Roll of Honour: Cyril Horwood

 

Pilot Officer C. E. Horwood

489 (RNZAF) Sqn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

66538

Died on active service, 2 October 1941, England. Aged 21.

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Cyril Ernest Horwood was born in 1920, the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Arthur and Lena Horwood (nee Gilbert) of Branksome Close, Walton-on-Thames. He attended Woking Couty School from 1931-1937. Before the war he worked as a clerk at Brookwood Hospital. After he enlisted his younger brother Ronald (another Old Wokingian) took over his job at the hospital. Ronald then followed his brother into the Air Force and in 1941, was also killed in action. He was also 21.

Cyril served with 489 Sqn. (RNZAF) which was formed in 1941 at RAF Leuchers in Fife, Scotland the most northerly air defence station in Britain. The squadron was formed with pilots from the New Zealand Air Force and operated twin-engined Bristol Beauforts on anti-submarine and reconnaissance missions under Coastal Command.

Bristol Beaufort Mk. I

On 2 October 1941 Cyril took off from Leuchers in his Beaufort (N1075) on a solo training flight. He crashed into the River Eden on his approach to Thornaby airfield in Yorkshire. His body was later recovered from the sea.

Cyril Horwood is buried in Thornaby-on-Tees Cemetery, Yorkshire (plot O, row N, grave 11). He is also remembered on the Woking County Grammar School roll of honour located in Christ Church, Woking.

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Last updated 4 July 2010

Sources

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Woking News and Mail

Woking County School magazine