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Edward James Conchie

Sergeant Gunner - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves - Service No. 2235489

Background Information

Born

26th July 1924

Academics

Rank

Sergeant Gunner - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves - Service No. 2235489

Campaigns

Died

28th September 1944 age 20

Edward James Conchie (also known as James Edward) was born on 26th July 1924 in Rochford, Essex. His father was Robert Conchie, a Licensed Victualler at The Mitre Hotel, Kings Street, Gravesend, and his mother was Edna (née Henson). The previous school that he attended was Southend High School.
In 1933 Edward Conchie 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. In 1938 the School moved to brand new premises in Church Walk, Milton, Gravesend opposite to Milton Church.
The School’s Admission Register lists Edward’s home address as The Mitre Hotel, Kings Street, Gravesend. Whilst at the School, Edward was in Town House. His brother Robert (born in 1921) also attended the school, and on leaving went into the Army. He served in the Paratroopers Corps as a Lieutenant in World War Two and was a Prisoner of War in Germany.
In 1939 Edward left the School and joined his father’s business. In the 1939 Census his father is listed as being in charge of the Cricketers Arms in Strood. In World War Two Edward enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves as a Sergeant Gunner, Service Number 2235489.
In 1944 he was training to fly Wellington Bombers from Bruntingthorpe. On 29th September, LP342 from 29 Operational Training Unit crashed at Branton, Yorkshire. Edward Conchie was killed age 20. He is buried at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery Sec. E. Row F. Grave 16

There are links below to Newspaper Clippings and Photographs from the Gravesend Grammar School Archives.

Also 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/2623485/conchie,-james-edward/
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/wardead/details.php?qnum=9016
https://losses.internationalbcc.co.uk/loss/104678
http://about-gravesend.co.uk/mitrehotel.php

Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery