No.516439, Flight Sergeant, Thomas Francis BEAUMONT
Aged 27
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Thomas Francis Beaumont was born in Soham in 1914 (Newmarket Q4-1914 3B:783), son of Thomas and Clara Mary BEAUMONT (née ASHMAN).
In the 1939 register, at Paddock Street, Soham were his stepfather Arthur W AMES [17-12-1893] boot repairer and his mother Clara M [20-3-1885]. There are 2 closed records. From probate records his address was Paddock Street, Soham. Possibly, he married Ivy K.PRESTON (Newmarket Q1-1941 4A:28608A) His father was killed in France in August 1914 . see here ..his mother had re married, to Arthur William AMES in 1921. Thomas junior would never have seen his father. |
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No 277 Squadron was an air sea rescue squadron, formed on 22nd December 1941 at RAF Stapleford Tawney (just inside the M25, 3 miles from North Weald) from
air-sea rescue detachments at Martlesham Heath, Hawkinge, Shoreham and Tangmere and its aircraft covered the busy area between south-east England and
northern France. The squadron however was not deployed to the Mediterranean theatre. In fact , with thanks to Col Bruggy and Ross on RAF Commands Forum and "Spitfires Over Malta:The Epic Air Battles of 1942". Cull, Brian & Frederick Galea. London:Grub Street, 2005. pp.149-50 27-year-old Flt Sgt Tom Beaumont (BR313) from Soham in Cambridgeshire - a former air-sea rescue pilot. F/St Beaumont was flying one of the 4 Spitfires Mk V (ser.no BR313) that were lost on 3rd June 1942 when being ferried on HMS "Eagle" to Malta. 31 Spitfires took off from Eagle that day, 27 reaching Malta safely, 4 were shot down. |
photo: http://www.killifish.f9.co.uk/Malta%20WWII/Spitfire.htm
Malta Spitfire taxying with human stabiliser, note also hideous tropical filter
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details