DOUGLAS PEARSON TUPPEN

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: 1918, Occold, Suffolk.

Died: 25th June 1941; age 22; killed in an aircraft collision at Sheppherdswell, Kent.

Residence: Carfax, Lowfield Heath, West Sussex.

Occupation: at a London Stockbroker’s Office.

In early 1939, Douglas applied for a commission in the Royal Air Force. He began his training at Yatesbury Flying School in June of that year. After gaining his wings in the following December, he was detailed for Army Cooperation work, in the course of which he subsequently met his death.

http://www.ipswichschoolmuseumandarchives.co.uk

Promoted March 1941 – Flying Officer.

Promoted May 1941 – Flight Lieutenant.

Rank: Flight Lieutenant/Pilot Officer; Service Number: 42452.

Regiment: Royal Air Force, 239 Squadron.

Grave Reference:

St. Michael and St. Angels Churchyard,

Lowfield Heath,

West Sussex.

Father: Arthur Henry Tuppen, born 1893, Dum Dum, Calcutta, India. Arthur’s business offered pictures to be framed, mounted, cleaned, and re-glazed; old mirrors cut, re-silvered, and framed glass supplied.

Mother: Mildred Tuppen (nee Bailey), born 1899, Rishangles, Suffolk.

CENSUS

1921   144, Highland Raod, Eastney, Hampshire.

Douglas was 2 years & 6 months old and lived with his parents, paternal uncle and aunt.

Arthur Tuppen, 27 years & 11 1/2 months, a Picture Framer and Retailer of Artist’s Requisites – employer – own account.

Mildred Tuppen, 22 years & 1 month.

Alfred Edward Tuppen, 26 years & 6 months old, an Insurance Man for Royal Excxhange Assurance, of 8, Butter Market, Ipswich, born Dum Dum, Calcutta, India.

Jessie Tuppen (nee Leverett), 28 years & 4 months old, born Ipswich.

1 domestic servant.

Baby Douglas and his mother.                   Douglas with his mother, Millie & grandmother, Ada Bailey.

Douglas was educated at Ipswich School – left the school in 1935.

On the 17th July  1940, Gosport, Hampshire, Douglas married Nesta Violet Durant, born May 1920, Portsmouth, Hampshire – daughter of Albert Edwin Durant, a carpenter & joiner foreman – general builder, and Violet Anne Durant (nee Preston), of 52, Oliver Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire.

Douglas & Nesta

Probate to Nesta Violet Tuppen – widow.

The Andrews Newspaper Index Cards records Nesta’s announcement of her husband’s death – it reads ” his lonely wife.”

Douglas is also remembered on the Ipswich School Chapel war memorial

Photographs courtesy of Richard – Douglas’s nephew.

25th June 1941

239 Squadron were an army cooperation squadron based at Gatwick, and in June 1941, it was equipped with Westland Lysanders and engaged mainly in working with the army during training exercises. On the 25th June 1941, two Lysanders, serial numbers V9377 and V9429, were carrying out a tactical reconnaissance mission as part of an army exercise code-named Operation: Binge.’ Douglas was flying one aircraft, and Roy Parish the other. The two aircraft collided in mid-air, and both crashed near Shepherdswell, Kent, killing both pilots and their observers. Unfortunately, it is not known which pilots and observers were flying together and in which aircraft.

Photograph of Roy courtesy of Lindsay

Roy William Parish; Pilot Officer; age 20; R.A.F.

Horace Paige Clapperton; Flight Sergeant/Air Gunner; age 30; R.A.F.V.R.

Harold John Taylor; Flight Sergeant/Air Gunner; age 33; R.A.F.

Aircraft information courtesy of John Allan.

A Family Note – from Susan, cousin to Roy William Parish:-

“My maternal grandmother, Emma Worden was sister to Mabel Maud Worden and so Roy William Parish was my first cousin, 1 x removed to both Roy and Ronald Parish. I see that Mabel died in 1989 and it saddens me that I missed a chance to write or speak with her. My grandmother Emma died in 1980.”