Herald - Issue 412

Page 24 • The HERALD • 16th September 2021 v INDEPENDENT, LOCAL AND PROUD v • Re-Skimming • Rendering • Coving • Dry Lining • Tacking • Artex Covered • Floor Screeding www.tbrownplastering.co.uk Call: 07919 183989 Friendly • Reliable • Professional • Free Estimates TRU-FLOW PLUMBING SERVICES For all your Domestic Plumbing, Tiling, Painting and Decorating Requirements • Fully Insured • Discounts for Senior Citizens Please Contact Andy Tel: 023 8087 0145 • Mobile: 07962 590089 All Electrical Work Undertaken Additional sockets & lighting New Consumer units installed Full / Part property rewires Hot Tub supplies installed Led Lighting installed Fault Finding Call Mike on: 023 8048 0818 07796 710581 Email: mctelectrical@virginmedia.com dirty oven...? Andy Neal, 41 Sea Road, Barton on Sea Head Office: 67 Barkham Ride, Wokingham, Berks RG40 4HA Free: 0800 140 9800 or Mobile: 07712 567691 www.ovenu.co.uk don’t worry... help is at hand From Ovenu®, the UK’s leading oven valeting company! Our franchised technicians remove grease, fat and burnt on carbon deposits in around three hours to an amazing standard... guaranteed. Our caustic free system offers a safe alternative to conventional methods. Hundreds of delighted clients every week use Ovenu... why not call today for a free quotation. We also clean hobs, hoods and microwaves to the same standards. TALES FROM THE GRAVEYARD OF There has been a church at Fawley since 971 A.D. and the graveyard contains over 3,500 known souls within it. Over the next few months, I will be writing up the stories of some of the people buried within the churchyard, many with living relatives who have so kindly contributed to these short histories. BATTLE OF BRITAIN HERO’S - ‘Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few’ Within the grave yard are the remains of two young pilots who were killed in action in the Battle of Britain while engaged in defending Southampton and the Aurel’s early life in China records that he was a pupil of the Prep. School in Chefoo, where he spent four years, before joining the Boys School in 1931. He did well at school, obtaining 7 credits in the School Certi cate Examinations. He bowled for the school cricket team, played in the football team, and was selected Captain of Boats for the Rowing team. He le Chefoo in 1938 aged 17 years. He then returned to England, took a business course and then joined the Royal Air Force on a short service commission in August 1939. He was a ‘natural’ pilot and quickly gained his ‘Wings’. A er completing his training he was sent to Aston Down in May 1940. ere he converted to ying Hurricanes and was posted to 249 Squadron at Lecon eld in East Riding of Yorkshire. On the fateful day of his death, 16th August 1940, Martyn Aurel King was ying a Hurricane GN-F, serial number P3616, as part of a formation of three Hurricanes. ey had been scrambled at about 13:00 hours from RAF Boscombe Down to intercept an incoming bomber raid on Southampton. Martyn’s ight consisted of the leader, Squadron Leader Eric King (no relation) and Flight Lieutenant James Nicolson. eir ight was almost immediately attacked by a Messerschmitt BF 110 ghter. Flight Lieutenant James Nicolson’s aircra was set alight and as he prepared to bale out he saw an enemy aircra ahead and climbed back into the burning cockpit and attacked the enemy. is was later con rmed as a ‘kill’. James was then forced to abandon his aming aircra as his foot had been severely damaged and his hands burnt. As he approached the ground on his parachute he was shot in the legs by the Local Defence Force. He landed at Rownhams and was taken to Southampton General Hospital. He was later awarded the only Battle of Britain Victoria Cross. Meanwhile, Martyn had also been attacked and his aircra disabled. As he descended with his parachute, the Local Defence Force presumably mistook him for an enemy pilot and shot at him. is caused his parachute canopy to collapse. He fell onto the roof of 30 Cli on Road, Shirley, Southampton, where his parachute became trapped round the chimney pot which snapped the straps, and Martyn fell to the ground. He died in the arms of the owner of the property, a Mr. Fred Poole. Martyn Aurel King was buried in All Saint’s Church Fawley with full military honours, in the Commonwealth Graves area on the south side of the church. ere were a large amount of oral tributes. His headstone states that he was aged 19 but in actual fact he was only 18 years old when he died. Squadron Leader Eric King made it back to Boscombe Down in Written by Patricia Hedley-Goddard, Churchyard Archivist for the ancient parish church of All Saints’, Fawley TELEPHONE ENGINEER New Extensions, Repairs, Rewire No Job Too Small Ex-BT Engineer • Lives Locally Phone Don Rose 023 8084 4822 Mobile: 07739 845149 ( ( Martyn ‘Aurel’ King was the youngest pilot to fly in the Battle of Britain surrounding area. In remembrance of them, and to commemorate 15th September, Battle of Britain Day, these ‘Tales’ are about them. Martyn Aurel King was the youngest pilot to y in the Battle of Britain. He was born on 15th October 1921 to George Edwin and Ivy Ethel King. When Martyn was only 9 months old the family took a ship and sailed to Shanghai in China. e passenger list records the family as consisting of his parents, sisters Mary and Gladys and his brother Raymond. e occupation of the father and mother was listed as ‘missionaries’. Sadly, his father drowned in 1927 in the Yellow River at Paotow, China, when ‘Aurel’ (as he was always called) was only 6 years old. Continued on page 25