Photo: Brian Chandler
The headstone reads:
In loving memory of
Ken
Cpl. James Mackenzie 242 Squadron R.A.F.
beloved husband of Mary Clavering
of Leeds died on active service April 18th
1940 aged 24 years.
Resting
Pearl M.C. Alderson has submitted the following:
Corporal James Mckenzie Clavering was my father’s cousin.
James Mckenzie Clavering was son of James Edward and Georgina Robinson Clavering, nee Mckenzie. He was born 12 June 1915 at 73 Tenth Row, Ashington. The family were later of 44 Dene View, but I am not sure when they moved there.
He died 18 April 1940 at RAF Station Church Fenton, North Yorkshire.
I believe that he died rather horrifically in an accident at the base. I was told by a relative that he had been decapitated by the rotor blades of an aeroplane.
He was buried 24 April 1940 at the Holy Sepulchre, Ashington. According to the same relative, he was buried with military/RAF gun salute over the grave.
The headstone mentions his wife Mary (nee Read) of Leeds. They had been married in 1939.
Simon Glancey has submitted the following:
"The unit resumed night flying training and convoy patrols operating from dispersal sites. Such work was not without strain, incident, or tragedy. On April 18th (1940), an airman was killed accidentally while a Hurricane's guns were being test-fired. Another airman died after being struck by a rotating propeller on the night of May 6th."
242 Squadron: The Canadian Years, H Halliday, 1981, published by Canada's Wings, ISBN 978-0920002094.
James Clavering is remembered in Ashington on A17.43 and in Monkwearmouth on R.A.F. Roll of Honour page 22
