Person    | Male  Born 1913  Died 17/12/1955

Ernest Bitmead

Categories: Armed Forces

War served, WW2 i

Commemorated on a memorial as having served in, and survived, WW2.

Wing Commander Ernest Ralph Bitmead was born in 1913, the second of the seven children of Ralph Bitmead (1885-1961) and Naomi Bitmead née Dodd (1890-1974). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1913 in the Wallingford registration district, Berkshire (now Oxfordshire), and his father was a farmer. 

He was listed as a probationary Midshipman in the Royal Naval Reserve with effect from 1 January 1930 and joined the Royal Air Force, service number 34139, in March 1934. Our Picture Source gives details of life and career as does the American Air Museum in Britain website. These confirm that he served as the Squadron Leader of No.71 Squadron from 14 August 1941 for about one week. On 21 November 1944 he was listed in the London Gazette as an Acting Group Captain and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Telephone directories from 1953 listed him as Wing Commander E. R. Bitmead at Rose Farm, West End, Flax Bourton, Somerset. Probate records showed his home to be Rose Farm, West End, Nailsea, Somerset and confirm that he died, aged 42 years, on 17 December 1955 at The Manor, Cholsey, Berkshire. When probate was granted to his widow on 6 April 1956, his effects totalled £3,075-15s-1d.

He was cremated at Headington Crematorium, Bayswater Road, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9RZ and his name is also shown on the Battle of Britain London Monument, Victoria Embankment, London, SW1.

Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Ernest Bitmead

Commemorated ati

Eagle Squadrons

{On the front of the pillar, facing north, into the square, below a carved im...

Read More

Other Subjects

General James  Wolfe

General James Wolfe

Army officer.  Born Kent.  The family moved to Greenwich around 1738 and James Wolfe continue to live there.  Victorious in the 1759 Battle of Quebec, against the French.  Killed in the battle.   B...

Person, Armed Forces, Canada

1 memorial
E. W. Vardill

E. W. Vardill

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
British armed forces in Korean War

British armed forces in Korean War

81,084 British servicemen served in the theatre of operations. 1,106 were killed in action. Thousands were wounded and 1,060 suffered as prisoners of war. At its source, the National Army Museum, ...

Group, Armed Forces, Korea

1 memorial
Pilot Officer Grant Eugene Eichar

Pilot Officer Grant Eugene Eichar

Pilot Officer Grant Eugene Eichar was born on 20 April 1915 in Marshalltown, Marshall County, Iowa, USA, the son of Frank Eugene Eichar (1892-1983) and Lucy May Eichar née Grant (1892-1986). His si...

Person, Armed Forces, USA

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
T. W. Disbrey

T. W. Disbrey

Resident of the Central Ward, Hendon who served and died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial