FRANK KITCHENER ALCOCK

From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730

As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570  

Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.

Photographs courtesy of Alexander

Image courtesy of Marilyn deMamiel.

Born: 6th August 1914, at 11, Coronation Road, Ipswich.

Died: 24th August 1943; age: 28; Aircraft shot down on Operation: Berlin.

Residence: 77, Stanley Avenue, Ipswich.

Rank: Sergeant/Flight Engineer; Service Number: 532245.

Regiment: Royal Air Force, 75 Squadron.

 Mentioned in Despatches.

All eight members of the crew were originally buried in a collective grave southside of Neuendorf Wiesenhagen. On the 19th September 1947, the bodies were exhumed, identified and re-buried in a collective grave at Berlin 1939-45 War Cemetery.

Grave Reference:

Collective Grave 6.E. 12-19.

Berlin 1939 – 1945 War Cemetery,

Charlottenburg,

Berlin,

Germany.

Relatives Notified & Address: Son of John Henry & Alice Kate Alcock; husband of Dora Beatrice Ethel Alcock, of Kellerberrin, Western Australia.

Son of JOHN HENRY ALCOCK and nephew of GEORGE BYGRAVE ALCOCK.

Father: John Henry Alcock, born April 1874, Ipswich – KiA 21st June 1915, a Private for the 4th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment. The body was laid to rest at St. Vaast Post Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L’Avoue, Pas de Calais, France.

Mother: Alice Kate Alcock (nee Pratt), born May 1876, at 17, Silent Street, Ipswich.

CENSUS

1921   11, Coronation Road, Ipswich.

Frank was 6 years & 9 months old. He attended School and lived with his widowed mother and siblings.

Alice Alcock, 45 years & 1 month old, Home Duties.

Joyce Rose Alcock, 17 years & 6 months old, a Dressmaker’s Improver for Frederick Corder & Son, of Tavern Street, Ipswich, born 119, Cemetery Road, Ipswich.

Frederick William Alcock, 15 years & 10 months old, a Carpenter’s Apprentice for Friend, Cocks & Co, Joinery Manufacturers, of 2,4 and 6, Sedan Street, Ipswich, born Devonshire Road, Ipswich.

Sydney Alcock, 13 years & 8 months old, at School, born 11, Coronation Road, Ipswich.

Charles Ernest Alcock, 12 years & 1 month old, at School, born 11, Coronation Road.

Kate Mary Alcock, 10 years & 1 month old, at School, born 11, Coronation Road.

Phoebe Alice Alcock, 8 years & 1 month, born 11, Coronation Road.

In 1939, Ipswich, Frank married Dora Beatrice Ethel Day, a draper’s clerk, born October 1914, Norwich, Norfolk – daughter of George Robert Day, a news compositor & Elizabeth Day (nee Hewitt), of 793, Woodbridge Road, Ipswich.

Dora and Frank had three children.

In 1950, Dora and her children immigrated to Australia.

24th August 1943

 Aircraft: Stirling III; Serial number: BF 564; Code: LN-W. Taking off from the RAF base at Mepal, Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire at 20:51hrs. BF 564 was taking part in a short series of raids to test the German defences around Berlin. 335 Lancasters, 251 Halifaxes, 124 Stirlings and 17 Mosquitos took part in Operation: Berlin. BF 564’s location was Märtensmühle. The night raid suffered a great loss when 56 aircraft failed to return. It is thought that BF 564 was shot down by a German night fighter Oblt. Heinz Ferger of 3/NJG,3, after combat taking place at 3,000 metres southwest of Berlin at 00:51hrs. The entire crew were killed.

Fellow crew:

Alan Joseph Lyall Sedunary D.F.C.; Pilot Officer/Pilot; age 20; R.A.A.F.

Francis Patrick Lundon; Flight Sergeant/Pilot 2; age 25; R.N.Z.A.F.

Aubrey Lens; Pilot Officer/Navigator; age 22; R.A.F.

Cecil Reginald Parish; Sergeant/Air Bomber; age 22; R.A.F.V.R.

Douglas Hamilton Moss; Pilot Officer/Wireless Operator/Air Gunner; age 23; R.N.Z.A.F.

Jack Ernest Nicholson; Air Gunner/Mid Upper; age 22; R.A.F.V.R.

John James Gratton; Air Gunner/Rear; age 23; R.A.F.V.R.

http://aircrewremembered.com/sedunary-alan.html

http://lancasterbombers.com/lancaster_bombers_044.htm

https://75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/sedunary-crew-9-4-43-empty/

                                                            Sedunary, Nicholson, Parish

                                                            Gratton, Moss, Alcock, Lens.