Sergeant Pilot - Royal Air Force - 224 Squadron
Stuart Norman Saunders was born on 29th July 1917 in Dartford, Kent. His father was Arthur Saunders, a Blacksmith, and his mother was Annie Eliza Ferry (née Norman). The first school that he attended was Swanscombe School.
In 1928 Stuart Saunders 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 Stuart’s address as 63 Knockhall Chase, Greenhithe. Whilst at the School, Stuart was in Cliff House. Younger brother Victor (born 1919) also attended the School. In World War Two Victor served as an ERA in the Royal Navy.
In 1934 Stuart left the School and started work as a Clerk in the Royal Air Force, later transferring to the flying services. He joined 224 Squadron as a Sergeant Pilot, flying a Hudson I N7248 from Leuchars, Scotland. 224 Squadron, at the time, were part of Coastal Command flying reconnaissance missions between Scotland and Norway.
On 21st August 1939, Stuart Saunders was killed when his aircraft crashed off the coast of Norway, south west of Bergen, days before the beginning of World War Two. He was 22 years old. He is remembered in Bergen, Norway.
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:
http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Accf1939.htm
http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/224_wwII.html