Whilst undertaking family research, I discovered a second cousin who was a fighter pilot in WWII, furthermore he had participated in the famous "Battle of Britain", therefore one of the FEW that Winston Churchill had said of "We owed so much to".
After almost a year of combat duties he had given the ultimate sacrifice, his life, for his country.
As a young man of twenty he had so much to look forward to, he was engaged to be married and his thoughts would have been to their future life together after the war. We believe that he was considering a transfer to the far east to be nearer to his family and suspect maybe this included a new wife. Given that his own father spent over four years as a Japanese POW, he may still have had to face another more vicious enemy.

As I began my research I could not pinpoint the right person I suspected that it was Cecil Reginald Young but could not confirm this as at sometime point during the war, I suspect after 1942 and the fall of Singapore, the Davidson and Young families lost contact with each other. No documents, even Charlie's death certificate, recorded his parent's names.
It was through the Battle of Britain site Forum that I made contact with Charlie Young, Charlie's great nephew and he confirmed that I had the right person. Working together we have gathered the information shown in this website.
Furthermore after some 65 years both families are now back in contact with each other.

I started my research with great anticipation but it was soon to be dashed - Pilot officer Cecil Reginald [Charlie] Young 42372, did not have a lot was written about him, some snippets and what there was, in some instances, was inaccurate including the crash site.
Even the CWGC site did not list his parents making it hard for anyone undertaking research on him. Hopefully this website will correct this.

In March 2007, In a massive Milestone the Young family received 4 awards entitled to Charlie nearly 67 years after his death. The are as follows:

The 1939 - 45 Star

The Battle of Britain Clasp

The Aircrew Europe Star

The War Medal

They will be worn with honour.

Date	Sqn	Aircraft	Action	Where	Time	Qty
30 Jun	615	Bf 109	Unconfirmed	Merville	11.45	1
14 Aug	615	Do 17	Damaged (shared)	Dungeness	18.30	1
16 Aug	615	He 111	Destroyed	Brighton	17.10	1
16 Aug	615	He 111	Damaged	Brighton	17.10	1
18 Aug	615	Do 215	Destroyed	Kenley	13.45	1
18 Aug	615	Bf 109	Destroyed (probably)	Kenley	13.45	1
20 Aug	615	Do 215	Destroyed	Herne Bay	15.00	1
01 Oct	607	Bf 110	Damaged	W. Needles	10.45	1
01 Nov	46	Z 1007	Damaged	Dover	16.30	1
Total						9

Although our research is nearly over there are still some gaps that need filled in.

One major gap has recently been finally clarified, thanks to the help of Andy Saunders and his associates, the exact location of the crash site.
Through their effort I was put in touch with not one but two witnesses to the crash, although schoolboys they remember it well. This is Bob Philpott's account of events:

I would be 9 years old at the time and as far as I can remember this Hurricane, one of a Squadron, was flying in a direction from London to Dover.
At the time I was in the school playground, suddenly a Me109 came out of the clouds, there was a short burst of fire followed by one plane pealing away from the Squadron in what I would describe as a leaf falling down, it certainly didn't nose-dive. The condition of the aircraft, which landed in the cherry tree, was confirmation of this.
An old school friend has a slightly different version. He was playing truant that day and is sure they were flying in the opposite direction.

The aircraft in question crashed in an orchard in the Brenley Road and although the road layout has altered dramatically to accommodate a new fly-over roundabout Bob was able to pinpoint the site within a few meters.

The two maps show the crash site location. On the left is an old map and on the right a new map layout showing fly-over and altered Homestall Lane which was part of the confusion

It is our hope that we can put a memorial plaque as close as possible to the crash site in the near future.

F/O Gordon Green and Mrs (F/O) Beryl Green at Buckingham Palace 1942

As previously stated Beryl Pocket married Flying Officer Gordon Green in 1942. They had a daughter and it is with her assistance and approval that we have included Beryl in this story. Both Beryl and her husband's own accounts of WWII makes fascinating reading.

BOOKS

"Men of the Battle of Britain" by Kenneth K Wynn.

"RAF Fighter Command Victory Claims of WWII Part One" by John Foreman.

"Battle of Britain, The Forgotten Months Nov. & Dec. 1940" by John Foreman.

"Twelve Days in May" by Brian Cull, Bruce Lander with Heinrich Weiss.

"Battle over Britain" by Francis K. Mason.

"Battle of Britain" by Norman Franks

WEBSITES/ORGANISATIONS

"The Battle of Britain Historical Society. Battle of Britain

"Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum. 12 O'clock High

Service and other records - Ministry of Defence - Air Historical Branch (RAF)

Combat Reports and Operational Record Books - The National Archives of the U.K

Others that should be mentioned:

Crispin Whiting for asssistance in locating the crash site at Broughton.

Andy Sauders and associated for their assistance in pinpointing the crash site

Bob Philpott for his assistance in location the crash site and his account of the actual crash.

Christopher Dawkins is the Felsted School archivist and he has been very helpful in providing Charlie's schooling information.

Barry Weekley for the use of his painting "Red Section Scramble 615 Squadron" in our header.

COPYRIGHT

The content of this website is the property of the Young family and should not be used without their permission.
Excerpts from official documents or books are the copyright of their respective owners therefore please seek their permission before reproducing them.

The photographs used in this website are with the permission of the respective owners, their copyright remains with them and we have taken every care to prevent illegal copying.