Frank BERESFORD
1917 - 1945
131763
605 Squadron
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Picture 1

Written and researched by Pam Turner

BERESFORD/HICKMAN FAMILY

The name of Beresford can be spelt in various ways, other versions are BERRESFORD, BERRISFORD and BERISFORD, but for the purposes of this biography I will stick to the spelling of BERESFORD, which was used most for documents regarding Frank and his family.

Frank Beresford was born around 1917; his exact birth date is unfortunately not known. Extensive research has been done on trying to find either a birth or christening record but nothing has come to light, so from later documentation we have to assume 1917 as his year of birth. Frank’s parents were William and Sarah Ann Beresford nee Hickman of Boney Hay, Chase Terrace, Staffordshire.

William Beresford was born in Burntwood in January 1877 and was christened at Christ Church, Burntwood on 4th February 1877, his parents were Henry and Ann Beresford nee Smith who had married at the same church on 31st October 1874. In 1881 William was listed in the census as aged 4 living with his parents and younger siblings Ada, Charlotte and Joseph at Boney Hay, Staffs. Henry Beresford was a Coal Miner born in Burntwood around 1851 and his mother Ann was born in Baddesley, Warwickshire again around 1851.

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Picture 2B

Ten years later, in 1891, William is listed on the census in Boney Hay as aged 14 and a Coal Miner the same as his father. Also listed on the census with his parents were four younger siblings Charlotte, Joseph, Rhoda and Henry.

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Picture 3B

In 1901, William Beresford was still a Coal Miner living at home with his parents, he was aged 24. Also living in the same house was his younger sister Rhoda and younger brother Henry who was also a Coal Miner.

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Picture 4B

Frank’s mother, Sarah Ann Hickman, was born in September 1872 in Gentleshaw, near Burntwood, Staffs; she was christened on 6th October 1872 at Gentleshaw Parish Church, and her parents were George and Rebecca Hickman nee Dewsbury. In 1881 Sarah Ann was listed on the census as aged 8 living at Windmill Bank, Gentleshaw with her parents and siblings, Harry and Ernest, who were older and Olive, James, William and Richard who were younger. Sarah Ann’s father George was a Coal Miner.

Picture 5A

Pictures 5B and 5C

Ten years later Sarah Ann was no longer living at home. The 1891 census reveals that she was a general servant living with a family in Stockport, Cheshire, the head of the house was a Linen Draper called William Bunting. Sarah Ann’s parents and siblings were living in Boney Hay in 1891 having moved the short distance from Gentleshaw.

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Picture 6B

Picture 6C

In 1901, Sarah Ann cannot be found on any census either in Staffordshire, Cheshire or any other place in Britain; however, a year later, in 1902, she is featured on a Hickman family photograph which was presumably taken in Boney Hay. The photograph shows Sarah Ann together with her mother Rebecca and 7 siblings, it is obvious that the photograph is commemorating an event, maybe a wedding. George Hickman, Sarah Ann’s father, was missing from the photograph, he died in 1902.

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On 27th April 1903, William Beresford and Sarah Ann Hickman got married at Christ Church, Burntwood. William was 26, Sarah Ann was aged 30, 4 years older.

Picture 8A

Eight years later the couple were listed on the 1911 census as living off Rugeley Road, Chase Terrace; they had a lodger called James Bailey living with them. The census reveals that the house they were living in had 4 rooms, the couple had been married for 7 years and that Sarah Ann had not given birth to any children during that time. William Beresford was still a Coal Miner, as was his lodger James Bailey.

Picture 8B

Family Trees

The Beresford Family Tree

Picture 9A

The Hickman Family Tree

Picture 9B

Education

Unfortunately, not a lot is known about Frank’s early life. As mentioned at the beginning, neither a birth nor a christening record has been found for him, which is strange although not unheard of. However, we do know that Frank attended King Edward VI Grammar School in Lichfield from 1928 to 1935.

Lichfield Grammar School

King Edward V1 School, Lichfield, was established by Bishop Smythe in 1495 as a free grammar school, being part of the same foundation as St John’s Hospital Lichfield, a home for the elderly. The school takes its name from the Tudor boy king who reigned between 1547 and 1553. In the 18th Century, a number of well known people were educated at the school including Dr Samuel Johnson, David Garrick and Joseph Addison. Until the beginning of the 20th century, King Edward’s School occupied the school house in St. John's Street, Lichfield opposite St. John's Hospital; however in 1903 the first building on its present site was opened, the land and buildings of the new school had been financed by the Conduit Trust. The prospectus of 1903 gave a detailed description of the buildings and stated there was accommodation for 80 day scholars and 26 boarders. In 1903 boys were allowed to enter the school at the age of 8 when they had to pass exams in reading, writing from dictation and arithmetic and multiplication tables. The term fees were steep, basic fees were £2 13s 6d. Greek or German was £1 extra, the weekly boarding fee was £11 1s; Full boarding for a term of 13 weeks was £14. By 1918 the school was describing itself as a “first grade minor Public School. In the 1920s and 1950s further extensions were added to the 1903 building, which later became Johnson Hall.

Frank Beresford would have been aged 11 when he started King Edward’s grammar school, whether he was a boarder or day pupil is not known; with his parents living in nearby Boney Hay, travelling to school should have been reasonably easy and so one would assume he was a day pupil. Frank must have been quite a bright boy to attend the school, it had a tradition of academic excellence and fees were payable to attend. It is doubtful that many children from the mining families in the Boney Hay/Chase Terrace area would have had the opportunity to be educated at King Edward’s, the fees alone would have been out of reach for most families and so it is possible that Frank gained a scholarship in order to attend. When he left in 1935 he would have been aged 18.

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Work and Marriage

Between leaving school and joining the RAF, Frank went to work for Talbot Stead Tube Co Ltd., a well known Walsall manufacturing firm; he may have joined the firm straight from school in 1935. W J Talbot and Geoffrey Stead founded the Company in 1906 with the factory being opened in Green Lane, Walsall. The company were major manufacturers of metal tubing for engineering, steam engines, ships and the food and chemical industries. During WW1, boiler tubes used by the British Navy steam warships and the Italian and Japanese navies were made at the Green Lane works; also, between the world wars, the firm supplied boilers and tubes for many famous ships including the Queen Mary. Talbot Stead was also the first to use “Staybrite a special stainless steel alloy.

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Pictures 12A, 12B and 12C

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On 6th August 1938 a marriage notice was placed in the Walsall Observer, it read:
“On 30 July 1938 at Blakenall Church, Frank only son of Mr and Mrs W Beresford of Boney Hay
to Muriel only daughter of Mr and Mrs A Foxall of Leamore”.

After their marriage Frank and Muriel set up home at 10 Hamilton Street, Bloxwich, Staffs

RAF

Three years after his marriage, in October 1941, Frank joined the RAF and over the next 18 months embarked on training to become an RAF Pilot. To start with his rank was “Leading Aircraftman” which was a junior rank between aircraftman and senior aircraftman; however by 7 November 1942 he had been promoted to “Pilot Officer” (Probationary) which is the lowest commissioned rank. It was at this point that he became part of the RAFVR under the branch of General Duties (Emergency Commission). His service number was 131763 and he was a member of 605 Squadron.

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Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve

The RAFVR was formed in July 1936 to provide supplements to the Auxiliary Air Force (AAF), which had been formed in 1925. The AAF was organised on a Squadron basis with local recruitment similar to the Territorial Army. Initially the RAFVR composed of civilians recruited from the neighbourhoods of reserve flying schools. Reserve Flying Schools were run by civilian contractors who largely employed members of the Reserve of Air Force Officers (RAFO) as instructors, these officers had previously completed a four-year short service commission as Pilots in the RAF. Navigation Instructors were mainly master mariners without any air experience. Recruits were confined to men of between 18 and 25 who had been accepted for part time training as Pilots, Observers and Wireless Operators. The object was to provide a reserve aircrew for use in the event of war.
{Extract from Forces War Records website, Forces War Records http://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/}

605 (County of Warwick) Squadron
Motto: Nunquam dormio - 'I never sleep'

Badge: On a mount a bear supporting a ragged staff.
The device on the badge has long been associated with Warwickshire

Picture 15

The 605 Squadron was initially formed at Castle Bromwich in 1926 as a light bomber squadron in the Auxiliary Air Force and was equipped with DH9As. In 1930 it received Wapiti's until 1934 when Harts superseded them; in their turn Hinds replaced them in 1936. It was re-designated a fighter squadron in January 1939, receiving Gladiators in February. In February 1940 the squadron moved to Scotland, the following May they went south to cover the British withdrawal at Dunkirk, after which they went back to Scotland but returned South in September to join the closing stages of the Battle of Britain. The Squadron continued to operate from bases in the south carrying out escort duties and fighter sweeps until posted overseas. In November 1941, the squadron flew off the carrier HMS Argus to Malta, where it was retained as part of the island's defences, after this it moved to the Far East arriving in Singapore but was too late to prevent its capture, it then moved to Sumatra and Java. Whilst in the Far East it operated any aircraft it could fly until it ceased to exist with its personnel either escaping in small groups or being captured On 7 June 1942 a new No. 605 was formed at Ford, it was equipped with Bostons in the intruder role.
{Extract from Wikipedia and Rickard, J (30 March 2012), No. 605 Squadron (RAF): Second World War, http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/605_wwII.html and http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn605-610.htm}

In November 1942, Frank would have joined the re-formed 605 at Ford and in May 1943 when his training was complete he was promoted to (WS) “Flying Officer” this was a junior commissioned rank and it was at this point he was posted to Malta. In February 1943 605 squadron had replaced the Bostons with Mosquitos, and so this would be the aircraft that Frank was allocated to fly. {“WS” stood for War Substantive and was a term used to indicate that the holder may revert at the end of the war to his previous rank.}

De Havilland Mosquito

The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft with a two-man crew it was one of the few front-line aircraft of WW2 that was constructed almost entirely of wood and was therefore nicknamed “The Wooden Wonder” and also known as “Mossie” to its crews. The aircraft was adapted to many roles during WW2 including daytime tactical bomber, high altitude night bomber, maritime strike aircraft and fighter-bomber. The Mosquito entered into production in 1941 becoming one of the fastest operational aircraft in the world, it entered widespread service in 1942. During 1942 and 1943 it was used in attacking factories, railways and other pinpoint targets within Germany and occupied Europe. From late 1943 Mosquito bomber units were formed and used as pathfinders for RAF Bomber Commands heavy raids as well as being used as nuisance bombers in high altitude high speed raids which German night fighters were almost powerless to intercept.
{Extract from Wikipedia}

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While stationed in Malta Frank took part in the operations in Sicily, Italy and Sardinia and therefore it is almost certain he was a part of “Operation Husky” a major campaign by the Allies to take Sicily from the Axis Powers (Germany and Italy). It was a large-scale amphibious and airborne operation followed by 6 weeks of land combat starting on the night of 9-10 July 1943 and ending on the 17 th August with Sicily becoming the first piece of Axis homeland to fall to the Allied Forces. After successfully driving all forces from the island Benito Mussolini was toppled from power and the way was opened to the Allied Invasion of Italy, which Frank may have been a part of.

Home Stations

After his time in Malta finished, Frank returned to this country and from October 1943 to April 1944 would have been based at Bradwell Bay on the Essex Coast In the early part of 1944 Frank’s wife Muriel gave birth to a daughter Celia Barbara, so I would imagine Frank would have been able to go and visit his wife and new-born daughter whilst he was based at Bradwell Bay

Bradwell Bay was a small airfield that was enlarged into a full airfield from February 1941, and was used as a fighter base for the remainder of the war. At one point there were over 2000 personnel stationed at Bradwell. The airfield was in a very important defensive position mid way between the Thames and the port of Harwich and was one of the first stations to start using Mosquito aircraft.
{Extract from http://www.essex-family-history.co.uk/bradwellbay.htm}

From April 1944 to November 1944 605 Squadron was based at Manston in Kent, from then till March 1945 it was based at Hartford Bridge in Hampshire which changed its name to Blackbushe in November 1944. Frank would have been based at Manston but it is doubtful he went to Blackbushe because it is recorded that in December 1944 he was posted to France. Prior to this posting on 7th November 1944 Frank was promoted to (WS) Flight Lieutenant (Nav), this promotion was listed in the London Gazette supplement dated 21st November 1944.

RAF Manston was developed as a South coast emergency landing ground for bomber crews and was intended for use by returning bombers suffering from low-fuel and/or suspected damage to their pneumatic (wheel brake) and/or hydraulic (control surface) systems. The airfield was equipped with a single runway, 9,000 ft long and 750 ft wide together with a further clear area of 1,500 ft at each end. At the start of the Second World War, Manston hosted a School of Air Navigation but this was quickly moved out and it was put under the command of a Fighter Command. During the Battle of Britain Manston was heavily bombed. Barnes Wallis used the base to test his bouncing bomb on the coast at nearby Reculver prior to the Dambusters raid.
{Extract from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Manston}

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Flight Lieutenant (Navigator) was a part of the 3rd rank group and equivalent to a Captain in the British Army or a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. It is a fairly high commissioned rank and continues to be used in the Royal Air Force today. A notable present day Flight Lieutenant is Prince William Duke of Cambridge. Flight Lieutenant ranks above Flying Officer and immediately below Squadron Leader and the name of the rank is the complete phrase, it is never shortened to “lieutenant”.

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In the early part of 1945 whilst in France Frank was engaged in the shooting up of retreating enemy troops and vehicles. In early March 1945 Frank came home on leave and so would have been able to spend a short time with his wife and daughter. In March 1945, No.605 Squadron moved to Koksijde, Belgium to reduce transit time to Germany so when Frank returned to operations this is where he would have been posted.

The building of the airfield of Koksijde started between the two World Wars, when the Belgian Air Force was reorganized. After the invasion of Belgium in 1940, the Germans built a 800 m long runway. The airfield was bombed by the allied forces in 1943-1944; in June 1944, the Germans mined and destroyed the runways. The RAF revamped the airfield in October 1944, and it was operational again in January 1945. Koksijde (French: Coxyde) is located on the North Sea coast in the southwest of the Flemish province of West Flanders and would have been well placed for making air raids on Germany. {Extract from http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/be-vwvkk.html}

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Missing in Germany

In 1944, the tide had turned against the Germans and the Mosquitos were transferred to the new Light Night Striking Force (LNSF), part of No 100 (Bomber Support) Group. Here, they were tasked with carrying out diversionary raids to attract the defending fighters away from the main bomber stream. These 'spoof' attacks, many of which were against Berlin, were aided by electronic aids to deceive the German radar network into believing that the much smaller Mosquito force was the main attack. Up to the end of March 1945 there had been a total of 314 air raids on Berlin, with 85 of those coming in the last twelve months half of all houses were damaged and around a third uninhabitable, a large part of the city was simply rubble. Estimates of the total number of dead in Berlin from air raids range from 20,000 to 50,000; some German studies suggest the lower figure is more likely. The relatively low casualty figure in Berlin was partly the result of the city's distance from airfields in Britain, which made big raids difficult before the liberation of France in late 1944. {Extract from Royal Air Force website (http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/dehavillandmosquito.cfm)}

When Frank returned to operations in March/April 1945 it was the first time he had been involved in raids on Berlin, sadly on 11th April 1945 whilst on a Mosquito raid in the Berlin and Brunswick area Frank together with his Co-Pilot and plane went missing. Up to that point Frank had taken part in 63 flying operations over enemy territory. On the 17th April the Air Ministry wrote Frank’s wife Muriel a letter confirming a previous telegram notifying her that Frank was missing. The letter went on to say that he may not necessarily have been killed, it was possible that he was a prisoner of war and to inform the Air Ministry should she receive any communication from her husband. In the meantime they would continue with enquiries through the Red Cross for any information on Frank and the missing plane.

Pictures 21A and 21B

Just over two weeks later an article appeared in the Walsall Observer headed up “Mosquito Pilot Missing”. It gave details about Frank together with his RAF flying record and other pieces of information about his life. The article also mentioned his parents William and Sarah Ann who it said resided at 3 North Street, Boney Hay.

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Killed in Action

It was exactly 5 months later before Muriel and Frank’s parents finally knew what had happened to him. Muriel received another letter from the Air Ministry, dated 17th September 1945, stating that the RAF missing research and enquiry serviced had proved successful in determining Frank’s fate, the letter continued as such: “They found that your husband lost his life while pressing home a low level attack on a German army unit deployed along the autobahn which runs south of the village of Schermen, 10 miles north-east of Magdeburg. Your husband’s aircraft hit the autobahn and struck an object causing it to spin and crash into a farmhouse nearby. You may rest assured that death came instantaneously to him”.

Picture 23

The letter went on to tell Muriel that Frank and his Pilot, who was in the plane with him, had both been buried in the village cemetery at Schermen, however in accordance with government policy the two men had been re-interred in the British War Cemetery at Heerstrasse, Berlin. This policy was to make sure that all the fallen in Germany did not lie in isolated cemeteries but rest in specially chosen cemeteries of which the soil would always be British. The letter concluded saying that the Commonwealth War Graves Commission would be in touch with Muriel at a latter date to consult on her wishes for the headstone inscription and that as soon as conditions permit a photograph would be sent of the grave.

Berlin Cemetery

The site of Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery was selected by the British Occupation Authorities and Commission officials jointly in 1945, soon after hostilities ceased. Graves were brought to the cemetery from the Berlin area and from eastern Germany. The great majority of those buried here, approximately 80 per cent of the total, were airmen who were lost in the air raids over Berlin and the towns in eastern Germany. The remainder were men who died as prisoners of war, some of them in the forced march into Germany from camps in Poland, in front of the advancing Russians. The cemetery contains 3,595 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 397 of them unidentified. There are also 6 Non-Commonwealth Foreign National burials and in addition there are 265 post war graves of men of the British Occupation Forces or their dependants, or of members of the Control Commission.
{Extract from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (https://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2081150/berlin-1939-1945-war-cemetery/)}

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Picture 26A

Picture 26B

Medals

After the war was over, Frank was awarded two posthumous medals: the 1939- 1945 War Medal and the 1939-1945 Star. The War Medal was a British decoration awarded to those who had served in the Armed Forces or Merchant Navy full-time for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945, and the Star was a campaign medal awarded for operational service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.

Pictures 27A, 27B and 28

Frank’s medals were sent to Muriel together with a standard letter in which Frank’s name had been typed; also in the envelope was an explanation list of all the medals awarded to the armed forces for WW2 service.

Pictures 29A and 29B

Memorials

When the war ended, cities, towns and villages across the country set about adding the names of the service fallen to either their existing WW1 memorials or erecting new ones specifically to commemorate WW2. Frank was a resident of Bloxwich when he died, so would have qualified to be remembered by the town, however, because there were so many from the area who lost their lives, there are no names inscribed on the designated memorial in front of All Saints Church. The rector of All Saints does have a list of the fallen that is kept in the church; also there is a roll of honour that can be viewed at Walsall Local History Centre, Essex Street, Walsall and also at Walsall Town Hall. Frank’s name however is engraved on the memorial at Chasetown, Staffs, his name was probably put forward by his parents William and Sarah Ann Beresford.

Pictures 30A and 30B

As a former pupil of King Edward’s School in Lichfield, Frank’s name was engraved on a panel for Old Edwardians who lost their lives in WW1 and WW2 it is presently situated on a wall in Bader Hall at the school.

Picture 31

Also, in 1946 Frank’s name was listed on the school magazine “ The Lichfeldian” along with others who had been killed in action or lost their lives while on active service.

Picture 32

In 1960, a Memorial register for the Berlin War cemetery was produced and Frank’s name was printed in it. Muriel paid for the entry, which cost 7 shillings and 6 pence. By this time Muriel had married again, to Frederick Sunderland, but was still living at the same address in Bloxwich.

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Pictures 34A and 34B

Frank’s Co-Pilot

In the letter from the Air Ministry to Muriel informing her of Frank’s death it was mentioned that another pilot was in the plane when it crashed and had also died. This other officer was Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) John Robert Tracey. John Tracey was aged 27 and was the son of Lewis Herbert and Ellen Eliza Barford Tracey of 19 St Agnes Road Moseley Birmingham. Research shows us that by March 1941 John Robert was already in the RAF, which was a little earlier than when Frank had enlisted, it was at this time that he was listed in the London Gazette as a Leading Aircraftman. The following year on 23rd March 1942 he was promoted to Flying Officer. A year after that on 16th March 1943 John was promoted again to Flight Lieutenant this was 18 months earlier than when Frank had achieved the same rank. John Robert, as mentioned in the Air Ministry letter, was buried in Schermen Village Cemetery and then re-interred at Heerstrasse, Berlin, the same as Frank; his grave is Plot 8 Row J Grave 36, which is directly next to where Frank is buried.

Present Day

As mentioned earlier Frank was educated at King Edward VI School in Lichfield, the school as it is today was created in 1971 by the merger of the grammar school that Frank attended and Kings Hill Secondary Modern School, which had been built on an adjacent site in the 1950’s. The premises of the former Kings Hill School are referred to as Bader Hall in recognition of Douglas Bader the WW2 Fighter ace who opened the school in 1959. It is rather fitting that the memorial panel with Frank’s name on is situated in Bader Hall directly below a portrait of Sir Douglas Bader Bader.

Picture 35

Originally when Frank was buried at Heerstrasse, Berlin, his grave was marked with a cross as seen in an earlier photograph, today it is marked with an official headstone and inscription, at the base of the stone are the words: “Everyday in some small way memories of you come our way” a poignant tribute to a young man who together with his friend and co-pilot made the ultimate sacrifice helping to keep our country safe and free.

Frank Beresford and John Robert Tracey will not be forgotten

Picture 36

Thanks

This biography has been written with special thanks to:

• Barbara and John Broome (Franks’ daughter and husband) who very kindly supplied photographs of documents that had belonged to Barbara’s mother Muriel Beresford later Sunderland

• Maggie Nicholls of King Edward’s School, Lichfield who kindly allowed me to photograph the memorial panel and school photograph and supplied a copy page from the school magazine

• Dave Elson who kindly sent me some details and a photograph of the Hickman family

• Hans Houterman www.unithistories.com

• Steve Rogers The War Graves Photographic Project www.twgpp.org

Item, Source and Credit

Pictures

1. Photograph of Frank Beresford © Barbara and John Broome
2B. Extract from the 1881 census for the Beresford family © Ancestry
3B. Extract from the 1891 census for the Beresford family © Ancestry
4B. Extract from the 1901 census for the Beresford family © Ancestry
5B. Extract from the 1881 census for the Hickman family © Ancestry
5C. Further extract from the 1881 census for the Hickman family © Ancestry
6B. Extract from the 1891 census showing Sarah Hickman working as a servant to the Bunting family © Ancestry
6C. Extract from the 1891 census showing Sarah Hickman’s parents and siblings
7. Photograph of the Hickman family taken circa 1902 © Dave Elson
8. Extract from the 1911 census for William Beresford and his wife Sarah Ann Beresford (nee Hickman) © Ancestry
9A. The Beresford Family Tree © Pam Turner
9B. The Hickman Family Tree © Pam Turner
10. King Edward VI School Photograph taken in 1930 © Pam Turner {courtesy of Maggie Nicholls and King Edward VI School, Lichfield}
11. 1935 advertisement for the Talbot-Stead Tube Company Limited, Walsall © The Story of Walsall website {http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/articles/Walsall/industry3.htm}
12A. Photograph of Christ Church, Blakenall Heath © Wilf Beeson’s website {http://www.wwwbeeson.co.uk/blakenall/christc.htm}
12B. Photograph of the interior of Christ Church, Blakenall Heath © Wilf Beeson’s website {http://www.wwwbeeson.co.uk/blakenall/gallery9/pic56.htm}
12C. Frank Beresford’s wife Muriel Foxall © Barbara and John Broome
13. Copy of the marriage certificate from Christ Church, Blakenall Heath, for the wedding on 30th July 1938 of Frank Beresford and Muriel Foxall © Walsall Register Office
14. Photograph of 1940s Mathematics Book for RAF Trainees © Copy of book owned by Pam Turner
15. The badge of 605 Squadron Royal Air Force © Wikipedia and Royal Air Force website {https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/squadrons/605-r-squadron/}
16. Photograph of De Havilland Mosquito NF.30 MM790 RAL-F of 605 (County of Warwick) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force at Manchester (Ringway) Airport on 24 April 1948 © Wikimedia Commons {https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DH.98_Mosquito_NF.30_RAL-F_605_Sqn_Ringway_24.04.48_edited-2.jpg}
17. 605 Squadron at RAF Manston © Shropshire Star {https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2015/06/02/new-lease-of-life-for-historic-squadron-at-its-raf-cosford-home/}
18. Notification of Frank Beresford’s promotion from Flying Officer to Flight Lieutenant © London Gazette
19. World War 2 RAF Flight Lieutenant’s uniform © Costume Hire Direct website {https://www.costumehiredirect.co.uk/mens/1940s/raf.html}
20. Map of the Belgian Coast © weather-forecast.com {http://fr.weather-forecast.com/locations/Koksijde}
21A. First page of the Air Ministry letter dated 17th April 1945 © Barbara and John Broome
21B. Second page of the Air Ministry letter dated 17th April 1945 © Barbara and John Broome
22. Extract from the Walsall Observer edition dated 5 May 1945 © Walsall Observer and Walsall Local History Centre
23. Map showing Schermen, near Magdeburg, Germany © Pam Turner (from the GKN Atlas of Germany)
24. Photograph of Frank Beresford’s original grave marking © Barbara and John Broome
25. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery © Photographic War Graves Commission (donation made)
26A. Cemetery Plan for Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery © Commonwealth War Graves Commission
26B. Section of the Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery showing the location of the grave of Frank Beresford © Commonwealth War Graves Commission
27A. 1939-1945 War Medal (obverse side) © Wikipedia
27B. 1939-1945 War Medal (obverse side) © Wikipedia
28. 1939-1945 Star © Wikipedia
29A. Original document that accompanied Frank’s medal award © Barbara and John Broome
29B. Explanation document that accompanied Frank’s medal award © Barbara and John Broome
30A. Chase Terrace War Memorial © Alan Betts and Burntwood Family History Group
30B. Chase Terrace War Memorial inscription listing those who died in the Second World War © Alan Betts and Burntwood Family History Group
31. Panel in Bader Hall at King Edward VI School, Lichfield © Pam Turner, courtesy of Maggie Nicholls (King Edward VI School Lichfield)
32. Extract from The Lichfeldian, 1946 © Pam Turner, courtesy of Maggie Nicholls (King Edward VI School Lichfield)
33. Receipt for the entry in the 1960 Memorial Register for the Berlin War Cemetery © Barbara and John Broome
34A and 34B. Memorial Register for Berlin War Cemetery © Barbara and John Broome
35. Portrait of Douglas Bader in Bader Hall at King Edward School, Lichfield © Pam Turner {courtesy of Maggie Nicholls and King Edward VI School, Lichfield}
36. The grave of Frank Beresford © War Graves Photographic Project (donation made)

Other Sources

(a) Wikipedia and “Yesteryear in Lichfield” published in 1999 by Midland Weekly Media Birmingham
(b) The Story of Walsall Industry website http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/articles/Walsall/industry3.htm
(c) Hans Houterman www.unithistories.com
(d) Forces War Records http://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/
(e) Rickard, J (30 March 2012), No. 605 Squadron (RAF): Second World War, http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/605_wwII.html and http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn605-610.htm
(f) Wikipedia
(g) http://www.essex-family-history.co.uk/bradwellbay.htm
(h) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Manston
(i) http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/be-vwvkk.html
(j) http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/dehavillandmosquito.cfm
(k) Commonwealth War Graves Commission
(l) Ancestry and Find My Past for all Census information