BRIAN JAMES KENNELL

Born: 1921, Ipswich.

Died: 1st September 1943; age: 21; killed when aircraft was attacked by a nightfighter and crashed near Berlin.

Residence: 39, Cowper Street, Ipswich.

Rank: Sergeant/Air Bomber: Service Number: 1449867.

Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 199 Squadron (Let Tyrants Tremble).

Originally buried at Schalach Friedhof in a collective grave (only Kevin Wilkes had an individual grave – No. 31). Later the bodies were exhumed and re-buried at Charlottenburg on the 25^th April 1947.  

Grave Reference:

Collective Grave 5.A.32-37.

Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery,

Berlin,

Germany.

Relatives Notified & Address: Son of James & Gertrude Kennell, of Ipswich.

Father: James Kennell, born March 1882, Ipswich. A Bricklayer.

Mother: Gertrude Kennell (nee Butcher), born July 1903, Ipswich.

ENGLAND & WALES REGISTER 1939

Brian was living with his parents and sister at their family home – 39, Cowper Street, Ipswich.

James, a Bricklayer.

Gertrude, unpaid Domestic Duties.

Betty M. Kennell, born 1928, Ipswich.

Living next door was Brian & Betty’s widowed paternal grandfather, Walter Kennell, a retired Bricklayer, born November 1859 –  41, Cowper Street, Ipswich.

31st August/1st September 1943

Aircraft: Short Stirling III; serial number: EE946; code: EX-P. At 20:17hrs, EE946 took-off from R.A.F Lakenheath, Suffolk on a mission to Berlin, Germany joining 621 other aircraft of Bomber Command. 47 aircraft failed to return from the mission – most were shot down by nightfighters. EE946 was attached by a nightfighter and crashed 35 miles SW of Berlin. All 6 crew members were killed. The body of Kevin Wilkes was buried in a single grave at Schalach Friedhof. The bodies of Brian Kennell, Leslie Short. David Scott, Allan Davey, William Crawford and Russell Adam were buried together in a collective grave at Schalach Friedhof.

Crew:

Leslie Edwin Short; Flight Sergeant/Wireless Operator; age 21; R.A.F.V.R.

David Scott; Flight Sergeant/Air Gunner; age 20; R.C.A.F.

Allan John Davey; Flight Sergeant/Pilot; age 24; R.A.A.F.

William Arthur Crawford; Sergeant/Flight Engineer; age 19; R.A.F.V.R.

Russell Edwin Adam; Flight Segeant/Navigator; age 27; R.C.A.F.

Kevin John Wilkes; Flight Sergeant/Rear Gunner; age 20; R.A.A.F.