Cumberbatch Family History

Greystone Doyle Cumberbatch

Greystone Doyle Cumberbatch

Male 1921 - 1943  (21 years)

Personal Information    |    Media    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Greystone Doyle Cumberbatch  [1, 2, 3
    Birth 2 Jun 1921  Grapehall, St Lucy, Barbados Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Baptism 3 Jul 1921  Selah Wesleyan Chapel, St Lucy, Barbados Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Education St Michael, Barbados Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Harrison College 
    Residence 3 Jul 1921  Grapehall, St Lucy, Barbados Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Immigration 27 Dec 1940  Liverpool, Lancashire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    • He travelled on the S.S. Maaskerk in first class.

      He was heading for the Royal Air Force, Air Ministry, Room 307, Kingway, London with the rest of the Barbados Second Contingent
      From Place: Barbados
    Occupation 31 Dec 1940  [3
    1383404 Royal Air Force - Wireless Operator and Air Gunner 
    • This was the day that he was attested.
    Burial 1943  Grave B.2., St Swithun Churchyard, Long Bennington, Lincolnshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [5, 6
    Age: 21y 
    Occupation 5 Mar 1943  [5, 6
    Sergeant RAF (Bomber), Service Number: 1383404, 100 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 
    Age: 21y 
    Custom Reference Number 0000913 
    Death 5 Mar 1943  Plungar, Nottinghamshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [5, 6, 7
    Age: 21y 
    • The Lancaster bomber that he was a crew member of attempted to land on the 3rd circuit of the Langar aerodrome in poor visibilty but the airspeed dropped and the aircraft sank into the ground in a semi-stalled condition at Plungar, Nottinghamshire, England. The difficulties for the pilot were aggravated by failure of the port inner engine and failure in communication between the aircraft and the ground. All but one of the crew were killed.
    Person ID I913  Cumberbatch
    Last Modified 19 May 2018 

    Father Charles Wilkinson Cumberbatch,   b. 18 Oct 1898, Friendship, St Lucy, Barbados Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mother Octavia Cecily Clementina Jordan,   b. Cal 1900 
    Marriage 8 Sep 1920  St Lucy Parish Church, St Lucy, Barbados Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    Notes 
    • They may also have had other children:
      Amy Cumberbatch
      Wilhemina Cumberbatch

      These were also living in Ivy Road, St Michael in the 1951 Barbaods List of Electors.
    Family ID F309  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 2 Jun 1921 - Grapehall, St Lucy, Barbados Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBaptism - 3 Jul 1921 - Selah Wesleyan Chapel, St Lucy, Barbados Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEducation - Harrison College - - St Michael, Barbados Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 3 Jul 1921 - Grapehall, St Lucy, Barbados Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 27 Dec 1940 - Liverpool, Lancashire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - Age: 21y - 1943 - Grave B.2., St Swithun Churchyard, Long Bennington, Lincolnshire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - Age: 21y - 5 Mar 1943 - Plungar, Nottinghamshire, England Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
    Greystone Doyle Cumberbatch
    Greystone Doyle Cumberbatch
    Caption Note: Barbados Second Contingent Stamp
    Media Date: NOV 1940
    Keywords: Picture
    Barbados Second Contingent
    Barbados Second Contingent
    Caption Note: Back Row: C.P. King, J.S. Partridge, A.A. Walrond, J.L.L. Yearwood, M.R. Cuke, E. W. Barrow

    Front Row: G.D. Cumberbatch, A.P.C. Dunlop, H.E.S. Worme, G.A. Barrow, A.O. Weekes, B.F.H. Miller

    Subsequently killed were: Sgt. Charles Parnell King, Sgt. Arthur Adolphus Walrond, Pilot Mark Radford Cuke, Sgt Grey Doyle Cumberbatch, Flying Officer Andrew P.C. Dunlop, Pilot Officer Bruce F.H. Miller.

    The First Contingent, the Harold Wright Contingent as it became known, sailed 27th July 1940 and was recruited for the forces generally. However, the Second Contingent were recruited for the RAF and departed Barbados in November 1940. The 12 men selected included Errol W. Barrow, who would survive the war, enter politics and eventually become Barbados' first Prime Minister (1966 - 1976).
    Media Date: NOV 1940
    Keywords: Picture
    Barbados Second Contingent Stamp
    Barbados Second Contingent Stamp
    Caption Note: Back Row: C.P. King, J.S. Partridge, A.A. Walrond, J.L.L. Yearwood, M.R. Cuke, E. W. Barrow

    Front Row: G.D. Cumberbatch, A.P.C. Dunlop, H.E.S. Worme, G.A. Barrow, A.O. Weekes, B.F.H. Miller

    Subsequently killed were: Sgt. Charles Parnell King, Sgt. Arthur Adolphus Walrond, Pilot Mark Radford Cuke, Sgt Grey Doyle Cumberbatch, Flying Officer Andrew P.C. Dunlop, Pilot Officer Bruce F.H. Miller.
    Media Date: NOV 1940
    Keywords: Picture
    Barbados Second Contingent Commemorative Stamps Set
    Barbados Second Contingent Commemorative Stamps Set
    Media Date: 2008
    Keywords: Picture

  • Notes 
    • Friday 5th March 1943 03:07 hrs Operation Minelaying - Sgt Grey Doyle Cumberbatch's Crash

      Lancaster III ED549 HW-S of 100 Squadron from Waltham, Lincolnshire [with Grey Doyle Cumberbatch aboard] took off at 18:38 hrs on 4th March 1943 for a minelaying operation in the area of St Nazaire and crashed on its return while trying to land at Langar airfield having been diverted twice from other airfields. The aircraft attempted to land on the 3rd circuit of the aerodrome in poor visibilty but the airspeed dropped and the aircraft sank into the ground in a semi-stalled condition at Plungar, Nottinghamshire. The difficulties for the pilot were aggravated by failure of the port inner engine and failure in communication between the aircraft and the ground. All but one of the crew were killed.

      F/S 99993 Gerald Russell Avey Royal Canadian Air Force pilot, buried Long Bennington (St Swithun) Churchyard,
      Sgt 1176108 Benjamin Thomas Hallett, age 23 RAFVR F/Eng, buried Portsmouth Cemetery,
      Sgt 1535230 Alan Havelock Spence age 32 RAFVR Nav, buried North Sunderland Cemetery,
      Sgt 1383404 Grey Doyle Cumberbatch age 21 RAFVR Air Bomber, who came from Barbados is buried in Long Bennington (St Swithun) Churchyard
      Sgt 1024294 John Robinson age 34 W.Op/Rear Gnr buried Thornton-le Fylde Churchyard,
      F/S R/100254 Rene Rodger Landry age 23 Air Gnr Royal Canadian Air Force, buried Long Bennington (St Swithun) Churchyard.
      Sgt D S Davies was injured.

      This was the first mission by 100 Squadron after they had received Lancasters.

      Notes: ED549 is specific to a particular Lancaster much the same as a car number plate. HW relates to a particular squadron in this case 100 Squadron, although a squadron may have more than one -S relates to a specific Lancaster within that squadron.

      Source: Tony Glover from his forthcoming book.

      The Plungar Plane Crash
      Early in the morning of the 5th March 1943, Dennis Kirk was on ARP duty when he heard the sound of an aircraft approaching, it was obviously in trouble and the engines sounded like they were starved of petrol. The aircraft passed overhead and then crashed about a quarter of a mile from Plungar (Leics) in the direction of Langar airfield (Notts). When Dennis and his group rushed towards the scene to render assistance they found one dazed survivor on the railway line. They asked him if there were any bombs onboard and he was able to reply that they had already been dropped, sadly all the other crew members they found were dead. Personnel arrived from RAF Langar and took control of the crash site. A fire tender arrived from Melton Mowbray and the crew promptly ‘mashed some tea’.

      A recently discovered piece of the aircraft shows damage from a cannon shell so perhaps some crew members were either dead or wounded which would explain why a ‘bale-out’ order was not given. The aircraft was not on a correct approach to land at Langar and it would appear that the pilot was struggling to maintain height and control which could indicate that it had suffered battle damage.

      The crash is timed at 03:08 on 5/3/43, the aircraft was a Lancaster 111 ED 549 100 Squadron HW S. This night was a ‘quiet’ night for Bomber Command prior to the commencement of the Battle of the Ruhr. Mosquitoes had flown to the Ruhr and 27 aircraft had been mine-laying ( the role of the crashed aircraft), 16 aircraft were from Operational Training Units from which one Wellington was lost and a Lancaster was presumed lost over the target area.

      100 Squadron was formed in February 1917 and by December 1942 was operating from Waltham (Grimsby) Lincs where it remained until April 1945. It had only begun to fly Lancasters against Germany in March of 1943. The Squadron was part of No 1 Group Bomber Command based in North Lincolnshire. The Group’s operations cost the lives of 8,577 British and Commonwealth airmen. 100 Squadron lost its last two crews from Waltham on the 16th March 1945, raiding Nuremberg. That brought the tally to 89 Lancasters lost in 25 months flying for the Squadron. The crew of ‘our’ Lancaster took off from Grimsby at 1838 on the 4/3/43 they were;
      Flight Sgt G.R. Avey RCAF Pilot
      Sgt B.T. Hallett Flight Engineer
      Sgt A.H. Spence Navigator
      Sgt G.D. Cumberbatch Air Bomber
      Sgt J. Robinson Wireless Operator
      Flight Sgt R.R. Landry RCAF Air Gunner(Rear)

      All of the above were killed. Sgt D.S. Davies Air Gunner(Mid-Upper) was injured Armed forces personnel who lost their lives in the UK were normally buried at locations requested by close relatives, this was obviously not possible with the many overseas members serving and so three of the crew were buried at Long Bennington St Swithun’s churchyard.

      The photograph below shows a piece of the aircraft which was donated to the squadron museum at Waltham. Dennis still lives in Plungar and he has a very clear picture in his mind of the events of that fateful night. The site has recently been planted with trees by the landowner but we hope to erect a memorial in memory of the gallant six airmen who lost their lives whilst so close to safety.
      Tim Chamberlin Bingham RBL

      Source:
      "Legion Knots" Issue 4, May 2010: http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/media/1148822/Issue_4.pdf The Plungar Crash by Tim Chamberlin Royal British Legion
      2011: David Webb, the villagers of Plungar, Nottinghamshire and The British Legion are erecting a memorial to the crew of this crashed Lancaster bomber. It clipped a bank on it's approach to the Langar airfield and crashed in a field in Plungar, Nottinghamshire.

  • Sources 
    1. [S278] Baptism St Lucy, Barbados 3 Jul 1921 Greystone Doyle Cumberbatch, (RL2B V:186 P:559 Selah Wesleyan Chapel; FHC Film No. 1666937 (16mm)).

    2. [S4334] Passenger List of the Maaskerk G D Cumberbatch 27 Dec 1940, (UK Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960).

    3. [S4335] RAF Record Grey Doyle Cumberbatch, (AIR 2/6876 - Details of Commissioning, Decoration and Casualties of Coloured Aircrew).

    4. [S475] JBMHS Vol:XIX p157 G D Cumberbatch.

    5. [S280] Commomwealth War Graves Commission, Cumberbatch Grey D.

    6. [S281] Commomwealth War Graves Photographic Project, Cumberbatch Grey Doyle, (http://twgpp.org/information.php?id=1059916).

    7. [S279] Deaths England & Wales 1943 Mar Qtr Melton Mowbray, Cumberbatch Grey D.

    8. [S282] Marriage St Lucy, Barbados 8 Sep 1920 Charles Wilkinson Cumberbatch.