James Henry Gilfillan
Person details
| Forename(s) | James Henry |
|---|---|
| Surname | Gilfillan |
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Regiment | RAFVR |
| Age | 22 |
| Death | Killed in a plane crash |
| Place of Death | Africa > Nigeria |
| Date of Death | 08/06/1946 |
| Year of Entry | 1937 |
| House Letter | C |
| School Notes | Exhibitioner; Dramatic Society (stage-manager); ATC |
| Comments | |
| Commonwealth War Graves Commission Link | https://www.cwgc.org/find-record... |
| Unit | |
| Prefect | - |
| Military Decorations | |
| Album Number | 22 |
| Battle | |
| Previous Regiment | |
| Burial or Cemetery | Nigeria > Yaba |
| Citations | |
| Archives | Correspondence file in OR files in Radley Archives |
| Post School | - |
| Prep School | Chesterton, Seaford |
| Prisoner of War | |
| Radlein Obituary |
November 17 1946. Killed in an aeroplane accident in Nigeria on June 9, 1946, James Henry Gilfillan (Cocks's, C, 1937-42). Flt. Lt . R.A.F.V.R. Jim Gilfillan came here as an Exhibitioner, and his contemporaries will remember him as essentially one of the "thin bright faces"; he was so entirely natural and free from selfconsciousness. He had many good "turns"; amongst others one recalls a delightful one in which, as a small boy, he portrayed on the stage a Frenchman trying to explain cricket, and presenting to the audience a large "L" on his back when he bowed - in the wrong direction - at the end. He took everything in good part, and lived a happy and useful life at school. Stage-managing and the A.T.C. were two of his great interests, and it was entirely in keeping that he should go into the RA.F. when he left here, to continue there his happy and useful existence. It is all the sadder that he should have outlived the war only to lose his life subsequently in a flying accident, when the machine he was in ran into a tropical storm which ripped off one of the wings. Those who knew him well - and it was a pleasure one rated high - feel deeply the loss of a very genuine and warm-hearted friend. |
| Service Number | 153036 |
| Place of Birth |
