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David John Lincoln

Flight Sergeant - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves - 625 Squadron - Service No. 1399207

Background Information

Born

28th January 1923

Academics

Rank

Flight Sergeant - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves - 625 Squadron - Service No. 1399207

Campaigns

Died

4th November 1944 age 21

David John Lincoln was born on 28th January 1923 in Greenhithe, Kent. His father was Bertie William Lincoln, a Dairyman, and his mother was Minnie (née Porter). The first school that he attended was Knockhall School in Greenhithe.
In 1934 David Lincoln joined The County School for Boys – now known as Gravesend Grammar School. The Head Master at that time was the Reverend Samuel Lister. The County School for Boys was located in Darnley Road, Gravesend close to the Railway Station (now the Victoria Centre for Education). In 1938 the School moved to brand new premises in Church Walk, Milton, Gravesend opposite to Milton Church.
The School’s Admission Register lists David’s address as 111 Knockhall Road, Greenhithe. Whilst at the School, David was in Cliff House and he won a Form Prize in 1936. One older brother and one younger brother also attended the School, Harry (born 1918) and Peter (born 1924). In World War Two Harry was a Staff Sergeant in the Royal Army Service Corps and was mentioned in Despatches. Peter was a Lance Bombardier in the Royal Artillery.
In 1939 David left the School and worked in the Civil Service at the Ministry of Transport. In 1941 he enlisted with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves, Service Number 1399207. He trained in Africa and joined 625 Squadron as a Flight Sergeant. Operating Lancaster Bombers, 625 Squadron were in No.1 group of Bomber Command and were based at Kelstern, Lincolnshire. The squadron mainly carried out night raids against Germany.
In 1944, David had completed is first tour of 30 operations and was due for ground duties and leave on 7th November. On the night of the 4th November David and his fellow aircrew left their base for a bombing operation on Bochum, Germany. During the flight the aircraft was lost and all the crew were killed. David Lincoln was 21 years old. He is remembered at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Kleve, Germany Plot 28 Row “B” Grave 8.

There are links below to Newspaper Clippings and Photographs from the Gravesend Grammar School Archives.
Below are links to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and a few other websites that might be of interest:
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2056376/lincoln,-david-john/
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/wardead/details.php?qnum=27026
https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/113976

Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Kleve, Germany Plot 28 Row “B” Grave 8