Roll of Honour 2023

P AGE 219

W ORLD W AR II

S T . E DWARD ’ S S CHOOL , O XFORD R OLL OF H ONOUR

Name DAVID McLAREN (Pilot Officer)

Lef SES 1933

Roll Number 2498 Died 13:12:1941

Set / House E

Arrive SES 1929

Where BREST HARBOUR, FRANCE Serving with 144 SQD, BOMBER CMD, R.A.F.V.R.

Age 26

Buried No Known Grave Remembered Runnymede Memorial and The St. Edward’s School WW2 Memorial

Born Hoylake, 1916. “He arrived at SES, one of the large band from the Leys, Hoylake. He had a very cheerful time at the School’ (Chronicle). He was in the School Swimming Team and Shell B Form. On leaving the School he joined his uncle’s firm of stockbrokers where ‘he quickly won the affection of the staff ’ (Chronicle). When war broke out he joined up with the R.A.F.V.R. in 1940 achieving his Pilot’s wings with 144 Squadron, Bomber Command, flying Hampden Bombers. Charged with dropping mines to block the entrance to Brest Harbour in France, his aircraft was shot down in action by enemy ground fire. All were lost and have no known graves. ‘Lost without trace during daylight mine-laying sortie to the Brest area’ (Official Report).