Sergeant Pilot - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves - 76 Squadron - Service No. 1313333
Geoffrey Charles Parritt was born on 25th September 1920 in Strood, Kent. His father was Walter Parritt, a Transport Worker, and his mother was Mary Ann (née Burton). The first school that he attended was Dover Road School in Gravesend.
In 1931 Geoffrey Parritt 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 Geoffrey’s address as 55 All Saints Road, Northfleet, Gravesend. Whilst at the School, Geoffrey was in Downs House. Older brother Leonard (born 1913) also attended the School. Leonard served as a Staff Sergeant in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in World War Two.
In 1937 Geoffrey left the School and started work in the Civil Service – General Register and Record Office of Shipping and Seamen. In 1940 he enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves, Service Number 1313333. He trained to fly at 36 Service Training Flying School in Penfold, Alberta, Canada. Geoffrey joined 76 Squadron as a Sergeant Pilot, flying a Handley Page Halifax bomber, based at Holme-on-Spalding Moor.
In June 1943 he married Marjorie Myrtle Gill at all Saints Church, Perry Street. A few days later, on 29th June 1943, Geoffrey Parritt was back on duty with his Squadron. He was on a bombing raid when his aircraft was shot down over Belgium. He was 22 years old. Geoffrey is remembered at Haverlee War Cemetery, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium.
Geoffrey’s Form had the highest number of students who lost their lives in World War Two. He share’s the Roll of Honour with Harold Ayliffe, Elton Ede, John Foster, Francis Fry and Gilbert Hall.
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/2777840/parritt,-geoffrey-charles/
http://aircrewremembered.com/parritt-geoffrey.html
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/wardead/details.php?qnum=101190