Eric Finnbar Eastlake
War dead Male Born 1922 Died 4/5/1943
Former cadet of the Air Training Corps - 296th (Stoke Newington) Squadron. Died in WW2.
The laminated plaque attached to one of the trees reads:- L. A. C. Eric Finbar Eastlake, aged 20, (Pilot/Navigator) lost in flying accident practice reconnaissance over Riebeck, South Africa. The metal plaque on the wall also shows his name as Eric Finbar Eastlake but other records e.g. the Commonwealth War Grave Commission and rafcomands.com show him as Eric Finnbar Eastlake.
His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1922 in Islington. He was the son of Frederick Eastlake (1889-1973) and Annie Teresa (otherwise known as Hannah) Eastlake née Collins (1889-1941). His father was a Metropolitan Police Constable.
Electoral registers in 1922 show his parents living at 7 Lucerne Road, N5, but from 1926 to 1930 the registers confirm them at 82c Aubert Park, N5 and from 1932 to 1938 at 27 Avenell Mansions, Avenell Road, N5. The 1939 England and Wales Register lists the family at 2 Avenell Mansions, Avenell Road, N5. His mother died on 15 April 1941 at Westminster Hospital, Horseferry Road, SW1 and his father was remarried in 1942 to an Ellen Rosetta Creswell (1905-1982).
He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, service number 1324847, gaining the rank of Leading Aircraftsman. He died on 4 May 1943 whilst under training as an Observer whilst aboard an Airspeed Oxford I aeroplane, serial number SAAF3869, based at No.44 Air School of The Empire Air Training Scheme, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. (Grahamstown is now called Makhanda). All three airman were killed in the accident and he is buried the Military Block, Grave 5, of Grahamstown New Cemetery.
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