GURTEEN, John Vinter


No.81918, Pilot Officer, John GURTEEN
Aged 23


504 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Killed in Action on Sunday, 15th September 1940


"Vindicat in ventis" - It avenges in the wind
His name was added to the memorial in 2016
John Vinter GURTEEN was born on 10th February 1916 in Haverhill (Risbridge Q1-1916 4A:2613), son of Conrad Sharp and Frances Annie GURTEEN (née VINTER ).


Educated firstly at Summerfields Preparatory School, Oxford and then at Marlborough College from 1929 to 1933. At Marlborough he was active in his house junior teams fin rugby, hockey and cricket and also a member of the Officer's Training Corps.He won a scholarship to Choate School Connecticut in the USA,( which counts former President J.F.Kennedy amongst its alumni) sponsored by the English Speaking Union.
Returning to UK in 9134 he lived in Nottingham, working for J.A Shipstone, a brewery family of which his maternal grandmother was a member. In the 1939 register, his parents were at Woodlands Cottage, Sturmer with his brother Arthur Vinter (student at agricultural college.)



He joined the RAF Volunteer Reserves in March 1939 as airman,under training for pilot, and was mobilised 1st September 1939. Completing his training at No. 5 Flying Training School, RAF Sealand, he was then converted on to Hurricanes and posted to 504 Squadron at Castletown around June 1940. On 5th September 1940 No.504 Squadron moved to RAF Hendon

504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force: 504 Squadron came into being on the 14th March 1926 based at Hucknell as part of the Special Reserve Squadron in the light bomber role. The squadron was equipped with Horsleys, Wallaces and Hinds before becoming a fighter squadron equipped with Gloster Gauntlets on 31st October 1938. By the beginning of World War II, 504 had been re-equipped with Hawker Hurricanes.

During the Battle of Britain, in Hawker Hurricane Mk1, ser.no. N2481 c/s TM-?, he was shot down at 12:58 over south London, crashing at full throttle into Whiffens Cottage in Hartley, near Longfield

He was cremated at Hendon Crematorium and his ashes were scattered over his house by a fellow officer, Fl/Lt W.B.Royce, from 504 Squadron.

The silver rose on the ribbon of his 1939-1945 Star denotes the clasp for participating in the Battle of Britain.

John was the subject of a newspaper article published in Nottingham on 3 October 1940 that read:
'Notts Player Killed. In Pilot-Officer John Vinter Gurteen, the Notts. R.F.C. (Rugby Football Club) has lost another member killed in action, and one who had enjoyed great popularity in sporting circles. He was held in high esteem in the firm of J.Shipstone and sons Ltd., and was a great nephew of Sir Thomas Shipstone. Pilot Officer Gurteen, the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Gurteen, of Woodlands, Haverhill, was originally a member of the volunteer reserve of the R.A.F. at Tollerton. He was 24, and played in the "A" fifteen of the Notts club for several seasons.'


Hurricane of that era




photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



John Gurteen is commemorated at the Hendon Crematorium, panel 5
John is also remembered with honour on the Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel le Ferne, near Folkestone in Kent, on the Battle of Britain Memorial on the Thames Embankment, and on the memorial plaque in the Old Independent Church, Haverhill. His name is also commemorated at Marlborough College and the Choate School, Connecticut.

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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