Antiques Roadshow 11.09.16 - Squadron Leader Hedley Neville Fowler

I don't see any mention on here, so posting this.

Yesterday's Antiques Roadshow had a man who had a small collection of photographs of Squadron Leader Hedley Neville Fowler.

His mother worked as a cleaner at various Ministries in the 1980. She saw these being thrown out at the F&CO and thought it was wrong so asked someone senior. They had no interest in them and told her to take them home. The family has had them since then but felt they should be passed to the officer's family. Anyone with any knowledge was asked to contact the programme.

Born London 1916
Family moved to Australia
Joined RAAF 1936
Transferred or attached to RAF 1937
WWII
To France where shot down May 1940
Taken prisoner, ended up in Colditz but escaped from there and got back to the UK.
Test pilot at Boscombe Down where he was killed in an flying accident March 1944

Sorry rough notes from just running back a recording but I think I have details correct.

www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2709...R,%20HEDLEY%20NEVILE

Rank:Squadron Leader
Trade:Pilot
Service No:39457
Date of Death:26/03/1944
Age:27
Regiment/Service:
Royal Air Force
Awards:M C
Grave Reference: Grave 783. Cemetery:DURRINGTON CEMETERY
Additional Information:Son of Maxwell Thomas Bourne Fowler and of Florence Fowler (nee Ayers), of Mytten, Sussex.

Kevin

Maxwell Thomas Bourne Fowler appears to have died in Hove in 1954

Looks as if might have only had the one child - confirmed that only child, known as Bill.

From his headstone....

He flew toward the sun and left the vivid air signed with his honour

Based on a poem "I think continually" by Stephen Spender

www.poemhunter.com/poem/i-think-continually/