Edwin Atkinson 1922-1943, age 20

Barnsley Chronicle 9th October 1943
Thanks to Barnsley Archives

Born: 1922 in Barnsley Q4 

Son of: Jonas Frederick Atkinson (born Barnsley 1879-1963, died age 84) and Mary Atkinson nee Dickinson (born 1882 in Chapeltown, Sheffield)
Edwin's parents married on October 3rd 1903 at St George's Church in Barnsley. In 1911 they lived at 130 Blenheim Road, Barnsley where Jonas was a self-employed house carpenter and joiner.

Military Service:
Edwin was a pilot and Sergeant in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 1454621

Death: 29th September 1943. at the age of 20 years. His death was registered at Brackley, Northamptonshire.

Killed when a Wellington aircraft crashed on a training exercise, At 20:20 on 28 September 1943 Wellington HF600 of 17 O.T.U.  took off from Turweston, Buckinghamshire for a Bullseye Exercise (a navigational detail simulating a bombing raid on a nominated "target"). Returning to base in the early hours of the following morning, control was lost while orbiting a beacon and the aircraft dived into the ground at 01:14  about 1.5 miles west of Wappenham, Northamptonshire killing its six man crew. (Information thanks to MAC)

Buried: 2nd October 1943 at Barnsley Cemetery Section 9, grave 65. His headstone has the inscription

"To live on 

In the hearts that loved him

Is not to die"

Remembered: St Edward's Church, Barnsley WW2 memorial plaque and on the Holgate Grammar School WW2 Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission link: here  

Notes: From the Barnsley Chronicle 9th October 1943

Barnsley Sgt. - Pilot Killed on Service

Keen Member of Barnsley Y.M.C.A.

Sgt. Pilot Edwin Atkinson (20) youngest son of Mr and Mrs J.F. Atkinson of "Brackenrigg" Keresforth Hall Road, Barnsley, who was killed on service during September, was educated at St. Mary's School and Barnsley Grammar School. He volunteered and joined the R.A.F. in November 1941, and trained in Georgia U.S.A., where he obtained his wings. He was a keen member of the Y.M.C.A. and was formerly employed in the laboratory of S. Fox and Co. Ltd., Stocksbridge.
The interment was at Barnsley Cemetery on Saturday, preceded by a service at St Edward's Church, the Rev. T.G. Evans officiating. [...] (here follows a long list of mourners)

Research by James Corbett and Gill Brookes of St Edward's Church.