Terry, S. W.  
Stephen William Terry, 6296483, was a Private in The Buffs, 1st battalion

He was 30 when he was reported missing and later, around March 1943, as having died on 24th October 1942. He is buried at the El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt. XVIII A 23

He was an old St Mary's schoolboy, the son of William G and Grace C Terry, from 47 Peter Street, Dover. His sister married a younger brother of Great War casualty Charles Freeman. Many people had enquired after Stephen after he had been reported missing, and his parents thanked them for their enquiries

right: Private Terry's group - he is fifth from left in the back row
below: announcements from 1943

with thanks to Christopher Freeman

Thain, R. F.
Ronald Frank Thain, 124843, was a Flying Officer (Pilot) in the RAFVR. He had served formerly in the Dover Borough Police (CED), joining them in 1935. He volunteered for air crew duties and went to the United States in 1941 for training as a pilot. He gained his wings and a commission

He was killed on active service on 27th March 1943, aged 27, and is buried at Charlton cemetery in Dover. Section 2 U, Grave 23. Pall bearers were officers of the RAF Dover, with NCOs as bearers

He was the son of Mr and the late Mrs Frank Archibald Thain, and the "dearly beloved husband" of Eileen Dorothy Thain, nee Tolputt, from Dover, whose parents lived at 23 Queens Gardens. He had married his wife less than a year before, on 13th August 1942, at St Andrew's, Buckland, Dover. A muddle over the accounts for the Police Widows' and Orphans' Fund resulted in Mrs Thain not having received by 1949 some £60, consisting of £11 16s for funeral expenses and 3s a week pension. The money was paid in full in 1949.

The bench is on the sea front at Dover

Truscott, H.
Henry Truscott was the son of Henry and Flora J Truscott, from Chatham, who had formerly lived at 24 De Burgh Hill, Dover. Henry was a former pupil of Dover Charlton School for Boys.

On 22nd November 1943 at 5:08 pm, Avro Lancaster MkIII JA694 of 156 Squadron took off from RAF Warboys in Huntingdonshire to attack Berlin. The aircraft subsequently crashed at Döberitz to the west of Berlin, for reasons unknown, killing the entire crew.

The crew comprised:

It is recorded that the crew were buried in the vicinity on 7th December 1943, and funeral services were held. However,  their grave could not be positively identified postwar. They are therefore officially listed as 'missing' and are commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial.

764 RAF bomber aircraft took part in the raid on Berlin and up to this date, was the largest force dispatched to the German capital city. Bad weather hampered Luftwaffe night-fighters, preventing many from taking off, and RAF losses were relatively light with 26 bombers failing to return, including JA694. Despite poor conditions over Berlin, the bombing was fairly accurate with large areas of the city suffering destruction.  Over  3,000 houses and 20 industrial buildings were destroyed, with an estimated 175,000 Berliners bombed from their homes. It is estimated that more than 2,000 people were killed on the ground including approximately 500 in a single shelter that received a direct hit.
 

Notes: Flt/Sgt Stephens and Sgt Stocks were awarded their Distinguished Flying Medals in August 1943 during a previous attack on Berlin. Flt/Sgt Stephens was posthumously commissioned with the rank of Pilot Officer.

Sgt Ryan was the son of David and Mary Ryan, of Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Republic of Ireland.

photos and information with thanks to Dean Sumner