Gardiner, E. A. 
Edward Arthur Gardiner, 625967, was a Flight Engineer Sergeant in 9 Squadron, RAF

He took off in Avro Lancaster W4182 WS-B from Waddington, Lincolnshire at 18:15 hours on 20 December 1942, for a raid on Duisburg, Germany. Soon after taking off Lancaster W4182 collided with another Lancaster, W4269, in the darkness. Both bombers fell from the sky out of control and crashed on Bracebridge Heath, about 2 miles south of Lincoln. In a moment, 14 RAF airmen lost their lives

He was the "beloved second son" of Harry and Alice E Gardiner, from 77 Longfield Road, Dover. He is buried at St James, Dover. Six NCOs from the RAF were bearers of the coffin, draped with the Union Flag, and a large number of RAF followed the cortege. Section ER, Grave 3

"If love could have saved him, he would not have died"

The crew of Sergeant Gardiner's Lancaster were:

Below are the names of the crew from the other Lancaster involved in the mid-air collision. It was from No 44 Squadron and had also taken off from Waddington

At the bottom of his headstone are the words, "Ever Remembered. He died that we might live" The additional memorial is for Harry Gardiner, aged 71

RAF information with thanks to Dean Sumner
Picture and transcriptions with thanks to Joyce Banks

Gardiner, S. A. 
Sydney Albert Gardiner,1377053, was an Air Gunner Flight Sergeant in the RAFVR. He was 29 when he died on 20 March 1942 at Salisbury. His funeral took place at Buckland, Dover, on 28 March, with his family, numerous friends, and RAF personnel present. Flight-sergeants and sergeants bore the coffin.

Floral tributes included, "To my dearest loved one and our darling Daddie, from his loving wife and babies, Joan and Pat", and "to our darling Mick, from his broken-hearted Mum and Dad". Section C11 Grave 17 

His parents were William Gardiner and Lydia Ann, formerly Horton, of Dover, and his wife was Ellen Gardiner, from Market Drayton, Shropshire. He was late of 39 Glenfield Road, Dover

At the bottom his his headstone are the words, "Thy Will be Done"

graveside with thanks to Joyce Banks

Garlinge, F. L. 
Frank Leonard Garlinge, 7908187, was a Wireless Operator in the 44th Royal Tank Regiment, RAC. He was wounded at Sidi Rezegh on 28 November 1941, then reported as missing, believed drowned through enemy action, on a Hospital Ship on 5 December 1941 at Tobruk.  He is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial in Egypt. Column 22

He was 25, and was the "dear younger son" of Mr and Mrs F Garlinge, from Dover, and the brother of Fred and Noel 

1943 - "Loving thoughts of you always, dearest, and still hoping", Mum Dad, Noel, Fred, and Elsie
"Always in our thoughts, dearest"

Gavin, A. G. 
Alan Gordon Gavin, 14258557, was a Rifleman in the 2nd battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps. He died when he was 23, on 19 October 1944. He is buried in the Leopoldsburg War Cemetery, Belgium. III B 4

He was the "dearly loved youngest son" of Gordon Bedford Gavin and Euphemia Paulina Gavin, of Meggett Farm, Alkham.

"In ever loving memory of a dear son and brother ...From Mother, Brothers and Sisters." 1950 

Gerrard, E. N.
Eric Nicholas Gerrard, DLX 21121, was a Leading Cook (O), Royal Navy. He was 30 when he was reported missing, believed killed, after the sinking of the HMS Dorsetshire on 5 April 1942. He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. Panel 72, Column 1

He had almost completed 12 years service when he died, and had already survived the sinking of the HMS Courageous. He was an old Holy Trinity schoolboy, and the "dearly loved" son of Mr George Edward and Mrs Marion Clara Gerrard, from 10 Beach Street, who had four more sons serving. He was the "dearly loved" husband of Linda May Gerrard, of Dover, formerly living at "Rosedale", Mountfield, near Robertsbridge, and "darling Daddy" of Deirdre and Trevor. "A bitter blow" 

*Gilchrist, F. R. 
F. R. Gilchrist may be Francis Alexander Gilchrist. He was a Seaman aboard the Cable Ship Alert and, born on  17 November 1897, was 47 when he died on 24 February 1945. He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. Panel 5

His parents were Francis Alexander and Harriet Gilchrist, and in 1911 they were living at 18 Campbell Road, Walmer. Mr Gilchrist was then working as a labourer in a gas works, and there were four children at home; Emma, 15, Alex, 13, James, 11, and Annie, 8, all born in Walmer.

In 1919 Francis married Emma Elizabeth Burnap, who was to live at 86 Stockdale Gardens, Deal. The couple had four children, Francis, born in 1919, Joyce, 1922, Norman, 1924, and May, 1926.

Notes on Alert 

Gill, H. W. E. 
Henry William F. Gill, T/6012484, was a Lance Corporal in the Royal Army Service Corps, 737 Artillery Company. He was 24 when he was killed in the Nijmegan area, Holland on 30 October 1944 in a motor cycle accident. He is buried in the Uden War Cemetery, Netherlands. 6 H 3

He was the "beloved second son" of Mr and Mrs Frank Gill

"Never forgotten" - 1949 -Mother, Brothers and Sister

Gillman, J. W. T. 
John William Thomas Gillman was Private 6288917, in the 2nd battalion of The Buffs. He died of wounds on 6 November 1942 in "the Western Desert", when he was 23. He is buried in the El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt XIX E 14

He was the eldest son of John R and Edith F Gillman, of 45 Douglas Road, Dover

"Ever in our thoughts" 1943 - Mum, Dad, Sisters and Brothers

Godden, A. V.
Albert Victor Godden, was a Seaman, Cable Hand, Merchant Navy aboard the Cable Ship Alert. Born on 16 July 1915, he was 29 when he died on 24 February 1945. He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. Panel 5

His parents were Fred and Jane Godden, from Dover, and his wife was Lilian G. Godden, from Efford, Devon. In 1945 she was living at 63 Odo Road, Dover.

His good friend was Percy Ellis, also lost with the Alert

Notes on Alert.

picture by courtesy of Malcolm Ellis

Goodfellow, F. J. 
Frederick John Goodfellow was a Mess Room Boy, Merchant Navy and served aboard SS Shakespear. He died on 5 January 1941, when he was 17, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. Panel 95

He was the son of William ("his loving father") and Agnes Florence Goodfellow ("his loving mother"), and brother to Minnie

"Memories are treasures no one can steal"

This may have instead have been been Jack Goodfellow, announced as having died in December 1940, from 48 Beaufoy Terrace

Goodwin, F. A. 
Frederick Albert Goodwin, 1336800, RAFVR, was the son of William Frederick and Laura Lillian Goodwin, from Dover, and was a Wireless Operator Air Sergeant in 156 Squadron 

In Avro Lancaster JB479 GT-K he took off from Warboys, Cambridgeshire at 18:35 hours on 24 February 1944. The operation was a raid on the main German ball-bearing factory in Schweinfurt. The raid comprised 734 RAF aircraft and was Bomber Command’s first attack of the war on this target. It was a follow-up raid to the daylight attack carried out on 24 February by the United States 8th Air Force 

During the early hours of 25 February Lancaster JB479 crashed in unknown circumstances. All of the crew were killed and are buried in the Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany. Grave 4 K 1. A total of 33 bombers were lost, including JB479. Dovorian Sergeant Donald Halke also lost his life in this raid

The crew were:

with thanks to Dean Sumner

Grant, J. A. 
John Austin Grant was a Sub-Lieutenant (A) in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, with the FAS 830 Squadron HMS Furious. He was 23 when he died on 6 May 1944 and is buried in Trondheim (Stavne) Cemetery, Norway. A IV British C13 

He was the son of Capt. John Francis Grant, I.A., and Grace Henrietta Olga Grant, of Paddington, London, and the husband of Junior Commander Joan Olive Grant, Auxiliary Territorial Service

The words on his headstone read:

"Dear husband of Joan. Precious and only son of Capt and Mrs J. F. Grant. Till we meet again."

grave by Linzee Druce, www.archieraf.co.uk

Note however, there is also John Austin Lindsay Grant, RAFVR

Gregory, A. 
A Gregory

Grove, F. 
Francis Edward Grove was a Chief Cook, Merchant Navy on board the SS Maid of Kent. He died on 21 May 1940, when the vessel, acting as a hospital ship, was bombed. He was 41. He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. Panel 66

He was the "dearly loved" husband of Mrs R Grove, formerly of 181 Folkestone Road

May 1941

In loving memory of my husband and our Daddy, Francis Edward Grove, killed by enemy action, May 21 1940, on the hospital ship "Maid of Kent". His life was a beautiful memory' his death, a silent grief. From his loving wife Rose, children Edith, Leslie, and Rita, and friend Bert

Note: The Maid of Kent was one of the cross channel ferries, converted to a hospital ship.
See also:
"Luftwaffe Destruction of the Maid of Kent" by Richard Thwaites (.pdf)
and "Notes on the Hospital Carrier Maid of Kent"

Grover, E. F. 
Edmund Frank Grover,173831, was the son of Frank Keniston Grover and Ada Mary Grover, of, in 1939, 36 Heathfield Avenue, Dover. They were living at number 86 when Edmund died

He was born in Dover in 1924 and went to Barton Road School. Before he enlisted he was a collector for the Dover Gas Company and competition officer of the Dover Spotters Club.

He was commissioned from Sergeant (NCO No 1890348) as a Pilot Officer on 25 March 1944, and was confirmed as a Pilot Officer on 25 September 1944. On 17 October 1944, then serving with 15 Squadron, he was gazetted with the DFC.  His citation stated that he had completed a very successful tour of operational duty, and during many sorties had displayed courage and vigilance of high standard, including during encounters with enemy fighters.  He was promoted from Flying Officer to Flight Lieutenant on 25 March 1946

In the RAFVR, he died on 23 June 1947 at the age of 23, at the Westminster Hospital. He was buried on 28 June at Charlton Cemetery, Dover. QL 12

On the foot of his headstone is written, "At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them". Around the kerb of his grave is written, "In memory of our beloved son, Edmund Frank Grover, died 23rd June 1947, aged 23", and on the other side, "also of Frank Keniston Grover, beloved husband of Ada MaryGrover and father of Edmund, died 15th Dec^r 1956, aged 62 years".

1949 - In loving memory of our beloved son and brother, From his Mother and Father, Doft and Wally

with thanks to Dean Sumner