Brothers-in-law
F/O Frank E. Claydon 166 Sqn
F/Lt Frederick (Freddie or Derick) T Knight 149 Sqn
Frank married Violet Masters in July,1937
Derick married Evelyn Masters Sept,1939
Derick joined the RAF after leaving school ( Woodhouse, Finchley, London) and was an early prisoner- of- war, being shot down over Aalborg, Heligoland in April 1940
He died in King Edward Vll sanatorium in Midhurst, Nov 1944, having been repatriated by the Red Cross because he had caught TB in the camps. He left behind Evelyn and a 4 yr son Peter who he only saw briefly in his last few days. He was 26 yrs old.
Derick and his father-in-law, Walter Masters, had developed a code that was used by the Air Ministry for delivering information to and fro the prison camps including that of The Great Escape at Stalag Luft lll. He was presented with the MBE for his services to the country.
Frank lived in Totteridge, North London. He was a Barnet Councillor and was employed by the RCA Rail union. He volunteered to serve and joined Bomber Command after much conscience searching. A pacifist, but he didn’t believe it was right for others to risk their lives while he stayed home.
Frank was killed on a raid over Brunswick,13/14 January 1944, leaving behind 3 yr old Patricia and pregnant Violet. The baby, Frances Jane, was born the next May. His mother, Frances Mary, who had been widowed when Frank was just a young boy, was distraught having worked so hard to raise him. (No benefits then, she would put her two children to bed, and work nights at the PO Sorting Office in Camden, to be home in time to get them up for school!) Frank died aged 36 years.
Two men of conscience,
Two widows,
Three fatherless children!
