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

Trooper Alexander Swan Jones

Trooper Alexander Swan Jones

Alexander Swan Jones was born on 1 November 1907 in Liverpool, Lancashire, the second of the three children of Oliver Parker Jones (1877-1940) and Ann Jones née Swan (1879-1956). His birth was regi...

Person, Armed Forces, Iran/Persia

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
P. F. J. Lemon

P. F. J. Lemon

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Admiral, Viscount Samuel Hood, GCB

Admiral, Viscount Samuel Hood, GCB

Naval officer.  Born Somerset.  Governor of of Greenwich Hospital, 1796 until his death.

Person, Armed Forces, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Private George Henry Dawkins

Private George Henry Dawkins

George Henry Dawkins was born on 23 October 1883, one of the seven children of George Henry Dawkins (1847-1921) and Susannah Dawkins née Linger (1852-1927). His birth was registered in the 4th quar...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
T. Hooker

T. Hooker

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

Previously viewed

garment and textile industries in the East End

garment and textile industries in the East End

The origins of the East End textile industry can be traced to the 14th century when Flemish artisans set up dye works on the River Lea. In the late 17th century the Huguenots arrived in Spitalfield...

Concept, Commerce, Craft / Design, Industry

4 memorials
Globe Theatre - W1

Globe Theatre - W1

The theatre opened on 27th December, 1906 as The Hicks Theatre. It was built and named for the actor-manager and playwright Seymour Hicks. It came under new management in 1909 and was renamed as Th...

Building, Theatre

1 memorial
William Marsden

William Marsden

WC2, Lincoln's Inn Fields, 65

Greater London Council William Marsden, 1796 - 1867, surgeon, founder of the Royal Free and Royal Marsden Hospitals, lived here.

3 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Matthew Lucas Bolwerk

Matthew Lucas Bolwerk

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Pets - at least 5

Pets - at least 5

These pets include Marjorie who died 2 July 190? and Boo, "an honest mare".

Animal, Animals

1 memorial