Arthur Wilfred Alexander Whitehead

Son of Sir James Beethom Whitehead, K.C.M.G., M.A., J.P., and the Hon. Marian Cecilia Whitehead (nee Brodrick), of Lymington, Hampshire.

Remembered at Lymington War Memorial Note: Lymington War Memorial was his initials as “A.L.A.” not “A.W.A.” but I’m pretty sure this is the same person.

Listed as Missing in The Times, Monday, 29/7/1940, page 7, Issue 48680, column D.

Whitehead - In July 1940, as a result of enemy action while on patrol, Flying Officer A.W.A. Whitehead, youngest son of the late Sir Beethom and the Honourable Lady Whitehead (formerly of Efford Park, Lymington, Hants). - The Times, 22/08/1940, page 1, Issue 48701, column A.

Flying Officer Arthur Wilfred Alexander Whitehead killed as a result of enemy action while on patrol, was the youngest son of the late Sir Beethom and the Hon. Lady Whitehead, formerly of Efford Park, Lymington, Hants. He was commissioned as a pilot officer in the Reserve of Air Force Officers on March 24, 1930 and promoted to flying officer 18 months later. - The Times Obituary, 24/8/1940, page 7. Confirmation of rank in London Gazette 14/04/1931.

- The Times 6/9/1940; pg. 7; Issue 48714; col E:

"FLYING OFFICER AWA WHITEHEAD ALC writes:- The death of Flying Officer AWA Whitehead comes as a great shock to his many friends, especially to those of the world of civil aviation, with which he was so conspicuously connected. Arthur Whitehead was educated at Oundle and University College, Oxford, where he began his flying career in the University Air Squadron under the present Air Marshal, AGR Garrod. Flying became soon not only his hobby but his life, though he was also a keen member of the University Sailing Club, and from his Portmeadow days came the affectionate nickname of "Swivel" by which he was so universally known. Even before coming down from Oxford he had quite considerable flying experience, including piloting his own machine to Khartoum and back, and shortly before the outbreak of the war he had flown his own machine to Australia, where he made many friends, especially in Adelaide and Sydney. From 1930 "Swivel" for I must write it, was a familiar figure at Heston, Gatwick, Blackpool, and, above all, Croydon, for he worked mainly with British Airways and latterly Rollasons, throwing into his operational work all the zest of which he was capable, and his capacity for detail, and his keenness to learn the routine of civil air line work from the humblest beginnings, made him a loyal colleague who would undoubtedly in time have become an inspiring leader. Though not a scholar in the true sense of the word, he had an extensive fund of knowledge which covered a wide range of subjects, and he often surprised even those of us who knew him best by his ability to discuss out-of-the-way topics. To all of us who knew "Swivel" and loved him will remain the unfailing memory of his continual cheerfulness - which not even his physical disability could daunt or diminish - a generosity at times almost Quixotic - and an Edwardian courtesy and charm of manner in these days rare but peculiarly refreshing to meet. On the surface shy and retiring, his depth of character was nevertheless apparent, and reflected by the numerous friends that he made wherever he went. His death means to many of us a loss which words cannot describe, and a sense of good fellowship and friendship cut unexpectedly short. To his brothers and sister we extend our deepest sympathy."

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