Samuel Albert Coles
Samuel Albert Coles
Samuel Albert Coles was born on the 15th of March 1913, in Bristol. His father was John Henry Coles and his mother Rose nee Bray. In the 1921 census he was eight years old, listed as Albert S. Coles, at Chardleigh Green, Chard, Somerset, with his grandparents, Aunt and brother.
In the June quarter of 1935, he married Margaret Lamb in Bournemouth and in 1939 they were living in 13 Howeth Road, Bournemouth and he was employed as a tele & telephone fitter.
His Rank & Service Number was Flying Officer 124952, in the 35th Squadron, RAF Volunteer Reserve.
At 22 07 on the 4th of May 1943 his ‘plane, a Handley Page Halifax !!, serial number DT489, took off from RAF Graveley. It crashed on return to base, coming down to the west of Portland Gelling cross-roads in Huntingdonshire. The cause was unknown. The next day, the 5th of May, he died in St Neots, Huntingdon. He was a navigator and had been living at 13 Howeth Road, Ensbury Park, Bournemouth.
On the 11th of May, he was buried at St Marks, Talbot Village. His death is also recorded on the memorial at St Gregory’s Parish Church, Seaton, Devon (see photograph).
