Monument to Flight Sergeant Alec Henry Cousins, All Saints Maidenhead Cemetery, Maidenhead, Berkshire, England.
Alec Henry Cousins was born in Maidenhead on 13th September 1923 to Frederick William Cousins, a general labourer. and his wife Bertha Calliss.
On the 1939 Register Alec can be found living with his parents at 7 Spencer's Road, Maidenhead. His occupation at the time is listed as Apprentice Retail Grocery & Provision Food Distributive
In the February of 1942 Alec joined 35th Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as an Air Bomber.
Alec's mission to Cologne in Germany on 24th December 1944, along with Pilot, Flight Officer Arthur Thomas Kenyon, Flight Engineer, Sergeant Leonard Williams, Navigator, Sergeant Albert Thomas, Air Gunner, Sergeant Cecil Leonard Blundell, Air Gunner, Sergeant Cyril Arthur Winter and Air Gunner, Sergeant Roy Arthur Yallop, to mark targets and routes with coloured flares for the main bomber stream to follow, was to be his last.
On that day their Lancaster III PB366 TL-S (Sugar) took off from Graveley Airfield, Cambridgeshire at 3:35pm. The weather was reported to be, 'not favourable' with freezing temperatures and fog forecast. Shortly after take-off the plane failed to climb, taking the roof off a cottage in London Lane, before clipping an elm tree and summersaulting into a field at Low Farm, Great Paxton near the Graveley airfield. The plane's bomb load was catapulted into a ditch alongside the main road to St. Neots. One of the unexploded bombs hit the wall of Low Farmhouse. The aircraft soon caught fire after impact and the first on the scene had to use rakes and hoes to drag the men from the wreckage, all but one died, who later died of his injuries at hospital, died at the scene.
Official MOD records give the reason for the loss as: "Pilot lost control taking off, while in fog conditions due to faulty instrument flying." Pilot Arthur Thomas Kenyon had only had 272 hours flying experience under instruction with only 19 hours experience as a solo pilot.
On Wednesday 3rd January 1945 the Maidenhead Advertiser reported:
"Died In Air Crash
Sergt. Alec Cousins R.A.F.V.R
There is a granite memorial stone in memory of the men at the entrance of what was Graveley Airfield and the squadron's colours are displayed in The Path Finder's Chapel.
All men lost were buried in their hometowns.
In the February of 1942 Alec joined 35th Squadron Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as an Air Bomber.
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| Flight Sergeant Alec Cousins |
Alec's mission to Cologne in Germany on 24th December 1944, along with Pilot, Flight Officer Arthur Thomas Kenyon, Flight Engineer, Sergeant Leonard Williams, Navigator, Sergeant Albert Thomas, Air Gunner, Sergeant Cecil Leonard Blundell, Air Gunner, Sergeant Cyril Arthur Winter and Air Gunner, Sergeant Roy Arthur Yallop, to mark targets and routes with coloured flares for the main bomber stream to follow, was to be his last.
On that day their Lancaster III PB366 TL-S (Sugar) took off from Graveley Airfield, Cambridgeshire at 3:35pm. The weather was reported to be, 'not favourable' with freezing temperatures and fog forecast. Shortly after take-off the plane failed to climb, taking the roof off a cottage in London Lane, before clipping an elm tree and summersaulting into a field at Low Farm, Great Paxton near the Graveley airfield. The plane's bomb load was catapulted into a ditch alongside the main road to St. Neots. One of the unexploded bombs hit the wall of Low Farmhouse. The aircraft soon caught fire after impact and the first on the scene had to use rakes and hoes to drag the men from the wreckage, all but one died, who later died of his injuries at hospital, died at the scene.
Official MOD records give the reason for the loss as: "Pilot lost control taking off, while in fog conditions due to faulty instrument flying." Pilot Arthur Thomas Kenyon had only had 272 hours flying experience under instruction with only 19 hours experience as a solo pilot.
On Wednesday 3rd January 1945 the Maidenhead Advertiser reported:
"Died In Air Crash
Sergt. Alec Cousins R.A.F.V.R
Sad news of the death in an air accident of their only son reached Mr. and Mes. Frederick Cousins, of 7, Spencers-road, Maidenhead, on Christmas Day
Sergt, Alec Henry Cousins, R.A.F.V.R., who was 21, volunteered for the R.A.F. in February 1942, and underwent his training for bomber crew in South Africa. Before joining up he first belonged to the A.R.P. Messenger Service and afterwards joined the A.T.C. He was popular with everyone with whom he came into contact, and there is much sympathy for his parents in their sad loss.
Sergt, Alec Henry Cousins, R.A.F.V.R., who was 21, volunteered for the R.A.F. in February 1942, and underwent his training for bomber crew in South Africa. Before joining up he first belonged to the A.R.P. Messenger Service and afterwards joined the A.T.C. He was popular with everyone with whom he came into contact, and there is much sympathy for his parents in their sad loss.
Born in Maidenhead he went to Gordon-road School and was employed at the International Stores. The funeral took place at Maidenhead Cemetery on Saturday. Flt. - Sergt. Kenway represented the young airman's Squadron, and Wing Comdr. Corfield and Sergt Swallow represented the R.A.F. Colleagues from the International Stores and the A.R.P. Messenger Service were also present at the graveside."
There is a granite memorial stone in memory of the men at the entrance of what was Graveley Airfield and the squadron's colours are displayed in The Path Finder's Chapel.
All men lost were buried in their hometowns.
Marauders of the Sky
See them come home, sliding and roaring by
The bright, beloved, marauders of the sky
Stern and serene young profiles and strong hands
That have dealt death and sorrow over lands
Once fair with peace and wine, young love and song.
They flew impersonal elated and strong
See them come in to land, their smiles, their eyes,
The triumph in their step. But strangely lies
Pain in this mouth, pale horror on that brow
That went unruffled, candid, gay, just now.
They have returned, fierce kinsmen of the wind
Brought back their lives but left their youth behind.
The bright, beloved, marauders of the sky
Stern and serene young profiles and strong hands
That have dealt death and sorrow over lands
Once fair with peace and wine, young love and song.
They flew impersonal elated and strong
See them come in to land, their smiles, their eyes,
The triumph in their step. But strangely lies
Pain in this mouth, pale horror on that brow
That went unruffled, candid, gay, just now.
They have returned, fierce kinsmen of the wind
Brought back their lives but left their youth behind.
Poem by Sergeant Roy Arthur Yallop.
© Copyright David Purchase and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
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