADRON WITH TWO OFFICIAL BADGES


600 (City of London) Squadron, RAuxAF has the unique distinction of being the only Squadron in the RAF to have two official badges. The original badge was created when the Squadron was formed in 1925 and is based on the City of London Arms overflown by an eagle but was never approved by the College of Arms due to its heraldic incorrectness.

In 1943/44 whilst the Squadron was in North Africa, the CO at the time had an 'official badge' designed and this was duly approved by the College of Arms, the badge description being: In front of an increscent, a sword on bend. The crescent moon represents the squadron's night-fighter activities whilst the sword commemorates the connection with the city of London. The badge bears the motto : Praeter Sescentos (More than 600).

The Squadron was disbanded on 21 August 1945.

After reforming on 10 May 1946, however, the Squadron continued to use the original badge and by a somewhat innocent subterfuge, managed to get it approved by the King via Queen Elizabeth who was Honorary Air Commodore of the Squadron.

Thus the Squadron has two official badges but its official Standard bears only the 'City' badge.

To read the full story go to: https://www.rafht.co.uk/index.php/2016/08/22/600-s...



INTRODUCTION


FLYING OFFICER DENNIS NEVE GRICE (1912-1940)

Captain/Pilot 70266 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve


Dennis Neve Grice entered this world on Sunday 3 March 1912. Together with his father, Leather Merchant Neve Joseph Grice, his mother, Ethel Agnes Grice (née Webster), his sister Eileen Agnes, born 1909, a General Servant and a Children's Nurse he lived at 49 Webster Gardens, Ealing. Commensurate with their 8 roomed house, the Grice's enjoyed the comfortable affluence of a middle class family of the time, though not as affluent as Dennis' grandfather, Arthur John Grice, who lived in nearby Grange Road in a 14 roomed property albeit with his wife, four adult children, a Cook, a Parlourmaid and a Housemaid. Arthur was also a Leather Merchant.

About 1913/14 Dennis's family moved to 13 Amherst Avenue Ealing and in 1923 to 1 Park View Road Ealing. It was also in 1923 that Neve and Ethel Grice welcomed the birth of their third child, a brother for Dennis and Eileen named Patrick Neve Grice (1923-2000).

In 1925 the question of higher education arose, and the 13 year old Dennis was duly packed off to the prestigious Uppingham Public School in Rutland. Apart from holidays he spent five educationally productive years at Uppingham, and in 1930 went up to St John's College, Cambridge. Alas, Michaelmas Term had barely begun, when on 6 October, Dennis's mother sadly died at the age of 49.

The first University Air Squadron was formed at Cambridge on 1 October 1925 and flying began about November 1930. Dennis appears to have taken advantage of the opportunity to learn to fly and on 17 March 1931 was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation in the Reserve of Flying Officers (RAFO), Class AAii [i.e. direct entrant officers with some previous flying experience, e.g. ex-UAS (12 hrs/yr)] (London Gazette 31 March 1931). A year later on 17 March 1932 he was confirmed in this appointment (London Gazette 5 April 1932) and was also granted the authority to wear Pilots Wings with effect from the same date. Six months later he was promoted to Flying Officer (RAFO) on 17 September 1932 (London Gazette 30 September 1932).

He graduated from St John's College, Cambridge, with a BA in 1933.

On 17 March 1936 he was granted an extension of 5 years to his commission in the RAFO.

Dennis's father was married to Maud Peal in London on 15 October 1936

After leaving university Dennis Grice became a Motor Engineer and a Patent Application with the publication date of 1 April 1940 indicates that he was employed by the Rover Car Company Limited. The document includes the following details:


Improvements relating to the cylinder bores of fluid-pressure engines. Application.

Publication/Patent Number: GB519610A. Publication Date: 1940-04-01

Application Number: GB1470139. Filing Date: 1938-09-20

Assignee: THE ROVER COMPANY LIMITED DENNIS NEVE GRICE

IPC: F02B77/02.

Abstract: 519,610. Cylinders. ROVER CO., Ltd., and GRICE, D. N. Sept. 20, 1938, Nos. 14701/39 (divided out of 27369/38) and 14700/39 (divided out of 32788/38). [Class 122 (i)] The bore of a cylinder or cylinder lining for an internal combustion engine is completely plated, only at the end where the charge is ignited, with a hard metal or alloy unaffected by chemical reactions, the diameter of the plated end of the bore being slightly less than that of the unplated end. The change in bore diameter occurs gradually, and the plated portion is polished. The end to be plated may be partly or wholly counter bored to receive a thick coating. The plating material may be chromium, nickel, cobalt, or an alloy thereof, or an alloy of iron with nickel and/or cobalts.

Specification 506,043 is referred to.

In a later Patent Applications in Germany, published on 7 July 1952, Rover Co. Ltd., is recorded as the applicant, while Dennis Neve Grice is recorded as the Inventor.


On 7 June 1939, Dennis Grice relinquished his commission in the RAFO on being granted a five-year commission in the RAFVR.(London Gazette 28 July 1939).

Following the declaration of war he was called up on 25 September 1939 and on 29 September he was recorded as living at 1 Park View Road with his father, step mother, cook and house parlour maid. His brother Patrick at this time was a boarder at Uppingham School.

The entry relating to Dennis reads:

Dennis Neve Grice F/O. No. 12 Flight C Squadron No. 1 ITW [Initial Training Wing*] Cambridge.

*[1 Initial Training School was formed at Jesus College, Cambridge on 7 September 1939 and re-designated 1 ITW on 15 September 1939]

On 2 November 1939 Dennis married Margaret Adlon Peal, at St Peter's Church Ealing] and they later lived at 28 Park-hill Ealing. Born in 1915, Margaret Peal was the niece of Dennis's step mother, Maud Grice née Peal. Dennis and Margaret Grice later lived at

There was little time for a honeymoon, as Dennis was shortly afterwards posted to 5 Flying Training School at RAF Sealand, Flintshire in North Wales where he joined Course No. 44, commencing 6 November until 20 May

On 22 June he was posted to 5 Operational Training Unit at RAF Aston Down (Minchinghampton) in Gloucestershire for conversion to the Bristol Blenheim before being posted to 600 Squadron at RAF Manston in Kent.

Bristol Blenheims had been based at Manston in late December 1939 and fitted with an early form of Airborne Radar. After suffering severely at the hands of Me109s during daylight operations, the Blenheims had been moved to a night patrol role to find and destroy German aircraft mining the River Thames. Whilst operating in this new role, the observer/bombardier was no longer required and was replaced by a radar operator.


Though not an aircraft of 600 Squadron, the Bristol Blenheim above is shown to illustrate that it is equipped with A.I. Radar by the presence of the short antenna just visible in the nose.



Dennis Grice's arrival at RAF Manston was duly announced in the 600 Squadron Operations Record Book as follows:

9 July 1940 Flying Officer Grice, Pilot Officer Baker and Pilot Officer Denby arrived on posting to the Squadron.

But, it would seem that he actually arrived earlier than this as the ORB also includes the following entries:

4 July F/O. Rougetel, P/O. [sic] Grice. P/O. Kramer 20.20-20.40 Manston to Biggin Hill.

4 July F/O. Rougetel and Kramer 20.45-21.05 Biggin Hill to Manston.

[Though not mentioned as such, Dennis Grice was, presumably, on the return flight]

8 July F/O. Grice and Sgt. Keast 18.36-19.00 VHF test.

The following are the entries that relate to Dennis Grice:

9 July F/O. Grice and Sgt. Keast 15.00-15.20 A.I. test [Airborne Interception radar].

10 July F/O. Grice and Keast 15.45-16.25 Manston - Hornchurch.

10 July P/O. Graham, Sgt. Hardwick, F/O. Grice, Sgt. Keast 19.15-17.45 Hornchurch - Manston.

11 July Five pilots, Pilot Officer Graham, Pilot Officer Denby, Pilot Officer [sic] Grice, Pilot Officer Baker and Sgt. Egan who are not yet who are not yet operational, who in view of the advanced position of this aerodrome, cannot complete their training in night flying, were sent to, Andover with two Blenheims to be trained by the No. 2 School of Army Cooperation, who kindly promised to do this for us. Pilot Officer Hough followed the next day.

17 July F/O. Grice, P/O. Baker, P/O. Hough and Sgt. Egan 16.25-17.15 Andover - Manston.

18 July F/O. Grice and Sgt. Walker 11.10-12.00 Air firing at Leysdown ranges [Isle of Sheppey, Kent].

18 July F/O. Grice, LAC. Munn, AC. Satchwell, AC. Renton 16.00-16.40 Manston - Andover.

31 July F/O. Grice, Cpl. Fitch, LAC. Jewell, LAC. Holt 11.30-12.25 Andover - Manston..

31 July F/O. Grice and Sgt. Risley 17.10-19.00 RDF Trial [Range and Direction Finding i.e. Radar].

2 Aug F/O. Grice 11.35-12.15 Army Co-operation taking two Marine officer over their defence works at Dover.

2 Aug F/O. Grice -Tiger Moth 17.00-17.55 Manston - Croydon.

2 Aug F/O. Grice -Tiger Moth 18.10-19.00 Croydon - Manston.

3 Aug F/O. Grice and Sgt. Walker 14.30-15.05 RDF Trial.



SERGEANT FRANCIS JOHN (JACK) KEAST (1908-1940)

Air Gunner 801399 Royal Air Force (Auxiliary Air Force)


Francis John (Jack) Keast, was born on 18 November 1908 in Uxbridge, the son of Arthur Keast (a Draper's Warehouseman and later Commercial Traveller in Textiles) and Ann Keast née Francis.

He had 6 siblings: Ethel Doris Keast (1904-1904). Harold Arthur Keast (1905-1985), Evelyn May Keast (1906-1973), William Stanley Keast (1910-1910), Annie Keast (1912-1912) and Dorothy Irene Keast (1914-2001).

In 1911 the family lived at 16 Tudor Road Southall, Middlesex and in 1939 at 13 Church Street, Swalecliffe, Whitstable, Kent

Jack Keast joined 601 Squadron Auxiliary Air Force about April 1936.

He was called up on 24th August 1939. In March 1940, together with other air gunners from 601 Squadron, he was posted to 5 Bombing and Gunnery School at RAF Jurby, Isle of Man where, they joined No. 7B (Fighter) Air Gunner course, a special two week course for partially trained air gunners from Fighter squadrons that ran from 11 to 23 March 1940.

By April 1940, however, 601 Squadron had converted from Blenheims to Hawker Hurricanes, thus on their return to Tangmere from Jurby the air gunners found that they were no longer required. In May they were posted to 600 Squadron, at RAF Manston, as replacements for losses sustained in the raid on Waalhaven airfield near Rotterdam on 10 May 1940.

Jack Keast is first mentioned in the 600 Squadron Operations Record Book on 19 May 1940 when along with pilot F/O. Hannay he was engaged in practice attacks. For the remainder of May and most of June he was detailed to fly with various pilots for air firing practice, interception practice, air tests, instrument tests and VHF tests.

On 27 June 1940 with pilot Fl/Lt Pritchard he flew on his first Offensive Operation Patrol taking off at 00.10 hrs and returning at 02.50 hrs. 'No enemy aircraft seen - 'X' Raids' [raids, the identity of which was doubtful, were designated "X" raids on fighter command plotting tables]

July was spent with various pilots including Dennis Grice on A.I. test, air firing, air test, blind flying and local flying , but also included further operational flying as follows:

July 1 'X' raid with F/O. Rawlence and AC. Senior from 22.00 until 23.05.

July 13/14 Op Patrol with Sgt. Coombs 22.55 - 01.15.

July 15 Op Patrol with F/O. Rawlence 00.10- 01.15.

July 15 Op Patrol with P/O. Hobson 03.10 - 03.40.

July 27 'X' raid with F/O Scrase 00.45- 01.00.

July 31/Aug 1 Op Patrol with F/O. Rawlence 23.45- 00.25.

And in early August just two practice flights as follows:

Aug 4 RDF and AI practice.

Aug 6 Air Firing at Leysdown.




AIRCRAFTMAN FIRST CLASS JOHN BENJAMIN WILLIAM WARREN

Radar Operator 628804 Royal Air Force


John Benjamin William Warren was born in High Ongar, Essex in 1921, the son of Jeffrey Warren and Maud Ethel Warren (nee Butcher). John had 6 siblings Ethel Rachel Warren (born 1904) Jeffery Warren (1906-1906), Frederick Warren (1908-1989), Violet Amelia Warren (1911-1987), Gordon A. K. Warren born 1914 and Cecil A. Warren (1918-1979)

In 1911 the family lived at 533 Katherine Road Forest Gate at which time Jeffery Warren was employed by the LCC as a Labourer in the Engineer's Department. By 1939 the family had moved to 23 Writtle Road Chelmsford at which time Jefferey Warren was a General Labourer in the Oil Store Department of a Ball Bearing Factory.

John Warren had left home in November 1938 to join the Royal Air Force as Aircrafthand, Service Number 628804. In due course he was promoted to Aircraftman First Class. He later volunteered for aircrew and after completing a short radar course joined 600 (City of London) Squadron at R.A.F. Manston in Kent in July 1940.

He flew only three times, all A.I. tests, as follows:

July 4 F/O. Scrase, AC. Burley, AC. Warren.

July 11 F/O. Bowring, Sgt. Edwards, AC. Warren, AC. Nixon.

July 14 F/O. Barnes, AC. Warren, AC. Dickson.

John Warren had flown only three A.I. test flights, none of them with Dennis Grice.

Though Jack Keast had flown with Dennis Grice on four occasions in early July he had not flown with him since. He was also the only one of the three to have taken part in any operational flying i.e. six patrols with four different pilots.


It is noticeable that crew members constantly changed and rarely flew together more than two or three times, neither in training nor on operations. So on Thursday, 8 August 1940, it came as no surprise to any of them when Dennis Grice, Jack Keast and John Warren were detailed to fly together on an A.I. test.

Flying an AI test at the same time was F/O. Boyd with Sgt. Holland as air gunner and AC. Dixon, as radar opera




REASON FOR LOSS


The 600 Squadron Operations Book

'In the morning, Flying Officer Boyd and Flying Officer Grice set off on an A.I. practice at 11.25: they were to fly between Base and Ashford at 6000 ft. Two minutes after they had taken off the air-raid syrens [sic] sounded, and Flying Officer Smith heard an aircraft diving overhead, so he ran to the operations room, and ordered the V.H.F. tender to instruct them to land immediately, both aircraft acknowledged at 11.34 hours. Flying Officer Boyd dived straight into the clouds from where he was over the aerodrome, and heard firing over the R.T: he landed safely. Exactly what happened to Flying Officer Grice is not known, as he was next seen diving out of clouds towards Ramsgate, both engines on fire.

According to reports from sources in Ramsgate, civil and naval, Flying Officer Grice, skilfully pulled his aircraft out of its dive just before it would have hit a main shopping centre, avoided the harbour and crashing into the sea, one wing touched first and it turned over, and sank burning. All the occupants, Flying Officer Grice, (Pilot), Sgt, Keast (Air Gunner) and AC. Warren, the A.I. operator, were lost. The witnesses from Ramsgate are full of praise for Flying officer Grice's skill and gallantry.'


The eye-witnesses from Ramsgate were indeed full of praise as reported in the East Kent Times and Mail of 14 August 1940



A VERY GALLANT GENTLEMAN

British Pilot Gives Life to Save Civilians


'During the great air battle over South Eastern England on Thursday, when the Nazis lost 53 aircraft, while 16 British planes were shot down, one British pilot deliberately sacrificed his life in order to prevent his blazing machine crashing on to the roof-tops of a town.

When the aircraft was hit, it was at such an altitude that the pilot could easily have baled out and descended by parachute. Had he done this however his aircraft would have nose-dived on to buildings with disastrous results.

Eye-witnesses state that when they first saw the aircraft it was on fire and apparently out of control but that the pilot succeeded in getting it on an even keel again.

Although both his engines and the fuselage were on fire he gallantly remained in the cockpit and manoeuvred the plane so that it fell into the sea.

There it exploded. Gallons of burning oil and petrol were flung on to the surface of the sea, and although the pilot could be seen swimming for a few seconds, he disappeared before assistance could reach him.

A Very Gallant Gentleman.

As it roared towards the town, flames were spouting from it in all directions, but, silhouetted against the glare could be seen the pilot wrenching at the controls.

"It seemed certain" said one eye-witness "that the aircraft would crash into a row of houses near the cliff edge, but the pilot succeeded in making the plane swerve off so that it crashed into the sea. When it exploded, the surface of the water was covered with furiously burning petrol. I saw what I at first thought was a piece of wreckage near the burning oil, but looking through some field glasses, I could see that this was the head of a man. He disappeared, however, in a few seconds."

Motor launches were soon on the scene, but by then it was too late.'


Blenheim L8665 BQ-A reportedly crashed at 1155 hours having been shot down by Major Gerhard Schöpfel, of III /JG 26 . It was previously believed that the Blenheim was shot down by Oberleutnant Gustav Sprick of III/JG 26. We are grateful to Paul Nikolic for bringing this error to our attention.

The bodies of Dennis Grice and Jack Keast were recovered from the sea at Ramsgate and the body of John Warren was later washed ashore at Calais where he was buried.

On 9 August the 600 Squadron ORB recorded that:

'Little flying was done during the day, and attempts to salvage the aircraft from Ramsgate were foiled owing to the swell which prevented diving operations.'

We have been unable to determine when the remains of the aircraft were recovered. However, the propeller in the photograph below, displayed in the main museum building, Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial Museum, Manston Road, Manston, Thanet, Kent, CT12 5DF, is believed to have belonged to the crashed aircraft.








The Blenheim reportedly crashed 50 yards from Ramsgate harbour. The roundel in the above picture indicates only a possible approximate location. We seek further information that may help to determine the actual crash site. If you can assist please contact our helpdesk.



Could the crew have baled out?


The Blenheim normally flew with a crew of three – pilot, observer/bombardier and wireless operator/air gunner. The observer/bombardier was seated alongside the pilot, and made use of a sliding/folding seat whilst performing the bomb aiming role. The wireless operator/air gunner was housed aft of the wing alongside the aircraft's dorsal gun turret. The pilot's position on the left hand side of the nose was so cramped that the control yoke obscured the flight instruments, while engine instruments obscured the forward view on landings. Most secondary instruments were arranged along the left side of the cockpit, essential items such as the propeller pitch control were actually placed behind the pilot where they had to be necessarily operated by feel alone. All in all, baling out of the cockpit would have proved a difficult manoeuvre for the pilot and observer with the pilot probably having to go first: not an ideal situation for the poor observer.




However, following the changed role of the Blenheim, the observer position as shown in the photograph above was no longer occupied leaving only Dennis Grice in the cockpit and Jack Keast was in the dorsal turret. The Radar Operator (John Warren), according to Graham Warner's book- The Bristol Blenheim (page 239), 'Faced aft to operate the AI Mk III set installed in the fuselage "well" behind the cockpit between the main spars.'

The cockpit had a sliding escape hatch in the roof and another sliding escape hatch was located just forward of the dorsal turret. These hatches are both clearly visible in the photograph below.



There can be no doubt that Dennis Grice chose to remain at the controls to prevent the aircraft crashing onto the town. But Jack Keast and John Warren would seem to have had ample opportunity to bale out, provided they were not badly injured or dead and were able to negotiate the flames to reach the escape hatch forward of the dorsal turret. It is unimaginable that Dennis did not give the order to abandoned the aircraft when it was first attacked and on fire. Thus, it must be presumed that John Warren and Jack Keast were, for one of the aforementioned reasons, incapable of baling out of the stricken Blenheim.



Valor over Ramsgate by Paul’s Aviation Art


The above depiction of the final moments of Blenheim L8665 is reproduced by kind permission of the artist, Paul Nikolic of Herne Bay, Kent.




THE MAYOR OF RAMSGATE DECLARES THE TOWN'S DESIRE TO HONOUR THE PILOT


The following is a copy of the correspondence which the Mayor of Ramsgate (Alderman A.B.C. Kempe) has had with the Air Ministry concerning the opening of a the fund:

Mayors Parlour

Albion House Ramsgate

12 August 1940

Dear Sir

I have been in telephonic communication with Captain Harold Balfour, the Under Secretary of State for Air, who, as you know is our member.

The town wishes to honour the memory of one of the greatest heroes of the war in the person of Flight Lieutenant [sic] Grice who undoubtedly gave his life to save our town.

I happened to be under his plane just before it fell into the sea . It was under control and yet alight, but the way he manoeuvred it to avoid hitting the Council Offices was a wonderful action.

I might tell you that the town wishes me to say to you how proud they are that you are able to train such heroes. I propose consulting you as to how such subscription we intend to raise shall be administered and I therefore ask you to be good enough to let us have your approval of an action which, I know , will have the unanimous support of our town.

Yours Faithfully

A.B.C. Kempe

Mayor


The Air Ministry response was to say that the form of any commemoration should be a matter for consideration and decision by the people of Ramsgate

Subscriptions to the Memorial Fund raised a total of £135 ( worth about £10000 in 2024).



The East Kent Times and Mail Archive 7 December 1940



'P/O. [sic] Grice left a young wife, and so, after some considerable thought it was decided that the best means of indicating in some small way the feelings of the town for he husband's heroism the memorial should take the form of a piece of plate suitably inscribed.

The piece of plate, a a solid silver hand carved cake basket, has now been purchased. On it has been engraved , with the Borough Arms, the following inscription:

"Presented to Mrs Margaret Grice by the Mayor, Corporation and Citizens of Ramsgate, as a tribute to the bravery of her late husband, Pilot Officer D.N. Grice 'He died to save others.'"

On Wednesday the Mayor and Mayoress of Ramsgate (Alderman and Mrs. A. B. C. Kempe) journeyed to London, and there, at a private ceremony, the piece of plate was handed to Mrs Grice, who suitably expressed her thanks to the citizens of Ramsgate, saying that the gift would always be a most treasured possession and a lasting memorial of her husband.'


The balance of the fund was to be used to establish a 'Grice Fund' for the benefit of the orphans of Ramsgate men who lose their lives in the Royal Air Force.



We seek any information as to what became of the cake basket presented to Mrs Margaret Grice and/or a better quality photograph of the piece. If you have any knowledge of its whereabouts please contact our helpdesk



RAMSGATE'S GRATITUDE FOR THE VALOUR OF JOHN WARREN


Essex Newsman Saturday 15 February 1941

IN MEMORY OF HER SON

Mrs Warren of 23 Writtle Road, Chelmsford has received from the Mayor of Ramsgate, a tea and coffee service which was subscribed for by the townspeople of Ramsgate as a tribute to Mrs Warren's son, Aircraftman John Warren who, with two companions, Pilot-Sgt. [sic] Grice and Sgt. Keast, sacrificed their own lives last August by crashing into the sea rather than land in the town.

The bomber which they were flying was on fire; and by his sudden decision the pilot undoubtedly prevented further loss of life. The bodies of Grice and Keast have been recovered, but that of the Chelmsford lad is still believed to be in the plane which although close to the shore, is in deep waters and not possible at present to salvage.

John Warren was only 19.

The silver tea and coffee service with a tray to match bore the following inscription.

'To Mrs Warren from the Mayor, Corporation and Citizens of Ramsgate as a tribute to the great sacrifice of her son, Aircraftman John Warren.'


The Essex Chronicle Friday July 11 1947

JOHN WAS 'ONE OF THE FEW'; HE DIED BEATING THE LUFTWAFFE

Among the 1495 names inscribed in gold on the RAF Roll of Honour in the Battle of Britain Chapel which the King unveiled yeaterday at Westminster Abbey was that of Aircraftman (1st Class) John Benjamin William Warren of Writtle Road Chelmsford.

His mother Mrs Jeffrey Warren was one of hundreds of parents who watched the ceremony at the Abbey and thought with pride of her youngest son who was shot down at the age of nineteen in the early days of the Battle of Britain.

There also came a letter from Buckingham Palace signed by the King and saying: 'We trust the esteem of the country for which your son gave his life will be some measure of consolation to you.'

And finally there arrived from the Air Ministry, John's tin helmet inscribed with the names of all the towns he had been through during the heavy fighting in France and Belgium throughout May and June of that year - Abbeville, Amiens, Le Havre, Cambrai, Rouen and Cherbourg. There was also a leather wallet containing photos and his last leave pass found in his tunic when he was washed ashore three days after the crash. He lies buried in Calais.






BURIAL DETAILS, MEMORIALS AND EPITAPHS

F/O. Dennis Neve Grice was cremated at Charing (Kent County) Crematorium.

He is commemorated on the Charing (Kent County) Crematorium War Memorial.




Sgt. Francis John Keast was buried at Whitstable Cemetery - Sec. 4A. Grave 16.



AC 1. John Benjamin William Warren was buried at Calais Southern Cemetery - Plot O. Grave 32.

His epitaph reads:

"Abide with me;

Fast falls the eventide;

The darkness deepens;

Lord, with me abide"






The above plaque is located in the Memorial Garden, Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial Museum, Manston Road, Manston, Thanet, Kent, CT12 5DF

Inscription

MEMORIA

IN AETERNA

THIS TABLET IS DEDICATED TO THE PILOT AND CREW OF BLENHEIM L.8665

BASED AT MANSTON WHO DIED AT 11.55 AM IN ACTION

OFF THE ROYAL HARBOUR, RAMSGATE ON THE 8TH AUGUST 1940, DURING THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN.

FLYING OFFICER DENNIS NEVE GRICE DFC

PILOT

SERGEANT FRANCIS JOHN KEAST

AIR GUNNER

AC1 JOHN BENJAMIN WILLIAM WARREN

RADAR OP




RAMSGATE STILL REMEMBERS ITS DEBT OF GRATITUDE


In 2006 John Rowe, a Regional Volunteer for the war memorial charity War Memorials Trust, felt that the town of Ramsgate owed this crew a debt of gratitude. He proposed that a new memorial be created in the town to commemorate this crew's sacrifice. With local support from the Ramsgate Society, the Ramsgate Charter Trustees and the local branch of the Royal Air Force Association fund raising was commenced and efforts initiated to trace members of the crew's families. Unfortunately, in the event, only relatives of the air gunner Sgt. Francis John Keast were traced and on the day of the unveiling 16 members of his family were in attendance.

The site of the former Ramsgate Hospital, which was being redeveloped into luxury apartments, was identified as an appropriate site.

The memorial plaque was designed by a local artist, Mr Denys le Fevre FRSA, and made at a local stonemasons in black slate with gold lettering. On the 3rd March 2006 Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, former leader of Kent County Council, unveiled the new Blenheim memorial as a part of an overall ceremony at which the refurbished Peace Memorial was handed back formally to the people of Ramsgate. Members of Sgt. Keast’s family laid 3 wreaths, 1 for each of the crew members.




Ramsgate awards the DFC to Flying Officer Dennis Grice.

Although a campaign to award Dennis Grice a posthumous decoration for saving casualties in the town was unsuccessful, it is interesting to note that both memorials indicate that he was the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Ramsgate had made its own award!




ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

On behalf of Aircrew Remembered, Roy Wilcock would like to thank Alf Beeching, Kent local historian and author, for raising the subject of this story and for his sterling work in locating local newspaper reports central to this account. Thanks also to our friend and colleague Simon Gerrard, for his valuable contributions and our local contact with Alf Beeching.


Researched by Aircrew Remembered researcher Roy Wilcock for all the relatives and friends of the members of this crew - April 2024

With thanks to the sources quoted below.

RW. 09.04.2024

RW. 20.06.2024 Photograph of Jack Keast added courtesy the Keast family

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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