Name
Godfrey George William Pledger
31 May 1914
Conflict
Second World War
Date of Death / Age
11/02/1942
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Flying Officer
88652
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BARKWAY (ST. MARY MAGDALENE) CHURCHYARD
S.E. of Church
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
ALWAYS REMEMBERED. DOROTHY
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Boys’ Grammar School Memorial (WW2), Barkway Memorial, Herts
Pre War
Godfrey George William Pledger was born on 31 May 1914, the son of Victor and Nellie Pledger, one four children, and was baptised on 12 July 1914 in Barkway, Herts.
On the 1921 Census they were living at Clock House, Barkway. His father's occupation was given as butcher and his 15 year old brother Hector was working as his assistant. His mother was a schoolmistress.
He married Dorothy Hilda Cannon in 1935 in Rushden, Herts and on the 1939 Register he and his wife were living at Clock House, Barkway and Godfrey's occupation was recorded a flying instructor. His parents were then living at East View, Barkway. His mother had retired from teaching and his father was still working as a butcher/shopkeeper.
Wartime Service
In 1940 he was named on the Active List of Officers in the RAF as a Pilot Officer with the General Duties Branch from 27 November under the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Godfrey was stationed with the Flying Training Command, No. 6 Flying Instructors School in Staverton, Gloucestershire. He was killed whilst on a dual instruction exercise training flying instructors on 11 February 1942, aged 27. The plane crashed at Parward Mansions, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
He is buried in Barkway (St Mary Magdalene) Churchyard, Herts.
Biography
He journeyed daily to Hitchin from his home in Barkway, near Royston, where he had previously attended the local school. He was a pupil at Hitchin Grammar School from 1925-1930 and left after passing the Oxford Senior School Certificate. He then joined his father, Mr V. Pledger, in his butchery business in Barkway.
Early in 1938 he joined the R.A.F.V.R with the Service Number 88652 and soon qualified as an instructor. Several of his pupils were later decorated and he was instructing at the time that he met his death. He was a member of No. 6 Flying Training School.
He is buried in Barkway Churchyard near Royston. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission stone indicates that he was a pilot, and the private inscription reads "Always remembered Dorothy". Also on his grave is a flower vase which includes the words "who met his death on active service whilst training flying instructors". Barkway churchyard is a most peaceful and beautiful place with the grave set among others of his family.
Additional Information
His widow obtained probate of his estate in Peterborough on 26 May 1942 with effects of £425 10s 4d.
An additional stone vase block on his grave read:
WHO MET HIS DEATH ON ACTIVE SERVICE
WHILST TRAINING FLYING INSTRUCTORS
FEB. 11. 1942 AGED 27 YEARS
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
David C Baines – ‘Hitchin’s Century of Sacrifice’, Hitchin Grammar School Chronicle, Hitchin Grammar School Registers, Mr Allan Sapsed - former acquaintance, Paul Johnson - local historian
