ERIC FRANK CHATTERTON
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG”: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Born: 1922, Ipswich.
Died: 22nd December 1942; age: 20; at Bangor, Anglesey, Wales.
Residence: 131, Whitby Road, Ipswich.
Employed: at the East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital in 1938, working under Mr. John Bush, organiser of the contributory scheme, and Mr. Herbert Moxon, the assistant secretary.
Eric volunteered for the R.A.F in March, 1941, at the age of 18 1/2, and received his training in Canada, being awarded his commission.
Rank: Flying Officer/Air Gunner; Service Number: 127150.
Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 21 OTU.
Grave Reference:
X.B.2.81.
Ipswich.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Edward Frank & Emily Lilian Chatterton, of Ipswich.
Father: Edward Frank Chatterton, born September 1889, Marylebone, London. A Railway Clerk.
Mother: Emily Lilian Rebecca Chatterton (nee Farthing), born December 1889, Ipswich.
Eric was educated at Northgate School.
22nd December 1942
Aircraft: Vickers Armstrong Wellington; serial number: W5494; code: ED-X. Took off from R.A.F. Station Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, on a map reading exercise in the Welsh borders. Aircraft should not fly lower than 5,000ft for map reading. Eyewitnesses saw the aircraft fly very low through Nant Ffrancon, between Carnedd y Filiast and Fronllwyd, and narrowly miss two mountains. It is believed that W5494 flew up the wrong valley, and Pilot Ronald Grayson was desperately trying to turn and climb in the last few minutes. The aircraft flew above Braichmelyn before impacting in the centre of a field above Gerlan. The aircraft then slid along the ground, ploughing through three stone walls before coming to rest near a farm where it burnt out. Local people were on the scene very quickly, but the five crew had all been killed.
Crew:
Ronald Leake Grayson; Flying Officer/Pilot; age 20; R.A.F.V.R.
Robinson Stables; Flying Officer/Navigator; age 21; R.A.F.V.R.
Robert Noel Braithwaite; Sergeant/Wireless Operator/Air Gunner; age 22 (killed 2 days after his birthday); R.A.F.V.R.
Dennis Walter Hogg; Flying Officer/Navigator/Bomb Aimer; age 20; R.A.F.V.R.
Aircraft information courtesy of Rotherham war memorials – http://rotherhamwarmemorials.weebly.com/
1st January 1943 – YOUNG IPSWICH AIRMAN
Funeral of Pilot-Officer Eric Chatterton
The funeral took place at St. John’s Church, Ipswich, on Wednesday, of Pilot-Officer Eric Frank Chatterton, only son of Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Chatterton, of 131, Whitby Road, Ipswich.
Educated at Northgate School, he joined the staff of the East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital in 1938, working under Mr. John Bush, organiser of the contributory scheme, and Mr. Herbert Moxon, the assistant secretary. In March 1941, at the age of 18 1/2, he volunteered for the R.A.F. and received his training in Canada, being awarded his commission. Before joining up, he was a popular local dance band pianist. Mr. and Mrs. Chatterton are well known in the town, being honorary collectors for the Hospital contributory scheme, while for many years they have assisted at the Sunday services in the Hospital chapel.
The service was choral, the officiating clergy being the Rev. B.F. Hindle (Vicar of St. John’s), the Rev. W.A. Gray (Vicar, Holy Trinity, and chaplain at the East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital), and the Rev. F.H. Lisemore, C.F. (formerly curate of St. John’s). While the congregation were assembling, Pilot-Officer R.E. Denyer played “Solemn Melody” (Walford Davies) and “Jesu, Joy of man’s desiring” (Bach). The choir were accompanied by Mrs. Harold Farthing (organist) and Pilot-Officer Chatterton’s aunt in the singing of the hymns “Christ is our corner-stone” and “Ten thousand times ten thousand” and Psalm 46 and Nunc Dimittis, and whilst the cortege was leaving the church Pilot-Officer Denyer played “O, rest in the Lord.”
The immediate mourners were Mr. and Mrs. Chatterton (father and mother), Mr. and Mrs. Harry Farthing (uncle and aunt), Mr. and Mrs. Stevens (uncle and aunt), Mr. and Mrs. Harold Farthing (uncle and aunt), the Misses Doris and Stella Farthing (cousins), Capt. Pope (a close friend) and Corporal. Moxey, R.A.F. Others at the church included: Mr. H. Moxon, Mr. J. Bush, Miss Fiske, Miss Beckett, Miss Frost, and Miss Smith (representing the East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital), Mr. Scopes, Mr. T. Bishop (Northgate School), Capt. S.J. Smith (Army Cadet Force), Mr. W. H. Dixon (Ipswich Choral Society), Mr. and Mrs. Denyer, Miss Garrett, Mr. and Mrs. Roberts, Mr. Benney, Mr. Bunn, Mr. A.E. Smith, Mr. Jones, Mrs. Spalding, Mrs. Calver, Mrs. Hubbard, Miss Mayhew, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Stokes, Mrs. Addison (Witnesham), Mrs. Berry (Witnesham), Mrs. Read, Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Gilbert, Mrs. Riches, Mrs. Frost, Mr. P.J. Smith, Mr. Beckwith, Miss Cornish, Mrs. Pulham, Mrs. Curtis, Mrs. Cresswell, Mrs. Dunnett, Mrs. Scrivener, Miss Dobson, Miss Bernard, Miss Elliott, Mrs. H. Cook, Mrs. Punt, Mrs. L. Calver, and Mr. H. Bernard (churchwarden).
Floral tributes included those from: Mum and Dad, Harry, Laura, Doris, Stella and Mrs. Newman; Eva and Stan; Bill and Hilda; Florrie; Capt. Pope; Mr. and Mrs. Lisemore; Reg, Ken and Olive; Mr. and Mrs. Roberts, Gwenna and Stan; East Suffolk Hospital Sports Club; members of St. John’s Choir; Mrs. Sparrow and Mrs. Bartlett; Miss Stow; Mrs. Smith; Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Read and Miss Sharpe; Mrs. Gilbert and Mrs. Riches; Mr. and Mrs. Punt; Dorothy and Mr. and Mrs. Gildersleeves; Mrs. Stevens and daughters; Mr. and Mrs. Berry; Cliff and Andrew; Mr. and Mrs. Mole; Mr. and Mrs. Gould; Mr. and Mrs. Swindin; Mrs. Cook; Mr. and Mrs. Splading; staff of District Goods and Passenger Manager’s Office, Ipswich Station, and Commanding Officer and colleagues.
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