Sturgess Herbert Rayner

A Sergeant with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Sturgess died on 13th of July 1943 aged 32. 

Sturgess was born at Briston, near Melton Constable, Norfolk, on 29 September 1911, a son of William Herbert and Mildred Rayner. In 1921 his family lived at Briston.

In 1935 Sturgess married Grace Maud Ebbage, this was registered in the Erpingham district. In 1939 they lived at ‘Dawn’, 19 Highland Way, Oulton Broad, and Sturgess was a coach painter and member of the Auxiliary Fire Service. 

Sturgess joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve after April 1940. In July 1943 he was an Air Gunner serving with 50 Squadron based at Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire.

On 13 June 1943 Sturgess was a member of the crew of a Lancaster III bomber, number DV-156, that was lost without trace during a raid to Turin, Italy.